Make Them Love Me Or They'll End The World-Chapter 137: Awaiting The Inevitable

Time passed like a dying slug.

Though Kentaro usually liked Mr Tachibana's lessons, today it felt like the teacher had sworn some personal oath to drag the lesson out as long as possible. Every couple of words, Kentaro's eyes darted toward the clock, begging for the hands to hurry along toward three o'clock. But the more he checked, the slower the seconds crawled. Each tick mocked him.

"Come move faster..." Kentaro muttered to himself.

Beside him, Aria and Yura had noticed. His leg shook nonstop beneath the desk, a nervous tremor that made their chairs vibrate ever so slightly. They exchanged a glance over his head, the silent kind of look only girls could communicate with: He's worried about Shaula. What do we do?

Neither spoke. Neither wanted to break his focus. But both silently agreed that they needed to cheer him up somehow.

At last, the bell rang for lunch. Kentaro rose quickly. He looked down to where the sisters were sitting, and sure enough, they'd already been walking off. "Right now, I think we don't engage with them," Haruka muttered through the comms. Kentaro nodded. He began walking ahead in the direction of the cafeteria, but Tenka and the girls had already arranged something else.

"Listen up," Serica whispered, huddling the others into a little circle. "Kentaro's anxious because of us… And because of her. So we're gonna make this lunch special. No cafeteria. We're going all out, making sure that this is the best surprise Kentaro's going to get for a while."

The girls all looked at each other before nodding, "Yeah!" They chorused, fists raised with uncharacteristic determination.

Sumire had already slipped Tenka the rooftop keys, and they'd received food from the Halcyon base, which had been prepared in advance. Now they just needed the prince himself.

"Ken!"

Kentaro blinked as a familiar voice called out. He turned, startled out of his anxious daze, and saw Aria weaving through the crowded hallway, her red hair bouncing with every step.

"Aria? I thought you weren't eating lunch?"

Aria beamed, grabbing his wrist without hesitation. "Of course we're eating, silly. Just… Not here." She said before looking around the place, then back to Kentaro. "We've got a better way today."

Kentaro glanced between her and the line of students filing into the cafeteria. "Better way? Where's everyone else?"

Aria pressed a finger to her lips. "Shhh. Secret." She winked.

Kentaro's heart skipped. His face flushed as he mumbled under his breath, "That was… Hot."

"What was that?" Aria tilted her head.

"N-nothing!" Kentaro laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Still holding his hand, Aria led him through the halls. Jealous glares followed him, mostly from guys muttering curses under their breath as though Kentaro had personally stolen their life savings.

"Hehehe… Aria ummm, should we really be holding hands in front of everyone?" Kentaro asked, his chuckle dry.

She looked back at him, smiling sweetly. "Of course. If I let go, how would you know where I'm taking you?"

"…Good point," he admitted with a grin.

The two climbed the stairs side by side until they reached the rooftop door. Kentaro froze for a moment, staring at it. Memories of the last time he'd come up here, sitting beside Tenka before the whole plaza situation went down, pouring his worries into the sky, rushed back all at once. It had only been a month ago, but it felt like a lifetime.

Aria turned to face him, hands clasped behind her back. "Ken, we've all noticed. Since Shaula showed up, you've been nervous. Trying to carry it all on your shoulders."

Kentaro shook his head quickly. "I wasn't-"

But Aria pressed a finger against his lips, silencing him.

"No lying," she said gently. "You've been protecting us nonstop. So… The least we can do is something for you."

Kentaro's eyes widened. He had no idea what was waiting behind that door. But if it was from them, even something as small as a pep talk, he knew it would mean the world.

Aria giggled softly. "Don't expect too much. It was last-minute."

And with that, she swung the door open.

The sunlight flooded in instantly, making Kentaro squint and raise a hand to shield himself. A cool breeze swept through, carrying the smell of fresh air and warmth.

As his eyes adjusted, silhouettes took shape. People he knew. People he loved.

"WELCOME TO OUR PICNIC!" Serica and Yura shouted.

Serica, Yura, and Tenka sat on a white cloth spread across the rooftop, a woven basket in the middle. All three beamed at him like they'd been waiting for hours just to shout that line.

"…What the-" Kentaro muttered, still trying to take it in.

Aria tugged his arm with a proud smirk. "We thought this would cheer you up. A picnic, on the rooftop, with perfect weather. And…" She leaned in close, whispering near his ear, "…With the people you love most."

Kentaro's chest tightened. He swallowed hard. "…You guys…" That was all he managed before sitting down with them.

"OOH, Ken! Try this turkey sandwich! Look!" Serica exclaimed, yanking the basket open and pulling one out like it was a treasure.

Kentaro chuckled. "Alright, did you make this?"

Serica froze, cheeks flushing. "Ah… Well… Um… Technically, Haruka did…"

"Mmhm." Kentaro raised a brow.

"But I suggested it!" Serica blurted, nodding furiously as if it were some great feat.

Kentaro laughed and unwrapped the sandwich. "Good enough."

Laughter filled the rooftop as the group dug into the food. Serica and Yura fought playfully over who got to sit closer to Kentaro, nearly knocking over the basket at one point. Aria quietly fed him bites of fruit without asking, and Tenka, ever the soldier, watched from the side, lips pressed together but eyes soft.

For the first time all day, Kentaro felt… Light. Whole. This was happiness.

Tenka glanced at his genuine smile and bit her lip. His words from that night echoed in her head, 'I love you.' And the memory of her selfish question burned in her chest. How could I even ask him to leave everything behind… When this is what he's fighting to protect?

"Tenka?"

She jumped. Kentaro's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"H-huh?!"

Everyone was staring at her.

"You okay?" Kentaro asked, leaning forward in concern.

"Of course I am! What are you?!" She stopped dead as he leaned across the food and placed a hand on her forehead.

"…No fever," he muttered, leaning back.

Tenka's entire face turned red. She smacked her own forehead with her palm. "Idiot! Of course I'm fine!"

"Hehehe, sorry. Better safe than sorry. Besides, knowing you, even if you were sick, you'd keep going like nothing's wrong." He smiled softly. "…Can't have you getting hurt, can I? Princess."

The word dropped like a bomb.

"P-Princess…" Every girl repeated under their breath, cheeks lighting up.

It was only natural that Tenka was playing the princess in their school play, but hearing Kentaro say it so casually sent jealousy stabbing through all of them.

Tenka herself nearly exploded. "S-shut up! Stop calling me that!"

"Hehehe, sorry. Guess I'll have to practice calling you that anyway."

Despite her shouting, a small smile tugged at her lips as Kentaro turned to explain the Sleeping Beauty story to Yura and Aria, who listened with wide-eyed fascination.

A tug at his sleeve pulled him from the explanation.

"What's up, Serica?"

She gazed up at him, her eyes shining like honey. "Ken… can you and I do our own play someday? One where I'm the princess?" she asked in a shy, hopeful tone.

Kentaro's face went warm. He laughed softly. "Of course. You'll be the Ice Princess."

Serica's eyes sparkled. "Yes! Yes, that's perfect!"

The picnic carried on with laughter, food, and playful bickering until the bell ended lunch.

When the school day wrapped up, Kentaro and the Alberlines stood together at the gates. Yura hugged him tightly. "Be safe, Kentaro."

Aria and Serica nodded in unison, echoing her words.

Kentaro smiled, resting his hands on their heads. "Don't worry. I've got Tenka with me. You three go straight home, okay? No strangers. Promise?"

"Hmmm!" they all hummed, their smiles so bright they could have lit the night sky.

"Good. We'll door-cross back home later," Kentaro said.

Tenka returned after saying goodbye to her friends, frowning. "Did anyone see where Tengen went?"

The girls all shook their heads. Kentaro rubbed his chin. "Think he said something about having plans?"

"Hmm." Tenka folded her arms. "Well, anyway, the girls can door-cross back through the room past the classroom. That'll take you straight home."

They nodded, heading off together.

Kentaro chuckled dryly. "Isn't that dangerous? What if a random stranger ends up in my apartment?"

"Don't worry about that. We've got bigger things to deal with," Tenka replied, walking ahead.

"Yeah… You're right." Kentaro sighed, following her.

And just like that, the time had come.

Kentaro was going to meet Shaula again.

And this time, it would be for something far worse than he could ever imagine.