When Kentaro opened his eyes after traveling through the Teleportation Realm, he found himself in a place far too familiar.
The restroom.
But this time… it didn't smell like death. It actually smelled fresh.
He didn't even bother looking around. Just walked straight past the other guys and headed toward the exit.
"Did anyone see him come in?"
"Nah."
"Not a clue."
Two other guys shrugged mid-business, confused.
Kentaro stepped out into the hall. It was quiet… too quiet. Something tugged at him; he needed to find someone, two someones.
Kira and Tengen.
He wandered around until he reached the main lobby, where the rest of the class were lounging.
Mika, Rei, and Sumire spotted him immediately.
Their expressions lit up with rage and concern all at once.
"WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU!?" they all shouted in unison.
Kentaro froze, eyes wide.
"Well, y'see… um… me and Tengen went a little far, and uh, BOOM, the explosion happened and we got, like, stuck… and now… here we are!"
He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head, avoiding all eye contact.
They weren't buying it.
"WHERE ARE KIRA AND TENGEN!?" they yelled again, attracting even more attention.
The rest of the students turned his way as Mr. Tachibana approached, clearly worried.
"W-Well," Kentaro stammered, "They're somewhere else right now, b-but don't worry! They're okay! They'll be here super soon, hehe…"
Mr. Tachibana squinted at him.
"…And what about Serica?"
His voice was calm, but his face was tense.
Kentaro's smile wavered.
"S-she's okay too… actually, she found us. Helped us come back. So she's on her way… too."
But even that answer didn't convince them.
Sumire leaned in close. "Tengen is coming. Kira is coming. Serica is coming. You sure you didn't kill them or something?"
"I-what? NO-No no no!" Kentaro waved his arms, flustered. "It's just th-"
"Hey, everyone!"
A familiar, sweet voice interrupted.
Kentaro turned around.
His breath caught.
There she was. Standing there. Smiling, her eyes sparkling like nothing ever happened.
"SERICA!!" the girls squealed, shoving Kentaro out of the way.
He hit the ground with a thud as they tackled Serica like an oversized plushie.
"OHHH SERICA WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" Kei cried, smushing her face into hers.
"I-I was just… out for a stroll…" Serica laughed nervously, barely able to breathe under the group-hug assault.
Kentaro sat up, brushing dust off his shirt, a smile breaking across his face.
The moment was wholesome, peaceful…
But not for long.
"I'm going to fi-" he started, turning to Mr. Tachibana-
"Hey there, husband."
A body slammed into him like a truck, knocking him flat on the floor again.
Dark hair. Tight grip. Cold voice. No emotion.
Kira.
"K-Kira?!" Kentaro gasped, struggling to push her off. "C'mon, gimme some space-!"
But then… she whispered.
"About before… What I did… I'm sorry. But, I'll never forgive Alberlines. Not for what they did to her."
She let go and stood up.
Kentaro sat there, stunned. Her words rang heavy in his ears.
He got up slowly. His voice softer now. "Then… maybe you could tell me what happened? And maybe… we can work it out together?"
Kira gave the slightest nod.
"I will tell you my story. But know this, nothing will stop me from my goal. Not even you."
Kentaro smiled, just a little.
"I think I can change your mind."
Then he looked past her.
Tengen.
For once, the loudmouth was quiet. Head lowered, hands fidgeting, eyes refusing to meet Kentaro's.
He stepped forward.
"Yo, Ken… I, uh… I'm sorry. For what I did before. I hope… You can forgive me. Still be friends… maybe?"
Kentaro sighed.
Then smiled.
"I forgive you. Let's leave it there."
He extended his hand.
Tengen finally looked up, and when he saw that hand, he couldn't hold back his emotions.
"THANK YOU, BRO! YOU'RE THE BEST!!" he shouted, swatting Kentaro's hand aside and pulling him into a bear hug.
The three girls, of course, heard everything and couldn't resist.
"HEY! TELL US THE GOSSIP! WHO FOUGHT WHO?! WAS IT OVER TENKA? OR SERICA?!" Mika demanded, practically vibrating.
Tengen waved dramatically.
"Sorry, ladies, but men don't gossip about their inner demons with outsiders. It's just not… manly."
Serica tugged on Kentaro's sleeve.
"Kentaro… is that true? T-that there are things you won't tell me… because I'm a girl?"
Her eyes shimmered with doubt.
"No! No, no no!" Kentaro panicked. "If there's anything I want to tell someone, it's you."
Serica lit up.
"Oki! If you say so."
Then...
"So Kentaro… when are we going on our date?"
Kentaro choked.
"D-date???"
Kira twitched.
"A date now? So the homewrecker gets taken out but not me?"
"Wait what?! No-no, it's not like that, I just said I'd show her around the island!"
Kira crossed her arms.
"You're taking me out, I want to see the island."
Serica stepped forward.
"Kira, go away. It's just me and Kentaro!"
Kira narrowed her eyes.
"No, sister. You already had your turn. This time, it's mine. He's my husband."
"Sister?! What-! Wait-hey girls, please!" Kentaro pleaded, caught between them.
"HE DOESN'T LIKE YOU, KIRA! YOU'RE JUST A ROBOT IN A HUMAN BODY!" Serica yelled.
"AND YOU'RE JUST A CRYBABY WHO RUINS EVERYTHING!.... AND ALSO A HOMEWRECKER!!" Kira snapped back, louder.
Kentaro was trapped in a shouting match that he definitely didn't sign up for.
He tried to sneak away.
But.
"Please, wait," Tengen said, stopping him. "I just wanted you to really understand why I did it."
Kentaro didn't need to ask.
"Your sister… right?"
Tengen froze.
He nodded.
"She just… collapsed. Coming home from school. They said it was a coma, but no one knew why. Not the doctors. Not even us…"
He paused, voice shaking.
"Then this guy from Spire… he's the chairman, Reiden shows up. Says he knows how to help her, but only if I keep you distracted. Said it was for an experiment. I didn't understand it, but I… I just wanted her to wake up, man."
Tears rolled down his cheeks.
"But after getting to know you… and Serica… I just couldn't keep lying. I'm sorry. I really am."
He bowed deeply. "I'M SORRY!"
Kentaro tapped his comms.
"Tenka… is there any way we can help him, and I've heard that name before."
A pause.
Then:
"We'll have Haruka check his sister. If there's anything we can do… we will, and yes, it seems even he's getting involved."
Kentaro looked at Tengen, smiling.
"Tenka knows someone who might help. She's brilliant. You'll be contacted soon."
Tengen's mouth fell open, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Y-you serious…?"
Tears flowed again.
"THANK YOU, KEN!! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS!!"
He pulled Kentaro into another hug, crying all over his shirt again.
After a moment, Tengen composed himself.
"So uh… does this mean I get Tenka's number?"
Kentaro facepalmed.
"Don't get any weird ideas."
"C'mon, man, she clearly has a thing for this hunk right here." Tengen winked.
Kentaro didn't even respond. Just chuckled.
Then Tengen tilted his head.
"Also… how long were you planning to stay in that ripped shirt, huh?"
Kentaro blinked.
Looked down.
"OH CRAP!"
He turned to run back to his room-
BANG!
He collided with someone, lips smashing into something warm. His hands landed on something… dangerously soft.
"OH-HO-HO! KEN, YOU DOG!!" Tengen howled.
Kentaro blinked.
His eyes adjusted.
And he saw...