🌄 Next Morning – Kentarō's Apartment
Kentarō sat on the edge of his bed, still holding the note from last night. His room was small—one desk, a bed, a second-hand bookshelf, and an old analog clock that ticked a little too loudly now.
"You're being watched."
"The wrong choices will cost her everything—again."
He stared at his reflection in the mirror.
Then came the knock.
Sarah. Hoodie half-zipped, carrying two convenience store drinks. "Morning. Still believe I'm crazy?"
He blinked. "More than ever. But now I'm curious too."
She smiled and walked in like it was her home.
🍞 Breakfast at a Nearby Café
They sat in the corner of a small café, eating toast and melon-pan. Sarah's eyes constantly wandered, scanning for… something.
"You keep looking around," KentarĹŤ noted.
"There's a watcher," she said. "Hasn't approached. But I can feel it."
"Who? Chronos?"
Sarah paused, then nodded slowly. "One of them. They're starting to notice you now. You're not supposed to have awareness."
KentarĹŤ leaned forward. "Then tell me everything. What are you? What's happening to me?"
Sarah stared into his eyes.
Then, without warning—she leaned in and gently rested her forehead against his again.
Just like that day.
FLASH—
KentarĹŤ in a hospital.
Sarah crying over his lifeless body.
A shattered clock.
A building falling.
A kiss in the rain.
KentarĹŤ's scream as she vanished into light.
He yanked back, breath caught.
"What the hell—!?"
Sarah opened her eyes. "Each time I do that, I give you a fraction of our memories. Just enough."
He grabbed the table edge. "That wasn't a memory—that was a death."
"One of many," she said softly.
🏫 Campus – Later That Day
Back on university grounds, KentarĹŤ sat on the grass, stunned. He didn't attend any lectures that day.
Then came YĹ«to, flopping down beside him with a sigh.
"You okay, bro? You're acting like you saw your own ghost."
"Not mine," KentarĹŤ muttered. "Hers."
"Huh?"
YĹ«to laughed nervously. "You're being cryptic again. Stop hanging around that weird girl, she's infecting you with timeline mumbo-jumbo."
KentarĹŤ managed a weak smile. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
Just then, Professor Hoshikawa passed by. He paused, looked at KentarĹŤ and said:
"The closer you get to her, the more unstable things become.
World lines don't like interference. Be careful who you fall for, Minami."
Then he walked on like nothing happened.
YĹ«to blinked. "Okay, WHAT was that about?"
KentarĹŤ stood up. "I need to find her."
🌀 Evening – University Rooftop
Sarah stood at the edge, hair whipping in the wind.
"You came," she said without turning around.
"You said you'd explain. So explain."
She stepped back, placed a small white stone in his hand. "Memory crystal. From the first timeline."
It flickered—images whirled inside:
Sarah holding his hand as they ran through flames.
Him saying: "I'll protect you, no matter what."
A gunshot. His blood on her cheek.
KentarĹŤ stared at the stone. "This... this was real?"
"In Timeline Zero," she said. "You died saving me. That's when it all began. Chronos gave me a choice—to erase you, or restart and save you across timelines."
She looked at him, eyes glassy. "I've failed 107 times."
KentarĹŤ was silent for a long moment. Then he stepped closer. "Why not just let me die? Why fight this hard?"
Sarah didn't answer with words.
She pressed her forehead to his again. This time, slower.
And this time—Kentarō didn't pull away.
Their memories synchronized.
For a moment… they were one.
💔 Final Flash – Timeline 44
A park bench.
KentarĹŤ holding Sarah's hand.
"I think... I love you," he says.
Her reply: "Then don't wake up."
He woke up in Timeline 45 alone.
🌌 Back to Present
They pulled apart. The world felt different—brighter, slower.
KentarĹŤ whispered, "You... remember all of them, don't you?"
She nodded. "And in almost all of them, I lost you."
KentarĹŤ looked at her, for once not scared.
"I won't let that happen again."
Sarah blinked. "You're starting to remember."
Suddenly, the sky flickered—just for a split second.
The clock tower across the university glitched, like a broken video.
Sarah's face darkened. "The Watcher is getting closer."