Chapter 2

Haruki’s alarm clock buzzed at 6:47 a.m., the now-familiar blaring pulling him from restless dreams. For a brief moment, he stared at the glowing numbers, his mind caught between exhaustion and determination.

This time, he wasn’t going to let the day play out the same way.

As the cicadas droned outside and his mother’s voice called from downstairs, Haruki grabbed his bag and left the house without eating. He had a plan, one that started with changing the events he knew by heart.

By the time Haruki reached the crosswalk, he was ready. The delivery truck was already rumbling down the street, the familiar sound of its horn sharp in the warm morning air.

Haruki’s eyes darted to the biker—a boy no older than himself, wearing headphones and oblivious to the danger ahead. The boy pedaled faster, cutting into the street just as the truck accelerated.

Haruki sprinted forward.

“Hey! Watch out!” he yelled, grabbing the back of the bike and pulling it toward the sidewalk. The biker yelped in surprise, his tires skidding to a halt as the truck roared past, its horn blaring angrily.

The boy turned, pulling off his headphones. “What the—?!”

“You’re welcome,” Haruki muttered, already walking away. His heart was pounding, but he felt a strange sense of satisfaction. It wasn’t much, but he had broken the first link in the chain.

At school, Haruki felt the loop’s rhythm tugging at him. He moved through the halls like a man with a secret, his mind racing ahead to the events he knew would come.

When Akiko appeared by his desk in homeroom, her usual bright smile in place, Haruki didn’t wait for her to ask.

“Here,” he said, holding out his notebook without looking up.

Akiko froze mid-step, blinking. “Uh… thanks?” she said, her voice tinged with confusion.

Haruki nodded, his expression neutral. “You’re welcome.”

Akiko hesitated, clearly unsure what to make of him, before retreating back to her seat.

At lunch, Haruki stationed himself near the cafeteria’s entrance, waiting for Kenta Moriyama. The older boy entered with his usual careless gait, balancing a precariously full tray of curry. Haruki’s eyes narrowed as he followed him across the room, weaving through the crowded tables.

It happened quickly, just as he remembered—a stray bag on the floor, Kenta’s foot catching it, and the tray beginning to tip.

This time, Haruki lunged forward, grabbing Kenta by the arm and steadying him before the disaster could unfold.

“Whoa! Thanks, man!” Kenta said, blinking in surprise.

“Careful next time,” Haruki replied, already walking away as murmurs of disappointment rippled through the cafeteria.

Haruki’s next move was the most daunting. Mei was sitting with her friends in the courtyard, laughing and gesturing animatedly. Her auburn hair glinted in the sunlight, and for a moment, Haruki hesitated.

But then he steeled himself and approached the group.

As he neared, the conversation died, and the girls turned to stare at him. Their expressions ranged from curiosity to outright suspicion. Haruki felt like he had just wandered into enemy territory.

Mei raised an eyebrow. “Uh… Haruki? What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you,” Haruki said, his voice firmer than he felt.

Her friends exchanged glances, their amusement poorly concealed. One of them snickered, leaning toward Mei. “Ooh, Mei-chan, what’s this about?”

“Excuse me for a second,” Mei said, standing abruptly and waving them off.

The girls muttered their protests but didn’t argue, watching with exaggerated interest as Mei followed Haruki to a secluded corner of the courtyard.

The moment they were alone, Mei turned on him.

“Seriously?” she said, placing her hands on her hips. “You couldn’t wait until after school?”

Haruki blinked. “What’s the big deal?”

Mei sighed dramatically, stepping closer until they were face-to-face. Without warning, she reached up and pinched his cheek.

“Ow!” Haruki yelped, jerking back.

Mei scowled. “Do you know how hard it is to maintain a reputation around here? You can’t just march up to me in front of my friends like that!”

Haruki rubbed his cheek, his face reddening. “Sorry! I didn’t think it’d be a big deal.”

“It is a big deal,” Mei said, crossing her arms. “Now they’re going to start asking questions, and I don’t have answers!”

Haruki hesitated. “I… I wasn’t thinking. Sorry.”

Mei’s stern expression softened, and she sighed, letting her arms fall to her sides. “Just… don’t do it again, okay? I have a lot to deal with already.”

Haruki nodded quickly. “Got it.”

Mei stared at him for a moment longer, then shook her head with a small laugh. “You’re such a weirdo.”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Haruki raised an eyebrow. “Me? You’re the one pinching people in public.”

Mei smirked, poking his forehead. “Shut up.”

As the awkward tension began to fade, Mei glanced at the school clock and sighed. “Look, meet me after school at the park. We’ll talk there, okay?”

Haruki blinked. “The park?”

“Yeah,” Mei said, already turning back toward her friends. “It’s quiet, and we won’t have anyone staring at us.”

Before Haruki could respond, Mei rejoined her group, her usual bright smile firmly in place. Her friends immediately started whispering, but Mei waved them off as if nothing unusual had happened.

Haruki stood there for a moment, watching her. He still didn’t fully understand Mei, but for the first time, he felt like he was beginning to.

The day passed uneventfully after that, the weight of the loop no longer as suffocating as it had been before. As the clock ticked toward 11:59 p.m., Haruki lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Tomorrow, the park. He didn’t know what Mei planned to say, but something told him it would matter.

The park was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the soft evening breeze. Haruki sat on a creaky wooden bench, his bag resting at his feet. The sky was tinged with orange as the sun dipped toward the horizon, and Haruki found himself watching the fading light, unsure what to expect.

“Sorry I’m late,” Mei said, her voice breaking his thoughts.

He looked up to see her standing a few feet away, her bag slung over one shoulder. She looked as tired as he felt, though she still managed to muster a faint smile.

Haruki shrugged. “Not like I’m going anywhere.”

Mei snorted, dropping onto the bench beside him. “Fair point. So, what’s the plan?”

“The plan?” Haruki echoed.

“Yeah,” Mei said, leaning back and crossing her arms. “You’re the one who keeps insisting we figure this out. So, what now?”

Haruki hesitated, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. “What if we tried leaving the city?”

Mei raised an eyebrow. “Leave the city?”

“Yeah,” Haruki said. “We’ve been trying to change small things—like stopping Kenta or messing with class schedules—but maybe we’re thinking too small. What if the loop’s boundaries don’t extend beyond the city?”

Mei considered this, her expression thoughtful. “It’s not the worst idea I’ve heard.”

Haruki rolled his eyes. “Gee, thanks.”

Mei smirked. “I’m just saying, it’s worth a shot. But we’ll have to skip school to do it.”

Haruki shrugged. “Not like anyone will remember tomorrow.”

Mei sighed. “Fine. Let’s do it. But if this doesn’t work, you’re buying me snacks in the next loop.”

“Deal,” Haruki muttered, already regretting his decision.

The next morning, they met at the train station, both looking slightly out of place in their school uniforms. Mei had swapped her usual polished look for something more casual—a loose hoodie over her blouse and a pair of sneakers instead of loafers. Haruki had done the bare minimum to disguise himself, keeping his uniform mostly intact.

“Nice disguise,” Mei teased, eyeing him critically.

“You didn’t exactly go undercover either,” Haruki shot back.

“Whatever,” Mei said with a wave of her hand. “Let’s just get moving.”

They boarded the first train heading out of the city, finding an empty pair of seats near the back of the car. The hum of the train filled the silence as the cityscape gave way to sprawling fields and distant mountains.

Haruki leaned against the window, watching the scenery blur past. Mei sat beside him, scrolling through her phone with a bored expression.

“This is kind of pointless,” she muttered after a while.

Haruki glanced at her. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, what if the loop isn’t about where we are? What if it’s, like, a test or something?” Mei said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. “Leaving the city isn’t going to change who we are.”

Haruki frowned. “What does that even mean?”

Mei sighed. “Forget it. Just thinking out loud.”

They fell into silence again, the tension between them growing.

By the time they reached the edge of the city, the sun was high in the sky. Haruki and Mei wandered aimlessly, trying to push past the city’s boundaries. They walked through sleepy suburbs, endless fields, and even a forest trail, all in hopes of finding some kind of barrier or clue.

“This is stupid,” Mei said after hours of walking.

“Then why did you agree to come?” Haruki snapped, wiping sweat from his brow.

“Because you were so sure it would work!” Mei shot back, glaring at him. “I thought maybe, just maybe, you had a decent idea for once.”

Haruki bristled. “Oh, I’m sorry, Miss Perfect. Maybe you’d rather come up with the next plan?”

“Maybe I will!”

“Good luck with that,” Haruki muttered, turning away from her.

“Ugh, you’re impossible!” Mei groaned, throwing her hands in the air.

“Right back at you,” Haruki muttered under his breath.

By the time the sun began to set, they were both too tired to argue anymore. Mei sighed, glancing around the unfamiliar town they had wandered into.

They found a small, cheap inn near the train station and checked in, the clerk barely sparing them a glance as they paid.

The room was tiny, with just a single bed and a small desk crammed into the corner. Haruki dropped his bag onto the floor, already regretting this decision.

“There’s only one bed,” Mei said, her voice sharp.

“Yeah, I noticed,” Haruki replied flatly.

“Well, I’m not sleeping on the floor,” Mei said, crossing her arms.

“Neither am I,” Haruki shot back.

They glared at each other for a long moment before Mei sighed dramatically. “Fine. We’ll share it. But stay on your side.”

“Like I want to get any closer to you,” Haruki muttered.

Mei smirked. “Good. Then we’re on the same page.”

Later that night, Haruki lay on one side of the bed, his back to Mei. The mattress was small, forcing them to stay awkwardly close despite their best efforts.

“Don’t hog the blanket,” Mei muttered, tugging it toward her.

“I’m not,” Haruki replied, pulling it back.

They fell silent after that, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife. Haruki stared at the wall, listening to Mei’s steady breathing.

“This is ridiculous,” Mei whispered after a while.

“What is?” Haruki asked, his voice low.

“This whole thing,” Mei said. “The loop. You. Us.”

Haruki didn’t reply, unsure what to say.

Eventually, Mei sighed. “Goodnight, Haruki.”

“Goodnight,” he murmured, his eyes closing as the clock ticked toward 11:59 p.m.

Haruki’s alarm clock blared at 6:47 a.m., snapping him awake. For a moment, he stared at the glowing numbers, his thoughts muddled and disoriented. The familiar sound of cicadas filtered through the open window, and the faint clatter of pots and pans drifted up from the kitchen below.

He was back in his room.

The events of the previous day flashed through his mind—the train ride, the long walk, the cramped hotel room. It had all felt so real. Yet here he was, once again waking up to the same unchanging morning.

“Figures,” Haruki muttered, throwing off the blanket.

As he got ready, an idea sparked in his mind. If they were doomed to repeat the same day, maybe he could make things… bearable.

Downstairs, Haruki ignored his mother’s usual call to “eat breakfast” and went straight to the kitchen. He rummaged through the cabinets until he found an old thermos, dusting it off and rinsing it thoroughly.

He brewed a fresh pot of coffee, the aroma filling the small kitchen. Pouring the steaming liquid into the thermos, Haruki screwed the lid on tightly, tucking it carefully into his bag before heading out the door.

The walk to school felt less frustrating today, the familiar sights and sounds fading into the background as Haruki focused on his plan.

When he reached the school gate, Haruki scanned the crowd of students until his eyes landed on her. Mei was standing with her friends, laughing at something one of them said. Her auburn hair caught the morning light, and for a moment, Haruki hesitated.

“Come on,” he muttered to himself, tightening his grip on his bag.

He approached cautiously, stepping into her line of sight. Mei noticed him almost immediately, her laughter fading as she turned to face him.

“Haruki?” she said, blinking in surprise.

Wordlessly, Haruki pulled the thermos from his bag and held it out to her.

Mei stared at it, then at him, her expression unreadable. “What’s this?”

“Coffee,” Haruki said, his voice flat. “Figured you might need it after yesterday.”

Mei’s lips parted slightly, her cheeks coloring faintly. “You… made this for me?”

Haruki scratched the back of his neck, looking away. “Don’t make it weird. Just take it.”

Mei smiled—a genuine, unguarded smile that caught Haruki off guard. “Thanks,” she said softly, taking the thermos from his hands.

Before Haruki could reply, the sound of voices drew his attention. Mei’s friends were approaching, their curious gazes darting between Haruki and Mei.

“Oooh, what’s this?” one of them teased, her tone playful. “Mei-chan, is this your boyfriend or something?”

Haruki’s ears burned, and he instinctively took a step back. “No, I was just—”

“It’s not like that,” Mei said quickly, though there was a slight edge to her voice. She clutched the thermos close, her smile turning awkward.

“Right,” Haruki muttered, already backing away. “See you later.”

Before Mei could respond, he turned and walked off, his heart pounding in his chest.

As Haruki made his way to homeroom, he couldn’t help but replay the interaction in his mind. Mei’s surprised expression, the soft way she had thanked him, and the teasing laughter of her friends—all of it left him feeling strangely unsettled.

He sighed, shaking his head. “This is so stupid,” he muttered under his breath.

But despite himself, he couldn’t stop the faint smile that tugged at his lips.