I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Standing up from the ground, after habitually brushing the dust off her skirt, Tachibana Kanade bowed to him and said very solemnly.

"Senior Yu, I'm so sorry for causing you trouble!"

Without waiting for Yuu Tenkuji's reply, Kanade Tachibana took a soft breath, straightened up, and, like an ordinary little girl, said in a slightly embarrassed voice:

"Although I can't stay, could you... watch me leave?"

At least this was a choice she made herself, and it was a wish she had from the bottom of her heart, not for the sake of others.

"Isn't that a bit too shameless?" she couldn't help but worry. After all, if it weren't for her willfulness, he wouldn't have wasted so much breath only to return empty-handed in the end.

"...Really."

But for Yuu Tenkuji, there is only one answer.

"You don't need to ask me to do this; I was planning to do it anyway."

He didn't dwell on it, just scratched his head wearily and sighed.

With a gentle touch to her chest, Tachibana Kanade smiled with relief.

"Yes, thank you."

He looked at himself, his expression somewhat subtle, as if he wanted to say something.

However, the cycle that had already begun was different from before; it did not intend to wait for them to finish speaking.

The Black Tide's erosion had entered its final stage, and the teaching building was about to be submerged. Just as Tenkuji Yu had uttered a single word, a giant hole suddenly appeared in the rooftop floor beneath his feet, causing him to plummet into the bottomless black abyss below without warning.

"Lie down—"

Only endless screams echoed in the endless darkness.

Using up his remaining strength, Tachibana Kanade floated like a ghost, enveloped in a faint white light, silently watching the rooftop beneath his feet be completely swallowed by darkness. His astonished expression quickly disappeared beneath the black tide.

The girl pursed her lips, unsure whether she should smile or not.

"In that case, I should be the one to see you off..."

Forget it, forget it.

She slowly closed her eyes and focused her mind—she could feel the movement of time beginning to reverse.

Normally, at this time, she would go upstream along the river of time, back to the very beginning, and try to think of a way to change her fate.

But now I don't have the strength to do it anymore.

Since that period of slumber, her mission has long since ended. Her friend will pave a new future for her, and the useless spirit should now depart from this stage.

No, it's not useless.

"I really tried my best."

And they recognized this effort.

Therefore, the past experiences were by no means useless.

Denying this fact is tantamount to denying the two most important people.

Kanade Tachibana silently corrected her thoughts, and at the same time opened her eyes, gazing tenderly into the distance in this cold and lonely darkness.

"Yu, Xiaoqiong..."

"I've been able to help you, and I've been a support to you... I truly feel so grateful!"

It doesn't matter if we can't see them, or if our voices can't be heard.

With the precious memories she has left behind, she can let go of everything without regrets.

"This journey was tiring and long... but more precious than anything else."

She gained her friend's understanding, received new options from him, and saw a change in him.

Although I can't change anything on my own, I've been changed a lot by them without even realizing it.

For her, it was already a blessing to have it all come to an end like this.

— Consciousness begins to blur.

Kanade Tachibana just chuckled softly. Just like last time, she knew she was about to disappear.

This time, however, there was no longer the determination I once had, nor any anxiety or wishful thinking about the future; my mood was unexpectedly calm and composed.

It's as if this isn't a "death" that erases one's past, present, and future, but rather a brief rest.

After a long journey of changing one's destiny, it's time to put aside one's responsibilities and obsessions and take a break.

"Although there are still things I haven't told him... there are still..."

When I was thinking about it so vaguely.

A tiny ball of light slowly rose from the deepest part of the darkness.

It quietly slipped into her transparent palm, transforming into a stack of sheet music shimmering with golden light.

A helpless sigh echoed from the void.

"That's all I'll do for you... you idiot."

Chapter 73 has a problem.

The morning light, like a golden veil, streamed in through the window, illuminating a corner of the unlit bedroom.

The digital clock silently ticked away, and the air conditioner blew out a comfortable warm breeze.

In early April, when the spring chill was still in the air, newly sprouted leaves, accompanied by the clear chirping of birds, tried to awaken the still-sleeping city.

The boy sleeping soundly on the bed seemed to be affected by the sound waves of the sparrows chirping. He rolled over while hugging the quilt, then frowned and reluctantly opened his eyes.

"What time is it...?"

He muttered this unconsciously, then his expression suddenly froze, and his hand on the quilt stiffened unnaturally, making him look like a statue lying diagonally on the bed.

Then he suddenly sat up, grabbed his phone from the bedside table, looked at the date, his brows furrowed, and the sleepiness in his eyes vanished.

"April 1st, 20XX..."

Have you come back? A year ago.

Exhaling slowly, Yuu Tenkuji put his phone aside, sat on the edge of the bed, rested his elbow on his thigh, and lightly covered the lower half of his face with his palm, assuming the classic contemplative pose.

"If you don't complete the trial before graduation, you'll have to start all over again. If you never complete the trial, will you be trapped in this cycle forever until you collapse...?"

Trapped in a dream, endlessly repeating the same year, unable to find the way home, and unable to see the light of the future—

Tenkuji Yuu couldn't yet comprehend how terrifying that despair was, let alone feel fear because of it.

This was his first time, and he was prepared to make it his last.

After all...

"She didn't despair even after failing hundreds of times, so how could I possibly lose to a mere trifle?"

It's fine to call him a chauvinist—when he sees an outstanding woman, he'll try to become even more outstanding than her.

Even though this trial was designed by his younger sister, Yuu Tenkuji had no intention of giving her any face. He was going to clear the trial as quickly as possible.

Having enjoyed a year of extravagant living, it's time to get serious.

With a confident smile, Tenkuji Yu left the bedside and stretched vigorously.

The bones cracked and popped, and the stiff body suddenly stretched out.

He casually picked up the sportswear hanging on the wall, preparing to take off his pajamas and go out for his morning exercise.

Today is the start of the school year. I need to pass the trials and not neglect my studies... At least until I make some progress, I need to maintain a normal life.

Two more student council members are coming to knock on the door later; I can't very well say it to them in person:

"Senior, I have important things to do, I'm not going to school anymore! Studies and women will only hinder my progress!"

These two charming junior school girls are, respectively, his pre-arranged girlfriend and his 'ex-girlfriend' who, in order to defy fate, became a ghost and relived time hundreds of times even after being forgotten by everyone.

Tenkuji Yu didn't want to disappoint them, after all, there was a high possibility that they didn't remember what happened in the last reincarnation...

The moment this thought flashed through his mind, he stopped taking off his clothes, and just like when he had just gotten up, he opened his eyes wide and showed a stiff, astonished expression.

"Wait... this is too strange, isn't it?"

Why do I have this thought?

Having traveled back hundreds of timelines, how could Tachibana Kanade, who possesses the miraculous power of the Light Orb, possibly be like Isshiki Hachiman, an ordinary person, who has no memory of the events of the previous cycle?

the most important is--

"I still remember her. So, she didn't choose to disappear?!"

The false illusion was torn apart like paper, and memories that had only happened recently flooded back into my mind in an instant.

Yuu Tenkuji immediately put aside his morning exercise, walked to his desk, sat down, and glanced at the white notebook on the table.

The content hadn't changed much; it just said "Number of reincarnations: 1" under the task prompt. He put it aside and started organizing the current information on his computer.

First of all, he remembered everything that happened on graduation day, including the sudden appearance of the angel who left a blessing and a triangular piece of cotton cloth before disappearing, and his mature sister running out to reveal the truth.

Then, before the deadline arrived, he went to the rooftop to persuade his "benefactor" to stay. He had successfully persuaded Tachibana Kanade to waver with his eloquence, but he was told that everything was already beyond redemption and that she was destined to disappear from this world completely, and even the miraculous power of the Radiant Orb could not save her.

Before we could come up with a solution, the floor beneath my feet suddenly disappeared, and I was swallowed by the boundless darkness as I fell into freefall. When I opened my eyes, it was a morning a year ago.

However, the memory remained unchanged.

He hadn't yet recalled how the "original Tachibana Kanade" had interacted with him and Iroha, nor had he forgotten the "ghostly Tachibana Kanade" who had seen him off on the rooftop with a gentle yet regretful gaze.

In other words, barring any unforeseen circumstances, "The Ghost of Tachibana Kanade" did not successfully disappear as she claimed, and did not remember anyone except Sora.

Because it still exists, it is still remembered.

Regardless of the method used, all that Tenkuji Yu cares about now is the result.

"This guy, he really is tempted after all..."

He couldn't help but laugh, his fingers tapping lightly on the keyboard to bring up Tachibana Kanade's student file. After confirming that everything was normal, he turned off the screen.

Before leaving her computer desk, she picked up her gym clothes and changed back into them. At that moment, Yuu Tenkuji was in an excellent mood, and the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile that she couldn't suppress.

It was like wearing his favorite underwear for the New Year; the feeling of getting what he wanted made him feel extremely satisfied from the bottom of his heart.