Goosebumps had been raised throughout my physique. I by no means knew C might have this aggressive facet to him. He all the time appeared peaceable and picked up and even managed to think about corny jokes whereas going through troublesome circumstances. However listening to these phrases popping out of his mouth made me shiver. They had been freezing and lifeless. As if coming from somebody prepared to surrender on dwelling, every phrase C mentioned harbored simple but sober sentiments.

“W-what are you speaking about?!” Previous me stuttered. It was comprehensible, to be truthful.

As quickly as he talked about their names, my previous self went pale. Every part and something C mentioned was spot on, and she or he couldn’t discover something to defend herself. Regardless that her reminiscences instructed her in any other case—that there was no method for C to search out out what they did—her current thoughts believed all the pieces he mentioned with out query.

“Till I’m executed with you, Han is not going to intervene. As for Rachel, guess what Han is doing to her proper now on the rooftop? They completed having lunch, filled with vitality and lust. What would transpire between two younger folks of their prime, Kurokawa?”

It was a very totally different C I used to be seeing. The hostility he projected was abysmal. I didn’t know why he was exhibiting such aggressiveness, however surprisingly it didn’t make me really feel hateful or something towards him. Mom had executed worse issues to me. What my protagonist confirmed was nothing however a tip of an iceberg to her.

As an alternative, my coronary heart ached to see him behaving out of character. All through many interactions and after witnessing his lonely sacrifice, I had little question of the particular particular person C was. In an effort to make his method up the rooftop, C broke each of his arms. He risked his life making an attempt to avoid wasting Laura with out asking for something. He ran as much as Rachel after listening to her cries with out caring for his security. And eventually, he got here to me regardless of many terrible issues I mentioned.

On this world, on this damning, forsaken world, there existed just one good particular person, and that was C. Regrettably, on this iteration, he was determined. So determined that he needed to resolve to such a psychological state.

One thing should have damaged him. I used to be positive of it. It was not his fault. Not now. Not previously. Not ever!

“You…”

Her face contorted, and her lips quivered as she tried to talk however failed miserably. Frantically trying round her, that lady was making an attempt to verify nobody was making an attempt to eavesdrop on their small dialogue. Fortunately for her, not one of the shadow folks had been concerned about them. Nonetheless, I knew they had been background members with out an official position on this recreation, however that earlier iteration of mine positively thought they had been actual folks.

At this level, she might now not maintain her smile.

“Please, belief me.” C’s voice softened after an extended sigh. “I did not need to do that. For those who would please comply with me elsewhere…”

He held out his arm, providing it to her like a wounded animal. Nonetheless, as an alternative of accepting his provide, she rapidly stood up from her chair and mentioned: “Superb.” Her eyes had been full of doubts and uncertainty. And above all else, hatred. “Cleared the path.”

Retracting his fingers, C slowly walked by way of our classroom. Quickly, that Kurokawa model adopted. Regardless that he was faceless, I might make out a painful expression.

A couple of minutes of full silence handed, and all of us arrived on the faculty’s infirmary. With out speaking to one another, C and my previous model entered the room and closed it behind their backs. Because of my present state, I might part by way of the door.

“Please, sit on the mattress. There is not any one right here. I will go get one thing for you.” Whereas saying that, C walked to the cupboard and took disinfectants and bandages out.

Being threatened by him prior, regardless that she was uncertain, that lady listened to his request.

“Open your arms.” He mentioned.

One other frown appeared on her face, however she was nonetheless silent. That scene jogged my memory of yesterday when Laura tried to monopolize C and wished me to assist her. I used to be behaving the identical method, not saying a phrase.

Utilizing a pair of forceps to seize some gauze pads to absorb the disinfecting resolution, C got here nearer to her and as soon as once more gave her his hand.

“Please.”

Listening to his plea, she lastly gave up combating and prolonged her arms. Upon opening them, there have been newly fashioned scratches everywhere in the palms, presumably from clenching her fists too tight.

“Thanks. This may sting.” Gently, he began to wipe the darkish crimson blood of her wounds.

I puzzled if he could be this mild to me if I listened to him and never pushed him away. Perhaps he would maintain my arms similar to he did on this reminiscence and caress me with all his coronary heart.

Due to my mistake, I misplaced that likelihood to be alone with him, cared for by him. I misplaced it.

My previous self checked out C, then regarded again at her arms. Figuring out her, I assumed she wished to find out what C wished and his ultimate purpose. For 2 individuals who had by no means had any interactions earlier than this present day, it should have been bizarre for that lady to listen to her deeds being discovered. Plus, C’s method of coping with her was unclear. Moderately than being frank together with her about what he wished, C by no means mentioned something and solely helped her clear up her scratches.

“You are good at this.” Previous me complimented C. “I do not really feel a factor.”

“Thanks. That is solely one of many few issues I’m good at. In any case, it does not require a lot energy. If it involves energy, I am completely overwhelmed.” He laughed awkwardly.

However the different particular person was not having enjoyable: “Let’s reduce to the chase, C. We’re not pals, so I haven’t got time for leisure like this.”

“Okay.” With arms nonetheless caressing that lady’s arms, C made his level clear: “Do not die.”

As soon as once more, the lady’s pupils constricted into pinholes. Nonetheless, her arms weren’t shifting. They had been nonetheless letting C’s arms clear.

“You appear to know a lot. An excessive amount of, to be extra actual. Are you a stalker? No, it is nonetheless not possible to know what I by no means mentioned to anybody.”

She leaned her head barely backward and continued. “Psychic? Mindreader?”

He nodded. “You’ll be able to put it like that.”

“I am intrigued. What extra are you aware?”

“Maintain on, let me change the gauze.” As C reached for the subsequent bundle of gauze pads, he instructed her the reality. “I knew you killed your mom. I knew Han helped you by retaining her physique a secret. I knew the way you thought his look while you buried her physique was an excessive amount of of a coincidence.”

C then held her arms tightly.

“I knew the guilt in your coronary heart was main you towards self-destruction. I knew the despair you felt while you unintentionally killed your mom and the remorse you had been dwelling by way of.”

“I knew you did not love Han. To you, he was solely a facade to cover your damaged coronary heart. I knew that at some point, you’d discover a option to kill your self.”

“Please, do not…die. That’s my request.”

I might see droplets of tears forming on his face.

C was crying.

“Why…” The opposite me didn’t concentrate on C however regarded down at her toes. Her shoulders had been shaking. “For those who knew a lot, why did not you cease me? Why did not you warn me earlier than?”

“As a result of I could not, Kurokawa. As a result of each time I wished to avoid wasting you, one thing worse would occur. As a result of each try I made, this world compensated my efforts by providing you with a way more horrible destiny.”

“This…too?” The opposite model of me didn’t appear to doubt his phrases. She stored on asking questions on him.

“It’s going to,” C exclaimed along with his head hung downward. “That is my first trial of 24 to avoid wasting you from killing your self after you disguise the physique. The previous 23 instances, I attempted to maintain you from coming again dwelling or discovered security measures so your mom would come out protected.”

Via my misty eyes, the previous iteration grabbed his arms. “And what occurred while you stopped that incident? What occurred to Mom? Was she saved? Was she alive?”

“…”

“C! I must know! I must know! Inform me!” Tears fell down her cheeks, in order mine.

I additionally wanted to know what occurred.

“She killed you, after which she killed herself.” He reluctantly answered.

So it was a loop.

“So it was a loop.” We each mentioned the identical factor on the identical time.

*Rumble*

A sudden rumble abruptly reduce us quick. The entire faculty began shaking violently. Via a window of the infirmary, I might see all the pieces exterior the room slowly corroding and crumbling into nothingness. A darkish sky fashioned, and thunderous clouds had been flashing harmful lightning bolts.

“No! No! NO!!!! Not this!! NOT THIS!!!” C screamed. “Not after I simply began seeing hope!!! She is beginning to change!”

In entrance of his face, the previous me requested with panic in her voice: “C! What’s going on?”

With out lacking a beat, C hugged the previous me. “This…is a reset. This interplay between you and me shall be erased. And also you…dearest Kurokawa, my bookworm, will stop…to exist. Identical to the opposite variations of you.”

“I’ll die, then?”

“We each will. However I’ll maintain this reminiscence in my subsequent life, whereas yours shall be forgotten.” His voice broke to items.

*Rumble* *Rumble*

In order that was how a reset would begin. Every part crumbled into nothingness as if time was sped up profoundly.

“Then, bear in mind this for me, C. The following time you see me, inform the long run model of mine that you’re happy with her. It’s one thing I’ve all the time wished to listen to.”

*Increase!!!*

“Do not die, Kurokawa. I’m happy with you.”

That was the primary sentence I heard after coming again to the current.