The Partner Project Twist

Isagi Kawaguchi stared at the classroom's whiteboard, his mind whirring as his teacher wrote down the announcement that made his heart skip a beat: 'Partner Project: Long-Term Collaboration.' The words hung in the air, and his stomach flipped with anticipation.

The Partner Project was a last-ditch effort by the anime's creators when they ran out of ideas in the final season. Initially, the arc was unpopular because May was paired with some forgettable side character. Fans had been furious—after all the buildup, they expected something more. But the creators reworked it, and eventually, it turned into one of the most heartwarming parts of the show. In the revised version, Rin and May became partners and slowly fell in love. But this was the first version. The old version. Isagi realized something crucial: he wasn't watching the anime anymore. He was living it — and things were already starting to change.

"Is this the butterfly effect?" he muttered under his breath, thinking about all the minor shifts that had already happened. And now, one of the biggest ones was unfolding right in front of him.

"For this project," the teacher continued, "you'll be paired with a partner who will help you over the next few months on various assignments, practical exercises, and presentations. Your partner will be your teammate, your support, and a key to your overall grade. Choose wisely — or leave it to fate."

Isagi's fingers drummed against his desk nervously. He remembered what came next. The teacher would randomly assign partners. In the original version, May had been paired with a forgettable side character… but that hadn't worked out well in the audience's eyes. When they revamped the storyline, they paired her with Rin, and their bond deepened. But what about now? Which version was he in?

"Alright," the teacher said, pulling out a list. "Let's start with... May Fujisawa." The room held its breath.

Isagi's heart pounded. Please, let it be me...

"Her partner will be... Isagi Kawaguchi."

For a second, the world stopped.

Then, chaos. Gasps, whispers, and murmurs spread like wildfire.

Isagi's brain short-circuited. He blinked. Did... did that really just happen? In the anime's revised version, Rin had been her partner. But here, in real life, it was him. This was his chance — and he wasn't going to let it slip away.

He stole a glance at May. She looked equally surprised, her eyes wide as they met his. Then she smiled politely and gave him a small nod. Isagi felt his face heat up.

As the teacher continued reading the pairings, Isagi sank into his chair, still trying to process what had just happened. "Okay," he whispered to himself, determined. "This is my opportunity. If I play my cards right, I can make May fall for me — deeply and truly. No more being a background character. This time, I'm taking the lead."

When class ended, May approached his desk. "Looks like we'll be partners," she said, her voice warm and friendly. "Let's work hard together."

Isagi swallowed his nervousness and smiled back. "Yeah. Let's do our best."

This was the beginning of something new — and Isagi was ready for it.