Asahi's eyes snap open. The darkness of the room feels heavier today, more oppressive. His heartbeat is slow, deliberate—like it's carrying the weight of a thousand lifetimes. For a moment, the silence of the morning feels suffocating, as if time itself is holding its breath. The same ceiling above him, the same stale air—everything is unchanged. But for Asahi, everything is different now.
The clock ticks softly in the corner of the room, its hands reading 8:30 AM—an hour that has haunted him for what feels like eternity. Same time. Same fate.
He lifts his trembling hands, staring at them. His fingers curl in a half-forgotten rhythm, but something's off today. His skin tingles with the awareness that these hands have seen horrors, fought battles across dimensions. And yet, they still tremble with the same weakness, the same exhaustion.
His gaze shifts slowly, painfully, upward. One hundred times.
One hundred times, he has woken up to this same moment. One hundred times, he has fought, bled, and failed. He's seen his friends die, his past crumble, and the hope within him flicker and die with every failed loop.
But not today.
Today, he isn't just trapped in this loop.
Today, he ends it.
Today, they all survive.
With a slow, agonizing motion, Asahi pulls himself up from the bed. Every muscle in his body protests the movement, as if it's a betrayal. His limbs feel heavy, like they belong to someone else, but still, he forces himself up. His breath is shallow, uneven, but he pushes forward.
The drawer. He knows what's inside.
His fingers fumble, shaking as they pull it open. Inside, the old eye patch lies folded, worn but familiar. He picks it up, running his fingers over the fabric. The touch sends a rush of memories flooding back—a time when things were simpler, when the weight of the world hadn't yet crushed him.
Asahi:Oh, found it.
A small, bitter smile tugs at his lips.
Asahi (thinking):I have to cover it. My left eye… it's different now. It doesn't look human anymore.
He sighs softly, the smile fading, replaced with something darker, something heavier.
Asahi:I used to wear this when I got hurt playing with Anari…
The thought stings, sharp and raw, but he ties it around his head anyway—tight, secure. He exhales, the motion automatic, like a ritual he's done a hundred times before.
Then, he leaves the room.
Asahi (loudly):GOOD MORNING!
His voice is light, almost too light. A mask. A lie. A smile that isn't his.
No one knows. Not yet.
He forces his feet forward, steps dragging. The weight of the day is already pressing down on him, and he hasn't even left the house yet.
His mother's cheerful voice calls out, but the moment she sees him, the warmth in her face falters.
Mom:…What happened to your left eye?!
Her hands are already reaching out to him, panic rising in her voice.
Mom:Show me. What happened?!
Asahi (calmly):Mom, just leave it. It's nothing.
But she won't let it go. Her hands tremble as she insists.
Mom:No… no, show me!
His father, eyes narrowed, joins in.
Dad:Asahi… show it.
Asahi grits his teeth.
Asahi (sharply):NO… Come on, it's just a scratch.
His mother's hands tremble harder, the worry on her face deepening.
Mom (softly):You said the same thing ten years ago… when you played with Anari.
Dad (frowning):You still remember that?
Mom (quietly):Of course I do! Back then, you refused to show us, too… and now…
A tense silence fills the room.
Asahi's fists tighten at his sides. The words are there, bubbling up—words he doesn't want to say, thoughts he doesn't want to acknowledge.
Asahi (quietly):…Sorry, Mom. But I can't.
He looks down at his food, the weight of the moment pressing against his chest. If they saw it, if they knew what he's become, they would be scared. He's not even sure what he is anymore.
He picks up his spoon, forcing it to his mouth. But the food doesn't taste like food anymore. It's just a blur—distant, empty. Like everything else in this loop.
His hand shakes—just a little. His father notices. The tension in the room sharpens.
For a second, their eyes meet, and Asahi can see it in his father's gaze. The worry. The fear. The helplessness.
But Asahi clenches his jaw and steadies his hand. He has to make it look normal. He has to make them believe everything is fine.
Dad (gruffly):Eat fast. Don't be late for school.
Asahi nods, forcing the words out.
Asahi:Yeah…
He doesn't even finish the meal. He stands abruptly, his movements too quick, too unsteady.
Asahi:No… no. Bye!
He grabs his bag, and his mother sighs, cleaning up the plate.
Dad (watching him leave):…His steps—weak. His grip—weak. His eyes—sleepless. And that smile… so fake, Asahi.
The door slams behind him. He's out.
Asahi's breath comes slow, steady. His steps are slower now, deliberate, like he's trying to control the weight pressing against him.
Asahi (thinking):This time… I'm not late.
He presses his fingers against the eye patch.
Asahi (thinking):I have this eye now… but what does it even mean? Can I use it? Can I control it?
Then a thought hits him—a dark, twisted thought.
Asahi (thinking):What if… I travel through every dimension… and kill every Asahi?
The thought lingers, heavy and cold, but he shakes his head.
Asahi (thinking):No. No. That's foolishness… But still…
Suddenly—
SMACK!
A sharp hit to the head.
Anari (playfully):HEY!
Asahi barely reacts, his body moving like it's already prepared for this.
Asahi (grinning slightly):Ahh…
Anari looks at him, eyes narrowing. The moment her gaze lands on his eye patch, her teasing smile falters.
Anari:…What happened to your eye?
Asahi (flatly):NOTHING.
Her expression shifts, the teasing replaced with concern.
Anari:Nothing? Then why are you wearing this?
Their eyes lock, and for a moment, Asahi sees the truth in her eyes—the worry, the suspicion. He feels it, too. The lie. The weight of it.
But instead of backing down, he holds her gaze.
Asahi (coldly):Really?
Anari's eyes widen, realization dawning on her like a shockwave.
Anari (softly):That's… that's the eye patch I gave you ten years ago!
Silence.
Asahi doesn't answer immediately. His thoughts are tangled, caught in the past and present.
Asahi (coldly):Yeah.
Anari (blushing slightly):You… you still have it?
Asahi (avoiding her gaze):It was just in my drawer.
Anari grins, but her voice softens.
Anari:Yeah, yeah.
The playful moment fades as they step into school.
For a fleeting second, everything feels normal. As if nothing has changed. As if the hundred loops never happened.
But Asahi knows the truth.
This day is different. And deep down, he can feel it—the calm before the storm.
The classroom is full of noise. The teacher is speaking, but Asahi is somewhere else entirely. His eyes drift to the window, his mind adrift.
Asahi (thinking):This day… it feels calm. Almost unreal… like I've come to school after 100 days.
And in a way, he has.
Suddenly, Anari taps him on the shoulder. Her voice is sharp.
Anari:Hey, listen to the class.
Asahi (grinning quietly):Class? NERD.
Anari glares at him, ready to throw something his way, but instead, he catches a glimpse of her hand holding a crumpled paper.
And just like that, the moment breaks. The noise floods back in.
Sensei (sternly):Asahi?
The teacher's gaze cuts through him like a knife, and Asahi barely manages to suppress a grin. But it doesn't work.
Sensei (mockingly):GET OUT! BOTH OF YOU!
Anari (shocked):HUH?! ME?!
Asahi chuckles. A real laugh. For once, the weight feels lighter.
Asahi:Yeah, yeah. Come on.
Asahi stands outside the classroom, hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall.
Anari: "It's all because of you!" (angrily)
Asahi: (huh?) (laughs)
Anari: "Why are you laughing?!" (annoyed)
Asahi: "Nothing." (still smiling)
He exhales, closing his eyes for a brief second.
(Huh… this is more peaceful than looping 100 times.)
Anari: "What are you even thinking, huh?"
Asahi looks at her. His expression—calm. His smile—real. Just for a moment.
Asahi: "Nothing."
Anari: (blushes slightly) "Huh…" (looks away)
Anari: "Today… I have to go shopping."
Asahi: "So…?"
Anari: "My parents are busy today!"
Asahi: "Okay." (unbothered)
Anari: "I will be alone!"
Asahi: (glances at her) "Okay."
Anari: (angrily) "That's all you have to say?!"
Asahi: (coldly) "Yeah."
Anari: "HUH?!" (annoyed, fuming)
Suddenly—
Asahi stops.
His eyes widen. His entire body tenses.
Asahi: "Wait… you'll be alone?"
Anari: (Y-yeah…? What's with him all of a sudden?)
Asahi's head slowly lifts. His expression hardens.
Asahi: "I'm coming with you."
Anari: "Wha—HUH?!"
Asahi: (firmly) "You're not going alone."
Anari: (blushes, turns away) "H-huh… pervert."
Asahi: "Huh—NO! That's not why!"
Anari: (grinning slightly) "Then why?"
Asahi stares at her. The air shifts. His voice—deeper. Calmer. Absolute.
Asahi: "Because I can't leave you alone… my heart won't let me."
A second of silence.
Anari's face—bright red.
Anari: "W-what…?" (heart racing, brain shutting down)
Asahi: (smirks) "After school. We're going shopping."
Anari stares at him.
(He… he's changed. The way he looks at me. The way he talks. This isn't the same Asahi from before.)
(And… I think I'm starting to like him even more.)
The school day ends.
Asahi and Anari step outside, the golden light of the evening sun stretching their shadows across the pavement.
Asahi: "Huh… so—"
Anari: (grinning) "Let's go!"
They walk side by side.
Asahi's steps are slow, his body weak. His vision flickers between clarity and exhaustion, his eyelids fighting to stay open.
Anari notices.
Anari: "Asahi!"
Asahi: (snaps back to reality) "Huh? What?"
She pauses.
Anari: (softly) "…Nothing." (His body… it's weak. His hands tremble. His eyes won't stop blinking… But still, he came with me.)
The Shopping Mall
They reach the shopping center.
Asahi: (forcing himself awake) "Huh… we're here."
Anari: (cheerfully) "Come on, let's go inside!"
Asahi lets out a long breath. His exhaustion sits in his bones, but he follows her in.
Anari: (excitedly) "This is my favorite shop!"
It's not a high-end store—just a simple, middle-class clothing shop. But Anari's eyes light up like it's the best place in the world.
Asahi: "Alright, let's pick something quickly."
Anari: (grins) "Huh? Why are you following me into the women's section?"
Asahi: "Huh—"
He stops, turns away.
Asahi: "Then I'm not coming." (starts walking off)
Anari: (grabs his wrist, pulling him back) "No, no! Come with me!"
Asahi: (smirks, letting her drag him along.)
Anari walks toward a rack of dresses, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
She picks up two dresses—a red one and a black one.
Anari: "Which one, Asahi? The red or the black?"
Asahi pauses.
Something feels… familiar.
(I've heard this before… this moment… the way she's holding the dresses… it's the same.)
His fingers twitch.
His voice lowers.
Asahi: "Anari… for you, everything will be perfect."
She freezes.
Her breath catches.
Anari: (blushing slightly) "H-huh…?"
Her hands tighten around the dresses.
She turns quickly.
Anari: "I-I'm trying both! Wait here!" (rushes into the changing room)
Asahi sits down on a chair nearby. His body sinks into the seat, his exhaustion weighing him down.
Asahi: (leaning back) "Hahh… I'm so tired…"
He closes his eyes for a moment.
Asahi: (thinking) "She's changing inside."
…
Asahi: (Wait—she's changing inside?)
A small smirk tugs at his lips.
Asahi: (grinning, trying to get up)
Then—
A sound.
A whisper.
Asahi's entire body tenses.
His breath stops.
His muscles lock.
Asahi: "…Huh?"
Slowly, his head turns.
And then—
His vision shakes. His heart pounds.
A figure stands at the end of the hallway.
The Black Man.
Pale. Motionless. White hunter eyes locked onto him.
Staring.
Mouth twitching.
Then—
It speaks.
The Black Man: (whispering) "Help me… help me… help me… help… help me…"
Asahi's breathing—fast. Faster.
His heart races.
His hands tremble.
Sweat drips down his forehead.
Asahi: (shaking his head, whispering to himself) "No… no…"
His vision distorts.
The whispers get louder.
Help me. Help me. Help me.
Asahi grips his head.
The air feels heavy. The walls feel closer.
The Black Man: (stepping forward, voice breaking apart like static) "Help… me…"
Asahi's mind spirals.
Asahi: (panicking, gripping his skull tighter) "NO… NO… NO… NO!"
SUDDENLY—
SMACK!
Anari: "ASAHI!" (hits his head)
Asahi jolts back to reality, his eyes wild, unfocused.
His chest rises and falls too fast. His hands are still trembling.
Anari: (tense, worried) "Why are you sweating so much?!"
Asahi stares at her.
His lips part, but no words come out.
His voice feels stolen.
Asahi: (shaking, whispering to himself) "That… that Asahi… No… no…"
His fingers dig into his head.
(Something is wrong.)
(My hallucinations are getting worse.)
The whispers haven't stopped.
Help me. Help me. Help me.
Asahi clenches his jaw.
Asahi: (trembling, voice breaking apart) "No… no… no…"
Then—
Soft hands touch his head.
His body stiffens.
Fingers gently comb through his hair, slow, careful, almost… protective.
Anari pulls his head onto her shoulder.
Her breath is warm. Her voice is soft.
Anari: "Yeah, yeah… it's okay."
Her fingers trail through his hair again, calming, grounding.
Asahi's breathing slows.
The whispers fade.
His heartbeat—steady.
Asahi looks up at her.
She's staring at him—genuine worry in her eyes.
Anari: "What happened, Asahi?"
She doesn't ask forcefully. She asks softly—like she already knows something is wrong.
She looks into his eyes.
And then—she smiles.
Anari: "Don't worry… everything will be alright." (smiles beautifully)
For the first time in forever—
Asahi blushes.
His eyes widen slightly.
Asahi: "…Huh?"
SUDDENLY—
He jumps up, clearing his throat.
Cough.
He looks at her again.
And—
She's wearing a black dress.
And she looks…
Stunning.
(Asahi stands frozen, his breath caught in his throat. His mind is blank, completely taken aback.)
Asahi: (soft, almost breathless) "I just… wow."
(In front of him, Anari does a slight spin, showing off the dress she just tried on. She grins playfully, eyes twinkling with excitement.)
Anari: (grinning) "How is it?"
(Asahi remains stunned, his eyes fixed on her. For a second, he forgets to blink.)
Asahi: (soft, dazed) "Wow."
(Anari giggles, placing her hands on her hips.)
Anari: (cheerful) "So? Are we buying it?"
Asahi: (snapping out of his trance) "Let's just purchase it!"
Anari: (excited) "Yeaahh!"
(They head to the billing counter. Just as Asahi is about to step forward—he stops. His eyes shift slightly toward Anari, as if expecting something.)
(Anari notices this. Slowly, a teasing smile creeps onto her lips.)
Anari: (grinning) "Hmm? Why'd you stop?"
(Asahi glances at her, squinting suspiciously.)
Asahi: "I dunno… Something tells me… you should be the one paying."
Anari: (gasps, clutching her chest dramatically) "EH?! I thought you were gonna pay for it!"
Asahi: (pauses) "Oh… is it…?"
(His expression changes drastically. His eyes widen as the realization hits.)
Asahi: (dramatic, pointing at her) "NO WAY!"
Anari: (mock gasp, pretending to be offended) "Huh…? When you go out on a date, the boy should buy for his girl." (smiles mischievously)
(Silence. Asahi freezes. Slowly, his gaze sharpens as he processes her words.)
Asahi: (lowering his voice, smirking slightly) "When did it become a date?"
(Anari's face turns crimson in an instant.)
Anari: (stuttering, flustered) "N-No… no…!"
(She immediately starts punching him lightly, her small fists tapping against his chest in embarrassment.)
(Asahi laughs slightly, but his own blush begins creeping in. He turns away, shoving a hand into his pocket, then finally—he pulls out his wallet, sighing as if defeated.)
Asahi: (grumbling, embarrassed) "Alright, alright." (he hands over the money)
(Anari watches him in shock, her mouth slightly open.)
Anari: (in disbelief, internally) "Ahh… He just paid…!"
(Asahi turns toward her, avoiding her gaze, his ears turning pink.)
Asahi: (grumbling) "It's just because… you said…" (blushes harder) "It's a… date."
Anari: (face turning even redder) "A-Ahhh! You dummy!" (she lightly punches his arm again, trying to hide her embarrassment.)
(Both of them step out of the store, the warm evening breeze brushing past them. Anari clutches the bag with her new dress, her heart still racing. Asahi, on the other hand, casually shoves his hands into his pockets, pretending to be unaffected—though his blush still lingers.)