Ekans_Kumar

In the isolated coastal town of Kurohane, eerie spiral patterns begin appearing everywhere—on walls, in trees, even in people’s reflections. When Renji Kisaragi, a skeptical high school journalist, returns home after hearing about his brother Shun’s sudden and mysterious death, he finds himself trapped in a nightmarish time loop.

Every time he dies, time rewinds—resetting two days earlier. But with each reset, reality twists further: people disappear, time fractures, and his own body begins to change. As he searches for the cause, he discovers his estranged father, Kaoru Kisaragi, may have been the one who triggered the loop.

Aided by his childhood friend Aoi Tsukimura, who holds secrets of her own, Renji must uncover the mystery of The Spiral Gate before it consumes everything. But some truths are worse than death. And the entity behind the spirals does not want to be stopped.

Renji must make an impossible choice: sacrifice himself to break the loop—or risk losing his humanity to escape.

The Spiral Gate

Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.

Aoi's breathing was uneven, her grip on Renji's jacket tightening.

Kaito looked between them, frustration flashing across his face. "Alright. Someone explain. Now."

Renji swallowed. His mind raced for an answer—any answer.

Kaito was here. Alive. Talking to them. But he wasn't supposed to be.

Renji could hear his breath, see the tension in his hands, feel the warmth of his presence.

Aoi shook her head. "This doesn't make sense." She looked at Renji, eyes pleading. "You saw him die. You remember."

Renji nodded slowly. "Yeah. I do."

Kaito's jaw clenched. "I don't know what you two think happened, but I've never died."

Aoi let out a shaky breath. "That's impossible. We watched the spirals take you. Your house was the first one swallowed."

Something flickered in his expression—something dark.

"…My house?" Kaito repeated, his voice suddenly hoarse.

Renji felt it too—the shift in the air.

Aoi nodded slowly. "You lived near the old shrine, right? By the river?"

Kaito's breath hitched. His hands curled into fists.

Kaito's head snapped up, his face pale.

Kaito's eyes darted around, panic creeping into his voice. "I—I don't remember my house. I don't remember dying. I don't even remember how I got here."

> He doesn't remember because those memories don't exist for him.

> Because he's not supposed to be here.

Aoi took a step back. "Renji… I don't think this is Kaito."

Everything inside him screamed that Aoi was right.

But the way Kaito looked at him…

If this wasn't Kaito, then what was he?

He grabbed his left arm, fingers pressing against his sleeve.

Renji's eyes narrowed. "What's wrong?"

Kaito didn't answer. His breathing was shallow, his face twisted in pain.

Aoi took a cautious step forward. "Kaito?"

Kaito's sleeve had shifted, revealing his forearm.

The same spirals that had taken the town.

The same spirals that had swallowed Kaito's home.

The same spirals that had killed him.

Kaito stared at it, his face going blank.

Renji clenched his fists. "That's the mark of the spirals."

Aoi's voice was barely above a whisper. "You're connected to them."

Kaito shook his head, panic flashing in his eyes. "No. No way. I don't—I don't remember any of this!"

Renji stepped forward. "Then let me ask you something."

Renji's voice was steady. "What's the last thing you do remember?"

Kaito's lips parted—then stopped.

> Because those memories don't exist.

Kaito’s Secret