He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. The familiarity of his home felt alien now, as if he were on the cusp of an epiphany that could unravel everything he believed in. The monotonous rhythm of his life had morphed into a strange loop, and he couldn't ignore it anymore.
With a surprising surge of determination, he stepped inside, the creaking of the door echoing his uncertainty. Silence greeted him back, but it felt heavier, more suffocating than before. He glanced at his mother, still engrossed in the television program, and his brother, still hiding behind their bedroom door. The routine remained the same, yet the weight of the moment pressed down on him like a physical force.
He had to break free from this cycle, confront whatever bizarre phenomenon was lurking beyond his grasp. The idea that he might be trapped in a time loop, reliving the same day, sparked both fear and excitement. If this was true, then maybe he could use this anomaly to his advantage. Perhaps he could change things, write a new story, even if it was just for himself.
He decided to act. Instead of retreating to his room, he grabbed a notebook and pen from his desk. He had to document everything—the strange encounters, the feelings of déjà vu, the girl at the store, and the boy in the park. Writing might not only help him understand his reality but also serve as a catalyst for change.
With each word, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe this was his chance to break free from the narrative of his own failure and isolation. As he wrote, he began to see the connection between his life and the characters he created, realizing that every story needed conflict and resolution. His own life was no different.
The next day, he decided to approach the girl from the comic book aisle. He remembered her serious demeanor and her muttering about destiny. Perhaps she held the key to understanding the strange events happening around him. He was determined to find out.
With a pounding heart, he went to work at the "Fat Man" store as usual. He searched for the girl with glasses among the comic book shelves at the time he had previously encountered her in the loop before. He found her in the same spot, still muttering to herself, but this time, softer. He gathered his courage and approached her.
"Excuse me," he said, his voice slightly trembling. The girl jumped, her glasses slipping slightly from her nose. She looked startled, her face flushing.
"A-ano..." she stammered, her eyes avoiding his gaze.
"Sorry to interrupt, but... yesterday I heard you muttering about a 'grim future' and 'hidden power'," he said, trying to sound casual. He hoped she wouldn't think he was weird.
The girl was silent for a moment, still blushing. Then, she looked down, her voice a whisper almost inaudible. "Y-yesterday? W-what do you mean?... I-I... was just imagining," she said, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her shirt. "I like reading fantasy comics... S-sorry... If it bothered you..."
He tried to ask more, but the girl just shook her head, further hiding her face behind her long hair. She seemed so shy, even afraid. Clearly, she was just a regular chuunibyou, not the holder of the time loop mystery key. His hopes deflated.
He sighed. "Sorry," he said, feeling a little disappointed. "I thought..."
"I-I... I'm sorry," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. She quickly turned and walked away, leaving him alone among the comic book shelves.
He watched her retreating back. He realized that she couldn't help him. She was just a shy girl lost in a fantasy world. He had to find another way to break out of this loop. He had to find a way to solve the mystery that ensnared him.
He went back to work, his mind racing. He needed to be more systematic. Maybe he could start recording every detail that happened in each loop, looking for patterns or anomalies. Maybe there was something he was missing. Maybe there were clues hidden in the mundane routines of his daily life.
That night, he sat at his desk, a notebook and pen in hand. He started his record-keeping, detailing every event, every conversation, every detail, no matter how small. He had to find a way out of this loop, no matter how difficult it was. He had to solve this mystery, for himself, for his family, for his future. He had to find the light in the darkness that had trapped him. His struggle had just begun.
That night, after writing in his notebook at his desk, he closed the notebook with an unbearable feeling of frustration. Though he had recorded various details, everything still felt hazy and unconnected. He searched for a way to solve the mystery that ensnared his life, but it seemed as if every attempt brought more confusion.
The next day, as he went to work at the Fat Man's store, he felt something different. The sky outside seemed brighter, and though his routine remained the same, there was a new spirit within him. He was determined not to be just an observer in his life, but a changer.
At the store, he was more focused than usual. He paid attention to every interaction, every small detail. But even though he looked for signs of anomalies, everything seemed to be going as usual. Until he saw her—the girl with glasses reappeared in the comic book aisle, this time with more confidence.
He felt an urge to approach her again, and this time, he didn't want to miss the opportunity. With a pounding heart, he walked over to her.
"Hey," he said, trying to sound more relaxed than before. "I see you here again. Do you come to this store often?"
The girl turned, a little startled, but this time she didn't seem instantly afraid. "Y-yeah, I like reading comics," she replied, her voice clearer and steadier.
"What kind of comics do you like?" He tried to open up the conversation further, feeling a push to delve deeper.
"Anything fantasy-related," she answered, her eyes sparkling. "But I also like stories full of mystery."
"Me too," he said, trying to find common ground. "I'm looking for inspiration to write my own story."
The girl raised an eyebrow, seeming interested. "Writing? That's cool! What's your story about?"
He felt an opportunity to share without shame. "Actually, I feel like my life is stuck in a boring routine. And now, there's something weird happening—I feel like I'm stuck in a time loop, repeating the same day."
The girl was silent for a moment, then looked at him seriously. "You're not alone. Many people feel like their lives are stagnant, stuck in routines. But sometimes, we need to do something different to break that cycle."
The girl's words sparked a thought in his mind. Maybe she was right. Maybe he needed to do something radical, not just record and reflect. He needed to act.
"What if we collaborate?" he suggested, hopeful and nervous. "We could write a story together. Maybe that way, we can find answers to what's happening."
The girl looked surprised, but there was a glimmer of enthusiasm in her eyes. "That's an interesting idea! I love imagining and creating stories. Maybe we can create a new world that we can explore."
They both started discussing, and ideas flowed freely. Every sentence they spoke ignited a new spirit within him. He felt as if they were building something bigger than just a story—they were creating hope.
After a few hours, they decided to meet again the next day. A new spirit flowed within him as he went home. Maybe, just maybe, this was the first step to breaking free from the time loop that had trapped him.
That night, before going to bed, he wrote down all the ideas they had discussed. He felt more focused and energized than ever before. With renewed determination, he closed his eyes, hoping that tomorrow would be a different day.
Of course, everything would be different because this time, he chose a different path. He quit his job suddenly, leaving everyone wondering if he had found a new job.
But he explained that there was no new job. He just wanted something new in his life. Making all his coworkers look at him with strange looks and thinking he was crazy.
That day, he chose to have fun alone. Using the salary he had saved up to have fun going wherever he wanted. Eat whatever he wanted. And do whatever he had always dreamed of. Basically, he made himself happy that day.
Until night came and he returned to a very quiet house. Making him forget all the fun he had had all day. And he returned to his senses.
Would this work?
He went to sleep, hoping he would manage to break free from the loop. And the next morning, he woke up as usual, rushing to grab his phone that was charging to check the calendar.
But he could only be surprised to see the date that day. Monday, March 24, 2025. The same date as yesterday. Making him realize that he had failed again for the umpteenth time. Making him only able to stare at the door in a daze. While laughing, laughing at his bad luck which he thought was funny. Not because it was funny, but because he just wanted to consider it funny. Because he didn't want to be depressed, making him have to deceive himself and be stupid and crazy for a while. Until finally, he was satisfied and returned to his senses and suddenly muttered:
"I'm done... I'm never wrong about this shit... I'm stuck. not in repetitive routines, but in time... damn it!"