The Town That Never Changes

Renji's breath came in short gasps as he stared at his reflection in the train window.

His face looked the same—except for the faint spiral pattern forming in his left eye.

He wiped at it with his sleeve, but it didn't smudge. It wasn't a trick of the light.

A chill ran down his spine.

What the hell is happening to me?

His grip tightened around his phone, still displaying the same message from his father.

> Shun is dead. Come home.

His stomach twisted.

This wasn't a dream. It wasn't déjà vu. He had already lived through this.

I died last night.

The memory slammed into him with terrifying clarity. The twisted figure. The spiraled limbs. The pain of being crushed and folded into itself.

But now, it was as if none of it had ever happened.

The train rattled to a stop at Kurohane Station.

Renji didn't move at first. His pulse roared in his ears.

Would everything happen the exact same way?

He forced himself to stand and step onto the platform.

The first thing he noticed—was the spiral pattern on the ground near the exit.

The same one he had seen before.

He had walked over it last time without thinking.

But now, he crouched down, pressing his fingers against the rough surface.

The grooves were deep, as if someone had carved it into the ground with something sharp.

A warning? A sign?

Renji straightened up, glancing around. The station was just as empty as before. No workers, no passengers.

Everything was exactly the same.

As if the town itself was stuck.

---

Aoi's Strange Behavior

Renji walked the familiar path home, his heart pounding.

He passed the old clock tower.

Still frozen at 11:59.

His throat went dry.

Then—he felt someone watching him.

He turned.

Aoi Tsukimura stood near the stone railing, arms crossed—just like before.

Renji clenched his fists. If this really was a loop, then she was about to say—

"You're still standing there like an idiot, huh?"

Renji's breath hitched.

The exact same words.

Aoi smirked, but once again, there was something off in her eyes.

Renji stepped closer.

"Did you know this was going to happen?" he asked quietly.

Aoi's smirk faded slightly.

"What?"

"You told me I shouldn't be here last time." His voice was sharp. "Like you knew something. Do you remember what happened?"

Aoi stiffened.

For a second—just a second—he thought he saw fear flicker across her face.

"…You're acting weird, Renji," she muttered, looking away.

Frustration burned in his chest.

But before he could push further, Aoi sighed and turned toward the clock tower.

"Just… be careful."

She walked away—just like before.

Renji let out a slow, shaky breath.

Either Aoi was hiding something, or she really had no idea she had repeated the same conversation twice.

Either way, he wasn't letting it go.

---

The Same Warning

Renji reached home just as the sky darkened.

The house loomed in front of him, unchanged. A relic of the past.

He hesitated before stepping inside.

What about Mom? Would she act the same way as last time?

His gut twisted. He didn't want to see her in that frozen state again.

But he needed to know.

Taking a deep breath, he climbed the stairs and pushed open the door to his mother's room.

Rika Kisaragi sat in the corner, exactly as before.

And then—she turned her head sharply toward him.

His stomach dropped.

Her sunken eyes locked onto his.

"Renji…" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

He braced himself. "Mom… do you remember anything from yesterday?"

She didn't answer at first. Then, slowly, her lips parted.

"The spirals are watching."

Renji's hands clenched into fists. The exact same words.

"Mom, listen to me—"

She grabbed his wrist, nails digging into his skin.

He flinched.

Her voice trembled. "The gate… don't let it open…"

Then—her body locked up.

She froze, eyes staring past him, mouth slightly open.

Renji's breath came in short gasps. It was happening again.

Her body was stuck in time, trapped mid-sentence.

He yanked his arm free and stumbled back.

"Dammit," he whispered, running a hand through his hair.

This wasn't just a time loop.

Something was forcing people to repeat events exactly as they happened before.

But he remembered. And that meant he could change things.

---

Breaking the Pattern

Renji sat on his bed, staring at his hands.

If this was a loop… then that thing is coming for me again tonight.

His entire body tensed at the thought.

Last time, he had gone to sleep.

That's when it attacked.

But what if he didn't sleep?

His hands trembled. He wasn't sure he wanted to find out.

But he had no choice.

He grabbed his phone, checking the time. 10:45 PM.

Less than two hours before the clock would strike 11:59.

Before everything went wrong.

He swallowed hard.

This time, he wouldn't die.

---

End of Chapter 3

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To Be Continue