That Time When I Fell Down the Stairs and Became a Jujutsu Sorcerer

Chapter 6 - Year Three (Loop One)

"Suguru!!" Satoru shouted from my window, "Suguru, hey!!"

Suguru's window opened and he leaned out, "What are you doing in her room Satoru?" He answered, looking annoyed.

"Look!!" Satoru grinned, holding me up by the armpits like a cat he just pulled out of a cardboard box.

Suguru's eyes widened, he immediately stood up and jumped out of the window and sprinted across the courtyard. With a huge grin he jumped into the window and held me close, it felt like his arms were trembling just a little.

"I thought you were really gone." He whispered, "Don't scare me like that."

I looked up at him. I could see the fatigue in his face. Starting in August of this year, the events that would finish wearing him down would happen quickly. Satoru was likely already doing missions alone since he would control Limitless automatically soon. That would leave Suguru alone almost all the time. In August he'd have a conversation with Tsukumo which would inadvertently put him on a dangerous path. Following that, Haibara would be killed which was a blow for Nanami as well. Shortly after that in September he would be sent on the mission to a small village where Mimiko and Nanako were beaten and caged. That would be the last straw.

"I'm sorry Suguru." I said gently, patting his back,"You must have been lonely."

He stood up straight again, a relieved look in his eyes, "What happened? Where did you go?"

"She just told me-" Satoru started, but Suguru cut him off.

"Let her tell me." Suguru said, looking at him dryly. Satoru shrugged with a scoff and sat down on the end of my bed.

"Well, like I just told Satoru I don't remember what happened." I said awkwardly. This felt so weird. Usually they got along so well, despite the little spats and wrestling. This felt like actual frustration.

"You don't remember?" Suguru asked, crossing his arms, "So what do you remember?"

I explained the same thing to him that I'd just told Satoru, or at least the last memory I had. Suguru was silent for a few moments before he leaned forward and gripped my chin. He tilted my head around looking into my eyes and all over my face.

"Well you don't look crazy…" he said, his eyes narrowed.

"That's what I'm saying!" Satoru said with a frustrated sigh, "How can you just up and disappear and then show up again like its nothing and then say some crazy shit?"

Suguru took a few steps back and looked me over, "Satoru, is her energy still weird?"

Satoru stood up next to him and lifted his sunglasses. I shifted awkwardly as he looked me over as well.

"Yup. Still reverse and there's definitely a lot more of those ropes." Satoru said, reaching forward, fiddling with a lock of my hair.

"Woah wait!" I backed up, "You remember that conversation?"

"Mm?" Satoru tilted his head then looked at Suguru, "About your energy? Yeah."

I pointed at him, pushing my bangs back with my hand, "Hang on! We talked about my looping through time then, right?!" I implored, desperate for some kind of clue.

"Time loop? What?" Satoru raised his eyebrow, "You just asked about why Suguru and I were suspicious of you and I told you about your weird energy. What do you mean time loop?"

I groaned in frustration, putting my face in my hands. Kenjaku must have overwritten what happened in that part of that loop or something. He said my reward was to keep my relationships. Does that mean he can control parts of the story? He likely removed that I told them anything about my power.