The Day of Reckoning
Marie Clozer's midterm preparations were progressing steadily on this day of decisive battle. At this rate, she'd definitely hit her target score. My benchmark was Marie from the first loop. That version of her had scraped by with her target score through my own pathetic, desperate struggles. If she was absorbing knowledge far more easily than back then, there was no doubt she'd nail it.
"Ughhh... I'm so anxious... What if I mess up? I have a bad feeling."
Of course, that was a fact only I knew, thanks to regression and foresight into the future. Marie, oblivious to the success awaiting her, still couldn't trust herself and fretted endlessly.
"It's fine. No need to worry. You'll do great."
"Really...?"
"Yeah. If you can't believe in yourself, at least believe in me."
"Emil...?"
"I'm the top of our year, right? Doesn't that count for something?"
"...Yeah."
But that insecurity actually worked in my favor. The more anxious she got, the more I showered her with supportive encouragement from the sidelines. And with each word, Marie leaned on me more and more.
"It's kinda... weird."
"What is?"
"When you say it'll go well... even though it's just an assumption, my heart calms down."
Our private extra lessons had just wrapped up as the sun began to set. Marie leaned her shoulder gently against mine and murmured those words. Through my uniform, I could feel the unique warmth and soft skin of a girl. It was almost like her heartbeat was transmitting through the air.
Her flushed cheeks. With trembling eyes, she kept her gaze fixed downward.
Of course. I'm speaking from certainty.
But unlike her pounding heart, my own feelings were ice-cold.
In the first loop, I probably would've been trembling with excitement too. Marie was that beautiful, and being this close to her...
But the more I felt her warmth and softness now, the clearer that scene from back then flashed in my mind.
[I love you... haa... I love you... Malcolm...]
We never even kissed.
The first loop's light hug had been the extent of it. Sure, during dates, the mood had built up to a perfect kissing moment once or twice.
'S-Sorry...'
'Huh...?'
'I... I'm not ready yet...'
She'd blushed shyly and pushed me away. Back then, her pure innocence had only made me happier. I'd vowed inwardly to take it slow and nurture our feelings gradually.
But looking back now, it hadn't been cute shyness at all. She'd hesitated. About giving her first kiss to me. In the end, she'd put it off.
"Emil...?"
"......"
Lost in thought for a moment, I felt Marie press even closer, quietly calling my name as she looked up at me.
Her sparkling pink eyes. Plump, moist lips. Porcelain skin that stirred a man's instincts.
With her cute, innocent face wrapped in a seductive aura, she gazed up at me. Her trembling eyes slowly closed.
But not fully. She watched me in a way that said she'd shut them completely if I made a move.
Silence stretched out.
I knew this atmosphere. The one I'd fumbled in my previous life.
"......"
I met Marie's eyes for a beat. Her flushed face showed faint tremors of tension.
If I just leaned in now, I could taste that kiss I'd missed before.
But.
"It's getting late. Time to head back."
"...H-Huh?"
I stood up, pulling away from her.
"......"
Marie, who'd been immersed in the subtle mood moments ago, blinked in bewilderment, staring at me blankly. When she saw me packing my bag, she hurriedly followed suit.
A quick sidelong glance confirmed it: her cheeks burned red with embarrassment.
That expression overlapped with the first-loop me. Shallow disappointment, flustered confusion, a hint of thrill and anticipation. A tangle of complex emotions.
Seeing her—the one who'd pushed me away back then—wear the same face was oddly satisfying.
Smooth sailing.
Both her studies and my strategy were progressing perfectly.
All that was left was to wait for the day of reckoning.
Once midterms were over and her scores came out strong, I could sever ties with her for good.
With that leisurely mindset, I awaited exam day.
Except.
"Hey."
"...Ugh."
"What's your deal lately?"
"What do you mean."
I'd overlooked one thing.
Sierra.
"What do you mean, what? You've been weirdly avoiding me."
"......"
Ever since entering the sixth loop, she'd been tripping me up at every turn, for some reason.
"I'm not avoiding you."
Lies, of course. The reason was simple: Marie had asked me not to get close to Sierra.
Can't risk ignoring her request and derailing the plan.
So I'd minimized contact. In regular classes, I avoided her section. During study group, I kept talk to a minimum. Conversations stayed strictly to the point.
But I wasn't cold. I'd return greetings and even flash a small smile at jokes.
Still.
"Don't lie. You are avoiding me. Think I'm stupid?"
Sierra seemed to pick up on even those tiny shifts with sharp sensitivity.
"I won't get mad, so just be honest. That's why I came asking."
She'd even tracked me down to my classroom during lunch, dragging me out to demand answers. She clearly already knew I was dodging her.
No point denying it anymore. Sighing, I led her somewhere else.
"Where to?"
"Somewhere quiet."
"Why not here?"
"You want to talk in front of the whole class watching?"
"Hmph, sounds like you've got something shady to hide."
"Why are you acting all high and mighty?"
Avoiding Sierra. Admitting that in front of students would draw massive attention—she didn't seem to get that.
How does she have more friends than me with zero awareness like this...?
Anyway, I dragged her to the rooftop.
Lunchtime, when students milled about everywhere. The rooftop was the easiest spot.
Creak...
Bang.
I shut the rooftop door tight, then explained the situation to Sierra.
And.
"Wait, Marie?"
Her eyes went wide in genuine surprise. Then she grinned mischievously, poking my arm.
"What? You kept denying it, but it was that kinda thing after all?"
"It wasn't."
"Then why honor her request? ...Especially one to avoid me."
She narrowed her eyes playfully, glaring at me.
"What, you just wanted an excuse to ditch me?"
She really hated being ignored. Knowing her persistence, I had no choice but to come clean.
"Simple. I don't want to mess up her exam scores because of me."
"...That's it?"
"Yeah. Avoiding you has nothing to do with you being annoying."
"Hmmm..."
Not fully satisfied—or maybe letting it slide—she eyed me thoughtfully.
Then.
"Whatever. As long as there's no hard feelings."
She brushed it off breezily.
That sparked my curiosity.
"But my attitude wasn't even that bad."
"Well... true."
"So why bother coming to my classroom just to ask? You could've let it go."
Her blank expression twisted slightly at my question.
"But it bothered me."
She declared it confidently.
"I can't stand things that bug me without fixing them."
"I know that."
"Then what's the problem?"
"What I'm wondering is why it bugs you so much. Just ignore some guy avoiding you."
That's what I'd thought. Marie hated me hanging with Sierra, but distancing myself shouldn't faze her much.
That assumption let me act casually, but her intense reaction threw me off.
To my puzzled query.
"Sigh... You're top of the year, but such a dummy."
"What the hell?"
She shook her head pityingly.
"Isn't it obvious?"
With a prim look, she met my eyes boldly.
"We're friends, aren't we? If you suddenly start pulling away... it hurts!"
"......"
Her cheeks flushed faintly, like even she found it embarrassing to say.
But her eyes sparkled with unwavering confidence, staring straight at me.
Hearing her words, meeting that gaze—I caught a subtle trust in Sierra's eyes that her usual playfulness had masked.
Friends...?
First time I'd heard that since possessing this damn game.
No one had ever called me a friend before.
So I just stared at her blankly.
At my dumbfounded look, Sierra grinned mischievously and.
Thwack.
Slapped my shoulder.
"I'll be careful around Marie. Let's go."
She grabbed my wrist and pulled me along.
A feeling I'd never known.
"......"
Like a single drop of cool dew falling on parched earth.
Not knowing exactly what to call it, I quietly followed Sierra down from the rooftop.
Time flew by in a flash.
And the awaited day of midterms arrived.
I can do this... I can do this...
Even that morning, buoyed by Emil's encouragement, Marie entered the exam with brimming confidence.
The moment she tackled the first problem, instinct told her.
I really... can do this...
This exam would be a success.
That gut feeling accelerated her pencil. She solved problems faster and more accurately than during practice, maintaining the pace through every subject.
"Good work, everyone."
Laughter and exhausted sighs from surrounding students signaled the end.
And amid the noise, Marie.
Blushed with excitement, eyes sparkling.
This exam...
A premonition she'd done something huge.
Was a massive win...!!
Her pink eyes glittered like stars.
The knife-sharpened midterms ended in total triumph.
Which meant.
She'd achieved the goal she'd dreamed of since entering Revel Academy.
And one more.
"E-Emil...!!"
"Marie, how'd it go?"
The private vow she'd made in secret.
"Ughh, it was perfect...! Sniff, it's all... all thanks to youuu...!"
She could finally pour out the overwhelming feelings she'd harbored inside.
To him.