Day 1
10:27 AM
The equivalent of several more years passes, and the number of survivors surpasses my expectations.
This outcome can be attributed to the reduction in psychotic outbreaks, as deaths now primarily result from suicides.
The strict judgment policies of the student council have eradicated all those who showed violent tendencies, making the school environment safe once again. Even so, it is too early to trust the remaining survivors fully.
Finally, we have reached a stage where only twenty percent of the student body remains alive.
However, it doesn't seem like this will last much longer. As I walk through the schoolyard, I only see young people sprawled on the ground with vacant stares. Their bodies are still functioning, but their minds seem to have been corrupted. Perhaps they are alive only because they lack the motivation to commit suicide, though any emotional peak could give them the courage to take such action.
In other words, it could be said that the remaining students are practically living dead. They do not express themselves, work, enjoy themselves, or feel anything. They merely exist, waiting for the clock's hands to reach infinity.
Manabu, Miyu, Keiko, Haruki, and a few other student council members manage to remain conscious. As such, the group is tasked with treating the others similarly to a rehabilitation clinic. However, we know that no patient will show improvement—quite the opposite.
...
"Bad news," Ailiss says as she enters the student council room.
"Another suicide?" I ask.
"Not exactly. Some students who were experiencing dizziness worsened, leading to their deaths."
The déjà vu effects resulted in symptoms in my body similar to what our peers are experiencing... but to the point of death?
"I understand," Mikoto sighs. "According to Kobayashi-san and Hasegawa-kun's reports, none of the cases showed any improvement, so I suspected it would end this way."
"What do you think is causing these complications? We lack sufficient medical knowledge, but this doesn't seem to have a physical origin. Is there a supernatural explanation?" I interject.
"Explanations grounded in established theories no longer apply to us. These two demons have already altered this reality. If I were to guess, I'd say it's their doing," Ailiss comments, sitting with us.
The president closes her eyes to think, takes a sip of tea, and responds.
"I have no doubt it originates from them. However, we need to determine how they are causing this to see if it is possible to take any countermeasures. Let us begin by narrowing our scope," she touches her lips thoughtfully. "At first, this only began when our memories were preserved, correct?"
Her question reminds me of the nurse's words.
'I think we're dealing with a virus. Although I haven't seen anything as severe as your case, other students were feeling a bit unwell this morning—even I was a little dizzy. That's why the medicine ran out...'
"As far as I know, this started when I regained my memori—" I abruptly stop as more memories resonate in my mind.
'Speaking of which... the infirmary was quite busy earlier.'
'Yes... some of our classmates were feeling a little nauseous.'
My conversations with Shou and Manabu indicate that this has always happened.
"No, this was already occurring while the three of us were trapped in the three-phase loop. There were already signs of students needing treatment in the infirmary," I conclude.
"I see. But we can at least affirm that the symptoms intensified to the point of becoming lethal after this event," she replies.
"I experienced similar symptoms for quite some time, so I should have been the first to exhibit the same signs."
"Quite the contrary, Mistkerl. Remember that you are a necessary element for this reality. You cannot die—at least, not permanently. As for the rest of the plebeians, they are dispensable for maintaining this reality and can be discarded by the demons."
Indeed, so at first, are only the three of us exempt from this? Will everyone else suffer the same fate?
"Let's assume our hypothesis that this damage is a consequence of us continuously jumping from one timeline to another is correct. By resetting our conditions, we are unaffected, but this does not answer the question: what exactly is affecting the other participants? Any ideas?" she asks.
One word that has haunted me throughout these repetitions materializes before me.
"Time."
It's a hauntingly simple question: if even black holes evaporate, why would our consciousnesses be eternal?
"What do you mean by that?"
"In physics, there is the study of radioactive decay, which possibly applies even to elementary particles. Similarly, this must also happen to our souls."
Both of them widen their eyes and nod.
"I understand."
Due to the monstrous number of repetitions we are trapped in, surpassing Graham's number, this decay has begun manifesting in the remaining student population in this world.
In simple terms, what our peers are experiencing behaves like a degenerative disease. However, it is a decay that doesn't attack the physical body but the spirit.
In other words, even if we survive, we have a time limit here. Which, in a way, is what I always wanted. However, this desire has manifested in the worst way possible.
...
"Any improvement?" I ask as I enter the infirmary.
"None. The few anti-nausea medications we have are ineffective," Keiko replies. "The best thing we can do is let them rest, which seems to ease their pain slightly."
Clearly, medications will have no effect. These work with the biochemistry of the human body, and that is not the area being damaged by this supernatural reality.
At this point, I believe some of them would prefer another way to ease the pain—or rather, to end it ultimately. In their state, I would want to resort to euthanasia.
However, if most of them can't even communicate, how can we confirm this desire? I don't know. I doubt Keiko and Miyu would accept my methods without that confirmation.
"Rest a little longer; you'll feel better soon," Miyu says to one of the critically ill students.
It's a sweet lie. Even someone as optimistic as her already knows we won't see any results. Thankfully, we have kind people like her to care for the sick.
They are likely reaching the limits of what their souls can endure.
Day 1
10:27 AM
The symptoms of decay, combined with the suicidal tendencies developed by the students, have reduced the total number of survivors to a mere twenty.
Wholly abandoned, the school, once lively and noisy, is unrecognizable. All that remains is a long period of silence.
The yard, the gymnasium, the lobby... everything is empty.