This morning, Raphne wasn't feeling well.

She had a high fever and a cough, likely due to catching a cold.

Because of this, I decided to stay by her side to take care of her and monitor her condition.

Once the fever subsided and Raphne fell asleep, I left briefly to go to the dormitory to fetch some clothes and other necessities.

On the way, I discovered Emily sitting under a tree.

"So, just this once, let it slide.

Once today ends and today comes again, I promise I won't trouble Ken anymore..."

"..."

"Sniff, I won't cause Ken any more trouble...

ugh, sniff." This was followed by Emily's sudden confession and an explanation that seemed peculiar.

'Once today ends, and… today comes again?'

I couldn't understand her words, but something in my memory clicked.

It reminded me of an event in the game involving Emily, the protagonist.

It was one of the random events during the Demon King's Army's invasion of the Academy, a ten-day Time Loop Event.

"...What did you say?" Emily stopped crying and stared blankly at me when I asked her how many times she had died.

The number of deaths is the most crucial part of the Time Loop Event because it signifies the remaining lives.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but her statement seems quite plausible.

Even if it seems strange, I need to be sure.

This is reality.

After experiencing the tenth death, there's no such thing as starting over through a Save Load.

“If you die now, don't you start over from the morning?

How many times has this happened?”

“Ke-Ken... How do you know about that?” It seems my guess was right.

Emily was looking at me with a look of disbelief.

Then, understanding the meaning of my words, she began to cry and approached me.

Her tear-streaked face came closer, and she collapsed as if all her strength had left her, placing her hands on my shoulders.

I supported Emily as we both knelt down.

With a choked voice, she barely managed to speak.

“Ke-Ken...

I-I, right now...

uh...

right now…”

“I know.

Calm down, Emily.

I can help you.”

“…uh, Ken…” And then, as if releasing all the emotions she had been holding in, Emily buried her face in my chest and started to cry.

Having watched her loop in the game, I knew what kind of agony she must have gone through.

This ten-day loop is one of the most psychologically devastating events for Emily, filled with horror elements, even within the game.

I held Emily while she cried, waiting for her to calm down.

“…Six times.” After she settled down, Emily told me how many times she had died so far.

Six times meant there was still some leeway.

“Emily, calm down and listen to me carefully.”

“Y-yes.” Though she had stopped crying, her eyes were still red as she nodded with difficulty.

“First, you need to die this round.”

“…W-what?” Emily seemed taken aback by the harsh reality.

It was brutal but unavoidable.

There's no salvation for her in this round.

But it's the reality she has to endure to survive.

Emily's shoulders trembled, and tears welled up again.

“And when you wake up in the morning, head straight to the Academy.”

“Sniff, okay.” Though she looked pained by the harsh reality, Emily did her best to calm down and listen to me.

I placed my hand on Emily’s trembling shoulder.

Now, for the most crucial part.

“On your way to the Academy, there's a student who drops and breaks their belongings every morning.”

“Y-yes.”

“You need to catch their belongings before they break.” There’s only one way to clear this Time Loop Event.

You must observe the repeated situations in each loop and make the critical NPC your ally.

The student who drops and breaks their belongings every morning is that NPC.

Without them, this event can't be cleared.

I explained to her why this student was needed and what to do after catching the item before it breaks.

"But Ken…"

“…When morning comes, Ken, you'll forget everything….”

"Don't worry.

Just bring that student to me.

Even if I forget, I'll still be able to help.” In the game, that student only appears in this event.

If Emily suddenly brings that student to me, it can only mean one thing.

With my confident answer, Emily nodded.

Then, she started crying again and spoke.

“Thank you...

sob, thank you, Ken...

Thank you for helping me.”

“Yeah, I'll help you as much as you need.

No matter what happens, I'll take care of it.

So don't worry.” I patted Emily's head as she cried.

Emily stared at me blankly, feeling my hand on her head.

Oh, right, I naturally reached out to comfort her because of my habit with Raphne.

Was that strange?

But since she said she likes me...

She probably didn't mind.

“…Hey, Ken.”

“Yeah?”

Emily placed her hand on the one I was using to pat her head, then with a face that looked like she might cry again, she spoke.

“I'm...

scared of dying."

"..."

"...I'm scared of suffering." Emily's hand, which was holding mine, was trembling.

"It's okay, Emily." I know what she's been through.

No matter how much solving this incident is necessary, experiencing that pain again is truly cruel.

I can’t even begin to imagine how immense that fear must be.

So, for this Loop where I can't prevent her death, the best thing I can do for her is: "I will die with you."

I can’t prevent her death.

That scissor-wielding maniac will chase her down and subject her to a painful death, no matter what.

In that case, at the very least, I can make sure she's not alone.

I can't share her pain, but I can stay by her side.

I don't know how much comfort that will bring, but it's the best I can do.

As Emily met my resolute gaze, she soon lowered her head and fell into thought.

Then, after a moment, she let go of my hand and placed both of hers on my shoulders.

Lifting her head again, she met my eyes.

When Emily lifted her head, her eyes were not filled with fear, but rather with a mixture of embarrassment and desire.

"Ken, I have a request."

"Yeah, just tell me."

"..." She hesitated, watching my reaction, then closed her mouth before finally deciding to speak slowly.

"If I die this time ...you'll forget everything anyway, right?"

"That's right."

"Then, in that case." Emily looked at me with an expression I had never seen before.

Her face reddened as she cautiously locked her gaze with mine, as if entranced by something.

"...Kiss me."

"...What?" Emily's unexpected request left me flustered.

But her eyes were sincere.

"I'm terrified of the pain and death, but ...if you kiss me, ...I think I can endure it."

My eyes wandered to her lips at the mention of a kiss.

Emily's lips were red and glistening, and the sight of them made my heart suddenly race.

I felt my face heat up.

"...Is it ...not, okay?" When I didn't respond, Emily looked at me with sad eyes and asked again.

After a moment of contemplation, I made up my mind and looked directly at Emily.

"Alright, if this will give you some comfort,” I said.

If a kiss from someone like me could ease Emily’s suffering in the face of death, then I would gladly do it.

With my answer, we stood up from where we were sitting.

We faced each other as we rose.

I approached Emily slowly, and she took a step back until she was leaning against a tree behind her.

I gently placed my hand on her cheek.

I could feel the warmth of her skin.

Emily’s eyes were moist, her face flushed.

She looked at me as if entranced by something.

"...Is it alright?" I asked.

Without saying a word, Emily nodded in response.

I then moved closer to her and pressed my lips to hers.

Her soft lips met mine.

Through my hand on her shoulder, I could feel her trembling.

Then slowly, I pulled away.

Embarrassed, my face reddened, and I could not meet her gaze.

Emily remained silent.

Cautiously, I lifted my head and looked at her. Emily stared at me blankly for a moment before giving a small smile and speaking.

"Fool, it's just a kiss.”

“…Huh, …what?" I was taken aback by her words.

Seeing my reaction, Emily blushed and lowered her gaze before speaking again.

“…C-Can I ask for one more thing?”

"W-What is it?" Emily raised her lowered gaze and spoke with a cautious expression.

“Tell me...

you like me.” Emily looked even more embarrassed than when she had asked for the kiss earlier.

“I’m sorry, b-but if this is going to end anyway...

then, please!”

“I like you, Emily.”

“...” At my sincere words, Emily reddened and lowered her head.

Then she lifted her head again, looking into my eyes with her tear-filled ones.

“…O-One more time.”

“I like you.”

“…Say it a little more.”

“I like you, Emily.”

“…I like you too, Ken.” With tearful eyes, Emily spoke to me.

She had a small, bittersweet smile, both happy and sad, and then she closed her eyes.

Her lips awaited me.

I closed my eyes too and leaned in to kiss her.

“…"Mm." Emily placed her hand on my face, and slowly our lips parted.

Our tongues began to intertwine.

I could sense her saliva, and our tongues slowly tangled together.

My heart pounded as if it would burst, and my body started to heat up.

Our lips became soaked with each other's saliva as Emily, and I gradually explored each other's lips.

Emily's fragrant scent wafted into my nose.

Soon, the hand she had placed on my face moved to wrap around my neck, and she pressed her body closer to mine.

The soft feel of her entire body against mine and her warm body heat could be felt throughout me.

I also placed my hand on her waist and pulled her closer.

How much time passed like that?

After a moment, Emily’s shoulder shook slightly, and she began to tremble.

This tremor was something different from excitement.

I could sense Emily’s fear through our closely pressed bodies.

I had a premonition.

Death was approaching.

So, I broke away from our kiss and looked into Emily's anxious eyes.

I hoped she would feel at ease.

I didn't want her to suffer.

With that sincerity, I looked into her eyes and spoke.

"...I love you, Emily.

I'll stay with you." I wondered if my sincerity had reached her.

Emily's eyes, which had been filled with fear, soon changed to excitement and warmth.

With tears welling up, she nodded happily.

"...Yes.

I love you too." With that, we kissed again, sharing a sweet moment like lovers.

But that sweet kiss soon came to an end with the taste of bitter blood.

When Emily opened her eyes, she saw the familiar ceiling and sat up.

Morning.

It had recently been a painful start.

But today felt different.

Emily, with a dazed expression, touched her lips.

The first kiss with someone she loved.

Remembering that sweet and profound moment, the agony of death seemed insignificant.

"That's right, there's something I need to do..." As Emily regained her senses, she quickly began to prepare.

She ran along her usual route to school, looking around.

By now, the scenery had become very familiar.

Amongst the identical scenes of the past few days, she spotted the person she was looking for.

Then she noticed a short student struggling to carry a glass ornament.

"Whoa!" As always, the student's foot caught on a stone, and they lost their balance.

Emily dashed ahead and caught the glass ornament before it could fall.

"Wow!

Th-thank you!

I almost broke a very important project!"

The student, who had tripped over the stone and fallen to the ground, looked up at Emily, repeatedly expressing their gratitude.

Emily sighed with relief at the sight.

She smiled and looked at the student.

"Really?

Then you owe me one."

"…What?"

"You need to help me out."

Thus, the plan to escape the Loop began.

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