A day had passed since that strange incident…
Lucian sat at his desk, scribbling down everything that had happened into his notebook.
His room was a mess—blanket tossed on the floor, a book lying on the bed, the wardrobe wide open for no clear reason. Just then, his mother stepped inside, her eyes sweeping over the chaos.
She walked closer, her tone sharp with irritation:
"Why is your room such a mess? And why did you skip school today?"
Lucian looked up at her and replied quietly:
"I'm sorry, Mom… but I'm working on something important. That's why I decided not to go."
His mother sighed, then crossed her arms, her voice firm:
"Fine, I'll forgive you… but only if you clean up this room. I can't stand seeing it like this."
Lucian nodded, and she left, closing the door behind her.
He turned back to his notebook, his eyes calm, then stood and began picking things up as his thoughts stirred inside him:
"I have to return to the Clock Tower… Maybe I can go back to the past again. There's still so much I don't know."
3:12 PM…
This time, Lucian entered the tower alone, without anyone's help. His eyes scanned the ruined chamber as he whispered softly:
"I'm here, Lisa!"
But no reply came.
He wandered into another room, finding nothing but a broken pocket watch lying on the floor.
"Huh?"
Just as he reached out to touch it, the sharp scent of smoke filled his nose. He turned—and there she was.
"You've come again?" Lisa's voice was cool, almost distant.
Lucian stepped toward her.
"I'm ready to go back… to the past."
But her answer came with a sudden chill:
"Not this time… I can't return you to the same point you left off."
Lucian's eyes widened.
"Why not?"
Lisa lowered her gaze, sorrow flickering across her face.
"Because you failed to change fate. That's why you were pushed back into the present. When you returned, I had already died—even before the Clock Tower incident. In the end, nothing changed."
Lucian froze, struggling to grasp what mistake he had made.
Then Lisa's tone shifted, her words stripped of warmth:
"I don't even know if you truly deserve another chance… to protect me from death."
Lucian swallowed hard, his thoughts racing.
"Then… I need to understand the reason she died in the first place."
He looked at her again, curiosity and determination burning in his voice:
"How did you die?"
Lisa's reply came cold but honest:
"I don't know… That's why I need you to save me."
Lucian exhaled, his voice trembling yet firm:
"This time—please… please let me try again! I'll do everything I can to save you!!"
Lisa stared back at him, her eyes empty, unreadable. And yet… for the first time, she chose to trust him.
"Promise?"
"Promise!!!"
…
Lucian woke with a start, raising his hand without thinking—only to see it small again, the hand of a child.
"I need to get through one whole day without anything happening to Lisa. And I'll stop her from using that pocket watch until I can uncover what really happens when time freezes…"
The events began to replay as before. His father was there, his mother kinder than he remembered from the past.
Lucian dashed out toward the shining Clock Tower—still intact before the explosion. On the way, he spotted Uncle Rafid, who always slipped him pocket money behind his father's back.
"Uncle! Uncle!" Lucian called, his voice bright and childlike.
Rafid turned, laughing as he knelt down to greet him. But Lucian spoke first, serious for his age:
"I need some money… there's something I want to do!"
Rafid blinked in surprise, but with no objection, handed him a few bills. Lucian took them and bolted off immediately.
Rafid called out after him, half-joking:
"Don't forget to bring back that handsome face of yours, my boy!"
…
Lucian arrived early at the elementary school and made his way straight to Class 4-B, where he spotted Lisa. He walked up to her.
"Lisa, may I have a minute with you?" he asked politely, his tone unexpectedly serious.
But Lisa stiffened, her voice tense:
"Who are you? What do you want from me?"
All the students turned to stare at them.
Lucian sighed, reminding himself that this was all happening again. Still, he had to protect her—no matter what it cost.
Leaning closer, he whispered:
"Ahem… I have an offer. Don't worry, I'm telling the truth."
Lisa hesitated, then stood and gave a small nod.
Lucian led her to the school garden, where snow blanketed the greenery and the flowers slept quietly beneath winter's breath.
"Lisa…" he stopped, turning to face her.
She swallowed hard, glancing nervously around as though fearing a trap, a setup for another beating.
"Y-yes?" she stammered, her heart trembling with unspoken fear.
Lucian looked straight into her eyes and, with steady seriousness, asked:
"Will you let me be your friend?"
Lisa froze. The request was so direct, so unexpected. Her cheeks flushed as she turned away.
"But… but… I have conditions!"
Lucian's voice softened:
"What are they?"
Her reply came shy, almost childlike:
"You can't call me stupid. You have to answer my questions. And… you have to protect me from the boys because they…"
Her voice broke. Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered the rest, raw and trembling:
"...they hit me and mock me. I suffer without reason. I've started to hate myself because of them. I only wish I could stay in my mother's arms forever… she's the only one who gave me hope… who gave me life."
Lucian stood frozen, powerless to respond.
But Lisa realized what she had done—pouring her heart out to a boy she hardly knew. Flushed with shame, she turned and fled back into the classroom, leaving him behind.
After school, Lucian stood by the gate with Anya and Jude. The moment Lisa stepped out, Lucian grabbed her hand and declared:
"This is my new friend—the one I told you about!"
Lisa froze, staring at them in shock. But then…
Anya rushed up to her, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Whaaa!!! She's so pretty! I want to be your friend too!"
Jude glanced at Lucian, laughing under his breath.
"Heh, now I'm jealous of you."
Lisa felt something strange stir inside her… but she smiled, softly, almost shyly.
Soon the four of them were walking together. Anya kept chatting with Lisa, delighted to get to know her. Lucian breathed easier.
"The first step is done… Lisa isn't alone anymore. But how do I stop her from using that pocket watch?"
On their way to a sweet shop, they laughed and talked, enjoying the afternoon. Lisa happily ate a slice of chocolate cake. Meanwhile, Lucian "accidentally" dropped his fork while eating his own.
"Oh…"
He bent down, but instead of just picking up the fork, his hand brushed against Lisa's schoolbag under the table. He searched it quickly—his fingers closing around the pocket watch. But Lisa stirred, sensing something. Lucian snatched up his fork just in time, masking his actions with a bright, innocent smile.
"Ahem… let's keep talking!" he said, laughing as if nothing happened.
Lisa glanced at her bag for a second, then at him. Curiosity flickered across her face.
Out of nowhere, she asked:
"If the ocean turned into orange juice… what would happen to the fish?"
Lucian stared at her for a few seconds, then burst out laughing. The others joined in instantly.
Anya was nearly in tears from laughing.
"Why have I never thought of that before?"
Jude clutched his stomach, unable to stop.
"I never imagined your friend would think like this!"
Lucian calmed himself and answered warmly, playing along:
"Well… if the ocean became orange juice, then the fish would have to migrate to another planet. And juice shops everywhere would go out of business. Plus… we'd all be forced to bathe in orange juice since there'd be no water left!"
Lisa's eyes lit up. She beamed at him and whispered:
"Thank you…" before laughing along with them.
After a long and joyful day, the clock struck 9:15 PM.
Lisa and Lucian walked side by side beneath the quiet streetlights… until she suddenly stopped.
"Can I ask you something?" she said, her tone unusually calm.
Lucian nodded softly.
"Go ahead…"
Lisa bit her lip, hesitating.
"All day, I was pretending to be happy… but the truth is, I don't know you. I don't know them. And yet… it feels like you already know me—"
Lucian cut her off, his voice firm but gentle.
"Yes. I know you."
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Huh? Really?"
Lisa glanced around nervously, then leaned closer, whispering something into his ear. Whatever she said froze Lucian in place, his thoughts spinning.
But then she smiled faintly.
"Goodbye."
With that, Lisa slipped into her house, leaving Lucian staring at the door. He let out a small breath of relief—he had managed to keep her safe for today. And yet, the words she whispered lingered in his chest, making him wonder if there was a deeper reason she appeared in his dreams.
When he returned home, he froze again. A young woman stood in the shadows, dressed in a stark white uniform—just like a researcher from the Mirwan Research Center.
Lucian instinctively followed her for a few steps… but stopped. It was too late at night, and he was already overdue at home. He hurried back inside, his mind restless.
"I have to find out what the Research Center has to do with Lisa… and soon."