I was taken back to the station for questioning. Because I had called the police in advance and provided them with specific instructions to arrive at a certain time and bring a sniper rifle, they were very curious about where I got my information. I brushed it off with a vague explanation. After all, a disaster had been averted thanks to me this time. When I left the station, it was exactly 11:30 PM. I still had time.
I hurriedly drove to a café across the street from where the incident had happened earlier that day. I went to the fountain in front of the café, where I saw a woman in a white dress standing. Her name was Hana, the owner of the café. I quickly ran over and pulled her away just in time. The next second, a flowerpot fell from above, smashing into the spot where she had just been standing.
I glanced at my watch—it was 11:51 PM. Just in time. The first time Monica used time reversal and failed to save Adam, we had a big fight. I was in a bad mood and came to this café for a coffee, where I witnessed Hana getting killed by a flowerpot accidentally knocked over by a resident upstairs. The second time Monica failed to save Adam again, I tried to come early to see if I could save her. Except for the times Monica killed me with a knife, I managed to save Hana every time. It had become a habit. She always gratefully offered me a cup of coffee, and each time we chatted for a few minutes. Although the time was short, our conversations were always pleasant. She was the only glimmer of hope that kept me going through the thousand loops.
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This time, she smiled at me again. "Thank you. Without you, I might have died."
"Why don't I treat you to a cup of coffee?" she offered.
I glanced at the time, approaching midnight, and smiled, shaking my head. "No need. Maybe I'll come again next time. After all, eating instant noodles in the morning and having coffee at noon every day—even with nerves of steel—I couldn't take it anymore. I was still worried that if Monica activated the time reversal again, we would go back to this afternoon after twelve."
Hana didn't say anything but turned back into the shop. A few minutes later, she handed me a cup of juice. "Drink it. It's the last one for today."
Since she had brought it, I didn't refuse. But at that moment, I wasn't in the mood to drink. I kept staring at the second hand on my watch—11:59 PM. As the second hand got closer to twelve, my heart rate increased. If it went back again, what would I do? I was so tired—so very tired.
I looked at Hana and said, "If I come back next time, remember to get me a Coke. I like Coke."
She blinked, as if not understanding what I meant. She really didn't understand. But she still smiled and nodded. "Although we don't have Coke in the shop, I'll get it for you next time—with ice."
"With ice?" I asked.
Just as I finished speaking, the clock struck midnight