After the event, I returned to my normal life.
well, atleast in the thing I know normal.
Waking up in the morning
Going to school
Joining debate club
then go home
dinner then sleep.
It's not the worst but it's lacking.
Maybe the recent events made me crave for more stimulation.
"Hey Sakura. Finish eating we will be late."
"Fine fine..."
I ate faster and change clothes to uniform before heading to bro's car.
(6 days huh...)
That's right.
It's been 6 days and everything went back to normal.
One thing I guess changed is...
"As we all know, the speed of light is constant. And thanks to that, the speed of gravity can also be said to be similar to the speed of light."
I found myself looking at Tanaka sensei more often now.
I'm not sure why but I no longer hate his gaze.
Of course nothing happened between us again after that event.
But I know he still remember.
After all, every time we encounter each other, I notice him pitching a tent and he hurries away.
(Well, atleast he won't attack me out of nowhere.)
Also, my time to the debate club also continues.
After class, I head to the 1st floor at the very corner room to join the club activity.
"You're early Sakura."
Nina lays on the couch reading manga while Jin simply nods at me and starts pouring tea for me.
I look at the desk and it was empty.
"Shiomi didn't come today?"
"Yes. She called last night saying she is on a trip to Hawaii."
Jin replied before placing a teacup infront of me.
"Thanks."
I sat on the couch and sip some tea.
"For the debate today. How about why is it better to pretend not knowing the truth than telling everyone you knew the truth?"
Jin suggests as he sat facing me on the opposite side of the table.
(Huwa... another emotional vs logical one.)
"Isn't it because ignorance is a blessing? Sometimes it's better to pretend and overlook something to avoid hurting anyone?"
I replied to Jin before sipping tea again.
"Eh? So you're saying lying is tolerable so long as it benefits you?"
I place the teacup and slam the table.
"THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID!"
Jin looks at me and mutter.
"Fair enough."
Then Nina closed her manga and spoke.
"Then what's the point of this debate? This topic simply shows different kinds of people, different choices based on different options?"
Jin and I look at each other before facing Nina.
"Oh..."
"Oh..."
Both of us sighed then stopped arguing.
"Let's just end this with this."
"Yes."
I said before taking my bag and ready to leave but I noticed something.
"Ah... I forgot my bag at the classroom."
I waved at them before going back to the classroom.
Inside, I found my bag at the top of my desk
(Found it.)
The moment I grabbed my bag, my eyes notice something in the corner.
"Whiteboard? That's weird. I don't remember having one inside this classroom."
I approached the whiteboard then read the words written on it.
GUESS THE LIE:__________________
Lies found: 0
Wrong guesses: 0
Loop: 0
and in the corner of the whiteboard another set of words are written.
Rules:
1.Guess the 'lie' that you experienced.
2.One guess for loop.
3.Each wrong equals one punishment event.
4.Guessing correctly restarts the loop and adds a score.
5.the punishment becomes worse the more correct guess you answered.
6.Determine the 10 lies to finish the game.
7. Dying in the game won't kill you in real life instead it 'kills' something else so be careful and enjoy the game.
(Hmmm? What does this mean?)
I stare at the whiteboard and feel like something is weird.
Something wrong is happening.
(I just can't put a finger on it.)
I tried recalling everything that happened today.
(I attend class, meet Tanaka sensei on the way to cafeteria, head to the club, talk to jin and nina... I can't think of anything weird or wrong.)
I found myself staring at the whiteboard.
Suddenly, someone enter the classroom.
"There you are."
It was Jin.
"What are you doing here?"
"Hmm? I forgot to mention that I won't go to school tomorrow. So there will be no club meeting that day. Luckily I caught you here before you leave."
Jin said as he approached me.
"I see. By the way, did you encounter any of 'that' after the last incident?"
I asked him thinking this might be related to 'that'.
"That? What do you mean by that?"
Jin looked puzzled.
"I mean the one every 3 am."
"Hmm? Weird. I'm always asleep on that time. What do you mean?"
(Huh?)
The moment I heard his reply, something in my head just clicked.
I felt my heart started pounding.
The words written on the whiteboard.
And Jin's reply.
"I see. So that's how it is."
A smile formed on my lips as I realized what is happening.
Jin looked confused and simply stares at me.
"Hey Jin. Do you know what is written in this board?"
I asked him as he scoot over and start reading.
"Guess? Well it looks like a puzzle type. How about you try it? You're good at puzzles and trivia right?"
Jin asks.
"Sure. For starters, let's write ..."
GUESS THE LIE: Jin
"There you have it."
"Eh?"
Jin looked dumfounded.
"What do you mean? I'm a lie?"
Jin looked at the board then looks at me as if he can't think of any reason.
"Yep."
"Why?"
He asked.
"Well, it seems you don't know how we met during that time. So it's simple."
Jin paused on the whiteboard as if he is looking at it intently.
I noticed some smoke coming out of his body.
At first it was almost colorless
But then it started getting darker and darker.
I instinctively moved away.
Then the smoke dissipates.
"Phew..."
Jin sighs.
"What happened?"
I asked still distance away from him.
"It felt weird watching myself move like that. I'm not sure what happened but I can only watch myself inside."
"Inside?"
Jin looks at me and back to the board and notice some contents are changed.
GUESS THE LIE:Jin
Lies found: 1
Wrong guesses: 0
Loop: 0
"So that means correct guess means it will correct that lie."
"I guess.."
I replied thinking he is the real Jin this time.
As we speak, I felt something.
"Get ready!"
Jin suddenly ran to me and pulled me behind him while acting on guard.
Then all of a sudden, everything went dark.
When I open my eyes again, I was back to my bed waking up early.
But instead of heading to the bath, like always, this time I got a message.
I opened the phone and read.
Sender: Jin
Good. Looks like you succeed. For now join class normally. I will as well and let's meet at the classroom again later.
(First time receiving message from him. Usually it's Nina chatting or informing me.)
I close my phone and start the day again.
After eating, bath then change clothes, go to school.
Attend class, meet Tanaka on the way to the cafeteria then back to class.
At 5pm, everyone head out. Then inside the classroom, me and Jin are looking at the whiteboard.
GUESS THE LIE:__________________
Lies found: 1
Wrong guesses: 0
Loop: 1
"So it really is that kind of event."
I said while looking at Jin focused as if thinking something.
"Any ideas what else is a lie?"
Jin asked me.
"Not sure. How about we try recalling everything we know so far?"
I suggested before sitting on the desk.
"Unfortunately I always spend time reading manga so I can't be of much help and I only know how to cut so I leave it to you."
Jin replied making me sigh.
"Wait. You are the only one reading manga in the clubroom right?"
Jin nods.
"Then we found the other lie."
I wrote the next answer on the board
GUESS THE LIE: Nina
After writing the answer on the board, me and Jin head back to the clubroom.
There we found Nina confused sitting on the couch holding a manga.
"You're back?"
I asked Nina who immediately tossed the manga on the floor only to get caught by Jin so fast I didn't notice it while Nina hugs me.
"Omg Sakura I'm so scared. I can only watch everything through the eyes as if I am watching on a very small window while everything happens."
She explained while sniffling.
I found myself rubbing her back calming her down.
"There. We got two lies now. 8 more to go."
"Lies? 8?"
Nina pulled away and asked as she wipe her tears.
"Yes. In my classroom, there are a whiteboard with a word written there. We need to write the 'lie' in this scenario correctly. I'm still not sure what happens if I answered incorrectly since I only guessed two so far. Jin and Nina."
"So that's how it is. Unfortunately, I haven't seen anything related to this event in my ability so I can't help. Sorry."
Nina lowered her head.
"It's fine. Let's just search for the answers together. That said I am worried. How does time here work in reality?"
I asked looking at Nina and Jin now laying on the couch.
"Ah don't worry. It's 3 am in reality. No matter how long this scenario happens, it will always be 3 am in reality meaning if you get trapped here, only you knows what's happening in this place. Pretty sure Shiomi said this scenarios are in a different plane of existence so don't worry."
Nina explained everything while Jin simply nods and continued reading.
"Thank god. I thought I'm stuck here not knowing what's happening out there. I didn't even realize that I am in here already until I found the whiteboard."
Nina feeling calm now, started boiling water using the electric kettle.
"Then, I believe the next answer is the clubroom right? Since it is in the wrong floor."
Nina said before pouring hot water on our teacup and use teabags this time.
But before I can even give it a taste, everything blacked out immediately.
Then the next moment I am back again in my bed waking up.