Ryoichiro's world tilted on its axis the moment he realized who — or rather, what — Yuko truly was. His breath shortened as his gaze locked onto Yuko. The room felt suddenly colder, his vision narrowing as he tried to reconcile the cheerful figure before him with the shadowy entity that had haunted him and Risa just nights before. Every instinct screamed at him to run, to confront, to do anything but sit there in this twisted mockery of normalcy. He wanted to protect Kirishima from whatever malevolent force was lurking beneath that pretty exterior. Yet, he knew that causing a scene would only drag his friend into the nightmare that had already ensnared him. Ryoichiro was paralyzed, caught between the need to act and the fear of making a mistake that could shatter their fragile reality.

He felt sick, a nauseating churn in his gut that made it harder to breathe. His thoughts were a chaotic mess, crashing into one another with no clear path forward. He could feel his pulse quicken, a cold sweat beading on his forehead. He forced himself to take slow, measured breaths, trying to steady the storm within.

“How can this be happening? Why is she here, with Kirishima-san of all people? And what does she want?”

The questions spiraled, each one more terrifying than the last, until he was barely aware of his surroundings, lost in a fog of dread.

Saejima’s voice broke through the haze, sharp with concern. “Ryoichiro-san, is everything alright?”

Ryoichiro adjusted his posture, forcing a strained smile as Saejima's voice broke through his daze. The concern in his voice seemed distant, as if he were hearing it through a thick morning mist. Ryoichiro nodded, though his attempt at a casual tone wavered. “Yeah, just… a bit overwhelmed.” His voice was too high, his hands trembling slightly despite his efforts to keep them still.

Ryoichiro blinked, forcing himself to focus, but the effort felt monumental. He glanced at Saejima, then back at Yuko, who was watching him with an expression of innocent worry that made his skin crawl.

Ryoichiro’s mind raced as he tried to take in Yuko’s perfectly human demeanor in contrast with the shadowy figure from his nightmares. “How can she be so convincing? How can she look so... human?” His disbelief grew, making it harder to focus on the conversation at hand.

Kirishima, ever the joker, laughed, oblivious to the storm raging inside his friend. "What, are you jealous, Ryo-kun? Come on, man, there’s no need for that."

His words were light, teasing, but Ryoichiro could barely register them. He felt like he was drowning, struggling to keep his head above water in a sea of confusion and fear. Kirishima’s joke about jealousy only twisted the knife deeper, but it was Yuko's feigned concern that almost broke him. “Nah, dude. Of course not,” he said, trying to mask his anxiety. His gaze flickered back to Yuko, torn between the disarming warmth of her smile and the cold dread gnawing at him.

Yuko tilted her head slightly, her eyes wide with what appeared to be genuine concern. “Ryoichiro-san, is something wrong? You look pale.” Her eyes, so innocent and caring, were a cruel mockery of the truth he knew.

“I — I'm fine,” Ryoichiro managed to choke out, though his voice sounded hollow to his own ears. He had to get out of there, had to put some distance between himself and that... thing. “I just need some air,” he muttered, pushing back his chair and making a beeline for the door.

The moment he was outside, he sucked in a deep breath, but the fresh air did little to calm the storm inside him. He leaned against the wall, struggling to find his center amidst the chaos swirling inside him.

“How can I protect Kirishima-san? What does Yuko — no, that thing — want from him?”

His thoughts were a chaotic whirl, every possible scenario playing out in his mind, each a jagged shard of fear and uncertainty.

“What am I supposed to do? I can’t just leave Kirishima-san alone with that creature. But what can I do? I also can’t drag him into this nightmare without proof. What proof can I offer? How can I explain that the woman Kirishima-san was so clearly smitten with is a shadowy entity we’d faced in a terrifying encounter?” His mind raced as he tried to force a semblance of calm.

“Keep it together, Ryoichiro.” Each word felt like a monumental effort, a battle against the chaos inside him.

The sound of footsteps behind jolted him back to the present, and he turned just as Kirishima caught up to him. There was a deep frown on his face, his usual carefree attitude replaced with genuine concern — and a hint of anger. “What the hell is going on, Ryoichiro-kun? If something’s wrong, just tell me.”

When Kirishima’s voice cut through the haze, Ryoichiro turned with an effort to mask his turmoil. Kirishima's eyes were filled with confusion and hurt, and Ryoichiro knew he had to say something, anything, to avoid dragging his friend into this dark, twisted reality. Ryoichiro opened his mouth to speak, but the words stuck in his throat. How could he possibly explain what he was feeling without sounding insane? He wanted to tell Kirishima everything, to warn him, to protect him from whatever Yuko was, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, he forced a weak smile, his expression painfully strained.

“I’m happy for you, Kirishima-san. Really, I am,” he finally forced out, the words bitter on his tongue. “Something’s just… come up. I need to deal with it.” His face betrayed nothing, a mask of forced calm that barely concealed the turmoil beneath. He couldn't bear to look Kirishima in the eye, not when every fiber of his being screamed that Yuko was a danger, a threat that he didn’t know how to fight.

Kirishima’s eyes narrowed, clearly not buying the excuse, but before Ryoichiro could answer, a sudden touch on his elbow made him flinch, his heart leaping into his throat. He spun around, ready to defend himself, only to find Risa standing there, her face a mixture of worry and determination.

“Risa-chan?” Ryoichiro breathed, his surprise evident. The sight of her brought a strange sense of relief, even as his mind struggled to keep up with everything that was happening.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Risa offered him a small, apologetic smile before turning her attention to Kirishima. “I’m sorry for interrupting, but I needed to speak with Ryoichiro-san. It’s urgent.”

Kirishima looked between them, his confusion deepening. “Who’s this beauty?” he asked, trying to lighten the mood, but Ryoichiro could barely muster a response. He was still processing, still trying to wrap his mind around the impossible reality he found himself in.

“This is Risa-san,” he heard himself say, the words almost automatic. His voice was distant, as if he were still processing the situation even as he spoke. “We need to talk.”

Kirishima raised an eyebrow, suspicion creeping into his expression. “Wait a minute, Ryo-kun. Did you stage this just so you could introduce your girlfriend, too?” He tried to keep his tone light, but there was an underlying tension that Ryoichiro couldn’t ignore.

Ryoichiro forced another nervous smile, though it felt like his face might crack under the strain. “No, it’s not like that, Kirishima-san. We really do need to talk.”

Risa stepped in smoothly, her voice calm and polite. “It won’t take long, I promise. Can we have a moment alone?”

Kirishima studied them for a long moment, his eyes flicking between Ryoichiro and Risa, before he finally relented with a smirk. “Fine, fine. But don’t take too long, okay? We still have to celebrate.” With that, he turned and headed back inside, leaving them alone.

As soon as Kirishima was out of earshot, Ryoichiro finally allowed himself to exhale, the weight of the situation crashing down on him. He let out a shaky breath, his hands trembling as he turned to Risa, his eyes searching hers for answers, for some way out of this nightmare.

“What are we going to do, Risa-chan? Kirishima-san’s girlfriend… She’s… she’s the one — she’s the thing that came after us the other night. And now she’s here, with Kirishima-san.”

Risa’s expression was grim, but her voice was steady. “I know. We can’t tell him, not yet. But we have to figure out what she wants. And actually, she’s the one who told me to come here.”

Ryoichiro's pulse quickened as he stared at Risa, trying to process what she had just said. “That… thing told you to come?” His voice was laced with disbelief, his mind reeling from the revelation.

Risa nodded, her brow furrowed in confusion. “She appeared to me not long after you left. She said something about you losing control, that you were in danger of falling apart, and that I was the only one who could keep you together.” Risa paused, searching his face for answers she herself didn’t have. “I didn’t understand it at all, but I came anyway. I thought something terrible must have happened.”

Ryoichiro shook his head, still struggling to wrap his mind around the idea. “Aside from the fact that I just met that ghostly figure in human form, nothing’s happened... yet.” He let out a bitter laugh, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. “I don’t know what’s going on, Risa-chan. I know I acted like I was ready to handle this the other night, but right now, I’m at my wit’s end. None of this makes no damn sense at all!”

Risa watched him carefully, her expression a mix of empathy and concern. “But you’re not falling apart, Ryo-chan. Look at me. You’re still here, still holding on. And if this Yuko thing was right — if I’m the one keeping you together — then we’ll figure this out. We’ll face whatever this is, together.”

Ryoichiro hesitated, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him. “Have you heard anything from Ed-san?” he asked, his voice edged with hope.

Risa simply shook her head, the silence between them heavy with the answer she couldn’t bring herself to speak aloud.

Ryoichiro looked at her, the weight of her previous words settling over him like a fragile lifeline. He was still confused, still afraid, but in Risa’s presence, he felt something else too: a small, steady strength that had been missing just moments ago. It was as if her very presence grounded him, kept the swirling chaos in his mind at bay.

“Maybe she’s right, Risa-chan,” he murmured, more to himself than to Risa. “Maybe you’re the reason I haven’t lost it completely. I refuse to believe it, but…”

Risa reached out, taking his hand in hers. The gesture was simple, but it was enough to remind him that he wasn’t alone in this. Whatever dark, twisted game Yuko was playing, whatever fate had in store for him, he had Risa by his side. And that, at least, was something solid to hold on to in the storm.

“We’ll get through this, Ryo-chan," Risa said softly, her grip on his hand tightening as if to anchor him. "But we need to stay sharp. We can’t let Yuko — or whatever she is — get the upper hand.”

Ryoichiro nodded, a newfound resolve settling in his chest. “You’re right. She made it sound like she’s an ally or whatever, but we can’t know for sure.” He met Risa’s gaze, the fear in his eyes slowly being replaced by determination. “We’ll figure out what she wants, and we’ll find a way to stop her. And all of this.”

Risa smiled, a hint of relief washing over her face. “That’s the Ryoichiro I know. We’ll take this one step at a time, okay? But for now, we need to get back inside before Kirishima starts asking more questions.”

Ryoichiro exhaled deeply, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little. “Yeah... Let’s go, Risa-chan.”

Together, they turned and headed back toward the building, their minds still heavy with uncertainty but their hearts fortified by the bond that had brought them this far. As they walked, Ryoichiro couldn’t help but wonder if Yuko’s intervention was a trap, a way to lure him deeper into whatever dark scheme she had planned. But with Risa beside him, he felt a flicker of hope — hope that they could outmaneuver the shadowy entity and protect those they cared about.

Ryoichiro and Risa walked back to the restaurant, the weight of their previous conversation still lingering between them. As they stepped inside, they were immediately met with playful jeers and teasing from the group. Kirishima’s grin was wide as he leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying himself.

“Took you long enough to find your way back!” Kirishima teased, his tone lighthearted but tinged with a hint of curiosity that didn’t go unnoticed.

Risa’s eyes were immediately drawn to Yuko. The shock of seeing the shadowy figure now masquerading as Kirishima’s girlfriend hadn’t worn off. Her gaze lingered on Yuko, her disbelief clear.

Kirishima noticed her expression and raised an eyebrow. “What’s with the look, Risa-san? You seem like you’ve seen a ghost or something.”

Risa blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. “Oh, it’s nothing... I just... I can’t believe how pretty your girlfriend is,” she replied, forcing a smile as she tried to mask her true feelings. It was a half-truth, but it was the best she could manage on short notice.

Kirishima boldly replies, his eyes twinkling as he said, “Risa-san’s pretty stunning too, you know.”

Yuko, sitting right beside him, feigned a pout, her eyes narrowing in mock indignation. “Hey, I’m sitting right here!” she protested playfully.

Kirishima chuckled, turning to her with a teasing glint in his eye. “Of course, you’re the prettiest, Yuko-chan,” he said, the words dripping with playful charm.

Yuko rolled her eyes with a smile and lightly smacked his arm. “You better remember that,” she quipped, her laughter softening the playful reprimand.

Ryoichiro and Risa stood frozen, their gazes locked on Yuko, who was effortlessly blending in, pretending to be a normal human. The ease with which she played her part, laughing and teasing with the others, was nothing short of surreal. They exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them amidst the laughter that filled the room.

For everyone else, it was just another moment of lighthearted fun, but for Ryoichiro and Risa, it was something entirely different — something unsettling. It was like watching a scene from a play where one of the actors wasn’t quite what they seemed, an illusion so perfect that it left them both unnerved and speechless.

Yuko noticed the two, then her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint as she returned the compliment, her voice smooth and melodic. “You’re too kind. But I have to say, you’re quite bewitching yourself.”

She thanked her with a small bow then turned to the group, her tone light and playful. “I’m so sorry for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Risa Saia.” She smiled warmly at everyone before turning to Ryoichiro, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Nice to meet all of you. I’m Ryoichiro’s girlfriend.”

The words hung in the air like a grenade, and Ryoichiro, in mid-sip of his water, choked violently, his face turning red. The suddenness of it all caught him completely off guard.

Kirishima burst out laughing, clapping Ryoichiro on the back as he struggled to regain his composure. “Easy there, buddy! Didn’t know you were keeping secrets from us! And here I thought we were friends!”

Saejima, never one to miss a chance to join in the teasing, crossed his arms and pretended to be offended. “I’m the only one here without a date. This is just unfair!” He shook his head dramatically, eliciting laughter from everyone around the table.

Ryoichiro, still trying to catch his breath, looked over at Risa, his face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and confusion. His mind raced, but all thoughts seemed to jumble together into a chaotic mess.

Risa met his gaze, her own eyes filled with an understanding that calmed his nerves. She smiled at him, a soft, endearing expression that seemed to silently communicate her support. It was as if she was telling him that they were in this together, no matter how absurd the situation had become.

Ryoichiro felt his heart skip a beat, his confusion deepening but also giving way to something warmer, more reassuring. He managed a weak smile in return, grateful for Risa’s presence beside him. But beneath it all, the unsettling reality of Yuko’s true nature lingered like a shadow, a reminder that this moment of levity was only a temporary reprieve from the dangers lurking just beneath the surface.