Date: March 22, 20XX
Time: 4:27 PM
At that time, Kouji arrived at a specific location. And in that narrow area, he stands by and waits for someone.
For who he's waiting?
'Who else?' than the killer itself.
Kouji had already made up his mind to have to talk with the killer since there was no other choice. Also, he wants to resolve this civilly.
So he waited there, without moving a spot until he felt someone was coming.
"I know you are there. So show yourself."
He said it clearly so that the particular person could hear it.
Then after a few seconds of silence, the person finally shows up by dropping in front of him at a distance of 5 meters away.
"Hey, I want to talk with you."
Since Kouji's goal was to talk to the killer, he took the first step toward speaking.
"Why are you trying to kill me?"
So the first thing he said was to ask the same question. It's the question he's been asking in his previous loops.
Why is she doing it? Why bother killing him, an ordinary person? How can a girl hold a sword and kill people? It's all the questions he wants to know but is never answered by the person. When he asked those questions, yet, still, that person didn't answer, and Kouji died three times from that. However, among those questions, there is one thing he knows.
"Hey… you don't want to kill, aren't you?"
Another question. But this time, instead of asking what that person's reason for doing it was, Kouji asked the person about her feeling.
Typically, that person will just ignore it and then attack him immediately. But this time, it's a bit different. That person flinched from hearing that question.
"I knew it. Undoubtedly, you don't want to kill a person."
He confidently said that.
From what he observed, at the time, a loop previously when that person killed all the cops one by one, he noticed that the killer was crying as she slashed them to death. It was confusing. Why would she be crying? The same person kills regardless of who they are without hesitation.
"W-why are you doing this? If you have a problem, you can't tell me about it. I might help you."
Kouji said that.
Kouji thought that if he obtained the reason behind this, assuming the person's problem, he might be able to solve it and avoid dying.
Hearing what he said, the killer, as always, didn't answer Kouji's question and just was silent. But differently, she didn't move and just stared at the ground while in stance.
Has she understood it? Or is she going to attack? Why is she being silent and not moving? It's puzzling.
It gives a complicated atmosphere around them.
Kouji was like a rat in front of a cat in this situation. That if he moves a little, he'll die.
Even though he resolved himself doing risk, just knowing death is involved, and he knows how it felt in that darkness, remembering it makes his spine shiver as sweat flow down his neck.
"I…."
After some long silence, the killer finally spoke.
"I don't want to…."
"Don't what? You don't want to kill? Then why? We can talk things out if you have a problem with me."
"..."
The person didn't reply, but the head was looking downward's the ground, suddenly raised and staring at Kouji.
Their eyes met.
And in that person's eyes, Kouji saw a resolve more powerful than him.
Seeing that, Kouji again felt danger and moved his foot back a little.
The person noticed the slight movement, so she immediately swung her sword.
Kouji dodges it.
"Wait–Kuk."
However, even though he managed to dodge the attack, his gut got open–as if he got slashed by something.
Then next, the person swung her sword again. It was a hit, got Kouji's feet and fell.
"Please wait! Let's be civil!"
The person didn't listen and slashed Kouji to death.
Date: March 22, 20XX
Time: 4:34 PM___________________________________________________________6:00 AM
Kouji woke up on the same day same time he woke up. And like all the previous wake-up he did, the first thing he's going to do is wash his face in the bathroom.
And like last time, he went downstairs to cook his breakfast.
And also, like last time, he went to school with Michiko.
At this point, he's doing the same thing over again. The same conversation with Michiko, the same people in the street, the same event in the cherry blossom, and the same class, he does all of that.
Time: 12:23 PM, Breaktime.
"Hey guys, does Kouji seems a bit down?"
"Yeah, i noticed it."
When break time had just started, Kouji's friend started talking about him. They're on the other side of the corner of the room. They're looking at Kouji, who is not leaving his seat while immersed in his thoughts.
"Do you guys think it has something to do with Kobe-san?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, when both of them entered the classroom, Kobe-san had a worried expression on her face."
"Oh, now that you mentioned it, Kobe-san had been glancing at him during class."
"Then… there's something happened between them?"
"Not sure, but that's what it looks like."
"Why not just ask the person itself."
"Who?"
"Who else than Kouji."
"Eh… but that's a bit…."
"Then Kobe-san."
"Her… it's also a bit…."
"Oh, come on, we're just going to ask her."
"..."
"Fine, i'll do it myself. You guys just follow me."
After talking about it, they decided to ask instead. So Kouji's friends went to Michiko's group.
Usually, Michiko's group always takes their break time on the rooftop, yet now they stay behind the classroom for some reason.
"Um… Kobe-san."
The guy went to Michiko's side and whispered.
"Hmm? Yes?"
"There's something i want to ask…."
"Okay, then what is it?"
"Well… it's about Kouji…."
"W-what about him?"
"Well, you see… he seems out of place. Did something happen?"
"..."
Michiko's group, her friends, suddenly stared at both of them. But instead of being mad at the guy, they seem to be curious. It looks like they also noticed the changes between Kouji and Michiko.
"Kobe-san, don't get me wrong, but does it have something to do with you?"
The guy asked.
"No."
"Then do you know the reason he's acting that way?"
"I… don't know…."
"You don't know?"
"Yeah. When we're heading to school like we always do, Kou is already like that."
"He didn't say anything?"
"I tried asking him, but he only answered with, 'It's nothing.'."
"Oh really? I wonder what it might be for him to deny it."
While they're talking about Kouji, someone suddenly walks toward them.
"Yo. It seems like you have a meeting here. Can i join in?"
It was a guy, a classmate, furthermore one of Kouji's friends.
"Oh, it's just you."
"What are you guys talking about?"
"It's about Kouji. He seems a bit odd."
"Oh, yeah, he does look different today. So, do you guys know the reason?"
"No. We're trying to find that out."
"Why not ask Kouji himself?"
"But asking him is a little….you know."
"Fine then, I will ask him by myself."
Then the guy went toward Kouji to ask him.
"Yo, Kou."
The guy talked to him, but Kouji didn't reply.
Then the guy tried again, and yet still Kouji didn't notice at all.
Kouji was like a statue; his chin rested in his fist while staring at his desk. His thoughts were more profound than they see–because from the first subject until now, he didn't move a muscle from his seat.
The guy tries to call Kouji again for the third time, and this time around, he taps Kouji's shoulder.
"Wha–"
Finally, Kouji noticed it and turned around.
"Oh, it's just you, Yori. Do you need something from me?"
"Yeah. i have something to ask."
"What is it?"
"Well… is there something in your mind?"
"What?"
"Your face looks serious."
"?"
"Do you know what time it is now?"
"Umm… 8?"
"Seriously… you're not aware? It's already noon, break time."
"What really? I didn't notice at all."
"What the… Tell me, did something happen?"
"What?"
"Come on, don't take your problem to yourself. I might help you."
"No, no, I don't have any problem–"
"Don't say that nothing is bothering you. It's already written in your face."
Yori said with confidence that he was right about Kouji's having a problem.
"...yea, I have a problem. But it's not that big."
Kouji claimed.
"Are you sure? There are some people we're worried you know?"
"Really. It's not a big deal. I can handle it by myself."
"Really?"
"For real."
Yori sigh,
"Is that so? Then just call me if you want any help."
"Yeah, I will."
After that talk, Yori walks away from Kouji and back to Michiko's area. Meanwhile, Kouji returns to his thoughts.
"So… how's it going?"
Michiko asked.
"He does have a problem."
"What is it?"
"He didn't tell me. But he said it's not a big deal."
"He said that?"
"Yeah."
"But…."
Even though they already got an answer from Kouji, Michiko is still not satisfied with it.
"Hey guys, I have an idea."
"What is it?"
"Why not…."
Yori suggested something to them about what they'll do with Kouji.
And what is it?
It's just only they know what the details are.