?? Reset

  Chapter 8: Farewell

  Mei was busy in the kitchen, rearranging jars in the cabinet.

  — Nagi, could you bring the salt from my bedroom, please? — she said without turning around.

  Nagi obediently walked to the room.

  (Why would anyone keep salt in their bedroom? She’s really strange…)

  When he returned, the table was already set. The food looked flawless.

  — You’re fast. Where did you learn to cook like that? — Nagi asked, sitting down across from her.

  — Life taught me. When you live alone, you don’t really have a choice, — Mei shrugged casually.

  Nagi froze, staring at his plate. Then he finally spoke:

  — But… I could live with you. We could change something, right?

  — What do you mean? — Mei raised her starry eyes to him.

  — I love you, Mei! — Nagi blurted out, covering his face with his hands to hide the blush. — Please… don’t leave me.

  Mei’s cheeks turned pink for a brief moment.

  — What are you saying?! You can’t just say something like that to a gir— to a person so suddenly!

  — But it’s already been three days! — Nagi looked at her desperately.

  — Idiot. That’s far too little time for words like that, — she cut him off.

  Nagi lowered his head. His appetite vanished, and a heavy bitterness settled in his chest.

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  (I really believed we could have something…)

  Mei walked up to him and placed her hand heavily on his shoulder.

  — Your feelings don’t change the fact that we’re going to see my parents.

  Nagi suddenly jumped up, knocking over his chair.

  — Why the hell should I go to them?! You don’t need me! No one needs me! I’d rather just go back home!

  Mei suddenly smirked. There was no warmth in it.

  — Home? Isn’t this your HOME? — she gestured around the empty apartment.

  Nagi froze. Wild confusion flashed in his eyes.

  — What are you talking about?! My home is in the village! My parents are there! Hina is there!

  Mei silently put on her jacket.

  — Let’s go. You want this to end as soon as possible, don’t you?

  (I shouldn’t have wasted my time on her, Nagi fumed as he followed her to the bus. I was blind and stupid. What an idiot…)

  They arrived at another district. A tall building. Ninth floor.

  Nagi stood in front of the door, feeling everything inside him tighten.

  (Even if she treats me like this… I’m ready to forgive her. As long as she stays.)

  Mei turned to him in the dim corridor light.

  — You don’t want to go in there, do you?

  — I don’t, — Nagi answered honestly. — But if you ask me to, I will. Just don’t leave… I have nothing to do here without you.

  Instead of answering, Mei suddenly shoved him. Nagi, not expecting it, fell to the floor.

  — I’m not a princess that needs saving, — she hissed, looking down at him. — And one way or another… I’m leaving.

  — But why?! Am I not perfect for you?! — Nagi shouted.

  | To the Creator, those words sounded different: “Am I not perfect for this story?! Am I not fit to be the hero?!” |

  Nagi burst into tears, squeezing his eyes shut.

  — Without you, I’m nothing… I don’t want to be alone again… — he whispered, choking on sobs.

  Mei slowly crouched in front of him.

  — Then die. “Can’t live without me”? “Don’t want to be alone”? What disgusting, empty lines. You’re nothing but a torn-out page from my notebook.

  Nagi looked up at her with tear-filled eyes. Mei leaned closer to his ear, her breath cold against his skin.

  — Want me to tell you a secret? — she whispered. — I’m not Mei Hoshino.

  The last words were no longer spoken in a gentle girl’s voice, but in a firm, commanding baritone.

  Nagi recoiled in horror. Before his eyes, Mei’s face began to distort, to “slide off,” revealing the Creator’s true form beneath.

  — Don’t look so scared, Forty-Three, — the man said, adjusting his collar.

  Nagi stared at him, unable to move even a finger.

  — What kind of monster are you?! — he forced out.

  — You don’t need to know. I’m about to reset this anyway, — the Creator lazily summoned a panel.

  — Reset?! — Nagi roared. — Then why didn’t you reset the blood?! The fire?! Why do I REMEMBER everything you did?!

  The Creator froze. His eyebrows slowly rose in surprise.

  (What is he talking about? How could he remember previous iterations? An impossible system error… or just a coincidence?)

  The Creator pressed the button.

  The world shattered into pixels.

  Nagi’s eyes flew open. He was lying in his bed in the city. Silence. But the memory of the vast city, of Mei, and of the Creator’s icy voice burned in his mind like a branding iron.

  — W-what… what did he do? — Nagi whispered, gripping the sheets tightly.

  Timeline #4 officially launched.