Without looking at the clock, I passionately wrote the words for the next chapter.
[Back in school, Satoru is forced to confront the reality of his situation. Surrounded by classmates who see him as just another child, he struggles to reconcile his adult mind with his younger body.
Everything feels surreal: the lessons, the conversations, the trivial concerns of those around him. Yet beneath the surface, something darker lingers. This time period isn't as innocent as it seems.
As he observes his classmates more carefully, his attention is drawn to one particular girl. Quiet, withdrawn, almost invisible to everyone else. No one speaks to her. No one notices her.
But Satoru remembers.
She was one of the victims.
A cold realization settles in: this isn't just about his mother. This is about something that started long ago.]
I ended it with "He sees bruises on her arms."
Then ended the session before lunch with chapters seven and eight.
[Satoru begins to pay closer attention to the girl, noticing the subtle signs others ignore. Her silence isn't just shyness—it's fear. Her isolation isn't accidental—it's enforced.
He watches how classmates treat her, how teachers overlook her, how easily she fades into the background. It angers him, but more than that, it unsettles him. He remembers what happened to her.
This time, he can't pretend to see.
Gathering his resolve, he approaches her. The interaction is awkward, brief, and almost meaningless on the surface. But to Satoru, it feels like a turning point.
This is where things can change.
But as he walks away, a thought lingers in his mind:
If he interferes too much… will he make things worse?
Cliffhanger: Someone is watching them.]
[Determined to act, Satoru starts making small, deliberate changes. Nothing drastic—just enough to shift the course of events. He speaks to her again, tries to include her, disrupts the pattern of isolation she's trapped in.
At first, nothing seems to change. The world resists him in subtle ways, as if trying to maintain its original course. Doubt creeps in. Maybe this isn't as simple as he thought.
But then, something unexpected happens.
The girl responds—just slightly. A glance, a word, a moment of connection. It's small, almost insignificant, but to Satoru, it's proof that change is possible.
For the first time since returning to the past, he feels a sense of purpose.
However, as he walks home, that uneasy feeling returns.
He's not the only one aware that something is different.
Cliffhanger: The future is starting to shift… but not in ways he understands.]
God damn it. My fingers are cramping like hell!