Don't Say Goodbye

"A-Tian..... Wake up. We really need to go to school now, She Haoran's Good Ending is starting soon."

"But Da Ge..... What about our Good Ending? It's not fair that they get to be all happy and we don't." Hu Chuntian closed one eye from yawning as he rolled over to get on top of Mo Aini. "Can't we just stay like this forever?"

Mo Aini just hugged him and sighed. (As much as I want to, we can't.)

"Stay with me for a while, Da Ge." Hu Chuntian nuzzled on him, still half-asleep. "You don't have to watch them achieve their Good Ending. You didn't see Gou Manchu's or Shu Chuanli's either, so what's the point?"

"This time is different, I'm not actually sure if they got a Good Ending or not. So I need to check. Then afterward...." Mo Aini's voice faltered a bit. "I would have to leave this world and go to the next route."

Hu Chuntian became wide awake now, and Mo Aini could feel that his breathing had started to become unsteady.

Mo Aini ruffled his hair to comfort him. "Hey, we'll see each other again soon, ok? I'll do my best to make the you in the next universe remember faster so we can spend more time together there."

Hu Chuntian was still anxious. "But after that, what comes next? After the last route.... You'll be...."

He didn't continue, and they stayed quiet for a while.

Mo Aini knows what he's thinking. It's very obvious on his face. Hu Chuntian understands the situation, but of course, his heart still aches from the thought of it. He doesn't want Mo Aini to go back to his world, but was scared to bring it up because he doesn't want to assume things and put pressure on Mo Aini.

Mo Aini doesn't know what to say either to calm these thoughts.

All he could do is to give him a gentle kiss and a warm embrace. He knows that isn't enough, but words fail him so he'll comfort through actions.

"A-Tian.... I...." He started. "I'm sorry—"

"I told you not to say that word anymore." Hu Chuntian frowned. "Don't apologize for things out of your control. It just frustrates me, Da Ge. "

"Alright." Mo Aini shut his mouth.

Hu Chuntian's face softened, and they just continued making out in his bed. It's too painful. He needed a distraction from the pain, and he knows his Da Ge needs it too.

"Can the system hear me right now?" Hu Chuntian asked.

Mo Aini was surprised by this sudden question. "Um.... I guess? Let me check."

(System, are you listening in right now?)

It took a while before the system responded with a ding!

[Yes, though we always follow Mo Jiagei's plot development, we still receive data of your actions. We just choose not to view it as respect for your privacy.]

Mo Aini played the devil's advocate on the system again. (Wow, you guys are capable of respect? That's surprising.)

The system ignored this. [What does Hu Chuntian want to say?]

"They're listening now." Mo Aini turned to Hu Chuntian. "Go for it, baby."

Hu Chuntian took a deep breath. Then he said:

"Fuck you. I hope you all die and burn out of existence. Then I want you to get reincarnated into my world so I can beat you all up and eat your guts for breakfast."

The system was quiet for a bit. Then they replied. [Is that all? We'll be going now to attend to more important matters.]

Mo Aini could no longer hear them in his head, and he chuckled, showering Hu Chuntian with more kisses. "Good job, A-Tian! Where did you learn to be that savage?"

"From you, of course." Hu Chuntian grinned. "Remember your threat to that Shenling thug?"

"I really mean every single word of that." Mo Aini kissed the place where he got wounded by the tin can.

"I mean it too. If I could go to your world and wreck Shuaige Corporations building, I would." Hu Chuntian gave a peck on his cheek.

Then, he looked around worriedly. "Are they gone now?"

"Yeah, you definitely scared them off. They also don't pay much attention to us out of for our 'respect for our privacy'."

"But how can we be sure they're not lying about that?" Hu Chuntian rubbed his chin. "They could be freaks who enjoy watching us without us knowing."

"You have a point." This idea already passed over Mo Aini's mind once or twice, but then again, he couldn't handle always constantly fearing of being watched so he waved it off and just hoped for the best. But if it really bothered Hu Chuntian.....

"Then.... Let's not get too touchy-feely anymore." Mo Aini pushed Hu Chuntian off him and start to get up from the bed, but Hu Chuntian blocked him.

"Wait. Even if there are people watching, I don't really care, Da Ge." Hu Chuntian bit his earlobe. "It's too late now to stop being intimate anyway. If they really are watching, they must have seen everything."

"Let them watch, that's all they could do anyway. They'll never experience what I had with Da Ge. In fact...." Hu Chuntian made a very seductive look while tracing his Da Ge's chest with his finger. "It's even exhilarating to think that they would loathe or envy us for it."

"What the fuck.... Are you an exhibitionist!?" Mo Aini can't decide what facial expression to make from all the things his A-Tian is saying.

"Maybe I am. Anyway, I just want another round with Da Ge." He wrapped his legs around Mo Aini. "And no evil corporations can stop me, the Tiger Emperor, from doing what I want."

Mo Aini already knows they're going to be at least three hours late from school.

-------------------

"People may say that high school is the most important moment in their school life. The immaturity of kindergarten and elementary days have not completely gone away, but the nearing of their adulthood and responsibilities of the real world also kept them anchored. Constant mood swings and frustrations from puberty. The formation of social circles and cliques."

"High school is a cacophony of intense emotions that will have a lasting impression on us forever. Sometimes it's sweet, sometimes it's sour. And that's the beauty of it. So for all its joys and sorrows, let us treasure our teenage years and memories."

"You can only have it once after all."

That was the ending of the film documentary by the Theater Club and Journalism Club. It was the only part that Mo Aini and Hu Chuntian had caught up to when they entered the student auditorium, but they were still one of the loudest clappers once the viewing was over.

There were handshakes, pictorials, and conversations. Some even cried, hugging their friends. Some celebrated their involvement in the creation of the documentary, and Ma Jianyu praised everyone proudly in his own.... 'unique' way.

She Haoran and Mo Jiagei however, sat quietly on their seats, clapping politely.

Mo Aini pointed at them. "Do you think they got a Normal or Bad Ending?"

"Hmm, it's hard to tell, Da Ge." Hu Chuntian said. "I've never played otome games before."

"Why are you guys talking about otome?" Shu Chuanli peered at them, with Gou Manchu following close behind.

"What's an Oto Me, senpai?" Gou Manchu asked with his bright puppy eyes.

Over the course of this route, he had become Shu Chuanli's best bud and student in the Art of the Otaku*.

"It's 'woman'." Shu Chuanli explained the literal meaning.

Gou Manchu scratched his head. "Well, I've never met her before."

Shu Chuanli smacked his forehead and was ready to explain, when Ma Jianyu came up from behind and patted their shoulders.

"A swell job, my dear friends! Our valiant endeavor was a success!" He grinned from ear to ear. "What are we gawking at the moment—"

"Shhh! They're moving!" Mo Aini shushed them and the five queer boys watched the couple closely.

Mo Jiagei fiddled with her ponytail. "Mr. President...."

"Just call me She Haoran from now on."

His tone was neutral, so it's hard to tell what he's feeling at the moment.

"She Haoran.... I.... I want to end this fake relationship." Mo Jiagei said.

She Haoran nodded and stood up. "Understandable. I also do not think we could fool people for too long. Good day."

"Wait, I mean that we should—" She pulled on his sleeve, but She Haoran had already left and closed the door behind him. "....be a real couple instead....?"

Mo Aini was confused. (What kind of ending is this?)

[A Good Ending. But Subject #1789, She Haoran, is not acting as we predicted.]

(What will you do now?)

[We'll try to take control of his emotional stats and get him to go back to Mo Jiagei.]

(That's fucked up. You can't just force him to be with my sister if he doesn't want to!)

"What's happening, Da Ge?" Hu Chuntian asked.

Mo Aini looked at the three nosy boys and shoo them away before explaining what's happening.

"Hmmm.... Is that so? Well...." Hu Chuntian shrugged. "It's no longer our problem."

"What?"

"It's the system's problem, you already gave them what they wanted. I'd like to see them fail at their own game too...." He said with an odd smirk.

Mo Aini doesn't know what Hu Chuntian's up to, but he's willing to join him in his whims anyway.

Hu Chuntian looked back at the three eavesdroppers, who were actually still listening in yet not understanding anything. They immediately hid behind the chairs but Hu Chuntian picked them up easily.

"Hmm.... You three. One of you should go check over the student council president." Hu Chuntian ordered like he was the boss of them. "Let's see...."

He examined them closely like he was making a screening for a job interview. The three stood straight and stiffly, very intimidated and terrified by the Tiger Emperor.

"What's going on, senpai?" Gou Manchu whispered to Shu Chuanli.

"I have no idea, why are you asking me, baka!? Just do what he asks!" Shu Chuanli whispered back.

Hu Chuntian's sharp ears caught these whisperings and he had finally come to a decision. He pointed to the Theater Club President. "I see. The cowboy should do it."

"Pardon?" Ma Jianyu's eyes narrowed. "Who is this cowboy you speak of? I am a prince and a knight!"

Mo Aini finally got what is going on, and supported his A-Tian. "Then, we have a quest for you, Sir John Hue. Our student council president is in dire need of assistance. He had been a great help to your club activities so far, shouldn't you return the favor?"

"Is that so? Then I shall quickly make haste to be of service to him!" Ma Jianyu declared dramatically and ran outside the auditorium with the wind in his long hair.

"Let's see how the system will deal with that kind of development." Hu Chuntian grinned.

"Look at you, A-Tian. You're an even better Cupid than me." Mo Aini pulled him by the waist and give him a light kiss.

Hu Chuntian felt over the moon that his Da Ge wasn't so anxious anymore to doing PDA. But then he realized this must be a one-time thing to make up for him leaving.

"Da Ge, I really don't want you to leave me." Hu Chuntian nuzzled his head on his neck.

"I have to, A-Tian." Mo Aini patted his head.

"There's something I want you to have before you go." Hu Chuntian pulled away and took something from his backpack. "In case the next me doesn't remember so soon."

It was a photo album. All the pictures were taken by their cameras.

"A-Tian....." Mo Aini really don't want to cry, but his eyes betrayed him. "I wish I could bring this with me wherever I go."

(Especially when I go back to my world.)

A ding came as well as a holographic screen. [User Mo Aini, it's time to go to the next route. Once you go out of the auditorium door, you will be transported there.]

"I have to go now." Mo Aini told him and pointed to the door.

Hu Chuntian nodded in understanding. "Take care, Da Ge."

"Well...." Mo Aini pressed his lips on Hu Chuntian's for a while, then let go. "Goodbye—"

"Don't say goodbye, Da Ge. Say 'See you later'."

"Alright." Mo Aini gave a sad smile. "See you later."

After a very long and desperate hug, they part ways and waved as Mo Aini went to that door, holding his beloved's album close to his chest.

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