(Darkness. Silence. Then—suddenly—a sharp breath. Asahi's eyes snap open. His vision is hazy, his heartbeat loud in his ears.)
Asahi:(blinking rapidly, voice hoarse, disoriented)
"Huh…?"(His breath is uneven.)
(He slowly pushes himself up. His body feels off— too light, too unnatural.)
Asahi:(muttering, rubbing his temples)
"Why the fuck am I here?"
(His surroundings come into focus. White walls. Glass panels. Neon lights. The soft hum of distant conversations fills the air. He recognizes this place immediately.)
The Shopping Mall.
(His stomach drops. His breathing tightens. No. This isn't right. This isn't where he should be. He should be in his room. He should have woken up in the Dimensional Dream. But instead—he's back here.)
(He turns his head—and his blood runs cold. A familiar sight. The dressing room. The same place where Anari changed her dress in the last loop.)
Asahi:(gritting his teeth, his heartbeat accelerating.)
"No… this isn't real."(His hands clench into fists.)
"I should be in bed. I should be—"
(His eyes snap downward. His watch—still ticking.)
3:00 PM.
The exact moment Anari stepped out of the dressing room last time.
(Asahi's breathing stills. His hands feel cold. Something is horribly wrong.)
Then—he hears it.
A voice. A familiar voice. A voice that has haunted him, broken him, shattered him.
HELP ME.
(Asahi freezes. His body tenses. His breath catches in his throat.)
HELP ME. HELP ME. HELP ME.
(His hands shoot up to his ears. His heart slams against his ribs. His skull feels like it's splitting apart.)
Asahi:(whispering, shaking his head violently)
"No… no, no, no—"
HELP ME. HELP ME. HELP ME.
(The voice grows louder. More distorted. More… desperate.)
Asahi:(squeezing his head, his fingers digging into his scalp, trying to ground himself.)
"THINK. THINK. IT'S NOT REAL. WAKE UP. WAKE UP—"
HELP ME. HELP ME. HELP ME.
The sound is deafening. His vision distorts. His body trembles.
Asahi:(screaming in agony, the pain unbearable.)
"ARRARARARARAR!!!"
SUDDENLY—A DOOR OPENS.
(Asahi's head snaps up. His body stiffens. His breath hitches.)
Anari steps out of the dressing room.
(She's wearing the same dress as before—the black one. But this time… something's different. Her posture. Her expression. Her eyes.)
Her eyes are cold. Empty. Hollow.
(Asahi stares at her. His body refusing to move. The voices are still screaming in his head, but he forces himself to speak.)
Asahi:(his voice shaky, almost afraid.)
"A… Anari…?"
(For a moment, there is silence.)
(Then—another voice enters the scene.)
A voice he knows too well.
A voice that should NOT be here.
The Manipulative Asahi:(grinning, stepping out from behind Anari, his tone playful yet dripping with mockery.)
"Yo… I knew it."(Smiles.)
(Asahi's heart stops. His body goes completely still.)
(The air in the shopping mall feels heavier. The bright lights above seem dimmer. The world feels… distorted. Twisted. Wrong.)
Anari stands still. Her eyes—emotionless. Cold.
The Manipulative Asahi (MA) is grinning. His posture is relaxed, his voice mocking, but his eyes—wild.
Asahi:(his breath uneven, his heart pounding.)
"Huh… FA was right… he already manipulated her."(His fists clench tightly. His blood boils.)
(MA suddenly throws his head back—)*
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
(His laughter echoes through the mall, bouncing off the glass walls, the ceiling, the floors. It's loud. Too loud.)
Asahi:(narrowing his eyes, voice cold.)
"Huh."
MA:(grinning wildly, his voice shaking from excitement.)
"I KNEW IT! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
(Asahi watches him carefully. Something about him is different. More… unhinged.)
MA:(eyes gleaming, his grin stretching unnaturally wide.)
"I'm brilliant… no… I'm something else…"
(He suddenly spreads his arms—like he's embracing the world itself.)
MA:(whispering, then laughing louder.)
"I AM GOD. AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
(Asahi stares, confused. Something is seriously wrong. This isn't the same manipulative Asahi from before. He's… worse.)
Asahi:(his mind racing.)
(What happened to him…? Why does he sound like he's completely lost it?)
Then MA speaks again. And Asahi's blood runs cold.
MA:(grinning, tilting his head slightly.)
"I knew you were a time leaper."
Asahi's heart stops.
Asahi:(eyes widening, his voice sharp.)
"Huh…?"(How does he know? No… HOW does he know?!)
MA:(mockingly, laughing softly.)
"I hacked your brain."
(Asahi's body stiffens. A cold chill runs down his spine.)
MA:(taking a slow step forward, voice dripping with amusement.)
"I can steal your memories."
Asahi doesn't move. His breath catches. His mind is screaming at him.
Asahi:(his voice unsteady, barely above a whisper.)
"W…what…?"
MA:(grinning wider, tilting his head.)
"What's wrong? Did that scare you?"(chuckles.)
"Ahh… don't worry, I didn't take everything. I only saw… the ones I needed."(laughs mockingly.)
A realization slams into Asahi like a bullet.
Asahi:(his hands tremble slightly.)
(How…? What did I miss? What did I do wrong?)
Then it hits him.
THE MIRROR.
(Asahi's breathing slows. His fingers twitch. His heartbeat is a drum in his ears.)
Asahi:(internally, his expression darkening.)
(Shit… It's because of that mirror… that thing hacked my mind… but it still can't control me.)
MA:(laughing, watching him like he's a bug under a magnifying glass.)
"Whenever you loop… I also get the memory."
Asahi's stomach drops.
This isn't just a fight anymore.
Asahi has lost his biggest advantage.
MA:(mocking, voice playful, tilting his head.)
"So… I can't forget anything anymore."(smiles wickedly.)
"That means every time you reset… I'll be right here… waiting for you."
(Asahi's eyes shake. A shiver runs down his spine. His fists clench tighter.)
Asahi:(his breathing uneven, his throat dry.)
(Shit. SHIT. This is bad. This is REALLY BAD.)
SUDDENLY—PAIN.
(Asahi's vision distorts. His head throbs, a sharp, splitting agony tearing through his skull.)
Asahi:(gritting his teeth, his voice strained.)
"Ngh…!"
Blood drips from his ears.
MA:(grinning, stepping closer, watching him like he's enjoying a show.)
"Oh? What's this?"(mock surprise.)
"Your ears are bleeding. Hahahaha!"
(Asahi wipes the blood away. His vision blurs. His hearing is fading—like the world is being swallowed by static.)
HELP ME. HELP ME. HELP ME.
(The whispers won't stop. The Black Man's voice is still inside his head. His body feels like it's breaking apart.)
Asahi:(gritting his teeth, trying to steady himself.)
(The voices won't stop… my ears won't stop ringing… my hearing is going numb… shit… SHIT…!)
MA:(mockingly, voice dripping with amusement.)
"Ahhh… are you scared, Asahi?"(laughs softly.)
"Doesn't it feel like your body is starting to fall apart?"
(The air is thick. Unbearably heavy. The world around them feels frozen, but inside Asahi's head—everything is spinning.)
The Black Man's whispers won't stop.
His hearing is fading.
Blood drips from his ears.
MA:(tilting his head, exhaling dramatically, his voice shifting between amusement and madness.)
"Ahhhhh…"(sighs, then suddenly, his voice drops—darker, sharper.)
"Anari…"
(A pause. Then—)*
"JUST KILL HIM!"
(Asahi's body tenses. A sharp jolt of pain shoots through his skull, his ears ringing violently.)
Asahi:(groaning, clutching his head, his vision distorting.)
"Ahhh…!"(The pain is unbearable.)
WHOOSH.
(A blur. A shadow moving fast. Too fast. Asahi barely processes what's happening before—)
ANARI APPEARS IN FRONT OF HIM.
(Asahi's body is weak. His vision is unfocused, his balance unstable. But even through the pain, his mind processes one thing—)
Asahi:(in his mind, still holding his ears.)
(Ahhh… what can a girl's punch do to me…?)
CRACK!!!
(A fist slams into his stomach. Hard. Bone-crushing force. For a split second—Asahi doesn't react. Then—his eyes go wide. His body freezes.)
Asahi:(his breath caught in his throat, his vision blurring further.)
(Ahhh… I didn't expect that…!)
(Blood spills from his mouth, splattering onto the floor. But he doesn't fall. He doesn't move. He just stands there, absorbing the pain.)
(Anari stares at him. No emotion. No hesitation. Just cold, mechanical precision.)
(But Asahi… he smiles. A slow, painful, bloody grin.)
SUDDENLY—HE MOVES.
(His hand shoots forward—fast, instinctive. His palm presses against her chest. The moment he makes contact—)
Anari:(her eyes widen slightly, as if finally processing what's happening.)
(For the first time—she hesitates. A flicker of something unreadable in her eyes.)
Asahi:(still smiling through the pain, voice quiet but filled with something dark.)
"IT'S BIG."
REPEL.
(Anari is launched 3 meters backward. Her body crashes into the ground. She gasps, rolling once before stopping—motionless for a moment.)
(Asahi stands there, his breathing heavy. He glances at his hand—the same hand that just touched her. Blood still drips from his mouth, his body still trembling.)
Asahi:(tilting his head slightly, staring at his hand, voice weak but amused.)
"I will not wash my hands now."(smiles painfully.)
"ANARI!!!"
(MA's voice explodes through the air, his rage immediate. His eyes flicker with pure, unchecked fury.)
The air is still. Asahi stands there, blood dripping from his lips, his body barely holding itself up. The pain in his stomach lingers, sharp and heavy, but he stays standing.
Anari stirs. Her fingers twitch against the cold floor. Then—she moves.
Slowly, she rises to her feet. Her movements are unsteady at first, but with each step, she regains her balance.
She walks toward him.
Step by step.
Asahi tenses. His body is weak, his mind still ringing from the voices in his head. But he gets ready, forcing himself into a defensive stance.
Then—her voice cuts through the silence.
"A... Asahi… it's me."
She smiles.
Asahi freezes.
His breath catches. His muscles lock.
His mind—blank.
Anari moves closer.
"Asahi…"
Her voice is soft, familiar, warm.
She steps forward again.
Closer.
Asahi remains still. He doesn't react, doesn't even blink.
Another step.
Now, she stands directly in front of him. Close enough that he can feel her breath.
He just stares.
Then—her expression shifts.
The warmth fades.
The light in her eyes dies.
And in a voice empty of emotion, hollow and cold—she speaks.
"THIS IS WHY I HATE YOU."
His stomach twists.
His body reacts a second too late.
A fist slams into his face.
His head jerks to the side from the impact, but he remains standing. Blood drips from his mouth to the floor.
Slowly, he turns his head back to look at her.
Their eyes meet.
Without hesitation—his hand moves.
Firm. Precise.
He grabs her chest.
Her eyes widen slightly in anger.
"Yo—"
Before she can finish, his lips curl slightly, and he mutters—
"Repel."
A shockwave bursts between them.
Anari is thrown backward, her body crashing against the ground once more.
Asahi doesn't move.
His breathing is slow. His heartbeat is steady.
But his eyes—his eyes are colder than ever.
The mall feels eerily silent, yet the tension in the air is suffocating. The only sounds echoing through the empty space are slow, heavy breaths and the faint dripping of blood onto the cold tile floor.
MA watches, his expression shifting. For the first time, his grin falters, his eyes narrowing as if something isn't right.
"There is something wrong with you… how can you do that?"
His voice is strained, his usual amusement replaced with something else—something closer to disbelief.
Asahi stands there, his face bruised, his body screaming in pain, yet he moves like it doesn't matter. He lifts his hand to his mouth, wiping the blood from his lips with slow, deliberate movements.
Then, he smirks.
"Because I LIKE IT."
MA flinches.
"Huh…?"
Anari's face contorts with pure fury.
"YOU!"
She moves.
Fast.
Before Asahi can react, a punch slams into his gut, knocking the air from his lungs. His body collapses onto the floor, the cold tile hard against his back.
Pain explodes through his ribs, but before he can even process it—he feels hands grabbing him.
Anari grips him by the collar, dragging him up like he weighs nothing. His back slams against the wall with a dull, sickening thud.
And then—
A fist crashes into his face.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Four.
Five.
Each impact is brutal, sharp, unrelenting. Blood splatters with every hit, staining the wall behind him, dripping from his chin.
Then—she stops.
Her breathing is heavy, her knuckles trembling. Her fists remain clenched, her whole body still tensed as if ready to continue.
Asahi's face is nearly unrecognizable—swollen, cut, battered. His vision swims. His body barely functions.
But he's still alive.
Slowly—weakly—he lifts his head. His bloodied lips curl slightly into a faint, almost mocking smile.
And then—his hand moves.
Through the haze of pain, through the ringing in his ears, he reaches forward.
And grabs her chest.
A second passes.
Then—
Anari snaps.
Her voice rips through the air, filled with rage.
"ARARARARAR!!!"
She doesn't hesitate.
Her fist slams into him.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.
Nine.
Ten.
Each impact is worse than the last. Every punch shakes his skull, his vision flickering in and out of darkness. His body crumbles under the relentless assault.
And finally—his legs give out.
He collapses.
His body hits the floor.
Motionless.
The tension in the air shifts. Anari stands over Asahi, her breathing unsteady, her fists still clenched from the relentless assault she delivered just moments ago.
Asahi, face covered in blood, remains still—expression unreadable. Cold.
But his hands… they are still rising.
Slowly.
Unnaturally.
Anari notices.
She watches as his trembling fingers stretch forward, his movements weak yet determined.
Then—contact.
He grabs her chest.
For a moment, there is silence.
Then—
"YES!"
His voice, hoarse and bloodied, yet filled with triumph.
Anari's body tenses. Her entire frame stiffens.
"ARARRR!!!"
She roars in rage, preparing to strike again—
But then—something changes.
Her breath slows.
Her clenched fists loosen.
Her sharp, furious gaze softens.
Her once cold, hollow eyes shift—returning to the warmth they once held.
Her real eyes.
Her true self.
Asahi watches, a small, satisfied smile creeping onto his face.
MA stares, his expression twisting from confidence into pure disbelief.
"Huh… what happened…?"
His voice is quiet at first. Then, rising with frustration—
"How… NO!"
He takes a step back, his composure cracking.
Asahi, blood dripping from his lips, slowly turns his head toward MA.
Then, he smiles.
"It's simple."
His voice is calm. Collected. Almost playful.
"She doesn't like to be touched by anyone."
A pause.
"So… she started to act on her own."
His voice lowers, a quiet triumph lacing his words.
"I made her act on her own… so that she could be freed."
Silence.
MA stares.
Then—slowly, ever so slightly—he smiles.
"I like it."
His voice, barely above a whisper.
"I like the way you used her."
Asahi exhales, his blood-streaked grin never fading.
"I know."
Anari, still dazed, blinks rapidly, confusion settling over her.
"What's happening…?"
Her voice is softer now, hesitant.
Her body moves instinctively. She reaches forward, holding Asahi in her hands, supporting his weight.
Her warmth seeps into him. A warmth he had almost forgotten.
Her gaze searches his, her expression shifting between concern and bewilderment.
"Why did you grab me?"
Asahi stares at her. His body is battered, his vision blurred, his mind drowning in exhaustion.
Yet—he smiles.
A slow, deliberate smirk.
"I… like it."
Anari's breath catches.
Her face flushes a deep red.
"Huh…?"
Her grip tightens slightly, her expression caught between disbelief and embarrassment.
The air is heavy with silence. The mall's dim lights flicker slightly, casting long shadows over the ruined battlefield. Blood stains the floor. The echoes of their fight still linger.
MA stands there, arms crossed, watching Asahi closely. His usual arrogance is absent—replaced by something else.
A quiet, unsettling realization.
(Even after taking this much damage… even after losing so much blood… even after his ears are bleeding… even when his body is begging for rest… this bastard still calculated everything perfectly and made her break free on her own.)
His fingers tighten against his arms. His grin fades just slightly.
"After all… he is also an Asahi, huh?"
A deep sigh.
Then—his smile returns, wider than before.
"So… what are you gonna do now, huh?"
Asahi's breath is shallow. His body trembles from exhaustion. But his expression is eerily calm.
Then, he exhales.
"You know what? I'm gonna loop. Bye."
His voice is light, almost playful, as if this entire battle was just another minor inconvenience.
MA chuckles, shaking his head.
"Okay. See you in the next loop."
Anari stares at them both, utterly lost. Her head spins from the events unfolding in front of her.
"What's going on…?"
Her voice is quiet, uncertain. She looks at Asahi—his face covered in blood, his body beaten down, yet his presence still as strong as ever.
Then, just as his eyes begin to close, he speaks one last time.
Soft. Certain. Absolute.
"I will save you no matter what."
Her breath catches.
Her heart skips a beat.
"Huh…?"
But before she can say anything—
His body goes limp.
His head tilts slightly.
His eyes fully close.
Asahi has become unconscious.
A stillness falls over the room.
MA watches him for a moment, his grin widening once more.
"Let's see what he does next."
His voice is filled with amusement—but behind it, something else lurks.
Something close to anticipation.