Seeing Haruto shake his head in disappointment, Kaguya suddenly panicked. Her actions just now might've come off as if she were rejecting him. Although it was out of shyness, she was afraid she might've hurt Haruto's feelings.
Kaguya opened her mouth, about to say something.
The photo in her hand also tilted slightly toward Haruto. Even though she was embarrassed, she didn't want Haruto to be upset.
Although the contents of the picture were a bit…
Just before she could speak, Haruto smiled.
"It's okay. When you're ready to show me, you can show me then—it's not too late. There's still a long time ahead of us, no need to rush… we can take it slow."
Hearing Haruto's words, Kaguya gradually calmed down.
The panic and shyness faded, replaced by a growing sweetness in her heart.
There's still a long time ahead of us.
That line seemed even more heart-stirring than a love confession.
Kaguya carefully tucked the photo away and nodded firmly.
"When I'm ready, I'll definitely show it to you!"
The atmosphere in the student council room instantly turned sugary sweet, almost as if pink bubbles were floating in the air.
Chika and the others exchanged glances.
They all felt like they'd just been force-fed a massive dose of PDA!
"It's Haruto's turn now!" Chika announced loudly.
Although she loved romantic topics, being directly fed dog food like this was too much even for her.
Everyone turned to look at Haruto, waiting for his turn.
Compared to the others in the student council, Haruto's existence was still wrapped in mystery. He was like a deep and unfathomable puzzle—just looking at him made people curious and want to know more.
They hadn't had the chance before.
But now, this "Desire Camera" might reveal something about Haruto.
Naturally, curiosity was piqued.
Kaguya, though also curious, still said,
"If it's inconvenient, Haruto, you don't have to."
She knew that as the president of the SCP Foundation, Haruto carried many secrets. Those secrets were dark, violent even—things that mustn't be known.
The image taken might reveal something unacceptable, or worse, leak information.
But Haruto simply shook his head and handed the camera to Chika Fujiwara.
"It's fine. Since it's my turn, take the shot. Honestly, I'm kind of curious myself."
He then returned to the sofa.
Chika aimed the camera at Haruto with a mix of excitement and mischief, and pressed the shutter.
Click.
A photo slowly developed and landed on the table.
Everyone leaned in curiously.
In the photo, the setting was still the student council room.
Haruto sat on the couch, calmly sipping tea.
That was it. Nothing else.
Everyone looked up from the photo and turned to Haruto.
Just then, he put down his teacup.
Seeing everyone staring at him with puzzled looks, he raised a brow.
"What's wrong? Did it break?"
Chika tapped the camera, puzzled, then turned and snapped a shot of Yu Ishigami.
That photo clearly showed Yu's desire—drinking soda at his computer desk.
Clearly, the camera was working fine.
Chika tried again with Haruto.
Same result.
Still the student council room. Still Haruto, sipping tea peacefully.
"Eh?" Chika made a confused sound.
Haruto glanced at the photo and let out a small laugh.
"It's not wrong. My desire is probably just the peaceful daily life I have now. This… chatting, sipping tea, and spending time with the person I love—it's already perfect."
Everyone exchanged looks.
"That's cheating! Haruto, you're totally cheating with a desire like that!" Chika pouted.
Meanwhile, Kaguya's eyes sparkled.
So being with me… is the boy's greatest desire?!
She instinctively removed everyone else from the equation.
Haruto looked down at the photo, and found it both surprising and fitting.
In the end, all he ever wanted was a peaceful daily life.
At first, when he was newly transmigrated, he studied hard just to live that peaceful life without struggle. Later, he built the Foundation, ran around recruiting, and contained anomalies—
All just to protect that peaceful daily life from being disturbed.
That's all it was.
"Secretary Fujiwara, is it possible to purchase this camera from you?"
Chika nodded immediately and handed the camera over.
"If Haruto wants it, then take it. Hehe~"
Haruto smiled and gently patted her head.
Most people would've done everything to keep such a powerful item for themselves. But to Chika, it was just a neat little camera—not worth more than friendship.
She didn't even ask Haruto why he wanted it.
Haruto put the camera away without much fuss.
"In that case, if I come across something fun later, I'll gift it to Secretary Fujiwara in return."
Chika nodded in anticipation.
After some more chatting, it was getting late.
The dismissal bell rang.
Everyone in the student council began to head home.
Chika went off for some ramen.
Yu was headed back for gaming.
Kaguya and Haruto, however, returned together to the Foundation site.
After all, the Desire Camera (SCP-978) was a containment item and had to be returned and secured.
Still, being harmless, it didn't need a specialized chamber—just a standard storage locker.
They went to Site-17, the closest one to Chiba.
Coincidentally, today the Reptile (SCP-682) was undergoing an interaction experiment.
Researchers, separated by containment walls, were attempting to communicate with it.
After all, SCP-682 was one of the few anomalies that was intelligent and capable of communication.
These sessions were scheduled every so often.
However, they never really went well with SCP-682.
It always exhibited deep, unwavering hatred for all humans.
Haruto casually lifted the camera and took a picture of SCP-682.
At the time, the creature was sprawled in its chamber, all six eyes glaring at the researchers.
In the developed photo—
SCP-682 had broken free and was violently attacking the nearby personnel.
Haruto curled his lips.
Yep, predictable.
SCP-682 constantly thinks about breaking out and chewing on researchers.
As Haruto turned to leave, he saw Saguru approaching.
At the moment, Saguru was using a golden snub-nosed monkey body, dressed in a tiny lab coat.
Even though it was the smallest size, it still looked oversized on him.
Saguru waved to Haruto.
Kaguya looked curiously at the monkey form of Saguru.
Haruto greeted him warmly.
"President," Saguru said, "I'm thinking of creating copies of my consciousness to assist with research."
Haruto nodded.
Saguru had received the Foundation Star, its highest honor. The Foundation believed he would never harm it.
Even if a bunch of Saguru felt strange…
Still, let him do it.
Saguru then noticed the camera in Haruto's hand.
"What's that?"
Haruto gave the Desire Camera a little shake.
"A new anomaly. Desire Camera—it captures a person's deepest desire."
As he spoke, he snapped a picture of Saguru.
The photo developed.
Haruto looked at it.
The scene had shifted entirely.
The background was the sky, the foreground was a grassy field. Rain gently fell.
In the center stood a simple gravestone.
Carved into it: Hakuba Saguru – Final Resting Place.
Haruto paused, then sighed.
He'd noticed the subtle change in Saguru's personality before.
Now it made sense.
He had witnessed true death. Not just one world's end—maybe two.
After experiencing that, change was inevitable.
Now, Saguru's soul was trapped in the Soul Ruby.
He had been a sacrificial figure.
Haruto gently crushed the photo into nothingness.
Saguru tilted his head.
"What was on the picture?"
Haruto shook his head.
"Nothing much. Just a bad shot."
Saguru didn't press further.
"Oh right. If you've got time, head to Site-01. There's an anomaly there—Tickle Monster (SCP-999). We need someone to study its interaction responses."
Haruto said it casually.
==========NOTICE==========
Yo~
Translator san's back and kicking finally so expect the updates.
And right, the Demon King Fic is finally picking up the pace so expect to it that I'll return to 2 chaps a day except sunday.
The Life Simulation is also 65% in completion and I'll focus into it. Its gonna result in 1 daily update of the Grand Blue fic. I think that'll also slow down the update for the SCP fic, sorry about that.
Imma get hard into translating the L.S. cuz my goal is to end it in early or mid May before our Barrio's Fiesta in late May.
Once I'm done with the L.S. fic, Imma start another project in June. Its prolly gonna be a Fate fic, a Danmachi fic, a One Piece fic, a COTE fic, or a Naruto fic.
Or I can write some short story shit, I dunno.
That's all.
Xiao~