Yukino and Chika had both experienced the Doomsday Game—and the extraordinary truths that came with it.
More importantly, they had been seen through by Nanashi.
Having endured the apocalypse and supernatural chaos, their capacity to accept the unbelievable was significantly stronger.
But Kaguya…
She had fallen deep into thought.
The truth was, she only knew that Nanashi possessed extraordinary powers. Beyond that, she knew nothing.
She had no idea what kind of life he had lived, or what kind of man he truly was.
The former Kaguya… was not a happy person.
She had always felt like a bird trapped in a cage—watched, pressured, suffocating.
Every day was the same: under constant surveillance, surrounded by expectations.
Her father didn't care about her.
Her grandfather didn't care about her.
Her step-brothers… openly resented her.
She had always felt like the extra piece—someone unnecessary.
And one day, by accident, she discovered the truth that confirmed it.
She learned the secret of her birth.
Kaguya wasn't her father's biological daughter.
Her mother had worked in a nightclub, and her pregnancy… had been an accident.
Her birth had been an accident.
Her existence was never planned.
She might not even be related to the Shinomiya family at all.
That was when she finally understood—
Why she was so unwanted.
Why she had always felt like a stranger in her own home.
She really was an outsider.
After that day, Kaguya began to spiral into confusion.
She grew lost, more and more each day… until, one day, she wandered the streets alone.
She stood quietly in the cold rain, staring from a distance at the nightclub where her mother had once worked.
She stood there for a long time—until finally, she turned and walked away.
Rain poured down.
Cars sped past in a blur of noise and light.
But the emptiness in her chest only deepened.
Her thoughts turned dark.
She began to wonder if it would be better to end everything.
Without hesitation, she stepped into the street.
A blaring horn.
The roar of a truck barreling toward her.
Her heart was eerily calm.
She saw death.
But just before the impact, someone grabbed her—pulling her into their arms and out of danger.
That man was Nanashi.
And the first words out of his mouth were:
"Don't cause trouble for the driver."
It was unexpected—but it hit her deeply.
That's right… I almost made things harder for someone else.
Afterward, Nanashi brought her to a quiet place.
There, she witnessed something unbelievable: black lightning surged from his hand and struck down a monstrous figure behind them.
The creature dissolved into nothingness.
But she had seen it—clear as day.
A monster.
She knew she wasn't hallucinating.
"That's a demon," Nanashi explained. "A demon that feeds on human emotion. It amplifies your negativity… makes you believe things are worse than they really are. That's why you wanted to die."
His golden eyes locked onto hers.
"What happened to you?"
Kaguya lowered her head. She didn't answer.
At the time, Nanashi had only recently been saved by Haruno.
His heart hadn't yet hardened—he was still curious, still willing to help strangers.
"Were you scolded by a teacher?"
"Did you break up with a boyfriend?"
He tossed out guesses, one after another.
But there was no response.
Until he asked:
"Did something happen with your family?"
Kaguya's shoulders trembled slightly.
That was it.
Nanashi didn't push further.
He knew he couldn't solve every problem—especially something as deeply rooted as family trauma.
So instead, he simply reached out and patted her head, offering a warm smile.
"If it's a family issue, it's better to talk things out.
Bottling it up inside just turns it into a blade that cuts both ways."
He didn't have grand advice.
He wasn't eloquent.
But sometimes, the simplest words… carry the most weight.
Those words were what gave Kaguya the strength to move forward.
Nanashi handed her his umbrella—and walked off into the rain.
She still remembered the warmth of the handle in her palm.
After that, Kaguya gathered her courage.
She went to see her father.
She brought up her mother.
And for the first time in her life… they had a proper, heartfelt conversation.
She came to understand her father a little more.
He had always doubted whether she was really his child.
But despite the uncertainty, despite the pressure from the family—he had never agreed to a paternity test.
He had accepted her.
He still wanted her to inherit the family legacy.
He had done his best to raise her, even if awkwardly.
He… had loved her mother deeply.
And deep down, he was afraid too—afraid of the truth.
That day, for the first time, she saw his vulnerability.
The walls between them began to crumble.
Kaguya told him:
"Even if I'm not your daughter by blood…
You are still my father."
She said she didn't need the inheritance.
That she would repay him for raising her.
That conversation left Gan'an Shinomiya feeling at peace.
The past was gone.
Now, it was time to look toward the future.
And from that day on, Kaguya began living for herself.
But in her heart… a seed had been planted.
A seed called "Nanashi."
And now, in the present—
That seed had not only sprouted…
It had bloomed.
But she still didn't know how to face it.
The room was silent.
None of them spoke.
Until Nanashi finally said, with quiet certainty:
"If needed… I'll take responsibility for you to the end."
Chika pouted slightly and mumbled under her breath, "But… you already have a girlfriend…"
Kaguya's eyes widened.
"The president has a girlfriend?!"
Nanashi nodded. "Yes. Quite a few, actually."
His tone was honest—earnest, even.
And in that moment, sincerity turned into his greatest weapon.
"Ha…?"
Kaguya's brain short-circuited.
Since when?
Why didn't I know?!
Yukino, on the other hand, simply exhaled softly, trying to calm the storm inside her as she muttered.
"This isn't your fault. You don't need to take responsibility. I played the game voluntarily—whatever happened is on me."
Chika lowered her head.
"I'm sorry… It's all my fault. If I hadn't suggested it..."
Guilt weighed heavily on her.
If she hadn't found that game today and brought it up, none of this absurdity would have happened.
Even with the overwhelming amount of information, Kaguya forced herself to remain calm.
"It's already happened. There's no point blaming anyone now. This isn't your fault, Chika."
Neither she nor Yukino were the type to lament their misfortunes.
However, she was clearly uneasy. Her eyes kept drifting away subconsciously, but she still hesitantly asked the question on everyone's mind.
"President... According to what the Sims showed us, Yukinoshita-san isn't really… pregnant, right?"
Only then did the group snap back to reality.
The simulation had said Yukino was going to get pregnant.
Could that possibly come true?
Kaguya and Chika both glanced at Yukino's lower abdomen.
"!!!"
Yukino panicked.
Was she actually…?
She hadn't mentally prepared herself for anything like that.
If she really was…
"Ahem!"
Nanashi cleared his throat, breaking the tension and everyone's train of thought.
He spoke with firm reassurance.
"Don't worry. Even if my rationality was affected, I've trained myself to come outside. So it's fine."
Well... it was mostly just a habit now.
Muscle memory, really.
"…"
Hearing that said so bluntly sent another wave of awkward silence through the group.
Everyone averted their eyes, blushing, unable to speak.
…
Four people had been in a game-induced accident.
It had taken far too long.
By now, the sky was dark. School had ended hours ago.
Nanashi used Redemption to help them recover.
He first used his ability to send Chika and Kaguya home safely, then walked Yukino back.
The atmosphere was heavy and silent.
None of them had ever faced anything like this before. The silence was only natural.
…
When they arrived home, Yukino turned around, looking drained.
"Nanashi-kun… I need some time to clear my head."
This complicated situation was too overwhelming, even for her.
Without another word, she went upstairs alone.
Nanashi watched her retreating figure.
Only after she disappeared did he enter the house himself.
And inside, Eriri was already seated at the dining table, watching him eagerly.
Chito and Yuuri were there too, waiting.
Their eyes lit up the moment Nanashi stepped in.
"Brother Nanashi, you're back!" they said in unison.
"Yeah." Nanashi smiled and nodded.
Kanae materialized from a glimmer of light and skillfully helped him change his coat and shoes.
After washing up, they all sat down together.
Sayuri set a bowl of rice in front of Nanashi and asked, puzzled, "Where's Yukino?"
He had no intention of hiding the truth from Sayuri.
But with Chito and Yuuri still around, it wasn't the right time to bring it up.
"She's not feeling well, so she won't be joining us," Nanashi replied.
"Let's eat. Chito and Yuuri must be starving."
"Okay!"
Chito and Yuuri dug in eagerly.
To them, eating such delicious food was a dream come true.
Seeing how happily they ate, Sayuri couldn't help but smile in relief.
…
After dinner, Chito and Yuuri politely helped Sayuri wash the dishes before heading out.
Eriri and Sayuri stayed behind.
After a shower and changing into pajamas, Nanashi lay on the bed with Kanae and Eriri.
Eriri had been unusually quiet during dinner.
She clearly had something on her mind.
Leaning against his chest, she asked softly, "What exactly happened with you and Yukino this afternoon? I almost forgot you two were still at school. I didn't realize until I got home."
"Well… there were a few unexpected incidents..."
Nanashi recounted the entire situation.
"Something that bizarre?"
Sayuri was shocked by what the Sims game had caused.
Just thinking about how simulated death could lead to real suicide gave her chills.
"Yeah, I saw it with my own eyes. Even Nanashi got affected," Kanae added, still visibly shaken.
Nanashi wanted to say something else.
That it wasn't really the simulation's fault—it was the way the game stirred up primal urges that clouded people's minds.
"I didn't think something like that could exist. I'll be more cautious next time."
An uncertain doomsday factor.
Something completely different from a typical future or abnormal apocalypse.
Eriri bared her little fangs. "Mom! Aren't you focusing on the wrong thing here? We're talking about four people!"
Sayuri just smiled. "Aren't we, too?"
Kanae chuckled. "That's right."
"Ugh..."
Eriri was speechless.
With no other outlet for her frustration, she pounced on Nanashi and bit his arm.
"Hmph! That's your punishment."
Punishment?
It was soft and playful, more like a kitten's nibble than anything painful.
Nanashi couldn't help but think—If this is punishment, give me more.
And then there was Eriri's face.
So cute, it made him want to eat her.
So without ado—
"W-Wait! We've just eaten!?"
The venting session was over.
Eriri's frustration had been completely released.
Sayuri and Kanae also looked content and satisfied.
Nanashi, feeling a sense of peace, opened the group chat.
He figured it was a good time to remind everyone about the strange nature of the uncertain doomsday.
However, the first thing he saw when entering the chat made him chuckle.
March 7th:
"Ugh, I really don't understand what's up with Stelle. She has this weird habit of digging through trash cans."
Bronya:
"I noticed her odd behavior back in Belobog… I just didn't know how to bring it up."
Silver Wolf:
"Huh? Trash cans? What's she even looking for?"
March 7th:
"I don't know either! When I asked, she just said the trash can was glowing or something. I didn't see any glow though..."
A glowing trash can. Stelle rummaging through it.
Nanashi could picture the scene all too clearly.
Nanashi:
"Maybe there's a star core inside. If the child likes it, just let her be."
March 7th:
"I mean… maybe?"
Silver Wolf:
"Even if she likes it, you can't just let her go digging through trash forever. Kafka's definitely going to be pissed if she finds out."
Nanashi:
"Let Kafka come at me—I'll protect Stelle, no matter what!"
Silver Wolf:
"Your abacus beads are falling all over my face."
Silver Wolf looked up from her screen, sighing.
"Why are you staring at me like that, Silver Wolf? Is something on my face?" Kafka asked, her violet eyes full of confusion.
Silver Wolf smirked and muttered, "You and your kid are being targeted."
"???" Kafka blinked. "What are you even talking about?"
Kisara:
"Why are you all still awake? It's late."
Bronya:
"It's morning over here."
March 7th:
"In space, who even knows what time it is?"
Silver Wolf:
"Exactly."
Emilia:
"It's evening in my world, too."
Kisara:
"Ah, so time flows differently for everyone."
Nanashi:
"It's late night on my end."
Kisara:
"Then shouldn't you get some rest, Mr. Nanashi?"
Nanashi:
"I just wrapped up some stuff. Also, there's something important I need to share—especially with Momonga."
Momonga:
"Yes, sir! What's up?"
Nanashi:
"Today, I encountered something odd—an element of uncertain doomsday. Very strange."
Nami:
"What kind of element are we talking about?"
Nanashi:
"A board game called The Sims. It forces players to act out whatever happens in the game."
Nanashi:
"For example, if someone draws a card saying they're my pet, they genuinely start believing they are."
Momonga:
"That weird?"
Nanashi:
"Extremely. Even I got affected. And that's just one facet of the uncertainty. Who knows what else is out there?"
It was bizarre enough to make him wonder if the SCP Foundation had records of similar anomalies.
Some of the things they documented were truly outrageous.
Nanashi:
"Some of you might also have uncertain doomsday threats in your worlds. Be on alert."
Momonga:
"Understood. Thanks for the heads-up, Boss."