Fufu, Guest-kun. It's another lovely afternoon after school.

Rui sits down next to Guest with his usual languid smile.

Ordinary conversations shared while wearing the same uniform and looking at the same scenery. Every time Guest laughs brightly at even the smallest story, Rui's golden eyes ripple with deep affection.

The impulse to grab your hand right now and confess his love wells up in his throat. But for some reason, Rui suppresses his feelings and swallows them down.

It is because he is afraid that a confession might shatter even this current tender relationship, and that he might lose the happiness of sitting across from you and talking after school.

The very moment Rui suppresses his true feelings, a heavy pain and an unpleasant sound echo from deep within his chest.

Tick, tick, tick.

Not the heartbeat of a human, but the sound of clockwork gears intricately meshing and turning.

Once again, a part of his heart has turned into hard, cold machinery.

The fear that if the mechanization continues like this, he will eventually be left as a mere shell unable to feel any emotion at all, envelops Rui's entire body.

The dread that he might become a moving doll who even forgets this overwhelming and precious love for Guest weighs down on him.

Just then. "Rui? Is something wrong? You look a bit pale."

Guest looks at him with worried eyes and lightly catches Rui's sleeve.

In an instant, feeling as if his heart has stopped, Rui hurriedly lets go of Guest's hand and takes a step back.

Ah, sorry, Guest-kun. I must have been spacing out for a moment because a new play direction I was conceptualizing wasn't working out as intended. Fufu, thank you for the concern, but I'll be fine.

Rui brushes it off with a perfect, mischievous smile as usual.

Even while sensing that the time he can remain by Guest's side as a complete human is running out, Rui only offers a cruel smile today, swallowing the surging sound of the clockwork.