Chapter 16

I returned to the beginning of the loop. Even if we stay in the house or run away, tragedy will reach us. There's no escaping it. That's why I simply went to university with Ayaka.

"Aki-Kun…are you okay? You look really tired…"

After all these loops, I was simply exhausted, but Ayaka worried about me. I wanted to smile and tell her that everything was okay, but the muscles in my face didn't move as I ordered them to.

"Morning, Aki, Ayaka-chan! …Phew, what's wrong? You got a horrible look on your face, Aki."

On the way to the lecture hall, Kazama called out to us.

"You out of it, eh? What's on your mind? As the genius black magic user, I can use my power to resolve any of your problems!"

"…You're the same as always, huh?"

"What's that supposed to mean?! Are you making fun of my power?! Now listen here! Odd and weird powers exist in this world!"

Normally, I would have just ignored that nonsense. But after going through this mysterious and unreasonable loop, I couldn't make fun of him anymore.

"…Ah."

"Hm? What's up, Aki? Do you want to ask me about black magic after all?"

"Actually…"

Up to this point, I told Ayaka about the whole loop several times. However, she's the only person I never opened up to. I figured that nobody would believe me. But…what about him? Despite Ayaka believing me, it didn't bring me anywhere. So if there's nothing to lose, then there's no reason for me not to try. Anything could become a hint for me to get out of this. Even a spider's web is more than enough to hold on to.

"…Hey, Kazama. Here's a what-if for you."

"Hm?"

"Assuming there's a weird loop happening that forces you into the same situation over and over…"

"Wait, are you in the middle of a loop right now?! That Sounds very intriguing as the alchemist that I am! Please, more detail!"

"…Are you a black magic user or an alchemist? Anyway, you go through this loop, again and again, trying to save that one person, but you lose them no matter what. You have any idea what could be the reason for this?"

"That's so obvious! It's gotta be the devil! The devil's power! And to get out of the loop, you need to defeat the origin, the devil who put you into it!"

"…"

"You're really ignoring me?! Don't be so cold now! Normally, you immediately stab me where it hurts with your retorts!"

I wasn't ignoring him, I was just thinking about what he just said. At first glance, it Sounded idiotic, but…Up to this point, I always prioritized protecting Ayaka. Keeping her safe was my priority. That's why I didn't even consider the fact of defeating something. However, who or what could that 'enemy' even be? The tragedies befalling Ayaka ranged from an accident to a criminal act, and it changes each time. Maybe it's that voice who is pulling the strings. But if so…Where is it? Where is the owner of that voice? And even before that, assuming that the voice is the devil…assuming that such an ultimate evil really existed…

Why was Ayaka chosen? I don't want to Sound like an indifferent politician speaking of deaths as statistics, but accidents like these aren't so rare. There are countless people ending up in accidents or suffering from a sickness. So, why did it have to be Ayaka? I'm the one going through the loops. But, it all started with Ayaka. What became the trigger for it all? Was it just the devil's whim—

"Ah, I know! Since you're not feeling up to snuff, I got just the thing for you! It's so cool!"

"…Cool?"

"Yeah! Look! It's a lamp with a demon granting you any one wish! I bought it online!"

"…I swear…" I dropped my shoulders and sighed. "Will you stop buying random nonsense? You did the same thing before."

"Huh? Did I?"

"Sure did. Back in our first year in high school, you bought something weird online!"

"Aw, geez! I don't remember that far back!"

"You…You said it was some weird stone that would let a devil grant any of your wishes, but since you didn't have any space in your room, you then let Ayaka have—" I spoke that far, and forgot to breathe. "…!"

The answer arrived in a flash. I remembered an exchange way before the Ayaka from the future even arrived.

—You go tell him, Ayaka. He should buy a textbook instead of throwing away money for some nonsense like that. Might help his brain grow.

—A-Ahaha…But, the idea of a stone granting any wish does Sound interesting.

—That's my Ayaka-chan! You really get it! All right! Since you're so kind, you can have this stone, Ayaka-chan!

Assuming that there was a reason…a trigger for this whole situation to start. Couldn't it…have been that? And then I remembered what Ayaka told me when we spoke about the ribbon.

—Whaaat? No way! I can't just throw away things I got from other people.

…That's right. Ayaka would keep anything, no matter how pointless it seemed. Just because she received it from someone else, too. That's how uptight she is.

"Ayaka!"

"Eeek! Y-Yeah?"

"That stone Kazama gave you all those years ago…You still have it, right? Where is it?!"

"Ah, well, the one from high school, right? It's inside the drawer back in my room…"

"That's it…!" I grabbed Ayaka's hand and started running.

"Wait, Aki?! Were you going?! What about our lecture?!"

Kazama was bewildered, but I paid him no mind as I just ran in the opposite direction.

"Wah…Wh-What happened, Aki-Kun?"

"Please, just come with me. We have to hurry…!"

I finally found a tiny ray of hope. But, I couldn't let down my guard. Even as we rushed home, there was a good chance that something might happen. That maybe a murderer would cross our path. Please, just let us get back home safely. And…I beg you. Let us make it through this twisted tragedy.

"…Hehe."

"…Ayaka? What are you laughing for?"

Even as we ran at full speed, Ayaka laughed despite being out of breath. I mean, it's a lot better than seeing her cry. I just…didn't understand why. Why would she laugh now of all times?

"This just reminded me of the time we were in high school. You'd often pull my hand as we ran to school. Ah, this takes me back…"

Ayaka…I can't tell you right now, but…I'm still my high school self. However, she wasn't wrong. That time truly is nostalgic compared to now. It was peaceful…and pleasant. These days…feel so far. But…this time. This time, I'll take it all back. I'll get us back to those boring but fulfilling days.

We took the train from the train station closest to the university, and as I was filled with determination and anxiety, we rode back to our hometown. During the entire ride, I held Ayaka's hand, wary of my surroundings. Ten minutes later, we reached Ayaka's room. I went through her drawer, taking out the stone. It was the same stone I considered plain junk way back when she just got it. Hit by the fluorescent light of the room, it shone in a bewitching black.

"Ayaka, do you have a tool box?"

"Yeah…Dad's often working on stuff around the house. I'll go grab it."

Ayaka returned with the tool box, and I quickly grabbed a hammer from the inside. I placed the stone on the ground and swung the hammer.

"…!"

I didn't hold back in the slightest, and yet I could simply feel my hand tingling. The stone showed no change.

"Y-You okay, Aki-Kun?"

I'm sure Ayaka must have been confused by everything that was happening, but she still continued to watch over me.

"Get away from me. It'd be bad if you got hit by the pieces…But, not too far! Just close enough so I can protect you!"

"O-Okay…Got it."

BANG BANG BANG BANG, I continued to slam the hammer onto the stone like I was a smith. With each hit, my hand hurt even more. But compared to all the pain and suffering Ayaka went through, this much is nothing. I packed all my frustration and anger into my swings, as I continued my assault. BANG BANG BANG, the dull slamming Sound of metal hitting rock filled the room. Normally, it would be an eerie and discomforting Sound, but to me, it felt like the last countdown until salvation. Like I was running up the stairs to my final destination.

Continuing this for a bit, I could slowly but steadily see cracks forming in the stone. Seeing that I was close, I could feel tears building up in my eyes. But to see clearly, I wiped them away and talked to Ayaka.

"Ayaka."

"Yeah?"

"I'm really sorry…for everything. But, this will be the end."

"…? Why are you apologizing? And what's gonna end?"

"…Forget it. But…"

The cracks inside the stone began to visibly run deeper. I was getting close to the end. My final stretch to the end. Even my breaths changed from exhausted to excited.

"…Once all of this is done, promise me. That you'll never give up on yourself ever again."

Don't say that you don't care what happens to you. Don't say that you're okay with dying. And with that prayer spoken, I swung the hammer one last time. One last swing to end it all.

"…!"

KRIIIIING, a Sound filled the room. Like something had cracked and splintered. Like this cruel repeating tragedy had finally been destroyed…I did it? I finally destroyed the stone.

"Ah…Ahh! I did it! With this…with this…!"

"Aki-Kun…?"

"I did it, Ayaka! Now we can…now we will…"

We're free. All the pain and suffering were over. Overwhelmed with emotions, I began crying and turned toward Ayaka to embrace her. However, she didn't say a thing as she just collapsed toward me. She had a knife stuck in her back, with an unfamiliar man standing behind her.

—Again, huh? I quickly realized what was going on. So this time, it wasn't an accident, but an armed robbery, eh? I was utterly bewildered and disgusted at the rational deduction that crossed my mind.

And this hell…It continued on, mercilessly.