Chapter Text
...Why did he even bother?
He had been worthless yet again, standing from the rooftop as he watched his friends die one by one, killed off by the same monster that had ruined everyone’s lives in the first place.
It was a feeling he knew better than anyone- helplessness, the feeling that came alongside that pit in his stomach that made him want to do nothing more than throw up.
It was just like it was back then. Watching, reaching out, but unable to help as he watched the life flicker out of his friend’s eyes.
But, unlike back then, this wasn’t the daze. The stupid cat wasn’t here. Time didn’t repeat each time he woke up.
Glancing at the girl in front of him, hand in hand with Seto as they stared up at the fireworks that were lighting up the night sky, he couldn’t help but sigh.
I guess this is it.
Time was going to reset soon enough.
It was kind of sad, not just because, well- they were going to die, but because he never got to properly confess his love to Hiyori! I mean, he just got to apologize to her through the phone- but still! All of that was for nothing! She didn’t even say anything that hinted at her liking him back!
“I love you alright? So please come and save me next time.”
...Take that last bit back.
Those words snapped him back to attention, bringing his focus back on the pink phone in his hands.
“Wait, what-“
As soon as she said those words, Hiyori’s face disappeared from the screen, the screen blurry as if the phone was hurriedly thrust to another person.
Another face popped up on the screen, all too quickly- for he still hadn’t stopped reeling from Hiyori’s comment (he doesn’t think he ever will).
“So, you got the girl, huh?” Bright orange hair assaulted his vision, and once again he can’t help but think that there’s no way in hell that that hair isn’t dyed.
“Yeah, and all we had to do was die.”
Through the screen, he sees Momo frown- a look that’s so unlike her. She’s usually smiling, usually all too giddy for her own good. He decides he doesn’t like seeing her unhappy- a thought he doesn’t know the origin of. He didn’t respect her or anything, right? Of course not.
Unless..?
“I mean, yeah, we might’ve failed this time, but there’s always next time!” She smiled sadly as she said those words, still trying to shake off the phantom pain she still felt from the injury that killed her.
The talk from the night before had meant nothing- they failed. There was no way to really sugarcoat it. They died, and now the timeline was resetting again.
The battle might not have been won but.. it was over.
“Sorry I couldn’t be there,” he whispers those words to her, even though they’re meant for everyone on the other side. “I couldn’t do anything but watch..”
He’s sick and tired of it- not being able to do anything but watch as everyone dies over and over again. What’s the use of having this stupid ability if it isn’t ever going to amount to anything? What’s the use of even being in this group in the first place if he’s never going to be able to help anyone?
Through the screen, he watches Momo smile softly.
"Hey, there’s always next time, okay? Keep your head up.”
And all too quickly, the phone is snatched from his hands again, and now it’s Kano on the screen, asking to talk to Seto.
Hibiya sighs, making some offhand comment that Kano yells at him for, before handing the phone back to Seto.
With everything that said and done, he looked up at the sky, his eyes burning as the fireworks in the night sky began to sparkle, and he thinks.
Next time, I’ll save her.
He glanced at the two in front of him, so close, but so far as they eagerly chatted with the others through the phone, smiles and happy tears adorning their faces.
No...
Animated flashes of orange and black catch his vision from both the phone screen and the night sky, and, even though he barely knows these people, he can’t help but smile fondly.
Next time, I’ll save them.