Ding-Dong!
A loud, cheerful chime broke the silence—a simple melody that signaled freedom.
It was the most awaited sound for a regular student like me. I shoved my worn-out notebook into my bag.
I grabbed my bag from the chair with a lazy swing, letting it hang loosely on my right shoulder.
At the back of the class, I saw the trio getting ready to leave. But the only conversation I could hear was between Theo and Ivansia.
Oddly enough, Luna had been quiet the whole time. And I'd been feeling a sharp gaze directed at me for a while now.
"Theo, come to my house today. We'll study together like usual. You know your grades are really bad," Ivansia said.
"B-but no matter how hard I try, my test scores always end up the same, Ivansia. Do you think I just don't have any talent?" Theo replied, his head hanging low.
Ivansia sighed and said, "Let's think about that later, Theo. What matters now is that you need to keep studying with me. Be consistent."
"Guys, that's enough. Let's just go home already," Luna said as she opened the classroom door, signaling Theo and Ivansia to hurry up.
I waited until all three of them left before stepping out myself.
I wandered through the school hallway, looking for our class president, Mia Tiara.
There were so many things I needed to ask her. But after searching for a while, I gave up and decided to head home.
As I approached the school gate, I saw someone with blonde hair and a blue ribbon.
Luna was leaning against the gate, holding her bag with both hands. She looked like she was waiting for her chauffeur or something
"Luna!" I called out, waving my hand.
She turned her face to look at me, her eyes widened when she saw me.
"You're that weirdo from the rooftop earlier!" she shot back.
"Don't call me that! You're hurting my feelings."
"Well, I'm not wrong, am I? You are weird"
"Ugh, whatever. So… why are you standing here all alone?" I asked.
"Ugh, just spit it out, idiot. What do you even want?" Luna replied coldly.
Her tsundere attitude really gets on my nerves sometimes.
"Can we talk for a bit? I'll treat you to a drink." I said, trying to persuade her.
She squinted at me like I was some kind of bug.
"I knew it! You're a total perv! You're gonna take me somewhere quiet and try something weird, aren't you?" she yelled.
But behind her annoyance, I could see a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"What the hell?! Of course not! I just want to talk about something… something that might be related to your dream."
Luna kept staring at me, then sighed. In the end, she agreed.
---
We sat down near a vending machine in one of the school's resting areas.
I bought two cans of black coffee and sat next to her.
"Here, this one's for you. I think you'll like it," I said, handing her the drink.
"What is this?" she asked.
"Black coffee."
"Ew, are you serious?! That stuff's disgusting! You should've bought me something sweet," she pouted, handing the can back.
I let out a deep sigh.
"You're so picky. Just give it a try."
Luna stared at the can for a moment, then opened it and drank while pinching her nose like a kid.
God, she's so dramatic. It's literally just coffee.
"How is it? Tastes good, right?"
She smacked her lips, trying to get a feel for the taste.
"Weird… I've always hated anything bitter. Why does this taste kinda good now?"
Of course it does. You told me black coffee was your favorite back in Loop 1,132.
"So… what did you want to talk about?"
"Your dream… It might not have been just a dream. It could've been a memory of a life you lived before."
"Huh? What do you mean?" she asked.
"Have you ever heard of the Red Thread theory?"
"The what?" she tilted her head.
"It's the idea that we're connected by a red thread to someone who's our soulmate. No matter the distance or even time, that thread won't break."
"And… what does that have to do with my dream?"
"You mentioned a guy in your dream that looked just like me, right? Someone who protected you."
"He didn't just look like you. It was you. I'm sure of it."
I found myself smiling at her words. I took a deep breath before continuing.
"Well… maybe that means the two of us are connected by the red thread."
Crap. That basically sounds like I'm saying I'm her fated partner.
I looked up at the evening sky. The sun was starting to set in the distance.
Still safe. The world won't collapse.
Luna nodded at my explanation, then paused as the meaning of my words finally sank in.
"I KNEW it! You're totally just trying to flirt with me!"
"Yeah! I am doing this to get closer to you. I'm doing everything I can to protect you!" I shot back, finally fed up.
"And who even are you? Why do you suddenly care about me this much?"
"Your soulmate!" I blurted out—instantly regretting it.
Idiot! Why the hell did I say that out loud? Crap, my face is burning up!
I saw Luna's face go red, clearly shocked by my words. She stood up and started walking away from me.
I reached out and grabbed her hand, stopping her from leaving.
"Let me go. I'm tired of your nonsense. I'm going home," she said, trying to pull her hand away.
"I have a gift for you. Just wait a second."
"Tch, what now?" she muttered, but then she sat back down.
The moment I said gift, she was suddenly all ears.
I dug through my bag and pulled out a small sprayer filled with a strange liquid. I handed it to her.
She examined it with a puzzled expression.
"What the heck is this thing?"
"It's a sprayer with chili extract. If you spray it in someone's eyes, they won't be able to see for a few seconds."
I saw her lip twitch slightly, and the corner of her eyes crinkle as she tried to hold back a smirk.
Her cheeks puffed a little, and then—Pfft!—she couldn't hold it in.
"Hahaha! You're unbelievable! What's next, soy sauce in your backpack?" she laughed, eyes tearing up from how hard she was laughing.
I just sat there, silently dying inside.
"So what, you're gonna spray this on food or something? Hahaha!"
Seriously, I wanted to disappear right then and there. I was just trying to give her something useful for self-defense.
"Whatever. Just keep it. Who knows, maybe it'll come in handy someday."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll use it—on my lunch!" she giggled, poking my shoulder.
I couldn't take the embarrassment anymore. I stood up and turned to leave.
"Hey! I never asked your name," Luna called out.
My name, huh…
"Just call me C," I replied.
Luna smiled at me and said,
"Thanks, C."
I froze for a second. Did Luna just thank me?
That's… rare. In all the loops I've gone through, that's not something she says often.
It might sound small, but for someone like her—who always pushes people away—
It meant the world to me.
"Yeah. Later."
If I had a mouth… I'd be grinning like an idiot.
Maybe for the first time in countless loops—I actually felt... happy.