My name is Theo Smith. I'm just an ordinary high school student: nothing special about my black hair or my average face.
Every morning, I walk to school. On the way, I usually stop by the corner supermarket to buy my favorite breakfast sandwich. I savor every bite as I head down the sidewalk.
One day, I was so absorbed in chewing my sandwich that I barely noticed Luna Destiara sneaking up behind me. Suddenly, she tapped me on the shoulder, and my sandwich fell out of my hand and landed in the gutter.
I stared at the ruined bread in shock. Luna teased me and then apologized, but I couldn't figure out why she always hung around me. She's beautiful, charismatic, and full of life—surely she could have any friend she wanted.
Maybe she felt she owed me. A while back, she almost slipped on the stairs, and I caught her just in time. Maybe she felt sorry for me, someone with few friends at school.
We arrived at classroom 2-C together. Outside the door, I saw my childhood friend, Ivansia Ardenia, waiting for us. She's smart, always helping me with homework—sometimes even doing my assignments for me.
Inside the classroom, we sat in the back row. Luna was on my right, Ivansia on my left. As the teacher began the lesson, Luna's pen rolled off her desk and fell to the floor. I bent down to pick it up, and our fingers brushed.
My heart jumped in my chest, and I quickly pulled my hand back. Luna turned away, as if it didn't matter.
Ding–Dong!
The bell rang for break time, and I stood up to get something from the canteen. But before I could move, Luna and Ivansia each slid a bento box in front of me.
"Here. D-don't get the wrong idea! I just had leftovers!"
I shook my head, unwilling to let them feel like they had to take care of me. I scratched my neck, "Ah, sorry Luna! I already ate"
They looked at each other, and I wondered if my words had hurt them. Luna's lip trembled like she was about to cry.
I was about to apologize when a loud voice cut through the hallway. A boy with brown hair at the front of the class stepped forward, Faceless.
"You're doing it again," he hissed, the words spilling out like poison. "Every. Damn. Day."
My heart jumped, and I looked at the faceless, brown-haired boy now in front of my desk.
"W-who-"
"Shut up!" He stormed toward My desk, Frustration came out of his mouth "You think this is a game? That her feelings are some side quest for you to ignore?"
"W-what are you talking about?" I laughed nervously. "Luna and I are just—"
"Friends? Yeah. Sure." He leaned in, his faceless void inches from my nose. "Keep telling yourself that while she cries herself to sleep. While she wonders why she's never enough."
I froze. Me—playing with their feelings? Luna and Ivansia were just being nice friends. How could anyone think they liked someone as ordinary as me?
Luna stood up and slapped the boy. His jaw dropped. Chaos erupted, before class Rep Mia stopped the argument.
I felt a pang of guilt. Could Luna or Ivansia actually have feelings for me?
I spent the rest of break daydreaming on my desk. By the time the final bell rang, I still hadn't figured it out.
Ding–Ding!
After school, I headed for the gate. Ivansia caught up to me, her expression serious. Theo, you took forever. What were you doing in class? Were you talking to Luna all this time?"
I lowered my gaze, before saying my problems that are stuck in my heart. "Ivansia, do you really think I'm—worthy of someone's love?" My voice was barely more than a whisper.
She stopped in her tracks, shocked by my question. Then she smiled softly and opened her arms, pulling me into a hug. Her hand gently stroked my hair.
"You don't have to be extraordinary to be loved," she said, her voice warm. "Sometimes, being yourself is more than enough. I've chosen you—again and again."
My hand trembled against her back, and tears stung my eyes. "I'm sorry I never noticed how you felt. I'm sorry if I hurt you."
She shook her head, humming. "You don't have to apologize. Just know I'm here, and I won't take no for an answer." Her cheeks glowed pink as she pulled me a little closer.
"Come on, let's go home," she said, releasing me and taking my hand.
We walked side by side through the school gate. We chatted about childhood memories, laughing over the embarrassing things we did when we were little.
Yet now, something had changed—my heart raced every time I looked at Ivansia. Maybe I was finally ready to see Her in a new light.
----
alarm rang and ruined my peaceful sleep. In the dusty mirror, I looked at my reflection—still faceless, as always.
I cooked a bento this morning. I was planning to give it to Luna. After I finished, I took a quick shower and got ready for school.
At the school gate, Luna Destiara—the so-called heroine—was already there. Strangely, she wasn't sticking to Theo today.
Maybe it was because I saved her from being killed by those gangsters. Maybe, if I keep helping her, the chains of fate will finally break, and she'll be free.
"Luna, who are you waiting for, standing here and sweating like that?" I teased her lightly.
"Who else but the stalker who knows everything about me," Luna replied and kicked my leg—but not too hard.
I chuckled. "Careful. This stalker might've put a hidden camera in your pink bag," I said while pointing at her bag.
Her face turned red, and she started hitting me all the way to the classroom. When we stepped inside, I noticed something had changed—Theo and Ivansia were sitting closer, their chemistry different now. Luna was no longer part of Theo's "heroine route."
We took our seats, and class started. The faceless teacher stood at the front and mumbled something about Stoicism. I didn't really listen. Instead, I buried my nose in a novel.
Eventually, the lunch bell rang. I checked the bento I'd made for Luna.
"Hey, C. Let's go to the rooftop like always. I-I made a bento for us to eat together," Luna said, her face red with embarrassment.
"You go first. There's something I need to take care of," I replied. I still hadn't confirmed if the bento I made was hygienic enough. I didn't want to accidentally poison her or anything.
"F-fine. If you don't want to eat with me, I can just eat alone," she huffed before stomping off and slamming the classroom door behind her.
Tch. That tsundere side of hers really drives me crazy.
After double-checking the bento, I finally got ready to head up to the rooftop.
But just as I was about to open the door, someone called out to me.
"Hey, Class C guy." It was Theo Smith—the protagonist himself. "Can I ask for your help?" he said, grabbing my wrist.
Damn it. Why does this guy's face shine like the main character in a dating sim? Oh right. This is a romantic anime world.
I sighed, walked back to my seat, and sat down. "So? What do you need?" I tapped the desk, a little annoyed. My lunch break with Luna was slipping away.
"Can you... can you tell Luna I'm sorry? For playing with her feelings," Theo said, his head bowed low.
I was stunned. The dense protagonist... actually realizing his actions hurt people?
I reflexively looked out the window. 'Is the world ending?'
Only clouds drifting through a gray sky. I let out a quiet breath. "Yeah... I'll tell her," I said. Then I added, "Also, sorry for yelling at you the other day."
Theo looked up and said, "Ah... that? Honestly, thank you. If you hadn't snapped at me, I wouldn't have realized how badly I was treating the people close to me." He laughed and patted my shoulder.
I was silent. Then he continued, "Um... can I ask for one more thing?"
"What is it?"
"Do you... know how to confess your feelings to someone you like?" he asked, scratching his neck.
Wait... after 1,203 loops, this is the first time the protagonist is trying to confess on his own?
I tried to think. Even after all those loops, I've never confessed to anyone either.
"Uhh... maybe just speak from your heart. Be honest with your feelings," I told him before running to the rooftop. I was already late—Luna was waiting.
---
When I opened the rooftop door, I saw her—Luna, with her golden hair, blue eyes, and that iconic blue ribbon—sitting against the wall.
"You're late, idiot. What were you even doing in class?" she said with a pout.
"I was helping someone who needed it. So it's okay to be a little late," I said with a small laugh.
I sat next to her and handed over the bento. "This is for you—to celebrate our friendship."
"Huh? Haven't we already been friends for a long time?" she asked, looking confused.
Wait... we've only been friends for two days. Why did she say a long time?
Could her memories from previous loops be bleeding through into this one?
"Just open the bento," I said, avoiding the question.
She opened the lid. Inside, I had written the word 'Friends' with sauce, next to a heart. I even drew two stick figures connected by red strings tied to their wrists.
She burst out laughing. "HAHA... This is so cheesy! There's even a heart! And what's this? Are these stickmen tied together by string?"
My face burned. I seriously considered jumping off the rooftop and resetting the world. No, no. That's not the answer.
I just stayed quiet, enduring her teasing.
That day, the rooftop echoed with laughter.