The morning light, as soft as golden gauze, slipped through the window, illuminating the corners of the bedroom where the lamp hadn't yet been turned on.
The electronic clock changed its numbers silently. The air conditioner blew comfortable warm air.
Early April, when spring was still cold. Young buds accompanied by crisp bird chirping, trying to wake the city still sleeping soundly.
The teenager sleeping in bed seed to be hit by a sound wave attack from sparrow chirping. After rolling over hugging his blanket, he unconsciously furrowed his beautiful pair of eyebrows and opened his eyes with slight reluctance.
"What ti is it now..."
After murmuring unconsciously, his expression suddenly froze. His movent pressing the blanket beca stiff, his entire body like a statue lying sideways on the bed.
Then, he sat up abruptly. He grabbed the phone beside the bed to check the date. His eyebrows and eyes slowly darkened. The drowsiness in his eyes completely disappeared.
"Year 20XX, April 1st..."
Already returned? One year ago.
Sighing slowly, Yuu placed his phone aside. He sat on the edge of the bed, resting his elbow on his thigh, and covering half his face with his hand, taking a classic thinking pose.
"If the trial isn't completed before graduation, everything will return to the beginning. If the trial continues not being completed, I'll keep repeating cycles in this world until I collapse, huh..."
Trapped in a dream, continuously repeating the sa ti, not finding a way ho, and not even seeing the light of the future.
Yuu couldn't yet feel how terrifying such despair was, let alone feel afraid.
This was the first for him, and he intended to make this the last ti.
After all...
"She repeated hundreds of failures without despairing, how could I lose to this trivial trial?"
It didn't matter if people called him chauvinist—when seeing an extraordinary woman, he would strive to beco more extraordinary than her.
Although this trial was designed by his little sister, Yuu didn't intend to give her face. He would complete this trial at the fastest speed.
After enjoying a life of luxury and pleasure for a year, it was ti to get serious.
While smiling confidently, Yuu left the bedside and stretched his body vigorously.
His bones cracked, his body stiff from sleep imdiately relaxed.
He took the athletic clothes hanging on the wall, prepared to take off his pajamas, and go for a morning run.
Today was the school opening ceremony. The trial must be completed, and studies also couldn't be neglected... At least, before there was progress, he had to maintain a normal life.
Later there would be two student council mbers knocking on his door, he couldn't just say directly to them:
"Senpai has a big matter to attend to. I won't go to school anymore! Studies and won will only hinder my steps to complete the trial!"
These two sweet and beautiful underclassn, one was the girlfriend he had already targeted, and the other was the forr girlfriend who willingly beca a ghost, even repeating ti hundreds of tis despite being forgotten by everyone, just to change his fate.
Yuu didn't want to disappoint them. Moreover, most likely they didn't rember what happened in the previous cycle...
As this thought crossed his mind, his movent of taking off clothes stopped. Just like when he first woke up, he widened his eyes, showing a stiff and shocked expression.
"Wait... This is very strange."
Why did he have such thoughts?
Kanade who repeated hundreds of world lines, who possessed the miraculous power of the Light Orb, how could she not have mories of the previous cycle, like the ordinary Iroha?
Most importantly—
"I still rember about her. aning, she didn't choose to disappear?!"
The false illusion was torn like paper. mories that had just happened to him imdiately returned to his mind.
Yuu imdiately stopped his morning exercise intention. He walked to the study desk and sat down, looking at the white notebook on the desk.
Its contents hadn't changed much, only the note Cycle Count: 1 ti under the task instructions. He placed it aside. He turned on the computer while organizing the available information.
First, everything that happened on graduation day, including the sudden appearance of the Failed Angel, leaving blessings and a triangular cloth then disappearing, his grown-up little sister also appearing to reveal the truth, and so on. He rembered everything clearly.
Then, before the deadline arrived, he went up to the rooftop to persuade the Savior to stay. Although he succeeded in making Kanade waver with his words, he was told that everything could no longer be changed. Kanade was destined to disappear completely from this world, even the miraculous power of the Light Orb couldn't restore her.
Before having a chance to discuss how to deal with it, the floor beneath his feet suddenly disappeared. Yuu was swallowed by boundless darkness during free fall. When he opened his eyes, it was already morning a year ago.
However, his mories hadn't changed.
He hadn't yet rembered how the original Kanade interacted with him and Iroha. He also hadn't forgotten the Ghost Kanade on the rooftop who saw him off with a gentle gaze mixed with regret.
aning, if nothing was wrong, Ghost Kanade didn't disappear as she said. She was still rembered by him, besides Sora.
Because she still existed, she was still rembered.
How she did it didn't matter for now. Yuu only cared about the result.
"This person, she really wavered..."
He couldn't help but laugh. His fingers quickly tapped the keyboard, opening Kanade's student file. After confirming everything was normal, he turned off the screen.
Leaving the computer desk, he took athletic clothes and changed into them. Yuu's mood was very good right now. The smile on his lips couldn't disappear.
Just like wearing favorite underwear on New Year's, the feeling of fulfilled wishes made him feel very satisfied from the bottom of his heart.
"Since it's already like this, I mustn't disappoint her."
Yuu murmured.
Anyway, he had already promised her to witness him completing the trial and obtaining happiness.
In this world, he wasn't struggling alone!
After changing clothes and putting on socks, Yuu grabbed his phone and keys, preparing to go downstairs.
He suddenly wanted to send a ssage to Kanade, confirming the situation matched his guess.
But before having a chance, his phone vibrated slightly, giving an incoming ssage notification.
It was from his little sister, Sora, whose true form was the adult version in a certain world line.
But the first sentence made Yuu widen his eyes. He stopped in front of his room door with a shocked face.
"Yuu, there's a problem in the second cycle. The situation is urgent now!"
"I have to deal with a damn cow monster, so I can't move for now. Due to system limitations, I also can't co out to explain. Sending these few ssages is already the maximum limit."
"So, what I'm going to say next is very important. I hope you can rember it."
"First, until I say it's okay, you must ignore my existence for now. Don't knock on my room door or enter. Just handle your trial task yourself. I won't starve to death inside."
"Second, you've probably also realized, Kanade's situation is very strange. She should have disappeared but didn't. Soone must have intervened. I need you to find her imdiately to learn the reason."
"Lastly, don't worry about . If I really can't handle it alone, I'll ask you to help without beating around the bush."
"You already promised her to be the happiest. Keep working hard... I'm still waiting for you to create a miracle."
"I also have my own battlefield. After everything calms down, I'll tell you about those annoying people."
"Alright, I'm going to seclude myself."
"Do your best, I'm waiting for your good news!"
After being shocked for several monts, Yuu quickly cald his strange mood.
Yuu held his phone and looked at his little sister's bedroom across the hallway.
There was no sound at all, silent and still. As if no one was inside.
He very much wanted to knock on the door and ask if Sora needed help. He also wanted to enter her room and see what was really happening, until she used such an anxious tone like an urgent situation.
But since Sora had already told him not to worry, Yuu wouldn't force himself to interfere—just like what Kanade said not long ago, rather than not helping at all, she hated it more if she troubled others instead.
So, after hesitating many tis, he still left Sora's door. He decided to let her be alone for now, and be ready anyti he was needed.
While going downstairs, he also thought about the ssage Sora left—for instance, how urgent was the urgent situation?
What problem happened with the cycle?
Who was that damn cow? Why couldn't he enter her room, and so on...
Among all that, Yuu actually cared more about Kanade's matter.
With just a few words, it had already triggered Yuu's worry and curiosity—even if Sora hadn't instructed, he had indeed already planned to find her and ask several things.
It's just that, thinking about this, he beca confused again, "Although she told to find her imdiately... Won't she co looking for together with Iroha later?"
Or, had the past already changed, and she wouldn't do the sa thing as the previous cycle?
Yuu pondered for a mont and finally decided to directly call to ask about the situation before going for his morning run.
Of course, for caution's sake, he didn't directly call Kanade, but contacted Iroha to extract information indirectly.
The busy tone rang two or three tis, and was imdiately replaced by a cheerful and crisp voice.
"Senpai~? Why are you suddenly calling ? Want to wake up?"
Hearing his familiar girlfriend's voice, but slightly younger, Yuu unconsciously smiled. His tone was also cheerful, "Afraid you'd oversleep on the first day of school. What, am I disturbing your beauty sleep?"
"Eh? No, no! I woke up earlier than usual today. I'm getting ready now! If you don't believe it, Senpai can video call. I'll get ready in front of you!"
Iroha was startled for a mont, then whined happily with slight dissatisfaction. Her very good mood seed to transmit through the phone, displaying the little girl's small feelings.
Yuu also replied while laughing, "No need. I don't want to see my underclassman without makeup on screen."
"What do you an! Annoying single Senpai, I'm still cute even without makeup?!"
"Yes, yes~"
Familiar conversation.
Although they hadn't yet beco a couple, the intimacy inserted in every word more clearly showed her feelings for him than any confession of love.
Although returning to a year ago, this little devil underclassman still liked him, just waiting for the window paper between them to be torn—like there was always soone waiting for him to co ho, Yuu felt relieved and satisfied by it.
Although he wanted to chat longer with her, or directly confess to see her reaction, but because he had already promised himself to set aside romance matters and complete important business first, Yuu suppressed that urge and asked casually:
"Oh right, do you want to have breakfast at my house later?"
Iroha was surprised, "Ale? How does Senpai know my plan..."
Yuu was slightly amused, "Otherwise, you wouldn't wake up this early, right? You're easy to guess."
Iroha snorted in dissatisfaction, too lazy to argue with him, then asked, "It is true. Why?"
"Will you co together with Kanade? If so, I'll make portions for you both."
"Maybe? I plan to pick her up first at her house." Iroha said straightforwardly without a bit of hesitation, "We already promised to clean the student council room together on the first day of school. Although I'll suddenly visit Senpai's house, I can't leave Kanade behind."
"I see..." Yuu nodded inwardly.
Iroha in this world had mories he didn't have, which ant ti had indeed returned to a year ago, but only he himself wasn't affected by the ti reversal. His condition was still the sa as during graduation.
After getting the information he wanted from Iroha, Yuu imdiately ended the call and turned toward the kitchen.
Morning exercise wasn't important at all. He decided to make breakfast while waiting for Iroha and Kanade to co to his house, to avoid unexpected things if he left ho.
However, even though he didn't leave ho, and hadn't even finished making breakfast, the unexpected still happened.
"Senpai! Did Kanade go to your house?"
Iroha called again. This ti her tone contained doubt and slight anxiety.
"No, what's wrong?"
Yuu turned off the stove. His eyebrows furrowed slightly. A bad premonition began to erge in his heart.
Iroha took a deep breath, trying to explain the incident clearly and simply.
"I just called her, and she didn't answer. I went straight to her house. But her parents said she already left ho ten minutes ago..."
"I understand." Yuu imdiately cut her off. At the sa ti, he took off his apron and prepared to go out, "Did she say where she was going?"
"No. They just said she was wearing her school uniform, not carrying her school bag, and her whole body looked very strange, as if there was urgent business..."
Yuu's expression showed deep thought. He imdiately made a decision, "I'll look for her at school. You just co to my house and sit. The key is under the doormat. If you have ti, you can help finish making breakfast."
As if not wanting to be left alone, Iroha unconsciously raised her voice, "Wait! Senpai, I also—"
Yuu said without hesitation, "My running speed is faster than you taking the train. You coming with is the most inefficient choice."
"..."
When the atmosphere beca quiet and cold, he laughed softly. His voice beca gentle, like a boyfriend calming his sulking girlfriend.
"Good girl, wait for my call at ho. Contact anyti if there's a problem. I'll return imdiately, regardless of whether I find her or not."
As soon as he finished speaking, the other end of the phone fell silent.
After several monts, only then was the girl's crisp voice heard, gentle and obedient.
"Mm, I'll listen to Senpai."
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