Princess Connect Academy: Hungry Hearts and Love Storms
A boy named Yuuki transfers to a Japanese high school with no memories of his past. He's average at everything except one thing: girls seem drawn to him for no reason. On his first day, a cheerful girl named Pecorine crashes into him, complaining she's starving. He offers her a rice ball, and she bursts into tears, saying it's the taste she's been searching for. Suddenly, a strange vision flashes in Yuuki's mind—a grassy field, a sword, and a girl calling his name. But he can't remember.
The ne
Princess Connect Academy: Hungry Hearts and Love Storms - A Vow Beneath the Cherry Blossoms: The Price of Regaining Memories, and Still I Want to Protect You
Under the cherry tree, Yuuki sat alone, turning Yui's words over in his mind.
(The cost of resonance magic is my memories...)
The back of his skull still felt heavy. What he'd heard here last night was too enormous to process—it still hadn't settled into reality.
"...Yuuki."
The hem of her white dress swayed in the pre-dawn breeze. Yui emerged silently from behind the cherry trunk, as if she had been standing there all along.
"Have you thought about it?"
"...Yeah. But I still don't know."
Yuuki stayed seated on the ground, hugging his knees. The cold of the soil seeped through his pants.
"If I get my memories back, I might put everyone in danger again. But staying ignorant—that scares me even more."
"I know. You've always been that kind of person."
Yui lowered herself soundlessly beside him. The faint warmth of her body stirred the air.
"You always feared hurting others more than being hurt yourself. ...That's why you carried everything alone—and then you vanished from before me."
"...I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. I'm the one who should be sorry."
Her long black hair streamed in the wind. Her profile held something closer to nostalgia than sorrow.
"Your resonance magic is the power to resonate with another's soul. It's proof of your kindness. But every time you used it, you paid with your own past. ...That day, to protect the kingdom, you threw everything away. Your own memories—and the promise you made to me."
Yuuki couldn't say a word.
Each of Yui's words shaped a self he didn't know. And the realization that this wasn't some distant tale but his own life spread slowly through his chest.
"What... what kind of promise did I make to you?"
"...'I will definitely return.' That's what you said before you left for the battlefield."
Yui touched the cherry trunk.
"This tree once stood on the Hill of Vows. The place where you and I first met. And the place where we last parted. ...That's why I believed that if you came beneath this tree, your soul would slowly awaken."
That was when it happened.
A rustle.
The cherry branches trembled—though there was no wind.
At the edge of Yuuki's vision, countless petals spilled from branches that shouldn't have bloomed yet, like particles of light.
"...What?"
"It's begun. Your soul is calling for your companions."
Yui rose quietly to her feet.
"I'll be going now. Your answer will surely be brought to you by the people you hold dear."
"Wait—"
Before he could finish, Yui's figure had already dissolved into the morning mist.
Only Yuuki remained—and the cherry tree, beginning to glow.
---
"Yuuki-kun...!"
It was Pecorine who came vaulting over the back garden fence, out of breath.
Her usual twin buns were coming undone. Her big amber eyes were brimming with tears.
"Pecorine... why are you here?"
"Because you disappeared, Yuuki-kun...! I asked your grandfather! He said you might be here!"
She flung herself against his chest, clinging to him.
"I'm so sorry...! It's my fault you got expelled! Because I saw those strange memories! Because I cried, your power went out of control...!"
Her small body was trembling.
"That's not it. It's not your fault, Pecorine."
Yuuki gently placed a hand on her head.
"It's because I couldn't control my own power. You didn't do anything wrong."
"But... but...!"
"Thank you. I'm glad you came looking for me."
At his words, Pecorine's face crumpled, and even bigger tears spilled down her cheeks.
"Yuuki-kun...! Listen, I've decided! Your cooking is my reason to live! So make me onigiri again! Promise me!"
"...Promise?"
"Yeah! I won't die until I eat your onigiri, Yuuki-kun! Absolutely never! So you have to keep making onigiri for me too! Forever! Eternally!"
It was absurd logic.
But that absurdity pierced straight through his chest.
Yuuki remembered the warmth of his own hands shaping onigiri. The steam rising from hot rice. The grains of salt. Pecorine's face laughing, "Delicious!"
"...Okay. I promise."
Yuuki nodded, holding back tears.
---
"...What are you crying about?"
A cold voice rang across the back garden.
He turned to see Kyaru standing with her arms crossed, her silver long hair perfectly arranged. Her ice-blue eyes fixed straight on him.
"Kyaru-san...!"
"It's only natural for the student council president to search for a missing transfer student. ...Not that I was worried about you or anything."
"And for the record, I'm not the student council president anymore. I slammed my resignation on the desk."
"What!? Why!?"
"...A student council president who can't protect you is worthless."
Kyaru took a step closer.
"I was born to protect you. In my past life, I couldn't. This time, I refuse to lose you. Absolutely."
Her voice trembled faintly.
"...I'm in love with you."
The air in the garden went taut.
Pecorine looked at Kyaru, startled.
"Wait... Kyaru-san, that means..."
"Be quiet. I'm talking to Yuuki right now."
Kyaru looked straight into his eyes.
"Even if you don't remember, I do. In our past life—how you protected me, how I failed to protect you. All of it. That's enough for me. I want to be by your side. That's all I've ever wanted."
"...Kyaru-san."
Yuuki didn't know how to answer.
He had no memories. Did he even have the right to respond to her feelings?
"I'm sorry. I still can't remember anything. So I don't know if I can properly answer your feelings."
"...That's fine. Even if you don't remember, I do. That's enough. For now, that's enough."
Kyaru said it with the faintest smile.
It was a soft smile, like ice melting.
---
"...It seems everyone is gathered."
A quiet voice spoke, and Kokkoro stood at the entrance to the back garden.
A girl with a gentle air, her long black hair woven into a braid. The star-shaped pendant at her chest caught the morning light and glimmered.
"Kokkoro-chan too..."
"Fufu. My star told me where you were, Yuuki-sama. I've been searching for the Grove of Star-Bonds for so long, and I've finally arrived here."
Kokkoro stepped forward and bowed deeply before him.
"Yuuki-sama. It is my mission to help you recover your memories."
"Mission?"
"Yes. In your past life, in the Kingdom of Astralia, you cast away everything you had to protect the kingdom. I have watched that sight in my prayers all this time."
Her jade-green eyes took on a serious light.
"However, recovering your memories may not bring you happiness, Yuuki-sama. You will remember all the suffering and sorrow of twelve hundred years ago."
"Even so, I wish to help you face your past. ...It is the same warning Yui-sama gave, but even so, I want to support the path your soul desires."
"...Thank you, Kokkoro-chan."
Yuuki gently took Kokkoro's hand.
"Even so, I want to answer everyone's feelings. I want to protect all of you."
A single tear spilled from Kokkoro's eye.
"...Yuuki-sama."
She squeezed his hand tightly in return.
---
"...Oh my, everyone. Good morning."
With a honeyed voice, Shizuru appeared in the back garden.
Her long black hair swayed as she wore a refined smile. From behind her, a sullen-faced Kyouka peeked out.
"Shizuru-san, and Kyouka-san too..."
"Fufu, I followed your presence and ended up here. ...As I thought, this place holds a special power."
Shizuru looked up at the cherry tree.
"Listen, Yuuki-kun. I told you before—your cooking is exactly the same as the recipes from our past life. ...I want you to teach me your flavors once more. Please."
Shizuru bowed deeply before him.
"Shizuru-san!? Please lift your head!"
"...If my sister is going that far, then I'll believe in you too."
Kyouka cut in from the side, arms crossed.
"But if you ever make my sister cry, I won't forgive you. ...If my sister acknowledges you, then I'll cooperate."
"Thank you, Kyouka-san."
"...I-It's not for your sake. It's for my sister."
Kyouka flushed red and turned sharply away.
---
"...All five of you are here."
At some point, Yui had appeared beneath the cherry tree.
"Yui...!"
"Yuuki. Will you let me hear your answer?"
Yui gazed at him with calm eyes.
"If you recover your memories, you may vanish again, leaving me behind. Is that still all right?"
Silence fell over the back garden.
The five girls held their breath, watching Yuuki.
He looked at each of their faces.
Pecorine. Kyaru. Kokkoro. Shizuru. Kyouka.
Every one of them needed him.
"...I don't know. Not yet. But I don't want to run anymore. Because all of you need me. I won't run from your feelings anymore."
Yuuki looked straight back into Yui's eyes.
"So please. Tell me the truth. Tell me who I really am."
Yui watched him for a long moment.
Then, softly, she smiled.
"...Then I'll cooperate as well. To tell you the truth of twelve hundred years ago."
Yui touched the cherry trunk.
"Resonance magic isn't yours alone. It's the power to resonate with the soul wavelengths of those who care for you. ...The first step to controlling it is to wish strongly to protect someone. Just as you once did."
Yuuki carved her words into his heart.
"...I won't let anyone get hurt again. I'll protect all of you."
He made his vow to the cherry tree.
"Everyone, your hands."
At Yui's prompting, Yuuki joined hands with the five girls.
Pecorine's warm hand. Kyaru's slightly cold hand through her white glove. Kokkoro's small hand. Shizuru's soft hand. Kyouka's slightly sweaty hand.
The six of them formed a circle.
"Resonance magic isn't yours alone. Everyone's feelings will support you."
Yui's voice echoed quietly.
"Everyone, thank you."
The moment Yuuki murmured those words—
Softly.
The entire cherry tree was wrapped in pale light.
From branches that shouldn't have bloomed, countless petals spilled out, becoming particles of light that danced into the air.
"Wow...!"
"What is this...!"
"...It's beautiful."
"The cherry tree is glowing..."
"...You've got to be kidding."
The particles of light swirled around the girls.
The moment they saw it, fragments of memory raced through each of the five girls' minds like a kaleidoscope.
—A vast grassland.
—A sword that fit perfectly in the hand.
—Quiet words of prayer.
—A warm dinner table and laughter.
—And a firm bond shared between sisters.
"...Ah, I remember..."
Tears spilled from Pecorine's eyes.
"I couldn't save my starving people... but this time, I want to make everyone smile with Yuuki-kun's cooking..."
"...I remember too. The day I couldn't protect you."
A single tear traced down Kyaru's cheek.
"This time, I'll protect you. No matter what."
"I as well. This time, I will support your prayers, Yuuki-sama."
Kokkoro smiled through her tears.
"...My recipes. You were the one who taught them to me."
Shizuru squeezed Yuuki's hand tightly.
"...My sister's precious person. So I will too."
Kyouka bit her lip, holding back tears.
The particles of light shone brighter than ever.
Then, a voice echoed in Yuuki's mind.
—I will definitely return.
It was unmistakably his own voice.
Young, strong, and kinder than anyone's.
(Is this... my voice from my past life...?)
Something hot welled up in Yuuki's chest.
Tears overflowed.
"...I promised I would definitely return."
For the first time, Yuuki found the courage to face his own past.
The particles of light slowly dissolved into the morning sky.
The cherry tree had returned to its former stillness.
But at the tips of its branches, small buds had indeed begun to swell.
---
His smartphone vibrated.
Yuuki looked at the screen. A notification had arrived.
"From the Star-Bond Academy Board of Directors: To the resonance magic bearer, Yuuki-dono. Deliberations regarding your reinstatement will begin today. Please report to the Chairman's Office."
"...Deliberations?"
"...So they've finally made their move."
Kyaru peered at his smartphone.
"Reinstatement deliberations. This is the start of the battle that will decide your fate. ...But it's all right. This time, I wil
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