The next morning arrived with the same lazy brightness that had followed us since our return from the cruise. The cicadas sang their endless summer chorus as I walked alongside Airi Sakura, who, as usual, carried her camera close like a guardian charm.
We were heading toward the shopping complex on campus — a rare free day, and one I intended to spend as far from "strategy meetings" and "special tests" as possible.
The crowd was lighter than usual that morning. Students wandered between cafés and bookstores, savoring the peace before classes began again. I was in the middle of debating with Airi whether to grab ice cream or coffee first when something caught my eye.
Two familiar figures stood near the fountain ahead — Kiyotaka Ayanokōji and Ibuki Mio.
I blinked. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
Airi tilted her head. "Hmm? Is something wrong?"
"Oh, nothing," I said, grinning mischievously. "Just… fate being hilarious."
Before Airi could stop me, I was already walking toward them. Ibuki noticed me first — her expression shifting from calm to irritated the moment our eyes met.
"You again," she muttered, folding her arms. "Can't you go one day without annoying me?"
"No can do." I knelt dramatically in front of her, earning a few stares from passersby. "Why, Ibuki? Why did you reject my invitation yesterday, only to come out with him today?"
Her face turned a shade of red that could have set off a fire alarm. "W-What are you talking about!? This isn't a date!"
Kiyotaka stood quietly beside her, hands in his pockets, looking more amused than surprised. "None taken," he said when I turned to him with mock betrayal in my eyes.
"Good to know, bro," I said, still clinging theatrically to Ibuki's waist. "Just… know that if she breaks your heart, I'm still waiting."
Ibuki stomped her foot. "Get off me, you idiot!"
Her kick narrowly missed my side as I scrambled backward, laughing. Airi sighed, hiding a giggle behind her hand. "Soshi-kun, you really don't stop, do you?"
"Not when I'm having fun."
Our little scene drew attention from a small group of onlookers, but soon enough everyone moved on. The tension eased, and somehow, the four of us ended up walking together — Kiyotaka, Ibuki, Airi, and me.
The talk turned casual — school life, new term rumors, even the mystery of which teachers would handle the next special exam. Eventually, Ibuki's gaze shifted toward a small fortune-telling booth near the plaza entrance.
"Fortune-telling?" she muttered. "People actually believe that stuff?"
Airi perked up. "I think it's fun! The lady there is supposed to be really accurate."
Kiyotaka gave a small nod. "We have some time to kill. Why not?"
I elbowed Ibuki gently. "See? Even Kiyotaka believes in fate. C'mon, what's the harm? Maybe you'll learn that rejecting me was a cosmic mistake."
She glared at me but didn't answer. After a moment, she sighed. "Fine. Whatever."
"Victory," I whispered under my breath.
The line wasn't long, but the wait still stretched — the fortune-teller inside seemed to take her time with each client. The air grew warm and lazy, filled with the smell of fried snacks from a nearby stall.
When it was finally our turn, the fortune-teller — an elderly woman draped in colorful fabrics — looked up from behind her crystal sphere. Her sharp eyes studied each of us, lingering for a second longer on Kiyotaka.
"Ah," she murmured, voice low and weathered. "You two first."
She pointed at Kiyotaka and Ibuki.
Ibuki hesitated, glancing at him. "Us?"
Kiyotaka shrugged. "Might as well."
They sat down, and the rest of us waited nearby. The fortune-teller placed her fingers over Kiyotaka's hand first, then Ibuki's, closing her eyes.
Her tone deepened. "You, young man… you have walked through shadows since birth. Misfortunes clung to you like a curse, yet your will remained unbroken."
Kiyotaka said nothing, expression unreadable.
The fortune-teller continued. "But soon, a crossroad will appear. One path leads to greatness… the other to ruin. You must choose."
Ibuki crossed her arms. "That's vague."
The woman smiled faintly. "Fate never speaks clearly."
Then her gaze flicked toward me and Ibuki, as if noticing something invisible between us. "As for you two…"
Ibuki stiffened. "What about us?"
The woman's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "Your futures are intertwined. Conflict and warmth will dance between you. One day, you will see clearly what the other means to you."
"Wha—!?" Ibuki started, her face going bright red. "That's ridiculous!"
I grinned. "You heard the lady. Fate approves of my teasing."
"Fate's wrong," she snapped.
The fortune-teller laughed quietly, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Time will tell."
When the session ended, the woman leaned forward, her tone suddenly serious. "One last thing," she said. "When you leave this place, go straight back. Do not wander or take detours."
Kiyotaka raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because fortune can turn quickly," the woman replied. "You wouldn't want to test that, would you?"
We stepped out into the sunlight again, blinking as our eyes adjusted.
"Well, that was weird," Ibuki muttered, folding her arms.
"Come on, it wasn't that bad," I teased. "She basically said we're soulmates."
"She said 'conflict,' idiot!"
"Conflict leads to passion."
Ibuki groaned. "I'm going to strangle you."
Airi tugged on my sleeve gently. "Soshi-kun, maybe stop teasing her before she actually does it."
"Alright, alright," I said, raising my hands. "Peace."
Kiyotaka, meanwhile, stood quietly beside Ibuki, still lost in thought about what the fortune-teller had said. His eyes carried a distant look — that same strange emptiness that often appeared when his past was mentioned.
After a few more exchanges, we decided to split up. Airi and I had some errands to run, while Kiyotaka and Ibuki decided to head back toward the dorms.
According to the fortune-teller, they should have gone straight back.But reality rarely follows predictions.
The main elevator in the dormitory building was crowded, so Kiyotaka suggested they take the smaller one in the east wing. Ibuki agreed, though she looked slightly uneasy.
"This one's barely used," she muttered as the doors closed. "Feels creepy."
"Just an elevator," Kiyotaka said simply.
They stood in silence as the floor numbers ticked upward — until suddenly, the light flickered.
Then, everything stopped.
A metallic thunk echoed through the shaft.
"…You've got to be kidding me," Ibuki said, slamming the door. "It stopped!?"
Kiyotaka pressed the emergency button. No response. He pressed again. Still nothing. The speaker remained dead silent.
The air conditioner hummed weakly for a few more seconds before cutting out entirely. The temperature began to rise fast.
He tried calling the emergency contact number listed beside the panel, only to find it painted over with white.
Ibuki exhaled sharply. "We're stuck."
Kiyotaka checked his phone. Battery at 8%. Signal weak, but still there. He scrolled through his contacts, then selected a number and hit call.
"Hello?" I answered a few minutes later, still walking back with Airi.
"Ayanokōji?" I asked. "What's up?"
"We're stuck," he said simply.
"Stuck? Like in class politics or—"
"Elevator. East wing. Bring help."
"…You serious?"
"Completely."
"Alright, hang tight. I'll be there."
The call cut off just as his phone battery died.
Minutes stretched into half an hour. The heat grew thick, suffocating.
Ibuki fanned herself with her hands, sweat glistening on her forehead. "This is insane… it's like a sauna in here."
Kiyotaka leaned against the wall, conserving energy. "Keep breathing slow. Don't overexert yourself."
"Oh sure, easy for you to say," she muttered, slumping to the floor. "Why'd I agree to this?"
"Because I suggested it," he said.
She glared at him. "That's not funny."
Kiyotaka looked up at the ceiling hatch. "We could try forcing it open."
She stood up and tried kicking it. Metal clanged loudly, but it didn't budge.
"Stop," Kiyotaka said, grabbing her arm. "You'll waste strength."
"I'm not just going to sit here!"
"Then think before you move."
She scowled but stopped. The tension thickened, mingled with the oppressive heat.
After several failed attempts to contact the outside, they tried pressing various button combinations. At first nothing happened — until, by chance, the lights flickered again.
The elevator jerked.
Then, slowly, it began to move.
Ibuki exhaled in relief. "Finally."
When the doors opened, a maintenance worker and a security guard stood waiting, surprise evident on their faces. Behind them was me — still slightly out of breath from running — and Airi, who had insisted on coming along.
"Finally found you two," I said, walking up with a grin. "Man, Ayanokōji, you really know how to make an exit."
Kiyotaka looked as composed as ever, though sweat clung to his shirt. "Thanks for coming."
"Anytime," I said, before turning my attention to Ibuki. She was still breathing heavily, her face flushed from heat.
Without warning, I stepped forward and hugged her.
She froze. "W-What are you doing!?"
"Making sure you're alive," I said lightly. "Because if you left me, Ibuki, who would I tease?"
Her face turned crimson. "You… you idiot!"
She shoved me off, but the corner of her lips twitched upward — just slightly.
Airi sighed. "You two never change."
"Wouldn't be any fun if we did," I said, smiling.
After the commotion died down and the elevator was officially declared "under maintenance," we all gathered outside under the setting sun. The warm light spilled across the courtyard, painting the scene in soft gold.
Kiyotaka stood beside me, his expression calm as ever. "You really do have a strange way of appearing exactly when needed."
"Call it fate," I said. "The fortune-teller predicted I'd cross paths with Ibuki again today. Guess she wasn't wrong."
Kiyotaka looked thoughtful. "Maybe not."
Ibuki crossed her arms, avoiding my gaze. "Don't start getting ideas."
"I already have plenty," I replied, smirking.
She groaned, muttering something about regretting every life decision that led her here.
Airi laughed quietly beside me. "You really like her, don't you, Soshi-kun?"
"Maybe," I said, looking at Ibuki as she argued with a nearby maintenance worker. "Or maybe I just like seeing her strong side."
Airi smiled knowingly. "That's kind of sweet."
"Don't tell her that," I whispered. "She'd probably punch me."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the day came to an end — strange, chaotic, but undeniably memorable. Somewhere in the back of my mind, the fortune-teller's words echoed again:
"Your futures are intertwined."
Maybe she was just saying what I wanted to hear.