The city lights blurred as Aqua sprinted down the narrow alley, his breath ragged, heart pounding like a warning drum.
Trash bins lined the brick walls, their shadows stretching under the flickering streetlamps. Rainwater from an earlier shower pooled in potholes, splashing beneath his feet as he ran. The alley twisted tightly between shuttered shops and rusted staircases, every echo magnified in the tight space.
The hurried footsteps of the stalker echoed ominously behind Ruby—a shadow of menace trailing Ruby's carefree smile just moments before.
"Ruby! Wait!" he called, but she didn't hear him. She was so close now, almost safe—just a few steps ahead.
Aqua's mind raced. This time, I won't let it happen. Not again.
He pushed harder, muscles burning, lungs gasping. The stalker's presence was no longer just a threat—it was a nightmare repeating itself, a loop he couldn't break.
Suddenly, Ruby stumbled. The stalker lunged.
Aqua reached out, grabbing her arm, pulling her back with all his strength. The attacker snarled and fled into the night, disappearing as quickly as he came.
Ruby gasped, trembling, her eyes wide with shock. "Aqua… thank you."
Relief crashed over him in waves. I saved her. This time, I saved her.
Scene shifts to home.
Aqua opened the door quietly, stepping into the dim glow of the entryway. The soft clack of the door echoed into the cozy front hallway. Warm light filtered through the narrow corridor, casting shadows on the pale walls. A small step led down to the wooden floor, where a vase of roses and a framed photo of Ai with the twins sat on a shoe cabinet near the entrance. The faint scent of polished wood and home lingered in the air.
Miyako stood there, arms folded, concern etched on her face.
"Where were you? I was calling you this whole time," she said.
Aqua glanced down at his phone. "I… must've put it on silent by mistake," he replied.
I didn't want any distractions while saving Ruby, he thought.
Miyako stepped closer, her gaze scanning his face. "Your eyes…" she murmured.
He blinked. "What?"
"They look… tired. You alright?"
Aqua forced a smile, masking the weight pressing down on his chest. "Maybe my lack of sleep finally caught up with me."
Miyako softened. "If it's because of Ruby, you don't have to do everything alone. I'm here too. Me and the agency—we'll make sure she's safe. Please… focus on your well-being."
Just then, a sharp chime broke the moment. Aqua's phone buzzed with a notification. He glanced at the screen.
Breaking News: Ruby Hoshino has died after being caught in a violent gang crossfire.
His hand froze.
His eyes widened, breath catching in his throat.
A whisper of a cry escaped his lips, fragile and broken. "No… not again. Why is it happening again?"
Miyako stepped forward, alarmed. "Aqua—?"
But her voice became distant, muffled, as the world around him began to spin. Miyako's figure blurred in his vision, swallowed by darkness.
The loop continued.
Day after day, he tried again—running, protecting, pleading—but no matter what, Ruby's fate twisted cruelly in another form. Gang violence, accidents, shadowy threats—all orchestrated from behind the scenes by Hikaru's reach.
Aqua's eyes darkened, the weight of failure pressing down on his soul.
He sought Akane's help, careful to hide the truth of the time loops, the death, and the voice of Tsukuyomi guiding him. To Akane, it was just a desperate fight for justice, a man haunted by a tragedy he couldn't explain.
But those closest to Aqua began to notice cracks.
Ruby grew worried, sensing his restless nights and haunted gaze.
Kana watched silently, pain hidden behind her smiles.
Akane's concern deepened as she saw Aqua's relentless push, his growing isolation.
One evening, as they gathered quietly, Akane took Aqua aside to speak with him alone.
The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn against the outside world. Empty tea cups and script papers sat scattered on the low table, untouched. A gentle hum from the ceiling fan filled the silence between them, as if the house itself held its breath.
After a moment of silence between them, she finally spoke, her voice gentle but firm.
"Aqua, is everything alright? You don't seem like your usual self."
From a distance, Kana watched them. Her eyes held a silent message—something that had been trapped inside her for a long time, aching to be spoken, yet never quite reaching her lips.
He looked up, pain etched across his face.
"I have to save her, Akane. I can't lose Ruby."
Akane reached out, steadying him. "You're hiding something. I can sense it in your eyes. You can tell me—I'll always be here to help, no matter what."
But even as her words offered comfort, the shadow of the loop lingered—Aqua's silent curse that none around him could fully understand.
How many times must I fail before I get it right? he thought, eyes fixed on the darkening horizon.
The cycle of hope and heartbreak had only just begun.