Your Lie In April: Across The Multiverse

YLIA x Multiverse Episode 17: The Prodigal Son

Episode 17: The Prodigal Son

Watari walked through the halls of his high school eagerly, with an uncharacteristic bounce in his step. But who could blame him? He was about to see his girlfriend after all, and better yet, he had a gift she was sure to love!

He passed by the shoe lockers, the cafeteria, the gym, then finally the last hallway he knew to be on the way to Homeroom. Just a few more steps, a left turn, then boom! He slid open the classroom door, grinning from ear to ear as his eyes caught sight of Tsubaki's short but beautiful brown hair. At the moment, she was stuck in a daze out the window with her earbuds in, so Watari announced his presence with his usual flair.

"Good morning my dear!"

Tsubaki turned to face him, and that's when Watari stopped in his tracks. She took her earbuds out yes, but the look on her face indicated something more than the usual annoyance towards his dramatics. In her eyes, Watari saw hostility. But he wasn't about to let up just yet; she'd be sure to change her tune once she saw his gift!

"Alright, you may be mad at me now, but you won't be once I give you this!"

Reaching around from behind his back, Watari revealed the fancy scarf and movie set Tsubaki had admired on their trip to the mall a few days ago. Surely she was about to give him an excited smile and hug him right?

But no.

She just sat there, glaring at him with irate scorn that refused to commend him for acquiring what should've been a valuable treasure.

"Um...Tsubaki?" Watari gulped. "Are you good?"

That was when Tsubaki reached into her pocket, and Watari's hands went numb as they dropped the precious items. For a second, he was frozen by shame, and then he frantically patted his pockets.

How on earth had Tsubaki gotten ahold of his phone?!

But it was there alright, in her hand, clear as day, with his abominable search history displayed on the screen for the whole world to see.

Once again, Watari found himself defenseless, powerless, and speechless at the hands of the girl whose heart he had just betrayed. He opened his mouth to utter some feeble attempt of an apology, but that was when he felt strong hands seizing him from behind. His eyes darted to the left and right, going wider than they already were if that were possible. Somehow, Tsubaki's softball team had filed into the room unnoticed and now he was hemmed in on all sides!

"Keiko?! Nao?! Mei?!" he gasped at the three girls who now had both his arms restrained. "What are all of you doing here?!"

"Isn't it obvious?" Keiko said coyly, gripping his right arm with an ironclad hold. "Protecting our dear teammate from the same heartbreak you gave me."

"What?! Keiko, no, I never meant to—!"

"And me," Mei mocked, batting her eyelashes. "Was I just not good enough for you once you laid eyes on that other girl?"

"Mei, please! All of you! Please, listen to me! I swear I—!"

"What do you want us to do with him, Tsubaki?" Nao Kashiwagi's voice interjected. "It's your call to make."

At first, Tsubaki gazed at her once-dashing boyfriend with a hint of pity in her eyes, and Watari hoped for her to intercede on his behalf. But the flicker of mercy dissipated as quickly as it came, for the next words that came from Tsubaki's lips pierced deeper than any blade ever could.