(1/5)

  [I really didn't expect this.]

  [Sanzenin and Saginomiya, both from Hakuo Academy, transferred at the same time.]

  [By the way, Sanzenin Nagi must have really made up her mind. Her shut-in tendencies are pretty extreme.]

  [And Saginomiya Isumi…]

  [Her abilities are undeniable, but her weaknesses are just as obvious.]

  [She's far too soft when it es to Sanzenin Nagi. That girl is her biggest weakness.]

  [Also… she has no sense of dire.]

  [And I don't mean the "losing your way in a mall" kind. I mean "actally wandering into another try" levels of lost.]

  [One is the wealthiest representative of Hakuo, and the other is the most mysterious figure in the academy, aside from Athena Tennousu.]

  [Ahey both abandoned Hakuo and transferred to Teitan High.]

  While Ren had specuted that Nagi might e eventually, he hadn't expected her to make the decision so quickly, within just a week.

  To be ho, this meant she was serious.

  Nagi's life had beeively carefree, so why would she suddenly step into something so troublesome?

  Was it for the same reason as Sonoko?

  Hard to say.

  But ohing was certain, she utting her hopes on the diary.

  Otherwise, there was no way this hardcore shut-in would willingly leave her fort zone.

  Ren still remembered that in the inal story, the only thing that pushed her toward independence was Maria leaving.

  Now, she had taken that step on her own.

  That alone was enough proof.

  Her reason had to be something as important as Maria's departure.

  With that thought, Ren tinued writing.

  [If I remember correctly, in the inal story, Maria's departure was the catalyst fi's independence.]

  [She willingly gave up her iance rights to the Sanzenin family.]

  [Oh, and there was another key figure involved.]

  [The other protagonist of that story, Sanzenin Nagi's butler and Athena Tennousu's "promised one."]

  [Ayasaki Hayate.]

  [Ohe misuandings between them were cleared, Nagi willingly let go of everything—her wealth, her status—and chose to stand on her own.]

  [That was the clusion of her story.]

  [It's hard to imagihat in just three years, a rich girl who cked any skills beyond intelligence had transformed into a fully indepe person.]

  [If that's the case, then her reason for leaving home and ing to the school she hates most must be just as signifit.]

  [At least, it has to be something as big as Maria resigning.]

  [And the only thing that makes sense is…]

  [Sanzenin Yukariko.]

  That had to be it.

  Ren had no idea whether the diary had the power t back the dead.

  But that wouldn't stop Nagi fr.

  If she had taken such a drastic step, then this was likely her motivation.

  All that was left was to wait.

  Wait for the diary to stir emotions in its readers.

  And sure enough, he didn't have to wait long.

  ---

  At noon, Nagi walked over to Ren's desk, her head lowered, emotions tightly restrained.

  "e outside. We o talk."

  With that, she turned ahe .

  Ren nodded slightly.

  That rea firmed his guess.

  He quietly followed her out, maintaining some distance as they walked to the infirmary.

  It was a good choice.

  A quiet pce—ideal for a private versation.

  But wheepped inside, Ren saw someone ued.

  Maria.

  The maid who had raised Nagi.

  However, she wasn't in her usual maid uniform.

  Instead, she was wearing a white coat, looking more like a doctor in cospy.

  "Hello, Mr. Amamiya."

  "Hello, Ms. Maria."

  Maria observed the boy before her.

  His hair was slightly different from the photos she had seen, trimmed a bit, though still messy.

  The thick gsses on his face hid much of his expression, making it difficult to read him.

  His demeanor was quiet, almost somber, clearly not someone who ealking much.

  "Mr. Amamiya, I'll be ting on you to look after Nagi."

  "You don't o thank me."

  Ren's voice was calm.

  "Nagi made her own choice."

  "Whatever she gains, it's her own fate."

  "But let me remind you—"

  "Every so-called 'gift' from fate es with a price."

  "When you accept something, you have to remember… the cost will e due eventually."

  The world wasn't kind.

  Every be came with an invisible hook.

  By the time people realized it, they were already too deep to escape.

  Ren turned his gaze to Nagi.

  "You want to use the diary's power t your mother back."

  "But the price… might be that your fate will be tied to mine."

  "It might sound grand, but uhe diary's rules, that's exactly what it means."

  "And that's not a small price to pay."

  "…"

  Nagi bit her lip.

  Of course, she knew nothing in this world came for free.

  Growing up in a wealthy family, she uood the cept of equivalent exge better than most.

  The diary had id out its rules very clearly.

  If you want something, stay close to Amamiya Ren.

  It ractically an open tract.

  And if she agreed to those terms, then this was the cost.

  Once a e was made—

  Oheir fates iwined—

  There was no going back.

  The diary was like a fishing lihrowing out bait after bait, luring in those who couldn't resist the temptation.

  Nagi ched her fists.

  "Are you so sure about all this?"

  "I'm not sure at all."

  Ren wasn't gloating.

  If anything, he looked weary.

  "When your wish is grahe diary won't stop there."

  "It will only magnify your desires."

  "When your mother returns, you accept that she will still eventually pass away?"

  " you accept that after bringing her back, you will have to lose her again?"

  "When you 't choose, you have no choice but to e."

  "But when you do have a choice?"

  "…"

  Nagi had no words.