Clang. The rooftop door burst open with tremendous force. "[angry]Yukinon, that's so unfair!!" The one who came rushing in was a girl with a fluffy chestnut-brown short bob. Her large brown eyes were filled to the brim with anger and sadness. It was Yuigahama Yui. Breathing heavily, she looked back and forth between Yukino and Hachiman. "[angry]Calling him up to the rooftop with a letter, doing something like that behind my back! I've been worried sick and followed you all the way here!" Yukino's face went pale. "[surprised]Yuigahama-san... why are you here?" "Why? Because I was worried, obviously!" Yui strode right up to them. Her usual cheerful smile was nowhere to be seen. She was genuinely furious. Yukino murmured in a trembling voice. "[whispers]This is impossible... this place should be completely blocked off by the system. No one but me should be able to approach this rooftop." "[sarcastic]Looks like your plan had a bug in it." Hachiman gave a wry smile. (So that's how it is.) Yui had surpassed the expectations of the reverse-harem system Yukino had created—she was the ultimate love rival, born from the system itself. Another heroine, one Yukino could never eliminate no matter how much she wished. "[angry]I seriously like Hikitani-kun too! You're the only one being unfair, Yukinon!" Yui clung tightly to Hachiman's other arm. "Hey, hold on a sec." "I won't hold on!" "[cold]Yuigahama-san, let go. This is between him and me." "I won't let go! This is my problem too!" With a girl on each side holding his arms, Hachiman was completely immobilized. "What a pain..." The sea breeze swallowed his words. "[angry]You're always like this, Yukinon! Trying to get Hikitani-kun alone and leaving me out!" Yui's voice echoed across the rooftop. Yukino was trying to regain her cool composure, but her eyebrow twitched. "[cold]Leaving you out? You were never part of this plan to begin with. Because you are—" Yukino took a step closer to Yui. "—a bug that wandered into the world my wish created." It was a cold remark. But Yui didn't back down. "[angry]I don't care if I'm a bug! Even if I'm a bug, my feelings are real!" Yui's voice sounded like she was about to cry, yet it was clear and unwavering. "Hey, wait. Both of you, calm down." Hachiman finally cut in. "[cold]You be quiet." "[angry]Yeah, Hikitani-kun, shut up!" In perfect sync, they shut Hachiman down completely. "Hah...!?" (Why am I the one getting yelled at?) Hachiman retorted inwardly. He was the one at the center of this mess, yet he'd been completely relegated to the referee's seat. So this is the hell of being popular, he quietly realized. "[angry]You were planning to talk things out just the two of you, without me, weren't you! You're always like this, Yukinon! Acting all perfect—it's not fair!" Yui's large eyes filled with tears. "[serious]I'm not perfect. But I've known him far longer than you have. In the original world, and in this one." "[angry]What's this 'original world'? That doesn't matter to me! What matters is how I feel right now!" That was when it happened. Creeeak... The rooftop door slowly opened, just a few centimeters. Through the gap, a glimpse of flax-colored semi-long hair peeked out. "[whispers]I came up to the rooftop looking for senpai, and it's a love triangle showdown♡" From behind the door, Isshiki Iroha poked her face out. Her large, kitten-like almond eyes sparkled. "[excited]This is so totally my thing! If I post this, it'll become legendary♡" In her hand, she was firmly gripping her smartphone. "Oi, what are you recording right now—" Before Hachiman could finish, Yukino moved. A flash of light in her eyes. A gaze like a blade of ice pierced straight through Iroha. "[cold]Delete it." Just one word. But her voice carried an overwhelming force that brooked no argument. "[scared]Y-yes..." Iroha obediently put her phone back in her pocket. But her face was still smirking. "[gentle]But senpai, you really have it rough, don't you. Three girls fighting over you—it's tough being popular♡" "Read the room." "I did read it, and that's why I'm enjoying myself♡" Her little devil smile momentarily eased the tension on the rooftop. But— "[sad]Hey, Yukinon." Yui quietly spoke up. It wasn't the angry voice from before. It was a trembling, anxious voice. "If this world was made from someone's wish," Yui stared intently into Yukino's eyes. "Then, in that world... are my feelings... not real?" It was a question asked while desperately holding back tears. For the first time, Yukino's expression wavered. "[surprised]That's..." She was at a loss for words. (That's right. You are an unintended byproduct of my design.) She tried to say it, but couldn't. Because Yui's eyes were too earnest. Those eyes were far too direct, far too—vulnerable—to dismiss as a mere bug. Silence. Only the sea breeze passed through the rooftop. That was when it happened. "[serious]Who decides if something's real or not?" Hachiman's voice dropped quietly into the silence. Everyone's eyes gathered on him. "The way I see it, that's something—the person who feels it decides for themselves." Hachiman looked up at the sky. The south-facing sky was gradually shifting from orange to purple. "Whether this world is fake or real, if you feel it right here and now, then it's real to you." Hachiman's words were also a question directed at himself. (I've been running away all this time.) From getting involved with others, from facing emotions. But— "[serious]At the very least, you don't need someone else to decide if it's real or not." It was a quiet, but clear voice. Yukino stared at Hachiman. Yui did too. And Iroha. For just a moment, time stood still for the four of them. —BANG!! That silence was blown apart as the rooftop door was kicked open. "[angry]You lot!!!" The one who appeared, having kicked the door down, was Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei. Her long, straight black hair that reached her back seemed to be bristling with anger. She wore a suit like a lab coat, and in her hand was the clear file she always carried, with "Go Be Youthful" written on it. "[angry]Unauthorized gatherings on the rooftop were added to the list of Loner Prohibition Ordinance violations last week! All of you, come to the student guidance room!!" "Ehhh!?" "Wait a minute, I just got dragged into this—" "[cold]I don't want to hear excuses!" Hiratsuka-sensei's fist came down on Iroha's head. Thunk. "Owwww!" "[angry]Come on, you two, get moving too!" Saying that, Hiratsuka-sensei fixed her gaze solely on Hachiman. Her eyes, which had been the demonic glare of a teacher, suddenly softened. "[gentle]Hikitani-kun... no, Hikigaya." A chill ran down Hachiman's spine. (Just now, she—used my real name.) "You had a rather interesting look on your face." Hiratsuka-sensei smiled meaningfully. Was it because of the sunset that her smile seemed so terribly lonely? "[serious]Alright, let's go. I'm going to give you all a thorough lecture on youth." "What a pain..." Hachiman let out a small sigh. Yukino was silent, Yui still looked like she was about to cry, and Iroha was rubbing her head. The four of them were escorted off the rooftop by Hiratsuka-sensei, as if being taken into custody. Yukino's plan had come to a complete halt, and with the relationship between Yui and Hachiman left hanging in midair, they were forcibly transported to the next stage—a sealed room called the student guidance room. On the rooftop where the sun was about to set, only the wind from the sea continued to blow.