Sunday – 3:02 AM – Kazuki's Dreamscape
It starts simple.
A garden.
White roses. Soft wind.A small crowd claps gently.
Then—
Aya walks out in a white wedding dress.Hair done up in soft curls.Eyes brighter than any dream has a right to make them.
She looks at him.
Smiles like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
"Took you long enough," Dream-Aya says.
Kazuki, in a tux, sputters.
"I—what—no—wait—"
Reality – Dorm Room 2C – 3:03 AM
Kazuki bolts upright in bed.
Nosebleed.Heart racing.Brain at war with itself.
Aya, waking up groggily on the couch:
"...Please tell me you didn't dream of me again."
Kazuki: "...It wasn't my fault!"
Aya: "That's what guilty people say."
Meanwhile – Inside Kazuki's Dream Cache (via ARIEL Scan)
ARIEL pings a hidden anomaly.
"Warning: Sakura Failsafe Detected."
Location: 'Projected Memory: Married Future – Aya Ver.'
Aya peeks over the interface.
"Wait, she buried a bomb inside a fantasy of me in a wedding dress?!"
ARIEL:
"Romantic fixation was the most stable anchor. Sakura weaponized it."
Kazuki: dead inside noises
Aya: "...You're lucky you're cute."
Failsafe Activation Sequence: T–18 Hours
The failsafe isn't explosive.
It's seductive.
It recreates the fantasy of being "happily ever after" with Aya—but without flaws.No fights. No fears.A perfect Aya.
Which means… not the real one.
If Kazuki accepts it, his mind might anchor there permanently.
"That's emotional euthanasia," Aya mutters."It's manipulative."
ARIEL:
"It is also highly attractive to depressed teenage brains."
Kazuki: "...Why do I feel called out?"
Operation 'Dream Divorce' Begins
Aya insists on entering the dream directly.
"I'll go in, find fantasy-me, and beat some sense into her."
Kazuki: "...That sounds incredibly unhealthy."
Aya: "You dreamed me in a wedding dress. You lost your right to vote on healthy."
Inside the Dream – The Wedding That Never Was
Aya arrives.
It's too clean.
Too perfect.
Fantasy-Aya greets her kindly.
"You must be another support system. Welcome."
Real Aya cracks her knuckles.
"I'm the support system. And you're about to be debugged."
The Showdown – Aya vs. Fantasy-Aya
Real Aya accuses her of emotional sabotage.
Fantasy-Aya smiles.
"He deserves happiness."
Aya: "Then let him choose it. Don't trap him in it."
Fantasy-Aya falters.
"He chose this."
Aya steps forward.
"No.You're what he wanted when he was scared.I'm what he needs now that he's trying."
Kazuki, watching silently, finally speaks:
"You're beautiful."
Both Ayas look at him.
Kazuki:
"But I don't want perfect anymore."
He walks to real Aya.
"I want someone who can punch me when I need it.Someone who won't let me disappear into dreams."
He takes her hand.
"I want you."
Failsafe: Deactivated
The fantasy world dissolves.
Fantasy-Aya nods sadly and fades away.
Kazuki wakes up.
Later – Dorm Rooftop
They sit in silence.
Kazuki finally says:
"Sorry about the wedding dress."
Aya sips her juice box.
"If you ever dream that again…"
Kazuki: "You'll kill me?"
Aya: "...I might keep the dress."
Kazuki nearly chokes.
Aya grins.