Morning sunlight spilled across the campus like it was painted on. Too bright. Too perfect.
Almost… rehearsed.
Luca and Marc stood in the middle of the courtyard with the rest of the school as banners snapped in the wind. Students in colorful outfits raced around setting up booths, music blasted from speakers, and the entire place buzzed with excitement.
But Luca couldn't relax.
Marc couldn't either.
Something about today felt wrong.
Aiden stood on the main stage like he owned the world—hands in pockets, confident grin, every girl in the crowd whispering about him.
Ryo stood at his side, calm and unreadable.
And across the courtyard, Hana waved at Luca like an excited puppy.
Aria stood far behind her, watching Marc with that same quiet intensity.
This is it, Luca thought.
This is where it starts.
The Announcement
The principal took the mic. "Welcome! Today marks the first event of our Spring Term Festival—the Partner Trials!"
Cheers erupted.
The principal continued, "In the Partner Trials, students will team up in pairs and compete in three challenges. Teams will be judged on performance, cooperation, and—"
Aiden cut him off loudly.
"—chemistry."
The crowd laughed like he'd told a rehearsed joke.
Marc muttered to Luca, "Bro thinks he's a celebrity."
"He kinda is," Luca admitted.
"Not for long."
They bumped fists.
Partner Selection Begins
Students rushed around pairing up.
Hana jogged over, slightly out of breath. "Luca! Partner with me. I wanna win this year, and you look strong."
Luca blinked. "Me?"
Hana grinned, poking his chest. "Yeah, you. You've got speed in your legs—I can tell."
Luca felt heat rise in his face. "W-well—"
But then—
Aiden stepped between them like a wall.
"Hana," he said, "we always compete together. Don't forget."
Hana frowned. "Actually, I was thinking—"
Aiden's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Don't."
Ryo placed a hand on his shoulder. "Aiden… maybe let her choose—"
"No."
Aiden's voice hardened. "She's with me."
The crowd murmured.
Hana tensed.
Luca felt his fists clench.
Marc whispered, "Bro… this guy's an actual villain."
Luca took a step forward. "Hey. She asked me, not you."
Aiden slowly turned his head, eyes sharpening.
Then Hana stepped between them. "Stop. Both of you."
She exhaled. "Aiden, I'm switching partners this year."
Aiden's expression cracked for a split second—confusion, then anger, then something darker.
"You're making a mistake," he said quietly.
Hana shrugged. "Then I'll learn from it."
She grabbed Luca's wrist firmly.
Aiden's jaw tightened.
But before things escalated—
A soft voice cut through the tension.
"Marc."
Aria stood a few feet away, hands behind her back.
Marc turned. "Yeah?"
Aria looked up at him. "Will you be my partner?"
Marc froze.
Luca whispered, "Bro. She chose YOU."
Marc tried to play it cool—failed completely. "Y-yeah. Sure."
Aria smiled gently. "Good."
Aiden glared at both pairs.
"You two," he said, voice low, "should've stayed out of this."
Hana raised an eyebrow. "Try not to lose, Aiden."
Challenge One: The Relay of Trust
The first event began on the track field.
Pairs lined up.
Luca & Hana
Marc & Aria
Aiden & random crowd-pleaser girl
Ryo with another top student
The whistle blew.
Luca sprinted first, Hana waiting at the other side to catch the baton.
He ran fast—faster than he expected.
Adrenaline pumped.
The wind roared.
He reached Hana—she grabbed the baton—
But Aiden slammed into him from the side, "accidentally," sending Luca stumbling.
Before he could recover, Aiden passed his baton flawlessly, smirking as he sprinted ahead.
Hana yelled, "LUCA RUN!"
Luca tried—but the hit slowed him just enough.
Marc and Aria ran beautifully, moving like they'd trained together, but Aiden's sabotage put everyone behind.
Aiden's team finished first.
Ryo's second.
Marc & Aria third.
Luca & Hana fourth.
Aiden strutted past Luca. "Oops. Didn't see you there."
Marc stepped toward him, chest tight with anger. "Say that again."
Ryo blocked him calmly. "Don't. That's what he wants."
Marc gritted his teeth.
Luca felt shame burn in his chest.
He failed Hana.
He failed Marc.
"Don't worry," Hana said softly. "Two more events."
But her voice sounded stretched—forced.
Challenge Two: Logic & Luck
Pairs sat at tables with riddles and puzzles.
Marc and Aria excelled—Aria solving everything with eerie calm.
But Luca struggled.
Hana tried helping, encouraging him, but…
He messed up again.
Small mistakes.
Wrong answers.
Time running out.
Aiden smirked the entire time.
Marc finished early, coming in second.
But Luca…
Luca's team ended dead last.
Hana didn't blame him verbally, but the disappointment in her eyes stabbed deep.
Aiden walked by, voice low:
"Some people just aren't meant to win."
Luca's fists shook.
Challenge Three: The Finale
All pairs gathered in the courtyard.
The final event:
A trust fall from a platform.
The higher you fall, the more points your team gets.
But if your partner fails to catch you…
Zero.
Hana stepped onto the platform without hesitation. "I'll fall first."
Luca nodded, trying to steady his shaking hands.
"I got you," he said.
She smiled. "I trust you."
He closed his eyes, preparing—
But his legs trembled.
His mind replayed every failure today.
Every stumble.
Every wrong answer.
Hana said softly, "Luca… don't think too much."
He nodded.
She fell.
Luca stepped forward—
His foot slipped.
Just half an inch.
Just enough.
He missed.
Hana's back hit the mat with a painful thud.
Gasps filled the courtyard.
Aiden smirked.
Marc's eyes widened.
Aria covered her mouth slightly.
Hana sat up, wincing.
Luca froze.
"I—Hana, I—"
She forced a smile. "It's fine. It was an accident."
But her voice cracked.
The principal announced:
"Aiden and his partner are the winners!"
Crowds cheered.
Aiden spread his arms like royalty.
Ryo bowed politely next to him.
Luca stared at his hands.
Marc walked over slowly. "…Bro."
Luca couldn't look him in the eye.
"I messed everything up," Luca whispered. "I ruined her chances. I ruined ours."
Marc opened his mouth to comfort him—
But the world suddenly—
glitched.
The sky flickered.
Students froze mid-motion.
Hana's blink stalled halfway.
Aiden's smirk froze like a broken texture.
"What the—" Marc whispered.
Aria's voice cut sharply through the silence.
"Marc."
She took a step toward him.
"This world is resetting."
Luca's heart stopped. "Resetting?"
Aria nodded slowly.
"When a pair fails the festival… the world loops."
Marc's eyes widened as the courtyard dissolved into white light.
"Both of you failed," Aria said softly.
"And when one of you loops…"
She looked at Luca.
"…the other loops too."
The world exploded into blinding white.
Wind roared.
The universe twisted.
Then—
Thud.
Luca hit grass.
Cherry blossoms drifted around him.
Marc groaned beside him.
They were back.
Back at the courtyard.
Back at their arrival.
Back in Chapter 2.
Luca sat up, heart pounding.
"…Marc."
Marc breathed heavily, staring at the sky.
"Bro," he whispered.
"We just looped.