Ayanokoji Kiyoha (Final Version)

On the morning track, a gentle breeze blew by, carrying a hint of chill. Ayanokoji Kiyoha stood by the lane, arms crossed, her gaze locked onto the figure that had just crossed the hundred-meter finish line. Her heart sank into an unprecedented state of self-doubt.

The reason was simple, almost absurd to her: she might no longer be able to defeat Wu Qiao.

There was no need for an actual spar; merely observing that series of fluid yet violent physical movements made the widening chasm between them painfully obvious.

In the face of absolute strength and speed, any technique or calculation appeared pale and powerless.

A series of cold, analytical data points flashed through Ayanokoji Kiyoha's mind: in professional combat, a twenty-percent weight difference is enough to warrant a surrender; even among those of the same build, the gap in absolute strength between men and women rarely exceeds thirty percent.

Forty percent—if they were to truly fight, it would be a one-sided crushing. At this very moment, Wu Qiao's physical capabilities had soared to an inconceivable level that defied all common sense.

Just now, the finish-line timer for the hundred-meter dash had frozen on a number that made her scalp tingle: 9.34 seconds.

And that was a result achieved while he was still nursing injuries that hadn't fully healed!

One had to realize, this was a terrifying figure capable of shattering human limits and even surpassing world records.

How had this boy, who usually appeared lazy and indifferent, silently tempered his body to the level of such a monster?

Ayanokoji Kiyoha narrowed her eyes slightly, recalling the various physical metrics she had secretly recorded after sensing that Wu Qiao's rate of progress was too eerie.

Every record refreshed the upper limit; every observation shattered common knowledge. This growth curve simply did not belong to the category of a normal human being.

Watching Wu Qiao jog to cool down while turning back to flash her that carefree, mindless grin, Ayanokoji Kiyoha let out a soft, weary breath. The string that had been pulled taut in her heart for so long seemed to loosen ever so slightly at that moment.

Perhaps... perhaps this boy could truly grant her the peaceful school life she had dreamed of.

After all, when a "monster" capable of running a 9.34-second dash stood before you, swearing to shield you from the wind and rain, those shadows from the White Room and those potential probes and troubles seemed, for once, not worth worrying about.

Today was the last day of April, and the sun was bright. Ichinose Honami's mood was just as radiant. Even before opening the exquisite cake box, the mere memory of the unexpected surprise at her door that morning sent a wave of sweet warmth through her heart.

Wu Qiao's clumsy yet delicate concern was like a hidden easter egg that had popped up in her mundane life, making her unable to stop the corners of her mouth from curling upward all day long.

After the afternoon classes ended, Ichinose Honami didn't hesitate to invite Wu Qiao and Ayanokoji Kiyoha to dinner.

The location remained the buffet restaurant in the school's commercial district that they frequented—a familiar shop with a familiar, comforting atmosphere.

Sitting in the bustling restaurant, looking at the two boys and girls across from her who were so different in personality yet equally special, Ichinose Honami made a quiet decision in her heart.

She did not intend to deliberately pry into the bottomless secrets they carried—neither Wu Qiao's strange, terrifying potential that seemed to allow him to do anything he desired, nor Ayanokoji Kiyoha's seemingly plain but actually unfathomable true nature.

Those heavy deductions about the future and the tragedies that had played out time and again in her simulations were all cast to the back of her mind.

She would no longer dwell on the possibility of Wu Qiao turning dark under immense future pressure, nor fret over Ayanokoji Kiyoha's near-paranoid possessiveness toward him, nor worry about how difficult her own wish of "letting everyone graduate happily" might be to achieve.

Let this quiet, beautiful moment last just a little longer.

"Eat up, the sukiyaki is delicious today!" Ichinose Honami smiled as she placed food onto their plates, her clear eyes reflecting the restaurant's warm lights and the two people who were so incredibly important to her.

Wu Qiao was devouring his food without any regard for his image, responding with a muffled sound, while Ayanokoji Kiyoha ate quietly, her expression indifferent even when she occasionally glanced at Ichinose Honami.

In this Advanced Nurturing High School, having a dinner free of schemes, intended solely for filling one's stomach and enjoying company, was a rare luxury in itself.

Ichinose Honami rested her chin on her hand, watching the two of them, thinking silently: even if a storm is coming, at least for today, we will finish this meal together.

Kushida Kikyo stood outside the glass door of the buffet restaurant, her expression dazed. Early this morning, when she woke up, she had been horrified to discover a strange voice in her head.

After some probing and identification, she quickly confirmed the owner of the voice was Ayanokoji Kiyoha—the young lady in her class who seemed naive and indifferent to everything.

However, this Ayanokoji Kiyoha did not seem to belong to the present, but rather to the distant future.

Kushida Kikyo looked through the glass window at the three teenagers inside, each with their own hidden thoughts, and her signature perfect smile finally faltered. She asked the voice in her head with a touch of irritation: "Why did you make me follow them?"

The Ayanokoji Kiyoha in her mind yawned and replied in a lazy tone: "Nothing, I just miss these days. Watching us back then is quite interesting."

Kushida Kikyo's face turned ugly. She lowered her voice and gritted her teeth, thinking, "Now that you've seen them, can I go?"

She didn't want to waste time here, nor did she want to get involved with this inexplicable ghost from the future.

"Want to know how to hide yourself perfectly, and incidentally learn the optimal solution for the future? Then listen to me obediently." Ayanokoji Kiyoha's voice carried a hint of unquestionable certainty, causing Kushida Kikyo to stop in her tracks.

Kushida Kikyo bit her lip and ultimately compromised. She knew that this Ayanokoji Kiyoha from the future definitely possessed information she could not refuse.

The Ayanokoji Kiyoha in her mind couldn't help but roll her eyes. Although her own high school life had indeed been peaceful, it was precisely because it was too peaceful that, looking back now, she felt she had missed out on too many interesting things.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have specifically borrowed the power of the end from Wu Qiao to cross time and space back to this point in time to "play around."

Since she was here, she had to find some fun for herself, and while she was at it, see what kind of wonderful expression this Two-Faced Girl would make once she learned of the future.