Return With The Bride

Shinji's First Day Back at College

[As Shinji walks through the college gates, taking in the familiar atmosphere, he suddenly feels a hard pat on his shoulder from behind.]

Chojie: "SHINJI! Where were you yesterday?!"

[Shinji turns around, already knowing who the idiot behind him is.]

Shinji: (thinking) "I know this guy. My best friend, Chojie... the most annoying yet entertaining guy in our group."

[Before Shinji can respond, Chojie dramatically throws himself onto Shinji's arm, clinging tightly like a lost lover.]

Chojie: (overdramatic) "Do you know how much I missed you, my dear love?!"

Shinji: (deadpan, trying to shake him off) "Can you not? If you keep acting like this, people will actually think I'm gay like you."

[Chojie gasps in mock offense, still latched onto Shinji's arm.]

Shinji: (thinking) "He's not actually gay... but since he doesn't have a girlfriend, he treats other guys like one. Basically, he might as well be gay..."

[Chojie suddenly touches Shinji's arm, then his shoulders, and then pokes his stomach.]

Chojie: (suspiciously) "Wait a minute… WHAT IS THIS?! You were never this fit before! Since when do you have muscles?! Did you secretly train or something?"

Shinji: (internally panicking) "Crap, I can't tell him it's because I spent 10 years in another world..."

Shinji: (forcing a casual smile) "Uhh... yeah. I was already fit before, you just never noticed."

[Before Chojie can question him further, a loud voice interrupts them.]

Kazama: "HEY, HEY, YOU IDIOT! STOP TRYING TO MAKE EVERYONE GAY LIKE YOU!"

[Shinji looks over and smirks as he sees another familiar face approaching.]

Shinji: "Kazama."

[Chojie, still clinging to Shinji, gasps dramatically and puts a hand on his chest like a wounded prince.]

Chojie: (fake crying) "How dare you say that, Kazama! I am not gay! Do you know how many girls are in love with me?!"

[A passing student mutters under their breath:]

Random Student: "They're not in love with you. They're dying because of you."

[Shinji turns to see another friend approaching with a wide grin.]

Shinji: "Hey, Hasio."

Hasio: (laughing) "Chojie really is a cursed guy. Every girl that interacts with him ends up regretting it."

[Shinji listens to their usual banter, a warm feeling settling in his chest. The laughter, the teasing, the normalcy—this was something he hadn't felt in the last ten years. Being back with his friends like this… it felt good.]

Chojie: (pouting) "HEY! Stop calling me gay! Shinji knows I'm not!"

[Shinji suddenly gets serious and looks at him with a blank expression.]

Shinji: "Yeah… but I also think calling a gay guy gay is wrong."

Chojie: (shocked) "YOU TOO?! I'M GONNA DIE!!"

[Chojie runs away dramatically, fake crying, while Kazama and Hasio burst into laughter.]

Kazama: (laughing) "Haha, he's always like this, making our group a fun place."

Hasio: "Yeah, but to be honest… I'm really relieved he's not actually gay."

Shinji: (seriously) "But… what if he is?"

[Kazama and Hasio freeze, their faces turning pale.]

Kazama/Hasio: (whispering, nervous) "Then… we'll have to protect ourselves… and you too."

Shinji: (grinning) "Nah, I'm already safe."

[Shinji starts walking toward the classroom, leaving Kazama and Hasio staring at each other in confusion.]

Kazama: "Wait… what does that mean?"

Hasio: "I… don't know. But I don't like the sound of it."

A Surprising Scene

[After class ends, Shinji and his friends walk through the corridor. Shinji notices something strange—there's an unusually large crowd gathered in one spot.]

Shinji: "Hey… what's going on? Why are so many students here?"

Kazama: "Let's check it out."

[As they move closer, they hear students whispering excitedly.]

Random Student 1: "Hey, did you see that girl waiting there with a lunchbox?"

Random Student 2: "Yeah, she's so beautiful!"

Random Student 3: "And she's also hot!"

Random Student 4: "Ugh, why am I not as pretty as her?"

Random Student 5: "Who's the lucky guy she's waiting for?!"

[Shinji squints and finally sees the source of all the commotion—standing in the middle of the crowd, holding a neatly packed lunch, is none other than Elie.]

Shinji: (thinking, eyes widening) "Elie?! She's waiting for me? But she doesn't even know my class or department… She must've been asking around. I should go to her."

[Just as he moves forward, Chojie suddenly stops him, placing a hand on his chest.]

Chojie: (grinning) "Hold up. Where do you think you're going? Do you actually think that girl is waiting for you?"

[Before Shinji can answer, Elie spots him immediately and starts walking toward him. The crowd watches in silence, their curiosity growing with every step she takes. Kazama and Hasio, standing beside Shinji, can feel the pressure as Elie gets closer.]

Kazama/Hasio: (thinking, eyes widening) "She's really coming toward him…!?"

[Shinji ignores Chojie and starts walking toward Elie. Just as he's about to reach her, he suddenly feels a soft tug on the back of his T-shirt. A delicate voice calls out his name.]

Elie: "Shinji…"

[Startled by the sudden touch, Shinji turns around a bit too fast—accidentally bumping his shoulder into Elie's forehead in the process.]

Elie: (flinching) "Ouch…"

Shinji: (panicking) "Ah! I'm sorry! Are you okay, Elie?"

Elie: (rubbing her forehead, nodding shyly) "It's okay…"

Shinji: (calming down) "Why are you here?"

Elie: (nervous, holding out the lunchbox) "I… I made lunch for you."

[Shinji stares at the lunchbox, his heart skipping a beat. For years, he had been on his own, surviving in another world with barely any time to eat properly. The idea that someone made food for him, just for him, felt… warm.]

Shinji: (softly, touched) "…Thank you. But who told you where I study?"

Elie: (blushing) "Yuxi… She said I should make lunch for my husband."

[Before Shinji can react, he suddenly feels a hand clamp down on his shoulder. A cold shiver runs down his spine.]

Shinji: (thinking, nervous) "Oh… crap. I forgot. I'm not at home. I'm in college…"

Chojie/Kazama/Hasio: (in sync) "WHAT DID SHE JUST CALL YOU?! HUSBAND?!"

[The entire crowd, who had been silently observing, erupts into whispers.]

Random Student 1: "Wait… are they really married?!"