Having returned to the original timeline, I now had a lead. Tomorrow, I’d investigate Rika Dojima properly.

At first, Nanami Hayashi found it unbelievable when I explained. How could gentle, kind-hearted classmate Rika be such a vicious sadist? If Nanami hadn’t known about my Time Ability, she’d never have believed me. "I’ve decided to look into Rika Dojima tomorrow," I said. Of course, I couldn’t bring Nanami. Though she begged tearfully, I refused. Only after warning her about possible animal corpses did she finally give up on coming along.

Strangely, Rika seemed to sense my suspicion—she didn’t attend class today. The homeroom teacher said she’d called in sick. I volunteered to visit her on behalf of the class after school, weaving some nonsense about Chinese etiquette until I got her home address. All lies, of course.

Rika’s house was in the suburbs. Even by the fastest train, it took an hour. Why she traveled so far to school? Only she knew.

I considered using Time Acceleration to speed up the train, but accelerating the whole carriage would drain me. Plus, with so many passengers onboard, I couldn’t risk becoming an urban legend.

By the time I reached Shinura District, it was 7 PM. The gloomy twilight weighed on my mood. My phone rang—it was Nanami. She’d given me a Japan-only phone for contact, though she was my only number. "Hey, Cold Creek. You there yet?" Her voice came through.

"I’ve arrived. But I’ll probably stay overnight."

"Be careful, okay?"

"Got it." After a few pointless exchanges, I hung up and followed the hand-drawn map on a scrap of paper.

Turning onto a rural path, I breathed air far cleaner than the city’s. Rika’s house stood not far ahead.

A traditional Japanese home appeared moments later. How did I know it was hers? The "Dojima Residence" plaque on the gate. Honestly, this custom made finding places so easy. I pressed the doorbell. "Hello? Anyone home?" No reply. Had they gone out? Just as I turned to leave, the door opened. Rika stood there, wearing the same clothes as during my last Time Reversal. I scanned for bloodstains—useless. "You’re Cold Creek, right? What brings you here?" I held up the fruit basket. "Just visiting on behalf of the class." She smiled faintly. "How thoughtful. Please, come in."

Her house was spacious but eerily empty. "Your parents aren’t home?" I asked casually. Her smile tightened. "Gone. Four years ago. A car accident." I backtracked quickly. "Sorry. I didn’t mean—"

"It’s fine. It’s all in the past." She forced a smile. "I’ll make tea." She left to boil water.

The interior was ordinary—just a few ink paintings on the walls. Soon, she returned with steaming apple tea and sweets. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Not at all. I’m the one intruding." I took the cup. The tea was surprisingly good. "This is delicious, Rika." Her smile turned unsettling. "Thanks. There’s something special in it, you know." I realized too late. Darkness swallowed me.

Cold water splashed my face. I woke, wrists and ankles bound. *Careless.* "Awake at last?" Her voice was still sweet, but icy now. I grinned up at her. "Is this how the Dojima family treats guests?"

Her kick to my stomach answered—white-hot pain, like my guts might spill out. "You still don’t grasp your situation." She loomed over me, haughty. As the ache faded, I rasped, "So what do you want, Rika?"

*Slap.* Her palm stung my left cheek. "Don’t say my name. It’s disgusting." Her eyes bulged, unhinged.

"How about ‘Class Rep’ then?" I stayed calm, wondering if I was secretly a masochist. "So, Class Rep—why tie me up?"

Her glare burned. "Men are filthy! What gives you the right to get close to Nanami?" *Ah. Jealousy.* My certainty solidified: she’d killed Nanami. "If you care so much about Nana," I pressed, "why murder her?"

*Slap.* Harder this time. My cheek throbbed; her palm flushed red. "Shut up! Don’t you dare call her ‘Nana’!" Her laughter turned shrill. "Men corrupt everything. To protect Nanami from filth like you... I had to break her. *Had* to!" She grabbed a kitchen knife. "So die!"

"Sorry. Show’s over." I summoned the Silver Clock. "Time Stasis!" Rika froze mid-lunge. Stopping time in just this room cost little. I wriggled free of the ropes.

*What now?* No one’s born evil. Let’s see your truth. "Time Reversal!" I dove into her memories. Three years of yandere obsession—triggered by a single event: her assault at age thirteen.

Three years ago. Three men cornered her after school. Japan’s streets watched indifferently; no one risks trouble for a stranger.

*Sigh.* Poor girl. My inner saint flared. Time Travel—the ultimate ability, beyond Time Reversal. I’d never used it; no history deserved rewriting. But altering a life? The cost dwarfed even resurrection. To reach three years back, I’d pay thirty years of my own life.

Coordinates set: June 2nd, three years ago. "Time Travel!" The Silver Clock became a shimmering gate. Thirty years drained from me as it opened. My first journey began.

The trip lasted minutes, but nausea hit hard—worse than motion sickness. I crouched, gasping, until it passed. Worse: in this timeline, Time Reversal and Time Travel were locked. Only Time Acceleration and Deceleration remained. *Good enough.* I couldn’t afford to lose to delinquents.

Finding Rika was easy—her memories guided me. Three bleached-blond thugs surrounded her. Passersby averted their eyes, stepping wide. Thirteen-year-old Rika hadn’t hardened yet. Every second here cost me time. No wasting it.

"Ah, sorry my sister troubled you." I stepped forward, reaching for Rika. The thugs blocked us. "Kid, you picking a fight? We just wanna treat this cutie to dinner." I burst out laughing—real, roaring laughter. "Seriously? Your ‘dinner date’ means dragging off lonely girls to rape them? That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all decade."

The spiky-haired leader snarled, "You mocking us?"

"Funny? Absolutely." I pulled a 100-yen coin. *Damn. No small change.* "Time Deceleration!" His punch slowed to a crawl. An old man could dodge it. "I didn’t want violence. But since you insist..." I flicked the coin. "Time Acceleration!" It shot like shrapnel, slamming into Spiky’s temple. He crumpled. "Next?" I reached into my pocket. "Monster!" The other two fled, abandoning their friend. Pathetic.

I turned to Rika. "Bad guys gone. Go home safe."

"Y-you’re amazing!" Her eyes shone with awe.

"Take care." I headed for my return point.

"Senpai!" she called. "Thank you! What’s your name?"

"Cold Creek."

Back in Rika’s present-day house, exhaustion hit. Using multiple Time Abilities in one day drained me. But saving her? Worth it. Changing her parents’ death? Never crossed my mind. First, she didn’t know the accident site. Second, altering deaths in Time Travel demanded unthinkable costs.

Her memories shifted with the altered past. I released Time Stasis. Rika blinked at me. "Senpai Cold Creek, let me peel you an apple." She seemed warmer now. *Why ‘senpai’?* "Troublesome of you, Rika." She blushed. "Could you... call me by my name? Like Nanami does?"

*What’s the difference?* But it was harmless. "Rika-chan. Okay?" Her smile bloomed. "Yes! Senpai Cold Creek... I’m so glad you visited today. Three years ago, without you..." She trailed off. *No comment on my unchanged face?* "Just doing my part."

"Senpai..." She handed me the apple. "There’s something I’d like to ask."

"If I can help."

Her eyes gleamed. "That move you used three years ago—against those bad guys. Could I see it again?"

...Since Rika had changed, her punishment was void. I knew Nana wouldn’t hold a grudge.