《Death Flag System》 Part 1: Dejè„¿ V霉 The rhythmic sound of the train''s wheels clattering against the tracks filled the cabin with a monotonous hum. The overhead lights flickered slightly, casting pale illumination over the passengers as they scrolled through their phones or stared blankly out the windows. Connie Misora sat near the window, resting her chin against her hand, her fingers absentmindedly toying with the silver pendant hanging from her neck. The cool metal of the crescent-moon-and-star charm pressed lightly against her skin, a comforting presence she had carried for as long as she could remember. Her reflection in the glass wavered slightly with the train''s motion¡ªlong cyan hair draped over her shoulders, azure eyes slightly unfocused as she watched the darkening cityscape blur past. It was early evening, and the sky was beginning to dim into hues of deep blue and violet. For the past few days, something had felt¡­ off. She couldn''t quite put her finger on it, but an odd sense of repetition lingered in the back of her mind. It wasn''t strong enough to be alarming¡ªjust a subtle, nagging feeling that things were happening twice. Like today at school, when Ayaka had dropped her pen in class. Connie had instinctively reached out to catch it before it even fell, as if she knew it was coming. Or when she had overheard a conversation between two students about an upcoming test, and she could have sworn she had already heard them say the exact same words in the exact same order before. D¨¦j¨¤ vu, she told herself. It happens. She sighed, shifting in her seat as the train slowed into the next station. The doors slid open with a chime, and a handful of people stepped in, replacing those who exited. Then, it happened again. A man in a dark gray suit entered the train and took a seat a few rows in front of her. Nothing unusual about him¡ªmid-thirties, office worker, probably just heading home. But the moment Connie saw him, a sharp pulse of familiarity struck her. She knew this scene. The way he adjusted his watch. The way he ran a hand through his slightly disheveled black hair. The way he let out a quiet sigh before reaching into his pocket for his phone. She had seen this before. Connie straightened slightly, her fingers tightening around her pendant. Her heart gave an uneasy flutter as she stared at the man, trying to recall when exactly she had experienced this moment. Had she dreamed it? Or was it just her mind playing tricks on her? The train doors closed, and the carriage lurched forward again. Connie shook her head. It was nothing. Just her brain picking up on small patterns. The same way you could hear a song once and feel like you had known it forever when you heard it again. She needed to stop overthinking. Taking a deep breath, she pulled out her phone and tapped open a messaging app. Ayaka had sent her something earlier. Ayaka: [Are you free this weekend? We should go to that new caf¨¦ near the station. I heard they have really good parfaits.]Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Connie smirked slightly, her fingers hovering over the keyboard as she considered her response. But before she could type anything, she heard a sudden noise from the front of the carriage. A clatter. She turned her head. The man in the gray suit had dropped his phone. He cursed under his breath and bent down to retrieve it. And then¡ª A sharp jolt. The train lurched violently, sending passengers gripping onto the metal poles for support. The lights above flickered rapidly, the entire carriage rattling with an unnatural intensity. A high-pitched screech filled the air, the unmistakable sound of metal scraping against metal. Panic rippled through the passengers. Someone yelped. Another gasped, their voice drowned out by the screeching noise. Connie grabbed onto her seat''s armrest, her eyes widening. The train was derailing. No¡ª This wasn''t right. This was¡ª The world blinked. Connie''s breath caught in her throat. She was back in her seat. The train hummed along the tracks, the soft murmur of passengers filling the air once more. She blinked. The man in the gray suit walked into the carriage and took his seat. Adjusted his watch. Ran a hand through his hair. Let out a sigh. Connie''s entire body went rigid. What? She whipped her head around, her breath coming out faster than before. The station name outside the window was the same. The time on her phone was the same. The exact sequence of events was happening again, down to the way the overhead lights flickered slightly as the train started moving. This wasn''t just d¨¦j¨¤ vu. It was a reset. Her stomach twisted, her hands tightening around the pendant. She forced herself to take a shaky breath, her heart pounding against her ribs. What the hell was going on? She swallowed hard, her fingers digging into the fabric of her skirt. She needed to think. The train derailed. She had died. But she was here. Again. And if everything was happening the same way, then¡ª Her gaze snapped to the man in the gray suit. The derailment happened shortly after he dropped his phone. She had to do something, anything. She had to stop it in some way. The train neared the next station. The doors opened. The man stepped in. Connie stood up abruptly. She didn''t know what she was doing¡ªher body was moving before her mind could even catch up. Her heart pounded in her chest as she hurried forward, gripping onto the overhead handrail to steady herself. The man sat down. Adjusted his watch. Ran a hand through his hair. Connie clenched her fists. A second later, the train doors closed. She had seconds before the derailment. She had to act now. Just as the train picked up speed, she stumbled forward, intentionally crashing into the man''s seat. His phone, which had been loosely gripped in his hand, slipped from his fingers before he could drop it naturally. It clattered to the floor. The man startled, looking up at her in mild annoyance. "Hey, watch it¡ª" And then¡ª The train kept moving. No lurching. No screeching metal. No derailment. Could a change as small as a phone dropping slightly earlier really change an outcome that disastrous? Could it have been a butterfly effect? She had no way to confirm that right now. The passengers remained unaware, some giving her brief glances before returning to their phones. The man in the suit bent down, retrieved his phone, and gave her a perplexed look. "¡­You okay?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Connie''s breath was shaky. It¡­ didn''t happen. She forced a nod, swallowing the dryness in her throat. "Yeah. Sorry. Just lost my balance." He muttered something under his breath but didn''t push the issue further. Connie turned and staggered back to her seat, gripping onto the armrest as she sank down. Her fingers trembled slightly as she pressed them to her temple. This was real. She had looped. And she had just prevented a catastrophe. A moment later, her phone vibrated. She glanced down, hesitating before unlocking it. A new message. From an unknown sender. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 3.] Her breath hitched. Her entire world had just changed. And this was only the beginning. Part 2: Denial and Disbelief Connie stared at her phone screen, her fingers stiff as they hovered over the message. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 3.] The words were simple, but they sent a cold, prickling sensation crawling up her spine. She swallowed hard. This was some kind of prank, right? It had to be. Some elaborate, carefully-timed joke. A system message appearing out of nowhere? Telling her she had earned "points" for preventing¡­ what, exactly? The train derailment? No. It wasn''t just the message. She had looped. That was undeniable. She had felt the impact of the train flipping. The sheer force of metal twisting, the weightlessness of being thrown into the air, the sharp pain that had cut off everything¡ª And then she had been right back in her seat as if nothing had happened. Her hands clenched into fists. This was impossible. She needed to think. Connie''s breath was shaky as she glanced around the train. Everything was normal. The passengers were going about their routines, completely oblivious that they had almost died minutes ago. The man in the gray suit was scrolling through his phone, completely unaware that he had¡ªwhat? Triggered the derailment somehow? She still didn''t understand how it had happened. All she had done was stop him from dropping his phone the way he had the first time. That tiny change had prevented an entire disaster. Connie inhaled deeply, pressing her fingers to her temples. Okay. Let''s say, for a moment, this was real. Let''s say she really had gone back in time. What did that mean? Was it something she could control? Was it a one-time thing? And who had sent her that message? She didn''t have answers. And the unknown was terrifying. She shut her eyes for a moment, trying to slow her heartbeat. She could figure this out later. Right now, she just needed to go home. The train continued its route without incident.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. By the time Connie stepped off at her station, the night air had turned crisp, a soft breeze ruffling her cyan hair as she walked along the familiar route home. Streetlights lined the pavement, casting long shadows, the city alive with distant car horns and the occasional murmur of passersby. She exhaled, watching her breath mist slightly in the cool air. Her apartment was only a few blocks away. Normally, she enjoyed these quiet walks¡ªthere was something calming about the routine of it. But tonight, every sound, every movement, felt sharper, more intrusive. Her own footsteps against the pavement sounded too loud. Her phone felt heavy in her pocket. She hadn''t checked it again since that message. A part of her didn''t want to. The moment she acknowledged it as real, she would have to accept everything that came with it. And she wasn''t ready for that. Not yet. Connie entered her apartment, locking the door behind her with a quiet click. She dropped her bag onto the floor, slipping out of her shoes before making her way to the kitchen. Maybe some tea would help. Something warm, something normal. She filled the kettle, her mind still whirling. Maybe she was overreacting. Maybe there was some logical explanation for all of this. A hallucination? A dream so realistic that it felt like she had actually lived through it? She reached for her phone, staring at the black screen for a long moment. Slowly, she unlocked it. The message was still there. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 3.] Her throat felt dry. No sender. No reply option. She tapped the screen, trying to access details¡ªnothing. No notification history, no indication that the message had even been received through a normal network. As if it had appeared out of nowhere. She shivered. Okay. Fine. Let''s assume this is real. Then what? What was a "death flag"? She hesitated before opening her browser. Maybe it was some kind of obscure term. A few seconds later, she had her answer. "Death Flag: A storytelling trope in which a character''s actions or circumstances foreshadow their impending death." A cold sensation settled in her stomach. So the train derailment had been a "death flag"? And stopping it had¡­ cleared it? Connie rubbed her arms, suddenly feeling cold despite the warm air in her apartment. This was starting to feel like something out of a novel. The kind of thing Ayaka would read about. But this was not fiction. It had happened to her. She had looped. And if that was true¡­ Would it happen again? A sharp knock at the door made her jump. She spun around, heart slamming against her ribs. For a moment, she hesitated. She wasn''t expecting anyone. Her apartment was in a quiet complex, and her neighbors weren''t the type to randomly visit. She moved toward the door cautiously, standing on her toes to glance through the peephole. A man. Middle-aged. Thin, wearing a dark hoodie. She couldn''t see his face clearly, but something about the way he stood sent a chill up her spine. Another knock. Harder this time. Connie''s breath caught. "Who is it?" she called out, forcing her voice to stay steady. Silence. Her fingers hovered over the door handle. A strange, creeping sense of dread crawled up her spine. She knew this feeling. It was the same unease she had felt on the train right before the derailment. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. This was¡ª The doorknob rattled. A sharp jolt ran through her body. She staggered back, her pulse racing. Whoever was on the other side was trying to get in. This wasn''t normal. Panic surged through her veins as she reached for her phone, her fingers shaking as she fumbled to unlock it. Another rattle. Then¡ª The world blinked. Connie gasped, her vision snapping into focus. She was standing in her kitchen, the kettle still heating on the stove. Her phone was in her hand, the screen black. Her entire body was trembling. She spun toward the door. Silence. No knocking. No rattling doorknob. It had reset. Just like the train. Her knees nearly gave out. It wasn''t just her death that triggered the loop. It was whenever she was about to enter a situation where she couldn''t fight back. Connie''s breath shuddered as she gripped the counter for support. The man at her door¡ªwho was he? What had he wanted? Would he come again? And more importantly¡ª What would have happened if the loop hadn''t triggered? Her grip tightened around her pendant as realization dawned. She had barely avoided something horrible. And this time, there had been no message. No points. Because she had failed to resolve it. A lump formed in her throat. This wasn''t a game. This wasn''t some convenient ability to avoid danger. It was something much, much worse. And she had no idea how deep it would go. Part 3: The Man at the Door The kettle whistled. Connie barely heard it over the pounding of her own heartbeat. Her grip on the kitchen counter was tight, her knuckles white as she struggled to steady herself. Her body still trembled from the sudden reset, her mind racing to catch up. The door. A man had been at her door. He had knocked, then tried to break in. And time had reset before she could see what would happen next. Her stomach twisted. The train incident had made sense¡ªshe had died in that loop. But this¡­ this wasn''t the same. She hadn''t even seen the man''s face before everything rewound. So why had it triggered? She exhaled shakily, forcing her mind to focus. The answer was obvious. She had no way of stopping what was about to happen. It wasn''t just death that caused time to rewind. It was when she had no way to change the outcome. Which meant¡ª If she did nothing, that man would try again. And if she failed to prevent it, the loop would just keep happening. The thought sent ice through her veins. She couldn''t just sit here. She had to act. Her hands clenched into fists as she took slow, measured breaths, her mind working furiously. The first time, she had reacted normally. She had hesitated, asked who was there, and by the time she realized the danger, it was already too late. This time, she knew it was coming. And she wasn''t going to waste a single second. --- The moment the knock came, she was ready. A sharp three raps against the wood. Connie forced herself to stay calm, her entire body tensed like a coiled spring. She ignored the knocking. She didn''t respond.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The peephole. She had to check the peephole. She crept toward the door, pressing herself against the wall beside it. Her fingers brushed against the chain lock, but she didn''t make a sound. Slowly, carefully, she leaned forward and peered through the peephole. The man was there. Same hoodie. Same posture. His face was obscured by the hood, shadowed under the dim hallway light. He wasn''t holding anything¡ªnot that she could see¡ªbut that didn''t mean he wasn''t dangerous. Another knock. Harder this time. Connie''s breath hitched. What did he want? She bit her lip, her mind running through possibilities. If this was a robbery, why her apartment? She wasn''t wealthy. She didn''t have anything valuable. And if he was a random criminal, why was time looping just because she failed to stop him? No. This wasn''t random. Her heart pounded as she slowly backed away from the door. Think, Connie. What''s different? The kettle whistled louder behind her, a piercing sound that made her flinch. Wait. The kettle. The first time, it had been whistling when she opened the door. Had the sound covered the moment he tried to break in? Another rattle. He was testing the doorknob. Her pulse spiked, adrenaline flooding her veins. If she did nothing, if she waited again¡ª The world would reset. And she wouldn''t gain anything. Her fingers trembled as she reached into her pocket and gripped her phone. Call someone. Call the police. Just do something different. She unlocked the screen with a swipe, quickly dialing emergency services. The phone barely rang before¡ª Click. The call cut off. Connie''s stomach dropped. Her screen was still on, but there was no signal. What? That wasn''t possible. She had full reception earlier. How could¡ª? She stared at the phone in horror. Her building''s signal was jammed. A chill ran down her spine. Did he do this? Was he really prepared to this extent? She doubted that. The doorknob twisted. A surge of panic shot through her. Not again¡ª! The lock clicked. The door creaked open. Connie''s blood ran ice cold. The chain lock held, but the small gap in the door was wide enough for a hand to slip through. A gloved hand. Her body moved on pure instinct. She lunged forward and slammed the door shut, throwing all her weight against it. The man grunted in surprise, but he didn''t leave. Connie''s breath came in short, frantic gasps. She gripped the doorknob with both hands, pushing against it with all her strength. She was weak. She knew she was weak. But she couldn''t let him in. Another shove from the other side made the entire door shake. A sharp, piercing fear dug its claws into her mind. She wasn''t strong enough to keep this up. She had to think of something¡ªshe had to¡ª The world blinked. --- Connie was back in her kitchen. Her phone was in her hand. The kettle whistled. Her breath came out in ragged, uneven gasps. She dropped to her knees, her body shaking violently. She had failed again. And there was no message. No points. Because she hadn''t resolved anything. Her throat was dry, her mind reeling. She was stuck. Every time she failed, the loop reset to this exact moment. If she didn''t find a way to stop him, the break-in would keep happening. Her stomach twisted painfully. How long would this go on? Would she be stuck in this loop forever if she couldn''t find a way to resolve it? The thought made her head spin. Connie forced herself to stand, gripping the counter for support. She had to do something differently. If she tried to physically stop him, she would lose. She wasn''t strong enough. If she called for help, the signal was jammed. So what could she do? The knocking came. Three raps. Same as before. Connie clenched her teeth, her breath shaking. She refused to let this happen again. This time, she would try everything. If brute force wasn''t an option¡ª Then she would outsmart him. She had one advantage over him. She knew what was going to happen. Slowly, she backed away from the door and looked around the apartment. She needed a plan. Fast. Before time reset again. Part 4: Unraveling The Pattern Knock. Knock. Knock. Connie stood frozen in her kitchen, staring at the door. She had already heard this exact sequence of knocks before. She knew the next thing that would happen. The doorknob would rattle. The lock would click. The door would start to open. And if she failed again, the loop would restart, trapping her in the same terrifying moment. Her breath came out uneven as her pulse raced. This wasn''t just some bizarre coincidence. This was real. Her mind reeled with possibilities, trying to make sense of it. What had triggered the reset? What were the rules of this phenomenon? Her eyes darted around the apartment. Everything was the same. The kettle still whistled. Her phone was in her hand. The room temperature, the lighting¡ªnothing had changed. Only she remembered. Her throat felt dry. If the loop had restarted, that meant the intruder was still outside. Still coming for her. Her hands tightened into fists. If she did nothing, everything would repeat. But this time¡ªthis time, she had a chance to act first. The doorknob rattled. She moved. Connie lunged for the door, heart hammering as she grabbed a heavy metal pan from the kitchen counter. It wasn''t much, but it was better than nothing. The doorknob twisted¡ª She swung the pan hard against the wood.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. *BANG* The sudden, deafening impact reverberated through the whole apartment complex. Her hands vibrated painfully from the force of it, but she didn''t let go. Outside, the man stopped. A long, suffocating silence followed. Then¡ª Footsteps. He was leaving. Connie barely breathed, straining to hear. The footsteps faded down the hall, becoming more distant. Her body remained tense, her muscles locked in place. Was it¡­ really over? She waited. One second. Two. A full minute. No more sounds. No more rattling doorknob. Her grip on the pan loosened. Her phone buzzed. Connie''s heart skipped a beat. Her fingers trembled as she pulled out the device. A new message had arrived. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 8.] Her breath caught. She gained five points. Higher than last time. Was it because this one had been more dangerous? More difficult? Her hands clenched around the phone as she stared at the glowing text. She had done it. She had broken the loop. But the realization didn''t bring relief¡ªit only brought more questions. Connie forced herself to sit down at the small kitchen table, trying to calm her racing thoughts. She was still shaking. She''d resolved two death flags now¡ªthe train derailment and the intruder. And each time, she had been awarded points. Her breath came out slow and uneven. This wasn''t just some random time-travel glitch. There was a system. A mechanism behind it. But she still knew almost nothing about it. Her fingers hovered over her phone''s screen. Could she reply to the message? Ask who¡ªor what¡ªwas behind this? She tapped the notification. Nothing happened. There was no sender. No reply option. Her jaw clenched. Of course. Whoever was running this didn''t want her to ask questions. They only wanted her to clear death flags. A bitter laugh almost escaped her. Like she was some kind of pawn in their game. Her hand curled into a fist. She didn''t know what this system was, but one thing was clear¡ªit wasn''t on her side. And if she wanted answers, she''d have to figure them out herself. Knock. Knock. Knock. Connie''s body jerked upright. No. No, no, no¡ª Her breath came out ragged. Her mind screamed at her that it wasn''t possible. She had already resolved the flag. The man was gone. So why was there another knock? A familiar voice called out. "Connie? It''s me." Her pulse stilled. Ayaka. She staggered to her feet, still gripping the pan in one hand. "Ayaka?" Her voice came out unsteady. "Yeah. I was just passing by and saw your lights on. You okay?" Connie hesitated. The timing¡­ was too perfect. The loop had never lasted long enough for Ayaka to show up before. So why now? Her mind raced. Could her friend''s sudden arrival be another consequence of breaking the loop? Was this another death flag waiting to happen? She didn''t know. And that terrified her. Her fingers hovered over the lock. Should she open the door? Or should she stay silent? Her stomach twisted. She had to decide¡ªfast. Part 5: The Bus Incident Connie hesitated for far too long. She knew it. Ayaka knew it. Her fingers hovered over the lock, her body frozen in indecision. Was Ayaka''s arrival just a normal coincidence¡ªor was it another consequence of the System? A sharp breath. Then¡ª "Connie?" Ayaka''s voice softened. "You okay?" No way out of this. Connie forced herself to move, sliding the chain lock off and cracking the door open. Ayaka stood there, her usual lively expression replaced with concern. She was still in her school uniform¡ªwhy? "You¡ª" Connie''s voice almost cracked. She cleared her throat. "What are you doing here?" Ayaka frowned. "I was passing by after cram school. You weren''t answering my texts." Texts? Connie''s stomach dropped. She hadn''t checked her phone after the last reset. A terrible realization struck her. If she looped to an earlier point before checking her messages¡­ wouldn''t that mean the unread ones would be exactly the same each time? Connie forced a smile. "Sorry, I was¡­ busy." Ayaka raised an eyebrow. "You look pale. Are you sick?" Not sick. Just mentally unraveling because I keep getting murdered, kidnapped, or almost flattened by a train. "I didn''t sleep well." Ayaka sighed. "Don''t tell me you skipped dinner again. You do that all the time, you know." For a split second, the normalcy of the conversation almost convinced Connie that things were fine. That tonight was just another regular night. But the dented frying pan still sat on the counter. And the System''s latest message was still burned into her phone screen. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 8.] Nothing was normal. --- The following morning. Connie barely slept. Her mind refused to quiet down, replaying the train derailment, the intruder, and the loop resets over and over. What were the rules of the System? Did death flags only apply to her? Or could they involve other people too?Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. What if she missed a death flag because she was too slow to realize it? Her eyes burned from exhaustion as the first hints of morning sunlight crept through her window. She had to go to school. She had to pretend everything was fine. Even if, deep down, she knew her life had already spiraled out of control. The streets were still damp from the night''s rain as Connie walked to school, her breath visible in the morning air. She was jumpy. Every streetlight, every passing car, every small movement felt like a potential death flag. Would she get hit by a car if she stepped off the sidewalk too soon? Would a flower pot fall on her head from a balcony? Would she choke on her own breakfast? She exhaled slowly. Calm down. She turned a familiar corner and saw the bus stop. A few students were already there, chatting absentmindedly as they waited. Then¡ª An uneasy feeling crawled up her spine. Something was wrong. She didn''t know what. Didn''t know why. But she knew something was about to happen. Her heartbeat quickened. Was this a death flag? But who was in danger? The students? The passengers on the bus? Her? The hairs on her arms stood on end. Then¡ª A distant honking sound. Loud. Too loud. Her head whipped to the side just in time to see¡ª A city bus, hurtling forward at full speed. It wasn''t slowing down. Wasn''t stopping. People screamed. The world blinked. Connie staggered backward, breathless. She was back at the previous intersection. The sun was in the exact same place. The street was still damp. Her breath still visible in the air. Her hands were trembling. She looked ahead¡ª The bus stop was there. The students were there. She hadn''t even reached the danger zone yet. The loop had reset right before she saw the impact. Her pulse pounded against her skull. The bus was going to crash again. And unless she stopped it¡­ People were going to die. Connie rushed forward. The bus stop. The students. The bus. She had seconds to act. She had to stop them. But how? Would yelling work? Would they listen to her? She opened her mouth to shout¡ª Then¡ª HONK. Her body froze. The same terrible screeching of tires. The same overwhelming panic. The world blinked. Connie gasped. She was back again. Intersection. Same damp air. Same breath visible in front of her. Her hands clenched into fists. This was worse than the train derailment. At least then, she had time to react. This? She barely had enough time to do anything. Think. Think, damn it! Yelling didn''t work. Running didn''t work. She needed to go further back. The driver¡ªwhat about the driver? If she could stop the bus before it even reached the stop¡­ Her legs moved on their own. She sprinted toward the previous intersection, toward the bus''s next red light. Her chest burned, her breath ragged. The bus was coming. Red light. It was red. If it stayed red long enough¡ª Then¡ª The light flicked green. And the bus sped through the intersection. Connie''s heart sank. The driver wasn''t slowing down. No¡ª No, it wasn''t just that. His head was slumped forward. His hands were limp on the wheel. Connie''s stomach twisted in horror. The driver wasn''t just reckless. He was unconscious. This wasn''t just an accident. It was a guaranteed death flag. A no-win scenario. But she always had one more chance. Her body moved before she could think. The bus was approaching. She had to do something insane. So she ran directly into the road. She lifted both arms¡ªwaving frantically. A student gasped. A woman shouted¡ª The driver didn''t react. But the passengers did. A boy in the front seat noticed her. His eyes widened in shock. Then¡ª He shook the driver violently. A split second before impact¡ª The driver jerked awake. His hands slammed the brakes. The bus skidded. Tilted. Came to a stop¡ª Inches from the crowded sidewalk. Connie collapsed onto her knees, gasping for air. Her phone vibrated. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 13.] She had done it. But she had also learned something terrifying. Some death flags were impossible to prevent alone. And that meant, eventually¡ª She''d have to get someone else involved. Part 6: The Systems Hand Connie stepped through the school gates, her body moving automatically, her mind somewhere else. Everything looked normal. Students were chatting, some laughing, some groaning about the upcoming chemistry quiz. Cars passed by the entrance. A few people on bicycles rolled past her. And yet¡ª She had already watched some of these people die today. Her stomach twisted. They didn''t know. To them, the world had simply moved forward. But to her, it had rewound twice to keep them alive. Her grip tightened on her bag strap. Because to them, it never happened. To her, it had happened three times. She was starting to wonder if this was how insanity began. She had spent her whole life thinking fate was something random. Something unknowable. But now? Now, she could see the strings. And worse¡ª She wasn''t the one holding them. The System had only reset things because she was there. If she hadn''t been near the bus stop, those people would have died, and time would have kept moving. How many people had died in other places that the System didn''t bother to rewind? How many more had she missed? She checked her phone again. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 13.] A chill ran through her. Cold. The System didn''t care about emotions, relief, or even explanations. It only kept track of numbers. Like a scoreboard. She exhaled slowly, trying to steady herself. She needed to think. She needed to figure out what kind of rules this System played by. Class was a blur. Connie sat at her desk, staring at her notebook, the words swimming in front of her. The teacher droned on about equations. Someone near the back yawned. Ayaka nudged her elbow once, whispering something about parfaits. Connie barely responded. Because she could feel it again. The sensation of being watched. Not by her classmates. Not by the teacher. Something else. Something unseen. Her heart pounded. The System had never spoken to her. It had never explained itself. But she had a horrible feeling that it was watching her decisions¡ªevaluating them.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Not just tracking what she did. But tracking what she chose not to do. Connie needed proof. So, she started small. At lunch, she left her bento unfinished. Nothing happened. She wrote the wrong answer on a problem she had already seen before. Still, nothing. Then, she did something bigger. She ignored Ayaka completely. Her best friend blinked at her from across the table, confused. "Hey, you okay? You haven''t said a word since this morning." Connie forced a smile. "Just tired." Ayaka studied her for a second longer before shrugging. "At least eat something. You look like a dead corpse." A strange chill ran through Connie''s spine. If Ayaka knew just how literal that statement was¡­ She didn''t let her thoughts show on her face. "I''ll be fine." Ayaka didn''t look convinced. "You know, I was serious about that parfait. Let''s go after school." Connie paused. A normal invitation. A normal moment. But after everything, she hesitated. What if going with Ayaka triggered another death flag? Was she allowed to do normal things anymore? She forced a small smile. "I''ll let you know." It was the safest response she could give. In the end, she couldn''t ignore Ayaka completely. She had too much presence. But¡­ The System still didn''t reset. Which meant it didn''t react to small social changes. Only to major events, like death flags. Classes had ended for the day, and it was time to go back home. Connie''s mind was still spinning with possibilities when she left school. That''s when she had an idea. What if she took a different path home? One that she never used nor needed to use before? She needed to know how far the System''s reach extended. Her legs carried her through an unfamiliar part of the city¡ªone she had never had a reason to walk through. The whole time, her pulse was slow but heavy. Would this trigger a reset? Would she get another message? Was she allowed to do something unplanned? Her heart pounded as she took another turn. Nothing happened. It was just her and the quiet hum of the city. A slow breath escaped her lips. She kept walking, relaxing slightly. Maybe she was overthinking things. Maybe the System wasn''t as omnipresent as she thought¡ª Then she noticed the streetlights. They were flickering. Not randomly. They were flickering in perfect intervals. Like a pattern. Connie''s chest tightened. She turned slowly, scanning the street. It was a normal road. Normal buildings. Nothing out of place. And yet¡ª The moment she turned to look, the flickering stopped. Like it had been reacting to her. Her hands clenched into fists. This wasn''t just some city malfunction. This was intentional. Right at that moment, the sky turned dark. It wasn''t an exaggeration to describe it as a pitch black void. The streetlights had already turned on. That wasn''t right. The sun shouldn''t be setting this early. She glanced at her phone. 4:32 PM. Her fingers tightened around her phone. A second later, the sky brightened back to normal. The sun snapped back into place, as if someone had adjusted it like a setting on a screen. Her breath hitched. The System had corrected something. And then, her phone vibrated. A new message. [Go Home, Connie.] Her stomach dropped. Not "Death Flag Resolved." Not "Points Earned." Just a direct message. The first time the System had ever addressed her by name. And it wasn''t a suggestion. It was an instruction. Connie''s feet carried her forward faster than she intended. She needed to go home. But just as she reached the street leading toward her apartment¡ª A wave of unease crashed over her. Her entire body tensed. A new death flag was forming. Where? Her eyes scanned the area. Pedestrians. Cars. The intersection ahead. Then¡ª She saw him. An elderly man walking toward the crosswalk. And a speeding car approaching. It wasn''t slowing down. Her heart lurched. It''s going to hit him. The same realization as with the bus incident. The same terrible certainty that if she didn''t act right now, she would see another death happen before her eyes. Move. Her legs kicked into action. She sprinted forward, waving her arms. "Wait! Stop¡ª!" The old man turned, confused. The car¡ª The world blinked. Connie gasped. She was back. The sky was unchanged. The street was the same. She had just turned onto this road. And the old man was stepping toward the crosswalk again. Her body moved before she could even think. She sprinted forward. The car was still coming. "Sir! Move back¡ª!!" The man startled, taking a step back¡ªbut too late. The car hit the old man. Again. The impact¡ª The world blinked. Connie''s lungs burned. She had to be faster. She had to stop it before he even stepped off the sidewalk. As soon as the world reset, she ran forward immediately. The elderly man barely had time to react before she grabbed his sleeve and yanked him back. The car rushed past. The old man gasped, his face paling. "Oh¡ªdear me! I didn''t even see that car!" Connie barely heard him. Her pulse roared in her ears. She had prevented the flag. Her phone vibrated. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 16.] She exhaled shakily. But the weight in her chest didn''t ease. Because this time, the death flag hadn''t been about her. It had been about someone else. And yet, the System still forced her into the loop. Which meant¡ª If there were deaths happening elsewhere¡­ Deaths that she didn''t see¡­ Would the System ever reset for them? Or had she already failed to save people just because she wasn''t looking? Her stomach churned. How many had she already missed? And how many more were coming? Part 7: How Do You Escape a Game With No Exit? Connie lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She hadn''t even changed out of her uniform yet. The exhaustion clung to her bones, but she didn''t move. Because she knew. Knew that even if she closed her eyes, she wouldn''t be able to sleep. Her phone was still in her hand, the System''s latest message burning into her vision. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 16.] Sixteen. That was how much her survival was worth now. She didn''t know what the points actually did. She didn''t know what the System wanted. But she knew one thing for certain. There was no way out. There was no quitting this. No walking away. The System only reset when it deemed it necessary. And it only sent messages when she followed its expectations. If she ignored death flags, it forced her to watch them happen over and over again until she solved them. If she tried to change her daily routine too much, it adjusted reality to compensate. She hadn''t asked for this. She hadn''t wanted to be part of some twisted, invisible game. And yet, here she was. Trapped in a system with no exit. If the System wanted her to play along, what would happen if she simply... didn''t? She needed to know. Could she resist it? Could she choose not to act when the next death flag appeared? She sat up slowly, tightening her grip on her phone. She would find out. The next time the System tried to push her into something, she would do nothing. She wouldn''t interfere. She wouldn''t react. If the System really needed her to play, it would be forced to show its hand. And then, maybe... she could figure out what kind of game this really was. Morning came too fast.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Connie barely remembered falling asleep. Her body moved on autopilot, getting dressed, eating breakfast, walking out the door. She didn''t check her phone. She didn''t think about the death flags. She just... existed. By the time she reached school, the idea of resisting felt easier than she thought. Maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªshe could pretend this was normal. Maybe she could ignore the System and it would eventually leave her alone. Maybe she¡ª Her body froze mid-step. A wave of cold dread slammed into her like a brick wall. She knew this feeling. A death flag had triggered. And this time¡ª It was far too close. She was still standing in the hallway when she realized it. The death flag was inside her classroom. A strange sense of wrongness seeped into the air, like a subtle shift in gravity. She clenched her fists. This was it. Her first real test. What would happen if she ignored it? She exhaled, forcing herself to walk in casually. She wouldn''t react. She wouldn''t play along. She would simply sit down, pretend nothing was happening, and let the System deal with it on its own. Her hands trembled slightly as she slid into her seat. She didn''t scan the room. She didn''t try to figure out who the flag was attached to. She just waited. Seconds passed. Then minutes. And yet, nothing happened. Maybe she had been wrong. Maybe the flag hadn''t actually triggered. Maybe¡ª A sharp, sickening crack filled the room. Someone screamed. Connie''s head snapped up. A student had collapsed onto the floor. A boy. Blood was pooling from his head. Her pulse roared in her ears. One of the ceiling fans had come loose. It had fallen directly onto him. Her stomach churned. Her classmates were in a panic. Some were shouting for the teacher. Others rushed toward him. But Connie already knew. He was dead. Her fingers dug into the desk. The System had given her a chance to act. She had refused. And this was the result. Then¡ª The world blinked. Connie gasped as the timeline reset. She was back in the hallway, just outside the classroom. The moment before the flag had triggered. Her heartbeat pounded violently in her chest. She barely had time to process what had happened before her phone vibrated. A new message. [Non-Participation Detected.] Her breath hitched. Another message followed immediately after. [1/3 Strikes] A shudder ran through her. Strikes..? What did that mean? She didn''t know. She had no way to. Was the System going to punish her in some way? If the System didn''t even consider these hellish loops as punishment, who knows what kind of nightmarish things it would come up with as a penalty for not trying to resolve the death flags. She had no choice but to act. Her pulse roared. The classroom door was still open. Inside, her classmates were talking, laughing, completely unaware. The boy who was about to die sat at his desk, tapping his pen against the table. Her breathing became uneven. She had seconds. Seconds before the fan came loose again. Her body moved on pure instinct. She rushed inside, scanning the ceiling. There¡ªthe bolts were loose. The fan was already shaking slightly. She had no tools, no way to fix it in time. But¡ª She didn''t need to fix it. She just needed to change the outcome. Her heart pounded as she made a snap decision. She slammed her bag onto the boy''s desk. He flinched, startled. "What the hell¡ª?" "Move," she snapped, grabbing his wrist and yanking him out of his seat. "Wha¡ª?" Then¡ª CRASH. The fan slammed into his desk. Right where he had been sitting. Gasps filled the room. Students stumbled back in shock. The boy stared at the wreckage, his face pale. "What the¡ª" His hands shook. "I¡ªThat¡ªThat almost¡ª" A teacher rushed in at the sound, eyes widening at the mess. "What happened?!" Connie didn''t answer. She barely felt present. Her phone buzzed. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 19.] Her fingers trembled as she read the words. This was the first time the System had forced a reset against her will. The first time it had given her a direct warning. She had tried to walk away. And the System had dragged her back anyway. She swallowed hard. This wasn''t just a game she could choose not to play. This was a contract. And the moment she had gotten involved¡ª She had signed it without even knowing. There was no escape. Only moving forward. Only surviving. Again. And again. And again. Part 8: When Death Knocks Twice Connie barely had time to process what had just happened. The wreckage of the fallen ceiling fan still lay across the classroom floor. Her classmates were still in shock. The teacher had rushed in, demanding answers. The boy she had saved stood frozen, staring at the mess that had nearly killed him. Her heart pounded. She could still feel the way her phone had vibrated in her palm. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 19.] Another three points. A reward. A reminder. The System wanted her to know she had done the right thing. Or, at the very least¡ªthe expected thing. But she couldn''t even focus on that. Because just as the panic started to settle¡ª A sickening wave of dread slammed into her. Another one. Her entire body stiffened. Another death flag. Immediately after the first one. This had never happened before. She swallowed hard, eyes darting across the room. Where? Who? Her skin crawled with the feeling of wrongness settling over the air. The classroom wasn''t safe yet. And this time, she had even less time to react. Her breath came in quick, uneven gasps. This wasn''t normal. The first two times she had experienced death flags¡ªthe train incident and the home invasion¡ªthey had been spread apart. Even the bus incident had given her at least a few hours to recover. But this? This was immediate. Which meant¡ªLove this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Death flags can be stacked. Her stomach twisted. The System wasn''t just forcing her to play¡ªit was actively increasing the difficulty. "Connie?" She barely heard Ayaka''s voice. Her fingers tightened around the edges of her desk as she scanned the room, desperate to find the cause. What was going to happen? Another freak accident? A medical emergency? Or¡ª Her heart stilled. Her gaze locked onto the window. A student had just gotten up from his seat. He was walking toward the open window, stretching lazily. The second his hand gripped the ledge, Connie''s blood turned to ice. She could already see it. The way his balance would shift. The way his foot would slide against the floor. And the way he would plummet three stories down. She didn''t even think. Her chair scraped against the floor as she bolted forward. "Wait¡ª!" The student turned at the sound of her voice. And then¡ª His foot slipped. His expression twisted in shock. His arms flailed, trying to grab hold of something¡ª But there was nothing to hold. Connie''s heart stopped. Her fingers barely grazed his wrist before¡ª The world blinked. She was back. She was currently standing near the seat where the fan had just fallen. The whole classroom was shocked at the scene that unfolded before their eyes. The student hadn''t moved toward the window, yet. He was looking at the fan that had just fallen on the empty desk, with a somewhat surprised expression. Maybe he didn''t think much of it, or he was the type to not think about possible outcomes, because he stood up and started walking towards the window as if nothing out of the norm happened. Connie''s hands were shaking. This was different from the last resets. This was faster. The moment she had failed, the System had immediately restarted her. There was no delay. No hesitation. No time to process the loss. It had forced her back before she could even feel the impact. Because it didn''t want her to fail. It wanted her to fix it. A sickening thought coiled in her mind. What if she kept failing? Would the System make her relive this hundreds of times? Would it trap her in this moment forever until she got it right? Her lungs tightened. She couldn''t let that happen. This time¡ª She had to be faster. The student had just pushed himself out of his seat, heading to the window. Connie moved first. She launched herself forward, shoving desks aside. Her classmates barely had time to react before she grabbed the back of his uniform and yanked him backward. Hard. He stumbled, cursing. "What the hell¡ª?!" Connie''s chest heaved. The whole room was staring at her. She didn''t care. She couldn''t let another death flag restart. "Don''t¡ª" Her voice was hoarse. "Don''t lean on the window." He gave her a weird look. "Uh¡­ okay? Chill, I wasn''t gonna jump or anything." Her fingers clenched. You were going to fall. But of course, he didn''t remember. None of them did. Her phone vibrated. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 22.] She exhaled shakily. It was over. But as the tension left her body, something else settled in. A cold realization. The System had forced her to deal with two death flags back to back. This wasn''t random. This was training. It wanted her to get used to this. Because in the future¡ª It wouldn''t be just two in a row. She sat alone on the school rooftop during lunch. The weight of the last few hours had settled deep into her bones. She had stopped two deaths today. But she didn''t feel relieved. She felt like she had just passed a test. And that meant there would be another. Her phone was still open to the last message. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 22.] Twenty-two. She didn''t know if these points did anything, but if they did, she would surely need more than just a mere twenty-two. When will the moment to use them come? Would she finally get answers then? Or would she just be pulled even deeper into the System''s control? She clenched her fists. She wasn''t being given a choice. The only thing she could do¡ª Was keep moving forward. Even if she had no idea where the road was leading. Part 9: A Moment Before Chaos Strangely enough, no other death flags appeared for the rest of the day. Before she realized it, it was already the next day. The morning was uneventful. She ate breakfast, walked to school, sat through lectures. Nothing happened. No heart-pounding sense of dread. No warnings. Just... normal life. For the first time since this nightmare began, Connie went an entire day without triggering a death flag. It felt... wrong. She should have been relieved. Instead, she was on edge. Because if there was one thing she had learned by now¡ª It was that calm never lasted. At lunch, Ayaka nudged her. "You''re twitchier than usual." Connie blinked, forcing herself to refocus. "Huh?" "You keep looking over your shoulder." Ayaka raised an eyebrow. "Expecting a ghost or something?" Connie swallowed. "I just... feel like something''s off." Ayaka snorted. "That''s called ''having anxiety.''" Connie tried to laugh, but it came out strained. Her fingers drummed against the table. Something was off. She just didn''t know what. Classes came to an end. Connie made her way to the shoe lockers to change her shoes. As she opened the locker, she felt something was out of place. At first she didn''t notice exactly what it was, but she soon realized. Her shoes were perfectly lined up. Neat. Unmoved. Exactly the way she usually left them. But there was one problem. She distinctly remembered kicking them in haphazardly that morning. Her fingers hovered over the edge of the locker. This wasn''t just a random coincidence. Something had changed. Something small. Something intentional. She stepped back, scanning the other lockers. They all looked... normal. No signs of tampering. No one else reacting. She exhaled shakily. The System had adjusted something. And that meant¡ª It was still watching. It was something just as obvious as it was creepy and unsettling. She kept moving. She wouldn''t let one small change get to her. But then she noticed another. As she walked past the school''s front gates, her phone vibrated. Not a System message. A notification from her calendar. Appointment Reminder: 6:30 PM ¨C Caf¨¦ with Ayaka Her breath hitched. She had never scheduled that. She hadn''t even agreed to Ayaka''s invitation yet. And yet¡ª Her phone was acting like it had always been planned. She checked her messages.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The last thing she sent Ayaka was: "I''ll let you know." There was no confirmation. So why was it already in her calendar? Her fingers trembled. This wasn''t a glitch. The System was... adjusting things. But why? Was it nudging her toward a certain path? Or was it trying to make her doubt her own memories? Connie sat on her bed, staring at the calendar notification. 6:30 PM. She had two choices. 1. Ignore it. 2. Go to the caf¨¦ and see what happens. She gritted her teeth. If the System wanted her to follow a certain path, she needed to know why. And that meant¡ª She had to go. The caf¨¦ was busier than usual. Warm lighting spilled onto the streets, blending with the golden hues of sunset. Ayaka was already sitting at a booth, waving when she spotted Connie. "Whoa, you''re actually on time." She grinned. "Didn''t think you''d show up." Connie slid into the seat, heart still pounding. "I wasn''t sure either." Ayaka tilted her head. "You okay? You''ve been acting weird lately." Connie hesitated. This was her chance. Maybe she could ask¡ªjust vaguely¡ªabout whether Ayaka had noticed anything strange. Before she could speak, the caf¨¦ door opened. And someone walked in. Connie''s stomach dropped. It was the boy she saved in the classroom yesterday. The one who had nearly fallen out of the window. Her grip on the table tightened. There was no reason for him to be here. So why¡ª Her blood suddenly turned ice cold. It was the same sense of dread she had experienced way too many times these past few days... A death flag had started. ---- The small caf¨¦ was warm, filled with the hum of conversations and the clinking of glassware. The golden glow of the setting sun streamed in through the windows, casting long, soft shadows across the wooden tables. It should have been relaxing. But Connie couldn''t shake the gnawing unease crawling up her spine. She had agreed to meet Ayaka here because of the strange calendar notification that appeared on her phone¡ªone she had never set herself. It was a small thing, but after everything she had been through, she couldn''t ignore the possibility that the System was manipulating her routine. And now, as she sat across from her friend, stirring her untouched drink, that unease had tripled. Because the moment the caf¨¦ door opened, and she saw him, she knew¡ª This wasn''t a coincidence. It was the boy from her class¡ªthe one she had saved from falling out of the window yesterday. His messy dark hair was slightly damp, as if he had been caught in a light rain just earlier. His uniform was a little wrinkled, like he hadn''t bothered to change after school. He had his hands stuffed into his pockets, expression neutral, as he walked up to the counter. To anyone else, he looked completely normal. But to Connie, he looked like a problem waiting to happen. Her fingers tightened around her glass. He was only here because she had changed something. He wasn''t out of danger yet. Her chest felt tight. Was this how things worked? If she saved someone, would their fate be unstable and dangerous? Would they be forced into a cycle of close calls? Was it even possible to fully free someone from this? She swallowed hard. She needed to focus. There was a reason he was here. She had to figure out what it was before it was too late. "You''re spacing out again." Ayaka''s voice snapped her back. Connie blinked and turned her attention back to her friend, who was now squinting at her suspiciously. "You''ve been weird lately," Ayaka muttered, taking a slow sip of her drink. "Like, even weirder than usual. I mean, I get it¡ªyou don''t like people, but at this rate, you''re gonna end up as one of those scary loners who talk to themselves in dark alleys." Connie forced a small, distracted smile. "I''ll keep that in mind." She risked another glance toward the boy at the counter. His posture seemed a little off. His fingers tapped against the wooden surface¡ªslow, rhythmic, but slightly uneven. He shifted his weight, exhaling softly. Then, as he reached for his drink, he fumbled. Not a lot. Just enough for a few droplets of coffee to spill onto the counter. But he didn''t react right away. It took him a second too long to wipe it off. A small, almost imperceptible delay. Her heart pounded. Something was wrong. She inhaled sharply, forcing herself to think. She had seen him yesterday, completely fine. Nothing had seemed off about him then. But now, something about his movements was off. Hesitation. Slowness. A slight lack of control. Was he sick? Had something happened to him after school? Or worse¡ªwas something happening to him right now? The thought made her stomach drop. Death flags didn''t always happen immediately. Some of them built up slowly. And if this was one of those... She might not have much time before it reached its climax. Just as the thought crossed her mind, the boy turned his head. Their eyes met. His brows furrowed slightly. Recognition flashed across his face, but it was subtle. Like someone seeing an old classmate in a different setting¡ªsurprised, but not shocked. Then, something shifted in his expression. Confusion. A flicker of discomfort. And then, his body swayed. Just slightly. Barely enough for anyone else to notice. But Connie noticed. And it was enough to send her heart into a frenzy. Her chair scraped against the floor as she shot up. Ayaka jerked back, startled. "Whoa¡ªwhat the hell?!" Connie didn''t answer. She was already moving. She reached the counter just as the boy''s legs gave out. His drink slipped from his fingers, hitting the ground with a sharp clatter. The caf¨¦ fell silent. Gasps rippled through the room. Someone muttered, "Oh my god¡ª" Connie dropped to her knees beside him. His breathing was shallow. His fingers twitched slightly against the wooden floor. His lips parted, but no sound came out. Panic clawed at her throat. This wasn''t just fainting. Something was seriously wrong. And if she didn''t fix it right now¡ª The world would reset. Connie''s mind spun, trying to piece together what was happening. His pulse. She needed to check his pulse. Her fingers pressed against his wrist. Unsteady. Weak. But not stopped. His skin felt slightly cold. Her eyes flickered to the cup on the floor. Could it be something he drank? No. He had barely taken a sip before this happened. Then what¡ª She stiffened. Drugs. Or maybe... poison. Her breath caught. Had someone done this to him? Or was this something he took himself? Someone in the caf¨¦ rushed forward. "Is he okay?! Should we call an ambulance?" Connie forced herself to stay calm. If this was poison or an overdose, she had to think fast. He needed help right now. But she didn''t know how long she had. Seconds? Minutes? She took out her phone and started dialing 119, to call for an ambulance. But right as she clicked the call button¡ª Click. The call was cut off. Just like when the stranger had tried to break into her house. Could it be that she wasn''t allowed to ask for external help when dealing with death flags? There was no way to confirm that right now. Connie shook the dying classmate''s shoulders gently. "Hey¡ªstay awake. Can you hear me?" His lips parted slightly. His voice was barely a whisper. "Yesterday... Saved me.." He managed to let out a few whispers that barely resembled words, but Connie managed to hear them. He knew her. Not just as the person who bothered him yesterday. His expression suggested something different, something closer to gratitude, as if he remembered something he shouldn''t have. He knew he fell from the window that day. Part 10: The Echo Of A Forgotten Memory "Yesterday... Saved me.." The word barely left his lips before his eyes fluttered and closed. Connie''s breath hitched. He remembered what happened in the other timeline. But he shouldn''t know it. There was no way he should know about it. But he did. And right now, that terrified her more than anything else. "Is he okay?!" The voice snapped Connie back to reality. A small crowd had gathered. Some of the other customers stood from their seats, whispering. A barista had rushed over, her face pale with concern. Ayaka was still at their table, eyes wide with shock. Connie forced herself to focus. She could panic about that later. Right now, if she didn''t act, the System would reset everything again. Her hands trembled as she pressed two fingers against his neck. His pulse was still there. Weak, but steady. His breathing¡ªshallow. He was fading fast. "Someone call an ambulance!" a woman in the caf¨¦ shouted. A barista was already dialing. But as he pressed the call button, the call ended. "What the¡ª" Connie''s chest tightened. She knew it wouldn''t work. But she still had a slight hope it would. The System didn''t let her save him this way. She had to intervene directly. Her eyes darted across his body. No wounds. No visible injuries. Was this poison? A reaction to something? His lips weren''t turning blue, so it wasn''t oxygen deprivation. Her pulse pounded as she scanned his table. His cup was still tipped over on the floor, coffee spilling across the tiles. Could it have been something in his drink? Her stomach twisted. If she got this wrong, he would die. And the world would reset. She had to decide right now. Her hands shook. Then¡ª Her gaze landed on his face again. "Wait..How..?" He seemed confused. He probably noticed the difference in his memories. Her blood ran cold. She needed to know why. Before he was gone for good. "Hey." Her voice was low, urgent. She shook his shoulder gently. "Do you remember everything that happened?" No response. Her heart pounded. She leaned in closer. "You said I saved you. How did you know that?" A slight movement. His fingers twitched weakly. His eyelids fluttered. For a brief second, she saw something in his face¡ª Recognition. His mouth barely moved. "...You..." A surge of panic and anticipation crashed into her. He was about to say something. Something important. She leaned in closer¡ª And then, his body jerked violently. His breathing hitched. A low choking sound left his throat. Then¡ªhis body went completely still. The world blinked. The caf¨¦ door opened. Connie''s breath caught in her throat. She was back in her seat. The warm glow of the setting sun streamed through the windows once more. Ayaka sat across from her, stirring her drink like nothing had happened. Like the last five minutes had been erased. Because to everyone else in this caf¨¦, they had. But not for her. She turned her head¡ªjust in time to see him walk in again. The same casual stride. The same slightly wrinkled uniform.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. The death flag was still in motion. She clenched her fists. She had lost her chance. Her heart raced. This time, she wouldn''t waste a single second. She needed to find out why he remembered what happened in the other timeline¡ªbut only after she saved him first. Because if she hesitated again, if she let him speak before fixing the death flag... The world would just reset. She stood up immediately. Ayaka blinked. "Uh, what¡ª" "Stay here," Connie muttered, already moving. She crossed the caf¨¦ before he could collapse this time. He didn''t even notice her approaching. He was too busy ordering his drink. Her stomach twisted. It wasn''t the drink, was it? Then what the hell was causing this? She was running out of time. She studied him. His fingers tapped idly against the counter. He shifted his weight slightly. Then¡ªthere it was again. That tiny, almost imperceptible delay. He reached for his drink. His hand trembled slightly. His pupils looked unfocused. It hit her all at once. He was already affected before he took a sip. Her breath hitched. It wasn''t the drink. Whatever was happening to him had started before he even walked into the caf¨¦. And that meant¡ª He was dying from something inside him. She had seconds left. Her hands curled into fists. She wasn''t a doctor. She had no medical training. But she didn''t need to be a doctor to keep someone awake. The moment he grabbed his drink, she grabbed his wrist. His head snapped up, startled. He blinked at her in confusion. "What¡ª" "You need to sit down," she said, voice sharp. "Right now." He frowned, shifting slightly. "I¡ª" His body swayed. This was it. He was about to collapse again. Connie yanked him toward the nearest chair. "Sit," she ordered. This time, he listened. The moment he sat, his hands shook violently. His breathing turned ragged. She pressed her fingers against his neck to check the pulse. Still weak. Still unstable. But not fading as quickly this time. She had bought herself more time. Her jaw clenched. "Can you talk?" His dazed eyes flickered toward her. There was no response. His eyes were unfocused. "Hey." Her voice was quieter this time, controlled. "I need you to focus. Do you feel strange? Lightheaded?" A slow, pained nod. "¡­Yeah. Feels like¡­ my head''s all foggy." She frowned. That wasn''t normal. It wasn''t just exhaustion or dehydration. It felt more like something was interfering with him. Her stomach twisted. "What''s your name?" she asked. A simple question. He hesitated. "¡­Takeshi." That much, at least, came easily. "Good. Takeshi, do you remember me?" His brows furrowed. "You tried to saved me.. Yesterday.." He exhaled shakily, rubbing his forehead. "¡­But when..? I didn''t fall..." Her pulse skipped. Takeshi''s expression grew more confused and pained the more he thought about it. His mind right now had two distinct memories of the exact same moment. Her fingers tightened on the table. "How do you know that?" A pause. His lips twitched slightly, as if trying to form the words. Then¡ªa small, strained exhale. "I don''t know." --- Takeshi was still alive. But Connie could tell¡ªnot for long. His breath came in short, uneven pulls, like each inhale took conscious effort. The napkin pressed against his nose had already begun to stain red. His fingers, still trembling, twitched slightly every few seconds. His face looked slightly paler than before. She had stopped him from outright collapsing, but she hadn''t stopped the real cause of what was happening to him. The death flag was still in motion. The caf¨¦ bustled with warmth and noise, but Connie couldn''t hear any of it. Her entire focus was locked onto Takeshi. She had one shot to get information before he lost consciousness again. If she didn''t figure this out fast¡ªthe world would reset. And she couldn''t afford to waste another loop. "Takeshi," she said firmly. "Can you hear me?" His sluggish gaze met hers. He gave a slow nod. She exhaled. "You told me earlier that i saved tried to save you." A pause. His fingers clenched slightly against the table. "¡­Yeah." His voice was hoarse. "But you don''t remember exactly?" His brows furrowed slightly. "I¡­ don''t know." That hesitation again. It wasn''t confusion. It wasn''t memory loss. It was like he had a missing piece¡ªa thought, a realization that was supposed to be there, but just wasn''t. Something inside her twisted. This was different. This wasn''t like when she spoke to Ayaka or anyone else after a reset. Takeshi was grasping at something that shouldn''t exist. Memories that should have been wiped clean. Each reset should have placed everyone back in their original state. And yet¡ªhe still felt like he knew her. Even if he couldn''t explain it. That meant¡­ Something from before the reset was still lingering somewhere in Takeshi''s mind. Not a full memory. Not a clear thought. Just an echo. A chill ran down her spine. This wasn''t supposed to happen. But it was happening nonetheless. If pieces of past loops could remain, then what were the actual limits of the System? How much did it actually reset? Was she assuming too much about how perfect the rewinds were? Was Takeshi really the only one who retained these echoes of memories? A terrifying thought crept into her mind. If Takeshi could feel something that shouldn''t exist anymore¡­ Then what if there were other things slipping through? What if other people were experiencing strange moments of d¨¦j¨¤ vu without realizing it? What if she wasn''t the only one being affected? Her fingers dug into her palms. She needed to test something. "Do you remember me saving you yesterday?" she asked carefully. His eyes flickered slightly, like his mind was struggling to recall something just out of reach. "¡­I fell, right?" Her breath caught. This wasn''t how resets were supposed to work. If the world had fully reset, then the incident never should have happened at all. And yet¡ªhe still had a faint recollection. A distorted, incomplete understanding. Something was breaking through the loops. Connie''s pulse roared in her ears. If the System was starting to fail¡ªif memories were bleeding through resets¡ª Then how long before people started fully remembering? And if they did¡­ What would happen to her? Her stomach twisted. There were too many questions. And not enough answers. A loud crash shattered her thoughts. A waiter had dropped a tray. The sound of glass breaking rang through the caf¨¦. Takeshi flinched. His body tensed. Then¡ªa single drop of blood slid down his nose. A slow, crimson trickle. The symptoms weren''t stopping. Connie moved before she could think. A napkin. She needed to stop the bleeding. She grabbed a handful from the dispenser on the table, pushing them into Takeshi''s hand. "Hold this against your nose. Apply pressure." His expression was hazy, but he obeyed. Ayaka, who had been watching silently this whole time, finally spoke up. "Okay¡ªwhat the hell is going on?" Connie ignored her. Takeshi was getting worse. The dizziness. The slow reaction time. The delayed responses. And now a nosebleed. His fingers clenched against the table. His breathing hitched. He was still dying. She had delayed the death flag. But she hadn''t stopped it. The reset was still coming. And she was almost out of time. Connie shot up from her seat. "Takeshi." His hazy gaze lifted. "We need to leave. Right now." He blinked. "Why¡­?" She grabbed his wrist. "Because whatever''s killing you¡ªit didn''t start here." His breath hitched. "You were already affected before you walked into this caf¨¦," she said quickly. "Which means whatever caused this¡ªit happened before you got here." Takeshi''s lips parted slightly, as if trying to process that thought. She pulled him to his feet. "If we don''t retrace your steps and find the cause¡­" Her voice dropped lower. "¡­You''re going to die." The two of them stumbled out of the caf¨¦. But they were stopped by Ayaka before leaving the entrance. "Wait¡ªWhat the hell are you doing?!" She positioned herself in front of the entrance, blocking it. "Why are you leaving with some random guy out of nowhere? Explain at least." Connie''s mind was already occupied thinking about the cause of the death flag, so she wasn''t able to think of an excuse in time. She was starting to panic, so she just slipped past Ayaka, pulling Takeshi by the wrist. They ran out of the caf¨¨ just like that. Ayaka was left at the entrance, flabbergasted. Connie looked back at Takeshi. He was still weak, but he managed to keep pace with her, After passing through an alley, they slowed down a bit to let Takeshi recover. The cold evening air bit at her skin as she scanned the streets. "Where were you before this?" she asked. Takeshi took a shaky breath. "¡­I was walking home." "Did anything feel weird?" A slow blink. "Not¡­ really." Her jaw clenched. That wasn''t helpful. She needed details. They hurried down the street, retracing his route. Everything looked normal. The sidewalks were still crowded with students heading home. A cyclist passed by. Street vendors called out to passing customers. No obvious sign of danger. But something had happened here. They just had to find it. Then¡ªTakeshi suddenly stopped walking. His fingers twitched slightly. Connie turned sharply. "What''s wrong?" His lips parted. He looked uncertain. "¡­I don''t know," he muttered. "Something about this place¡­" He trailed off. Her pulse spiked. This was it. This was where it began. She scanned the area, searching for anything out of place. Then¡ªshe noticed it. A single discarded can sitting near a streetlamp. It was barely noticeable. But something about it made her blood run cold. Because it wasn''t a soda can. It was a tin can. Small. Clear. With a few remaining drops of liquid inside. Her heartbeat slammed against her ribs. This wasn''t a coincidence. This was the cause. She took a slow breath. Then, voice barely above a whisper¡ª "Takeshi. Did you drink anything on the way here?" His expression flickered. "I¡­ I don''t think¡ª" Then, suddenly, his eyes widened. Connie''s breath caught. He remembered. Even if it was just a fragment. This was the moment of truth. The moment where she would finally learn¡ª What had really happened to him. Part 11: Orchestrated Death The street stretched ahead of them, lined with rows of dimly lit shops and vending machines humming softly in the evening air. Takeshi''s breathing was still uneven beside her, but at least he was still walking. For now. Connie''s mind was racing. The discarded can that had a cheap and unknown energy drink brand on it, tossed near the streetlamp. The strange symptoms that started before he even reached the caf¨¦. They were all connected. Takeshi was still pale, but he wasn''t as bad as the other timeline. He slowed down. Takeshi exhaled. "I think I walked through here before the caf¨¦." The street stretched ahead of them, dimly lit by flickering streetlamps. The quiet hum of vending machines filled the cool air, mixing with the distant chatter of late-night commuters. They had reached a quieter part of the street, where a few small stores were closing for the night. A convenience store''s fluorescent sign buzzed faintly in the air. Connie glanced at him, then back at the vending machine ahead. "Do you remember buying anything here?" Takeshi frowned. "I was¡­ thirsty, I think. Maybe I bought something." His brows knitted. "But I don''t really remember drinking anything..." Her heart pounded. That was important. "Did you take anything from a vending machine? A store?" A pause. Then, slowly¡ª "¡­I think I used a vending machine." If Takeshi had used a vending machine, whatever poisoned or drugged him had likely been in that drink. Which meant¡­Someone had planted it. She grabbed his sleeve. "Where?" He blinked at her, still slightly dazed. "The vending machine. Do you remember where it was?" Takeshi turned his head slowly, scanning the street. Then¡ªhis eyes locked onto something. "¡­There." He pointed. Connie followed his gaze. And there it was. A vending machine, tucked against the wall of an old bookstore. Nothing unusual. Nothing that stood out. But Connie''s instincts were screaming. That machine was where this death flag started. Connie approached the vending machine carefully. It looked normal. The panel glowed faintly, displaying a row of drinks. Coffee. Tea. Soda. Water. Takeshi stood beside her, staring at it with a strange expression. Like something about it felt wrong, but he couldn''t figure out why. Connie studied the options. If the drink he bought had been tampered with, then¡ªShe froze.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Her eyes locked onto a single drink. A canned energy drink sitting in the corner of the vending machine. The design was off. It looked slightly different from the others¡ªlike it didn''t fully belong. And worst of all¡­ She recognized it. Because that was the same brand of energy drink that was listed on the discarded vial they had found earlier. Her pulse roared. This was it. This was what had poisoned him. "Takeshi." Her voice was sharp. "Is this the drink you bought?" His eyes flickered toward the energy drink. A slow, hesitant nod. "¡­I think so." That was all she needed to hear. Connie dug into her pocket and pulled out some coins. Takeshi blinked. "You''re buying it?" "I need to see something." She fed the coins into the slot, then pressed the button. A loud clunk echoed as the machine dispensed the can. Connie bent down, and grabbed it¡ª She tightened her grip on the tampered energy drink in her hand. The tiny puncture near the lid was barely visible under the streetlights, but she knew what it meant. Someone had poisoned this. And Takeshi had been the one to drink it. Her stomach churned. This wasn''t an accident. But¡­ why him? Takeshi slowed his steps as they reached the vending machine. He stared at it, his brow furrowing. "¡­This is it." Connie studied his reaction carefully. "Do you remember buying the drink?" He hesitated. "I¡­ think so," he murmured. "But¡­" His fingers twitched slightly. "¡­It feels weird." She frowned. "Weird how?" He rubbed his temple. "Like¡­ I shouldn''t have picked it." A shiver ran down her spine. Shouldn''t have? That phrasing was off. Not "I don''t remember picking it." Not "I don''t know why I picked it." But "I shouldn''t have." Like something had drawn him to it. Or like someone had made sure he was the one who grabbed it. Connie exhaled, trying to piece it together. If the drink was poisoned, there were only two possibilities: 1- It was meant for someone else, and Takeshi got unlucky. 2- It was meant specifically for him. At first, the first option seemed more likely. Maybe the poison was random. Maybe whoever planted it had no idea who would pick it up. But¡­If that were true, then why did Takeshi buy it even though he felt like he "shouldn''t have picked it?" That was too specific. Her fingers tightened around the can. She had assumed this was a random death flag. But what if it wasn''t? What if this was a murder attempt? What if someone had planned for Takeshi to die today? Takeshi took a slow breath. "¡­I think someone was near me when I bought it." Connie''s chest tightened. She turned sharply. "Who?" "I don''t know." His voice was strained. "It''s¡­ vague. Just a feeling." An echo. Just like before. As if a residue of some memory was trying to emerge in his mind. Her pulse pounded. If someone was near him when he bought the drink, then¡ªThat wasn''t a coincidence. Someone had been watching. And they had wanted him to take it. Her stomach twisted. This was a setup. Someone wanted Takeshi dead. And if that was true¡­They might still be watching. Connie''s phone vibrated. She nearly dropped it. Her hands were shaking as she pulled it from her pocket. But when she looked at the screen¡ª Her blood ran cold. A text message. From an unknown number. -You should have let him die.- Her breath hitched. A chill crawled up her spine, freezing her in place. She wasn''t imagining it. This wasn''t paranoia. This wasn''t a random death flag. Someone really was trying to kill Takeshi. And now, they knew she got in the way. Connie''s head snapped up. Her eyes scanned the street. Buildings. Storefronts. Streetlights flickering overhead. No one was close. No one was looking at them. But she felt it. That sickening sensation. Like eyes were on her. Like someone was watching. She took a slow breath, forcing her voice to stay steady. "¡­We need to leave." Takeshi looked at her sharply. "What?" She turned to him, shoving her phone into her pocket. "We''re being watched." His eyes widened slightly. He didn''t question it. He just nodded. And without another word¡ªThey ran. They made it two blocks away. Then¡ª A figure stepped into their path. A man. Maybe around his mid twenties. He had short, wild blonde hair with bright amber eyes. His hands were tucked into his pockets. His posture was too relaxed¡ªlike he had been waiting for them. But the thing that scared Connie the most¡ª Was the way he was smiling. Takeshi froze beside her. Connie''s stomach twisted. This wasn''t a coincidence. This was him. The one who had been watching. Her pulse thundered in her ears. The man''s gaze flickered over Takeshi. Then, slowly¡ªhe looked at Connie. And his smirk widened. "You should''ve stayed in the caf¨¦." Connie''s breath caught. She took a step back. The air around them shifted. It was subtle at first. Just a slight pressure in her chest. Then¡ªit got worse. The world suddenly felt heavy. Like the air had thickened. Her legs felt sluggish. Her lungs strained to pull in air. Panic surged through her. What the hell was this?! She looked at the man again. His posture hadn''t changed. But his smirk had. It was sharper now. Darker. Like he was enjoying this. Then¡ªhe raised a single hand. And the pressure around them intensified. The realization slammed into her. This wasn''t normal. This wasn''t a weapon. This wasn''t some kind of trick. This was real. This man¡ª Had powers. Connie''s entire body screamed at her to move. To run. To do something. But she was completely out of her depth. She had no powers. No way to fight back. She couldn''t even breathe properly. But there was one thing she could do. Survive. She clenched her teeth, forcing herself to move. Her hand snapped to Takeshi''s wrist. And with everything she had left¡ªShe ran. Part 12: A Cornered Prey鈥檚 Last Move Takeshi''s body was failing. His breathing had grown more ragged. His steps were barely holding. It hadn''t been long enough. They had run on pure adrenaline before, but now, standing still, the exhaustion and poison were hitting him harder. She couldn''t carry Takeshi. And she couldn''t fight. Her mind raced. Think. Think. Think. That crushing weight pressing down on the air itself. The sensation had been growing stronger by the second, like a vise closing around her chest. But the moment she had moved¡ªIt had weakened. Distance mattered. She didn''t know how or why, but the man''s ability seemed to be limited in range. And if that was true¡ªThey just had to outrun him. Footsteps pounded against the pavement. Takeshi was keeping pace with her, but she could tell¡ªhe would surely die if he didn''t get treatment soon. She gritted her teeth. The ''ability''¡ªor whatever that was¡ªhad hit him harder than it hit her. Was it because he was the target? Or was it because she had reacted faster? She shook the thought away. It didn''t matter. Not now. Not when¡ª "Ah¡ª!" Takeshi stumbled. Connie barely caught him before he hit the ground. Her heart slammed against her ribs. If he collapsed now¡ªThey were dead. A voice drifted through the night air. Calm. Amused. "You know, running is pointless." Connie''s blood ran cold. She turned her head just slightly. The man hadn''t moved. He was still standing where they left him. But his smirk had widened. "You can run all you want," he continued. "But you won''t escape." Her breath hitched. What did that mean¡ª? Suddenly, Takeshi gasped. His knees buckled. She barely kept him upright. Panic surged through her. Whatever this man''s ability was¡ªit was still affecting Takeshi. Even from a distance.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Her pulse pounded. This wasn''t just about running. They had to figure out how his power worked. And fast. Connie clenched her fists. She forced herself to think. The moment the man had lifted his hand, she had felt the pressure. A crushing weight¡ªalmost like the air had thickened. And when she moved further away, it weakened. But Takeshi¡­It was still affecting him. Her stomach twisted. Then¡ªshe understood. It wasn''t just area-based. It was target-based. The ability wasn''t just controlling the space around them. It was locking onto Takeshi specifically. Her grip on his wrist tightened. If that was true, then no matter how far they ran¡ªHe wouldn''t be able to escape it. As if the situation wasn''t disastrous already, another man stepped out from the intersection ahead of them, closing their only path of escape. He looked to be around his mid-late twenties, and was slightly taller than the first man. The man had a calm, but threatening feel around him. He had sharp, scrutinizing black eyes, as if they wouldn''t let even the smallest thing go unnoticed. He was wearing a long, elegant dark red coat. Together with his pitch black hair, he somewhat looked like a mysterious detective from a book. But he was clearly on the first man''s side. The bad side. They had already failed to escape from just one person, but now another one appeared? Connie felt all hope of survival vanish. But then she noticed something. The System didn''t reset yet. This meant that there still a way for them both to escape. Although she didn''t know how. Her thoughts were interrupted as the second man tilted his head forward, watching them with mild curiosity. "Takeshi Aizawa." He murmured, as if testing the name on his tongue. "You were harder to find than expected." Takeshi flinched. They knew his name. She swallowed hard. This wasn''t a random attack. This was a planned capture. And that meant¡ªthey had been watching Takeshi for a while. The second man exhaled. "No need to be so tense," he said smoothly. "We''re not unreasonable people." His gaze then flickered to Connie. Her blood ran cold. But she didn''t react. Didn''t move. Didn''t even breathe. If she looked weak, if she hesitated even slightly¡ª They were done. She held his gaze. And waited. The second man sighed. "Well, this is awkward," he muttered. "Usually, people start talking by now." Then¡ªhis expression shifted. "Come with us." The words were spoken calmly, but Connie felt the weight behind them. It wasn''t a request. It was a command. And the moment she heard it¡ª Her chest tightened. If they went with them¡ªThey weren''t coming back. Fighting back was impossible. Takeshi could barely stand, still being affected by the ability and the poison. Connie had no weapons, no experience. Running was almost impossible, too. Almost. Because a thought popped in her mind. A way out of the situation. A single, dangerous opening. She took a slow breath, steadying herself. Then¡ª She spoke. "What makes you think he''ll go with you willingly?" The second man raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" he said, amused. "You want to negotiate?" She wasn''t negotiating. She was buying time. Because the moment she spoke¡ªThe first man''s smirk flickered. She felt a little bit lighter. Just slightly. And that told her everything she needed to know. His ability needed concentration. Her pulse spiked. That was it. That was their chance. Connie didn''t hesitate. She grabbed Takeshi''s arm¡ªAnd yanked him forward. Takeshi stumbled¡ªcompletely off-balance. And that was exactly what she needed. Because the second man flinched. Not at her. At Takeshi. His instincts kicked in¡ªhe moved to catch him. And in that second¡ª his focus broke. Connie lunged forward, dragging Takeshi with her. She felt the shift in the air¡ªthe first man''s ability snapping back into place¡ª But it was too late. They had already moved out of his range. She had realized something else about the first man''s ability after the second man appeared. Why didn''t he just target both of them to make them stop? Why hadn''t he immobilized them both, the same way he had when he first appeared in front of them? That was because his ability controlled a certain area around the target. They could escape that range, but only if they started moving before the ability did, without ever stopping. The second man cursed. They were through, and they kept running without looking back. Takeshi was barely holding himself up. His body wasn''t cooperating. Every step was too slow. Every breath was too weak. They weren''t going to last like this. She needed to find a way to hide. Fast. Then¡ªShe saw it. A train station. Her pulse spiked. A crowd. A train. Noise. Distractions. It was their only shot. She pulled Takeshi forward. "We''re going in there." He didn''t respond. She dragged him anyway. The noise swallowed them as they entered. People. Lights. Movement. They disappeared into the chaos .Blending in. For now. But Connie knew¡ªThis wasn''t over. Not by a long shot. They were going to come again. And next time¡ª They might not be so lucky. She took a shaky breath. They needed a plan. Now. Part 13: Nowhere is Safe The train station was suffocating with movement. People rushed in and out, their conversations blurring into a chaotic hum of voices. Connie kept her grip on Takeshi''s arm, half-supporting, half-dragging him forward. His legs trembled beneath him, every step uneven. He wasn''t even trying to hide how exhausted he was anymore. He couldn''t. She scanned the space around them. The enemy wasn''t in sight yet. But that didn''t mean they weren''t already here. They needed cover. A distraction. Something. A crowd of passengers surged toward a ticket booth. Connie didn''t hesitate. She pulled Takeshi into the middle of them, weaving between people, using their movements as a shield. Takeshi let out a soft, strained breath. "Not¡­ gonna last," he mumbled. She didn''t know if he was talking about the cover or his own body. Whichever it was¡ªif they stopped now, they were dead. Another step. Another. Then¡ª Takeshi stumbled. Connie caught him just in time. But his weight nearly pulled them both down. A woman glanced at them. A businessman frowned slightly. Too much attention. But none came to help. This however, worked in her favor. Normal civilians would be powerless against them, and they attract attention. She could do this alone... Or at least that''s what she kept repeating to herself. She bit her lip, adjusting her hold on Takeshi. "Just a little more." Takeshi barely reacted. That wasn''t good. She wasn''t sure how much was poison and how much was exhaustion. Either way, they were on borrowed time. And then¡ªshe felt it. Someone was watching them. Her skin prickled. She forced herself to look casual as she turned her head¡ªjust slightly. There. Across the station, near one of the pillars. A man in a dark hoodie shirt, standing perfectly still. Not moving. Not pretending to look at a phone. Just watching. Actually, she couldn''t tell where he was looking at all¡ª Because under the hoodie there was only darkness. He was neither of the two men from before... Who was he? Was he together with them? Connie''s stomach twisted. She had to rely on her assumptions. Which meant¡­ The other two were here as well. Somewhere. She looked to the side. The train schedule flickered on a screen. A departure in one minute. That wasn''t enough time. The exits were too far. They were trapped. Her pulse pounded. Options. She needed options. A bathroom? No. Too obvious. A shop? No. Nowhere to hide. The staff-only area? Maybe. But before she could decide¡ª Takeshi''s legs buckled. Connie gasped as she barely caught him. His weight dragged her down, and for a split second, she lost focus. That was all it took. A hand grabbed her wrist. Her breath stopped. She didn''t even see him approach. But the first man was there. Right behind her. "Going somewhere?" he murmured. She froze. His grip tightened, pressing into her skin. Takeshi twitched. His breath was shaky, but his hand moved¡ªreaching for something¡ªUnauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The first man noticed. His free hand shot out, grabbing Takeshi by the collar. And then¡ª Takeshi spit blood. The moment Takeshi coughed, the first man''s smirk returned. "Oh, wow," he mused, tilting his head. "You really are in bad shape. You know, I was starting to doubt the effects of the poison!" Connie tried to pull free. She couldn''t. His strength was inhuman. A casual, effortless hold, as if he wasn''t even trying. And that was the most terrifying part. Takeshi shuddered under his grasp. The first man''s eyes gleamed. "You should''ve come quietly." And then¡ª He moved. Fast. Too fast. His knee slammed into Takeshi''s gut. Takeshi gasped. His body jerked violently as he spit more blood. The first man let go. Takeshi collapsed. The sound of Takeshi hitting the ground echoed in her skull. Connie''s heart stopped. She fell to her knees beside him, hands trembling as she reached for him¡ª A shoe pressed against the floor in front of her. The first man crouched slightly, tilting his head. "You can run," he said. "You''ll make it ten steps. Maybe." Connie''s fingers curled into fists. He smiled. "Or, you can cooperate." Silence. She felt sick. They weren''t supposed to get caught. They were supposed to make it out. But now¡ª Takeshi''s body wasn''t moving. The second man was probably approaching too by now. And she was out of options. And then¡ªA scream. Not from Takeshi. Not from her. Somewhere else. Near the entrance. A commotion. People shouting. The first man''s head snapped toward the noise. Connie''s mind raced. She had seconds. Just a meter away¡ªa small display shelf. One of those quick-buy stands outside a convenience store, filled with travel-sized hygiene products, umbrellas, and¡ª Pepper spray. She didn''t think. She moved. Her feet slammed against the tile as she lunged forward. The grip on her wrist was gone. The first man was already turning back¡ªhis sharp eyes narrowing, realizing his mistake. But Connie''s fingers had already closed around the canister. She ripped it from the shelf, spun on her heel¡ª And sprayed. Not point-blank. Not too far. Just enough. The mist hit his face. The first man''s reaction was instant. He jerked back violently, cursing. No time to think. No time to hesitate. She grabbed Takeshi, hauling him up¡ª The second man reacted, but it was too late. She was already running. Takeshi barely held onto her. They sprinted toward the exit¡ªtoward the only chance they had left. The moment they reached the outside air, Connie''s chest burned. She didn''t stop. Couldn''t. Not until they were far¡ª Takeshi collapsed again. His breath was ragged. He was going into shock. And then¡ª Her phone buzzed. A message. From Ayaka. "Hey, where''d you run off to? I promise I won''t be mad so tell me what happened. ??" She hesitated. And then¡ª She typed three words. "We need help." She hit send. And prayed she hadn''t just made things worse. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The cold air hit like a knife. Connie''s legs burned as she ran, lungs straining with each breath. Takeshi was getting heavier. His legs barely functioned, and every few steps, his body sagged harder against her. She knew¡ªhe wasn''t going to last. But she couldn''t stop. Not yet. Not when they were still too close to the station. Behind them, the sliding station doors hissed open. She didn''t look. She already knew who it was. And she knew¡ªthey were already running out of time. Luckily, Connie had managed to walk into an alley before they saw her. Takeshi stumbled again. This time, Connie couldn''t stop him from falling. His weight dragged her down, and she nearly collapsed with him. Her knee hit the pavement, pain jolting up her leg. She gritted her teeth. No time. No time. No time. She forced herself up, dragging Takeshi''s limp body back to his feet. His skin was too warm. Sweat dripped down the side of his face. His breathing¡ªshallow. Her stomach twisted. This wasn''t just exhaustion. This was the poison. His body was shutting down. And she had no way to stop it. Her hands shook. There was only one option left. And she hated it. She pulled out her phone. Her fingers were freezing. She barely managed to unlock the screen. A message was already waiting for her. From Ayaka. "Hey, where''d you run off to? I promise I won''t be mad so tell me what happened. ??" Connie''s lungs tightened. Her mind screamed at her not to drag Ayaka into this. Not to involve someone normal. But Takeshi''s breathing was getting worse. Her hands moved. "We need help." She hit send. Her chest felt hollow. This was a mistake. It had to be a mistake. But there was no other choice. The phone started ringing. It was a call from Ayaka. Connie quickly answered while she kept moving. Ayaka: "Uh. Help how??? Wtf is going on??" Connie''s grip on her phone tightened. She didn''t have time to explain. She couldn''t. Connie: "Meet me behind the 24-hour diner. Now." Ayaka: "Wait¡ª" Click. Ayaka tried to speak, but Connie closed the call before she could say anything. She adjusted her grip on Takeshi and started moving faster. Every step felt heavier. But she didn''t stop. Because if she stopped¡ª This night would end in another reset. Everything until now would become meaningless. Barely a minute had passed once she reached the alley behind the diner, but Connie''s entire body ached. She was exhausted. That was the most physical exercise she had done in a long time. She lowered Takeshi to the ground, leaning him against the cold brick wall. His eyes were half-lidded. His body was barely responding. This was bad. She pressed a hand to his forehead. Too warm. Too much sweat. His body could go into shock any moment now. She clenched her jaw. Where was Ayaka? Her heart pounded. She had made the call¡ªsent the message¡ªbut what if Ayaka didn''t show? What if¡ª Footsteps. Connie turned sharply. Ayaka stood at the alley entrance. Her arms crossed. Her violet eyes¡ªsharp, piercing. And not amused. "¡­Okay." Ayaka exhaled. "Start talking." Connie''s throat was dry. Her mind scrambled for a way to explain this. How much could she say? What would Ayaka even believe? She took a slow breath. "I¡ª" Before she could say anything, she felt shivers creep up her spine. A feeling different from the death flags, or anything she had ever felt before. A feeling of ''something fundamental being broken''. This was the best way she could describe it at that moment. Then, she realized. Everything was silent. Way too silent. The noise of cars in the distance. The repetitive barking of dogs in the houses. Everything. Every single background noise had stopped, as if they was frozen in time. Then¡ª A shadow moved. Just beyond the alley entrance. Connie''s blood ran cold. Ayaka frowned. "What?" Connie grabbed her wrist. She pulled Ayaka near her before even thinking. Ayaka blinked. "What are you¡ª" And then¡ª Someone stepped into the alley. Not the men from before. Someone else. The man was tall. He stood at the alley entrance, still as a shadow, his hands in the pockets of his dark gray hoodie. Connie''s eyes widened. He was the man watching her at the station. But¡ªSomething was wrong. Connie couldn''t see his face. Not because of the hood¡ªbut because no matter how she looked, there was only darkness. Even as her eyes adjusted, even under the dim glow of a nearby streetlamp¡ª Nothing. It was like looking into an empty void. Back at the station she thought she couldn''t see his face because he was too distant. She was wrong. A chill crawled up her spine. Ayaka shifted beside her, arms still crossed. "¡­Who the hell is this guy?" The man didn''t answer. Didn''t move. Then¡ª Something flickered beneath the hood. Two faint, glowing dots. A deep cyan light. Eyes? No¡ª It didn''t feel human. The man finally tilted his head slightly, his voice breaking the silence. "You should''ve run farther. You were almost caught." His tone was unreadable. Not threatening. Not mocking. Just stating a fact. Connie''s pulse spiked. She didn''t know who he was. But one thing was clear. This wasn''t a normal person. And the way he stood there, blocking the only exit¡ª It felt intentional. Like he was waiting to see what she would do next. Part 14: Ten Minutes to Save a Life The mysterious hooded man just stood there, silently. Ayaka shifted beside Connie. "¡­Who the hell is this guy?" No answer. Takeshi was unresponsive. He wasn''t moving a finger. He wasn''t dead since his muscles were still tensed. It was as if he was ''suspended'' in that moment. As if someone had pressed the pause button on a remote. Then¡ª The man finally spoke. His voice broke the silence. "You should''ve run farther. You were almost caught." His tone was calm. Not threatening. Not mocking. Just stating a fact. Like he had already decided how this would end. Connie''s pulse spiked. She didn''t like this. The two men from before¡ªthey had been dangerous. But they had been human. Predictable. This man wasn''t. He felt like something completely different. A presence that shouldn''t exist. Two tiny cyan lights flickered inside his hood. Ayaka exhaled sharply. "Alright, seriously, who¡ª" Then she stopped. Her phone screen glitched. A high-pitched noise screeched from the speakers¡ªstatic, distorted beeping. Ayaka flinched. "What the hell?!" She yanked her phone out of her pocket. The screen flashed violently¡ªrandom numbers, unreadable symbols. Then¡ª It died. She stared at it. "What¡ª" She looked back up. The hooded man hadn''t moved. Didn''t react. Didn''t acknowledge it at all. Connie''s stomach dropped. Because she understood. That was him. It had to be. Connie forced herself to speak. "What do you want?" The hooded man didn''t answer immediately. Then, in a tone too casual for the moment¡ª "Good question." Her fingers twitched at her sides. He was playing with them. Not in a cruel way. Not in a way that suggested he wanted to hurt them. But in a way that said¡ª He was watching. Testing. Studying. Like this was entertaining. She didn''t like that. Ayaka''s patience finally snapped. "Okay, I''ve had enough of this cryptic bullshit." She stepped forward, arms crossed. "What is your deal? Who even are you? And what the hell do you want from us?" The hooded man didn''t move. Didn''t react. Just stood there, letting her rant. Ayaka let out a sharp breath. "Fine. You wanna act like some mysterious background character? Be my guest. But unless you plan on actually helping, I''m done playing this game." Connie exhaled. She already knew this wouldn''t work. Because the hooded man wasn''t here to argue. He wasn''t even here to talk. He was here to watch. But Ayaka had caught his attention. For the first time, he actually acknowledged her. Or at least, Connie thought he did. It was hard to tell. Because he had no face. And yet, somehow¡ª She could feel it. The moment those glowing cyan lights shifted slightly toward Ayaka. "¡­You''re interesting." he said. Ayaka froze. She hadn''t expected a response. And now, the weight of his presence finally hit her. Connie inhaled sharply. "Stop messing with her."Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. The hooded man didn''t argue. Didn''t even hesitate. Just tilted his head again. "Alright." Then, as if that was all he came for, he turned slightly, taking a step toward the alley exit. Like he was already done here. Like he had already seen what he wanted to see. And for some reason¡ª That made Connie''s chest tighten. Like she had just missed something important. Like he had just confirmed something for himself. She couldn''t let him leave. "Wait." The hooded man paused. Didn''t turn around. Just waited. Her throat felt dry. "¡­Why did you help us at the station?" Connie had connected the dots. She saw him watching them from a distance at the station. Then a commotion happened right when she was about to get caught. That was no mere coincidence. This man had helped her escape. He knew she was going to get caught. And the exact moment too. The hooded man met her question with silence. Then¡ª A faint hum. "¡­Good question." He stepped forward¡ª And then, in the blink of an eye¡ª He was gone. The moment the hooded man left, the alley felt different. Less suffocating. Less¡­ wrong. That inexplicable feeling had left too. Everything returned to normal. If it could even be called that. But Connie couldn''t shake the feeling that he hadn''t really left. Not completely. Maybe it was just her own paranoia, but it was better to be careful. Takeshi let out a shaky breath from where he was slumped against the wall. His eyes fluttered half-open, but he still wasn''t all there. He wasn''t ''paused'' anymore. Connie forced herself to move. She kneeled beside him, pressing the back of her hand to his forehead. Still too hot. Still too weak. He probably wouldn''t even last 5 minutes now. Heck, it was a miracle he lasted this long, considering how he died so fast before she had looped. They needed a real solution. Now. --------------------- Ayaka hadn''t moved. She was still staring at the empty space where the hooded man had been standing seconds ago. "¡­What the actual hell was that?" she muttered. Connie didn''t answer. Because she didn''t know. Ayaka finally turned to her, eyes narrowing. "Connie," she said slowly, too controlled. "I am this close to losing my mind right now, so I need you to tell me¡ª" She pointed to where the hooded man had disappeared. "What the hell was that?" Connie exhaled sharply. "I have no idea." Wrong answer. Ayaka''s hands curled into fists. "You¡ª" She let out a frustrated breath. "You don''t know? Seriously?" "I don''t!" Connie shot back. "You think I planned for any of this?!" Ayaka took a step forward. "Then tell me, what do you know? When we were in the caf¨¦, you suddenly stood up to chat with a classmate you barely know, and when I tried to ask you what was going on, you ignored me and rushed off with him! You didn''t even read my messages, and ten minutes later you asked me for help without any explanation. You know I could hear you running and panting on the call right? Were you being chased by someone?? Do you even have any idea how worried I was while coming here?! I thought something had happened to you..." Ayaka looked really sad for a moment. "And now? Now we just met a guy with no face who literally disappeared into thin air?! So no, Connie, I don''t believe you when you say you ''don''t know anything.''" Connie''s chest tightened. Everything Ayaka said was true. She had been running on pure survival instinct for so long, she hadn''t even stopped to process it. But now? Now it was hitting her all at once. She wanted to scream. She wanted to collapse. She wanted to wake up and realize this was all a nightmare¡ª But she wasn''t going to wake up. Because this was real. She felt Ayaka''s frustration. And for once¡ªshe couldn''t blame her. She sucked in a breath. "Fine," Connie muttered, insecurely. "I''ll tell you what I know." Ayaka crossed her arms. "Finally." But before Connie could even begin to explain¡ª Takeshi collapsed. "Takeshi?!" Connie and Ayaka both moved at once. His body slumped to the side, his breathing shallow. His skin was burning. Connie''s pulse skyrocketed. No. No, no, no¡ª They had spent too much time standing here¡ªwasting time. If he died¡ª She wasn''t ready for another reset. Not now. Not when she had gotten this far. Ayaka cursed. "Okay, screw the weird hoodie guy, we need to get him to a hospital first." Connie''s stomach dropped. A hospital. A normal person''s solution. And maybe¡ª Maybe that should''ve been the right answer. But Connie knew better. She had spent too long in this nightmare already. And she knew¡ªit wouldn''t be that easy. Takeshi''s condition was unnatural. The poison¡ªit wasn''t normal. The people after them¡ªthey weren''t normal. And if she tried to take him to a hospital? If she involved normal people in this? Would the system even allow it? Or would it just¡ª Reset everything? Wiping away any progress she had made? The thought made her dizzy. She didn''t know. She hated not knowing. She wanted to fix this herself, but she had no way to. She had spent too much time standing here. Too much time wasting time. If he died now¡ª For a split second, Connie''s mind went blank. The System. The resets. The rules. None of that mattered anymore. Takeshi was dying. And right now¡ª The only thing she could do was save him. The normal way. No tricks. No overthinking. A hospital. That was the only answer her mind could come up with. Connie steeled herself. "Let''s go." She said sharply. Ayaka nodded. No more debating. No more hesitation. They were running out of time. They quickly got out of the alley while supporting Takeshi on their shoulders. Since she couldn''t use the phone to call for an ambulance, she had thought of using a taxi to get there. Connie looked around. No taxis. Not even normal cars. How could it be? Connie''s heart dropped. It was over. She had failed¡ª "Look, there!" Ayaka suddenly shouted while pointing somewhere. Connie instantly followed her gaze. She spotted a taxi hidden in the distance. They hurriedly waved their arms to flag it down. The taxi pulled up to the curb, and Connie quickly opened the back door. With Ayaka''s help, they lifted Takeshi into the backseat. She climbed in next to Takeshi while Ayaka took the front passenger seat. As they climbed into the taxi, the driver cast a confused glance at the group of teenagers. Takeshi was slumped against the seat, looking pale and unnaturally still. Ayaka sat in the front, watching Connie closely. She caught the driver''s questioning look and tried to offer a reassuring smile. "Hospital. Quickly, please." her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. The driver hesitated for a moment, then nodded and pulled away from the curb. The taxi sped through the streets, passing by the twinkling city lights. The driver kept stealing glances at the rearview mirror, trying to understand the situation unfolding in his backseat. Ayaka remained quiet, her gaze fixed on the road ahead. The taxi''s tires screeched against the pavement as it turned sharply. Connie''s pulse pounded with every second that passed. She barely registered the city lights flashing by, the hum of traffic, the blur of pedestrians on the sidewalks. Nothing mattered except the boy slumped in the car seat. Takeshi''s breathing was shallow. Too shallow. His body was unnaturally warm, but his fingers felt cold. Her hands shook. She pressed her fingers on his neck to check his pulse. It was weak, so weak it wouldn''t be strange if he died right this moment. But the System hadn''t reset yet. He was still breathing. He was still alive. Barely. Ayaka''s voice snapped her out of it. "How much longer?!" Ayaka demanded, her voice sharp. The taxi driver shot her a glance. "Three minutes, maybe four¡ª" "Faster!" Connie snapped. The driver flinched. "I''m already pushing it, kid¡ª" Three minutes. Would that be enough? She turned back to Takeshi. His head tilted forward, looking down, his dark hair falling over his face. His eyes were barely open, but his lips moved slightly. She leaned in, straining to hear him. "¡­I-I''m¡­" He didn''t finish his sentence. Her breath hitched. "I''m here," she whispered. "You''re okay. We''re almost there." He had no reaction, or at least, he showed none. A sick feeling curled in her stomach. This was too close. Her mind kept circling back to one thought¡ª What if the System doesn''t let this work? She didn''t know how it worked. She didn''t know what the limits were. Would it actually let her save Takeshi like this? Or would it decide that this was the wrong answer and rewind time again? Her fingers dug into her palm. No. Not this time. She refused to let this end in another reset. The taxi sped past a red light, barely missing a crossing pedestrian. Ayaka turned in her seat, eyes sharp. "You''re telling me what''s going on after this," she muttered, her voice low, demanding. Connie didn''t respond. Ayaka wasn''t asking. She was telling. And honestly? She had every right to. But right now, it didn''t matter. All that mattered was getting there in time. Connie looked back at Takeshi. Hold on. Please, hold on. The hospital entrance came into view. A massive white building, glowing under bright fluorescent lights. The taxi swerved into the emergency lane, stopping just short of the ambulance bay. Connie threw the door open. "Ayaka¡ªhelp me!" Ayaka was already moving. Between the two of them, they pulled Takeshi out of the car. His legs buckled instantly. A nurse near the entrance turned. Her eyes widened. "We need help!" Ayaka shouted. The nurse was already grabbing a wheelchair. Within seconds, hospital staff were swarming. A stretcher. Oxygen masks. Medical jargon Connie didn''t understand. Takeshi was whisked away. Just like that¡ª He was gone. Connie and Ayaka stood frozen in the lobby. Neither of them moved. Neither of them breathed. The taxi was already driving away. The hospital noise blurred into static. It was over. They got him here in time. So why wasn''t the System saying anything? No confirmation. No reset. Just¡­ Silence. Connie swallowed hard. Ayaka turned to her, face unreadable. "¡­He''s gonna be okay, right?" Connie opened her mouth. Then closed it. Because for once¡ª She had no idea. Part 15: Overheard Secrets -_"12_1_R(¡ê"¡ê$_100_10)u6 ------- The hospital waiting room had the kind of silence that wasn''t really silent at all. The quiet hum of the air conditioning, the muffled footsteps of nurses passing by, the soft rustling of paper¡ªit was all there. But to Connie, it felt like she was trapped inside a vacuum. Fifteen minutes. It had been fifteen minutes since they rushed Takeshi in the emergency care room. The waiting was worse than running. She had spent every second of the past few hours fighting to keep moving forward, reacting, pushing, solving problems. Now, she was forced to sit still. And the System had said nothing. Her phone sat in her lap, dark and silent. No messages. No resets. No confirmation that she had succeeded. She had done everything right. So why wasn''t it over? Her mind raced through possibilities. Maybe the hospital wasn''t enough. Maybe Takeshi was still going to die, just delayed. Maybe she had only prolonged the inevitable. Her stomach twisted. Or worse¡ªmaybe the System didn''t like her choice. If it wanted her to clear death flags by finding the real cause and stopping it directly, then this solution¡ªbringing Takeshi here¡ªwas a bandaid, not a fix. Was that why it hadn''t said anything? Was she about to be yanked backward into another reset at any second? Her fingers curled into her jacket sleeves. No. She wasn''t going to think like that. She had saved him. She had to believe that. A chair creaked beside her. "¡­Alright," Ayaka said, voice tight. "Enough of this." Connie blinked, finally turning away from the doors. Ayaka sat next to her, arms crossed, a deep frown on her face. Her violet eyes were sharp¡ªtoo sharp. "No more avoiding this," she said. "You''re going to tell me what the hell is going on. Right now." Connie''s stomach sank. She should have known this was coming. Ayaka had been too patient already. She came to an unknown alley in the city the moment Connie asked her for help, and had helped haul Takeshi''s nearly unconscious body into a hospital¡ªall without knowing anything. And now, after sitting in silence for fifteen agonizing minutes, she had hit her limit. Connie swallowed hard. "Ayaka, I¡ª" "No. No excuses," Ayaka interrupted. Her foot tapped rapidly against the floor. "I don''t care if it sounds crazy. I don''t care if you think I won''t believe you. I need to know, Connie." Her voice wavered slightly on the last part. "Because right now?" She inhaled sharply. "I don''t know what scares me more¡ªwhatever is going on, or the fact that you won''t tell me anything." Connie''s breath caught. That was it, wasn''t it? Ayaka wasn''t angry. She was scared. Connie looked down at her phone again. Still nothing. No reset. No message. Just silence. She took a slow breath. "¡­I don''t know where to start." "Then start with the truth." The truth. The words weighed on her. Because she had a choice. She could tell Ayaka everything. She could tell her about the System, the resets, the death flags, the fact that she had watched Takeshi die before. Nothing was stopping her. Not some magic rule. Not the System itself. Just her own paranoia. Because she didn''t know what would happen if she told someone. Would they forget after a reset? Would the System punish her? Would she even believe her in the first place? She didn''t know. And not knowing was terrifying. "¡­Takeshi was poisoned," she said finally. Ayaka frowned. "I figured that much." "No," Connie said, voice firm. "I mean, someone poisoned him on purpose." Ayaka''s eyes widened slightly. "¡­What?" "It wasn''t an accident," Connie continued. "It wasn''t just a bad drink. Someone put something in that vending machine drink because they wanted him dead."Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Ayaka went still. She wasn''t looking at Connie anymore¡ªshe was staring straight ahead, her brows furrowed in thought. "That doesn''t make sense," she muttered after a long moment. "Why? Who would do that? Takeshi doesn''t seem like the kind of guy to piss off someone like that." Connie hesitated. Because she didn''t know either. Why Takeshi? Who wanted him dead badly enough to poison him so discreetly, so precisely? And if they failed¡­ would they try again? She swallowed. "I don''t know." Ayaka turned her head slightly, studying her. Connie didn''t flinch under the gaze. Ayaka was trying to figure her out. Trying to decide how much of this to believe. Finally, she sighed, leaning back against the chair. "¡­Okay," she muttered. "I don''t know what the hell to do with that, but okay." Connie''s body relaxed slightly. At least she wasn''t pressing harder. For now. She turned back toward the emergency doors. Takeshi was still in there. She could only wait. Her gaze drifted downward. Her phone was still dark. Her fingers curled against her palm. Why wasn''t the System saying anything? The uneasy feeling in her gut only grew stronger. Then¡ª The hospital doors slid open. Connie''s breath hitched. A man in a suit walked in. Not a doctor. Not a nurse. He was dressed too formally for a hospital visit. His dark hair was neatly combed, and in one hand, he carried a plain black folder. At the same time, Connie''s phone received a notification. It was from the System. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 29.] Connie''s eyes widened at the message. She really had saved Takeshi. He wasn''t going to die. And she wasn''t going to loop back. The happiness she felt quickly faded away as her attention snapped back to the suspicious man. He walked with slow, deliberated steps. A black folder tucked neatly under one arm. His dark hair was perfectly combed back, not a single strand out of place. His plain black suit paired with a blue-navy tie was pristine, unwrinkled. Together with black gloves that perfectly fit his hands, he looked like one of those impeccable butlers you would see in a movie¡ªhe clearly didn''t belong in a place like this. His dark eyes flicked across the room¡ªnot out of curiosity, but calculation. Like he was gathering information. He was headed to the nurses'' desk. Then, he spoke. "Good evening, my name is Hiroto Kurose. I''m here to see my nephew, Takeshi Aizawa." His voice was smooth, almost silken, and the lie rolled off his tongue with unnerving ease. Connie and Ayaka looked at each other with a confused look. Nephew? Connie''s eyes narrowed. There was no way this ''Kurose'' was his real uncle. Even if he was, how could he have come here so quickly? Only fifteen minutes had passed since they even reached the hospital. The nurse glanced up, flipping through a file. "I''m sorry, sir, but he''s still in emergency care. And we''re not allowing visitors at this time." The man didn''t react. No frustration. No impatience. Just a small, polite nod. "I see. That''s unfortunate. I''ll return tomorrow." Then he turned and walked out. Just like that. Connie grabbed Ayaka''s wrist. "We need to move." Ayaka jolted. "What? What do you mean?" Connie was already pulling her toward the hallway. "We''re following him." The hospital doors slid open, and the man stepped outside. The night air was cool, crisp. He pulled a sleek black phone from his pocket, pressing a number without hesitation. Connie and Ayaka stayed low behind a parked car, barely daring to breathe as the call connected. A voice answered. Deep. Calm. "Report." The single word dripped with authority. The man didn''t waste time. "The target, Takeshi Aizawa, is still alive. He''s currently in emergency care." Connie''s stomach dropped. Target? He was one of the people targeting Takeshi. The person on the other end responded almost immediately. "Have you figured out the effect of his ability this time?" The man¡ªHiroto Kurose¡ªpaused slightly. "Unfortunately, not yet, Sir." he admitted. "But we did notice its activation just this evening. We don''t know what caused it, neither what it did. Also, it wasn''t... complete. His ability activated and deactivated in rapid succession, almost as if it was ''fragmented'' as to say." "I see..." The man on other side pondered for a second. "How did he survive?" His voice was now laced with a dangerous undertone. Kurose was careful. "According to Narita, there was a girl that helped him escape. The target had no contact with her before, so we don''t know the details yet. He is looking into it as we speak." Connie swallowed hard. She obtained so much information that her mind wasn''t able to keep up. Abilities? Like the man that controlled gravity? And Takeshi had one too? She was so shocked by the initial piece of information that she overlooked the fact that they were actively looking for her. "What the hell is he talking about?" Ayaka whispered furiously. "What ''ability''?" Her eyes darted to Connie, then back to the man on the phone, a dawning horror creeping across her face. "Takeshi? Has... powers?" Connie''s own face mirrored Ayaka''s. She''d suspected something extraordinary was at play, but this¡­ this was a whole new level. Suspicion began to bloom in her chest. Had Takeshi known all along? How could he not have said anything? The man on the phone continued without hesitation. "Then the orders remain the same. Eliminate the risk, including the girl." "Understood." Kurose said. Connie''s breath hitched. Ayaka stiffened beside her. "Eliminate¡­ like kill? Are you hearing this, Connie?!" The voice on the phone spoke. "Good. Keep this quiet. Discretion is paramount. We don''t need them sniffing around." Kurose nodded slightly, adjusting the cuffs of his gloves. "Understood. I''ll return tomorrow at 10:00 AM to complete the operation." A pause. Then¡ª "I trust you, Hiroto. Don''t disappoint me. We must get revenge. We can''t have any potential problems waiting for us after we''ve prepared the stage for them." "Do not worry, Sir. I will not fail." The call ended with a soft click. Kurose exhaled slightly, slipping his phone back into his pocket. He checked his watch, nodded once to himself, then turned and walked away. Connie didn''t move. She couldn''t. Because for the first time since this nightmare started, she wasn''t sure she''d understood what she just heard. "What the hell was that?" Ayaka hissed, grabbing Connie''s arm. "Did we just¡ªare they seriously¡ªThey want to kill you?!" "They''re trying to kill us..." Connie murmured. Her voice sounded far away. "I don''t even know why! They just know Takeshi has¡­ something. An ability." Ayaka stared, wide-eyed. "That''s insane. Takeshi? He has¡­ what? Is he some kind of¡­ esper? And these guys, who the hell are they? Some secret organization that hunts down people with powers?" An organization. Connie hadn''t even thought about that possibility. It wasn''t confirmed yet, but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. A dark suspicion had taken root in them. Could Takeshi, this seemingly ordinary boy, be connected to something far more dangerous than they had ever imagined? Could he have some kind of connection with this organization? Connie rubbed her temples, heart hammering. "I don''t know what they think he is, but whatever it is, they think it''s enough of a reason to kill him." Her gaze narrowed. "And Takeshi never said a word. Not a single hint." Ayaka muttered a curse under her breath, pacing in a small circle before turning back to Connie. "Okay,. We need to ask him directly first. We have to get him out of here before ten tomorrow." Connie almost agreed. Almost. But then reality sank in. Hospitals don''t just transfer patients in a few hours. It would take too long. And even if they could rush the paperwork, they would need parental approval. They couldn''t just make a run for it either. The police would search for him, thinking he went missing. Takeshi''s parents didn''t know about this. Heck, they didn''t even know their son was in the hospital yet. And that meant¡ª Someone had to tell them. ------------------------ .... "He can''t be transferred to another hospital without his parents'' permission.." Ayaka ran a hand through her hair. "Okay, fine, we call them and say what? That their son was poisoned¡­ oh, and by the way, he''s secretly got superpowers, and a shadowy organization wants him dead?" "No." Connie shook her head immediately. "And if that organization is watching, they''ll instantly find us out." Ayaka frowned. "Then what?" Connie hesitated. There was no easy way out of this. The doctors would have already informed Takeshi''s parents about the poisoning by that time. If she made up something different, it would just sound suspicious. "!" Connie''s eyes widened. There was no need for us to explain in the first place. The only way out was not knowing. Takeshi would just have to say he didn''t know what happened. That was the safest way to end the conversation. "His parents don''t know us, since we didn''t even speak with him before. Takeshi just has to feign ignorance." Ayaka sighed. "So we just tell him to say he doesn''t know? That''s all?" "It''s the only option that won''t make things worse. If they ask him anything specific, he can just say that he didn''t feel well after drinking something from the vending machine." Ayaka exhaled slowly. "Alright.. I guess that works." They stood in silence for a moment. Then Ayaka shook her head. "You know what''s really pissing me off?" Connie looked at her. "We still don''t even know who the hell these guys are. They''re just¡­ what? Some secret assassination group? They mentioned something about revenge. Did Takeshi do something to them? He doesn''t look like the type at all. This whole thing smells fishy." Connie had no answers. That was the worst part. She didn''t understand what she was up against. But she did know one thing. Hiroto Kurose would return tomorrow at 10:00 AM. If they didn''t stop him¡ª It was going to be a disaster. Part 16: Loop Logic Fifteen minutes earlier. The Organization''s headquarters. Kurose moved through the common area with his usual measured pace, coffee in hand. He took his seat at the long, round steel table without a word, his sharp gaze sweeping over the empty seats. Fuse was the only one present, excluding him. She was swinging her legs under her chair, a chocolate biscuit held between her fingers. Her presence, bright and carefree, contrasted starkly against the heavy atmosphere that lingered over the base. The moment of silence was broken by the sharp ring of Kurose''s phone. He checked the caller ID. It was Shougo Narita. Without hesitation, he answered, his posture rigid, disciplined. "Narita. Report." His voice was calm, but the weight behind it was unmistakable. A beat of hesitation on the other end. Then, "The target¡­ escaped. He''s currently in a hospital receiving treatment." Kurose''s fingers tightened slightly around his cup. "What?" His tone remained steady, but there was an edge to it now. "Explain." "A girl we''ve never seen before intervened." A girl? His mind immediately shifted to the most likely scenario. An ability user. "What was her ability?" Fuse perked up slightly at the question, clearly interested. "That''s the thing," Narita continued, voice still uncertain. "She didn''t use one." Kurose''s grip on his phone tightened. "Clarify." "She was¡­ ordinary. At least, she showed no signs of an ability." Impossible. Narita and Hayama, failing against a single civilian? He knew their capabilities. Even Hayama alone could crush the average person. Yet a single girl had not only gotten away but had dragged a half-dead man with her in the process? It wasn''t adding up. "Explain yourself," he ordered. Narita exhaled, as if frustrated by the memory. "She figured out the weakness of Hayama''s ability after seeing it once. I also underestimated her at first, so I didn''t use my own ability immediately. They ran into the crowded station area, and by the time we located them again, there was a commotion at the entrance. She used that as an opening to spray pepper spray at Hayama. He hesitated for just a second, and by the time we pushed through the crowd, they were gone." Clever. Too clever for an ordinary person. Kurose didn''t respond immediately. He was already thinking ahead. "I checked the surveillance cameras," Narita continued. "Found footage of her and another girl helping the target into a taxi. Just now, I traced the taxi''s route. It dropped them off at a hospital. That''s where he is now." Kurose stood up. "I''ll handle it." Narita hesitated. "Shouldn''t we send Arakawa instead?" "She''s not here. It would take too long." "Understood." "You''ll receive a heavy punishment if this girl turns out to be nothing special." Kurose''s voice was cold, final. "Find out who she is. Where she lives. Everything. If she''s a loose end, we cut her off before it becomes a problem for Sir Takatora." "Understood." Click. Kurose had ended the call with a sharp click. "Did you find someone else with an ability?" Fuse asked, her tone noticeably more cheerful than the situation warranted. Kurose turned slightly, glancing at the small girl sitting at the table. She was fourteen¡ªabout to enter high school¡ªbut slightly smaller than most of her peers. Short, shoulder length, reddish-brown hair, slightly messy but naturally soft. Large, grayish-brown eyes, always filled with determination. A child, but not naive. "It hasn''t been confirmed yet," he replied. "Aww¡­" She slumped slightly. Kurose didn''t say anything else. He reached for the black file on the nearby desk and turned toward the exit. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. If this ''ordinary girl'' had the ability to slip past the Organization''s grasp¡­ Then she wouldn''t stay ordinary for long. ------------------------------------------ Twenty-five minutes minutes later. At the hospital. The sterile glow of hospital lights had become all too familiar. Connie leaned back against the cold plastic chair in the waiting area, eyes unfocused as she tried to gather her thoughts. The night had been long¡ªtoo long¡ªbut at least the System had confirmed Takeshi was still alive. For now. Ayaka sat next to her, hands clasped tightly together on her lap, staring at nothing in particular. Neither of them had spoken in a while. Takeshi wasn''t going anywhere. Even if they had figured out what he should tell his parents, it didn''t solve anything. A transfer to another hospital was out of the question. And even if they somehow pulled it off¡­ The Organization would find them in less than an hour. They had already managed to find this hospital in less than half that time. A simple relocation wouldn''t be enough. They needed to stop Kurose tomorrow, either outside or inside the hospital. It worked well that tomorrow was a Saturday, at least they didn''t have to go to school. Connie exhaled, rubbing the back of her neck. "We should go home." Ayaka looked at her, skeptical. "Just like that?" Connie forced a small shrug. "What else can we do? The hospital isn''t going to let us stay overnight. And even if they did, we''re just sitting ducks here." Ayaka didn''t look convinced, but she didn''t argue. She probably understood that lingering wouldn''t accomplish anything. "¡­Fine," Ayaka muttered, standing up. "Come on, I''ll walk you home first." The streets were quieter than usual. Not unnaturally so, but enough that it put Connie on edge. Maybe she was just paranoid after everything that had happened, but she couldn''t shake the feeling that something was off. Ayaka must have noticed her stiffness because she sighed, kicking a stray pebble down the sidewalk. "You keep looking around like someone''s about to jump us." "Can you blame me?" Connie muttered. That earned a half-hearted laugh. "Fair enough." They kept walking in relative silence after that. Ayaka seemed lost in thought, her expression still tense, but she wasn''t pressing for more answers this time. She doubted that Ayaka was satisfied with just what she had told her back at the hospital. Maybe she thought this was not the right moment. Either way, Connie was thankful for that. It wasn''t long before they reached Ayaka''s house. Connie waited until she stepped inside before finally turning back, heading toward her own home. And that''s when it hit. It wasn''t immediate¡ªmore like a slow, creeping sensation. That now-familiar feeling of wrongness. Connie froze in place. The world around her suddenly felt¡­ too still. The air, the lights, the distant hum of the city¡ªit was all too quiet. Her stomach twisted. A death flag had activated. She immediately snapped her head around, scanning her surroundings. Where was it? What was happening? Nothing looked unusual. The street was empty except for a few distant streetlights flickering. There were no strange figures, no shadows lurking around the corner. But the feeling wouldn''t leave. A sharp snap echoed from above. Connie barely had time to look up before a power line cable violently ripped loose, sending a cascade of sparks raining down. Her body moved on instinct. She jumped back just in time, the wire crashing onto the pavement inches from where she had been standing. It writhed and crackled, sending streaks of raw electricity dancing across the ground. Too close. Her heartbeat was pounding in her ears. She barely had a second to catch her breath before¡ª BOOM. A nearby fire hydrant exploded. Water gushed into the air, spraying everywhere. The electrified ground lit up instantly. The realization barely had time to sink in before a sharp, burning shock surged through her body. Agony. A split second of unbearable, searing pain¡ª The world blinked. The scent of coffee. The sound of soft chatter. The dim, warm glow of a caf¨¦. Connie''s eyes snapped open. Connie''s fingers dug into the wooden table, breath caught in her throat. Her vision blurred, her mind still stuck in the moment before she died. The crackle of electricity. The pain. The sudden, searing heat. But it was gone. Replaced by warm air, light conversations, the distant hum of a coffee machine. She wasn''t outside in the street anymore. She was back. Back before Takeshi was poisoned. Back before everything. A slow, dreadful realization sank in. This isn''t right. The reset shouldn''t have taken her this far. It had always pulled her back to the last unresolved death flag¡ªnever beyond that. So why? Why was she here? Why had all that progress been erased? A shaky breath left her lips as she reached for her phone, hands trembling. She already knew what she was going to see. But that didn''t make it any easier. Her fingers swiped across the screen, opening her messages. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 22.] Twenty-two. Her entire body went cold. That wasn''t right. That wasn''t possible. She had twenty-nine points. She had earned those points. She had saved Takeshi. She had gone through the hell of dragging his nearly unconscious body to a hospital, risking her life against an unknown enemy¡ª So where were those points now? It was as if they had never existed at all. Her breathing felt too shallow. Did she¡­ imagine it? No. That''s impossible. The pain, the exhaustion, the overwhelming fear of being hunted down. None of it had been fake. Her mind spun wildly, searching for answers. Did the System reset everything because she failed? No, that wasn''t it. She had failed plenty of times before, and the resets had always taken her back to the most recent checkpoint. Then why? What was different this time? Her thoughts were spiraling¡ª "Connie?" The voice snapped her out of her daze. She flinched, her eyes darting across the table. Ayaka was staring at her, brow furrowed in concern. For a second, Connie couldn''t process it. Right. Ayaka was here. She had been sitting across from her, before all of this started. And now, she was staring at her like she had grown a second head. "Why do you look like you''ve just seen a ghost?" Ayaka asked. Connie opened her mouth¡ªthen closed it again. Her pulse was still too fast. Her skin was still tingling with the phantom sensation of being electrocuted. She tried to swallow down the panic, to steady herself. But what the hell was she supposed to say? How could she even explain this? She had died. Again. But this time, instead of being sent back a few minutes or even half an hour, she had been thrown all the way back here. What the hell is going on? She forced a small, strained laugh. "Uh¡­ I just¡­ spaced out for a second." Ayaka raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, okay. Sure." She didn''t sound convinced. Connie didn''t blame her. Because even she didn''t believe herself. Her grip tightened around her phone. Her mind screamed with questions she couldn''t answer. Why did I loop this far back? Why did I lose those points? Why did I have to be the one going through this? For the first time since this nightmare began¡ª She felt like her mind wouldn''t last until she saw the end of it all. Part 17: All Over Again Connie''s hands hadn''t moved from the table. Her fingers still clenched around her phone, the screen dark now, but the message burned into her mind. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 22.] Her pulse hammered against her ribs. She knew this didn''t make sense. Even when she ignored the fact that the System had looped her this far back¡ªwhy had it taken her points? This had never happened before. Even in the worst resets, even when she''d failed completely, the System never erased what she had already earned. This wasn''t just a punishment for failure. It was as if those points had never existed at all. She needed time to think. She needed to sit down and¡ªno, she was already sitting. She needed to get out of here. But before she could so much as move, Ayaka spoke. "Alright, I call bullshit," she said flatly. Connie looked up sharply, eyes meeting Ayaka''s skeptical, narrowed gaze. "You''ve been sitting there gripping your phone like you''re about to throw up," Ayaka continued. "What the hell is going on?" Connie''s mouth went dry. Her reaction had been too obvious. She forced her fingers to unclench, forcing herself to breathe. She needed to play this off. She needed to¡ª Her thoughts stuttered. Her body was still tingling. The phantom sensation of electricity jolting through her veins had yet to fade. She couldn''t brush this off. Not entirely. "...I had a weird feeling," she said slowly. "Like, d¨¦j¨¤ vu or something. Made me dizzy for a second." Ayaka frowned. "...D¨¦j¨¤ vu?" "Yeah." Connie exhaled. "Like I''ve already had this conversation before." Ayaka''s expression flickered slightly. "Huh. That''s¡­ weird." Good. She wasn''t pressing further. Connie needed to think. She was back at the caf¨¦. Before Takeshi had collapsed. Before she even knew he was in danger. This shouldn''t have happened. This reset wasn''t normal. That meant she had overlooked something. Something massive. Her brain hadn''t caught up yet. She was still thinking back to the pain of electrocution. That burning sensation was the worst thing she had ever experienced in her entire life. Her pulse pounded in her ears. She needed to pull herself together. Think. Think. What do I do? The caf¨¦ door suddenly swung open. Takeshi walked in. Connie''s heart slammed against her ribs. For a split second, she forgot how to breathe. There he was. Just like before. The same slightly wrinkled uniform, the same tired posture, the same dull gaze. The poison was already in him. The poison the Organization had prepared, just to kill him. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Connie remembered the conversation Kurose had on the phone. About Takeshi having an ''ability''. After thinking about it for a few seconds, she decided to do things in order. First, save him. Then ask questions. Takeshi had already ingested the poison. She had to act before it got worse. Her chair scraped loudly against the floor as she stood up abruptly. Ayaka blinked. "Uh¡­ what are you¡ª" Connie didn''t answer. Her body moved on instinct. Takeshi had barely stepped in when she grabbed his wrist. He startled, turning toward her in confusion. "You need to come with me," she said, voice low but firm. Takeshi blinked. "...Huh?" "No time. It''s important." Ayaka was staring from the table now, looking utterly lost. "Okay, what¡ª?" Takeshi gave her a slightly wary look. "Uh, do I know you¡­?" He dragged his sentence near the end. It was probably that strange feeling of recognition again. That feeling of having two different memories of the same place and time. Connie ignored it. She couldn''t waste time. "You''re not feeling well, right?" she pressed, keeping her voice steady. "Dizzy? Lightheaded?" Takeshi''s brows furrowed. "How did you¡ª?" "Come with me," she repeated. "Now." Takeshi hesitated. He did feel sick. She could see it¡ªthe slight unsteadiness in his movements, the way his eyes were struggling to focus. The symptoms were already starting. And if she didn''t get him out of here now, it would spiral out of control again. "Wh¡ª...Alright," he muttered. He was about to refuse, but after a slight pause, he agreed. As if he suddenly remembered something that made him change his mind. Connie let out a breath she hadn''t realized she was holding. She turned back to Ayaka, who still looked like she had way too many questions. "I''ll explain later," Connie promised. "I just¡ªI need to do this first." Ayaka hesitated. But after a long pause, she sighed. "...Fine. But you owe me." Connie nodded quickly, then turned back to Takeshi. She had him. Now she just had to keep him alive. And maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªfigure out what the hell she had missed. Takeshi was already unsteady on his feet. Now that she was looking closely, Connie could see it¡ªthe small, almost imperceptible tremor in his fingers, the way his eyes lingered for just a second too long when focusing on something, as if his brain was struggling to keep up. He didn''t even realize it yet. But she did. She knew exactly how this would end if she did nothing. Not this time. They stepped out of the caf¨¦, the door closing behind them with a soft chime. Takeshi finally spoke, his voice dry and skeptical. "...Are you gonna tell me why you just dragged me out of there?" Connie exhaled sharply. "You don''t have time for coffee." Takeshi blinked. "What?" She didn''t slow down, forcing him to match her pace. "You''re sick," she said bluntly. Takeshi gave her a strange look. "I feel fine." Liar. She knew the signs. Knew that his symptoms would only get worse the longer he stayed here, waiting for his body to shut down. And then he would collapse. It would be too late then. Connie picked up her pace. Takeshi frowned. "Hey, seriously. Who even are you?" She ignored the question. "We''re going to a hospital," she said instead. That stopped him. Takeshi''s steps halted, forcing her to stop too. He raised an eyebrow, giving her a very skeptical look. "...Okay. What?" "You need a doctor," Connie said. "Now." Takeshi let out a dry laugh. "I think I''d know if I was¡ª" He swayed. It was small. Almost nothing. But Connie caught it. The way his weight shifted slightly to one side before he corrected himself. The way his fingers twitched. The poison was already sinking in. Her stomach dropped. Not again. She grabbed his arm before he could protest. "Takeshi, I''m serious. You need help." "...Okay, hold up," Takeshi said, pulling his arm back slightly. "This is weird. Like¡ªreally weird. How do you even know¡ª" And then, as if on cue¡ª He stumbled. Just slightly. But it was enough. A wave of dizziness crashed into him, his brows furrowing as he raised a hand to his temple. His breathing hitched. And in that moment¡ªhe finally understood. "...Wait," he muttered. "Why do I feel¡ª" Connie didn''t wait. She grabbed him again, stronger this time. "No time," she snapped. "We''re going. Now." Takeshi wasn''t in a position to argue anymore. Not when his own body was turning against him. Not when the edges of his vision were starting to blur. "...Shit," he cursed under his breath. Connie''s grip on him tightened. They had to move. Connie knew she couldn''t call an ambulance. She had tried that before. But there was no signal even though they are in the middle of the city. She had to get him there herself. Her mind raced. There was a hospital nearby¡ªThey just needed to get a taxi like last time. It was further away because in the last timeline they had ran in the direction of the hospital. Now they were about two more minutes away from it. Takeshi was already deteriorating. He could still walk, but not for long. She needed transportation. Now. Her eyes darted around the street, scanning for something¡ªanything. Then¡ªshe saw it. A taxi was waiting at the curb. Connie dragged Takeshi forward. He didn''t resist anymore. His legs felt heavier. His mind felt sluggish. He didn''t know what was happening to him. But Connie did. And she wasn''t going to let it happen again. She threw open the taxi door and practically shoved him inside. The driver, an older man with glasses, looked startled. "Uh¡ª?" "Hospital," Connie snapped. "Now." The driver hesitated. Connie grabbed her wallet, pulled out cash. "Hospital," she repeated. "Fast." That was enough. The driver didn''t question it anymore. The taxi sped off. Takeshi''s breathing was uneven now. The taxi''s interior was stiflingly quiet. Connie''s hands clenched against her lap. She knew this was the right call. Getting him to the hospital this early should mean that he could recover quicker. But that didn''t explain the loop. That didn''t explain why she had been thrown back this far. Something was missing. Something huge. Her gaze flickered to her phone screen again. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 22.] The seven points she had earned before¡ªgone. Like she had never saved him at all. Her stomach twisted. Would there be no more checkpoints from now on? Would she have to do everything all over again if she reset even once? The thought alone terrified her. She still didn''t get it. What had she missed? The taxi took a sharp turn, the hospital coming into view. Connie exhaled. One step at a time. First, she had to make sure Takeshi survived. Then¡ªshe would find out why this reset was different. Part 18: And Again The taxi''s tires screeched softly as it weaved through the city streets. Connie sat rigidly, her fists clenched against her lap, her pulse still hammering in her ears. Takeshi''s condition was worse than before. The last time she lived through this, he had only collapsed after sitting down in the caf¨¦. Takeshi sat slumped against the seat, his breathing coming in slow, uneven pulls. Connie''s fingers twitched against her knee. The poison was acting faster. Why? Was it because she was moving quicker this time? Had her interference somehow changed the timeline? Her stomach twisted. She didn''t like this. If things were already diverging from what she remembered, then how much could she actually rely on her past knowledge? Her phone''s clock told her they were still about four minutes away from the hospital. Too long. Takeshi was deteriorating faster than before. His skin was already far too pale. His fingers barely twitched when she nudged him. His breathing was slower. Last time, he had been able to run around for a while before collapsing. But now? This poison was working much faster. Why? She had acted faster this time. She had pulled him out of the caf¨¦ before he even sat down. So why was he worse now? "Hey," she said, voice low. Takeshi didn''t react at first. Her grip tightened on the seat. "Takeshi," she said, forcing her voice to stay calm. "Don''t fall asleep." A small, exhausted sound left him. "...Tired." "I know," she muttered. "But you need to stay awake. We''re almost there." A slow, barely perceptible nod. Takeshi let out a small, dry laugh. "I''m not planning to die or anything." But you already did. She swallowed the words. She couldn''t tell him that. Connie turned to the driver. "Can you go any faster?" The driver, an older man with glasses, gave her a sharp look. "I''m already going past the limit, miss. Any faster and¡ª" Her entire body went cold. It was sudden¡ªlike a switch being flipped inside her mind. That overwhelming, sickening feeling. The dread. The deep, soul-crushing knowledge that something terrible had just started. A death flag. She felt it. She felt it activate. Very clearly. Her hands turned ice cold. Her breathing hitched. What? Where? Her head snapped around, eyes darting frantically. Nothing looked out of place. There was nothing in the car that could kill them easily enough. The road ahead was clear too. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Connie''s eyes glanced at the street light just ahead of them. It was green. The cars in the other lane had stopped just before the intersection. Wait... Why did they stop? The light should be green on their side too? The taxi was about to cross the intersection. That''s when she noticed. The street light on their lane was flickering slightly. It was malfunctioning. Then¡ª HONK! The blaring horn of a semi-truck. Coming from the right. Her head whipped to the side¡ª And her stomach dropped. Headlights. Blinding, white-hot headlights barreling toward them. The driver screamed. Connie turned to Takeshi. "Takeshi¡ª!" But it was already too late. A flash of metal. A sound like the sky splitting apart. A sickening crunch of steel, shattering glass. Connie barely had time to scream as the entire car lurched violently. The sound of twisting steel, tires screeching, bones slamming against unforgiving surfaces¡ª Her body flew. For a moment, all she saw was chaos, spinning colors, darkness swallowing her vision. Then¡ª The world blinked. The scent of coffee. The quiet hum of a caf¨¦. The feeling of wooden table under her hands. Connie''s eyes snapped open. She was back. Again. The caf¨¦ door was still closed. Ayaka still sat across from her, lazily stirring her drink. Takeshi hadn''t walked in yet. Her entire body shook violently. Her breath came in short, uneven gasps. No. No, no, no. This wasn''t supposed to happen. She had saved Takeshi already. She had gotten him out. So why? Why was her checkpoint stuck here? Her fingers curled against the table. This wasn''t just about the poison. The moment before the crash¡ªshe had felt it. A new death flag had activated out of nowhere. A death flag that she didn''t encounter last time. -------------------- The caf¨¦. Connie sat at the table, her hands clenched so tightly against the wood that they felt like they might splinter it. She had reset again. This time, not because of Takeshi¡¯s poisoning. But the car accident¡ªthat had been the real trigger this time. And yet¡ªshe was still back here. Not at the accident. Not just before impact. Back at the caf¨¦. She tried to steady her breathing. Why? The System¡¯s rules had been consistent up until now. She always reset to her last ¡°checkpoint,¡± the moment a death flag first triggered. But if that was true¡ªthen why had she been sent this far back again? It wasn¡¯t like the caf¨¦ was connected to the road accident. Was it just because she hadn''t saved Takeshi yet in this loop? Or¡ª Her stomach twisted. Were there other rules she didn''t know about? Had she been sent back here because she hadn''t escaped the real death flag yet? Her mind raced. But before she could follow that thought¡ª "Connie?" Ayaka¡¯s voice cut through her thoughts. Connie flinched. Her head snapped up. Ayaka was staring at her with mild concern. "You¡¯re zoning out again," she said, frowning slightly. "What¡¯s with you today?" Connie¡¯s grip on the table tightened. She had no time for this. Takeshi would walk through the door any second now. "I¡¯m fine," she muttered, voice a little too tight. Ayaka raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I¡¯m not buying that." Chime. The caf¨¦ door swung open. Connie¡¯s heart dropped. Takeshi stepped inside. His same, tired expression. His uniform slightly wrinkled. His fingers twitching slightly, the first signs of the poison already kicking in. She didn''t have enough time. She had already tried rushing him to the hospital. But that had led to a crash. If she called an ambulance, the call would end as soon as she pressed the button. If she tried any other method, she might not make it in time. Her chest tightened. She had no choice. She still had to take a taxi. But this time¡ªshe would take a different route. She pushed herself up from her seat. Ayaka blinked. "Uh¡ªwhere are you¡ª?" Connie ignored her. Her feet moved before her mind fully caught up. She crossed the caf¨¦ in record time, stepping in front of Takeshi before he even reached the counter. Takeshi stopped abruptly, blinking at her. "...Uh," he said. "Do I know¡ª" "You¡¯re coming with me," Connie cut in, grabbing his wrist. Takeshi frowned. "Okay, but¡ªwhat?" "You¡¯re not feeling well, right?" she said quickly. His brows furrowed. "How did you¡ª?" "I''ll explain later," she interrupted. "But we need to go. Now." Takeshi hesitated. Then, just like before, he swayed slightly. His fingers trembled. His expression flickered. Connie didn¡¯t let him think too hard about it. She pulled him forward. "Wait¡ªwhat?! What are you doing?!" Ayaka had pushed herself out of her chair, staring at them. "Why are you leaving with some random guy?!" she blurted out. "What the hell is going on?!" Connie didn''t even turn to face her. "I¡¯ll explain later." She said as she got out of the caf¨¨. She didn¡¯t stop moving. Takeshi, now too lightheaded to argue, stumbled after her. They pushed through the caf¨¦ doors and out onto the street. The same setup. A taxi was waiting at the curb. But this time, she knew better. She took a deep breath. "This time we¡¯ll take a different route." Takeshi blinked at her, confused. "...What?" She turned to the driver, quickly pulling out cash. "Hospital. Take a longer route¡ªavoid the main road near the intersection by 4th Street." The driver looked at her, skeptical. "That¡¯ll add another ten minutes." "That¡¯s fine," Connie said immediately. Before the driver could argue, she pushed Takeshi forward. "Come on¡ª" But Takeshi¡¯s body tensed. He hesitated. His fingers clenched slightly. His gaze flickered to the taxi. "...I don¡¯t know why," he muttered, voice slightly hoarse. "But I feel like¡­ if I get in this car, something bad¡¯s gonna happen." Connie¡¯s breath caught. Her pulse spiked. It wasn¡¯t a normal feeling. It wasn¡¯t just hesitation. It was an echo. Just like before. Somewhere, buried deep inside his subconscious, the remnants of his previous deaths still lingered. A ghost of a warning. Connie was certain now. Takeshi was able to retain some fragments of memories from past loops. She didn''t know how it worked, and she didn''t have time for this anyway. She turned toward him, her voice calm, steady. "We have no other option," she said firmly. Takeshi¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. "You¡¯re sick," she pressed. "If we don¡¯t move now, you¡¯re not gonna make it to the hospital in time." Takeshi was too weak to argue. His hesitation lasted only a second longer¡ªthen he let out a small sigh. "...Fine," he muttered. Connie exhaled. Without wasting another second, she helped him into the taxi. The driver, now convinced this was serious, sped off. Connie leaned back in her seat, trying to steady her breathing. This time would be different. This time, she wouldn¡¯t let any accident happen. This time, she would win. She had to. Part 19: No Way Except Through The taxi''s engine hummed as they sped down the alternate route. Connie sat rigidly, eyes flicking between Takeshi and the road ahead. She could still see it¡ªthe way he leaned heavily against the seat, his chest rising and falling at different intervals. This was supposed to be the right choice. She had avoided the accident. This should have been enough. But something was wrong. Takeshi''s breathing wasn''t steadying. His fingers were twitching slightly. His lips parted, a weak, raspy breath escaping. Her stomach dropped. It was too slow. The taxi was too slow. "How much longer?" she asked sharply, turning to the driver. The man gave her an odd look. "Seven minutes. Maybe less if I¡ª" Seven. Her pulse spiked. Seven was too long. Takeshi had already collapsed before the caf¨¦ last time. He had only barely made it before slipping into unconsciousness. Now¡ªhe had lost even more time. Her hands dug into the seat. "Takeshi?" she said, voice sharper now. He didn''t react. She reached out, shaking his shoulder. "Hey, wake up!" His eyelids fluttered¡ªbut just barely. His lips parted slightly. "...Cold," he muttered weakly. Connie''s chest tightened. No, no, no. She turned to the driver, voice laced with panic. "You need to go faster!" The driver frowned. "Miss, I told you, I''m already¡ª" "I don''t care! Just¡ªplease!" But even as she said it¡ªshe knew. It was too late. Takeshi let out a slow, shuddering breath. His body slumped. The color drained from his skin. His fingers twitched¡ªonce, twice. Then stopped moving. The cab was silent. Connie froze. For half a second, she still thought¡ªmaybe, maybe there was a chance¡ª But no. She had seen this before. She knew what came next. The world blinked. The scent of coffee. The hum of soft conversations. The weight of her phone in her lap. Connie''s eyes snapped open. She was back. Again. Her entire body shook. Her lungs felt empty. No. Not again. Not again, not again, not again¡ª Her fingers dug into the table, knuckles white. This was supposed to be the right answer. She had avoided the crash. So why? Why had she failed again? Connie''s hands dug into the wooden table. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps. She had failed again. The taxi had been too slow. She had avoided one death flag, only to walk straight into another. And now¡ªshe was back. Still in the caf¨¦. Still at the very beginning. Her mind raced, trying to grasp at anything useful. Every time she made a move, it was as if the universe itself wanted to stop her. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. She gritted her teeth. She didn''t have time to sit here and feel sorry for herself. She needed to try again. And this time¡ª She needed to be faster. A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. "Connie?" She didn''t jump this time. She already knew it was coming. Ayaka was watching her. Her expression was confused, eyebrows drawn together slightly. "You okay? You look like you''ve seen a ghost." Connie exhaled slowly. She barely looked up. "I''m fine," she muttered. Ayaka raised an eyebrow, worried. "You don''t look fine. You''re all stiff and weird." Connie didn''t respond. There wasn''t enough time. Chime. The caf¨¦ door swung open. Connie''s stomach tightened. Takeshi walked inside. Her time window was already closing. This time¡ªshe wouldn''t waste a second. She pushed up from her chair. Ayaka blinked. "Wait¡ªwhere are you¡ª" Connie was already crossing the caf¨¦. Takeshi barely had time to register her presence before she grabbed his wrist. "You need to come with me. Now." Takeshi stared at her. "..What the hell?" "You''re sick," she said, her grip tightening. "If we don''t leave now, you''re gonna die." His brow furrowed. His body wavered slightly¡ªjust like before. He was already feeling it. His subconscious was catching up. Connie didn''t let him think too hard about it. She pulled him toward the door¡ª "Wait¡ªwhat?! What are you doing?!" Ayaka''s voice rang out behind her. Connie winced. Ayaka had pushed herself out of her chair, staring at them. "Why are you kidnapping some random guy?!" she blurted out. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" Several customers in the caf¨¨ turned around. Some had their attention caught by her statement, some others were simply curious at her shouting. Connie gritted her teeth. "I''ll explain later!" she snapped. Ayaka stared at her. Then at Takeshi¡ªwho was clearly dazed and unsteady on his feet. Then back at Connie. Her expression shifted. She was still confused. Still shocked. But now, her concern was outweighing her skepticism. "...Connie, what''s actually going on?" she asked, voice quieter. Connie hesitated for a second. She couldn''t answer. She didn''t have time. She turned back to Takeshi. They pushed through the caf¨¦ doors¡ª And that was when she made her first mistake. The moment Connie and Takeshi stepped outside, her mind was racing. She couldn''t take a taxi again. She couldn''t run the whole way. She needed another option. But before she could settle on a plan¡ª She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Hey," Ayaka said behind her. "Are you seriously not gonna¡ª" Connie flinched at the sudden touch. It wasn''t Ayaka''s fault. It wasn''t anyone''s fault. But Connie''s sharp reaction caught the eyes of a man passing by. A man carrying a full cup of coffee. He slipped, tripping slightly over the curb of the sidewalk. His cup slipped from his hands. The lid popped off mid-air. Scalding-hot liquid splashed onto the shoulder of another passing man. That man yelled in pain. He stumbled¡ªbumping straight into a woman walking out of the caf¨¦. She gasped¡ªstaggering backward. Her elbow knocked into a wobbly metal pole¡ª The pole smacked against the wall¡ª And the sign above the caf¨¦ entrance shook loose. Connie''s eyes snapped upward. Her blood ran cold. No. It tilted¡ªThen it fell. And it was coming down¡ª Right toward her. THUNK. The world blinked. The scent of coffee. The quiet hum of a caf¨¦. Connie''s eyes snapped open. She was back. Again. Her entire body trembled. Her heart pounded so hard it hurt. It wasn''t random. It wasn''t a coincidence. It was her. She had caused it. By moving too fast. By trying to avoid the taxi. By trying to change things too much. Her actions had set off a chain reaction. She had gotten herself killed. And now¡ª She had failed again. ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Connie tried over and over again. Seven more times. Connie had failed seven more times. Seven attempts. Seven resets. Seven deaths. Each time, the world had countered her. It wasn''t always the same way. She would get caught in unexpected traffic. Once, the taxi she had taken got a flat tire midway. Another time, the driver had misheard the destination, taking a route so far out of the way that she had reset before even realizing the mistake. She had also taken shortcuts through alleyways¡ªonly for metal bars the construction workers were using to fall directly on her head. She had tried hitching a ride with a random driver¡ªonly to get into another crash. She had even survived that one, but she didn''t make it to the hospital in time. She had even attempted making Takeshi throw up the poisoned drink, and it worked to an extent¡ªbut they didn''t find any taxis around for more than ten minutes. Takeshi was getting worse since the poison hadn''t completely left his system, so she opted to rent a bike from a nearby bike rental station and cycle the whole way there, only for the chain to break midway. She made the taxi wait for her, then made Takeshi throw up, and then take the alternative route. But as they drove, a nearby car exploded, sending sharp fragments of metal directly into the driver''s skull. The taxi suddenly turned right, making them crash at full speed against a cement wall. The car had exploded because it had leaking fuel from the tank, and a spark from a construction worker welding something near it had ignited the fuel. Then, a gust of wind blew directly over the fire. The pressure inside the fuel tank became too much for the old model car, exploding just as the taxi was driving by. Although Connie had no way to notice this as they were speeding down the road. As a last effort, she tried to make the taxi go as far as possible, then call for an ambulance, thinking the signal was being jammed by something or someone. But it didn''t work. The closest she had ever gotten was in a taxi. But no matter how fast the car was, how early she had left, or what route she took¡ª She had never made it. Each failure was unique. Each failure was perfectly timed. Every condition had been just right for everything to go completely wrong. And now¡ª She was back again. The caf¨¦. The same wooden table beneath her fingers. The same hum of soft conversation. The same chill running down her spine. This isn''t just bad luck. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her jacket. This was deliberate. Something¡ªthe System, the world, or whatever was behind this¡ª It wasn''t letting her win. Not like this. Not the way she wanted to. It was pushing her toward something else. Something bigger. She just didn''t know what¡ª "Connie?" A voice cut through the air. She didn''t react. She didn''t even look up. She was too deep in thought. Ayaka was calling her name. But right now¡ªnothing else mattered. She needed to understand. She needed to figure this out. Her mind raced through every past loop. Every reset. Every failure. She had tried so many different methods. Riding a bike. Taking a taxi. Avoiding a taxi. Even making Takeshi throw up before moving. None of them had worked. Except for one time. One single attempt where she had actually saved Takeshi. Her stomach tightened. She remembered it clearly. The loop where she had escaped with him. The loop where they had made it to the hospital before he died. The only time she had won. That was also the time she had run into them. The two men. The ones who had been after Takeshi from the very beginning. The ones from the Organization. They had chased her. They had cornered her. They had tried to stop her. And ironically¡ªthat was the only time she had won. Her pulse thundered in her ears. It made no sense. Unless¡ª Her breath hitched. Unless that was the real point of all this. Not just saving Takeshi. Not just getting him to the hospital. But going against them. Against the Organization. Against the people trying to kill him. Her heartbeat pounded violently. That''s it. The realization hit her like a truck. The System¡ªor the universe itself¡ªwas forcing her down that path. She had tried to avoid it. She had tried to find another way. And each time, the world had crushed her under its weight. Like a game where the only way to progress was to face the boss battle head-on. It wasn''t enough to just save Takeshi. It wanted her to fight back. To face the people after him. To go against the Organization directly. Her hands curled into fists. If that was the case¡ª Then there was no way out. No path except through. No escape except to fight. She hated it. She had never wanted this. She had never asked for this. She had spent her entire life avoiding problems, avoiding confrontation. And now¡ª Now, she was being thrown into the middle of a war she didn''t understand. Her throat tightened. She didn''t want to die again. She didn''t want to face them again. But the System¡ªor whatever controlled this nightmare¡ªwasn''t giving her a choice. Her grip on the table tightened. Fine. If it wanted a fight¡ª She would find a way to win it. Part 20: Ambushed Before The Ambush Fine. If whatever controlled this nightmare wanted her to fight, then she would fight. She wasn''t strong. She wasn''t brave. But she sure as hell wasn''t going to sit here and keep dying like this. But how? She didn''t have powers. She didn''t have weapons. She barely even knew what she was up against. The only thing she knew for sure was them. The two men. The ones who had chased her through the station, the ones who had tried to take Takeshi away. Her only successful attempt had been when she encountered them. Which meant¡ªif she wanted to survive this loop, she had to run into them again. She had to put herself in their path. Her fingers tightened into fists. She hated that thought. But she was done running. This time¡ªshe would be ready. "Connie!" Ayaka''s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She blinked. Ayaka was staring at her, arms crossed, brow furrowed. "You are completely ignoring me," she said flatly. "You''ve been weird lately, but this is a new level. You didn''t even flinch when I called your name. Seriously, what is going on with you?" Connie let out a slow breath. She needed to get out of here. This conversation wasn''t important¡ªnot yet at least. "I''ll explain later," she muttered, already standing up. Ayaka''s brows lifted slightly. ""Uh¡ªwhere are you going?" Connie hesitated. She knew Ayaka was genuinely worried. And she had been pushing her away every single time. That wasn''t fair. But right now, she had no choice. She turned toward the door, ready to leave the caf¨¨ again. Ayaka stood up. "Okay, yeah, no. That doesn''t work for me. I literally just said you were acting weird, and now you''re being even weirder¡ª" ¡ªThe familiar chime rang. The caf¨¦ door swung open. Takeshi stepped inside. Connie took a sharp breath. This time¡ªshe wasn''t going to hesitate. She wasn''t going to let the world cheat her again. She was going to break through. One way or another. Takeshi had barely taken a step inside before Connie grabbed his wrist. A few customers took a glance at them before returning to their conversations. He jerked back slightly, eyes widening. "Huh?" "We need to go," Connie said. Firm. Unshaking. No room for argument. Takeshi frowned. "Go where¡ªWho even are you?" He corrected himself. "You need to go to a hospital." "A what¡ª?" "You''re sick. You don''t have time to argue." Takeshi blinked. Something in her tone must''ve reached him¡ªbecause he hesitated. Then, slowly, he exhaled. "...Okay," he muttered. "Fine." The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. He was confused. But he was listening, for some reason. It was as if they already knew each other. As if he trusted her from the beginning. Good. Now¡ªshe just had to go the alley near the station. That was where she had met them last time. If she could lure them out again¡ªthis time, she''d be ready. She didn''t know how. She didn''t have a plan. But she had one undeniable truth. The System wanted her to go against them. That meant¡ªit had to be possible. She just had to figure out how. She led Takeshi toward the door¡ª And, of course, Ayaka blocked their path. "Hold on," Ayaka said, arms crossed. "You''re actually serious about this? You''re dragging this guy to a hospital? Right now??" Connie nodded. "Yes." Ayaka stared. Her deep violet eyes searched Connie''s face. Then¡ªher expression shifted. The annoyance didn''t disappear entirely. But there was something else there, too. Concern. "¡­You''re not messing around, are you?" Ayaka muttered. Connie didn''t flinch. "No." A long beat of silence. Then¡ªAyaka exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "Fine. Whatever. I don''t get what''s going on, but¡­" She gave Connie a look. "You better explain everything later." "I will," Connie lied. She didn''t think she would be able to resolve this in a single loop. That was a problem for future her. Right now¡ªshe had bigger things to worry about. She pulled Takeshi out the door, into the streets¡ª And straight toward the station. She was going to run into them. She was going to make them chase her. And then¡ª ¡­Then what? Her stomach tightened. She was pushing herself straight into the enemy''s hands. That was fine. That was the point. But what was she actually going to do once she got there? Last time, she had barely escaped. She had survived by pure luck. That wasn''t a strategy. That wasn''t a plan. That was just barely clinging onto life. It was recklessness. Her pulse pounded. Think, Connie. Think. She couldn''t fight them. She couldn''t outrun them forever. But she had to do something. She glanced at Takeshi. He was staying quiet. He was watching her, though. She could tell. He wasn''t as disoriented as before. Maybe this time¡ª Maybe she could get something out of him. She had so many questions. Did he know something about the Organization? Why did they care so much about killing him? And most importantly¡ªDid Takeshi really have an ability? Her jaw clenched. She needed to figure this out. Fast. Because if she was really going to war with these people¡ª She needed to know what the hell she was up against. ----------------- The cool evening air pressed against Connie''s skin as she and Takeshi walked on the streets. This time, she didn''t feel the usual panic. Not because she wasn''t scared¡ªshe was terrified. But this time, she was walking straight into it. The two men from before¡ªthe ones who had chased her through the train station¡ªthey were watching. She didn''t have to look. She knew they had been following ever since she ran off with Takeshi. That meant they hadn''t acted yet because they were waiting for the right moment. Her fingers curled. Good. Because this time, she was waiting for them. Takeshi walked beside her, still quiet. He hadn''t asked questions yet. But she could feel it¡ªhe was thinking. He had that same focused, heavy expression from before, like something in the back of his mind was trying to surface. Like he was remembering something he shouldn''t be able to remember. She swallowed. Now wasn''t the time. They reached the alley. The same exact alley from before. Connie slowed her steps, scanning the area carefully. Nothing. No one. Just the dim glow of a streetlamp flickering weakly against the cracked pavement. She shouldn''t have expected to find them standing out in the open. She let out a slow breath, steadying her thoughts. If they were going to make a move, they would do it soon. She had to be ready. She turned to Takeshi. "We''re waiting here for a second." Takeshi frowned. "For what?" Connie hesitated. She needed an excuse. A reason that wouldn''t make him panic. "Just¡­ catching my breath," she said quickly. Takeshi studied her for a moment. Then, to her complete surprise¡ª He sighed and sat down on an overturned crate against the wall. "Fine," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "I feel like shit anyway." Connie''s stomach twisted. Right. He was still poisoned. And here she was, dragging him into danger instead of taking him to a hospital. Her jaw clenched. She had to make this work. She had to make it worth it. The evening air was crisp, carrying the distant sounds of traffic and murmured conversations. Connie walked beside Takeshi, her grip on his wrist steady but not tight enough to draw suspicion from the people around them. They took the same path. Through the thinning crowd. Toward the alley. She kept glancing around, pretending to be casual. Watching for anyone out of place. Nothing. No one. But the unease in her chest remained. They were being followed. She didn''t know how. She didn''t know by who. But she knew. The alley was still a few turns ahead, but the streets were already empty. None in sight except for a few people. She kept moving forward, forcing herself to breathe evenly. She needed them to show themselves first. If she could spot them before they made a move¡ª Maybe she could turn this around. Takeshi suddenly stopped. Connie turned around and looked at him. "What happened?" "Just¡­ catching my breath," he said quickly. He sighed and sat down on an overturned crate against the wall. His complexion didn''t look good, but he was still holding on better than the other timelines. Right. He was still poisoned. And here she was, dragging him into danger. Her jaw clenched. She had no other way. She had to make this work. But just as the last person left the already unpopulated street¡ª Everything went wrong. A crushing weight slammed down on her. Her knees buckled. Her stomach dropped. Her body felt twice as heavy. Then¡ª SLAM. She collapsed hard against the pavement. Hard. A groan came from beside her¡ªTakeshi had fallen too. Her breath hitched. No¡ªnot again. She tried to move. She couldn''t. Her limbs refused to lift. It was the same as before. That unseen force pinning her down. Footsteps echoed against the pavement. Two figures stepped out from the shadows. One¡ªcalm, composed. The other¡ªgrinning. She recognized them instantly. The same two who had chased her through the station and almost caught her. The grinning one let out a short laugh. "Man, you two really took your time." His smirk widened as he tilted his head. "Good thing we kept an eye on him until he got in the caf¨¦, huh?" Connie''s breath caught. That''s how they found them. They had been watching Takeshi until the moment he got in the caf¨¨. She managed to investigate the cause of the poison in the second loop because they had already stopped observing him. They left the scene, thinking he would die in the caf¨¨. But this time she had been too quick to leave, and they caught them. Her pulse pounded against her ribs. They were following them from the start. And this time¡ªshe couldn''t run. Part 21: The Gravity Of The Situation Connie felt it before she saw them. That crushing weight. The invisible force slammed against her body, pinning her to the ground before she could even think of running. The impact knocked the breath from her lungs, her knees crashing against the rough pavement. A sharp gasp escaped Takeshi beside her as he collapsed face first on the floor under the same force. His already weakened body couldn''t handle the sudden increase in gravity, and he crumpled like a ragdoll. Footsteps echoed through the empty alleyway. Slow. Unrushed. Two people emerged from the shadows. It was them. The calm one¡ªsharp and observing dark eyes, with a serious expression. The grinning one¡ªlean, golden-amber eyes gleaming with something too excited for the situation. Connie didn''t know their names yet, but she knew exactly what they were here for. Her body trembled against the force of the gravity ability, but her mind was clear. This was it. She had led them right where she wanted. Now¡­ she just had to survive. Somehow. The other man¡ª the ability user¡ªsighed, rolling his shoulders. "Man¡­ what a letdown." Connie''s pulse spiked. He wasn''t talking to her. His golden-amber eyes flicked toward Takeshi''s crumpled form. "I was hoping this little hunt would be more exciting," he muttered. "But I guess weaklings don''t make for good sport." His smirk widened, but his eyes held nothing but boredom. Takeshi didn''t even react. His breathing was getting worse, his limbs trembling under the weight. The calm man exhaled quietly. "We should finish this." Connie''s hands clenched against the pavement. They weren''t wasting time. They weren''t going to leave any witnesses either. She was never supposed to walk away from this. She had to act. Now. Her mind raced. Think. Think. THINK. She couldn''t run. She couldn''t fight. But she could stall. And she only had one way to do that. She forced a breath through her teeth. "You sure you want to do this?" Her voice was steady. Sharp. Not a single hint of fear. The calm man paused. The other man arched an eyebrow. "Huh?" Connie lifted her head, ignoring the way her muscles screamed under the weight. She looked at him straight in the eye. "You think killing us is gonna be easy," she said. "You think this is just a clean-up job." A slow smirk curled on her lips. For a second¡ªjust one second¡ªthe calm man''s expression flickered. "But it''s not, is it?" The calm man''s eyes narrowed slightly. Connie''s mind raced. She needed to sound like she knew something. That was the only way. She reenacted Kurose''s call in her mind, trying to squeeze out any useful information. "You''ve been tracking him for a while, haven''t you?" She continued, jerking her chin toward Takeshi. "You haven''t even figured out his ability yet. If you kill him you won''t be able to see what it is." She didn''t blink. Didn''t break eye contact. She had to sell it. She had to make them hesitate. But the other man grinned. He started laughing even. Loudly. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "Oh, man," he chuckled, wiping a fake tear from his eye. "That was a great performance. Almost had me there." His smirk sharpened. Then¡ª The pressure tripled. A strangled gasp tore from her lips as her body collapsed completely, her limbs refusing to move under the overwhelming weight. He crouched beside her, eyes gleaming. "Nice try," he muttered. "But we''re not that stupid." Connie''s blood ran cold. She had failed. The world blinked. She was back. Inside the caf¨¦. The warm glow of the evening sun streamed through the windows. The sound of idle chatter filled the air. Her mind was racing. Her bluff had failed. They saw through it immediately. No. Her approach was wrong from the start. She was done for the moment they had immobilized them. She couldn''t afford to let them catch her off guard again. This time¡ª She would simply run. Ayaka''s voice rang from across the table. "Connie? Hellooo?" She ignored her. Takeshi walked through the caf¨¦ doors. Connie didn''t hesitate. She grabbed his wrist, yanking him forward. He barely had time to react. "Wha¡ª?" "No time to explain," she muttered. "We need to go. Now." Takeshi stumbled after her as she rushed outside. Ayaka barely had time to call after them before Connie tore down the street. This time¡ª She wasn''t going to let them trap her in that alley. This time¡ªshe would move first. Before the ability could hit them. Before they could corner her. She was going to break through before the trap even closed. --------- Takeshi was following behind Connie. His muscles felt weak, his thoughts sluggish, as if his body and mind were desynced. It felt like something was subtly messing with his perception of time. Everything seemed both too fast and too slow. And then¡ªthere was her. The moment Connie grabbed his wrist, something inside him told him not to resist. It wasn¡¯t just the urgency in her voice. It wasn¡¯t just the sheer confidence in the way she pulled him forward. It was something deeper. A feeling he couldn¡¯t place. Trust. Not logical. Not rational. But it was there. He didn¡¯t remember her. But for some reason, he knew that she had already saved him before. It was impossible. And yet¡ªit felt undeniably true. The poison blurred his judgment, making it harder to question things. If he were at full strength, he might have resisted more, demanded answers. But right now? Right now, following her felt like the only correct choice. Because deep down, he knew she was trying to save him. Even if he didn¡¯t know how. He followed. The cool evening air hit Connie¡¯s face as she bolted out of the caf¨¦, dragging Takeshi with her. She didn¡¯t hesitate. No second thoughts. No hesitation. She had already failed too many times. This time, she would make it work. Takeshi stumbled slightly but kept up. His breathing was labored, but his legs still moved. Connie didn¡¯t slow down until they were a few streets away. Only then did she allow herself a sharp inhale, glancing behind her. No sign of them. Not yet. They needed to get to the alley fast. She reached into her pocket, pulled out her phone, and with a few swift taps, did something with it before slipping it back inside. Then¡ª She moved again. Takeshi wasn¡¯t questioning her anymore. The poison was making him lightheaded, slowing his thoughts. He barely even reacted to her silent urgency. She gritted her teeth. The alley was just ahead. She knew they were watching. The moment she reached it¡ª She sprinted again. Takeshi didn¡¯t even get a chance to stop. ¡°Run,¡± she hissed under her breath. His footsteps stumbled before falling into sync with hers. Behind them¡ª "Shit!" The frustrated curse echoed against the walls. They had noticed. She ran before he could activate his ability. Now, she had forced them into a chase. Her pulse hammered in her ears. The next street was¡ª A sharp turn. A connecting alley. She had seconds. Her hand tightened around her phone in her pocket. Then¡ª It slipped. The phone fell onto the ground, without breaking. The calm man noticed. He barely broke stride. He scooped it up mid-run, tucking it away with practiced ease. He had her phone. They kept running until the station entrance was right ahead. They dove into the station. The moment they blended into the sea of people, Connie let out a slow, shaky breath. Some were glancing confused looks at them, but they quickly returned to their own business. They had made it inside. Takeshi was still on his feet. Barely. She kept her hand on his arm, steadying him. She could feel the fever burning beneath his skin. He was getting worse. Not as fast as before. But still worse. A shiver ran down her spine. If I don¡¯t get him to a hospital fast, this¡¯ll all be for nothing. She forced herself to focus. They had lost them. At least, for now. But they needed to get out without being seen. Her eyes darted across the station. There. The same exit she had used before. She pushed forward. It was so close. They stepped outside. A few feet from an hidden alley. They had made it. Relief nearly flooded her. And then¡ª Everything collapsed. A crushing force slammed down on her body. Takeshi collapsed beside her. Her breath left her lungs in a sharp, painful gasp. She knew this feeling. Her knees hit the pavement. She couldn¡¯t move. No. No, no, no¡ª Not again. She struggled, every muscle in her body straining against the unseen weight. And then¡ªshe saw him. Standing near the unused, deserted exit. His hand raised, fingers outstretched. His grinning expression. He took out his phone and started calling someone. She already knew it was. He and the calm man had probably split up to search for her. And he was one to find them. This loop was over. But she still had something left to do. She needed more information. When the calm man arrived, they both came closer. This was her chance. She spoke up. "Why didn''t you use your ability? You could have captured us without any risk if you had. Or is it that you don''t have one?" She said in a half mocking tone. "I have no idea how you know about abilities as an ordinary person, but I can''t allow myself to waste my lifespan on someone like you." She barely had time to process that. Because¡ª The world blinked. The caf¨¦. The warm glow of sunset. The quiet murmur of voices. Ayaka¡¯s voice. ¡°Connie?¡± The same pattern as always. She ignored it. Her hands clenched into fists. She understood something now. The calm man wouldn''t use his ability unless they showed him they were a real threat. This was good. Her mind raced, thinking of a new plan. She already knew what she needed. ----- Connie did everything exactly as before, and now they had reached the station. Her eyes darted around, looking for something. There it was. A small general store near the ticket gates. The one where she got the pepper spray she used against the gravity ability user in the second loop. She was running out of time. She went in, took the pepper spray, paid, left. This was it. This time¡ªshe would make them regret chasing her. She was done playing the victim. She was going to win. They stepped out of the same exit as before. They had less than a minute to act. "Can you walk into that alley over there alone?" She asked as she pointed to the alley where they were caught before. "I think I can manage to...But what about you?" Takeshi answered as he looked at the alley with tired eyes. "Don''t worry about me. Go now." Takeshi gave her a confused look and nodded before heading toward the alley. Connie positioned herself behind a trashcan, which was placed directly in the door''s blind spot. A few seconds later, the gravity ability user came out, just as she predicted. The second he burst out of the exit¡ª She moved. She jumped out from the shadows. Before he could even react¡ª Before he could activate his ability¡ª She raised the pepper spray. And fired. Directly into his eyes. From point blank range. A direct hit. Part 22: The Path To Tomorrow She raised the pepper spray. And fired. He screamed. A guttural, enraged howl tore from his throat as his hands shot up to his face. His body lurched backward, stumbling against the pavement as he clawed at his burning eyes. "FUCK¡ª!!" His voice was strained, filled with raw fury and agony. Connie didn''t wait to watch. She grabbed Takeshi''s wrist. "Run!" Takeshi didn''t hesitate. The two of them bolted. Her heart pounded violently. She had done it. She had actually landed a hit. They were about to step into the alley. Right as they entered it, Connie glanced back. She was taken aback. The calm man was standing at the entrance, behind the ability user. In that instant, his voice rang out. "Pathetic." Cold. Calculated. Completely unfazed. Connie''s stomach twisted. He wasn''t panicking. Not even after seeing his companion¡ªor whatever they are¡ª take a direct hit to the eyes. He was dangerous. And she didn''t know what his ability could do. All she knew¡ªwas that it had a cost. A cost that he refused to waste on them before. But now¡ª Now, he had no reason to hold back. They kept running. Now, he was out of their sight. Just a little more. They had to make it. But before they could¡ª He appeared behind them. No, not appeared. It was as if he ran there, in just those two seconds. "You''re really making me waste my lifespan on you two?" A chill ran down Connie''s spine. Her gut screamed at her to move faster. Then¡ª He moved. Not instantly. Not like teleportation. But faster than any normal human should be able to. Connie''s breath caught as she saw him close the distance between them twice as fast as a normal person would. His strides were unnatural. Precise. Calculated. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Efficient. And worst of all¡ªhe wasn''t even running at full speed. He was pacing himself. That realization sent a wave of panic crashing through her. Because if this was him being conservative, then just how fast could he really go? She pulled Takeshi''s wrist harder, to run even a slight bit faster. But it wasn''t enough. He had already caught up. And in the next instant¡ª A hand clamped onto her shoulder. She hadn''t even seen him reach out. The world blinked. The caf¨¦. Again. The warm sunset glow. The familiar murmur of voices. And¡ª Ayaka. "Connie?" She barely reacted. Her heart was still racing. Her lungs burned. Even though she had reset, her body still felt like it was running. Her hands clenched into fists. She had learned something huge. The other man''s ability. It was something like physical reinforcement. But to pay his own lifespan for a reinforcement..? That didn''t feel right. Connie eyes widened in realization. Could it be.. Time Deceleration? He wasn''t getting faster. He was decelerating time itself. For everyone, except him. That was why it had such a huge cost. That was why he hadn''t used it before. Because it was a risk. A resource that he couldn''t afford to waste. But this time¡ª He had used it. Because she had become a real threat. She thought she could escape again without him activating his ability because she had done things similarly to the second loop. But apparently he thought of her as a risk this time around. Connie let out a slow breath. Fine. She was getting too tired of repeating the same day over and over again. Too tired to despair at her failures. She would win. No matter how many loops it would take. To finally reach ''tomorrow''. -------------------------------- Connie''s mind raced, piecing together what had gone wrong. She had used the same plan. She had gone through the same steps. But unlike in the second loop¡ªThe calm man had used his ability. Why? Why had he judged her as a threat this time, but not before? Her fingers curled tightly around her pendant as she replayed the sequence of events in her head. The differences. There had to be differences. After seconds that felt like minutes, she understood what was different. Her demeanor. She had been too confident. Too prepared. She hadn¡¯t hesitated, hadn¡¯t fumbled. From their perspective, she had looked unnaturally composed for a random girl caught in a life-or-death situation. The pepper spray. In the second loop, she had only partially blinded the gravity user, giving them just enough time to escape. This time, she had gotten him point-blank. The pain was far worse, incapacitating him almost instantly. He screamed so loudly that the other man had heard it and immediately arrived at the scene. The pacing. In the second loop, she had escaped before they even reached the exit. This time, they were finding them earlier than before. The overall situation. Last time, she had barely made it out alive. But this time¡ª She had been winning. That was why he reacted differently. That was why he had judged her as a threat. She took a slow breath. This time¡ª She wouldn¡¯t win. Not directly. She would play the weak girl. Act clumsy. Act like she was just lucky. She had taken the same route as before. Take Takeshi, run out before Ayaka blocks them, set up her phone in the meantime, run away from the bad guys, let the phone fall on the ground, go to the station, but pepper spray, and prepare to ambush the gravity user. Only, this time she acted slower than before. It was a neglectable amount of time, but she made it look like she avoided them by a hair''s breadth. Connie was now hidden behind the trash can, heart pounding. The station exit loomed just ahead,. Its doors remained shut as none else was going to use this exit. Takeshi was walked alone, toward the alley. He was slow, and weakened by the poison, but he managed to keep walking by himself. The effects of the poison worsened faster the moment they started running, especially compared to the other loops, but they didn''t get any worse from there. She didn''t know if it was because of the System, or there was an actual scientific explanation to this. She wasn''t a medic after all. She tightened her grip on the pepper spray in her pocket. This had to work. It was the same plan as before¡ªbut weaker. She had to hurt him just enough to incapacitate him without making him scream too loudly. Because if he screamed¡ªthe other man would hear him. And she would lose again. Footsteps. Fast. Careless. Rushing toward the exit. Connie¡¯s heart slammed against her ribs. She waited. Waited until the moment the doors opened¡ª Then¡ª She moved. She lunged out of cover. The man barely had time to register her. His amber eyes widened. She raised the pepper spray¡ª And fired. A sharp mist burst from the can, hitting him in the face, instead of directly in the eyes. "¡ª!!" His body jerked back. His hands shot up to his face, rubbing his eyes furiously. He cursed at her, his breathing sharp and labored, but he wasn¡¯t howling in pain like last time. Connie turned immediately. She grabbed Takeshi¡¯s wrist and bolted into the alley. Her lungs burned, but she didn¡¯t stop running. Not until they were several streets away from the station. Only then did she risk a glance back. No one. The calm man hadn¡¯t arrived. Neither did the gravity user. Her plan had worked. She exhaled sharply, her grip on Takeshi''s wrist getting weaker. He was getting worse. His breathing was shallow, his eyes half-lidded with exhaustion. She needed a taxi. Now. She turned the corner¡ª And there it was. Not the one from before. A different taxi, one that hadn¡¯t even arrived in the other loops because she had taken too long. She flung open the door and shoved Takeshi inside. "To the hospital," she gasped. The driver barely glanced at her before pulling into the street. And finally¡ª She collapsed against the seat. Takeshi muttered something under his breath, but she barely heard him. She was too tired to. The relief had hit her all at once. She had done it. She had finally changed the outcome. For the second time¡ª They were heading to the hospital without a reset. Part 23: Only The Startline The taxi sped through the dimly lit streets. The rhythmic hum of the engine filled the silence inside the car, a contrast to the chaos Connie had just escaped. She could still hear her own pulse pounding in her ears. Her hands were trembling. Not from fear. Not from exhaustion. But from pure disbelief. This was the first time. The first time she had succeeded after the second loop. The first time she succeeded intentionally, instead of getting help from others, or getting saved by pure luck. Takeshi hadn''t died. And she was still here. Still moving forward. This was real. She turned to look at Takeshi. He was slumped against the seat, his breath shallow, his skin unnaturally pale. His fingers twitched slightly as if trying to grip onto something that wasn''t there. He was alive¡ªbut he wasn''t safe yet. She had to get him to the hospital before it was too late. The taxi driver eyed them through the rearview mirror. "You two okay?" Connie''s breath hitched. She had almost forgotten they looked like everything but normal people right now. Takeshi looked like he was barely conscious, and Connie was still sweating from sprinting for her life. She forced herself to sound normal. "He''s sick," she said quickly. "I''m getting him to the hospital." The driver grunted, but didn''t push further. The city lights flickered past them, neon signs reflecting off the taxi windows. Connie kept her gaze locked forward, watching every street, every turn. She was still paranoid. Still waiting for something to go wrong. But¡ª Nothing did. The taxi pulled up to the hospital entrance. The bright, sterile lights of the emergency room cast a white glow over the pavement. Connie didn''t waste a second. She threw the door open and dragged Takeshi out with her, his weight heavier than before. His body swayed unsteadily, his breath coming in weak, uneven gasps. But he was alive. They had made it. She half-carried, half-dragged him through the sliding doors, the sterile scent of disinfectant hitting her the moment they stepped inside. The fluorescent lights overhead were too bright, too harsh, making the world feel unreal. A nurse at the front desk looked up. "Help," Connie gasped, her voice raw. "He''s been poisoned!" The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The nurse''s face changed in an instant. A second later, people in white coats rushed forward, pulling Takeshi from her arms. She took a step forward, but someone held out a hand. "You need to wait here, miss." She hated this part. The moment she couldn''t do anything. The moment when everything was out of control. She watched as they wheeled him away, disappearing behind a pair of swinging doors. And just like that¡ª He was gone. She stayed standing in the middle of the emergency room, waiting. For something. For anything. Her hands curled into fists as she took a shaky breath. Would it happen? Would she reset? Or¡ª Would she win? Seconds passed. Then minutes. Nothing. Her heart pounded in her ears, too loud, too fast. She knew better than to hope. She had been fooled before. Her fingers twitched¡ªinstinctively reaching for her phone. But it wasn''t there. Right. She had purposely let it fall during the chase, so that the calm man would catch it. She had made such a move willingly. She had a clear objective in mind. She gritted her teeth. How was she supposed to know if the System would send a message now? Her stomach churned. She would have to wait. She glanced at the wall clock behind the front desk. After what felt like an eternity, a nurse finally approached her. "His condition is stable." Connie exhaled sharply. The words felt too good to be true. "He''s still weak, but he should be fully recovered in a week or two. We will later call you to ask you some questions." One week. Less than last time. She had managed to change the outcome for the better. That meant¡ª It had worked. She had won. Her legs felt weak. She managed to sit down in one of the plastic chairs near the waiting area. But her relief was short-lived. Because in the next instant¡ª Her vision blurred. No¡ª Her phone wasn''t here. But the message¡ª It still appeared. Directly in her mind. Like the words were being etched into her brain. It was a really disorienting feeling. [Death Flag Resolved. Points: 29.] Her breath caught. She had twenty-two points before. Which meant¡ª She had gained seven. Just like the second loop. She had suffered through so many failures. So many loops. This flag had been more difficult to resolve than any of the flags she encountered before. More complicated. And yet¡ª A cold realization crept over her. The points she gained in the previous timelines were erased. The System only counted successful loops. There was a second death flag. One that could kill her at any moment. If she had failed again¡ª She would have been sent back to the caf¨¦. A chill ran down her spine. This time, she had barely won. What if next time, she wasn''t so lucky? What if she ran into something impossible to escape? What if¡ª She never made it out again? Her body felt cold. She would lose all her progress again. She would wake up back in the caf¨¦. Back before Takeshi was even saved. She wouldn''t do this again. She couldn''t do this again. Her fingers clenched against her arms. She had to figure it out. She had to find the other death flag before it was too late. The waiting room was silent, but Connie''s mind wasn''t. What could the other death flag be? The answer had to be connected to Takeshi''s poisoning. That was the only thing that made sense. She had been forced into fighting the Organization. Something¡ªsome unseen force¡ªhad made her cross paths with them. As if she had been meant to. Her eyes darkened. She had failed more than just a few times to know that she had to fight them. That wasn''t a coincidence. She took a shaky breath. What was the connection? Why would a fight be necessary to break a death flag? Unless¡ª The Organization itself was the flag. Her heart started pounding. It made too much sense. She had only succeeded in saving Takeshi when she encountered them. She had only stopped looping back when she fought them. The death flag wasn''t just his poisoning. It was the fact that they wanted him dead. And they wouldn''t stop trying to kill him. Even now¡ª They were still out there. Still looking for Takeshi. And now, looking for her too. She had just delayed them. They weren''t gone. They weren''t defeated. And as long as they were still a threat¡ª The death flag wouldn''t end. Her fingers dug into her sleeves. This wasn''t over. Not by a long shot. That meant¡ª If she reset again¡ª She was going all the way back to the caf¨¦. But one question still remained. How was she supposed to win? She had no idea what the conditions were. What counted as stopping the Organization? Did she have to escape from them until they gave up? Did she have to make them stop targeting Takeshi? Or worse.. Did she have to kill them? A shiver ran through her. The System wouldn''t tell her. She had to figure it out herself. And she had no time to lose. She needed answers. And she only had one person to ask. Her eyes narrowed. Takeshi. She had already stopped herself from asking about his ability this whole time. If anyone knew why they were after him¡ª It was him. And she was going to get those answers. No matter what.