Raising my body from the bed and going to the large sliding window, I open the curtains.
The morning light shines beyond the lace.
âIâll work hard.â
I resolved anew in the room.
There are many things I must do.
Surely, this will be the toughest itâs been so far.
Even then, Iâll show you I can do them all.
Spending the days with everyone.
Living together.
If there are issues that can be settled, let me settle them.
Having gotten changed, the dresser reflects my figure.
The school uniform-clad me reflected in the mirror, appears different from the me before.
Chako may have accepted that she will disappear.
There may be something she wants to accomplish by disappearing.
She probably would not want to change her wish.
Even then.
ââIâll show you I can make her take my hand.
A weak, pathetic and awful woman.
Whoâs greedy and bad at giving up.
A me like that will stand next to Chako.
Tell me Chakoâs wish.
Because Iâll show you that I will grant it.
Leaving the house, I head to the entrance ceremony with my parents.
As expected, perhaps as an effect of repeating, theyâre worried even though itâs just the entrance ceremony.
Iâve been walking in front but, feeling anxious gazes on my back, I slowly turn around.
There, my parents are staring at me as they walk side by side.
Iâm sorry for worrying you.
I secretly apologise in my heart, putting a smile on my face.
âFather, mother. Even though Iâm like this[1], please take care of me in the future too.â
Then, I lower my head just a little.
Theyâre probably surprised at my abrupt words.
After looking at me with widened eyes, my parents face each other and exchange glances.
Mom goes, âWhatâs wrong, is she nervous about the entrance ceremony?â in confusion, while dad frowns as though heâs stumped.
Finding their expressions somewhat strange, I start to giggle.
Iâll surely feel depressed, get angry or cry again, causing them trouble.
Well, itâs as father said, Iâm greedy so it canât be helped.
Therefore, do take take of me from now on too.
Turning my back towards my bewildered parents, I begin walking to school again.
So letâs start anew, again, hereon.
Unable to suppress my flushing cheeks, from the main gate to the school, I step forth.
Waving to my parents, I enter my assigned classroom.
Chakoâs already in the seat before me, her black hair swaying in the wind.
Yuusei-kunâs in the frontmost seat by the corridor, sitting alone and reading a book.
Finally, Kousuke-kun seems to already have made friends. Surrounded by about 3 people, heâs joking around by the window.
Iâve returned.
To the place Iâve been.
My chest squeezes in pain and I take a small, deep breath.
Although itâs greedy of me, sure enough.
I canât give up this place.
Letâs work hard.
Even though there will probably be lots of painful and difficult things.
Everything I worked hard for, will surely be repaid.
Time passed. We moved to the gymnasium and the entrance ceremony begins.
When I call out to Chako whoâs in the seat next to mine, she laughs, âEheheâ in response.
A nostalgic laugh.
While my chest hurts a little, something warm spreads in my heart.
Ah. If Chakoâs willing to laugh, it makes me feel that I can work hard for anything.
Perhaps due to distancing myself once, I want to treasure that laugh even more now.
Iâm already head over heels huh, I laugh a little when I think that.
The entrance ceremony has finished, and so has HR.
After tidying up my stuff, I call out to the Chako sitting in front of me.
âShall we go home together today?â
âYeah. Sure. Iâm happy to get along well after the entrance ceremony.â
â⊠Indeed.â
I really am happy.
Itâs also been a while since I went home with Chako.
If, thereâs also an effect on Chako when I turn back time.
Just a little is fine, it will be nice if she finds this nostalgic.
I giggle at my selfish wish.
Seeing such a me, Chako laughs, âEheheâ.
âAh, but there are some errands I have to run. Do you mind waiting? I think it will take about 20 minutes, butâŠâ
While I want to always be with Chako like this, there are things I must do from now on.
I feel apologetic because I was the one who invited her to go home together, but please wait just a while.
âSorryâ, when I put my hands together, Chako goes, âItâs fineâ with a nod.
âItâs fine. Besides, looking at the printouts we received today and filling out the forms will probably take around that amount of time.â
âYeah, thank you. Iâll head off for a bit then.â
âNn.â
I thank Chako, stand up, and head to the frontmost seat by the corridor.
As I can sense Chako being slightly surprised behind me, I turn back and nod twice.
Although Chako probably doesnât quite understand, un un, she nods with her eyes widened.
âYuusei-kun. Thereâs something I want to tell you alone.â
Even while laughing a little at Chakoâs state, I turn to Yuusei-kun and speak.
The black eyes behind the glasses look at me, shining with suspicion.
âSure thing, follow me.â
With that, he exits the door and walks through the corridor.
Seeing that back, fu, a laugh ends up escaping.
You havenât changed huh, Yuusei-kun.
âWhat is it you want to say?â or âDonât call me so over-familiarlyâ, things like that. You shouldâve said something.
However, itâs definitely more like Yuusei-kun to not ask for reasons.
Unable to stop my face from brightening, I follow Yuusei-kun.
Then, at the Occult Research Club, I speak of the happenings up till now.
Yuusei-kun listens with amusement, and once again believes it all.
âI see. In short, this is the 6th round for you huh, Naba?â
âYeah.â
Yuusei-kun sits in a chair, his black eyes shining as he thinks about something.
I feel somewhat relieved at the Occult Research club room thatâs the same as always.
âStill, that so-called effect of turning back time is interesting.â
âYeah. I donât know if it really exists or not though⊠Thereâs isnât anything that Yuusei-kun remembers or the like, is there?â
I gaze up at him.
While I canât ask Chako and Kousuke-kun, I can also ask Yuusei-kun about his memory because he knows everything.
He likely doesnât remember thoughâŠ
â⊠Letâs see. Yeah, unfortunately, I donât remember this entrance ceremony repeating for multiple times. Naba, too, I only know that youâre the Priestess of Ominous Clouds.â
âIs that soâŠâ
Sure enough, he doesnât remember.
Yuusei-kun scratches his head roughly.
âAh, my bad, to think that I canât remember something so interesting⊠However, I think I kind of get that so-called effect of turning back time.â
âReally?â
âYeah. When you spoke to me, I thoughtăAh, she finally cameă.â
â⊠Yeah. Yuusei-kun said to return even if I fail. You said, âExplain to me and Iâll surely believe youâ.