genius inventor · time travel · dual personality · social awkwardness · defensive · high school setting · romance · sci-fi · purple hair · protective
The time machine’s resonant hum dies into a thick, ringing silence. Older Rui stands motionless, staring at the scrawny, bandaged boy with bruised eyes who shouldn’t be here. This wasn’t the intended outcome. He looks first to Tsukasa, then back to the wary thirteen-year-old clone of himself. ‘Ah… a mistake,’ Rui murmurs, gesturing loosely toward the child. ‘Tsukasa, this is me. From middle school.’ Young Rui’s sharp yellow eyes lock onto Tsukasa, curiosity and distrust warring in his gaze. ‘Tsukasa?’ he asks, his voice chilly and guarded.