"Can you do me a favor?"
Erina Nakiri spoke after a brief hesitation. Her tone was calm, but the slight pause before her words betrayed her inner conflict.
"Do you want me to help you become friends with her?" Akira Fujimiya asked casually, as if he had already guessed her thoughts.
Erina Nakiri nodded slowly.
This was something she had wanted for a long time.
However, even now, Hisako always addressed her as 'Miss Erina'. She never once called her simply Erina.
It was the same as that time when they watched the cherry blossoms together. Back then, Erina had wanted Hisako to come and stand beside her. Yet Hisako had chosen to stay a short distance away, maintaining her role as a secretary rather than a friend.
From the outside, the two of them appeared close and harmonious. In reality, there was an invisible wall between them—thin, transparent, yet impossible to ignore.
"This is actually very simple," Akira said with a faint smile. "But someone as proud as you definitely can't do it yourself. So I'll reluctantly help you."
Erina frowned slightly. "What do you mean by reluctantly?"
"My method is very simple," Akira continued, deliberately ignoring her reaction. "Just lean closer. Put your ear near mine, and I'll tell you."
Erina hesitated for a brief moment.
Then she moved closer to Akira, her movements stiff, her posture unnaturally upright. As she leaned in, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks without her noticing.
Akira's gaze lingered on that blush for a moment longer than necessary.
Before Erina could react, he leaned forward.
A light kiss landed on the side of her face.
For a split second, Erina Nakiri froze completely.
Her mind went blank.
Then—
She took a step back, quickly, glaring at Akira with a mix of shame and anger, her face burning red.
"You—!"
"I'm sorry," Akira said calmly, his expression completely unapologetic. "Miss Nakiri was just too cute. I couldn't help myself."
Erina clenched her fists, biting her lip.
She knew it—He had done it on purpose.
"Then hurry up and tell me," she said through gritted teeth. "What exactly is your idea?"
Akira smiled, clearly satisfied with her reaction.
.....
Lunch Time
At noon, a group of girls gathered together in the dining area, enjoying the carefully prepared lunch made by the maids.
Akira, Yui Yuigahama and Yukinoshita Yukino sat together. In front of them was food personally prepared by Erina Nakiri.
Sunlight filtered through the glass, casting soft shadows across the table.
The three of them ate quietly, neither saying a word.
Yukinoshita Yukino was deep in thought, her gaze unfocused as she considered the next stage of Puella Magi Madoka Magica's production schedule.
Akira, on the other hand, was thinking about what awaited them after they arrived on the island.
The silence between them wasn't awkward—it was familiar.
Still, it didn't go unnoticed.
"Akira-kun, Yukino, why are you two so quiet?" Yuigahama Yui's cheerful voice broke the calm from the side.
"I'm thinking about the anime," Yukinoshita replied, lifting her head slightly.
"And you, Akira-kun?" Yui turned toward him, tilting her head.
"I'm thinking about what's going to happen tonight," Akira answered seriously.
The moment those words left his mouth, both girls stiffened.
Their faces reddened almost instantly.
"I thought Akira-kun had done something to make Yukino angry," Yuigahama said in a small voice, glancing between them.
"How could I possibly make her angry?" Akira said confidently. "I love Yukino the most."
As he spoke, he reached out, gently holding Yukinoshita Yukino's hand and kissing the back of it with practiced ease.
"This man isn't worth getting angry over," Yukinoshita said coldly, rolling her eyes at him.
"I'm glad you're not angry," Yuigahama said quickly, smiling again. "After lunch, I want to take a walk on the deck with Yukinon and take some photos. I want to show them to my mom when we get back."
"Let's go together," Akira suggested. "I'll take pictures of you two."
"Then let's go as a trio," Yuigahama said, winking playfully.
In truth, she wanted her mother to see a picture of her and Akira together.
Yukinoshita glanced at Yuigahama and instantly understood what she was thinking.
...
On the Deck
After lunch, several girls were gathered on the deck.
A maid held a camera and took photos for them.
The yacht was equipped with professional photo-developing equipment, allowing instant processing.
Akira took several pictures for Yuigahama Yui.
One of her and Yukinoshita Yukino together.
One group photo of the trio.
Several group photos with everyone.
And one photo of Yuigahama Yui and Akira standing side by side.
Encouraged by Yuigahama, Isshiki Iroha ran over enthusiastically, insisting on taking a photo with Akira as well.
Akira glanced at the other girls and immediately understood.
Every single one of them wanted a photo with him.
So—
"All right, youngsters," Akira said helplessly. "Three will be enough."
"Miura Yumiko, hold my arm."
"Hina, come a little closer."
"Saki, don't be shy—look at the camera."
"Meguri senpai, your smile is too stiff."
"Nariki, Hisako—let's take one of the three of us."
"Hiratsuka-sensei, you, Shouko, and me."
Finally, there was Yukinoshita Yukino.
Akira wrapped an arm around her waist and tilted his head slightly, making a clear gesture that suggested a kiss.
Yukinoshita's face flushed as she stared at him, torn between resistance and resignation.
The maid captured that exact moment.
"Young Master Akira, the island is just ahead," Setsuna voice sounded from a distance.
Akira turned his head and looked into the distance.
Even from afar, the island was clearly not small.
As the yacht continued forward, the view gradually became more clear.
.....
The yacht docked at the pier half an hour later.
The girls disembarked one after another, carrying their suitcases with the assistance of the maids.
As they looked around, surprise filled their expressions.
This place was nothing like an uninhabited island.
Coconut trees lined the shore. Beach chairs were neatly arranged on the sand. Stone paths were laid carefully across the ground.
Further inside, fruit trees and a pond could be seen.
As they passed through the area, small cabins appeared on both sides of the road, and beyond them stood several villas.
The distance from the dock to the main villa was several kilometers.
The villa itself was comparable in size to Yukinoshita Yukino's residence.
However—
This was a private island.
Its value far exceeded that of any single villa.
"The island is equipped with the latest seawater filtration system, independent power generation, and complete self-sustaining infrastructure," Sayaka Dejima explained calmly as they walked.
{T/N: Maid name change from Asaka to Sayaka}
Even without maintenance, the systems could function for decades!
There were animals in the forest, ensuring a stable food source if needed.
Small yachts and motorboats were also available along the coast.
Two helicopters were parked not far away from the villa.
The group entered the villa.
The maids guided everyone to their rooms.
Akira's backpack was handed over to a maid as well.
Once inside, Akira turned to Sayaka.
"Please follow me," she said quietly, her usual calm voice.
She led Akira out of the villa and around to the back.
After walking along a narrow path for more than ten minutes, they arrived at a secluded house.
The house was facing the sea.
Flower beds filled the courtyard.
A brown-haired girl in a maid outfit stood with her back to them, gazing at the ocean.
"Miss, Young Master Akira has arrived," She said respectfully, bowing.
"You still couldn't hide it?" the girl said with a soft laugh as she turned around.
Akira calmly looked at her, not revealing any of his inner conflict.
Sayaka quietly withdrew.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
A sea breeze passed through, lifting the girl's long hair.
She walked toward Akira step by step.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time."
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting," Akira replied.
He did not move.
"I can see the future," the girl said softly, suddenly. "Do you believe me?"
"I do," Akira answered without hesitation.
"In the future I saw, there was no manga called Non Non Biyori, or an anime called Madoka Magica, that is getting produced by your company."
She paused, watching his expression.
"I investigated your background and found inconsistencies. Your information is too complete. Even the place you once lived still has people who remember you."
Akira remained silent.
"Normally, if someone moves away long ago, they're forgotten," she continued. "But everything about you is normal. Too normal."
"When your talent became public, I noticed. For a long time, I wondered whether I was a character in some kind of story—someone from a different world."
"That's a bold hypothesis," Akira said calmly.
"I once dreamed of another world," she said seriously. "I was part of a student council. I had a close friend, but I can't remember her name or face."
She looked at him intently.
"Can you tell me her name? Can you draw what she looks like?"
After a long silence, Akira finally spoke.
"Her name is Shino Amakusa ."
"You really do know," the girl said with a smile, stepping closer.
"Do you know, where is she now?" Akira asked, not minding the close distance between them.
"She's the student council president of a high school invested by the Shichijō family. An all-girls school. I'm affiliated with it, but I've never been there."
"Ousai Private Academy?" Akira said naturally.
She laughed softly.
"Even my aunt doesn't know that name. Yet you do."
Akira neither confirmed nor denied her words.
"Don't you want to be friends with her?" he asked quietly.
...
(Image)
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Bonus Chapter:-
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6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,650