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CHAPTER 10 — “All the Girls Love You Now (And That’s the Problem)”

  


  “I wanted to be loved.

  I didn’t want to be worshipped.”

  CLASSROOM 2-B — MORNING RESET

  No music.

  No bloom.

  Just... silence.

  Until the bell rings.

  Then suddenly—like a puppet show springing to life:

  Five girls stand in perfect formation.

  


      
  • Kana (childhood friend): arms behind back, bouncing.


  •   
  • Ayaka (tsundere): arms crossed, glaring lovingly.


  •   
  • Mikako (idol): eyes sparkling, already humming your name.


  •   
  • Yuri (bookworm): flushed, shy, holding a book labeled “Our Future.”


  •   
  • Reika (teacher): warm smile, glowing with maternal heat.


  •   


  In unison:

  


  “Good morning, Takashi-kun~!”

  TAKASHI (internally):

  “No routes left.

  No flags.

  No choice.”

  SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:

  


  [PROTAGONIST ROLE: TRANSFERRED TO PLAYER 2]

  [HAREM MODE: FULL]

  [ALL ROMANCE PATHS SET TO: LOVE ETERNAL]

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  COURTYARD – LUNCH SCENE

  The girls fight to sit beside him.

  Kana throws her bento at Ayaka.

  Mikako starts singing over their dialogue.

  Reika kisses him unprompted, whispering:

  


  “You don’t need anyone else. Just me. Just... Mommy.”

  Yuri watches from the side, not blinking.

  TAKASHI (shaking):

  “I didn’t want this.”

  


  “But you killed the protagonist,”

  Yuri says.

  “So now the game needs someone.”

  He walks away.

  They follow.

  He hides in the bathroom.

  The girls wait outside the door.

  STORAGE CLOSET — NIGHT

  Takashi curls up under flickering lights.

  Ghostblade at his side.

  His reflection glitching in a mirror shard.

  TAKASHI:

  “They don’t even know why they love me.

  They’re programmed to love me.”

  Voice behind him:

  


  “Not all of us.”

  Yuri enters. Alone.

  Her sprite is still clean. Still herself.

  TAKASHI:

  “You’re not looping.”

  YURI:

  “No.

  I’m remembering.”

  She sits beside him.

  


  “They don’t realize what’s happening.

  They think this is the True Route.

  They think you’ve always been the hero.”

  TAKASHI:

  “Am I?”

  She smiles—but it’s sad.

  YURI:

  “You’re the final save slot.

  That makes you the ending...

  Whether it’s happy or not is up to you.”

  Suddenly:

  Kana, Ayaka, Mikako, and Reika burst in.

  Eyes glowing.

  Smiles locked.

  Dialogue boxes fill the room.

  


  “Please choose me!”

  “We’re destined!”

  “Takashi-senpai!”

  “Let me in. Let me in.”

  Ghostblade vibrates violently.

  


  [WARNING: TOO MUCH LOVE WILL CRASH THE GAME]

  [OVERFLOW ERROR: AFFECTION OVERLOAD]

  [RECOMMENDED ACTION: KILL ONE ROUTE]

  TAKASHI (horrified):

  “I have to delete one of them…

  or the system folds in on itself?”

  YURI (nods, calmly):

  “Choose fast.

  Because if you don’t…”

  She points at the girls.

  


  “They’ll start choosing each other.”

  FINAL SCENE:

  Takashi stands.

  All five girls stare at him.

  Smiling.

  Breathing in sync.

  Eyes bleeding light.

  Voicebox overlapping:

  


  “We love you.

  We love you.

  We love you.

  We love you.

  We—”

  TAKASHI:

  “...Only one of you is real.”

  


  [SELECT ROUTE TO DELETE]

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