I Won't Be a Loser

Today, Setsuna was going to attend the opening ceremony. He woke up early in the morning and went to the bathroom. After washing up, he looked at himself in the mirror. Facing his still young face, his eyes seemed a little tired.

Despite his efforts to settle back into his previous life, an inexplicable fatigue continued to weigh on him whenever he awoke in the middle of the night.

Even though he had returned to his former timeline, the traces of his experiences—things that time itself couldn't erase—lingered in his heart.

After giving his cheeks a light slap to shake off the drowsiness, Haruto stepped out of the bathroom and checked his wallet.

The aftermath of some recent shopping had left him with limited funds. Though there was still a small amount left, it wasn't enough to be carefree about.

"...I could always resort to that if things get really bad," he muttered to herself.

Shaking her head, Haruto dismissed the thought, finding it too degrading to entertain seriously.

After sitting quietly in his room for a while, he felt that his whole condition had almost recovered. He stood in front of the mirror again, looking at his gentle expression. Haruto nodded with satisfaction and left his room.

Last night, despite hanging up on Mitsuha's call, Haruto couldn't ignore her request for a souvenir.

She had specifically mentioned the specialty desserts from Tokyo Station.

Nearly every Shinkansen station offered unique local treats, from Osaka and Kyoto to Nagoya. However, Haruto was currently in Tokyo, so Mitsuha wouldn't expect him to travel across the country to fulfill her cravings—at least not during the start of the school term.

"Maybe during the holidays…" Haruto thought with a wry smile.

Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward, located just north of Chiyoda, wasn't far from Tokyo Station. From his place, it didn't take long to get there via the subway from Korakuen Station. What cost him most wasn't the travel time but the dwindling balance in his wallet.

Thinking of not just Mitsuha but also Yotsuha and their mother Futaba, Kazuto bought two sets of souvenirs. After mailing them at the post office, he stared at his now-empty wallet and let out a sigh.

"Yo, kid."

The sudden voice startled him. Haruto turned to see a stylishly dressed middle-aged man in a sharp suit standing beside him.

"Is there something you need?" Haruto asked, his tone guarded.

The man gave him a smile, the kind that felt both inviting and unsettling.

"My name is Yutaka Hayama. I run a host club in Shinjuku."

Haruto's expression shifted slightly. "I'm underage."

Hearing the word "host," Haruto immediately understood what kind of establishment the man ran. Without hesitation, he rejected the offer.

Hayama, however, smirked and tilted his head, casting a sly glance toward the sky before looking back at Haruto.

"Being underage doesn't matter. A moment ago, you looked like you were worried about money, weren't you?"

Haruto frowned. "I'm not interested in being a gigolo."

Unbothered, Hayama pulled out a sleek business card from his pocket and handed it to Haruto. The card bore his name and a black swan emblem, giving it an air of elegance.

"You don't have to be interested right now. Keep this card. If the day ever comes when money troubles you, call this number. We can talk then."

Making a phone gesture with his hand, Hayama walked off, leaving Haruto holding the card with a conflicted expression.

Initially, he planned to toss the card in the nearest trash can. But after a brief hesitation, he slipped it into his pocket instead. Returning to his apartment, he decided not to linger on the encounter.

....

A new term, a new school, a new environment.

Everything felt unfamiliar to Setsuna, leaving her slightly uneasy. Though there were a few familiar faces, none were in her class.

"Setsuna?"

The sudden voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

"Sekai?"

Sekai Saionji stood beside her, smiling warmly. "Have you checked the class assignments yet?"

"No, not yet," Setsuna admitted.

"Me neither. Let's go together!"

"Okay."

Seeing Sekai, her close friend and almost a sister to her, helped ease Setsuna's nerves. The two walked toward the crowded notice board where students were eagerly searching for their names.

Amid the bustling crowd, they began their search.

"Have you found your name yet, Setsuna?"

"Not yet. What about you, Sekai?"

"I'm still looking... Oh! I found your name! Setsuna, you're in Class 3."

"What about you?"

"Let me see... Ah, here it is! I'm in the same class as you!"

Sekai Saionji's eyes widened in pleasant surprise. She hadn't expected to be placed in the same class as Setsuna. Excited, she turned to her friend with a bright smile.

"That's great! We're in the same class, Setsuna."

"Yes, I'm so glad. We can be together again, Sekai."

Looking at her friend's delighted expression, Sekai felt a wave of happiness. The two had been through so much together, and being in the same class brought a sense of comfort.

Sekai continued scanning the class assignments, hoping to find other familiar names from their previous school. However, as she went down the list, her initial excitement faded.

It seemed that apart from herself and Setsuna, none of the other familiar faces from their old school had been placed in Class 3. Some were in other classes, and others hadn't even enrolled at Sakakino Academy.

"I thought we'd have more friends in the same class," Sekai murmured, feeling a twinge of disappointment.

Nearby, faint murmurs from a group of students caught her attention.

"Did you hear about it?"

"Hear about what?"

"On the way here, two boys from our school got into an argument and fell onto the train tracks."

"No way..."

"One of them hit the back of his head when he fell, and the other... was hit by the train. It was horrifying. I think I'm going to have nightmares tonight."

The hushed conversation piqued Sekai's curiosity. She glanced toward the source of the voices.

The speaker, a young man, seemed to relish the attention he was getting, especially from the intrigued girls around him. Encouraged by their stares, he leaned in closer to his friends and shared more details.

"I heard their names, too. One of them was 'Makoto,' and the other was 'Taisuke.' I'm pretty sure about that. I was right there when it happened!"

Later that morning, during the opening ceremony, the rumors were confirmed.

"Some of you may already know about the unfortunate incident that occurred this morning," the principal said, his voice somber. "Two of our new students, Makoto Itou and Taisuke Sawanaga, were involved in an accident on their way to school.

"Due to roughhousing, they fell onto the train tracks. One sustained a fatal head injury from the fall, and the other was struck by an incoming train. It is a tragedy for our school community.

"We urge all students to learn from this and prioritize their safety at all times. That is all."

The hall fell silent as the weight of the announcement sank in. Setsuna and Sekai exchanged uneasy glances. The start of the new term, which should have been a time of excitement, was overshadowed by this grim news.