Jade Leech๏ผ17๏ผVS Jade Leech๏ผ28๏ผ
Pairing: Jade Leech x Reader (Female Prefect)
At seventeen, Jade viewed the act of surrendering one's heart as a form of "defeat." Even when you confessed your feelings to him, he thought to himself, "I can't believe they are surrendering their heart and vulnerabilities to me so innocently." However, he didn't dislike you; in fact, you were quite his "favorite," so he accepted and the two of you began dating.
He never went as far as saying something blunt like, "If you love me, youโll do [this] for me, right?" Yet, when you went out of your way to please him, his internal perception was simply: "The Prefect is only being this kind to me because they are in love with me." He even caught himself thinking, "I wonder what they would have done if I had been a truly wicked man?"
Furthermore, because you had once told him that his calm, composed side was "cool and wonderful," he made it a point to act as the "perfect boyfriend," performing his role with flawless execution, believing that acting too eager would be unsightly. Over time, however, he gradually began to show you his unpolished, raw self. Seeing that you loved him nonetheless, he came to believe: "This person will forgive me no matter how I act," and "I don't mind surrendering my feelings to them." He eventually became incredibly honest in expressing his affection, evolving into a free-spirited, "Super Darling" who moves at his own pace and wants to do anything and everything to make you happy.
Years later, happily married and lounging together at home, Jade happens to confide in you: "Back then, I used to view your sincerity in such a way." You simply offer a small, gentle laugh and reply, "Is that so?"
"Actually, back then, I couldn't really tell how you felt, Jade-senpaiโฆ I thought you were only dating me out of pity or as some kind of game, so I was actually thinking about breaking up with you."
The words hit him like a physical bolt of lightning, leaving Jade completely paralyzed in shock.
To you, back then, the situation felt painfully unbalanced. Yes, you had confessed because you loved him; yes, he had accepted; and yes, you went on dates and spent time together. But there was always a wallโa sense of polite, distant formality that Jade never truly let down.
You knew he didnโt dislike you, but you felt your feelings were in no way equal. You were plagued by the anxiety that Jadeโs "love" was merely the affection one has for a junior or a friend, and that you had simply slipped into the position of "girlfriend" by taking advantage of his kindness. You seriously wondered, "Maybe I should just break up with him for his own sake," or "Surely thereโs a woman out there somewhere he could truly fall in love with."
Hearing this now, Jade is deathly pale. "There was a possibilityโฆ that I was going to be dumpedโฆ???" With a look of sheer, genuine desperation on his white-as-a-sheet face, he interrogates you: "What exactly was the catalyst that made you decide not to leave me?"
However, you canโt remember the shift in your emotions with that much precision. It was simply a gradual process; the distance between you and Jade slowly dissolved, and you finally began to feel his feelings reaching you. The relationship, which had felt like a painful one-sided crush despite officially dating, had slowly matured into mutual love.
"Timeโฆ? I feel like time justโฆ solved it eventually," you offer. Jade clutches his head in his hands. "That is far too vague!"
The Result:
The traumatized Jade (28) decides there is only one thing to do. He travels back to the heartbroken 16-year-old version of you to plead, "Please don't give up on me!"โand thus, the chaos is born.
Jade walked you all the way back to the front of Ramshackle Dorm after your date. "I had a very wonderful time today," he said, offering you a gentle smile. "May I invite you out again?"
Deep in your heart, you felt the crushing weight of a realization: I should break up with him. I need to set him free. Yet, the joy of being wanted by him was too much to resist. "Yes!" you replied, the word escaping your lips before you could stop it.
Jade smiled at your response. "Goodnight, then, Prefect," he said, before turning and walking away with a steady, brisk pace. His performance as a boyfriend was flawless. But he didn't stop to linger at the dorm. He showed no sign of reluctance, no lingering gaze that suggested he didn't want the night to end.
From Jadeโs perspective, this was a matter of prideโhe believed that acting clingy or hesitant was "unbecoming" and wanted to maintain a perfectly smart, composed demeanor. But none of that reached you. Instead, you were left with the sinking feeling that Jade was merely playing the role of the "ideal boyfriend" because that is what he thought he should do.
Standing alone in front of Ramshackle Dorm, you wondered if you were the only one who had wanted to stay together just a little bit longer.
"I couldn't say it today, eitherโฆ and I even promised to see him again." You let out a heavy sigh, trudging back to your room with slumped shoulders. You clicked the door openโonly to be greeted by a voice that shouldn't have been there.
"Welcome home, Prefect."
It was Jade (28). You froze, your mind a chaotic mess of question marks. In the corner of the room, Grim was curled into a ball, trembling in pure terror.
"Forgive me for intruding without permission. I simply felt a wave of nostalgia." "Huh? Uhโฆ wait? Jade-senpai just leftโฆ didn't he? Are youโฆ Jade-senpai?" "Fufu, I've confused you, haven't I? Yes. I am yours. I am Jade." He offered a respectful bow, one hand over his chest.
But something was different. His shoulders were broader than the Jade who had just walked you home; his stature was taller, and the melting softness in his gaze was unlike anything you'd ever seen. He was more massive than Floyd-senpai, unmistakably an adult, and while the voice was definitely Jade's, you had never heard it sound so sweet and sugary.
Finally, your brain came to a desperate conclusion. "This is a hallucinationโฆ I've finally started hallucinating a version of Jade-senpai that's convenient for meโฆ!"
Jade (28) couldn't help but chuckle at that. He stood up, closing the distance between you in a few smooth strides. "Oh? Am I the 'ideal' version of myself to you?" he whispered silkily. Before you could process it, he scooped you up effortlessly and sat you down on his lap.
You buried your face in your hands, groaning in a mix of agony and embarrassment. "Gwaaaah, Iโm so sinfulโฆ!" And Jade (28) simply laughed again, relishing every second of your reaction.
Still in a state of utter confusion, you looked up at the man who looked exactly like your lover, yet was clearly different. "Umโฆ who exactly are you?" you managed to ask. He had introduced himself as Jade, and you felt in your gut that he was indeed Jade-senpai, but the question slipped out anyway.
In response, Jade (28) simply arched a single eyebrow, looking thoroughly amused. Every micro-expression on his face was steeped in an effortless composure. For a fleeting second, that particular expression reminded you of Floyd.
"U-umโฆ Floyd-senpai?" "Incorrect." "Uuuuhโฆ" "Are you still unable to distinguish between Floyd and myself?" "I feel likeโฆ I should be forgiven for that one just nowโฆ shouldn't I?" you squeaked, your face turning a brilliant crimson as you practically begged for mercy.
At seventeen, Jade placed immense value on maintaining a perfectly composed, beautiful smileโflattening his emotions to present a flawless, orderly facade, much like a model posing for a camera. But at twenty-eight, Jade has the confidence to intentionally "break" that perfection. He knows that showing a more raw, animated side of himself is surprisingly effective and charming.
As a result, he has mastered an intentional aura that feels similar to Floydโs unvarnished honestyโnot because he is mimicking his brother, but because he can finally afford to be casual as "Jade".
Incidentally, the adult Floyd has learned the art of "maintaining a facade," leading him to be frequently mistaken for Jade by those around himโa fact that leaves him profoundly annoyed.
"I am not a psychopath like him~," Floyd often grumbles. And the version of you from ten years in the future simply offered a bright, silent smile, refusing to comment.
Jade (28) caressed your hair and stroked your cheek with his fingertips, as if he were doting on a beloved kitten.
"The truth is, Iโve come from the future," he murmured. "I came to cling to youโto beg you not to abandon me."
"A-abandon you???"
Jade (28) pouted his lips and let his eyebrows droop in a sulky expression. In that moment, he looked more like Floyd than ever.
"I heard that the version of you from this time was thinking about breaking up with me."
"Ahโฆ"
"See? You do have a guilty conscience."
He spoke with a touch of resentment before pressing a kiss to your cheekโmwah. As your skin flushed a deep, blooming crimson from the inside out, he leaned in as an afterthought and took a playful bite. Chomp. He left a clear set of teeth marks on your soft, rounded cheek.
"The version of me currently by your side is an utterly immature maleโone so desperate to maintain his facade that he cannot even consider your feelings. Butโ" He paused, his gaze intensifying. "The fact that he loves you is no lie. Soโฆ please. Could you find it in your heart not to give up on him?"
"โฆโฆโฆ"
"Prefect?"
"โฆโฆUm."
"Yes?"
"โฆโฆJade-senpai, do youโฆ do you really, trulyโฆ like meโฆ?"
"โโโโ"
Jade (28)โs face went completely blankโa look of pure, hollow shock. It was one thing for you to be anxious, but to realize that his love hadn't even been communicated to you in the first placeโฆ it was more than he could bear.
"As for meโฆ"
Jade whispered, holding you so tightly it felt as though he was locking you away within his arms. His voice was thick and syrupy, overflowing with a melting sweetness.
"I love you. I love you deeply. It seems my younger self hasn't quite managed to convey that yet, but even that is only because heโs putting on an actโtrying to look his best so youโll think highly of him. But tell meโฆ what do you actually think?"
"Huhโฆ?"
"Do you find the version of me that is utterly, head-over-heels in love with you to be 'unsightly'?"
"Thโโฆ"
"Thโ?"
"The lethal power of this is too highโฆ!"
"Ufufuโฆ โก"
You turned a brilliant shade of crimson, your entire body going rigid like a statue.
The Jade (28) standing before you had already lived through those days as a seventeen-year-old who desperately wanted to maintain his pride. Back then, his approach had been painstakingly gradual. First, he held your hand. Then, he slowly shaved away the distance between you, inch by inch. Only after confirming you didn't mind would he sit close enough for your shoulders to touch. Finally, he worked up the courage to embrace you.
Because he had spent so much time carefully acclimating you to his presence, seeing you this red and completely paralyzed is an incredibly fresh experience for Jade (28). You look so small, so adorableโheโs genuinely starting to wonder if it would be so bad to just take you back with him.
He wonders, briefly, if the adult version of you would truly be that angry with him.
You and Grim stared at each other, both of your eyes wide with disbelief. "โฆโฆโฆโฆ" "โฆโฆโฆโฆ" "I'mโฆ I'm going to Heartslabyul for the night." "No! Don't leave me here alone!!!" "Let me go! I can't handle these 'Giant Twin' types, y'know!" "I can't handle this either!!!"
The room descended into chaos. You scrambled to grab Grim's tail as he tried to bolt out the window, earning a sharp "Nyagyah!" of protest from the monster. You were both so caught up in the frantic struggle that you had no idea Jade (28) was downstairs in the kitchen, laughing quite merrily at the commotion.
The dinner Jade (28) prepared was absolutely delicious. It was a dish that Jade (17) had made for you before, but this version was so much better that it left you blinking in surprise. Seeing your reaction, Jade (28)โs eyes softened into a melting, tender gaze. "After spending ten years together, Iโve naturally become quite well-acquainted with your personal tastes."
Those words nearly brought you to tears. Even the current Jade does his research to cook things you might like. That alone is enough to make you happy, but the Jade from ten years in the future hasn't just looked up a recipeโhe has perfected it and added his own personal arrangements specifically for you.
It felt like undeniable proof that "we really are together ten years from now." The realization that he truly, deeply loves you hit your tear ducts hard. It was happy. It was delicious. As you ate, sniffing back tears, Jade (28) watched you with the doting eyes of someone looking at a precious kitten. Adorable, he thought. I really want to take her back with me.
After dinner, you finished bathing and prepared for bed. The spiced milk tea Jade (28) brewed for you before sleep had a sophisticated, adult flavor. Then, as you headed toward your bed, Jade (28) naturally followed right behind you. Panicked, you formed a "T" with your hands to call for a timeout.
"Oh? Is something the matter?" Jade (28) asked, his face a picture of innocent radiance.
"Well, I meanโฆ sleeping together is justโฆ a bit of an overdose, don't you think?"
"I won't do anything you dislike. Or is it that you find the idea of sleeping beside me unpleasant?"
"Iโit's not that it's unpleasant, butโฆ"
It wasn't unpleasant.
But it felt like crossing a line. After all, while this Jade (28) might be your lover in a "broad sense," the you of now belongs with the Jade (17) of now.
"Uugh." "Uugh?" "I thinkโฆ cheating is wrong." "I am still me, so I don't believe this qualifies as cheating."
As he spoke, Jade (28) pulled you into his arms, nuzzling his cheek against yours. It felt exactly like being doted on by a massive predator. Utterly stumped and paralyzed, you glanced toward the smartphone on your nightstand. You wanted to call Jade (17) for help, but it was already so late.
Contacting him at this hour would be a nuisance. And besidesโif he were to simply say, "Since that is also me, there shouldn't be any problem, right?" you might actually be a little shocked. To you, Jade (28) and Jade (17) are clearly different people, even if they share the same soul. But for Jade himself, that distinction might not matter at all.
As you stood there, frozen and lost while staring at your smartphone, the gaze of Jade (28) softened with a tender, yet melancholic warmth. In his eyes, there was a flicker of genuine heartbreak. He looked sad. Dejected. Still holding you firmly in his arms, he tumbled onto the bed, pulling you down with him.
"I am heartbroken, Prefect," he pleaded, his voice thin and withered with sorrow.
"To think that at this age, I have so little of your trust that you cannot even honestly ask me for help."
"Wait, ah, no, itโs not like that!"
"But in fact, you are hesitating to call me, aren't you? You're making all sorts of excusesโthinking it's too late at night, or that you shouldn't trouble someone as busy as me."
"โฆโฆโฆโฆ"
"โฆI wonder just how much of your pain and sadness the version of me from this time has been overlooking," Jade (28) murmured, his voice laced with a profound loneliness. It sounded so desolate that you almost started to say, "It's not that you're doing anything wrong, Senpaiโฆ" but he cut you off.
"Iโve decided. Iโm actually quite annoyed now โก"
"Eh?"
With a sudden shift in atmosphere, Jade (28) reached for your smartphone, which was charging on the nightstand. With a practiced, effortless motion, he unlocked the passcode.
"WhโHow do you know my passcode!?"
"Letโs just sayโฆ the future version of you told me."
"Thatโs definitely a lie!!!"
You struggled and squirmed against him, but your resistance was no more effective than that of a tiny kitten.
Jade (28) effortlessly pinned you down with one hand while operating your smartphone with the otherโ
[Octavinelle Dorm: The Twins' Room] "Jade~, your phone is ringing. Looks like itโs from Shrimpy~." "Oh? How unusual for her to call at this hour. I wonder if something happened."
It was Jade (17). Having finished his date with you and gallantly escorted you back to Ramshackle Dorm, he had returned to his room to finish his daily tasks. He had just settled in to work on his terrariumsโhis private time. Normally, he found any intrusion during these hours unpleasant, but when the caller was you, he felt no such irritation.
In fact, this was the first time you had ever called him so late at night. Usually, it was just messages. Frowning slightly with concern that something urgent might have occurred, he picked up the vibrating device. "Hello? Is this the Prefect?"
"Good eveningโฆ โก"
"Excuse me?"
A low, sharp sound escaped Jadeโs throatโa warning sign. Floyd, who had been lounging on his bed flipping through a magazine, sat up with a look of confusion. Itโs from Shrimpy, right? his face seemed to ask. To let Floyd hear, Jade silently pressed the speakerphone button.
"This is indeed the Prefectโs smartphone, but who on earth are you?"
"Oya oyaโฆ Even after a strange man answers your lover's phone, you remain remarkably composed. Prefect, it seems your lover is quite heartlessโnoโฆ"
A low, calm, and velvety voice chuckled mockingly through the speaker.
"It seems you are simplyโฆ slow."
"I am going to kill you. Right now."
โIโll be waiting for you. Oh, and hereโtake this as a souvenir.โ
With that, the call disconnected. A souvenir? Jade wondered, his brow furrowing with suspicion. Then, his device chimed with a notification: a message from you. He opened it, and the sound of his teeth grinding together echoed through the room.
The manโs face wasn't in the shot. Instead, it was a selfie of you tucked completely within the man's broad chest. The sheer thickness of his torso, the muscularity of the arm holding you like a plush dollโeverything about him screamed "mature male merman." He was physically superior to Jade in every way.
But it was your expression, framed by that massive arm, that truly set Jadeโs agitation ablaze. You weren't terrified. You weren't crying. You simply had your eyebrows tilted in a troubled line, your face flushed a brilliant, heated crimson. You lookedโฆ adorable. It was not the face of someone offering genuine rejection.
This mature male mermanโof unknown originโhad somehow gained access to you without triggering your guard, being allowed to touch you as if in play. He must have used silver-tongued words to draw you in. His large palm was resting against your stomach. And then there were your legsโbare, slender, and extending from the hem of your room-wear shortsโa sight Jade himself had never even been granted.
The thought that you felt comfortable enough to expose such a side of yourself to this man made the world turn a violent shade of red before Jadeโs eyes. That sincerity had always been offered to him. You had always directed your unwavering affection toward him, so much so that he had worried for you. But now, that devotion was wavering. It was being directed at another man. Or so it seemed.
Such a thing was absolutely unforgivable. Jade stood up, his presence wavering like a ghostly flame. "I am going to kill him," he said flatly, before walking out of the room.
Floyd watched him go, his mouth hanging open in pure bewilderment.
"Waitโฆ wasn't the guy on the other end of that phone also Jadeโฆ???"
Floyd muttered to himself. That malicious provocation, that calm, velvety, and deep baritoneโFloyd recognized it perfectly. Jade himself likely had no idea what his own voice sounded like through a speaker, but Floyd knew.
Realizing the immense hassle that was about to unfold, Floyd let out a long, half-lidded groan. "Ehhhhhโ."
Jade (17) pushed his long legs to their limit, shattering his own speed records as he raced toward Ramshackle Dorm. He kicked open the front door, leaped up the stairs three steps at a time, and slammed his way into your roomโonly to come face-to-face with Jade (28). For a brief moment, even the ever-composed Jade was left wide-eyed and stunned.
There, sitting leisurely on the bed with his legs parted, was a massive man holding you sideways on his lap like a precious treasure. For a split second, Jade thought it might be his fatherโthe build and hair color were so similar. But there was a faint trace of his motherโs elegance in the man's features. He was kin. He looked far too much like Jade himself. He appeared relaxed, yet he left absolutely no openings for an attack.
Jade (17) mentally cycled through several ways to strike, only to realize that every single one would be countered instantly. The tension in his chest tightened. Seeing the man press his face into your black hair with such tendernessโoccasionally letting his lips brush against your cheek or earlobe with playful mischiefโmade a hot, dark anger boil within him. But what infuriated him most was your reaction: you were troubled, yes, but you weren't rejecting him.
I am the one you love. Don't let another man touch you like that. Don't look at him with that face. Don't forgive him. These thoughtsโa twisted mixture of rage and desperationโcoiled like a serpent in his chest. Finally, glare fixed on the man with all the passion he possessed, Jade spoke.
"Who are you?"
His voice was hard, laced with heavy caution. In response, the man simply offered a cheerful smile, his eyes sparkling with amusement. It was that mocking, "Oya oya" sort of grin that made Jade (17) clench his fists so hard they groaned. He wanted to tear that smile off the man's face.
The man blinked exaggeratedly, drooping his eyebrows with such theatrical disappointment he might as well have said, "Oh, how sad." He nuzzled his cheek against your hair, holding you even closer.
"See, Prefect? Was I truly this slow-witted when I was seventeen? Iโm honestly disappointed in myself. I thought I was at least a little bit smarter than this. Sigh. I really need to revise my own self-image. Sigh."
Jade (17) widened his eyes in momentary surprise at those words. Then, the realization struck him, and his gaze flattened into a sharp, half-lidded stare. So thatโs why. It wasnโt just a resemblance to his father or mother. It was himself. Likely a version of himself from five or more years in the future. It made sense that he left no openings; he knew exactly what his past self would try to do.
And the reason you didn't resistโthe reason you didn't reject himโwas simple. Because that man was Jade. The future version of Jade himself.
"Iโm disappointed as well," Jade (17) countered, his voice dripping with icy sarcasm. "I had assumed my future self would be leading a busy, fulfilling life. I never imagined you would be so bored as to employ a massive, forbidden ritual just to intervene in the pastโฆ"
Then, he froze. A single, dark thought paralyzed him. Why would his future self go through the trouble of traveling back in time just to mess with you? A deep furrow appeared between his brows. A premonition of dread washed over him. If that were the caseโฆ
"Did somethingโฆ happen to the Prefect?"
"I am the one by her side; do you really think I would allow such a blunder? Are you an idiot?"
Jade (28) answered the quiet, resolute question with a swift, scathing insult. He was thoroughly enjoying the act of mocking his younger self.
You, sitting on his lap as you had been toldโlike a "good girl"โcould only watch with half-lidded eyes. You thought to yourself: If we weren't sitting on a bed right now, he would have the aura of a total Final Boss. To you, he looked exactly like a Demon King.
"Then what on earth did you come here for? Ohโฆ if nothing happened to the Prefect, then could it beโฆ were you the one abandoned by them?"
At the sharp, biting tone of Jade (17), you felt a jolt of alarm. That was a landmine. A landmine that Jade (28) had likely baited him into stepping on.
Jade (28) smiledโa brilliant, seductive grin capable of beguiling anyone regardless of age or gender. Yet, the atmosphere shifted instantly. An unfathomable chill began to crawl around your feet. It was the crushing pressure of a mature male merman, an intensity that even the seventeen-year-old Jade knew he could not best.
"You seeโฆ"
Slowly, Jade (28) raised his left hand, holding it up as if to flaunt it before his younger self. There, at the base of his ring finger, sat a beautiful silver band.
"I married the Prefect."
He lowered his hand and took yours in his. The difference in size was even more stark than before as he overlapped his palm with yours, entwining your fingers. He gripped your hand with a firm yet gentle touch, lifted it, and pressed his lips to the back of your hand.
"I finally became your sanctuary. Your place of peace. The home you return to. I was granted the position I desired with all my soulโa position I was finally permitted to hold."
He turned his gaze back to the younger Jade. "That is why I came hereโto resort to tears and pleas so you wouldn't break up with me. Iโm cleaning up your mess. Perhaps you should thank me? Ah, actually, never mind. I was just thinking that rather than begging you not to abandon 'us,' I might just take them back with me instead."
"You intend to take the Prefect to the future?" Jade (17) hissed. "Indeed." "Do you honestly think I would ever permit such a thing?" "I don't require your permission. You understand, don't you? With the clumsy skill of a mere hatchling, you are no match for me."
Jade (17) bit his lip, a frustrated groan caught in his throat. He truly felt he was no match for the man before him. He was being outclassed in every possible way. But even soโeven if the opponent was his own future selfโthere was no way he could just hand you over. He searched his mind, desperately seeking a way to overthrow the man before him, his future self.
And then.
Jade (17) smiled. He tilted his eyebrows downward, looking utterly apologetic.
"Itโs true. It seems nearly impossible for the current me to strike down the future me. I have no choice. Future me, I have a request."
"Iโm listening," Jade (28) replied smoothly.
"Could you pass a message to the future Prefect for me?"
"Of course. What should I tell them?"
You watched them, a small pang of loneliness hitting your chest. So Jade-senpai is giving up after allโฆ You didn't want them to actually fight, but part of you wished he had fought for you just a little bit more. You had grown greedy, simply because the Jade from ten years later had been cherishing you with such melting, syrupy tenderness.
But then, with that same polite smile fixed on his face, Jade (17) raised the hand holding his magical pen. And thenโ
"Tell them: 'Iโm sorry for making you a widow.'"
With a smile that bloomed like a tightly wound bud finally snapping open, Jade (17) pressed the tip of his magical pen against his own throat. It was a direct threat.
"I wonderโฆ if I die here, what will happen to the version of me from the future? Will you disappear? Time paradoxes are a common concept in time-manipulation magic. It should be quite a spectacle to see how it resolves itself, don't you think?"
A low groan escaped Jade (28). His expression dropped instantly, becoming a blank void. His eyes narrowed into thin slits, as if he were meticulously calculating exactly how much havoc he was prepared to wreak. He remained silent, pondering, with a look that suggested he was about to let out a long, dark hum.
During that silence, Jade (17) felt as though he had stopped breathing. He knew all too well that the version of himself who had gained over five years of experience and refinement could be infinitely more vicious if he truly set his mind to it.
I see. So this is how it feelsโฆ For the first time, he truly understood why Floyd and Azul were always complaining, crying out, "Jade, I'm so done with you!" He made a mental note to reflect on his daily behavior. Just a little bit.
After a long, heavy silence, Jade (28) finally moved. He tilted his head with an exaggeratedly "cute" sparkle and nuzzled his cheek against your hair, marking you with a clingy, affectionate rub.
"Did you hear that, Prefect? The hatchling version of me is threatening to kill me. How cruelโฆ ๐ฅบ"
Jade (17) nearly unleashed a triple-shot Flame Blast on the spot.
Jade (17): "Could you please stop acting cute with my face, you middle-aged man?! Iโm about to blow your head offโฆ!"
Jade (28): "Discriminating against someone based on age is harassment, you know. Besides, the Prefect always tells me I'm cute, so it's perfectly fine. Isn't that right, Prefect? โก"
You: "So 'calculated-cute'โฆ"
Jade (17): "Prefect!!!"
You: "I can't help it! When the person I love acts pampered, itโs only natural to think theyโre cute!"
Jade (28): "Exactly, exactly!"
Jade (17): "The 'Old Man' version of me needs to shut up!!! (Enraged)"
The chaos finally simmered down. Having teased Jade (17) to his heart's content, Jade (28) let out a long, slow sigh. He leaned in, gently resting his forehead against yours.
"Are you truly certain you won't come with me? The 'hatchling' version of me is a fragile maleโso obsessed with looking cool to impress you that he hides his true heart, leaving you feeling anxious and alone."
"But," you started, meeting his gaze.
"He loved me enough to risk total annihilation just to keep me here. Soโฆ I want to sit down and talk with my Jade-senpai. I want to try and trust him more. Besidesโฆ"
You lowered your voice, as if sharing a precious secret.
"The milk tea you made for me before bedโฆ it tasted a bit like an 'adult' flavor to me. I'm sure that's a taste the future version of me loves. It's a flavor I'll grow to like while spending my days with him. But the me of now doesn't know that journey yet. It's unfair, isn't it? You already know my next ten years, but I don't know yours at all."
"โฆโฆโฆโฆ"
Jade (28)โs eyebrows drooped with a soft, helpless expression. "I suppose I have no choice then," he whispered. He gently lowered you back onto the bed, releasing his hold.
Jade (28): "If you put it that way, I must give up. Howeverโif you ever feel like breaking up with himโ"
Jade (17): "That will not happen."
Jade (28): "Ha!" (A derisive snort)
Jade (17): "Prefect, please step back for a moment. I am going to kill this man."
You: "But that man is you, Senpaiโฆ"
Jade (17) was radiating pure murderous intent, while Jade (28) continued to provoke him at every turn. You found yourself retreating into a daze of escapism, wondering why two people who are technically the same person couldnโt just get along. The answer, of course, was exactly that: they are the same person. It was the ultimate case of self-loathing combined with the fact that both possessed a natural talent for harassment and knew exactly which buttons to press. May they rest in peace.
Jade (28) pulled a pen from his pocket, decorated with a magic crystal of a different design than the one Jade (17) held. He twirled it through his long fingers as if playing with a toy, then shot a sharp, fleeting glance at his younger self.
"Listen well. The Prefect was intruded upon by a suspicious man claiming to be her lover from ten years in the future. He touched her, held herโyet even then, she hesitated to call you. She was terrified that she would be an intrusion on your time and that you would resent her for it. She feared you might simply tell her, 'Handle that much on your own.' Do you understand the weight of that?"
"Whether or not I am truly the Jade from the future is irrelevant. Had I intended to, I could have harmed her. I could have taken her away. I could have broken her. The Prefect is safe only because I happened to have no such intention."
"Jade Leech. You must truly accept the reality of that fact."
The tone of his voice was no longer mocking or playful. It was quiet, calmโa tone that was simultaneously an admonishment and a cold ultimatum. Then, he offered a light shrug of his shoulders.
"Even an immature hatchling should be capable of understanding that much," he added, punctuating his speech with one last derisive snort.
The sound of Jade (17)โs throat grinding in a suppressed, guttural growl echoed through the silent room.
"Well then, I shall return. The Prefect is waiting at home, preparing dinner for me."
Remaining true to his own pace until the very end, Jade (28) lightly flicked his magical pen, bestowing one final spell upon the two of you. A shimmering light wavered, causing your body to sink limply into the mattress, while Jade (17) felt his strength leave him as he slumped onto the floor.
Jade (28) grabbed the younger version of himself by the collar. "This is a courtesy service. Ah, how merciful I am!" he proclaimed merrily. With a casual toss, he laid the younger Jade right next to you on the bed. Having tucked you both in side-by-side, Jade (28) leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to your forehead.
"Goodnight, Prefect. Iโll see you againโฆ in the future."
With that final farewell, he vanished, returning to the future where his own version of you was waiting.
Then came the following morning. When you opened your eyes, you were startled to find Jade sleeping peacefully right beside you. How did this happen? You remembered having a date with him in town yesterday. You remembered coming home. And after thatโฆ
"What exactly happenedโฆ?"
You had the feeling that something significant had occurred. You felt as though you had been deeply troubled, and that you had gathered your courage to rely on Jade. He had rushed to your side immediately and resolved your problemโor so it felt. However, you couldn't recall a single detail. It was as if you had been placed under a spell.
In reality, that might have been exactly what happened. It wasn't uncommon to find mysterious magical items in Ramshackle Dorm or to be the victim of a passing fairyโs prank. You concluded that you must have carelessly dragged Jade into some sort of magical mishap.
"H-hyinโฆ Did I just make Jade-senpai stay out all night without permissionโฆ? I have to wake him up." Muttering to yourself, you placed a hand gently on Jade's shoulder and gave him a light shake. "Jade-senpai, please wake up."
"โฆโฆโฆ"
Slowly, his eyelids fluttered open. Jade blinked a few times, then groaned in a raspy, low voiceโthe kind that sounds irritable from lack of sleep.
"I feel as though I just had the most wretched dreamโฆ one where a horribly malicious older man stole you away from me."
"What on earth are you talking about?"
The words left your mouth before you could stop them, your face turning deadpan. Maybe Jade-senpai just isn't a morning person, you wondered, as you let your eyebrows droop apologetically. "Um, Iโm so sorry. It seems like I dragged you into some kind of trouble. I'm really sorry."
"โฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆ"
Jade blinked slowly and sat up. Then, he reached out and took your hand with a sudden, deliberate softness.
"Iโm glad you dragged me into it."
"Eh?"
"It is far better than you being exposed to danger or suffering in a place where I cannot see you. From now onโฆ please, rely on me."
"Ehโฆ?"
Your eyes went wide. It wasn't the usual performanceโnot the "Iโm your boyfriend" or "Iโm your upperclassman" pose he usually maintained with a calculated line drawn between you. This was his true heart. It wasn't a polite "You may rely on me if you wish," but a tone you had never heard from him beforeโvulnerable, almost as if he were pleading, โPlease, I beg of you, rely on me.โ You could only blink in stunned silence.
"Umโฆ"
"Iโฆ I wanted you to think of me as a 'cool' boyfriend, Prefect."
"Haeh?"
An incredibly silly, dazed sound escaped your lips. You couldn't help it; the blunt honesty was too much to process.
"But if that desire has kept my true feelings from reaching youโฆ then I don't mind being uncool at all."
As he spoke, Jade lifted your hand and pressed his cheek against it. For some reasonโhe couldn't quite explain whyโhe felt that showing you this side of himself, acting pampered and honest, would be far more effective. He just had a feeling.
"Hawaaโฆ"
Your face flushed a deep, burning crimson. Your eyes, like twin black pearls, shimmered with moisture.
"Iโฆ love you. That is why I want to be the one you rely on. From now on, if you are in trouble, will you promise to come to me immediately?"
Looking up at you through his lashes, he pressed a soft kissโmwahโto the back of your hand. Still bright red, you nodded frantically like a broken wind-up toy.
"Theโ" "The?" "The overdose of thisโฆ I think I might dieโฆ" "Itโs alright. You wonโt die from something like this."
Somehow. For some truly inexplicable reason, Jade just knew. He had no idea why, but he was certain.
"I might get scolded by Azul for making you stay out without permission," you worried. "But if that happens, Iโll go and apologize with you."
Hand in hand, you headed to Mostro Lounge. But to your surprise, Azul simply tilted his head in confusion. "As for last night, Iโve already received a report from Jade. Something about a fairy visit at Ramshackle Dorm, wasn't it?"
Though it had been a brief, informal oral notice, Jadeโs overnight stay request had been perfectly processed. Jade himself had no memory of doing so. Ultimately, they concluded it must have been another prank by the fairies.
"Come to think of it," Azul added, "you seemed remarkably cheerful last night. Was there something odd? Ah, perhaps your voice was just a bit deeper than usual."
โ โกโ
Meanwhile, Jade (28) had returned to his own time. Doing the after-care as wellโฆ honestly, I am far too merciful, he thought, patting himself on the back as he arrived home in high spirits. Seeing the warm light spilling from the windows, his expression softened. He knocked.
Quick, light footsteps approached the door. It swung open from the inside.
"Welcome home, Jade-senpai!"
"I am home, Prefect."
Seeing you there, greeting him just as always, he felt a deep sense of relief. It meant that his past self had done exactly what needed to be done.
The chance for you to return to your original world had finally come, just before your graduation. If everything went well, you would have gone back to your own world. If it failed, you might have been lost in another dimension entirely. The success rate was said to be sixty to seventy percent.
But Jadeโs Prefectโthe version of you from his worldโhad looked at those odds and chosen to walk away from the gamble.
Back then, you had consulted Jade. He was already a graduate, busy building a business with Azul, yet he had rushed back to Night Raven College the moment you called. It was there, on the spot, that he proposed. In response, you gave up on your original world and chose a life with him. If you hadnโt consulted him thenโJade would have lost you forever.
Had you asked for a breakup during his student days, Jade likely would have refused to accept it. But he knew that wouldn't have been enough; eventually, you might have been tempted to take that gamble to return to your own world. That was exactly why he went through the trouble of traveling to the past to intervene. He had no intention of letting you slip away.
A sudden memory flickered in his mind, and he reached for his device. He had saved every single message you had ever sent him. He scrolled back through the old emails, further and further, untilโ
"Found it."
A soft chuckle escaped him. It was the photoโthe two-shot of a faceless, large man and a version of you that was smaller and more youthful than you are now.
A feeling of "They were so adorable back then" mingled with a fierce, lingering thought of "I really want to kill that bastard." The irony made him laugh, a low, rhythmic sound vibrating in his throat.
"Jade-senpai? Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing at all. I was simply realizing once again just how talented I am at infuriating people."
"โฆWho did you make angry this time?"
"Oh, just some hatchling somewhere."
With that, Jade smiled contentedly and wrapped his arms around the waist of his lovely wife, drawing you into a firm embrace.
โ Happy Ending โ
