Three days until the school’s destruction…

Shirasaki Senya’s movements grew increasingly suspicious, further confirming my suspicions. If I could just wait until the final day to subdue him, he’d be powerless to cause real damage. The thought lifted my spirits considerably. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Senya’s every move stayed within our sight.

Two days until the school’s destruction…

“Should we confront him early to stop this?” Yutangqian urged caution. But I insisted on waiting: “Without solid proof, he’ll just deny everything. We must catch him in the act—that’s the only way it’ll matter!” Though they had doubts, they trusted me unconditionally. Even if things went wrong, I could manipulate time to tilt the odds in our favor. Worry felt unnecessary.

The final day arrived. Senya didn’t show up for class—just as I’d expected. He was moving to destroy the school. Nanami Hayashi feigned illness, asking me to take her to the nurse’s office, while Rika and Yutangqian slipped away under separate pretexts.

We regrouped in Classroom 103. Twelve hours remained until destruction. At least the planner wasn’t completely unhinged—they’d set the timer for 10 PM, after students had gone home. Casualties should be minimal.

The dismissal bell rang—our signal. Four hours left. “Let’s move,” I said. With four of us trailing him, we quickly spotted Senya heading toward the hill behind campus, clutching a suspicious package. *The detonator!* I signaled the others to follow. He checked his surroundings carefully, but I disrupted the flow of time around him, neutralizing his vigilance.

Finally, Senya pulled out the package, grinning. “No one should find us here.” Inside lay bombs and a controller.

“Enough, Mr. Shirasaki.” I stepped forward. Shock flashed across his face. “How… how did you find out?” I took a few steps closer. “Why do this, Mr. Shirasaki?” He hastily stuffed the items back inside. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I stared him down. “Why use bombs?” He froze, then sighed. “So you figured it out. No choice now.”

Rika Dojima glared at him. “We know you’re haunted by Hakujin Sen’s suicide seven years ago, Mr. Shirasaki! But revenge solves nothing!” His reaction stunned us. “What suicide? I just enjoy making bombs as a hobby. I don’t know what you’re referring to.” A chill ran through me. “Hakujin Sen… wasn’t she your relative?” Senya scratched his head. “I’ve only taught here five years. And I have no siblings—my parents are still alive.”

*Disaster.* Three hours left. If I hadn’t insisted on waiting for Senya’s “final move,” we’d have caught this mistake sooner. But altering events demanded a price—I feared losing all my time instantly, vanishing like those whose clocks had run out, erased from existence. *Was I wrong?*

I crouched down, head in my hands. “I’m sorry. This is my fault.” Nanami Hayashi patted my shoulder. “It’s not your burden, Cold Creek.” “Yeah, senpai. You did your best,” Rika added. But it was too late. Three hours remained, and I didn’t even know who the real planner was—or where they were.

“Ah…” Senya seemed to recall something. “My colleague, Ryuujin Ka—he used to be a Hakujin too. Changed his name for some reason. He even lent me that bomb-making book, said he shared the interest.” *Ryuujin Ka.* A vital clue. “It’s not too late!” I stood up. “I caused this mistake—I’ll fix it! Wait for my signal!”

Ignoring Senya’s bewildered stare, I summoned the Silver Clock. Though invisible to them, my sudden disappearance during the time jump was obvious. “You’ve got this, Cold Creek,” they called out. *This time, I won’t fail.*

Time rewound to March 17th—the day before destruction. I materialized in yesterday’s Classroom 103, mid-meeting. Time stability prevented two versions of me coexisting, so my past self and I merged—a process that drained my time-travel reserves. “No time to explain. I’m tomorrow’s Cold Creek. Senya isn’t the planner. It’s Ryuujin Ka—formerly Hakujin Ka. He changed his name to avoid attention. We find him *now*.”

“If Cold Creek says it’s true,” Yutangqian muttered, scratching his head, “I’ll believe even this crazy story.” No one doubted me. We mobilized instantly. *This time, we save the school. We have to.*

I didn’t know Ryuujin Ka—but Senya did. They were close. Tracking Senya was our best lead.

“Mr. Shirasaki, wait!” I called out as he headed to his apartment. “I’m Cold Creek, first-year. I need your help.” He smiled politely. “Busy right now. Perhaps another time?” I cut straight to the point: “Are you making bombs?” His eyes widened. “How did you—” “That doesn’t matter. I need Ryuujin Ka’s location.” After a brief, edited explanation (omitting the time travel), he frowned. “Ryuujin *has* been acting strange lately. If what you say is true… he’s probably in his room. 307.”

I sprinted to 307. *Thud-thud-thud.* Despite my urgency, I forced myself to knock calmly. “Who is it?” A young man opened the door—black-rimmed glasses, gentle demeanor. Ryuujin Ka.

“Mr. Ryuujin Ka? Or should I say… Mr. Hakujin Ka?” His face paled. “Who are you?” “Names don’t matter. Let’s talk inside.” He stepped aside without protest.

“Tea?” He poured a cup swiftly. “Thanks. But you know why I’m here. Call it off.” He chuckled nervously. “Student, I have no idea what you mean.” I met his gaze. “Seven years ago. A girl jumped. Hakujin Ma. Your sister, by age.”

At her name, his expression tightened, then softened. “So our school has a junior detective now.” I couldn’t accept the title. My misjudgment had doomed us all.

Leaning forward like an old friend, he confessed: “Seven years ago, my sister studied here. Beautiful, but poor. That beast of a principal targeted her—promised guaranteed admission, then ruined her. She couldn’t bear it. Jumped. He paid off the ‘exam stress’ cover-up. I swore he’d pay.”

Another broken man. “But this path… if guilt exists, no cover-up erases it. Why not fight differently?” Ryuujin Ka’s eyes blazed. “Think I haven’t tried? In this world, money is power. What do *we* have to fight with?”

My words had cut deep. He pulled out a detonator. “I planned to take him with me tomorrow in his office. Since you found out… no matter. School’s empty now—no innocents hurt. Pity I won’t get that old monster, but I’ll ruin him.”

“Time Stasis!” I activated my power, stepping toward him. Destroy the detonator. Stop everything.

But I hesitated. Forcing survival on what should perish demanded balance. *What price would I pay?* I thought of Nana, Rika, Naruko, Yutangqian—my first friends. Would I vanish from their memories? Leave no trace?

“I won’t let you stop me!” Ryuujin Ka roared, breaking free of Time Stasis. My power was limited here in the time-stream—but the real reason was my own turmoil. *Selfishness made me fail again.*