Rooftop — A Little Later
Kazuma's body slumped against the railing, his breathing shallow, his vision blurry.
The world was spinning.
His arms and legs felt so heavy it was like they'd turned into iron.
Mitsuha bent down beside him and tapped his cheek lightly with two fingers.
"Oi… still breathing? Wow, you're weaker than I thought."
Kazuma didn't even have time to process before the terrace door slammed open.
"MITSUHA!?"
The teacher's voice sliced through the air.
Her eyes fell on Kazuma—pale, motionless, barely conscious—and her face turned white.
"What did you do!? This boy—he's—"
She rushed over, checking his pulse, then his temperature. Cold. Very cold.
"Mitsuha, what did you give him!?"
Mitsuha slowly stood up, arms crossed, her expression completely flat.
"Relax, Sensei. It's not that serious."
"Not serious!? Look at him! He can barely breathe!"
Mitsuha sighed like this whole situation was mildly inconvenient for her.
"I gave him alcohol. The strong kind. I didn't know he'd be such a lightweight."
The teacher stared at her, mouth hanging open.
"Alcohol!? He's sixteen! Do you even realize what you've done? This is—this is—"
"A crime?" Mitsuha finished for her, voice cold and sharp. "Okay then. Report it. Go ahead. Let's see where that gets you."
The teacher froze.
Mitsuha pulled a thick envelope from her blazer pocket and tossed it onto the bench.
"Here. Compensation for your… concern."
The teacher looked at the envelope like it was a snake.
"Are you trying to bribe me!?"
Mitsuha's eyes went icy.
"I'm not trying. I'm telling you how this works."She stepped closer, her voice quiet and dangerous."You know whose daughter I am. You know what my family is like. So ask yourself—do you really want to make this a problem?"
The teacher's hands trembled.
Silence hung in the air like smoke.
Finally, her shoulders slumped.
"...You can't leave him here," she whispered. "If you've already done this, then take responsibility. Bring him home. Make sure he's safe."
Mitsuha's expression didn't change.
"Fine. Whatever."
"Come on, sleeping beauty. We're getting you out of here, you fucking bitch."
Two Hours Later — Mitsuha's Apartment
Kazuma's eyes cracked open.
The ceiling was unfamiliar. White. Clean. The soft hum of the AC in the background.
Where…?
He tried sitting up—his body protested, sluggish and heavy.
"Oh, you're awake."
Mitsuha was sitting on the edge of a black leather sofa, legs crossed, eating chips like nothing had happened.
Kazuma's throat felt like sandpaper.
"...Where am I?"
"My apartment."
He blinked. Processed. Blinked again.
"Why… why am I here?"
"Because you passed out on the school roof and I couldn't leave you there. The teacher told me to bring you, dumbass."
Kazuma rubbed his face, trying to shake off the fog.
"You… what did you give me?"
"Alcohol."
"WHAT!?"
Mitsuha rolled her eyes.
"Relax. It wasn't poison. Just vodka. Strong vodka. I thought you'd spit it out or something, but you chugged it like an idiot."
Kazuma stared at her in shock.
"You… you made me think it was poison."
"I never said it was poison. You assumed that yourself."She shrugged."Not my fault you're so dramatic."
"I'm sixteen!"
"So am I."
"That's not the point!"
She tossed another chip into her mouth.
"Look, the doctor already came. He said you were dehydrated and your blood sugar was low. That's why the alcohol hit so hard. You're fine now."
Kazuma sat in silence, trying to make sense of everything.
"...So I'm staying here?"
"For now. At least until you stop being a flight risk."
"Flight risk?"
She gave him a flat stare.
"You tried to kill yourself twice in one day. Yeah, I'd say that qualifies."
Kazuma looked away.
"There's food in the kitchen," she said, standing up. "Pancakes. Go eat. I'm taking a shower."
She reached the bathroom door, then paused.
"Oh, and the lock is broken. So don't get any ideas or I'll break your face."
Kazuma's face turned red.
"I would never—"
"Good. Because if you try anything, I'll break your legs."
She went into the bathroom.
Kazuma just sat there in stunned silence.
What… what is happening to my life?
2:00 AM
"Okay, listen," Mitsuha said, standing in front of the bed with a pillow in hand. "I live alone, so there's only one bed."
Kazuma's eyes widened.
"Wait—"
"I'm putting this pillow in the middle. That's your side. This is my side."She drew an invisible line with her finger."If you cross this line, you die. If you touch me, you die. If you even breathe too hard in my direction, you die. Got it?"
Kazuma raised his hands.
"I'll sleep on the floor."
She blinked.
"...Seriously?"
"Yeah. It's fine."
She stared for a moment, then shrugged.
"Whatever you want."
She tossed him a blanket.
Kazuma spread the blanket on the floor beside the bed and lay down stiffly.
Lights off.
Silence.
For a while, only breathing could be heard.
But then—
"Kazuma…"
His eyes snapped open.
"Kazuma… why didn't you come…?"
Kento's voice.
Soft. Broken.
"I called you… but you didn't come…"
Kazuma's chest tightened.
"Please… Kazuma… it hurts…"
"Stop…"
"You left me… you let me die…"
"Stop…"
Then another voice.
"Kazuma… why…?"
Arisa.
"Don't hit me… let me go…"
"No—"
"You're a monster… a murderer…"
His breath started to break. Cold sweat. Heart racing.
"STOP!"
He jolted awake—
Darkness. Silence.
The apartment was quiet.
Kazuma was breathing heavily, unevenly.
A dream… just a dream…
But his heart was still racing.
He slowly stood up.
Mitsuha was asleep, peaceful and still.
Kazuma looked toward the bathroom.
A table. A chair. A ceiling fan.
Only one thought filled his mind.
Just… end it. Today. For good.
Quietly, he walked to the table.
He took off his belt.
Tied the knot around the fan.
Hands shaking.
Kento… forgive me…
He stepped onto the table.
Put the belt around his neck.
Took a deep breath.
Then—
Kicked the table.
THUD.
The belt tightened.
His body dropped.
Pressure on his neck.
Breath fading.
Legs kicking.
Eyes wide.
Foam at his mouth.
Vision blurring.
It's over… finally… over…
Darkness closing in.
Heartbeat slowing.
Finally… peace…
…
…
…
Then—
Kazuma's eyes opened a little.
Wait…
I'm… breathing…?
My heart… is still going…?
Confused, he looked at his hands.
I'm… hanging…
But… I'm not… dying!?
Panic.
What is happening!?
His eyes flew open—
He saw his body, hanging, but…He didn't feel suffocated…
Why can't I die!?
Suddenly—
"KAZUMA!!!"
The door burst open.
Lights on.
Kazuma jolted—
—awake on the floor, in his blanket.
He was breathing hard, chest tight, covered in sweat.
Mitsuha stood above him, furious.
"OI! What the hell are you doing!? Did you wet the bed!? "
Kazuma just stared, shocked, confused.
It was… a dream?
But… it felt so real…
No… that wasn't a dream. I was fully conscious…
"What is wrong with you!?" Mitsuha yelled. "Do I look like I run a hotel!? How old are you!?"
Kazuma couldn't say anything.
Just one question in his mind:
(This… wasn't a dream.)
(I was awake.)
(Then why… couldn't I die?)
(What's happening to me…?)
The room fell silent.
Only Kazuma's heavy breathing filled the air.
[CHAPTER 7 — END]