After 20 minutes of continuous walking, It didn’t take too long for them to arrive at school. But as expected, it only made Shac’s fatigue worse.

Crap… I’m starting to feel it now…

Standing at the front of the school gate, the fatigue finally reached him. Considering what happened to him, he is nowhere near fine mentally and physically.

“You good?” Qoka asked, worried, looking at Shac’s sorry state.

“Y…yeah… I should be fine.” Shac answered, his voice was low and exhausted. “Where are they?”

“That way.” She said as she pointed to an area. “There’s a place over there.”

Shac raised an eyebrow. “Over there?”

Was there a place over there? I don’t think so.

“I can’t believe you forgot about that too.”

“Haha…” He chuckled awkwardly, trying to brush it off.

Qoka sighed deeply and grabbed Shac’s hand. “Let’s go. Be careful with your steps.”

“Wait. Wait. I’m fine. ” Shac muttered, trying to pull his hand free. “You don’t need to hold it.”

Qoka looked back at him. “Don’t worry, it’s not like I’m going to hold your hand forever.” she said as she dragged Shac inside the school premises.

As they entered the school gate, a sudden familiar breeze welcomed both of them.

“Oh…” He stopped walking as if he remembered something from memory.

“Uh—! What happened?” She turned her head back, wondering why he stopped all of a sudden.

He shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

“Oh, okay… Don’t worry it’s just around the corner.”

They continued walking towards the corner of the school building. As they near it, and took a turn, they immediately noticed the presence of two people sitting on the bench behind the tree.

“Oh, here they are.” Qoka said as she waved her hand.

Shac couldn’t help but think, Can’t believe I’m seeing Ivan again… He finally managed to see Ivan again, not in the present, but in the past.

Ivan waved back as he immediately saw Qoka and Shac together. “You guys are late! Hm— What is that? Why are you holding his hand?” he squinted his eyes in sight.

Qoka immediately released her hand from Shac, flustered. “You don’t need to know about that.”

Ivan looked at her with a teasing smirk. “Oh really? Really?”

“Arghhh! Stop!” Qoka groaned, her face blushed in embarrassment.

Ivan laughed, enjoying her discomfort. “What a funny girl.”

“…” Qoka glared at him.

He immediately looked away at her and turned his head to Shac. “Why are the both of you not sitting?” he said, changing the topic.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“We were just about to.” Qoka said as she took a seat.

Shac then followed her lead and took a seat beside her.

I don’t remember this place before… So there was a bench over here… He thought as he looked around the area. Or I simply just forgot about it. As he pondered, he noticed a piercing gaze just beside Ivan.

Oh. Why is she staring at me like that? He tried his best to act like he didn’t notice her.

“What is he doing?” the girl said. “Hey Shac!”

Shac turned his head to her. “Y-yes?”

“What happened to him?” the girl asked, looking at Qoka.

Qoka scratched her head. “That’s what I told Ivan earlier, it seemed like he forgot both you and I.”

“Huh!? What do you mean?”

Qoka shrugged. “I don’t know either. He said he remembers Ivan, but not you, and not me.”

“Is that true?” the girl asked, staring at Shac. “Did you forget about me too?”

“I don’t know… I have no recollection of the both of you… Perhaps…You’re Evie?”

“I can’t believe you forgot about me! But what happened to you? Why are you acting timid all of a sudden?”

“You’re Evie!?” Shac exclaimed with wide eyes. “You’re not lying right?”

Evie hesitated before answering, “Uh… Yeah? You really did change huh?”

“A-am I?”

“You’re not just timid, it doesn’t feel like you’re Shac.”

“What… What is that supposed to mean?” Shac asked, his voice were shaky.

“Well, she’s right about that.” Ivan intervened. “You’re nothing like what we know. You’re too scared.”

I am scared? Is that what I looked like?

“I’m afraid I’m not getting what you guys are trying to say.”

“It’s just a feeling.” Ivan said, looking straight at Shac’s eyes. “I could see that you’re not lying.”

“You believe me?” Shac asked, surprised. “I thought you were at least going to say I was joking around.”

“Do you want me to do that?” Ivan said, teasing.

“Of course not.” Shac smiled, trying his best to smile despite feeling weak.

“Well, it’s just I find your eyes not lying.” Ivan said, looking serious.

“My eyes were not lying? What is that supposed to mean?” he frowned, confused at Ivan.

Qoka whispered to Shac. “I don’t even know if he’s just spouting nonsense or what when he says that.” she continued, she sounded unsure. “It’s nothing new.”

“Well, if Ivan said it, then it must be true.” Evie added.

“You must really love your brother.” Qoka said, smiling at Evie.

“Don’t say that.” She looked away with a disgusted expression. “You don’t know how cruel it is to be in front of him. I can’t even lie anymore.” she sighed.

Ivan laughed. “I will not tolerate liars!” he said with a determined voice, then turned his head back to Shac. “Right?”

Shac nodded slowly in response.

Ivan chuckled, trying to lighten up the mood. He looked down at his watch. “It’s already time for class. Everyone ready to ditch it?”

“That goes without saying.” Evie said.

“It should be fine today, we need to help Shac after all.” Qoka added.

Shac nodded, not saying anything.

“Got it.” Ivan said as he turned his head to Qoka. “Could you tell us first what happened?”

“Be sure to listen carefully.” she said as she started telling both Ivan and Evie about Shac.

For a few minutes, Qoka told everyone about what happened earlier. That Shac suddenly said he forgot about her and Evie, but for some reason didn’t forget about Ivan.

As the three of them were preoccupied, Shac sat in silence, reflecting on his situation. Still, I missed this place. I never thought I would be able to see everyone again. The white void, that place was a hell. I thought it was heaven, but it’s far from that.

He looked at his hand, still weak from everything. Can’t believe I’m feeling weak right now… Is this what happens when you relax yourself?

He sighed deeply. I guess escaping was enough for me to feel relaxed. Hahahaha…

Ivan, Evie, and Qoka. Was there a period of time were the three of us were hanging out together? He wondered. If this was the right period, then this must be from two years ago, before everyone became forgotten.

As Qoka continued telling both Ivan and Evie about what happened to him, he looked at them and smiled at the sight of everyone doing fine and well. It was such a rare sight for him, and never would he have thought that he had two other friends other than Ivan himself. Seeing all of them together was something he wouldn’t expect.

Was I living unaware of their existence? Was I actually doing that? Living in a world where Evie and Qoka didn’t exist? Haaah…

He clutched his head in pain. I’m not going to waste this time. This is not the time to lose myself to the curse. This is not the time to lose my will, and I’m not going to take this world for granted. I will do my best, I will try my best to do something about this. I’m not going to let them die again.

He clenched his fist, determined to do something about it. There’s no telling what’s going to happen to him if he was to die again. Despite that, he believed that there was still something he could do and that it won’t be a waste of time.

I’m going to save everyone.