Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: When Does Tomorrow Come? (3)
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She had already been killed six times by that woman.
Two of those deaths were so agonizing she never wanted to think of them again.
Slicing the thin parts with scissors, cutting the thick parts, dragging out her entrails slowly.
Slowly.
Slowly inflicting pain.
Savoring the screams.
Admiring the face contorted in agony.
Rejoicing and delighting in every bit of it.
Tormenting her like that until she died.
‘…She’s enjoying it.’
Emily realized it through those six deaths.
That woman laughed as if inflicting pain brought her the greatest joy.
Her face danced with uncontainable ecstasy at Emily’s suffering expression.
Emily was terrified by it.
Not just the death it brought.
The fear that the endless torment would continue.
She’d rather just die.
But even in death, she returned to morning and repeated the day.
More than the pain of her flesh being carved open, more than the bizarre woman chasing her.
The unknown horror of not knowing when it would end.
That inescapable fear plunged Emily into despair.
Even begging others for help was pointless if they couldn’t see the enemy—no matter how strong they were.
She never imagined Adrian could die so quickly.
If Adrian couldn’t handle her, who in this entire academy could?
‘…Someone, …please help me.’
Slumped over her desk, tears streaming down, Emily prayed in her heart.
And the one who came to mind was the person who had saved her from danger in the forest not long ago.
Ken Fine Stein.
Emily lifted her head and stared at his empty seat.
His strength as he blocked her path and felled the giant with a single stroke.
Ken was undoubtedly one of the academy’s top powerhouses, rivaling Adrian.
He could surely defeat that woman.
But without seeing the opponent, no battle could even begin.
Asking him for help would only put him in danger.
‘…And, …he wouldn’t help me anyway.’
Emily recalled two days ago.
The day that now felt like ages past after repeating six deaths.
The look of disgust in Ken’s eyes as he stared at her.
His voice laced with resentment.
His words that he never wanted to see her again.
‘Someone like me…. No way he’d help….’
Emily finally understood.
What she had done to Ken.
Just as that bizarre woman inflicted pain on Emily for her own pleasure.
Emily had inflicted pain on Ken to satisfy her own desires.
She had reveled in his suffering and tormented him relentlessly.
So Emily now painfully grasped how she must look to him.
To Ken, she was a monster.
A monster that inflicted pain and delighted in it.
A monster that clung to him persistently, refusing to let go.
‘…This isn’t something an apology can fix.’
The day after Ken’s anger.
She realized how foolish and shameless she’d been, rushing to apologize and beg forgiveness right away.
No way would Ken help a wretch like her who dared to ask.
She wasn’t even qualified to plead for aid.
Emily slumped over her seat, tears flowing freely.
No one could help her.
In this agonizing day, she had to endure it alone.
Alone, repeating it endlessly.
The pain of being torn apart by that woman.
‘…Someone …please help.’
There was no one anywhere to help her.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Emily collapsed with a thud beneath the tree.
This was the starting point of the path from the academy to the dormitories.
‘…Soon, …that time.’
Emily gazed up at the sky.
Blue visible through the swaying leaves.
Soon, that sky would tint orange and the sun would set.
Then the seventh death would come.
The thought made tears spill from Emily’s dazed eyes.
‘…No, …I don’t want it to hurt.’
But escape was impossible.
Nothing was on Emily’s side anymore.
Not her friends, not the academy, not even time itself had abandoned her.
Faced with the reality that nothing could help her, she sank into despair.
At last, Emily tore her gaze from the sky and buried her face in her knees.
Just like this.
Closing her eyes in the darkness like this.
She wanted to die without pain.
She’d rather die peacefully and never come back to life.
‘…This must be punishment.’
It was for the sin she committed.
The sin of tormenting the boy who saved her, all for her petty desires.
Heaven itself was delivering that punishment.
That’s why she suffered like this.
Emily buried her face in her knees, tears soaking through.
Praying only for the pain to end quickly.
“……Emily?”
At that moment, a familiar voice called her name.
Emily slowly raised her head toward the voice.
The voice she’d longed to hear, the one she’d been desperately searching for.
Lifting her head, she saw.
Ken Fine Stein.
“Wah! A-Are you okay?! What happened?!”
Seeing Emily’s tear-streaked face, Ken startled and rushed over.
Then, flustered, he checked on her condition.
Emily stared blankly at the sight.
For him to worry so much about the girl who’d angered him just two days ago.
His gentle nature filled her with immense guilt.
“…Um, is it because of what I said last time?”
That was Ken’s guess upon seeing her crying.
“Sorry about that. I think I was overly sensitive that day too. I shouldn’t have said it like that….”
Emily was clearly the one at fault, yet Ken apologized to her instead.
Looking genuinely sorry and troubled.
‘…Ken, you’re so kind.’
At that, Emily wiped her tears and stood.
She couldn’t just sit there crying pathetically while he apologized.
Having realized her sin.
There was something she had to tell him.
“…Ken, I have something to say.”
“H-Huh? Y-Yeah, what is it?”
“…You know, I…”
And Emily prepared to apologize to Ken.
She knew it wouldn’t resolve everything, but she couldn’t not apologize.
The moment she opened her mouth to speak.
‘…But even if I apologize, …if I die this time.’
She remembered death would soon come, resetting her to morning and erasing the apology.
‘…I don’t want to cowardly pretend something this important never happened.’
Ken would forgive her if she apologized. He was kind like that.
But if she died afterward, the apology would vanish, leaving only her guilt lessened.
She didn’t want such a spineless apology.
“…Ken, you know…!”
Then she’d say what she wanted to say—something that wouldn’t burden him since he’d forget it this time.
Maybe it was just another selfish desire.
But since she was going to die anyway, she had to voice it.
Her realization.
Emily clenched her fists tight.
“I…!”
To prevent any misunderstanding, she gazed at him with pure sincerity.
Her trembling lips finally moved.
Conveying her honest heart.
“I like you!”
If death would make it all undone, then at least she’d be honest.
“……Huh?”
Ken, tense and waiting for her words, went slack-jawed at what she said.
As if he’d misheard.
Emily swallowed her embarrassment at his reaction and spoke again.
Pouring out her true feelings.
“The truth is, I like you. I like you as a guy. That’s why I… bullied you.”
“…Huh? N-No, what do you—”
“Pretty childish, right? But it’s true—believe me. I like you so much, but I wanted to deny it, so I did those stupid things….”
Ken’s flustered face.
To break the tension, Emily forced a smile.
“…Sorry, for springing this on you.”
A confession like this to the guy who’d said two days ago he never wanted to see her again.
It was definitely a nuisance.
But after today, he wouldn’t remember anyway.
“Um, w-wait, …I mean, Emily.”
Ken’s face flushed as he panicked.
Even without those events two days ago, a sudden confession like this would rattle anyone.
And now Ken seemed to be mulling his response.
Emily reached out a hand to stop him.
“Sorry, Ken. For putting you on the spot like this. …But it’s fine! It’ll all be undone anyway.”
“……Huh?”
Surely that made no sense to him.
How could spoken words just vanish? It defied logic.
But in this reality, it did. Emily pressed on without hesitation.
“So, forgive me just this once. Once today ends and it loops back to today again, I won’t trouble you anymore, Ken….”
“…….”
“Sniff, Ke-Ken, …Ugh, sob, I won’t trouble you….”
She knew he’d reject her confession.
Of course he would.
No way he’d accept feelings from the girl who tormented him.
That’s why she’d cut off his reply.
But realizing her love was impossible, Emily let the held-back tears burst free.
Forcing a smile so she wouldn’t burden him further.
Still, the pain of rejection brought the tears.
“Ugh, sob, …S-Sorry, sniff, sorry, Ken….”
Once they started, the tears wouldn’t stop.
“…….”
Ken stared blankly at her.
Her sudden confession.
The baffling explanation.
As he took it all in, the flush faded from his face.
“…Emily, you.”
His voice made Emily tremble as she opened her eyes.
Bracing for whatever answer came, she met his gaze through her tears.
He stared back with a hardened expression.
And then he spoke.
“How many times have you died so far…?”