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. Even the crows seem more enthusiastic than usual.

Meanwhile, I'm dragging my ass toward school just because our goverment forces to do so.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against education. It's just... I bought Elden Ring last night on sale. Created my character. I picked my build. Spent ten minutes adjusting eye color even though you can barely see it under a helmet, 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 rooftop right now, half the school would die in friendly fire. Cool idea, noted.

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 was in my class last semester? A group project, maybe? Someone who always turned in their part on time and used polite emojis in the group chat? One of those people who somehow knew my name even though we never really talked?

Anyway! I would better continue the conversation without making it obvious that I don't remember a single thing about her. Doesn't everyone do this to people whose names they can't remember? ''Oh, hello. It's nice to see you aro—GH!'' 

AHH!
...SHIT.
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 postponed are finally coming back to collect interest. Her fingers tighten slightly on my sleeve. ''So, w-what is your a-answer, Asuka-kun? Y-You know... about my... confession? You said you need time...''

W-W-What the fuck is this pressure in the air?

When I glance around, I notice it isn't just us. There's a whole circle of girls standing at a polite-but-not-really distance, watching like a live drama in front of them. Their eyes flick back and forth between me and the girl on my sleeve. I can almost hear the subtitles.

To put it more accurately, it's not a circle of girls. It feels more like a pack of wild monsters that have locked onto their prey. You know those cool National Geographic documentaries where a gazelle realizes it's surrounded by lions and it's already too late? Yeah. That. I'm the gazelle.

Okay, okay.
Calm.
I need to be calm. Calm... calm... calm, damn it!

How can I get out of this with the least damage possible? Should I just refuse her directly? Tell her I'm not ready for a relationship? Maybe say I'm focusing on my studies? (Which would be a top tier lie I've ever told, and I've told some really good ones). Maybe the secret Joestar Technique and run the hell away?

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