Inside the movie theater.
Today's movie was the kind that middle school chuunibyou fans would love—
A story about an ordinary high school boy who gains supernatural powers and ends up saving the world.
The reason it was considered a chuunibyou favorite was that the protagonist himself was a total chuunibyou.
Before gaining his powers, he constantly fantasized about being a hero.
Whenever he saw a classmate being bullied, he would imagine himself making a dramatic entrance, effortlessly taking down the delinquents, and catching the eye of the school's most beautiful girl.
But in reality—
He never had the courage to step in and would just run home.
One day, while investigating paranormal events—or rather, pretending to be a supernatural investigator—he encountered a girl being chased by mysterious pursuers.
This girl wasn't a superpowered being, but an advanced AI who had developed human intelligence and emotions.
The protagonist got injured by accident, and in saving him, the girl somehow triggered his supernatural awakening.
From there, the plot followed a predictable pattern—
The protagonist took the girl home.For some inexplicable reason, the girl transferred to his school.When he saw a classmate being bullied again, this time, he finally stepped in—coolly defeating the delinquents.The school's most beautiful girl just so happened to witness it.The girl's enemies found out about the protagonist and attacked the school.At the last moment, the school beauty received powers from the AI girl and became a warrior of justice.The three of them stormed the secret research facility and defeated the evil scientist without any struggle whatsoever.The school beauty fell in love with the protagonist.The AI girl decided to stay by his side forever.
…
When the movie ended, Yukino turned to Su Yu and asked for his thoughts.
"If I were the screenwriter, I would've added a final scene where the heroine makes a secret phone call to her family, saying the research lab has been taken care of," Su Yu mused.
"That kind of twist would be interesting," Yukino said with a small smile.
"There's another possible twist," Su Yu continued, staring at the blank movie screen.
"Tell me," Yukino said, intrigued.
"Everything after meeting the AI girl… was just a dream. The protagonist had been dreaming the entire time. When he wakes up, he goes to school again. This time, when he sees a classmate being bullied, he makes a different choice—he actually steps in to help," Su Yu said slowly.
Yukino blinked in surprise.
The first twist could lead to a sequel full of the same chuunibyou energy.
But the second twist…
It actually made you think.
"Someday, I might write a movie script—or an anime film script," Su Yu said, an idea forming in his mind.
"I'd love to see that," Yukino replied softly.
"Are you two done ignoring me now?" Yui huffed, pouting.
They both turned to look at her.
"So? Where to next?" Su Yu asked.
The two girls exchanged glances—then turned their gaze toward him.
"Alright, I get it," Su Yu sighed.
At Sakurasou.
Kawasaki Saki was tutoring her sister, Keika.
Meanwhile, Hiratsuka Shizuka sat nearby, flipping through a copy of Future Manga Weekly.
She had never been particularly interested in manga—until Su Yu had handed her that magazine.
Aside from Yuru Camp, she had also discovered several other excellent series.
Just as she reached an exciting part—
The chapter ended.
Shizuka clenched her fist, resisting the urge to punch the manga author.
Why end it there?!
Just then—
The front door opened.
All three of them turned to look.
Su Yu entered the courtyard, accompanied by Yukino and Yui.
Shizuka raised an eyebrow and glared at Su Yu.
Yukino and Yui walked up to her.
Yukino remained composed.
Yui, on the other hand, looked nervous.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, can we talk?" Yukino asked.
"Follow me," Shizuka said.
She could already tell that these two had come to a decision.
And the reason they sought her out—was because Yukino had no one else to consult.
Shizuka led them into her room.
Meanwhile, Su Yu casually took her seat, picked up the manga she had been reading, and started flipping through it.
Kawasaki Saki glanced at him but said nothing.
Inside Shizuka's room.
A box of sweets sat on the table—brought by Yui.
"So, Yukinoshita, what did you want to talk about?" Shizuka asked after briefly eyeing the sweets.
"I made an agreement with Yuigahama-san," Yukino said after a brief pause.
Shizuka frowned. "What kind of agreement?"
"I will marry Su Yu first. After three years, we will divorce—and then he will marry Yuigahama-san," Yukino said calmly.
"…What did you just say?" Shizuka looked stunned.
"This is the best solution we could come up with. All three of us agreed to it," Yukino continued.
Shizuka sat there, speechless.
It did sound like a perfect solution on paper.
But… a divorce after marriage?
Wouldn't that hurt Yukino?
Her first instinct was to object.
But then she remembered—
Unlike herself, Yukino had only one chance to choose her own husband.
If she lost Su Yu, she would likely be forced into an arranged marriage by her mother.
So, should she convince Yui to give up instead?
That wasn't an option either.
Shizuka could never bring herself to tell Yui to walk away.
"I don't want to leave Su Yu-kun. I love him," Yui said softly, clenching her fists.
"…Your parents won't agree to this," Shizuka reminded her.
The Yukinoshita family wouldn't care, but the Yuigahama family would.
She knew Yui's family situation.
"I'll do everything I can to convince them," Yui said determinedly.
"That won't be easy—"
"Su Yu-kun and I will help her. If necessary, I will personally persuade her parents," Yukino interrupted.
"Yukinoshita, you…"
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I'm telling you this because you're the only person I trust completely. And because you hold a special place in Su Yu-kun's life," Yukino said.
Hearing this, Yui looked at Shizuka with a very complicated expression.
"…What do you mean by that?" Shizuka asked cautiously.
"The way Su Yu-kun respects you—it's not just because you're his teacher," Yukino said, looking her in the eye. "It's because, to him, you're like an older sister."
Yui lowered her head in relief.
She had totally misinterpreted Yukino's words at first.
Shizuka, meanwhile, had a strange look on her face.
"If I had a younger brother like him… I would've used him as a punching bag a long time ago," she muttered.
"Su Yu-kun might be able to solve your personal problem. If he really manages to do it…" Yukino trailed off.
But Shizuka already understood.
"If he really does… then I…"
Notes-You can read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X