Chapter 6
Her vibrant purple eyes sparkled as they took in Dante completely. The face that turned toward him with curiosity lit up the moment she recognized him.
“Hey, Dante. Good morning!”
Dante stared blankly at the girl waving at him with a wide smile.
She was noticeably younger than the last time he saw her, but there was no doubt. It was Fay.
His one and only childhood friend. The sun-like girl he had always wished happiness for.
“What’s the occasion? It’s not like you to be later than usual… Huh?”
The moment he registered that, his eyes grew hot.
Only after seeing Fay’s startled expression did Dante realize he was crying.
The sensation of tears streaming down his cheeks was chillingly vivid.
Why, at this very moment, wouldn’t the tears stop? He hadn’t even cried when he heard the news of your death.
From the moment he received your death notice, it had felt like walking on dry, cracked earth. Though he was clearly grieving, he had even blamed himself for not shedding a single tear in mourning.
Dante’s feet moved again.
Striding past the students staring at him in surprise, he pulled Fay into a tight embrace.
He felt her body flinch at the sudden action. Still, Dante held her even tighter, burying his face in her delicate shoulder.
“…Dante?”
“Just a moment.”
Just a little longer.
At those words, instead of pressing further, Fay reached out with both hands and gently patted his back.
With that alone, Dante felt the heavy knot pressing on his chest gradually unravel.
Fay was alive. Not the pallid, bloodless face he last saw, but warm skin with a healthy glow, a warm body, and a kind voice—all reminding him that this was reality.
“By the way, why are you suddenly crying? You’re making me worry.”
“I’m just glad you’re safe.”
“Huh?”
“…I just had a nightmare.”
“Even you have days like that, Dante.”
The soft laughter brushing his ear tickled his heart. Before Dante could question the unfamiliar sensation, the bell rang from afar.
At the sound of the 9 o’clock bell, Dante finally came to his senses, released his arms, and looked down at Fay with slightly reddened eyes. A dark stain marred her right shoulder.
Apologizing for dirtying her clothes could wait. There was something more important right now.
Wiping his eyes quickly, Dante spoke abruptly.
“Fay.”
“Yeah?”
“Sorry, but—”
“Eek, kyaa!”
With that, Dante scooped Fay up, supporting her knees and back. As she instinctively clung to his neck, he whispered softly.
“I’m going to run—hold on tight!”
They had to reach the classroom before the bell finished ringing. Otherwise, they’d be late.
Dante’s expression turned resolute as he dashed through the thinning crowd of students. Fay, glancing up at his face, leaned her head on his shoulder and smiled.
Fortunately, they made it just in time before class started.
But since Fay’s first-period class was different, Dante ended up being late anyway.
He didn’t know what he was thinking as he let the morning classes slip by. By the time the morning sessions ended, however, Dante was certain he had returned to the time just before his graduation.
About ten days until the graduation party, if he recalled correctly.
“Hey, Igniel!”
With no afternoon classes, Dante stood to go pick up Fay when a group of boys swarmed over. Derek, at the center, snickered and patted Dante’s shoulder.
“Heard the news—you put on quite the scene this morning!”
The burly boys’ eyes sparkled, making for an overwhelmingly awkward sight. But Dante focused on the conversation rather than the momentary emotion.
“Quite the scene? What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb. You were hugging some girl at the school gate this morning. What’s the story?”
Leaving his clearly teasing friends behind, Dante replayed his actions from that morning.
So that’s how it looked.
He hadn’t realized it at the time, but in hindsight, he had acted recklessly without thinking.
Never mind himself—Fay’s reputation could be affected. No matter how out of it he was, that was going too far.
Reproaching himself inwardly, Dante responded calmly.
“It wasn’t like that.”
“Not like that? What guy hugs a girl and stages a whole drama?”
“The girl was Fay Brabant, right? Black hair—has to be her.”
“Finally? Took you long enough.”
“Huh? If it’s her, that changes things. Did Dante pull another Dante move?”
“I’m leaving.”
Whatever they were saying, Dante let it go in one ear and out the other as he strode out of the classroom.
It was lunchtime, so the hallway was crowded with students. Ignoring the glances thrown his way, Dante headed for the stairs.
‘I have math as my last class today, so come pick me up on the third floor!’
He would have been in trouble if Fay hadn’t whispered that to him before they parted. No matter how good his memory, he didn’t have the confidence to recall his class schedule from seven years ago in full.
But am I really back seven years? If this were a dream, I should have woken up by now.
He tried to recall what graduation season had been like, but nothing specific came to mind. There was one thing that nagged at him, though.
If he had truly returned to being eighteen…
Dante’s mind raced. His hurried steps down the stairs slowed, and he eventually stopped midway.
‘Am I going to relive that moment again?’
The image of Fay lying pale and lifeless flashed in his mind, sending a chill down his spine.
“Hurry, hurry! They’re serving stew in the cafeteria today!”
“Let’s go—kyaa!”
Just then, one of the girls rushing down the stairs bumped lightly into Dante and stumbled. Anticipating the pain as her vision tilted, the girl squeezed her eyes shut.
Huh?
Even after a while, it didn’t hurt. Only then did she notice the hand gripping her shoulder and slowly opened her eyes.
“Are you all right?”
“Gasp, yes. I’m fine! Thank you…”
Oh my goodness.
The girl, about to thank her rescuer, lost her words the moment she saw the face looking down at her with concern.
Flowing golden hair, eyes filled with melancholy, sharply sculpted features, shoulders broad enough to block her view, and arms with beautifully toned muscles.
An incredibly handsome man stood right in front of her. Extremely close.
“I nearly caused you trouble. I’m relieved you’re unharmed.”
“Uh, uh, uh…”
“Can you stand?”
The speechless girl nodded vigorously. Dante straightened her up and spoke politely.
“My apologies. I’ll be going now.”
“Wait, just—”
The girl stared blankly at Dante’s retreating back as he quickly descended the stairs. Her friends soon gathered around her.
“Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“By the way, wasn’t that senior Igniel?”
“With a face like that, it has to be.”
As her friends chattered, the girl grabbed one of their arms, eyes sparkling.
“He’s our senior?”
“Whoa, she’s totally smitten.”
“You should give up.”
“Why?! Age difference is something you can overcome—”
One friend grabbed her shoulder and said,
“That senior is heading to the temple soon.”
“…The temple? No way! You’re telling me that face is going to stay single for life?!”
“Looks like it.”
“No way!”
Whether the girl who had taken a liking to him despaired or not, Dante had already reached the third floor and scanned his surroundings.
He was pretty sure the math classroom was around here. It had been too long, so he was a bit confused.
Fortunately, his larger-than-average build made it easy to look around.
The moment he spotted Fay leaning against a classroom door, Dante stopped in his tracks.
