Yuiga Nariyuki wakes from a nightmare he can't shake—because it wasn't a nightmare. It was a memory. Five years from now, he died. And before he did, he watched every person he cared about slip away, one by one, into darkness he couldn't reach.
But when he opens his eyes, it's April of his third year of high school. He's been given a second chance.
Armed with a battered notebook recording the future he's desperate to prevent, Nariyuki accepts the role of education supervisor for three brillian
We Cannot Change Fate - Sleeping Beauty of the Literary Forest — Zerosh's Threat and the Night of Running Away
Golden Week was over.
The air felt a little heavier. The May sunlight was bright, but the sky beyond the classroom window seemed somehow distant.
After school.
Yuiga Nariyuki sat in the farthest seat of the library.
The usual spot for their study sessions.
In front of him was Ogata Rizu.
Apricot-colored short hair. Deep blue eyes behind glasses. She was tiny — barely over four and a half feet tall. A small frame, with a chest that seemed almost comically out of proportion.
"The Clockwork Thumbelina."
Top one percent nationwide in math and physics.
But in humanities subjects, she was at the bottom of the grade.
That was exactly why he was her tutor.
"...Today, we're starting with modern Japanese reading comprehension."
Nariyuki held out a worksheet.
Rizu took it without changing expression.
Then she glared at the paper as if she were trying to kill it.
"I can't solve it."
Instant answer.
"You haven't even read the problem yet."
"There's no need to read it. I don't need humanities subjects."
Rizu declared it flatly.
Nariyuki let out a small sigh.
(Just like always.)
But it was a little better than before.
In his memories of the future, Rizu had rejected humanities subjects completely.
Now she only said, "I can't solve it."
The degree of rejection had softened, just a little.
(Don't rush. One step at a time.)
Nariyuki told himself.
"Listen, Ogata. Reading comprehension is the same as math."
"...The same as math?"
Rizu's eyebrow twitched.
"Yeah. A passage is an equation. The author's argument is the answer. The conditions for deriving that answer are scattered through the text. You just have to find them."
"...Conditions."
Rizu looked at the worksheet again.
This time, not glaring — observing.
"In this passage, the conjunction 'however' is a key condition. After 'however,' the author's true argument is often written. In other words, if you look for 'however,' you get closer to the answer."
"...I see."
Rizu picked up her mechanical pencil.
Then she circled every instance of "however" in the text.
"There were three."
"Right. Now read what comes after each one, in order."
Rizu went silent and started reading.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Three minutes.
"...Is the author's argument that 'even things that seem useless at first glance have meaning'?"
Nariyuki couldn't help but smile.
"That's right."
Rizu's expression didn't change.
But the corners of her mouth softened, just slightly, with pride.
Nariyuki didn't miss it.
(Good. This is working.)
That was when.
"Um, excuse me."
A voice came out of nowhere.
Nariyuki and Rizu turned at the same time.
Standing there was a girl.
Navy-blue long hair.
A headband holding back her bangs.
A small mole under her left eye.
Model-perfect features.
But her chest was modest.
Furuhashi Fumino.
Class 3-A, Ichinose Academy.
Top zero-point-five percent nationwide in humanities.
"The Sleeping Beauty of the Literary Forest."
The most famous humanities genius in the school.
"Um, this is Yuiga-kun's study session spot, right?"
Fumino tilted her head slightly.
"Furuhashi... what are you doing here?"
Nariyuki was surprised.
In his memories of the future, Fumino joining the study sessions came much later.
"The principal told me. That I should join Yuiga-kun's tutoring sessions as part of the tutor program."
Fumino smiled brightly.
"I'm absolutely hopeless at science and math... so I thought maybe Yuiga-kun could teach me."
"...I see."
Nariyuki nodded.
In his memories, Fumino was also a tutoring target.
But she wasn't supposed to show up at the study sessions until much later.
(Fate is changing.)
(Because I know the future.)
(Because I'm involved with Rizu.)
A small unease sprouted in Nariyuki's chest.
But he didn't let it show on his face.
"Got it. Then join us, Furuhashi."
"Yeah! Nice to work with you, Yuiga-kun."
Fumino happily sat down next to Nariyuki.
"...Nice to meet you."
Rizu stared at Fumino.
"You're Ogata-san, right? The math genius. I've always admired you."
"...Me?"
Rizu's eyes went wide with surprise.
"Yeah! I mean, you solve those impossible equations like they're nothing, right? I always thought that was amazing."
At Fumino's words, Rizu's cheeks flushed just slightly.
"...Thank you. But Furuhashi-san, I've heard no one can match you in humanities."
"Ehehe, well, maybe."
Fumino laughed, looking a little embarrassed.
Nariyuki watched the two of them with a warm smile.
(Rizu is having a normal conversation with someone.)
(It's thanks to Fumino.)
Fumino had the power to melt the walls around people's hearts.
In his memories of the future, too, Fumino was one of the few people who understood Rizu.
"Alright, let's get started. Today we'll alternate between math and modern Japanese. Furuhashi, you're bad at math, right? And Ogata, you're bad at modern Japanese. Teaching each other is the most efficient way."
Nariyuki said that and handed a math worksheet to Fumino.
"Eh— I-I'm really bad at math, you know? I might only be able to do addition and subtraction..."
Fumino took the worksheet nervously.
"It's fine. We'll start from the absolute basics. Ogata, sorry, but could you teach Furuhashi math?"
"...Me?"
Rizu looked at Nariyuki, confused.
"Yeah. You're a math genius. Teaching someone else will deepen your own understanding. And Furuhashi admires you. If you teach her, she'll be motivated."
"...Understood."
Rizu gave a small nod.
"Furuhashi-san. Let's start with this problem."
Rizu showed Fumino the worksheet.
"O-okay... um, what's this...?"
Fumino stared at the problem.
"This is a linear equation. We solve for x."
"A l-linear... equation..."
Fumino's face gradually went pale.
"It's alright. I'll explain it carefully."
Rizu took her pencil and started writing in the margin of the worksheet.
"First, we move the number on the left side to the right side. When we transpose it, the sign flips."
"...T-transpose?"
Fumino tilted her head.
"Transpose. It means moving a term."
"...Moving a term..."
Fumino repeated it like a magic spell.
Nariyuki watched the two of them and smiled faintly.
(Rizu's teaching style is, well, way too science-brained.)
(But Fumino is listening seriously.)
(This combination is actually not bad.)
"...Nariyuki."
Suddenly, Rizu called his name.
"Hm? What is it?"
"Furuhashi-san's eyes have rolled back."
"What!?"
Nariyuki looked at Fumino — she was slumped face-down on the desk.
"Uuu... whenever I see equations, my mind goes blank..."
Fumino murmured weakly.
"...Furuhashi, are you okay?"
Nariyuki gently shook her shoulder.
"I-I'm fine... not fine... I'm done for..."
"Here, drink some water."
Nariyuki held out a water bottle.
"Ah, thanks..."
Fumino took a sip.
"Phew... I'm alive again..."
Fumino let out a relieved breath.
"Furuhashi-san, I'm sorry. My teaching method was bad."
Rizu hung her head, dejected.
"No, it's not that. It's just that I have a constitution that rejects math."
"...A constitution."
"Yeah. When I see equations, I get sleepy. It's been like this since I was a baby."
Fumino said it with a serious face.
"...Can it not be cured?"
"It can't. It's already too late."
Fumino shook her head sadly.
"...I see."
Rizu went quiet, thinking about something.
Then suddenly, she raised her head.
"Then I will develop a teaching method suited to Furuhashi-san."
"Eh?"
"Furuhashi-san is a genius in humanities. If explained with words, you should be able to understand. I'll teach math with words, not equations."
Rizu looked at Fumino with determination in her eyes.
"...Math with words?"
"Yes. For example, a linear equation is like a balance scale. You place things of equal weight on the left pan and the right pan, or remove them. X is a mysterious weight of unknown identity."
"A balance scale... a mysterious weight..."
Fumino repeated Rizu's words.
"I see...! I think I kind of get it!"
Fumino's face lit up.
"Then please try solving this problem."
Rizu handed Fumino a new worksheet.
"Yeah! I'll try!"
Fumino gripped her pencil.
Nariyuki watched in amazement.
(Rizu is enjoying teaching someone.)
(Fumino, by being taught by Rizu, is losing her fear of math.)
(This is incredible.)
For the first time as a tutor, Nariyuki felt real, solid progress.
(Rizu and Fumino. Two geniuses covering each other's weak subjects.)
(If I can deepen this relationship, the future can change.)
A small hope sprouted in Nariyuki's chest.
"...Yuiga-kun."
Suddenly, Fumino called his name.
"Hm? What is it?"
"Yuiga-kun, you're really kind to Ogata-san."
Fumino looked at Nariyuki with a smile.
"Eh? Am I?"
"Yeah. Your teaching is really careful, and I can tell you care a lot about Ogata-san."
Nariyuki's heart skipped a beat.
"...That's because I'm her tutor. I try to treat all my students the same way."
Nariyuki hurried to make an excuse.
"I see. But somehow, Yuiga-kun and Ogata-san seem like a perfect match."
Fumino said it with a smile.
But behind that smile, Nariyuki thought he saw a shadow flicker for just a moment.
"...You're imagining things."
Nariyuki looked away.
"Maybe."
Fumino murmured quietly.
Then she dropped her gaze to the worksheet.
Nariyuki stole a glance at her.
(Fumino...?)
(Is something bothering her?)
He couldn't read what was going on in her heart.
That was when.
"...Yuiga-san."
Rizu called his name.
"Hm? What is it, Ogata?"
"Why does Furuhashi-san admire me?"
Rizu asked Nariyuki with a serious face.
"Eh? Well, because you're a math genius, right?"
"...Because I'm a math genius."
Rizu thought about it for a moment.
"But Furuhashi-san is a humanities genius. I don't understand why she'd admire me."
"...That's just how it works. People admire those who have what they don't."
"...What they don't have."
Rizu repeated his words.
"...Then, is it okay for me to admire Furuhashi-san too?"
"Yeah, of course."
"...I see."
Rizu glanced toward Fumino.
Fumino was wrestling with the math problem.
"...Furuhashi-san is amazing."
Rizu murmured quietly.
"She does easily what I can't do. She knows the words that move people's hearts."
"...Ogata."
"I want to be like Furuhashi-san too."
Nariyuki's chest grew warm at Rizu's words.
(Rizu admires Fumino.)
(In my memories of the future, Rizu felt inferior to Fumino.)
(But now it's different.)
(Rizu is looking up to Fumino as a goal.)
(Is this also a change in fate?)
Nariyuki was happy about Rizu's growth.
"...Alright, let's continue. Furuhashi, did you solve that problem?"
Nariyuki called out to Fumino.
"Hmm... I'm almost there, but..."
Fumino was staring at the worksheet.
"Where are you stuck?"
"Here. This 'transposing' thing. I don't really get it."
"Transposing. Ogata, could you explain it to Furuhashi one more time?"
"...Yes."
Rizu moved to Fumino's side.
"Furuhashi-san. Transposing is like swapping the pans of a balance scale."
"Swapping the pans..."
"Yes. You move the number weight from the left pan to the right pan. At that time, the weight's plus and minus flip."
"Plus and minus flip..."
"Exactly. For example, with x + 3 = 5, you move the +3 weight from the left pan to the right pan. Then +3 becomes -3."
"+3 becomes -3..."
"Then it becomes x = 5 - 3. In other words, x = 2."
"...Ah!"
Fumino suddenly raised her voice.
"I get it! I get it, Ogata-san!"
Fumino excitedly grabbed Rizu's hands.
"When you swap the balance pans, plus and minus flip! That's what it was!"
"...Yes. That's right."
Rizu, her hands held by Fumino, looked slightly embarrassed.
"Ogata-san, you're such a good teacher! I think I understood math for the first time in my life!"
"...I'm glad."
The corners of Rizu's mouth curved up, just slightly.
Nariyuki watched them and smiled quietly.
(Rizu's teaching style clicked with Fumino.)
(Fumino's comprehension drew out Rizu's teaching.)
(Their compatibi
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