The final bell echoed through the classroom, signaling the end of another school day. The usual noise filled the air—the shuffling of bags, the rustle of papers, and the chatter of students rushing to leave. Yet, Kaito remained seated, his thoughts a chaotic storm in his mind. He didn't get up immediately. He couldn't. There was something pulling at him, something unsettling, like a dark weight he couldn't shake. The past few days had been a blur—fragments of memories, flashes of pain—and the overwhelming certainty that something was wrong.
He stood up, his legs feeling heavy as if the air itself was thickening around him. He glanced around the classroom, his eyes lingering on the faces of the students who rushed to leave. But there was only one person he cared about in that moment. Airi. She had gathered her things, preparing to leave just like everyone else. But something about the way she moved—her hurried steps, her tense posture—made Kaito uneasy.
He couldn't stay in that room any longer.
He followed her.
Quietly, like a shadow, Kaito slipped out of the classroom and into the hallway, keeping his distance as Airi walked ahead of him, oblivious to his presence. He didn't know why he was following her. Maybe it was because of the gut-wrenching feeling that something terrible was going to happen if he didn't. Maybe it was the realization that he had to protect her—whatever it took, whatever it cost him.
Airi stopped at the stairs, her hand brushing against the railing as she glanced back. Her eyes narrowed slightly as if sensing something behind her. Then, she turned and spoke, her voice calm but tinged with curiosity.
"Ho, so you're the one following me now? I thought it was me who followed you."
Kaito froze for a moment, caught off guard by her sudden awareness of him. He quickly closed the distance between them, his face cold, determined.
"Airi, we need to talk," he said, his voice low but urgent. There was no time for pleasantries. Not now. Not when everything felt like it was about to unravel.
Airi blinked, clearly surprised by his words. "Talk? Why?"
Kaito didn't wait for her to say anything more. He reached out, grasping her wrist and pulling her toward the stairs. His grip was firm, almost desperate.
"No need to ask. We need to leave now."
Airi's face flushed as his hand wrapped around hers. Her heart skipped a beat, but she couldn't bring herself to pull away. She couldn't understand why, but there was something about the way he held her hand that made her feel… uneasy. Was it the urgency in his voice? Or the intensity in his eyes?
"W-Wait a second," Airi stammered, her voice a mix of confusion and something else—something she didn't want to admit. "Where are we going?"
"The exit," Kaito answered coldly, not even looking at her. His eyes were fixed straight ahead, his pace quickening as he pulled her along.
"The exit?" Airi echoed, her voice soft, a bit flushed from the close proximity. "We don't need to rush like this. Let's talk about this—at least slow down, okay?"
Kaito didn't slow his pace. His jaw tightened, a faint frown tugging at the corners of his lips. "Talk about what?" he snapped, his voice almost sharp in its coldness.
Airi blushed deeper, her mind racing. "You know… this is kinda fast," she said, unable to keep the nervousness from her tone. "I mean, I wasn't expecting… well, I wasn't expecting this."
"What are you talking about?" Kaito asked, his voice confused but still steady. He was clearly focused on something else—his thoughts were scattered, swirling with a dark urgency that made it hard for him to think clearly.
Airi sighed, disappointment flickering in her eyes. She wasn't sure what to make of this sudden change in his behavior. He was always quiet and reserved, but now, there was something unsettling about the way he was acting. She felt a pang of unease as she pulled her hand away from his grip, but Kaito didn't seem to notice.
"Where are we going?" she asked again, her voice quieter now. "What are you trying to do?"
"Somewhere safe," Kaito replied, his tone almost mechanical, his face set in a worried grimace. There was something darker behind his eyes now, something she couldn't quite understand, but it terrified her.
Back in the Hallway
Ryuu's voice echoed down the hallway, drawing Kaito's attention for a brief moment. He was walking downstairs, a smug expression on his face. But when his eyes caught Kaito and Airi, the smirk faded. Ryuu's gaze sharpened, his posture stiffening. He knew something was off.
"I didn't see Airi-chan," Ryuu muttered to himself as he glanced around, but then his eyes locked onto Kaito. His expression twisted with something darker.
"Got you," he whispered, his grin widening.
Kaito didn't turn around. He didn't need to.
Airi, on the other hand, noticed Ryuu's approach and instinctively stepped closer to Kaito. "Kaito, what's going on? Why are we running?"
Kaito didn't answer immediately. His mind raced as he reached the door, pulling Airi along with him. Once they were outside, Kaito stopped in a secluded spot behind the school, far from the prying eyes of other students.
"Airi," he began, his voice low, almost trembling, "We need to talk. And it's important."
Airi blinked, her heart beating faster. "Talk? So this is your confession, huh?" She smiled faintly, her cheeks flushed. "I know, I know, it's a bit fast, but… you know, I've always liked you, Kaito."
Kaito didn't return her smile. His expression was dark, conflicted. He grabbed her shoulders, looking into her eyes with a deep, haunting intensity.
"No," he said, shaking his head, his voice cracking. "It's not a confession, Airi. It's something else. Something you need to understand."
Airi's smile faltered as she stared at him, confused by the sudden change in his demeanor. "Then… what is it?"
"I've been through this before," Kaito said, his voice barely a whisper. "I… I've died before. I know this sounds insane, but I've gone back in time. I've been to the past. I died. And now I'm back here."
Airi froze, her heart skipping a beat as she processed his words. "What…? What are you talking about, Kaito?"
"I died," he repeated, his voice shaking with emotion. "Ryuu stabbed me. I felt the pain. I died in the hallway, and when I woke up, I was back in the classroom. Again."
Airi's eyes widened as she took a step back, her breath caught in her throat. "W-What? You… you can't be serious. Kaito, you're scaring me…"
"I'm not lying," Kaito insisted, his grip tightening on her shoulders. "This isn't a dream. This isn't some illusion. I'm trapped in a loop, Airi. A time loop. And I need to break it. I need to protect you. Before…"
Before what? Before it happens again? Before she gets hurt? Before he dies again?
Kaito's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but before he could finish his sentence, everything shifted. The world around him flickered, and he felt the familiar sensation of his reality warping.
Flash
Light.
Everything went white.
Kaito blinked, disoriented. His body felt strange—like he was moving but not moving at all. His mind raced as he tried to piece together what had just happened.
No.
He was back.
He looked around. The classroom. The desks. The chalkboard. It was all the same. He was sitting in his seat, staring at the same familiar classroom.
He was back in the classroom.
Again.