Morning — Mitsuha's Apartment Kazuma was packing his bag, every movement slow. Mitsuha sat at the kitchen counter, coffee cup in hand, silently watching him. It had been a week since he moved into her place.
A week… that felt more like a nightmare than shelter.
"So," Mitsuha finally spoke, her voice flat, "you're leaving."
Kazuma zipped his bag, avoiding eye contact. "Yeah. Thanks… for the help."
Silence. Heavy. Awkward.
Mitsuha set her cup down gently.
"Kazuma."
He paused.
"No one at school can know you stayed here. Not a single soul. Understood?"
Kazuma turned. Her expression was unreadable—cold, calculated.
"…Yeah. Don't worry. I don't care about any of this anyway."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, like she wanted to say something more… but she held back.
"Fine. Go."
Kazuma walked to the door. Hand on the knob.
For a second, he hesitated. Something about her… something felt wrong. Off.
But he stepped out anyway.
Click.
Mitsuha stared at the closed door for a long moment. Then—
A small smile curled on her lips.
"…Let's see how this plays out."
Kazuma's Apartment — Afternoon
The room felt warm. Suffocating.
Kazuma turned on the AC and tossed his notebook on the table. Returning home after a week felt strange. The faint scent of Kento still lingered.
Focus.
He opened his notebook, grabbed a pen, and started writing:
Whenever I die, the first thing I feel is pain. Real pain.
Then everything goes numb.
Then darkness.
And then… I go back in time.
Every trace of that day disappears. How is that even possible?
Kazuma scribbled furiously.
That poor kid… was he telling the truth?
No. He was just a random boy on the street.
But…
If me dying and coming back is possible,
then a yokai—an "evil lady"—could be possible too.
Kazuma's chair screeched as he shot to his feet, heart pounding.
What if Mitsuha…?
No. The kid said, "She will fall in love with you someday."
Mitsuha was cold, calculating, borderline psychopathic—but she wasn't a monster.
Right…?
Then a chilling thought hit him.
Everything started the day I killed Arisa… in that rain… near the vending machine.
Arisa loved Kento.
Which meant—
What if Arisa is the yokai?
I need to find that boy again.
Kazuma snapped his notebook shut.
Next Day — School Entrance
Kazuma entered school.
Everything seemed normal—birds, chatter, the usual morning buzz.
Until—
Whispers.
"That's him."
"Isn't he the junior who…"
"With Mitsuha!?"
Kazuma slowed.
What…?
A group of girls passed by, giggling.
"I can't believe it… Mitsuha dating a junior?"
"She hates boys!"
"Maybe he's special."
Kazuma froze.
Mitsuha and him…? Who…?
He rushed through the corridor.
Everywhere: eyes.
Staring. Pointing. Whispering.
"Mitsuha's boyfriend."
"They lived together."
"A whole week."
Kazuma's pulse spiked.
He reached his classroom—dead silence.
Everyone staring straight at him.
He sat down slowly, face burning.
What the hell is happening?
Mitsuha's Class — Senior Floor
Mitsuha walked in, her usual cold expression in place.
But today, every head turned toward her.
She sat. Opened her book.
"Mitsuha!"
Shize Tanaka—with her bright smile and mischievous eyes—leaned on Mitsuha's desk.
"So the rumors are true? You're dating a junior!?"
Mitsuha's eyes twitched.
"…Shize."
"You always said boys were annoying! And now the entire school says—"
"Shize."
"—that you and some Kazuma guy lived together for a week!"
Mitsuha slammed her book shut.
"Who told them?"
Shize blinked. "Uh—everyone knows. It's on Instagram too—"
"WHAT!?"
Mitsuha snatched her phone.
Scrolled.
There it was.
Anonymous post:
"Hina Mitsuha secretly dating junior Kazuma Sato — living together for a week!
And a blurry—but recognizable—photo of Kazuma leaving her apartment.
Mitsuha's grip tightened.
Who… who did this?
"M-Mitsuha," Shize whispered, "is it… true?"
Mitsuha stood up.
"I need to talk to Kazuma."
"Wait—Mitsuha—"
But she was already gone.
Behind the School Building
Kazuma stood alone, still processing.
How…? Why…?
"KAZUMA!"
He jolted.
Mitsuha stormed toward him—face red from fury… or embarrassment.
Impossible to tell.
"We need to talk. Alone. Now."
"M-Mitsuha, wait—"
She grabbed his wrist and dragged him behind the building—hidden by trees.
She released him and spun around.
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO SAY ANYTHING!"
"I—I didn't! I swear!"
"THEN HOW DOES EVERYONE KNOW!?"
"I don't know! Maybe someone saw me leaving your apartment—?"
Mitsuha groaned, pacing.
"Unbelievable… my reputation is ruined…"
Kazuma swallowed. "I'm sorry—"
"Sorry won't fix anything!"
She stopped.
Her eyes sharpened.
A plan forming.
"There's only one solution."
"W-what…?"
She turned, deadly serious.
"We act like a real couple.
In front of everyone."
Kazuma's brain stopped functioning.
"…What?"
"A fake relationship. Just for school."
"YOU'RE CRAZY!"
She stepped close—too close.
Grabbed his collar.
"Listen. I don't want this either.
Especially with someone like you."
"Oi—"
"But if we deny it, rumors will explode.
If we accept it, everyone will calm down.
We act for a few days. Then break up quietly. Done."
Kazuma hesitated.
If he refused… this would get worse.
Much worse.
"…Fine."
Mitsuha smiled—cold, calculating.
"Good. Now come."
"Now!?"
"Now."
School Courtyard — Lunch Break
Mitsuha took Kazuma's hand—firm, controlled.
"Walk. And smile."
"Mitsuha—"
"Smile."
Kazuma forced a stiff smile.
They walked into the courtyard.
Instant silence.
Dozens of eyes.
Whispers exploding.
"They're holding hands…"
"It's real…"
Shize appeared in front of them, arms crossed.
"Mitsuha. What is this drama?"
"Drama?" Mitsuha's voice turned icy.
"This is my boyfriend."
Gasps.
Shize frowned. "If that's true… tomorrow is the Bunkasai Festival, and couples are allowed to participate.
You never went before.
Will you go this year?"
A challenge.
A trap.
Mitsuha's jaw tightened.
But her expression didn't crack.
"Yes. I will."
Shize blinked.
"Seriously?"
"And I'll win." She tightened her grip on Kazuma's arm.
"With my boyfriend."
Kazuma almost fainted.
Shize smirked and walked off.
Mitsuha leaned in closer—too close—her head lightly touching his shoulder.
"Smile, idiot. They're watching."
Kazuma's face turned tomato red.
The bell rang.
Mitsuha pulled him away.
Empty Classroom
Mitsuha finally released him.
Kazuma exhaled sharply.
"You're insane!"
"It worked, didn't it?"
"The FESTIVAL!? Why did you say yes!?"
"Because if I refused, Shize would get suspicious.
This was the best move."
Kazuma groaned.
"You call that a move…?"
"Relax. One day. Attend the festival. Act. Win something.
Then we 'break up'. Done."
Kazuma wanted to argue…
But he knew she wasn't wrong.
"…Fine."
Mitsuha smiled—genuinely.
"Good. Be ready tomorrow. Festival starts at 10."
She stopped at the door.
Turned slightly.
"Oh, and Kazuma?"
"…Yeah?"
Her eyes glimmered.
"Try to look like you actually like me."
A quick wink.
And she left.
Kazuma slid down to the floor, head in his hands.
"What am I doing…?
I'm supposed to investigate Arisa…
and now I'm stuck in a school festival date with a psychopath…"
He groaned.
"I'm… completely screwed."