Morning announcements. Normal at first.
Until Reina's voice echoed over the speakers.
> "As part of the final phase of the Love Poll, each candidate will spend one evening with Kaito Tenma. Private time. No interruptions."
The whole class gasped.
I almost passed out.
Yuna fist-pumped.
Airi blinked twice and opened a fresh spreadsheet.
Riko turned her face to the window.
Akari? She just smiled.
---
Night 1 – Yuna's Rooftop Escape
She dragged me out of my house at 9 PM.
No warning.
"Where are we going?"
"The place where I always feel better."
We ended up on the school rooftop, under the stars.
Yuna sat on the edge, legs dangling over.
She passed me a can of soda.
"Back when I had no one, I'd come up here and pretend someone was waiting for me."
She looked at me. A rare, soft look.
"Now I'm scared that you're real. Because if you choose her…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
Just leaned her head on my shoulder.
No jokes.
No chaos.
Just quiet.
"…I'm gonna be selfish, Kaito. Just this once."
And she stayed there.
Until the stars blurred in my eyes.
---
Night 2 – Airi's Home Visit
Her house was cleaner than a hospital.
Every object had purpose.
Every moment was planned.
Dinner. Tea. Classical music in the background.
Then she sat across from me on the couch.
No notes.
No clipboard.
Just her.
"I don't know how to beat them," she said quietly.
I stared.
"Everything I understand… doesn't help here."
She folded her hands.
"I love solving things. But with you… I don't want a solution. I just want you to stay."
Silence.
Then she slid a photo across the table.
Me. Smiling. At lunch. Unaware.
"You look happiest when you don't know I'm watching."
I didn't know what to say.
So I said nothing.
And she didn't need words either.
---
Night 3 – Riko's Letter
She didn't ask to hang out.
She just passed me an envelope at the gate and walked away.
Inside was a handwritten note.
> "I'm not good at this. I've never tried. But you changed that.
I don't want you to choose me because we've known each other the longest.
I want you to choose me because even when I didn't say it,
I always meant it.
And I still do."
The final line was just three words.
But she didn't need to say them out loud.
I could feel every letter.
---
Night 4 – Akari's Date
She picked me up in a taxi.
Took me to the boardwalk we used to go to when we were kids.
She remembered every food I liked. Every place we laughed. Every moment I forgot I needed.
At the pier, she stopped.
Looked out over the water.
"I know they're all amazing."
She turned to me.
"But I was first."
She held my hand.
"…And I want to be last too."
Then she looked me in the eyes.
Soft. Certain. Steady.
"If you don't choose me… I'll survive. But you'll regret it forever."
And somehow… I believed her.