Rei never intended to commit treason. He just wanted five minutes of peace.
After surviving a full day of yandere recruitment booths, contractual forehead kisses, and being spiritually wed under a blood moon to "all interested parties," his legs moved without thinking.
And they carried him to her.
To Emilia's booth. It was a pocket of pure sanity in a festival powered by emotional blackmail, romantic extremism, and at least one human sacrifice (cancelled last minute due to rain).
Her modest tea stand was constructed from soft birch wood, decorated with vines and painted tea leaves. The sign overhead read:
"Emilia's Calm Corner – Have Tea, Breathe, Escape Madness."
Three things Rei hadn't done all semester.
There were no glowing runes. No ominous background chanting. No poison detection wards. Just a neatly arranged table with mismatched teacups, fresh scones, and a girl with a soft smile that said, "I'm too reasonable to be real."
