After hearing Yuigahama Yui's casual revelation, Nozomi froze in place like he'd just been hit by a psychic-type move.
His mind buzzed with a storm of thoughts.
He wasn't some oblivious high schooler. He was a traveler—someone who had crossed the veil between worlds, someone who knew how deep the rabbit hole could go when it came to parallel dimensions and alternate timelines.
And now, Yui had just dropped a nuclear bomb in the most innocent tone imaginable.
Her mother's name… was Asuna.
And Yuuki Asuna—the very same Yuuki Asuna who looked eerily similar to Yui—was standing right next to him.
The name, the appearance, even the vibe. It couldn't just be a coincidence. Nozomi's instincts told him otherwise.
If this world really was stitched together by threads from countless animes and realities, then perhaps… Yui's mother was originally someone else entirely. Maybe Yuigahama Asuna was her original name, and she'd taken on a new identity in this world to avoid conflicting with the Yuuki Asuna already here.
The thought made Nozomi's pulse race.
Could this meeting be the spark of a hidden quest? A secret mission buried in his game-life system, waiting to be triggered?
He couldn't help but get excited.
Even Yuuki Asuna seemed visibly shaken.
It was one thing to look like someone else's mom. But to have the exact same name pronunciation? It was a bit too on-the-nose, even for a world as chaotic as theirs.
Still, Nozomi kept his composure. He held back the urge to ask Yui to arrange a meetup. That would be too blunt, too suspicious.
He decided to let fate take its course. After all, with the game-life system on his side, the story had a way of unfolding whether he pushed or not. The heroines always found their way into his path.
For now, the Service Club was thriving. With Yui's bright energy, even the icy Yukinoshita Yukino had started to thaw. Her words were softer, her smile—though still rare—more genuine.
Nozomi appreciated the warm atmosphere. While he did enjoy his moments alone with Yukino, the group dynamic was something special. Besides, he didn't just want to pursue one heroine.
He wanted them all.
And for that, harmony among them was key.
…
Before he realized it, the afternoon sun had begun to dip toward the horizon.
Nozomi had spent a gentle few hours with Yukino. They held hands as they walked through a shaded path, her fingers cool against his palm. She let him hug her before they parted ways—but that was it.
Not because he lacked the desire to go further. Quite the opposite.
His body was starting to change again. His mana surged wildly like waves crashing against a dam. Even Frieren had commented on it.
According to her analysis, the blood of the magic dragon that coursed through Nozomi was evolving his physique further. The awakening of the true dragon bloodline had begun.
With that much power threatening to boil over, a kiss and a hug were already pushing the limits.
Nozomi didn't want to scare Yukino—or lose control.
Yukino noticed his restraint but misunderstood it.
To her, it seemed like he was being considerate, choosing to cherish the moment instead of rushing it. Her heart softened even more, her eyes gentler than ever.
Nozomi thought about heading home with Sanshokuin Sumireko next, hoping for a little mischief—but those plans crumbled fast.
Sumireko had a shopping date with her best friend Nichiji Sumire, leaving Nozomi to head home alone.
Sayu and Mahiru? Off on another outing with Miura Yumiko and the rest of their group.
Nozomi didn't mind. It was nice that they were all bonding. It made everything smoother in the long run.
As he neared Sakurasou, the quiet path suddenly turned chaotic.
A girl stumbled right into his chest with full force.
Before he could say a word, she collapsed.
Nozomi blinked.
Did… did she just faint from walking into him?
He looked down and immediately recognized the high ponytail and familiar uniform.
Nanami Aoyama.
Wearing her part-time convenience store outfit, she looked pale and light as a feather.
Nozomi quickly bent down and scooped her up into his arms. "Nanami, can you hear me?! Hey—Nanami!"
Her face was pale, body limp. Despite gently patting her cheeks and calling out, there was no response. Nozomi didn't waste another second. Cradling her carefully, he dashed back toward Sakurasou.
Just as he reached the front steps, Chihiro-sensei was standing at the door with a can of beer in hand. She raised an eyebrow, then smirked in amusement.
"Oh ho? Nozomi, I didn't expect you to go for the quiet, hardworking type. Finally made your move on Aoyama-san?"
Nozomi gave her a deadpan look, clearly unimpressed. "She collapsed in front of me. I'm bringing her back to rest. This is an emergency, not a rom-com episode."
"Tch. So boring," Chihiro chuckled, waving him in.
Without bantering further, Nozomi carried Nanami to his room. He gently laid her on his bed and pulled the covers up. Then, opening his drawer, he retrieved a vial of mid-tier healing potion—something he earned from a side quest last week—and carefully helped her drink it.
"Come on, this should stabilize your condition," he muttered, brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead.
She was still unconscious, but her breathing slowly evened out. Nozomi let out a small sigh of relief. Then he turned and headed to the kitchen.
He had seen it clearly. Nanami Aoyama hadn't fainted due to illness. It was pure hunger.
She must've skipped meals again, pushing her body to the limit with work and voice training. Nozomi had warned her before. That kind of stress wasn't sustainable. But she was stubborn, and now the consequences had hit.
He quickly got to work making a simple meal—soft rice porridge with eggs and some pickled vegetables. Easy on the stomach, full of warmth.
Back in the room…
"Mmm… I don't recognize this ceiling," Nanami murmured groggily as her eyes fluttered open.
Her head ached faintly, and her stomach churned, but the burning pain had dulled. Still, she remembered the last time this happened.
Last time she ignored her health like this, she ended up in the hospital with a gastric ulcer. The treatment drained her savings, but she still poured what little remained into registering for a voice actor course. There was an upcoming audition for a game company—maybe even an anime!
She had to take the chance. Even if it meant tightening her belt until there was nothing left.
Blinking, she sat up slowly and examined her surroundings. A familiar curtain. The faint scent of books and citrus detergent. "Wait… is this Sakurasou?!"
Before her brain could process further, the door creaked open. In walked Nozomi, dressed casually with a soft apron around his waist. He held a steaming bowl of porridge in both hands, his expression gentle.
"Yo, you're awake. Welcome back to the land of the living. Your stomach was growling louder than a starving monster in a dungeon. Eat this before it picks a fight with me."
Nanami's face turned bright red. Her stomach rumbled in agreement, utterly betraying her pride.
She hesitated, unsure whether to reject the kindness out of embarrassment or accept it gratefully. Her gaze softened.
"…Thank you, Nozomi-san."
She took the bowl, her hands trembling just a bit. Sitting up straighter, she ate slowly at first. The warm porridge slid down her throat, coating her stomach with a comforting heat. Her eyes grew moist—whether from hunger, relief, or gratitude, even she wasn't sure.
Nozomi leaned casually against the wall, watching her with a faint smile.
"Feeling better now?"
"...Yeah. Much better," she mumbled, cradling the half-empty bowl.
The gentle warmth from the food, and from Nozomi's presence, melted her anxiety. Her cheeks flushed again. Before she knew it, she'd finished the rest of the bowl in one big gulp.
Setting it aside, she bowed her head slightly. "Thanks again for the food. It was delicious."
Nozomi nodded. "Good. But let me ask you one thing. Why do you keep pushing yourself like this? You could've seriously gotten hurt."
Nanami's expression hardened. "Because... dreams don't wait. And neither do auditions. I need the part-time job to keep chasing this dream."
Nozomi sighed. "And what use is your dream if you collapse before you get there? You can't do voice work if you're too sick to speak."
"I—"
Nanami bit her lower lip, tears welling up.
Nozomi's tone softened. "I get it. You're not wrong for chasing your dream. But you need to take care of yourself, too. Promise me—at least eat and rest properly. Even heroes need to recharge their HP."
She nodded silently, eyes lowered.
For a moment, there was only the sound of the quiet breeze outside the window.
Then, in a voice almost too small to hear—
"...Okay. I'll try. Thank you, Nozomi."
Nozomi smiled warmly.
She was stubborn. But even stubborn hearts could be touched with warmth.
And maybe, just maybe, she'd let someone stand by her as she chased her dream. Together.
Nozomi sighed. "This girl seriously needs to learn to take better care of herself..."