Day 163 — Loop 13.1
Yuto couldn't sleep. His mind replayed every moment with Reika—from her cryptic warnings to the way she looked under the streetlamp, soft but strong, carrying the weight of endless loops.
But it wasn't just Reika.
Aira's silence echoed louder than ever.
---
Morning – Clubroom
Kana was already setting up the whiteboard like a general preparing for battle.
"We have two loopers now," she said. "Yuto and Reika. But Aira's power is growing—unstable but huge."
Hiro cracked his knuckles. "So what's the plan? Ignore the ticking apocalypse?"
"Nope." Yuzu rolled out a paper scroll of notes. "We fight it. Together."
Yuto glanced at Aira. She was quiet, distant—but her eyes flickered with something fierce.
---
Flashback – Loop 8.5
Yuto remembered the first time Aira touched his hand during a rooftop standoff.
They had been forced to battle a shadow creature with time-bending powers, and when he nearly fell, she caught him.
Her breath was shaky. His heart thundered.
He'd wanted to say something then.
But time looped, and the words got lost.
---
Present – School Rooftop
Aira finally spoke.
"Yuto... I need to tell you something."
Yuto's heart skipped.
She took a deep breath.
"I remember a version of us... where we were more than friends. Where I kissed you."
Yuto blinked.
She smiled nervously. "It didn't last. The loop reset before we could know what it meant."
He swallowed.
"Well... maybe this loop's different."
Before he could reply, a shadow flickered behind them.
---
Sudden Danger
A figure cloaked in darkness lunged.
Yuto reacted instinctively, blocking with a glowing pulse from his Gift of Retrospection.
Aira's eyes widened as she summoned a shimmering shield.
Together, their powers intertwined, pushing the shadow back.
---
The First Kiss
After the battle, heart pounding, Aira turned to Yuto.
"We don't have much time."
Yuto stepped closer, voice steady despite the chaos.
"Then let's not waste any more loops."
He cupped her face, and their lips met—a gentle, desperate kiss that tasted like hope and the possibility of breaking free.
---
Meanwhile – Reika
Watching from a distance, Reika's eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
For the first time in years, she felt something unfamiliar.
A small spark of… hope.
---
Evening – The Clubroom
Kana, Yuzu, and Hiro teased Yuto mercilessly.
"About time you kissed her," Kana laughed. "I was about to send you a tutorial on 'How to Date Without Looping.'"
Hiro snorted. "Yeah, Yuto, even the loops are tired of waiting."
Yuzu winked. "Just don't mess up the timeline. We like you alive."
Yuto groaned, cheeks burning.
---
Late Night – Yuto's Room
He stared at the ceiling.
So many loops. So many resets.
But this kiss? This moment? It felt real.
No matter what happened next, he promised himself—
This time, he'd fight for every second.
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End of Chapter 19 – First Kiss, Second Chance