Chapter Text
Eventually it's time for the school day to start. Suo is too anxious to confirm if Sakura is dead or alive right now in any way other that seeing him in front of his eyes. So he decides to go to school.
And he does find Sakura there, sitting in his usual seat at class 1-1.
Suo takes a deep breath and walks in.
"What's the date Nirei?"
"It's the 27th"
So he's back here again. It makes sense. Suo somewhat feels like he's still in a daze, seeing such huge events play out only for it all to be reset is jarring.
" You're acting weird Suo and that's saying something because you're always weird,"
"Sakura, cares about me I think that has filled my heart for the day,"
"Shut up, you clown," Sakura bites back his cheeks flushing at usual at the slightest affection.
Suo feels his eyes water and his throat starts to close up.
He excuses himself to the bathroom. Splashes some water on his face. In the mirror Sakura is there, behind him.
"Mr please lean on your friends, fighting his own battles alone how ironic,"
"Sakura, you died and I couldn't do anything about it. I can't forgive myself. I have let this happen twice. I'm now on my third timeline and I'm afraid this will end the same way,"
"What are you even talking about-"
"Anyone not busy please come to the rooftop,"
The speaker booms with Umemiya's voice interrupting Sakura.
Suo rushes out, to the rooftop Sakura following along.
They explain about Endo, about the battle, about everything. Suo feels sick.
"Suo, Suo, Hey Suo!"
It's Umemiya looking at him with concern, calling out his name.
"You seem like you've seen a ghost are you okay? Come here sit down,"
Umemiya makes Suo sit on a bench. His face is sweaty, his breathing shallow. His mind can't keep up with it all.
Umemiya and Hiragi share a look and Hiragi moves the meeting to the school yard.
The rooftop clears out except for a few people, Sakura, Nirei, Tsugeura and Kiryu decide to stay.
"Sorry for making you worried, I just haven't been sleeping well so I-"
"You don't have to explain yourself, Suo."
Umemiya says with a warm smile. A smile which melts any anxieties away. Umemiya is dependable, as dependable as a human can be.
Something in Suo says if only Umemiya could help him out of this. This loop where he has to see his best friend die over and over again.
"I need to tell you something,"
"I'm all ears,"
"This war doesn't end well. It ends in a death, I've gone through this twice now. And I don't know how to fix it,"
" What do you mean by that?"
"I'm not exactly sure how it has been working out. But everytime I reach the end of the war, I am back to the 27th. Over and over again,"
"Who dies?"
"It's sa-"
Suo feels his throat constrict as if someone was trying to choke him out. It let's go after a few seconds and he coughs.
"Okay, it seems I can't know about that,"
Umemiya says and pours a glass of water to hand to Suo.
"It's me isn't it?"
"sakura....I"
"You were acting weird since morning and had an outburst. It doesn't take genius to figure that out,"
Suo feels a headache come on, he squeezes his eyes shut to try to stop the agonizing pain. It feels like something pounding at his head.
When he opens his eyes again, he's back to the classroom.
" Suo are you okay?"
Nirei looks at him, worried.
"What day is it?"
"It's the 29th,"
He's moved forward, what does that mean. Does Umemiya and Sakura still know about the loop he's in? Or did they never hear about it in this timeline?
"While I understand you're worried about the Noroshi. You cannot be that panicked that you're out of your wits right?"
Sakura says teasing him a little.
Suo takes a deep breath. He'll get it right this time, he knows he will.
Everything plays out the same, Suo feels like he's able to move quicker this time. The fear of losing Sakura again eats away at his soul.
He leaves the battleground after finishing his fight with the gymnast. And rushes to the Furin high school grounds.
He sees Endo and Sakura fighting and interrupts them. Sakura seems like he's on his last leg.
"Please stop, stop this,"
"Suo, why are you here,"
" He was fighting me! How dare you interrupt us!"
Endo roars out, his uncontrollable rage is what ends up taking Sakura's life.
" Let the rest of us handle this, please listen to me Sakura,"
"I can't let you guys drown because I wasn't good enough to finish my fights on my own,"
"How long will you keep saying this?"
Suo screams out.
"THIS IS NOT JUST YOUR FIGHT. THIS IS OUR FIGHT,"
"If you keep doing this, keep pushing us away, keep thinking you're a burden. It will never end well. Lean on us!"
"Couldn't we be friends? Can't you trust us even a bit, Sakura?"
Endo tries to attack Suo but is intercepted by Togame, Suzuri and Kanji.
Nirei and Sugishita catch up to them.
"I'm, I'm sorry Suo,"
"I didn't realize I was pushing you away but I still want to finish this fight on my own terms,"
"You better! "
Sugishita screams out
"All that bravado about being the top of Furin, only to walk out on a fight? Then what was the point of everything?"
"You're right. I hope you'll trust me to finish this Suo,"
Suo takes a deep breath.
"I can't stop you can I?"
He can't meet Sakura's eye and he can't watch the end of this fight. So he doesn't. He can never say no to Sakura. All he can do is pray that his words reach him.
" I leave it to you, Sakura,"
"Suo san, Kiryu is saying the situation at the bridge is getting out of control,"
"Let's go then,"
The war ends, Suo feels like his legs can carry his own weight anymore. He sits on the ground, and feels something in his throat.
"Suo are you-"
Suo gets up and rushes away, throwing up away from the others. The anxiety of the situation isn't settling well.
Tsuge cracks open a bottle of water and hands it to Suo who uses it to clean up.
"I can't believe Sakura did it. Endo was no match for his virtue!"
Suo hears that and the relief that washes over him, makes it all worth it.
The gather again at the school grounds. Everyone cheering, Sakura is bloodied up but he's alive, he's breathing.
" See Suo? You were worried for nothing,"
Sakura smiles.
"I knew you could do it Sakura,"