Asahi: "Yo! Good morning!" (Smiles—not brightly, but a forced grin.)
His mother raised an eyebrow.
Mom: "Oh? Good morning… what happened?" (Huh?) "You're so energetic today."
His father glanced at him over the morning newspaper, a smirk forming.
Dad: "Huh… don't tell me—did you see a beautiful girl in your dream?" (Laughs.)
Asahi: (Huh?) "No!"
Then, his expression turned serious.
Asahi: "Dad."
His father looked up.
Asahi: "Today, I'm coming with you to the office."
A long silence followed.
Dad: "(Huh?)"
Mom: "What?! But what about school…?"
Asahi turned to his mother.
His voice was calm, but his eyes were firm.
Asahi: "Mom…"
A deep breath.
Asahi: "Just this once. One last time. Please… I have to go."
Mom: (Huh?) (Something about the way he said that… felt off.)
His father exhaled, studying him for a moment before shrugging.
Dad: "If he's insisting this much, then—" (smiles slightly.)
Asahi clenched his fist under the table.
Asahi: (Yes… Thanks, Dad!)
Dad: "Yeah, yeah… let's go."
Leaving for the Office
After a quick breakfast, Asahi and his father stepped outside. The morning air was crisp, the sky a soft blue—everything looked normal.
Too normal.
As they walked toward the car, Asahi's mind raced.
Asahi (thinking): (Alright… The plan is simple.)
First, I will save my father.Then, I'll rush back home to save my mother.
But then—
Asahi (thinking): (The problem is… I don't know when my mother dies.)
His grip on his bag tightened.
Asahi (thinking): (So, I have to be quick. The moment I know my father is safe… I need to run back home immediately.)
Asahi (thinking): (This is a race against time.)
Asahi took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.
But deep down—he knew.
Something was off.
Arrival at the Railway Station
Asahi and his father stepped onto the railway platform.
The air was unnervingly still.
Asahi (thinking): (Huh? It's… not crowded at all.)
His eyes darted around. Usually, stations were filled with people—but today, there were only a few scattered figures in the distance.
It felt… wrong.
Asahi: "The people are very few today…"
His father didn't seem to notice anything strange.
Dad: "We need to go to Platform No. 6."
Asahi nodded, following him.
As they walked, his father suddenly smirked.
Dad: "Do you want me to hold your hand?" (Playful tone.)
Asahi: (Huh?) "Yo, come on… Dad… really?"
Before Asahi could react, his father grabbed his hand anyway.
It was warm. Firm. Reassuring.
And yet…
Asahi didn't pull away.
Platform No. 6
They arrived at Platform No. 6.
The moment they stepped onto it, Asahi felt his stomach drop.
The silence was unnatural.
The fluorescent lights above flickered, buzzing faintly.
The walls and floor were lined with blue tiles, but they seemed… off.
The air smelled stale, as if the station had been abandoned for years.
And then—the realization hit.
Asahi (thinking): (Shit! There's no one here!)
His breathing became uneven. His fingers curled into fists.
Asahi (thinking): (Something is wrong!)
His pulse quickened. He turned toward his father.
Asahi: "Dad… something is wrong."
His father blinked.
Dad: "(Huh?)"
Dad: "Come on, Asahi. There are some days when this platform has very few people."
Asahi: (No… not like this.)
He scanned the area.
No vendors.
No railway staff.
No distant chatter.
Nothing.
Just an empty platform stretching endlessly in both directions.
He swallowed hard.
Asahi: "Dad, come on… we're the only ones here. Our voices are echoing."
His father chuckled.
Dad (laughing): "Hah!"
The sound bounced off the empty walls, repeating itself before fading into silence.
Asahi shivered.
The silence after the laugh felt too long.
The Train Approaches
They stood still, waiting.
The emptiness pressed against Asahi's mind like a weight.
Asahi (thinking): (Everything seems clear… for now.)
He glanced at his watch.
10:00 AM.
Good.
Then—
A crackling announcement filled the platform.
Announcement: "The next train will arrive at… 10:05 AM."
The robotic voice echoed strangely, distorting slightly at the end.
Asahi's spine tingled.
5 more minutes.
The railway station was dead silent.
Dad: "Ooo… five more minutes."
Asahi's hands were clammy, his breath shallow.
Asahi (thinking): (This place… it feels wrong.)
His father stretched, yawning casually.
Dad: "Huh? You're afraid, aren't you?" (laughs.)
Asahi flinched.
Asahi: "No… why would you ask?"
His father grinned.
Dad: "It's written all over your face."
Without realizing, Asahi rubbed his face aggressively.
Dad: "Come on. You can't be that dumb."
Asahi: "No, no! Just cleaning my face… you know."
His father shook his head with a chuckle.
Dad: "Ahh, yeah… sure."
Then—
Asahi froze.
His stomach turned ice-cold.
A hand.
A hand that wasn't his.
A hand that didn't belong to anyone.
A hand that appeared from nowhere.
Before Asahi could react—
SHOVE.
His father's body lurched forward.
Asahi's eyes widened in horror.
The train was already there.
SPLAT.
Blood sprayed onto the blue tiles.
The metallic scent flooded Asahi's nose.
The Moment of Silence
The world blurred.
The noise of the train vanished.
The screams in his throat never came out.
He just stood there.
Motionless.
Holding onto the only thing left of his father.
A severed hand.
Fingers still curled around his own.
His knees buckled.
And then—
The dam broke.
Asahi: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRHHHHH!!!"
His scream ripped through the empty platform.
It echoed, over and over again—a never-ending loop of agony.
Asahi: "NO… NOOOO!!!"
His own voice sounded distant, surreal, like it wasn't his own.
His breathing turned violent.
His vision spun.
Asahi (thinking): (Who pushed him? Where did that hand come from?! WHERE?!!)
His grip on the severed hand tightened.
He couldn't let go.
He couldn't.
Because if he did—
It would mean his father was really gone.
Asahi (thinking): (I have to loop. I have to go home. I HAVE TO SAVE MOM!)
The Walk of the Dead
Asahi stumbled away from the station.
The severed hand still in his grasp.
The sky tore open above him.
Rain crashed down, merciless, cold, unforgiving.
His body was soaked. His clothes clung to his skin.
He walked.
Not ran. Not hurried.
Just walked.
Like a corpse moving forward on instinct.
Every step felt heavier.
Every breath felt more meaningless.
The weight of his father's death pressed down on his shoulders.
One last time.
Home – But Not Safe
He reached home.
The door was open.
His heart pounded against his ribs.
His breath hitched.
Asahi (thinking): (No… no… no… Mom…!!)
His own heartbeat echoed in his ears.
Louder.
Louder.
LOUDER.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
The world felt tilted.
The air was too heavy.
Then—he ran.
Checked every room.
The kitchen.
The bathroom.
The hallway.
And then—
The living room.
He stopped.
His breath left his body.
The world collapsed.
A Perfect Murder – Or A Desperate Suicide?
His mother hung from the ceiling.
Her lifeless body swayed slightly.
Her eyes—wide open.
Looking at him.
Asahi: ".............................."
Tears were dried on her cheeks.
As if she had cried until the very last second.
Her legs were bruised.
Her hands had deep scratches.
Her nails were broken from struggling.
The room was too clean.
The rope was perfectly placed.
Asahi (thinking): (Was this a suicide… or a murder made to look like one?)
But in the end—
It didn't matter.
She was gone.
The Breaking Point
Asahi fell to his knees.
His vision blurred.
His hands curled into fists against the floor.
His body shook.
Then—
He screamed.
A sound that wasn't human.
Asahi: "AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!"
His nails dug into his skin.
Blood dripped down his face.
His hands scratched his own cheeks, tearing at the flesh.
He wanted to rip himself apart.
To erase the pain.
To end it all.
Asahi: "No… No… NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
His body convulsed.
His mind shattered.
He screamed, and screamed, and screamed—
Until there was nothing left inside him.
Until he was just a hollow shell.
A madman in the making.
The Last Moments in the Dark
Asahi moved forward—slowly.
His legs felt heavy, his body numb.
With trembling hands, he reached out.
He grasped his mother's cold legs.
His voice cracked.
Asahi: "Mom..."
No response.
Asahi: "Mom..."
His fingers tightened.
Asahi: "Mom..." (Tears streamed down his face.)
His voice shook, barely above a whisper.
Asahi: "Mom... I'm here." (His breath hitched.)
Asahi: "Mom!" (Screams.) "I came for you!"
The room was dark, but her body was clearly visible.
Too visible.
The light in her eyes was gone.
And yet—
They were still staring at him.
A Son's Final Plea
Asahi's chest heaved.
His entire world collapsed.
His voice was broken, desperate.
Asahi: "Please... Mom..."
Asahi: "Come back to me... just one last time..."
His hands shook violently as he clung to her.
His father's severed hand was still in his grip.
And there—
In that dark, empty room...
He knelt.
And wept.
The Blank State
His body gave out.
His knees hit the floor.
His mind shut down.
His eyes were hollow.
His breath slowed.
And then—
He fell forward.
Lying there, lifeless, motionless, hopeless.
Asahi: "I'm tired... I can't do it anymore..."
His fingers loosened.
His eyelids grew heavier.
His mind drifted.
And then—
Darkness.
The White Void – A Hollow Return
Asahi's eyes opened.
White.
The endless void stretched in every direction.
The Dimensional Dream.
And standing there, waiting as always—
Future Asahi.
FA studied him, his face unreadable.
Then—
FA: "(Huh…?)" (Tilts head slightly.) "You came back."
A pause.
Then, in a low, almost casual tone—
FA: "So… what happened?"
Asahi – A Man with Nothing Left
Asahi didn't answer.
He just sat there.
No movement. No emotion.
His eyes—hollow. Blank.
A man who had lost everything.
FA frowned.
He took a step closer.
FA: "Hey. Answer me." (Voice sharper.) "What happened?"
Nothing.
FA sighed.
Then—
Asahi (low voice): "Loop the time."
His gaze lifted slowly.
And for the first time—
He looked directly into FA's eyes.
FA's breath hitched.
Because those weren't Asahi's eyes anymore.
Those were the eyes of a man with nothing left to lose.
A Desperate Demand
FA: "Calm down." (Raises a hand.) "Let me hear the situation first—"
Asahi: "JUST LOOP THE TIME!!"
His voice exploded in the white void.
It shook. Echoed.
FA's expression didn't change.
But something in his posture shifted.
Slowly, he exhaled.
Then—he spoke.
The Truth About Sleep
FA: "I'll loop it."
FA: "But I'll say one thing first."
A pause.
Then—his eyes locked onto Asahi's.
FA: "You're not getting enough sleep."
Asahi (low voice): "So what?" (Anger, frustration.)
FA: "You've already looped three times."
Asahi's jaw tightened.
FA: "Basically… you've been awake for three days straight."
Silence.
Asahi's body tensed.
Then—
FA: "And even if you sleep… you'll only get ten to fifteen minutes."
FA's expression was unreadable.
FA: "And that's not even deep sleep."
Asahi's breath grew heavy.
His fists clenched.
His entire body shook.
Then—he looked directly into FA's eyes.
His own reflection stared back.
The Warning
FA's voice dropped to a deep, chilling tone.
FA: "You realize what's happening, don't you?"
Asahi remained silent.
FA's eyes narrowed slightly.
FA: "You're running on borrowed time."
A pause.
Then—
FA: "You haven't slept in three days."
FA's expression was unreadable.
FA: "It won't kill you…"
He took a step closer.
FA: "But it will break you."
A suffocating silence filled the white void.
FA: "Your mind will crumble before your body does."
FA: "Your perception will distort."
His voice grew even lower.
FA: "You will see things that don't exist."
His gaze locked onto Asahi's.
FA: "And you won't even know… if you're still awake."
The Moment of Doubt
Asahi's fingers twitched.
His thoughts spiraled.
Asahi (thinking): (What do I do now…?)
The silence felt too loud.
Then—
FA: "You don't have to answer."
Asahi flinched.
Asahi: (Huh?)
FA: "I already know what you're thinking."
FA's lips curled into the faintest smile.
FA: "After all…"
FA's voice was calm. Absolute.
FA: "You are me."
No More Delays
Asahi turned his head away.
Asahi: "Just loop the time."
His voice was tired. Empty. Done.
FA stared at him for a moment.
Then—he smiled.
FA: "Good luck."
And with that—
FA closed his eyes.
Pain Beyond Reality
A sharp, searing pain tore through Asahi's skull.
Like his mind was being ripped apart.
Like he was being erased and rewritten at the same time.
His vision blurred.
His ears rang.
Then—
The pain struck full force.
Asahi: "AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGHHHHH!!"
His scream shattered the void.
His hands clawed at his head.
His skull felt like it was splitting open.
A Final Message Before Waking Up
Asahi's mind was fading.
The unbearable pain in his head grew worse—like his very existence was being rewritten.
Then, in the last moment before he lost consciousness—
A voice.
FA: "Look after… Anari."
A name.
A whisper.
Then—darkness.
Back in Reality
Asahi's eyes fluttered open.
The ceiling. The warmth of his bed.
The world felt normal again.
Too normal.
He slowly turned his head toward the clock.
8:30 AM.
The same time.
The same place.
The same loop.
His breath shook.
Asahi: "Same time…" (Empty voice.)
Then, without another thought—
He pulled the bedsheet over himself.
A shield. A desperate attempt to block out the world.
His body trembled.
His voice cracked.
Asahi: "I can't do it anymore."
He squeezed his eyes shut.
Asahi: "If I stay with my mom, my dad dies…"
Asahi: "If I go with my dad, my mom dies…"
A choked sob escaped his throat.
His fingers dug into the bedsheet.
Asahi: "What can I even do?!" (Cries.)
His voice was filled with frustration. Helplessness. Fear.
A Familiar Voice
Then—
The sound of footsteps approaching.
A soft knock at the door.
Then, a voice.
Mom: "Come on! It's time for school!"
No response.
The bedsheet didn't move.
Silence.
A Voice Without Life
Under the bedsheet, Asahi lay motionless.
His body felt heavy.
His mind was drowning in exhaustion.
Then—
A familiar voice.
Mom: "Come on, Asahi! It's time for school!"
No response.
Then, a faint, hollow whisper—
Asahi: "Mom…" (Dead voice.) "Leave me alone."
A beat of silence.
His mother froze.
Something about his tone wasn't right.
Mom: "What?!"
She stepped closer.
Mom: "Asahi… what happened to you?"
No response.
Then—
Asahi: "Nothing." (Same dead voice.)
His mother's expression darkened with concern.
She sat beside him, gently placing her hand on his shoulder.
Mom: "Did you have a bad dream?"
No answer.
She reached forward, gripping the bedsheet.
And then—
She pulled it away.
A Mother's Horror
What she saw shattered her.
Her son—
Her strong, lively son—
Looked like a corpse.
His skin was pale.
His eyes sunken, dark circles carved deep into his face.
His lips were dry, cracked.
His expression—empty.
His eyes—
Begging for sleep.
A sight that no mother should ever have to see.
Her voice trembled.
Mom: "Did… did you sleep?" (Shocked.)
A Broken Answer
Asahi's lips moved slightly.
His voice was lifeless.
Asahi: "I slept."
His mother exhaled in relief.
But then—
Asahi: "I slept… over and over again."
His fists tightened.
His voice grew unstable.
Asahi: "But nothing worked."
His breathing shook.
Asahi: "Now… I'm here. Trapped. A useless man."
His mother's eyes widened.
Asahi: "A useless man who can't do ANYTHING!" (Screams.)
He grabbed his own hair, nails digging into his scalp.
Asahi: "I CAN'T SAVE ANYONE!!"
His breath became ragged, violent.
Asahi: "I KNOW EVERYTHING—BUT I'M JUST A FUCKING IDIOT!!"
Asahi: "I FAIL! ALL THE FUCKING TIME! EVERY. FUCKING. TIME!!!"
A Mother's Love in a Hopeless World
His mother flinched.
Pain flashed across her face.
For the first time—
She saw her son breaking right in front of her.
She lowered her gaze.
Her voice—soft, but unwavering.
Mom: "I don't know what you're saying."
She took a deep breath.
Her eyes met his.
And then—
She smiled.
A gentle, loving, heartbreaking smile.
Mom: "But I know one thing."
Asahi's breath stilled.
He stared at her.
Mom: "You're trying your best."
His chest tightened.
His body tensed.
Her fingers brushed his hair back softly.
Mom: "Even though you failed… you tried."
A pause.
Then—
Mom: "You tried again."
Tears welled in her eyes.
Mom: "You didn't give up… because it's important to you, right?"
Her voice was warm, fragile—but powerful.
Mom: "That's what makes you my son."
She leaned forward—
And pressed a soft, warm kiss on his forehead.
A Son's Tears
Asahi didn't move.
No expression.
No words.
Just—
Tears.
Silently, they fell down his hollow cheeks.
His body shook.
His breath hitched.
His fingers trembled.
And then—
Asahi: "I… I…"
His lips quivered.
His vision blurred.
His hands reached forward—
And he hugged her.
Tightly.
Like if he let go—
She'd disappear forever.
Asahi: "Mom!"
His voice cracked.
And for the first time—
He allowed himself to break.
A Mother's Comfort
Asahi's body shook as he clung to his mother.
Tears soaked into her shirt, but she didn't move away.
Instead, she gently stroked his hair.
Mom: "Yeah, yeah… let it all out." (Comforting.)
Her warmth anchored him.
For a moment, he wasn't a time traveler, a broken soul, or a sleepless man.
He was just her son.
But in the depths of his mind—
A vow burned.
A Promise in the Dark
Asahi (thinking): (No matter what… even if I have to sell my soul… I will save you… Dad… and HIM.)
His fists tightened.
FA.
The version of himself that had already suffered.
The version that had already lost everything.
Asahi wouldn't let that future happen.
Not this time.
A New Start – Or Another Beginning?
His mother pulled away, cupping his face.
She smiled.
Mom: "Now, let's go downstairs."
Asahi wiped his tears.
For the first time in a long time—
He nodded with a genuine smile.
Asahi: "Yes!"
Breakfast & A Declaration
They reached the kitchen.
His father sat at the table, newspaper in one hand, sipping tea.
Dad: (Huh? Raises an eyebrow.) "You both look… happy?" (Suspicious.)
Asahi took a deep breath.
This was it.
Asahi: "I have something important to say."
His father lowered the newspaper.
His gaze hardened.
Dad (thinking): (Is he even sleeping? What's going on with him?)
Asahi: "Today, I'm not going to school."
Silence.
His father blinked.
Dad: "…Huh?"
Asahi: "And you're not going to the office either."
His father froze.
His mother stiffened.
Dad: "W-What…?"
His mother turned to his father.
Mom: "Just listen to him." (Firm tone.)
Asahi's eyes burned with determination.
Asahi: "Stay near me. No matter what."
His father's hands tightened around his cup.
A moment of hesitation.
Then—
Dad: "…Yes." (Still confused.)
The Realization – It's All Connected
Asahi's mind raced.
Asahi (thinking): (If I keep both of them near me, I can prevent their deaths. I'll see who's trying to kill them.)
His fingers curled into a fist.
Asahi (thinking): (They're targeting my loved ones… my treasures.)
Then, the memory of FA's last words resurfaced.
FA: "Look after Anari."
Anari.
His childhood friend.
His connection to the past.
His final piece of the puzzle.
Asahi (thinking): (So that's why FA mentioned her… they'll go after her next!)
His gaze snapped toward the clock.
9:00 AM.
Asahi (thinking): (School starts at 9:30 AM… I have to call her!)
The Call – Anari's Confusion
Asahi turned to his father.
Asahi: "Dad, give me your phone." (Extends hand.)
His father hesitated.
His eyes studied Asahi carefully.
Dad (thinking): (Why… does he seem different? What is he thinking so hard about?)
Still, he handed over the phone.
Dad: "Y… Yeah."
Asahi dialed the number.
After a few rings—
A familiar voice.
Anari: "Hello?! Why are you calling this early?!" (Shocked voice.)
Asahi's lips curled into a small smirk.
Asahi: "Why don't we go out together?"
Dad: "What?!" (What is this kid even trying?)
His mother laughed softly.
Anari: "Ahhh…" (Flustered.) "T-Together…?" (Blushes.)
Asahi: "Me, Dad, and Mom are coming too. Why don't you join us?"
A long silence.
Then—
Her voice dropped slightly.
Anari: "Oooooh… your Dad and Mom are there…?" (Disappointed voice.)
Dad: (Huh? Blinks. In mind: "Idiot… he missed his chance.")
His mother laughed again.
The Deal is Sealed
Anari: "But what about school—?"
Asahi: (Soft voice.) "I won't go without you."
A sharp inhale from the other side.
Anari: "(Huh…?)" (Blushes.)
Asahi: "I'll wait for you."
A pause.
Then—click.
Call ended.
The Aftermath
His father stared at him.
Then—
Dad: "What is WRONG with you?!" (Frustrated.) "You totally missed your chance!"
Dad: "Why don't you two just go alone?!"
Asahi's expression hardened.
Asahi: "Because I won't go anywhere without you two."
His mother smiled.
His father blinked, taken aback.
Then—his expression softened.
A thought ran through his mind.
Dad (thinking): (You've grown up… you've changed a lot… in just one day.)
His lips curled into a small, proud smile.
The Clock Ticks
The time moved forward.
9:30 AM.
And the real battle was about to begin.
Anari's Arrival – A Moment of Light
The doorbell rang.
Asahi opened the door—
And his breath hitched.
There she stood—
Anari.
Wearing a black dress, flowing softly around her frame.
A skirt that danced with every step.
And her hair—
Wolf cut.
(Writer's favorite style, huh?)
His jaw almost dropped.
She looked… stunning.
Too stunning.
Like someone who shouldn't exist in this twisted nightmare of time loops.
Anari: (Cheerful.) "So! Where are we going?" (Smiles—too cute.)
His heart skipped.
For a moment—just a moment—he forgot about the horror.
The Plan in Motion
Asahi snapped back to reality.
Asahi: "Mmm… let's go to the mall."
Dad: "(Huh?) The mall?"
Asahi: "Yeah! We can buy a lot of things."
Anari's smile faltered slightly.
Her eyes dropped, just for a second.
Anari: (Disappointed.) "Oh…"
Asahi noticed immediately.
Without hesitation—
He turned to her.
Asahi: (Louder.) "FOR YOU!" (Grins.)
Anari froze.
Then—
Her face turned bright red.
Her hands fidgeted slightly.
Anari (thinking): (He's so different today… is he even sleeping…?)
The Ride to the Mall – A Hidden War
Mom: "So, let's go!"
Anari: "Yeah!" (Excited again.)
Asahi breathed out, relieved.
But inside—his mind was calculating every move.
The Real Reason Behind the Destination
Asahi (thinking): (I chose the mall because of how highly populated it is… No one can harm us there.)
Asahi (thinking): (A big mall can't spot us easily—we should change locations every 10 minutes.)
His fists clenched.
The Car Ride – A Father's Observation
They all got into the car.
The front seats occupied by Mom and Dad.
The back seats—Asahi and Anari.
(Writer's plan: hahaha.)
The car rolled forward.
Anari tilted her head, glancing at Asahi.
Then—
Anari: "You've changed so much in just one day."
Asahi turned to her.
Asahi: "(Huh?) You think so?"
She nodded, studying his face.
Anari: "You've become a lot more… mature."
Asahi blinked.
Then—he coughed.
Asahi: "(Coughs.) I was always like this."
Dad: (Laughs.)
Asahi gritted his teeth.
Asahi: "Come on… stop laughing."
Dad: "Yeah, yeah…" (Grinning.)
Dad (thinking): (I know he'll pull this girl… After all, he's my son.)
Asahi's True Thoughts – The War Begins
Asahi (thinking): (I have to make them survive this day…)
His grip tightened.
His face darkened.
Asahi (thinking): (No matter what.)
His expression twisted—anger and determination mixed.
Anari glanced at him—confused by the sudden shift in his aura.
Something was coming.
And Asahi was ready to fight fate itself.
