Hourglass [Quintessential Quintuplets]

Chapter 2 - The Beyond

Asuka's POV:

It's a beautiful morning—annoyingly so, if I'm being honest. The kind of weather that makes you feel guilty for not enjoying life more. A gentle, refreshing breeze carries that early-autumn sharpness in the air, and the sky is that perfect blue that people write poems about. The streets are buzzing with life, and even the crows seem more enthusiastic than usual.

Meanwhile, I'm dragging myself toward school like someone headed for a funeral.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against education. I... just bought Elden Ring last night. Created my character. Watched the opening cinematic. Touched grace. And now I have to be here, standing among thousands of students instead of roaming the Lands Between.

Truly, the most tragic of sacrifices.

The school gate is exactly the kind of chaos I expected. New transfers, first-years, returning students all merging into one mass of nervous chatter and bad posture. A classic high school scene. If someone dropped a water balloon from the roof, no one would even be able to escape.

According to the class list, I'm in 2-C. Same as Fuutarou. That's a relief—at least I know one person I can sit next. I swing my bag onto my shoulder and start heading inside, already thinking about where to hide during lunch—

—when I feel it. A tap. Light. Barely even contact, really. But distinct enough to interrupt my train of thought. ''U-Umm... Asuka-kun?''

I turn my head, and a girl comes into view. Pretty. Soft-spoken. Polite expression. There's something familiar about her, though I can't quite put my finger on it. My brain takes a few moments longer than it should to boot up. 

Maybe she's from my class last semester? A group project, maybe? One of those people who knew my name even though we never really talked?  ''Ah, Hello. Its nice to se—GH!''

AHH! NOW I REMEMBER! This girl was the one who asked me out last semester, but I tried to swoosh away by leaving her answer unanswered! My sins that I have postponed are coming back to me.

''So, w-what is your a-answer, Asuka-kun? You know...about my... confession?''

W-What the fuck is that heavy air around me? When I turned around, I noticed a crowd of girls staring at me and the girl who was holding my shoulder at the time. To put it more accurately, a pack of wild monsters that have focused down on their prey, like that cool National Geographic documentanries. 

I need to be calm... calm... calm. How can I prevent this in a way that causes the least damage? Should I refuse directly? Or I say that I'm not ready for a relationship? Maybe the secret Joestar Technique.

''Actually—! I FORGOT THE OVEN ON, I HAVE TO GO! LET'S TALK LATER OKAY? Whatever your name is...''

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