Merciless Loop

CHAPTER 01 - To Someday Meet You

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To Someday Meet You

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I first met her under the shade of a tall oak tree six months ago. Her long brown silky hair dances beautifully with the cold blowing wind. That time, my blurry eyes recognized her wearing a red checkered pleated skirt, a white long-sleeve top stained with blood with a long red slick tie, and knee-length black socks on a high-cut boots complimenting her long legs. Yes, that was my school uniform too. She was gallantly standing in front of me with a small bloody knife on her right hand, facing a bunch of men in suit. It feels like a dream as I watch her take them down simultaneously, leaving me resting on the tree trunk with my consciousness slowly fading.

I can’t remember what happened, how it happened, or why it happened. All I know is that she saved me from something that up until now, I was figuring out what. I tried going back into that place but nothing helps to regain my memory. Only that little memory of her was left embarked in my head, making me wonder if that really happened or was it just a mere dream.

Honestly, aside from her strong figure that is already chiseled on my brain, it was her eyes that make me want not to just forget about it and believe that it happened. I saw them once. Her eyes, I mean. Back then, she looked at me with sternness before she rushed to the bunch of men in suit to strike the knife on their necks. It was horrifying but her stern look at me was more memorable even if it was just for a second because it was intense… and lonely.

“Hey! Yuko! Thinking about your knight again huh?”

That was Takamina. Takahashi Minami. She was my seatmate when I transferred here six months ago. And yes, it happened a week after I got here. Takamina became an instant friend. She’s the first person I talked about it and thankfully believed me. Although I doubt that she really does. I did talk about that with the others but they insisted that it should be in the news if something that awesome happened. They are right though. That’s why, I stopped talking about it and kept it to myself. Maybe one day, I’ll be convinced that it was just all in my head.

“Naah~ I’m thinking of joining the photography club. What do you think?” I asked her as a reply.

She looks amazed though. Well, who wouldn’t? Everybody thought that I’ll go with a more physical club since I’m quite sporty myself. I’m not an athlete but my stamina and flexibility is a little above average for someone of my physique and age. Little do they know that I love taking pictures, candid shots especially if I may say? To capture the innocent expressions of people around, doing what they love doing, it warms my heart just by looking at them.

“Seriously? Hmmm…” Takamina uttered thinking. “It’ll be a waste of your talents but, just do what you want.”

And so the day goes by with just me staring outside the classroom window, waiting for class to end, or should I say, waiting for something extraordinary to happen. But it won’t happen, right?

“Hey! So, want me to walk you to the photography club?” Takamina suddenly patted my head along with that question.

“Nope, I’m fine going by myself. Just go do your thing Taka..”

I carried a melon bread and canned orange juice with me for lunch as I travel down the classroom to reach and make myself a member of that club.

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“We now officially welcome you to the club, Oshima-san! Let’s work hard together and enjoy the work!”

They accepted me with a warm welcome this instant, maybe because there were only three members here as of now. But only the club captain was here today so maybe they’ll introduce me to the others sometime.