Chapter 5: First Playthrough (5)
Instructor Onizuka was unharmed and was successfully rescued by the five of them working together in the midst of danger.
This made Rei Furuya breathe a huge sigh of relief. The tension he had been feeling for the past few days finally eased, and he felt much more relaxed.
This is the only danger he can think of right now. If he gets through this safely, he won't have to worry for at least another month.
So, he should consider whether to tell Hiro about this, and if so, how to do so.
He consulted two senior teenagers in the group about whether or not to tell the people around him that he came from the future.
[Subaru Natsuki: ...I think you don't need to worry about this now. Whether you say it or not, whether the other person believes you or not, everything will restart after the death rollback. All your efforts will be wasted. Once or twice is fine, but more than that is unbearable. Besides, this is just too absurd. How could people living in a normal world easily believe it? They'll think you're joking, think you're crazy, or even think you're lying and plotting something. And if too many people know about this, it's not a good thing. If the enemy discovers we can roll back after we can no longer access that fixed save point, the situation will become even worse. The best way is for us to learn from our previous failure and come up with a good reason to guide everyone to avoid this tragedy.]
[Shinpei Netdai: I think you should give it a try. This time, I told Nagumo-sensei about my ability to die and rewind time, and she instantly understood everything. She even deduced that I came from the future before I even told her anything. I... I'm really touched. I'm finally not fighting alone anymore. It feels so good to have companions who know everything and work together with me. I also plan to find an opportunity to tell other people about this later. We'll succeed eventually if we all work together.]
The two boys voiced their opinions almost simultaneously, but for the first time, they disagreed.
But they didn't argue or anything.
Needless to say, Shinpei Amedai understood perfectly well that Subaru Natsuki's perception stemmed entirely from his own personal experience, and that he genuinely cared about and advised him in this way. Therefore, he would even go so far as to comfort and reassure Subaru Natsuki.
Natsuki Subaru can be a bit impulsive at times, but that doesn't mean he's the type who doesn't consider others. He's essentially a very upright, gentle, and kind young man, and he quickly calmed down and apologized.
Natsuki Subaru was truly envious of them. He simply couldn't reveal his death rewind to anyone else; whoever heard it would die. And his emotional outbursts were something no one else could understand.
[Natsuki Subaru: I'm sorry, I was a bit impulsive. Furuya Shinpei and I are different. I live in a strange and unpredictable magical otherworld, surrounded by unfamiliar people from that world. Of course, they wouldn't easily believe me. But you guys live in a relatively scientific world, surrounded by familiar people. It might be better for you to talk to me. Just like Shinpei said, having familiar, trustworthy companions who know everything to fight alongside you means that everything we do and the feelings we have will be understood. That would definitely be wonderful.]
No, actually that's not the case.
Jianggu Ling's fingers trembled slightly.
Since he has returned to the very beginning, apart from his childhood friend Hiro, everyone else treats him no differently than a stranger.
Everything starts from scratch, including making friends.
*
Rei Furuya ultimately decided to tell Hiromitsu Morofushi everything.
He trusted his childhood friend.
It's 7 PM now, and it's not completely dark yet.
They had just finished a day of training, had eaten, and were about to do their own things, making it the perfect time to talk.
Actually, if it weren't for the fact that I had arranged to fight...spar with Matsuda that night, it might have been better to set the time for a quiet evening.
After all, Furuya Rei wasn't entirely sure what would happen after he revealed everything. If his condition was affected and he ended up fighting or sparring with Matsuda, that perceptive guy would definitely notice, and then there would be even more trouble.
However, Rei Furuya didn't want his childhood friend to continue worrying like this, so he wanted to talk to him about it as soon as possible to put his mind at ease.
Although saying this might shatter one's worldview and understanding, it might not reassure Hiro, but rather make him even more worried, and even more distressed and in danger because of being involved...
Jianggu Ling: "..."
After knocking on the door, Rei Furuya froze and hesitated.
“Zero?” Morofushi Kagemitsu was taken aback when he opened the door.
But he knew Rei Furuya so well that he understood everything instantly.
"Zero! Are you going to tell me everything?" Morofushi Kagemitsu raised his voice slightly, and his already round and upturned blue cat eyes lit up.
Although his childhood friend is very straightforward in serious matters, he is somewhat proud and aloof when it comes to relationships. Sometimes, even if his feelings for something are exposed, he might blush and stubbornly insist that he doesn't like it. While this is cute, it can be a bit of a nuisance in certain situations.
Morofushi Kagemitsu originally thought he would continue to hesitate for a few more days, but he didn't expect him to decide to be honest with him so quickly. He was overjoyed and felt much more relaxed.
Jianggu Ling: "..."
Rei Furuya's eyebrows and eyes unconsciously relaxed and curved upwards.
“Yes, as agreed, I’m here to tell you everything, Hiro,” he said.
He was pulled into the room by his childhood friend, who was both eager and very happy. The two sat on the bed together, just like when they were children, sitting cross-legged against the wall and chatting.
Rei Furuya used to do this often. It started because when Hiromitsu Morofushi was a child, he transferred to a school in Tokyo alone after his parents were murdered and he also developed aphasia.
"It'll be easier to say it out loud, won't it?" The little blond boy gave a bright smile to the black-haired cat-eyed boy who was sitting quietly in the corner, lost in thought. "If you can't say it right now, how about I do it for you?"
Rei Furuya took a very, very long time to explain all of this.
He slowly introduced his 29-year-old life to his 22-year-old childhood friend, saying that the five of them became very good friends in police academy, that they all became great police officers after graduation, that the two of them went undercover together to infiltrate an international terrorist organization, that Hiro's undercover identity was exposed and he died in front of him, that Hagiwara, Matsuda and the squad leader died one after another in the line of duty, and that he finally died in the darkness before dawn on the night of the final battle to destroy the organization.
Rei Furuya slowly explained to Hiromitsu Morofushi that he had been reborn from the future, saying that he didn't know what was going on. He also mentioned that he knew two companions who had also experienced a time warp and were two very nice young men. They were in another world, in a group chat on his phone, and no one but him could see them.
"Even if it's something this outrageous, will Hiro believe me?" he asked softly.
Then Furuya Rei received a hug.
A warm yet powerful hug.
Morofushi Kagemitsu, who had been listening quietly to his story, suddenly reached out and hugged him tightly.
“Of course, how could I not believe you? I’m just a little shocked,” Morofushi Hiromitsu said. “I knew Zero wouldn’t lie to me, right?”
Rei Furuya buried her head deeply in his shoulder, tightened her arms around him, and felt his body temperature and heartbeat, letting out a muffled "hmm".
"I'm really glad you chose to tell me all this. Let me share this burden with you. We're friends, aren't we?"
Morofushi Kagemitsu gently stroked the soft, golden hair of his childhood friend.
"You've been working so hard all this time, Zero. You've done so well. Now you can relax and take a break."
*
Rest is impossible.
After calming down, Furuya Rei ran away with a flushed face and burning ears.
"I need to see Matsuda later!" he shouted.
Rei Furuya squatted on the rooftop, frantically scratching his head, turning his once smooth blond hair into a spiky mess.
Ugh! Why did it turn into Hiro comforting him in the end?! Shouldn't he be the one patiently soothing Hiro, whose worldview has been shaken and left him bewildered?!
Rei Furuya tried to cool down his face with the back of his hand, while also covering his facial expression.
What?! That's totally unfair, Hiro...
But, but, I'm really happy.
Those two boys were right. After going through something like this, it feels so good to meet someone who can completely understand and trust you and fight alongside you.
Reiichi Furuya suddenly felt like he had nothing to worry about anymore.
His body was now brimming with energy, his blood was burning hot, yet he felt light and airy, as if he could fly into the sky, and finally he burst out laughing.
"Puhahaha, hahahaha—"
After laughing like a madman on the deserted rooftop for a while, Furuya Rei's mood completely calmed down.
He picked up his phone and glanced at it; it was almost eight o'clock.
"Why isn't Matsuda here yet?" He brushed his hair back and smiled. "I can't wait any longer. I'm sure we'll have a good, satisfying fight today."
But Matsuda Jinpei was indeed late.
Rei Furuya glanced at the time again, his brow furrowing slightly.
They checked the dorms at 10 p.m., so they agreed to fight at 8 p.m.... to spar, and then go back to shower and sleep at 9 p.m., which was perfect timing.
But it was already past 8:10, and Matsuda Jinpei still hadn't arrived.
This is definitely not normal for Matsuda, who was really looking forward to this match.
At that moment, Shinpei Amagawa's earlier words suddenly flashed into Rei Furuya's mind.
Mr. Furuya, please be extremely careful about the safety of those important to you, and make sure to protect them.
Instantly, all the heat in his body dissipated, and he felt a chill from head to toe, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
"Matsuda!" Furuya Rei turned and ran downstairs.
In the long, dark stairwell, he took out his phone and kept dialing Matsuda Jinpei's number, but no one answered.
Actually, he hadn't exchanged phone numbers with Matsuda yet, and he knew that Matsuda probably wouldn't have his phone with him at this time, but he kept calling, even calling Hagi, but no one answered.
Damn it!
He felt as if he were back in that night, the unanswered phone calls, the endless staircases, and the body lying in a pool of blood when he finally arrived...
It wasn't until he ran out of the school building and saw the light of the streetlights that Furuya Rei regained his composure.
He took a deep breath, knowing he was having PTSD. He tried to reassure himself that it wouldn't happen; this was the police academy, and that was Matsuda. What danger could he possibly be in? He shouldn't scare himself, or Matsuda would definitely laugh at him later.
This won't do. We must find an opportunity to cure this PTSD, otherwise it will greatly affect his rational judgment.
"Are we really okay with leaving that area alone? Should we go report to the instructor?"
"No way, you'll get into trouble. Those guys are all thugs, I don't know how they got into the police academy."
"But I think that guy with the curly hair is actually a pretty good person. He only got into the fight to save the person who was being bullied, right?"
Rei Furuya suddenly rushed over and grabbed the two of them: "Is that curly-haired guy you're talking about Matsuda Jinpei?! Where are they?!"
The two students were startled by his expression and imposing manner, and their voices trembled as they spoke.
"I... I don't know his name. He was a very handsome man with curly black hair. He was in the grove near the back gate of the school."
"We don't know the specifics, but we roughly understand that he couldn't stand seeing those six people bullying one person, so he rushed over and started a fight..."
Rei Furuya breathed a slight sigh of relief, released the two of them, apologized, and turned to head towards the grove behind the school.
He knew that place well; it was near the back gate of the school and the student dormitory, the place where he first arranged to fight Matsuda.
Furuya Rei thought, "It's just fighting. It's nothing unusual for Matsuda. Even a group of people would have a hard time beating that boxing gorilla."
He seems to be overreacting because Natsuki Subaru and Amagi Shinpei have died and been rewound too many times. His world shouldn't be that dangerous or unscientific.
But when he finally finds Matsuda, he must seriously talk to him about his arrogant personality. How come he's even more outrageous than the guy in his memory? Could it be that he's added a filter to that guy's memory?
After confirming that it was just a simple student fight, Furuya Rei was both relieved and somewhat angry.
Does Matsuda think he's some kind of superhero? He charged straight at a group of people all by himself. Shouldn't he at least call a few people? Shouldn't he at least notify them? Has that guy completely forgotten that he was waiting for their appointment on the rooftop?
Honestly, his father would turn a blind eye to fights and arguments he saw on the street because he didn't want to waste time or get into trouble, but he overcorrected and would rush in and fight whenever he saw something he didn't like.
His outwardly arrogant and irritable personality changed completely after Hagi's death.
In fact, his personality is still as straightforward as ever, but he seems much more reserved or even lifeless. Most of the time, he is enveloped by an inescapable quiet yet dangerous aura, but in reality, he is still as oblivious to others as ever.
This leads many people to believe that he is a melancholy, mysterious, and dangerous handsome man when he is not speaking or they do not know him. It is those black sunglasses that instantly transform his aura into that of a mafia boss.
But Rei Furuya actually disliked his behavior the most.
He would miss Matsuda Jinpei from the police academy again at that time.
Rei Furuya couldn't help but sigh deeply. Oh well, he couldn't stand Matsuda no matter what he looked like.
Once we find the person, we'll do as agreed and give them a good beating.
Rei Furuya could gradually make out the figures over there. From the sounds, he could easily tell that Matsuda was indeed in control, and the screams were from the others.
The name sounds familiar; it seems to be the guy who got beaten up by Matsuda for talking bad about him in the restroom before.
Did these people, feeling resentful after being beaten up by Matsuda, go and bully others?
Rei Furuya finally reached the end of the road. He lifted his foot to walk towards the cherry blossom grove that was not well illuminated by the streetlights, but his eyes suddenly widened.
Upon approaching him, it was discovered that a person had secretly emerged from behind a large tree behind Matsuda Jinpei, raising a black police baton high in preparation for a sneak attack on Matsuda Jinpei, who was entangled with another person.
"Matsuda, watch out!!!!"
But it was too late. He didn't even have time to draw his gun. The moment he shouted "Matsuda," the curly-haired youth's head was struck hard by a police baton in the darkness.
Matsuda Jinpei collapsed without even making a sound, blood spreading rapidly, his body stiffening and convulsing unnaturally.
The scene immediately descended into chaos.
"Hey! What are you doing! What if you kill someone!"
"Blood, so much blood... Hey, isn't something wrong with him?"
"Someone's spotted us! Someone's found us! What do we do? What do we do?"
Rei Furuya couldn't see or hear anything; all he could see was the curly-haired youth lying in a pool of blood.
He finally found Matsuda Jinpei, but didn't even dare to reach out and touch him.
He was late again this time.
A blow to the back of the head can very likely lead to death. Matsuda's current condition is most likely a cerebellar hemorrhage. The massive bleeding is compressing the brainstem, causing respiratory and circulatory problems, which could very well lead to respiratory and cardiac arrest.
It's hopeless. There's no saving him now. Even the best doctor can't save him in time. He's only about a minute away from actual death.
Human life is so fragile.
The brain analyzed the situation on its own and even concluded by lamenting the fragility of life.
Rei Furuya, expressionless, knelt on the ground and carefully turned the curly-haired youth over so as not to cause further harm, gently calling his name while holding his stiff and slightly trembling hand.
"Matsuda?"
However, the curly-haired youth had fallen into a semi-conscious state and was convulsing. He stared at him with wide eyes, wanting to say something, but his mouth could only open and close, producing meaningless broken syllables.
His breathing was slowing and becoming shallower at an alarming rate.
His trembling movements gradually subsided until they finally stopped completely.
From the moment it happened until it ended, less than a minute had passed, giving people no time to react. Matsuda Jinpei died.
Rei Furuya, holding his hand, froze on the spot.
"...Matsuda?"
silence.
Matsuda Jinpei's silence was deafening.
Matsuda Jinpei is dead.
[Side ending unlocked: Cherry Blossoms Fall - The Death of Matsuda Jinpei]
Rei Furuya felt suffocated, as if his heart had been ripped apart, his breathing became disordered, and his vision went black.
He remembered the obituary again.
[Metropolitan Police Department Security Division Mobile Unit Explosives Disposal Team - same as the Criminal Investigation Division, First Investigation Section, Violent Offenses Third Division]
Matsuda Jinpei
He died in the explosion and disintegration.
But...but! But Matsuda is only 22 years old! He's only just entered the police academy! He hasn't even been taught how to defuse bombs! They haven't become true friends yet! His life has just begun! He hasn't become the respected Officer Matsuda yet! He's just going to die like this? Because of that guy's sneak attack? Because he stood up for him and offended those scumbags?
Haha, so what was the purpose of his rebirth? And what good would it do?
Did he come back just to hasten Matsuda's death?
"Dead?! Dead?!"
"No! This has nothing to do with us! I didn't kill anyone! I didn't kill anyone!!!"
Rei Furuya suddenly looked up.
The six men were startled by his expression, terrified by the unprecedentedly terrifying murderous aura emanating from him. Their legs went weak, and they almost knelt down, their breath fading away.
Even after being pinned to the ground and beaten to near death, they still couldn't understand why this top-ranked blond student at the police academy possessed an aura more terrifying than any of the most vicious criminals they had ever seen.
They'll die! They'll die!! This person really will kill them all!!!
Is he really just a police academy student?! Could he actually be an undercover agent sent by some other country or even a terrorist organization to infiltrate the police force?!
Once they came to their senses, the group began to scream in agony and cry for help, quickly attracting the attention of other students and even the instructors.
But Rei Furuya couldn't hear anything. Everyone else was beaten into immobility by him, except for the last one.
This man was from their class; he was the one who had secretly hidden bullets during pistol training that afternoon and was discovered by Hagi; he was also the one who had just raised a police baton he had stolen from somewhere and ambushed Matsuda Jinpei.
Rei Furuya rode on top of him, grabbed his collar, and punched him relentlessly, the splattered blood staining his blond hair before sliding down his cheeks.
His appearance was so terrifying that even the instructors were frightened.
"Zero!" Morofushi Kagemitsu pushed through the crowd and rushed in, grabbing Furuya Rei's raised, blood-soaked fist without hesitation. "Zero, calm down. Can you tell me what happened?"
"Furuya...?" Kenji Hagiwara popped his head out, then saw Jinpei Matsuda lying quietly under the cherry blossom tree. "Wait? Over there, is that Jinpei? Haha, no way? Hey, Jinpei, why are you fighting again? Are you pretending to be dead to scare me? Hagi-chan is going to cry, hey, hey, hey, I'm really going to get angry..."
"Enough! Furuya! If you hit them again, you'll really get beaten to death! Do you still want to be a policeman?!" Date Wataru first scolded him sternly, then softened his tone and said seriously, "Furuya, what exactly happened? Tell me, and I'll listen carefully to what you have to say."
Rei Furuya froze for a few seconds, then slowly pulled his hand back from his childhood friend's, stood up, and took two steps back.
The blond youth's expression was terrifyingly blank. He said softly, "It's too late. It's no use. Matsuda is already dead."
He knew perfectly well that the happy world he had just been looking forward to had shattered the moment Matsuda died.
“Zero!” Zhu Fujingguang stepped forward in alarm, a bad feeling creeping over him.
"Hiro, I'm sorry, see you later."
After the blond youth finished speaking, he suddenly pulled out a gun from his body and pointed it resolutely at his head.
When Rei Furuya prepared this gun, he never imagined that the first bullet would be used to commit suicide.
"I will definitely bring Matsuda back." He solemnly promised Kenji Hagiwara, who was holding Matsuda Jinpei's body.
"No, wait! Zero!! Stop it!!!!" Morofushi Kagemitsu rushed over in horror to stop him.
Without hesitation, Furuya Rei pulled the trigger.
"Bang--"
You are dead.
[First playthrough complete]
[Resulting in a Bad Ending: Oblivious to Everyone Else]
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【yes】
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