Day 18.

  Chika and I once again took our breaks on the same day. All previous attempts of the scavenger hunt on the second day had resulted horribly for her, so I desperately searched for something different to do. What we found was the string of food stands that lined the courtyard outside of the school. The blooming trees filled the air with their pink pedals as the wind carried them through the air. The symphony of smells was swept up in the gusts as well, making for a magical experience.

  It feels wrong that I can still feel happiness having seen so much death.

  She waltzed through the crowd blissfully unaware of what had previously happened to her. Her bloodied body flashed before my eyes time and time again as I remembered every failed attempt to save her. This time, it seemed like we would make it through the day. Since I woke up that Tuesday and fought with Damien, I had been spared the misfortune of seeing him again. I still refused to choose anyone to die in his game.

  "Kazu," Chika leaned down to catch my eye.

  "What's up?"

  "I want yakisoba," she said as she put her fingers together in almost a prayer. She gave me the biggest puppy eyes I had seen since I had come back, since she and Denki begged me to help them study for a biology test that even I had no idea about. "Buy me some?"

  I was powerless against her. No sooner had she asked me, I found myself in line at the nearest stand. After a few minutes of waiting, I handed her a full platter matching my own, and we looked for a spot to sit. We found a nice bench that had recently been vacated under a tree. As we sat and ate in silence, I found myself noticing little things about her.

  She held her chopsticks like a child who had only recently learned how to use them. She brushed her hair behind her left ear after every few bites since it was still short and fell forward the longer she leaned forward to eat. The longer the noodle was, the more she slurped as she ate it. Every few bites, she would take out the green pepper and put it to the side. I was so lost in studying her, I had completely forgotten to eat.

  "Kazu," she suddenly spoke up as she looked at me. "Does this meat… taste funny to you?"

  My alarm pulled me from my sleep, and my hands shook as my knuckles turned white.

  "Are you fucking kidding me?!"

  * * * * *

  Day 54.

  I was terrified to interact with Chika, fearing that I was the reason that she continued to die. I kept any conversations with her as mild and evasive as possible in a desperate attempt to keep her safe. When it finally came time for my break, I passed the opportunity to go with her and instead went with Denki. My thought was that since he could react faster than most, he would be safer than most.

  The two of us walked the lively halls heading towards the auditorium and Class C's play. The student I had saved earlier in the day had mentioned it, and I was curious to see what role he would play in his medieval costume. We arrived at a packed auditorium. After a struggle to find two seats next to each other, we finally managed to sit down. The lights went out, and the show began.

  To both of our surprise, the Class C student – we later found out that his name was Hikigia Yuuske – filled none of the supporting roles as a squire or even a secondary knight character. One of the reasons that he was being bullied was likely the role that he had been given in the play: Saint Joan. It made sense; the way his build and facial features were almost mirrored how she was depicted throughout history.

  I almost feel bad for him. I'm sure he is sometimes mistaken for a girl anyway given his feminine features. This will probably only serve to make things worse for him. I wonder if there was truly no other choice.

  He dominated the stage from the moment he entered. His presence was felt throughout the auditorium, and we all hung on every single word that left his mouth. With every line, we became more entranced with him, and, admittedly, I thanked God that I could experience such a performance in my lifetime. When the play ended in tragedy, there was not a single dry eye in the audience — including mine and Denki's. The applause and standing ovation following the conclusion was thunderous, to say the least.

  After the performance was concluded for the day, the two of us managed to get past the mobs of fans that Hikigia had won over. The security that Class C had come up with to protect their star was impressive, given the fact that we were still high school students at the end of the day. We slipped through their almost air-tight defenses and gave a gentle knock on his door to which he quickly answered and pulled us in.

  His demeanor was completely different from the day before in the locker room. He was smiling, confident. Seeing him like that brought smiles to both of our faces. We exchanged light-hearted jokes and invited him to our cafe whenever he got a free period. As we turned to leave, the door burst open.

  The two upperclassmen from the day before had forced their way through security. Their eyes were red and puffy, but something seemed different. The anger and disdain that had filled them before was replaced with something of a sense of self-loathing. While not unprepared, Denki and I allowed the two of them to approach Hikigia. They stopped just short of arms-length and bowed in unison.

  “We’re so sorry!” They blurted out together.

  “When I saw you on the stage,” one continued, “I felt like an utter fool for looking down on you.”

  “Seeing you command attention like that, realizing how much work you probably put in made me feel awful for having done those things to you,” the other spoke up.

  “We’re sorry, again!” They repeated. “Please let us repay you somehow.”

  To that, Hikigia seemed put off even more than the apology itself. He glanced at us confused, likely making sure that we heard the same string of words. Before he could react, however, the stage manager grabbed the upperclassmen’s collars and put them to work with the tear-down crew. Hikigia laughed as the three of us started for the cafe.

  Just as we neared the auditorium door, an old familiar buzzing returned to my ears. My sight grew foggy, and my head felt like it was on fire. I tried to freeze time to see what was around me, but nothing changed. No one looked suspicious. As quickly as the horrible sensation came on to me, it disappeared, and I foolishly thought I was in the clear.

  THUD.

  I turned back to see a large sandbag on the stage next to one of the upperclassmen, its rope falling around it, his terrified gaze shifting upwards. As with every instance before, time seemed to slow, and I saw the lights and their scaffolding falling. Before I could move a muscle, Denki had already lunged into action, his ability in full effect.

  He cleared the distance to the stage in a fraction of a second, but he missed the grip he was aiming for on the fixture. The rest of the structure crashed, dust filled the air, and a silhouette stood amidst the wreckage. While the upperclassman had been saved from a crushing demise, my best friend had been impaled by a cold steel rod.

  Our eyes met, and his goofy smile crept across his face one last time. My vision went dark after that. Again, my alarm pulled me from my slumber, and the nightmare began anew.

  * * * * *

  Day 159.

  Nothing about any of this made sense. Every time I relived these one to two days, something was different, something far outside of my control. Today, Ino and Fujiwara came from Himoru Women's Academy to see how our class was doing and for Ino to spend time with Rito. I collapsed to my knees and stared at the ground at a loss for words.

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  Before today, it had never happened. Before today, the music club had never attempted to move their baby grand piano from their club room for the pageant tomorrow. Before today, Rito had never been unlucky.

  Despite all of that, I knelt in a pool of his and Ino's blood. The flattened piano sat on their mangled bodies like a hunter posing on top of its trophy. Fujiwara wailed behind me, but all I heard was the buzzing as my sight grew dim. As it all ended, my alarm pulled me from my sleep, and I began to see the truth in Damien's game.

  * * * * *

  Day 283.

  "I can't keep living these days forever," I muttered under my breath. "No one believes me when I try to save them. They can't understand the hopeless reality that they live in. They have no idea how many times they have lived and died during this cursed festival. I won't let him win, even if it means going mad... even if it means living these days over and over until the sun burns out."

  "Son, step away from the girl," the police officer cautiously warned as he crept closer.

  Her breaths were strained, and the sound of her blood gurgling in her throat drowned out the buzzing and ringing in my ears. I had failed her again, my precious childhood friend. The schedule had changed, and I had let my guard down. Her soft hand was cupped in my own as I held it close to my face. It was still warm just as her eyes still held warmth despite losing their spark. I felt the sting of bitter tears falling as the buzzing grew and I lost my sight once again.

  * * * * *

  Day 371.

  Today is the day. I've had it with this game. I don't care what else I lose, I won't lose her again.

  I grabbed a different bag than my normal school bag and stepped out of the house to meet with Chika on Tuesday morning. Everything was the same as it had been the last however-many times, everything except me. I walked up to her and embraced her once again.

  "K-Kazu, you're certainly bold this morning. D-Did you give up trying to fight your feelings for m-me?"

  "Chika," I pulled away and looked deep into her eyes.

  "Yes?"

  "Run away with me... please."

  "Huh?!" Her face became redder than I had ever seen it.

  "I'll accept responsibility for whatever happens, just," my voice trembled. "Please."

  "W-why? Why now? Why me?" She looked away.

  "I promise, I'll explain on the way," I pushed my hands together as if I was praying.

  "...o-okay. Give me a minute to get a few things."

  Before I could say anything, she had turned back and was again inside her house. I paced nervously as hours seemed to go by. Finally, after about 20 minutes, she reemerged in a different outfit with a relatively small bag slung over one shoulder. Her face was still glowing red. Before we took off, she looked over her shoulder at her house as if saying goodbye to it.

  I did my best trying to explain what had happened as we walked towards a different train station than the one we usually used. It was like navigating a mine field with a single almost-blind eye. Every single word that came out of my mouth sounded like something from a series about the supernatural. Nevertheless, she intently listened as we continued on our way. As I talked, she seemed more relaxed.

  "As for your question, why you," I paused. "Why not you? There's no one else I would rather bring on something like this, no one I’d rather begin this new journey with."

  She gave no teasing in response. She gave no response at all. She kept her eyes on the ground as her face continued to glow and a faint smile crept across it. My convictions were reaffirmed upon seeing that smile.

  We made it to our station where I quickly bought tickets bound for as far outside of Hoenn City as a high school student's allowance could afford. We took our spots waiting for the train and boarded as two of countless souls. The cityscape passed us by, and my mind wandered to my family. I had left a note explaining everything to the best of my abilities, but I knew there would still be questions. I wondered if Chika had done anything similar.

  As I looked over, her gaze was fixated on the passing landscape. I placed my arm around her shoulder in a sort of attempt to help her relax. She responded by leaning into me and turning her head to my chest. I felt that I could finally rest, that we had escaped Damien's game.

  I woke up from my nap to the sound of the train announcement that it was reaching its last stop, Isil station. I woke Chika, and we prepared to debark. Once we had arrived, I got off and took in the scenery. The vast countryside took my breath away and left me staring like a fool. I failed to notice that my traveling partner was not next to me or that the train was departing. The gust of wind blew past as the train made its way back towards Hoenn City — only then did reality sink in.

  Chika never could have left her life behind. I never should have put her in a situation where she was forced to choose. We never would have made it on the run. Damien never would have let us escape.

  The train erupted in a fireball along the track. The ringing from the blast paled in comparison to the noise splitting my head as I crumbled to my knees. I wanted to throw up; I wanted to die. My sight went dark again, and I woke up in a cold sweat back in my bed at home. I trembled as I held myself and cried.

  * * * * *

  Day 501.

  Everything about the festival sickened me. I hated the Cafe from Hell. I despised my stupid costume that made me so infuriatingly itchy. I loathed the countless people that came and left each time I relived Tuesday and Wednesday. Through it all, however, I found one thing that I could not even force myself to dislike in the slightest: the time I spent with my friends, the memories we made together that seemed anew each time I jumped back, the way they all lived those two days as if they were their last.

  I had tried a multitude of different approaches to the two days. I took my break on day one sometimes; I refused to take a break at all; I spent the days with different people; I spent the days alone in the courtyard. It always ended the same way — someone I cared about died, and I was powerless to save them. I had broken down in tears more times than I could remember, but I still refused to play his game, to be "his Reaper."

  I stared at the torched remnants of Toriyama High and felt the heat from the still-roaring fire kiss my face. The blaring of the fire alarms, the squealing of the department engines, the cries of those still trapped inside, they were all drowned out by the buzzing that had returned to signify my imminent return to Tuesday morning.

  This time, it was a grease fire in our own haunted cafe. Last time, faulty electric wiring and an overloaded amplifier caused a violent burst and a shower of sparks when Yui helped the multimedia club test the stage for Thursday's pageant. What will it be next time? How long would I have to suffer? How long would those I cared about have to endure these two days of hell?

  The buzzing and ringing intensified, and my vision went dark. Part of me hoped that instead of going back that this would finally be the end. Instead, it was all cut through by my alarm and the dawn of a new day.

  * * * * *

  Day 716.

  I can't do this anymore.

  I sat up in my bed where I had remained for the past however long. It seemed that it did not even matter if I left my room: someone was doomed to die, and I was doomed to repeat these cursed days. I had no idea who had died recently, but it was almost never the same person in the same way. I woke one morning and had just decided to stay home; the moment I made the decision, I woke again.

  Even on the days that I went to school, it was always outside of my control who would die. Most of the time, it was one of my friends; however, sometimes it was someone I had only interacted with a handful of times. There were instances where I had no clue who the deceased was at all. It all seemed like my suffering was pure bliss for Damien who had eluded me for over a year.

  I forced myself out of bed and struggled into the bathroom. The creature that looked back at me from the mirror was reminiscent of what lived in my old apartment between missions. I barely looked human anymore: my eyes were deeply sunken along with my cheeks, my hair felt like one solid tug was enough to pull it all out, my ribs protruded through my empty abdomen. In a moment of blinking, the creature vanished, and an exhausted high school student stood before me.

  I dragged myself back to my bed and hid under the covers once again. I wondered who would die today and how. I felt shattered, helpless. As I shook and quivered, tears began rolling down my face. I couldn’t keep doing this forever.

  * * * * *

  Tuesday

  My hands were shaking as I tried to grip my knife. I had finally made up my mind and decided to play the game. The blade was short, so I would have to be precise and fast enough to bypass instincts. A note on my bedside explained how sorry I was that it had come to this and how much I wished everyone the best. In between jagged breaths and teary eyes, I inhaled sharply and tried not to brace for impact.

  Nothing.

  A hand caught my wrist as the point of the blade caressed my throat. My eyes travelled up the arm and locked with the holes in his white mask. He pulled the blade back, and I was too weak to resist him.

  "I have to say, Kazuma," he began. "I'm truly impressed that you lasted as long as you did."

  His voice was different from before, there was no mockery. His words were genuine. I said nothing as the tears continued falling.

  "I did say that you weren't an option for reaping, but given your astounding perseverance, I have to say that I'm moved. I'll allow it," his voice became whimsical. "Congratulations! You win the game! Want to see your prize?"

  Before I could answer, he tossed a blanket over me. The darkness sent me into a panic, and I thrashed around trying to find the exit. When I finally escaped, I found myself in the kitchen of the Cafe from Hell. Everyone looked at me as though I was insane. I tried to keep calm and look around. My facade broke when I saw the digital clock on the wall above the grill.

  9:13 am. Thursday morning.