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Chapter 27: Chapter 27: I Thought Choosing Riko Would Fix Things. It Made Everything Worse.
It's been three days since the poll ended.
I chose Riko.
The school cheered.
Reina updated the scoreboard.
The girls smiled.
But it didn't feel like winning.
---
With Riko – Normal That's Not Normal
We walk to school together now.
Sit next to each other.
Eat lunch quietly.
No fighting.
No awkward silences.
Just... soft glances. Accidental smiles.
But I can feel it.
She's waiting.
For me to say it first.
For me to make it real.
For me to stop being scared.
And I want to.
I do.
But something in me still feels like this peace is borrowed, not owned.
---
With Yuna – Distant Chaos
She's still loud. Still dramatic.
But not at me.
Now she's louder with everyone else.
Like she's trying to laugh louder so I won't hear what she's not saying. 𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
She passed me in the hallway yesterday.
Didn't even make a joke.
Just tossed her hair and said,
> "You two look cute. Hope you don't mess it up."
That hurt more than anything she ever yelled.
---
With Airi – Silent Fade
She moved seats.
Doesn't track my eye contact anymore.
No new graphs. No dry observations.
Just silence.
Cold, efficient, terrifying silence.
I think that hurts even worse than her usual weirdness.
It's like... she uninstalled me.
---
With Akari – Still Standing
She's not acting sad.
She still waves.
Still smiles.
Still says good morning.
But yesterday, she looked at me with eyes that said:
> "You chose her. But that doesn't mean I stopped choosing you."
And I don't know how to respond to that.
---
Reina's New Game
She passed out flyers today.
Front said:
> "Final Exam – Relationship Survival Test"
"All confirmed couples will undergo 3 stages to prove whether they were worth the school's vote."
Riko blinked. "You're kidding."
Reina shook her head. "You won the poll. Now earn it."
> "And if you fail... the spot reopens."
I turned to Riko.
She looked... scared.
Not of the test.
Of me.
Of us.
Of the truth that we're not as stable as we pretend to be.
