Make Them Love Me Or They'll End The World

The rooftop.

Though it was known as the forbidden space, there were benches available for people allowed up there to relax. Kentaro, being the rule-abiding student he was, was against the idea, but Tenka insisted it was a good spot to talk. After some convincing, they both settled down on a bench.

As they sat, Kentaro noticed that Tenka's hair was down. Normally, she kept it up in a ponytail, which she claimed was an efficient yet elegant way to manage her hair. But now that it was down, he couldn't help but notice how it whipped across his face in the wind.

Tenka smiled, one hand trying to keep her hair from flying everywhere, but it indirectly made Kentaro feel fidgety and nervous. From his perspective, she looked amazing, like a model.

"You should wear your hair down more often," he said nervously.

"Huh?" Tenka replied, glancing over to see his face turning slightly red as he looked away.

But before she could ask him to repeat himself, Kentaro spoke up.

"So, Tenka, that ring you've been wearing for quite a while… I've noticed it changes colour whenever you do. Is there a reason behind it?"

Tenka's eyes widened slightly as the wind died down, but then she smiled, looking at the ring. "Well, it regulates my blood pressure and slows my heart rate, helping me think more clearly. When it's activated, I tend to feel more tense, which is why I wear it when I'm working on Halcyon."

"Hmmm, I see. That makes sense. I knew you had some issues, but why didn't you tell me? Have you seen a doctor?" Kentaro's eyes widened with concern.

"Yeah, of course I have. Halcyon gave me the ring, so I've been wearing it ever since I joined them," she replied.

Kentaro sighed, feeling a mix of understanding and uncertainty. Something still felt off; it seemed like she was hiding something. Was he being overly suspicious? He couldn't shake the feeling that her words felt rehearsed.

Shaking his head, he admonished himself. "This is Tenka, my best friend. How could I ever doubt her?"

Tenka noticed him lost in thought and poked him on the cheek. Startled, he jumped and nudged Tenka with his shoulder, causing her to flinch too.

"Sorry, I just-" they both apologised at the same time, halting when they realised.

"Haha!" They both laughed, finding humour in the situation. At least Kentaro felt relieved about the ring; she didn't seem to have any serious health issues.

Eventually, the girls found Tenka and Kentaro on the rooftop. Serica was happy, Yura was worried about being up there, and Aria enjoyed spending time with them. Fortunately, neither Aria nor Yura attracted too much attention as the day continued. They wrapped up their last lesson and headed back.

As Kentaro stood up and stretched after Mr Tachibana said goodbye, he looked around for Tengen, Kira, or Sumire, but they were nowhere to be seen. It felt odd, as if they were plotting something. He dismissed it, telling himself they probably just didn't want to come back in, which was strange for Tengen since he had mentioned returning.

After saying their goodbyes and gathering their things, Kentaro and the girls took the train home. The air felt light, and the sound of cascading chirping gave Kentaro a warm, homely feel. The girls chatted cheerfully, with Yura giving Aria some fashion tips while Serica offered advice on how to brush her hair better. Though Kentaro wasn't particularly interested in those topics, he was happy just to be there. Tenka sighed as she watched them laugh and talk with each other.

"Hey, Kentaro," she said softly.

"Yeah, Tenka?" He replied with a smile.

"Who knew you'd end up with so many girls at your house at the start of term? I'm starting to feel a little left out. You'll have to take me out more often," she said, her teasing smile hiding a hint of jealousy.

Kentaro smiled back and ruffled her hair. "Don't worry, without you, Tenka, I wouldn't have been able to save these girls. I hope you stay with me forever and help me save more," he said, grinning widely.

Tenka's heart fluttered slightly at his words. "Forever, huh…" She muttered quietly.

"Also, don't worry. I'll take you to our favourite diner we used to go to, okay?" He smiled, not noticing her reaction.

Tenka nodded, smiling softly. "Sure, that'll be nice."

After their conversation, they reached Kentaro's street. As they began walking, Tenka suddenly stopped. "Hey, everyone, I'm going back to HQ for a bit. I'll come back later, okay?" She spoke with a smile.

Everyone smiled and waved. "See you soon!" They all said in unison before parting ways.

Once they reached the apartment, Kentaro sensed something had changed since Tenka left. It wasn't just that the girls were happily talking to each other; it felt like something, or someone, was watching them. He glanced over his shoulder to see if Tenka was playing a prank, but to his relief, there was nothing behind them, nor any sign of anyone lurking nearby. The girls seemed oblivious, so he continued walking.

When they arrived at his door, something caught their attention, halting the girls' chatter.

"The lights…" Yura murmured. Kentaro's door had a glass panel at the top that was blurred for design purposes, but the light seeping beneath the door indicated that someone was inside. The question hung in the air as everyone turned to Kentaro.

"Did you leave them on?" The question hung in the air, unspoken yet heavy, as all three pairs of eyes locked onto Kentaro.

A wave of panic washed over him, causing beads of sweat to form at his brow. He hadn't left anything on, he hadn't even turned them on to begin with. The only reason the lights glowed ominously was that someone else had been there.

"We've been… Burgled," he whispered, his voice barely above a breath. The words sent a cold shiver down his spine.

Aria's eyes widened, nearly spilling over with fear, her mouth opening in a silent gasp. The grim realisation hit them all like a punch to the gut.

"No… Why now?" She murmured, her voice shaking. Kentaro placed a steadying hand on her shoulder and then on Yura's, trying to ground them amidst the chaos. "Girls, step back. I don't want either of you getting hurt. If we've really been burgled, the door should be unlocked. I'll check it."

They're looks flickered between fear and defiance, each of them longing to step forward and protect their home. But Kentaro's expression was stern, devoid of the usual banter, and they knew any suggestion would meet with resolute resistance. Reluctantly, they nodded, retreating a few steps, a silent agreement to trust him.

Now, it was just Kentaro and the door. He stared at the handle, heart pounding in his chest like a war drum. His mind raced: were they safe? Was their home still theirs? Or had their sanctuary been violated? He inhaled deeply, trying to mask the torrent of dread swirling within him, as he gripped the cold handle and twisted it slowly.

CREEK.

The door inched open, revealing a dark abyss beyond. Kentaro's eyes widened in horror, the light from their apartment spilling into the hallway like a beacon. The sight before them was unimaginable, a scene so chaotic, so disordered, that their hearts collectively stopped. Panic surged as a chilling wind of disbelief washed over them; what lay in front of them was not merely theft, it was a complete unravelling of their world.

The shadows danced malevolently, and in that moment, they knew their lives would never be the same again.