RETURNING TO REALITY
(A dark screen. Silence. Then—suddenly, Asahi's eyes snap open. The world shifts. The familiar ceiling greets him, but everything feels… different.)
(Back to reality.)
(Asahi slowly sits up, his breathing steady. But something inside him feels off. The events of the last loop replay in his head—FA's words, his own rage, the moment he accepted the hunt.)
(He looks around. Everything is the same. Yet, nothing is the same.)
(His fingers move toward the drawer beside him. He opens it—his hand instinctively reaching for something. The worn-out fabric of his eye patch.)
(He picks it up. Without hesitation, he wears it—tight, secure.)
Asahi:(low, unreadable)
"I don't know if Anari loves me or not… but still, I have to save her."
(He turns toward the door. This time, he is fully aware that the world outside is not as it seems.)
(He reaches for the handle. He pulls it open.)
Mom:(cheerfully, but with a soft warmth)
"Good morning, Asa—"(Her voice halts. She notices the eye patch. Her smile fades, replaced with concern.)
"Asahi… what happened to—"
Asahi:(cold, cutting her off)
"Nothing. It's just a scratch. No need to worry. I'm leaving for school."(His voice carries no emotion—just detachment.)
(His mother steps closer, trying to check his eye. But the moment she moves—)
Asahi:(sharp, stepping back)
"Don't come near me!"
(His father's voice cuts through the tension. Deep, questioning.)
Dad:(firm, eyes narrowing)
"Stop it, Asahi. What's wrong with you? You're acting weird."
(His mother flinches. Her voice softens, almost breaking.)
Mom:(sadly, barely above a whisper)
"Honey… just leave him."(She looks at Asahi, her expression one of quiet pain.)
"Asahi… what happened, my son?"
Asahi:(internally, his mind racing)
(No… no. I can't believe anyone. The other Asahi might be pulling his tricks.)
Asahi:(steeling himself, turning away)
"I'm leaving."(Rushes out of the house.)
(His mother watches him go, her hands slightly trembling.)
Mom:(whispers, voice laced with helplessness)
"I… just want to help…"(Her eyes lower, sadness settling deep within her chest.)
(His father places a hand on her shoulder. His tone is not concerned, not shaken. Just… accepting.)
Dad:(calmly, but with certainty)
"Don't worry, honey. He knows what to do."
Outside the house, Asahi doesn't leave immediately. He stands in the shadows, watching. Waiting. His breath is steady, but his heart beats faster than usual.)
Asahi:(internally, calculating)
(Last time when I left… nothing was wrong. But something must have happened after I left the house.)
*(His fingers tighten into fists. His posture remains tense. He waits.)
10 minutes pass.
(And then—)
*(A shadow moves in the distance.)
(A man approaches the house. A man with white hair, a blue shirt, baggy jeans. Modern. Stylish. Ear piercings. He moves with confidence—almost too much confidence.)
(Asahi's breath catches, but instead of reacting, he… smiles.)
Asahi:(whispering, darkly amused)
"He came."
(The other Asahi stops in front of the house. He lifts his hand and casually knocks on the door.)
The Other Asahi:(grinning, playful, almost mocking)
"Yo! Mom!"
(The door opens. His mother stands there. Her eyes widen slightly—confused, but relieved.)
Mom:(softly, tilting her head)
"Huh…? Asahi?"
(Asahi watches from the shadows, his fingers twitching slightly. This was the moment.)
(The other Asahi smiles wider. Carefree. Too carefree.)
The Other Asahi:(grinning, waving)
"Yo, Mom!"(Steps inside the house.)
(His mother's eyes linger on him. Something about him feels… off.)
Mom:(softly, confused)
"Huh…? Your eyes… they're okay now."
(The other Asahi's grin doesn't waver. He steps deeper into the house, greeting his father casually.)
Dad:(from the living room, glancing up)
"Asahi? Yo, what—" (laughs lightly)"You always change so fast."
(The other Asahi laughs. A slow, deliberate chuckle.)
The Other Asahi:(mockingly, stretching his arms)
"Is that so?"(Laughs again.)
(His mother steps forward, her eyes narrowing slightly. Then, softly—)*
Mom:(whispering, but with certainty)
"Honey… this is not our Asahi."
(Silence.)
(The other Asahi stops laughing. His posture shifts slightly—not tense, but calculating. His eyes gleam with something unreadable.)
The Other Asahi:(pauses, then grins wider, as if entertained)
"Oh?"
(His father squints, looking at him more carefully now.)
Dad:(blinking, confused)
"Huh… is it?"(Pauses, then suddenly shrugs.)
"Yeah, you're right. He was a lot dumber than this."
(From the shadows outside, Asahi listens. His breathing remains even, but his fingers dig into his palm.)
(Then—something changes.)
*(The other Asahi suddenly moves. Fast. Too fast.)
*(He lunges forward, placing his hands on both of their foreheads.)
The Other Asahi:(whispering, almost amused, yet chillingly final)
"Like always… I have to do it once more."
(Asahi's eyes widen slightly. The other Asahi… he's starting his move.)
Asahi:(his voice lowering, steady, unreadable)
"Tch… he's begun."
(Asahi steps out from the shadows. His body tenses. His breathing is controlled, but his teeth clench in rage. He's too late—the damage is already done.)
(The front door creaks open. The Other Asahi walks out, stretching his arms, looking completely at ease. Behind him, Asahi's parents stand—their eyes empty, their expressions eerily calm.)
Dad:(smiling casually)
"Oh! Asahi… yo, you came back."
Mom:(soft, welcoming tone, but her face feels… wrong)
"Welcome home, Asahi."
The Other Asahi:(grinning, voice dripping with amusement)
"Yes."(Steps forward, relaxed.)
Asahi:(eyes sharpening, voice dropping dangerously)
"HEY!"
(All of them turn to look at him. His father's smile doesn't fade. His mother's eyes remain hollow. But the Other Asahi—he smiles wider.)
The Other Asahi:(casually, hands in pockets)
"Yo! Asahi… how are you, man?"(Grinning, tilting his head.)
Dad:(blinking, confused, looking between them)
"Who is this? He looks the same as you."
Mom:(no expression, doesn't react.)
(Asahi's blood turns to ice. He grits his teeth harder—his nails digging into his palms.)
Asahi:(voice shaking with barely contained rage)
"You… you fucker. You manipulated both of them, huh?"
The Other Asahi:(mock surprise, raising an eyebrow)
"Yo… you saw it, huh? Damn. My plan failed."(Chuckles, acting unfazed.)
Asahi:(his breath sharp, his eyes darkening)
"Fuck your plan."
The Other Asahi:(laughs lightly, then shrugs)
"Yo, just leave, bro. They are MY parents now."(Smirks, tilting his head slightly.)
(Asahi's body locks up. His hands tremble, but he forces himself to take a breath. He looks at his mother.)
Asahi:(softly, almost pleading)
"Mom… it's me."(He doesn't call out to his dad—he's too afraid of rejection.)
(His mother remains motionless. Her lips part slightly, but no words come out.)
The Other Asahi:(grinning wider, his voice almost mocking)
"See? They don't even know you… bro."(His grin turns sharper.)
*(Asahi's heart sinks. The weight of those words crashes down on him. Again. They don't remember him. Again.)
(He swallows hard. His vision blurs slightly. Then—his mother's lips move.)
Mom:(voice barely above a whisper, eyes trembling, tears forming)
"A… Asahi."(Her gaze slowly shifts toward him.)
(The Other Asahi inhales sharply. His body stiffens—his fingers twitch slightly.)
The Other Asahi:(muttering under his breath, voice darkening)
*"Not again…"
(Asahi's heart lurches. That's enough. She remembers him. That's all he needs.)
Asahi:(whispering to himself, breath shaky)
(She remembers me… that's enough.)
(Then—he moves. He rushes toward the Other Asahi. His feet slam against the ground, his fist pulled back. Rage and relief colliding into one attack.)
Asahi:(roaring, voice filled with pure fury)
*"MOM!"
(His fist flies toward the Other Asahi's face. But—)
*(A hand catches it.)
Asahi:(his breath hitching, eyes widening slightly)
"Huh—?"
Dad:(firm, cold, unreadable)
"Don't hurt my son."
(Asahi's stomach drops. His father's grip tightens around his fist, holding it in place.)
Asahi:(his voice shaking, trying to control the pain in his chest)
"Dad… what are you doing?"
(He yanks his hand away, forcefully breaking free. His father stumbles slightly, but remains still—his expression blank.)
The Other Asahi:(grinning, stepping forward, hands raised mockingly)
"Yo, I don't like violence. Come on, bro."(Shrugs.)
Asahi:(breathing heavy, eyes narrowing, voice dropping to a whisper)
"Fuck you."(His lips curl into a deadly grin.)
The Other Asahi:(laughing, eyes flashing with something wild)
"KILL HIM, DAD."
(His father moves. Too fast. His fist swings toward Asahi's face. But—)
Asahi:(gritting his teeth, voice steady, cold)
"Tch."(Catches the punch effortlessly.)
(A deep silence. The Other Asahi watches, his grin widening.)
(Asahi exhales. Slowly, deliberately—he lifts a hand to his eye patch. His fingers grasp the fabric. And then—he pulls it off.)
(The moment his left eye is revealed, the air in the room shifts. Something heavy. Something terrifying.)
Asahi:(his lips curling into a brutal smile, eyes gleaming dangerously)
"You're going to die in my hands."
(The Other Asahi's grin falters for a second. His eyes widen slightly.)
The Other Asahi:(breath catching, then—laughing.)
*"His eyes…" (grins wider, voice dripping with excitement)"I knew it!"
Asahi:(tilting his head slightly, voice dropping to a whisper)
"Repel."
(His father's body launches backward. The force slamming him three meters away. He crashes into the dining table, breaking it instantly.)
The Other Asahi:(laughing wildly, stepping forward, arms open)
"Yeahhhhh! COME ON!"(Sprints toward him.)
(Asahi grins. His body tenses. He meets him halfway—his fist colliding with the Other Asahi's fist. The impact sends shockwaves through the room.)
(The Other Asahi twists his body, lifting his leg for a kick. Asahi mirrors him—kick colliding with kick. The force shakes the floor.)
(Then—Asahi's palm slams against the Other Asahi's chest. His eyes flicker.)
Asahi:(whispering, deadly calm)
"Repel."
(The Other Asahi is blasted backward, crashing into the kitchen. The cabinets burst open, plates and utensils falling around him.)
(Asahi stands there, his breathing steady, watching him carefully. His eyes narrow.)
Asahi:(internally, analyzing him)
(He's weak. No… he's exactly the same as me.)
(The Other Asahi groans, sitting up, rubbing the back of his head. Then—he grins. Slowly, he pulls something out of his pocket.)
The Other Asahi:(mocking, smirking, holding up an object)
"Hey, look at this."(He lifts a small mirror.)
Asahi:(eyes narrowing, stepping forward)
"Huh?"(He looks at it.)
The Other Asahi:(grinning, voice filled with amusement)
"Gotcha."
(He presses his hand against the mirror. Suddenly—)
Asahi:(his eyes widening in agony, gripping his head)
"ARARARARARARA!"(His skull feels like it's splitting apart. He falls to his knees.)
(Then—his father appears from nowhere. A plate smashes against Asahi's head. Blood trickles down his face.)
Dad:(his eyes filled with tears, but his voice empty)
"Why… why am I crying?"
Mom:(shaking, voice breaking)
"No… no! Asahi!"
(Asahi's vision darkens. His body collapses. The last thing he hears—villainous laughter.)
The Other Asahi:(laughing wildly, his voice echoing in the silence.)