The entirety of Chrono's body was shaking violently as he gazed at May, gracefully reading her books and swaying her head without a care in the world.
Chrono's mouth opened slightly, his lower lip trembling, but he slowly covered it with shaky hands. His heart was pounding against his chest, his breath ragged, sweat beading down his face as if he wasn't standing in A.C.
It was a weird feeling — Chrono couldn't explain it. Was it fear, joy, relief, guilt? Maybe it was a mix of all of them. But for all Chrono knew, this was a feeling he'd never known before.
Chrono tried to compose himself as he made his way to the bookshelves. His slow, hesitant steps echoed throughout the dimly lit library. He slowly reached for a book on the shelf, pulling it out with trembling hands.
He wasn't sure why he was picking up a book — he didn't need to. But maybe it was an excuse to start a conversation with May.
Then suddenly, he paused.
He placed a hand under his chin, his breath still ragged and his expression uneasy as he stared blankly at the cover page of the book in his hand.
Should I really talk to her?
I mean, I don't have the book on me right now, so there's no way she's going to die. But… I feel as if I shouldn't talk to her ever again, that my presence would only cause trouble in her life.
Chrono's grip on the book tightened, his brows furrowed, and his expression didn't get any less uneasy.
It's a weird way for me to feel about a complete stranger… but I was responsible for her death in the loop prior to this, so I guess wanting to distance myself is completely valid…
But then why? Why… does my heart ache so much?
He clutched his chest, gripping a handful of his shirt. His heart pounded harder against his ribcage — like it wanted to break free.
Suddenly, dizziness washed over him. The world around him started to spin like he was drunk. His legs buckled slightly, ready to give out if he lost focus for even a second. He reached out and placed a hand on the bookshelf for balance, book in hand.
Damn it… I feel nauseous. What the hell?
He moved the hand from his chest down to his stomach, his breath sharp and uneven. Just seeing May had triggered something deep inside him — something that made him feel sick to his core.
His skin turned pale, and sweat ran freely down his face. With every heartbeat, every shallow breath, it felt like the pressure on his body multiplied. It was overwhelming. He felt like he could drop to the floor cold at any moment.
Of course he was reacting like this. It wasn't every day that you watch someone get beheaded by an invisible force — one that not only erased them from existence but wiped every trace of them from memory... except your own.
Chrono turned sharply on his heel, back toward the aisle entrance. His hand dragged along the bookshelf as he walked, each step heavy and slow, his head tilted downward.
He stopped at the end, peeking carefully around the corner. To his right — there was May. Still there, swaying her head blissfully, flipping through a book. To his left — the librarian, idly flipping through a magazine.
Chrono wiped his face and forced himself upright. He had a decision to make. He could leave. He'd already confirmed May was alive, despite what happened in the previous loop. Or… he could talk to her. Maybe get this invisible weight off his chest.
Should I just go home? There's nothing else left for me to do.
He placed a palm on his forehead, his brows furrowing as a sharp pain hit him behind the eyes.
I have a fever…
Yeah… I should head home.
He lowered his hand from his forehead and stuffed it into his hoodie pocket. He glanced at the book in his other hand — for a second too long — then turned and walked back to where he had taken it from, sliding it neatly into place.
I've already confirmed that May is alive. I don't need to stay here any longer.
He stared blankly at the shelf, his eyelids heavy, his face still pale.
My job here is complete.
…I don't need to push myself any harder than this.
His fist clenched tightly in frustration. His logic wasn't wrong. The conclusion he reached was valid — he'd confirmed May was safe. But… deep down, it felt like an excuse to avoid her.
It was just like what happened with the link. He'd used rational thinking to sidestep an emotional confrontation. It made him feel like he hadn't changed at all — like he was still the same cowardly boy running away from his problems.
Chrono let out a slow, tired sigh and headed toward the exit of the library. His steps were sluggish — he was struggling to stay on his feet. As he exited the bookshelf aisle, he turned his head slightly in May's direction.
But—
Surprisingly—
Her gaze met his.
His breath hitched. They locked eyes. He took a step back, startled.
But…
Something felt off.
Her gaze was cold. Lifeless. Like she was staring straight into his soul. Like she knew something she shouldn't.
The May he remembered from the prior loop had been nervous — barely able to make eye contact with him. But now… it had been well over fifteen seconds, and she hadn't looked away once.
What the hell…
Chrono's eyes widened. He could practically hear his heart pounding.
His breathing quickened — like he was having an asthma attack.
His breaths got faster—
And faster—
And faster—
Until—
"Hey, you two. Library closes in two minutes, but it's best you leave now."
The gravelly voice of the old librarian shattered the tense silence.
Chrono turned toward the sound of the voice and gave a slight nod. May stood up instantly, pushing in her chair with almost robotic precision.
"Hey, mister."
May's voice rang out — eerily confident and clear, a far cry from how she spoke in the prior loop.
"Hm?"
"Mind if I leave these books here?"
"No, not at all. I'll take care of it."
"Alright."
She nodded and began walking toward the exit. Chrono's eyes followed her closely.
It caught him off guard — his eyes widened. The sudden shift in her demeanor sent a chill down his spine.
What the hell? Isn't she a nervous wreck? Did she always have this in her?
As the door closed behind her, Chrono slowly followed. He paused for a second before pushing the door open.
He stepped outside. The night breeze brushed across his face. He scanned the surrounding area — looking for her. His eyes widened when he spotted her.
She was standing under a lamppost, arms folded. The wind swept her hair to the side, finally revealing the part of her face he could never usually see clearly.
She's waiting… on me?
No, there's no way.
Chrono walked past her, hands in the pockets of his hoodie, head tilted downward.
"Hey." May said — her tone sharp and cutting. She didn't even bother rasing her head.
For a moment, Chrono thought it was Iris calling him.
He stopped — but didn't turn around.
"To be quite blunt, I think you're suspicious, mister." May said, now fully turning toward him, arms still folded.
Suspicious?
Chrono turned slightly, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.
"What makes you say that?"
"Well for starters, you were looking at me behind the bookshelves. What's up with that?"
Yeah, that is kinda suspicious.
I was looking at her… but it'd be difficult to explain myself without sounding like a stalker...
He turned to face her fully. His eyes widened slightly, and his heart rate picked up.
It was the first time he'd seen her like this — her gaze stern. Her brown eyes gleamed with curiosity, her hair swaying in the breeze.
"I wasn't looking at you. I was looking for a place to sit. That's all." Chrono said calmly.
"Oh really? You were behind the bookshelves for a long time. Not to mention you didn't even take a seat. You were taking peeks at me, huh, mister?" May's brow furrowed; her voice sterner.
Chrono sighed. "I was looking for a book. That's all."
"You came into the library at 7:30 and came out from behind the shelves at 7:55. That's twenty-five minutes."
"Like I said, I was looking for a book — a specific book. It's a pretty old library, so it's very unorganized and dusty."
May shook her head, seemingly mocking him. "Oh really? That book you picked up is usually at the front of the shelf. And there's not a spec of dust on you. Explain that, mister."
"The book was at the front yes. But if you're new to the library theres no way you could've known that. So it took me quite a while to find the book. Plus, I looked at some other books while I was at it." He raised a finger to emphasize his point.
"Then explain why you don't have a single spec of dust on your clothes? Those shelves are filthy. If you took out even one book, you'd have dust on you."
She's so hell-bent on that...
"You're making it seem like I can't just wipe off my clothes. And it's not impossible to take out several books without getting dust on me."
"Then explain why it took you twenty-five minutes to find a specific book."
"Like I said — it was impossible for me to know the book was on the first shelf. Plus took a while to find it. And I looked at some other books."
There was a pause. A long one.
Chrono turned and started walking away. May's gaze dropped to the ground.
"You're lying." she said sharply, her eyes rising to meet his again. Chrono stopped in his tracks.
"Everything you said — it's not true. It's all a lie."
He turned slowly to face her, one brow raised.
"How am I lying?"
"Do you have a rag or handkerchief, mister?"
That's an odd question.
Chrono shook his head. "No. No, I don't."
"I knew it…"
"Huh?"
"Everything you just said is a lie! You're a stalker!" May's voice rang out loud as she pointed at him.
"Huh? What the hell? How?" Chrono asked, his tone genuinely confused, brows furrowed.
"Like you said, it's completely possible to take up a dusty book without dust on your clothes — but not your fingers."
"…What are you getting at?"
"You also said you don't have a rag or handkerchief. You're wearing black too — black's the worst for hiding dirt."
Chrono tilted his head. "I still don't get your point."
May swiped her arm through the air. "The only option you'd have is to wipe the dirt on your hoodie — and there's not a trace of it. You lied! You didn't pick up a book!"
Chrono ran a hand through his hair. "You're contradicting yourself. You said the book I picked up was at the front of the shelf. You said I took one."
May shook her head. "That was bait. I never once saw you with a book so theres no way I could've known. If you had picked up a book, you would've tried to deny it. But you agreed — to avoid suspicion. Unless... I guessed right."
What the hell kind of guess was that? I did pick up a book from the front of the shelf. I assumed she somehow knew the exact positions of all the books. That's why I didn't think twice about it…
But that was a flawed assumption…
Chrono bit his lip — subtly, carefully.
"Okay then, based on what you said, I didn't take up a book. But you can't see all of the library, so you couldn't see when I was holding a book. You're basing this on assumptions."
"Oh really? You can't prove you did take one either."
So she wants to use devil's proof by twisting it and saying I also have no proof. I could counter by giving her the names of the books I picked up on the shelves, but im interested to see how far she'll go.
I'll play along.
The devil's proof. It's a logical dilemma that states: You cannot prove that something does not exist simply because there is no evidence of it. In other words, lack of evidence is not evidence of absence.
Honestly it's more appeal to ignorance than anything. "A position is true simply because it hasn't been proven false," and vise versa.
If you look at it like as devil's proof, May claims that I didn't take up a book, based on the lack of dust on my clothes and hands. But her theory hinges on an absence of observable proof — not a definitive contradiction.
In my case, I can't prove I took up a book either — unless I had the book on me or someone saw me with it.
Chrono placed a hand on his chin.
If you flip it around it's really the same thing for her. She can't disprove I took up a book either, but I can't prove I did.
"It's a stalemate." Chrono said, raising his arms in surrender.
Well not really. There are many wayd to disprove her claim.
For starters, you can get dirt off your fingers by rubbing them together. No rag or handkerchief needed. Then again it doesn't fully take off the dirt so eventually you'd need to wipe it off in something.
In my case, I wiped it off somewhere that isn't obvious, the inside of my sweater.
"Oh really? How so?" May tilted her head, and crossed her arms.
"Like you said, I didn't take up a book because there's no dust on me and no one saw me do it. But that's exactly the problem — you didn't see anything either. You're basing your claim on what's missing, not on what's proven."
Chrono raised a finger. "And I can't prove I did take a book unless I had it in my hand or someone else backed me up. But you can't prove I didn't either. That's what makes it a Devil's Proof — a situation where proving a negative is impossible."
He placed a hand on his chin. "So really, we're both just guessing in the dark. You can't disprove I did it, and I can't prove I did. No evidence, no witnesses — just speculation."
"That's what makes it a stalemate." Chrono said, pointing in her direction.
There was silence again. A gust of wind swept past them, tugging at their hair and clothes.
May lowered her head, her voice softer than before. "But… if you're innocent, why can't you prove it?"
Chrono scoffed, folding his arms. "That's not how this works. Just because I can't prove I'm innocent doesn't mean I'm guilty. That's like saying someone's a thief just because they don't have a receipt. You're flipping the burden of proof—and that's not fair."
May lifted her head, as if something in Chrono's words sparked a realization. "Then… I'd like to change my argument."
Chrono raised an eyebrow. "Change your argument?"
She gave a soft nod. "Yes…"
He shrugged. "Alright then."
"Let's say you did pick up the book… and somehow cleaned your fingers without wiping them on your clothes. That still wouldn't disprove that you're a stalker."
Chrono stood silent, arms crossed as the night breeze brushed his hair aside.
She's not wrong. That book theory doesn't exactly clear me. For all she knows, I could've picked up a book just to pretend to read—while really I was there to stare at her.
…Well, that is kinda what I was doing. But not because I'm a stalker.
He looked up at the sky blankly, tapping his elbow.
How do I counter that?
Chrono's tapping increased before suddenly stopping. He realized something.
"Really now? If I was a stalker, don't you think I would've already made a move on you? Explain that."
"There's a chance you're only acting like this to avoid suspicion."
"Alright then, answer this. Did you feel like you were being followed before you got to the library?"
A bead of sweat slid down May's cheek as she glanced to the side. "N-no…"
"Exactly."
"B-but there's still a chance you're just really good at hiding your presence… o-or maybe I just have poor spatial awareness…" she added with a nervous, half-defeated chuckle.
Chrono watched her carefully.
So she's paranoid. Maybe something happened to her—maybe a real stalker incident in the past. That would explain her hypervigilance.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
But that doesn't track. She wasn't like this in the last loop. She was shy, reserved… but never suspicious. Even if she was, it was low-key.
She even welcomed my presence when I tried to keep my distance.
So what changed?
Chrono tapped his elbow faster, trying to draw the logic out of thin air.
You don't go from timid to… this. Confident. Argumentative. Like she's building a case. That kind of shift doesn't happen overnight.
Maybe it's circumstantial?
That doesn't track either, the difference in personality is too vast for this to merely be a circumstantial difference.
Maybe… It's a split personality? Could be.
Can't rule that out.
Chrono placed a hand on his chin, rubbing it thoughtfully.
Something's bothering me...
If she had issues with a stalker in the past, then the last thing she'd want to do is confront someone she suspects is a stalker—especially alone.
Her actions and her thought process are completely contradicting each other. I just don't get it.
Why are her actions so strange? And why is her personality so drastically different?
Chrono's eyes flicked toward May's defeated expression.
Could it be that people's personalities change with each loop?
...No, that doesn't track. Iris, Xander, and Chris were all acting like their usual selves, so that theory's out the window.
I just don't get it. This can't be normal.
It has to be the work of the book… or the figure. It's just too abnormal.
...Maybe I should just ask her about it.
Chrono shook his head slightly.
No… I can't ask anything personal. She already suspects me of being a stalker. That'd only make it worse.
Maybe I'm overthinking all this...
Chrono unfolded his arms and slid them into his hoodie pockets.
"I… I have one last argument," May spoke up. Her voice was low—desperate, even.
Why was she so insistent on continuing this encounter?
"It's true I didn't notice anyone following me before I came to the library… but that doesn't mean you're not a stalker."
"That's the same argument as before."
May's eyes flicked up to his. "I'm not done yet. You might not have followed me to the library, but I think you already knew I was here."
Chrono's eyes widened. He flinched slightly.
It's true. I did know she'd be here—because I'm looping, not because I'm a stalker.
But I obviously can't say that...
I need to come up with something.
Chrono shrugged, shaking his head. "There you go again with your baseless assumptions. What do you actually have to support them?"
"Nothing."
Huh?
Chrono blinked. "Nothing?"
"Am I wrong though, mister?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with tension. There was an eerie edge to it—like she knew something she shouldn't.
What the hell? Is this a trap?
A bead of sweat ran down Chrono's cheek. His unease was clear.
She's going off nothing—so she can't confirm if my answer is right or wrong.
Maybe this is bait. A psychological trap to get me to admit it.
Yeah… that has to be it. She's trying to make it sound like a trick question.
"Yeah, you're wrong. Very wrong," Chrono said calmly, a slight smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
A similar smirk crept across May's lips as she folded her arms. "Oh really now? Got any proof I'm wrong?"
What is she saying? That isn't how it works.
Flipping the burden of proof to me when she made the claim.
Is she stupid?
Chrono fell silent. His eyes drifted to the floor, unease creeping into his features. She was right—he did have prior knowledge of her location. But not because he was stalking her. He was looping.
It's annoying how she's right though, considering she's basing her argument on intuition, not logic…
I've got two options.
One: admit I knew she'd be at the library because I'm stuck in a loop. Problem is, I'd need proof to back that up.
Two: deny everything, shut her theory down completely… but how?
Damn it.
"Falling silent, huh, mister?" May said, raising a finger. "I'll let you off the hook if you admit one thing."
"Admit one thing?" Chrono repeated cautiously.
"Mhm." May nodded. "I want you to admit you weren't watching me from behind the bookshelves in the library."
Chrono's eyes widened. He bit his lip. He'd been put in check.
This isn't good…
He stood still, gaze glued to the floor like it held the answers. His foot began tapping, as if doing so would shake loose a solution from the earth itself.
Damn it… what do I do now?
How do I counter her claim?
What lie do I have to come up with?
Chrono's tapping quickened. His hand rose to his chin.
Fighting intuition with my lies is a losing battle.
So… that option is off the table.
Alirght
I'll confirm her suspicions, in a way that doesn't make me look guilty.
Chrono slowly looked up, pulling his hand from his chin and slipping it into his hoodie pocket. A quiet breath escaped his lips. His voice softened—no longer defensive, but weary.
"…I'll admit it. I was watching you."
May blinked. "Huh?" Confusion colored her voice.
"It's true. I was watching you from behind the shelves… but not for the reason you think."
May raised a brow. "Not for the reason I think?"
Chrono nodded. "Yeah. I just thought you looked… lonely."
He paused, looking directly into her eyes. She flinched slightly.
"I don't know how to explain it exactly… but I guess I was worried about you. That's all. I saw someone sitting alone, tucked away in the corner of a quiet library… and for a moment, I wondered if you were okay. That's it. No stalking. Just curiosity… and a little concern."
His gaze dropped. His voice was somber, but honest.
Then, slowly, he looked back up. His eyes were steady. Unapologetic.
"But if you're the kind of person who turns concern into accusation… then maybe I was wrong to care in the first place."
May was left speechless. Her mouth parted slightly. For a moment, reflection flickered in her eyes—maybe even regret. A glimpse that maybe… just maybe, she'd been wrong.
She looked at Chrono—guilt shadowing her face.
"You were… concerned about me? Why…?"
"I can't really explain it," Chrono replied. "But when I saw you alone like that… I just got this weird feeling. I couldn't shake it."
May studied his face, searching for any signs of deception. She listened closely, trying to detect a lie in his tone. But there was nothing. Either it was genuine… or he was very good at hiding.
"…Oh." Her gaze fell to the ground. She held her left arm with her right, face tinged with regret.
A moment passed before she finally spoke again.
"Can… I tell you something?"
Chrono nodded. "Shoot."
"About two years ago, I had a stalker."
May looked away, fidgeting. "It was around this time, two years ago, that something just felt off... I couldn't explain it, but it was like someone was always watching me. No matter where I was."
"It got to the point where I started hearing things in my house late at night. But every time I checked where the sounds came from, nothing. As if whoever was there just vanished."
"I got really paranoid. Everywhere I went, I felt this gaze. A gaze from something that should've been there... but wasn't. Like I was being haunted by a ghost."
"As the days went on, the gaze felt closer. Closer and closer—like they were standing right behind me. It was terrifying. It didn't make sense... because nothing was ever there."
"But one day, everything changed."
May's face visibly tensed.
She took a deep breath. "One day, I was heading home later than usual after some club activities. The road was quiet. Still. There were no people walking around. Just a few cars driving by. A ghost town."
"That's when I felt the gaze. Closer than it had ever been before. So I walked faster... then I ran. I ran as fast as I could."
"But in cliché fashion, I tripped. Fell to my knees. Bruised them. And that's when I heard footsteps."
"Slow. Heavy. Inevitable."
"My stalker was real."
She inhaled sharply before continuing. "I looked behind me. He was there. A man. Hoodie on. But it was too dark to see his face."
"He towered over me... like a tree. Even though I was crawling back, I could tell—he was massive."
"He got closer. Closer. Closer... before suddenly grabbing me. It was so fast. I didn't even realize I was on my feet."
"Next thing I knew, I was in an alleyway. He had me pinned against a wall. He didn't say anything. He didn't touch me inappropriately. He just... started choking me."
"I didn't understand. I didn't know what I did to make someone want to kill me. But I felt my life... slipping away."
Her tone suddenly dropped. Cold. Menacing.
"So that's when I did it…"
Chrono's eyes widened. He raised a brow. "Did... what?"
May's gaze lifted to meet his. Sharp. Dangerous.
"I killed him."
Chrono staggered back a step, eyes stretched open.
"I was so paranoid, I started carrying a knife with me. It was tucked in the pocket of my skirt. I slipped it out and stabbed him in the chest."
"He stumbled back. The knife still in him. I coughed, caught my breath, and charged at him again. Pulled the knife out—stabbed him twenty-one more times in the chest. He was dead."
"But that wasn't enough…"
"I stabbed him again. And again. And again. And again. Can you blame me? He deserved to die. He didn't deserve to live!"
Chrono stared at her in stunned silence. It was self-defense... but what she just described—it went far beyond that.
"I don't know why, but... it felt good."
"H-huh?"
A smile began to curl across May's lips—a deranged grin. Then came a laugh. Hollow. Twisted.
"It felt good. So good to kill someone who wanted me dead! He deserved it! I killed him—and he deserved it!"
"I've been craving something like that again. I want that rush. The rush I felt—the warm blood running down my hand... splashing on my face... Oooooohhh, I want it again…"
She scratched at her face, erratic but not hard enough to leave marks.
"The way life disappeared from his eyes... Oooooohh, I need to see that again."
She stared at Chrono. That same smile. That same hunger.
Chrono flinched, stepping back. "Y-you're insane..." His voice was cold. Dismissive. But shaken.
"Whattttt? I'm insaaaaane? Reaaaallyyy? That's a compliment." She stepped forward, closing the distance.
"But... are you really any different from me?"
Chrono's body tensed. "What are you getting at?"
"You're a murderer too."
The words hit like a bullet. Chrono's heart pounded. His expression twisted into disbelief.
"Huh!? I haven't killed anyone! What the hell are you talking about!?" he snapped, stepping back, arm swiping through the air.
May touched her chest, leaning forward as she stepped even closer.
"Me… You killed me, Zeph Chronooooooo!"
Chrono's eyes widened in horror as he shook his head frantically. "You're wrong! I-I didn't mean to! I didn't know!"
He tried to back away, but his spine hit a wall.
May kept approaching. One step at a time. Each one heavier. More terrifying.
Then suddenly—
She pulled out a knife.
"You killed me, Zeph Chrono… so it's only fair I deliver the same fate to you!"
Her laughter shrieked into the air—deranged, triumphant.
Chrono stared at her, breath hitching, lower lip trembling. "Just who the hell... are you?"