朝、そして選択の始まり (Asa, Soshite Sentaku no Hajimari – Morning, and the Beginning of the Choice)

Monday, 6:04 AM – Ren's House

The sky was still soft with morning mist. Birdsong drifted through the open window.

Ren stirred awake, rubbing his eyes.

Yesterday's whirlwind of solo dates felt like a dream. But the warmth still lingering in his chest — the memories of holding hands, soft laughter, quiet confessions — that was real.

He sat up, stretched, and let out a long sigh.

"I'm in love with all of them…But I still don't know who I'm in love with the most."

Scene: Breakfast Alone… Or So He Thought

He walked into the kitchen, expecting chaos again.

Instead, it was just Emi.

She stood at the stove, flipping tamagoyaki carefully.

"Oh, morning…" she said with a smile.

"You're up early," Ren said.

"I couldn't sleep much," she replied honestly.

She placed a tray in front of him — miso soup, rice, grilled salmon, and the golden egg rolls. Neat. Balanced. Warm.

He blinked. "You didn't have to—"

"I wanted to."

She sat down across from him.

And then… she took a deep breath.

Scene: The First Real Confession

"Ren," she said, voice soft but steady, "I said I'd be okay waiting. But that was a lie."

He froze.

Emi looked into his eyes — no longer just the quiet, shy girl from before. There was a quiet strength now.

"I'm afraid. Because every moment you spend with them… I'm scared I'll fade into the background."

"Emi—"

She reached out, gently took his hand across the table.

"I love you. Not just as the boy I've known for years. But as the person you are now. With all your flaws, your confusion, your kindness."

Silence.

"I'm not asking for your answer today," she whispered, "but… I needed you to know."

Scene: Ren's Heart Reacts

Ren didn't speak for several moments.

His chest felt tight. Not from pressure — but from how deeply her words had reached him.

"…Thank you," he said at last.

"I don't want you to fade. I don't want any of you to fade."

He squeezed her hand lightly.

"But what scares me more… is choosing wrong."

Emi smiled. "Then keep walking beside us. Until you're sure."

Scene: Eyes Watching

What neither of them knew was that down the hallway, just out of sight…

Haruka had stopped walking.

She'd come to ask about breakfast.

But instead, she heard everything.

She stood still for a moment, hand clenching by her side.

"…So it's begun," she whispered.

She turned around and walked away, not saying a word.

Final Scene: One Step Toward the Answer

As the day began, and the others slowly woke up one by one…

Ren knew something had changed.

This was no longer just fun. Or fantasy. Or coincidence.

It was real.

And it was time to start facing it.

Closing Line:

"The first card has been played.And the game… is no longer in his hands alone."