The laughter from lunch still echoed faintly in my mind as I walked back into the classroom. For a moment, I had almost forgotten the lies, the betrayal, the weight of two lifetimes. Almost.
But Souta's grin dragged me back.
"Haruto!" He slung his arm over my shoulder like nothing had ever happened. Like he wasn't the man who would one day kick me down in front of the people I loved most. His scent grass, sweat, cologne smothered me.
I forced my lips into something resembling a smile. "What is it?"
"You spacing out again? You should loosen up, man. Life's too short." His words dripped with irony. My nails dug into my palm. If only he knew how short mine had been.
From across the room, Miyuki watched us. Her eyes flicked between me and Souta, uncertainty flickering there. Did she already feel it? That pull toward him? That seed of betrayal that would one day bloom?
I clenched my teeth and turned away. Not yet. I couldn't break the timeline too early. If revenge was a blade, I have sharpe it to perfection.
Time-4:00PM
The rest of the day blurred together. Lessons, scribbled notes, halfhearted chatter. It was only when the final bell rang that the weight settled over me again
The sun dipped lower, its orange glow filtering through the classroom windows like a slow countdown.
I sat at my desk, pen tapping against my notebook. Every tick of the clock was louder than the last. Tomorrow had become today, and today was the day.
Souta leaned lazily against the windowsill, chatting with the soccer guys. His smile was easy, his voice confident the ace of the team, the one everyone admired. Yet, every time his gaze flicked toward Miyuki, I caught that faint spark of possession. He thought she already belonged to him.
And Miyuki… she kept stealing glances at me. Her hands fidgeted with her pen, her lips pressing together like she was working up courage.
I knew what was coming.
I remembered it all.
Her soft words. Her trembling hands. The smile that had once made my chest burn with happiness.
But this time… there was no happiness. Only a dull weight pressing on my ribs.
The bell rang, breaking the haze. Chairs scraped. Students filtered out in twos and threes, laughter echoing down the hall.
And then-
"Haruto-kun."
Her voice, gentle but strained.
I looked up. Miyuki stood by my desk, clutching her bag against her chest like a shield. Her eyes flicked nervously toward Souta, who was busy tying his shoelaces, before returning to me.
"Um… could you… meet me on the rooftop? After class."
Her words trembled, but I didn't need confirmation.
This was it.
The confession that would tie the noose around my throat in the old timeline.
I forced a smile that felt more like a grimace. "Sure."
The rooftop was quiet when I arrived. The sky stretched wide, painted in streaks of orange and purple. The wind tugged at my blazer as I pushed the door open.
Miyuki stood near the railing, hair swaying in the breeze. She turned when she heard me, her eyes wide, cheeks flushed.
"You came…" she said softly.
"Of course. You asked me to."
A silence settled between us, heavy and awkward. She gripped the strap of her bag so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Finally, she drew a shaky breath. "Haruto… there's something I've wanted to tell you. For a long time."
I didn't speak. I wanted to see how closely this moment would mirror my memories.
She looked straight at me, her eyes shimmering. "Since middle school… I've admired you. You're always helping others, always working so hard. You're kind, dependable, and… being near you makes me feel safe. I…" Her voice cracked. She bit her lip, then blurted, "I like you, Haruto. Please… go out with me."
Her words hung in the air, pure, trembling, so close to how I remembered them that my stomach churned.
I stared at her, but my mind wasn't here.
Instead, I saw flashes
Miyuki, years later, sitting in my living room with her hand in Souta's.
Her laughter cruel as she said, "He gives me everything you never could."
Her pregnant belly as she stood beside my mother, both of them mocking me like I was an insect crawling at their feet.The humiliation which i felt then
My chest tightened
She looked at me expectantly, her cheeks red, her body shaking with fear of rejection.
Part of me wanted to spit the truth in her face. To scream: I know what you are going to do with me in the future.
But another part whispered: What if this is the moment to change it? If I reject her now, would Souta step in and take her even faster? Would fate snap back into place anyway?
"Haruto…?" Her voice was fragile.
I swallowed hard. "Miyuki…"
Her eyes lit with hope at just the sound of her name.
Inside, my thoughts twisted into chaos. Should I accept? Should I crush her right now? Or should wait for a perfect chance to drag her deeper into my world, and then… break her myself?
My lips parted to speak
And then the rooftop door creaked open.
"Yo, Haruto! Miyuki!" Souta's voice rang out, casual as ever. He strolled in with that same easy smile, but his eyes darted between us with sharpness he couldn't hide. "What's going on up here?"
Miyuki stiffened, color rushing to her face. "S-Souta, it's no...nothing"
Souta's gaze lingered on her flushed cheeks, then on me. A shadow passed through his expression.
I smirked faintly, though inside my blood boiled. Perfect. The threads of fate were already pulling tight.
I turned back to Miyuki, my voice calm but heavy. "So, Miyuki… what were you just telling me?"
Her face paled. Souta froze.
And in that charged silence, I realized something.
No matter how this played out, I wasn't the same Haruto who had once been broken.
This time… I was the one holding the knife.
But i still don't want to change the future events.
With a smile on my face i looked at miyuki, and talked to myself"I don't know what impact this will do in future. I can't mess this chance my only chance. My every single decision will change the future,so i have to be cautious. "
Miyuki's lips trembled as if words still clung to them, unspoken. Her eyes darted between me and Souta, then back to me, full of fear.
I let the silence stretch. Her breath hitched. Souta's stare dug into my back.
Then I stepped forward. Slowly. Purposefully.
"Miyuki." My voice was steady, low, deliberate.
She flinched at the sound of her name.
I stopped just in front of her, close enough that she had to tilt her head up to look at me. My gaze didn't waver. "I heard you clearly."
Her knuckles whitened around her bag strap. "…And?"
I reached out, brushing my fingers against hers. The smallest touch but it made her gasp. "If you really feel that way…" I let the pause twist the air, "…then I'll go out with you."
The rooftop air seemed to still.
Her eyes widened, filling with light. "Y-You mean it?"
"Yes." I smiled faintly, though inside the smile felt like a blade being sharpened. "Let's be together."
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she nodded frantically, a laugh escaping her throat, half-relief, half-joy. "Thank you, Haruto! I… I promise I won't let you down."
Behind us, Souta was coming toward us. When I turned my head, he was already grinning that fake, wide, too-perfect grin he wore when he was cornered.
"Well, well," he said, clapping his hands together. "I didn't expect to hear a confession. Guess I should say… congratulations, you two!"
His tone was light, teasing, but his fists were clenched at his sides.
Miyuki flushed red and bowed slightly, embarrassed. "I-it's not like we planned it this way…"
But Souta didn't even look at her. His gaze locked onto me. Sharp. Measuring.
I tightened my grip on Miyuki's hand, just enough for him to notice. "Thanks, Souta. It means a lot."
For a heartbeat, his grin twitched. Just barely. Then it was back, smooth as ever.
"Of course, man. You deserve it. You always do, right, and also miyuki is a perfect girl, just like you always helping others, teacher's favourite student "
The words were sugar coated poison.
Miyuki didn't notice. She smiled, her cheeks pink, her whole body trembling with nervous happiness. But Souta and I... we weren't smiling at all.
The rooftop door creaked again as Souta pushed it open to leave, his tone changed
"Guess I'll give you two some space. Don't do anything too crazy, this is school if a teacher come here it will be huge deal. Ok then bye both of you see you tomorrow "
His footsteps faded down the stairwell.
Miyuki turned back to me, still glowing with excitement, her eyes shining like a girl living in the happiest moment of her life.
But all I could see was Souta's clenched jaw, his forced congratulations, and the storm already brewing beneath his smile.
This was it. The first stone cast into the water.
The ripples would come.
And I was ready to drown them all.
The battle between me and souta started ofc i will never forgive miyuki