A Yandere Who Can Turn Back Time Confesses to Me Until She Succeeds - Chapter 15

The Battle at the Beach

After about an hour on the train, I, who had skipped school, found myself at the beach.

When you’ve repeated the same day so many times, the desire to go to school naturally fades.

So, today, I came to see the sea.

When was the last time I looked at the sea up close?

It might be since middle school.

It’s not like I have any particular memories associated with it, nor do I especially love the sea.

Just, somehow, I ended up here.

No matter where I ran, Sakurazaka-san always found me.

So she’ll probably find me this time too.

I let out a small sigh and sat down on the sandy beach.

It’s not like I’m thinking about what comes next.

Prepared to get dirty with sand, I sat down.

Dressed in my school uniform from the morning and sulking alone…Man, I’m such a loser…

I was killing time, gazing absentmindedly at the horizon.

“Hey Onii-san, if you’re free, wanna play with me?”

Sometime past 2 p.m., a voice called out to me from behind.

There’s no need to turn around because I’ve heard that voice more times than I’d like.

“I’m not free.”

“You came to the beach, so it’s a waste not to play.”

“Can you leave me alone?”

“I don’t want to leave you alone.”

“Why does it have to be me? Why not someone else?”

“Nope. It has to be Yu-kun.”

Sakurazaka-san wraps an arm around my shoulder, giving me a back hug.

Her pale arm comes into view.

It seems she’s wearing a swimsuit.

I shake off Sakurazaka-san’s arm and stand up.

I look down at Sakurazaka-san, who’s dressed in a white bikini.

“How about a contest?”

“A contest?”

With a sigh, I picked up a branch that had fallen nearby.

“I’ll stick this branch in the sandy beach. The one whose branch is washed away by the waves first loses.”

“Mmm, okay. It’s rare for Yu-kun to invite me to play.”

Sakurazaka-san quickly stands up, holding another fallen branch in her right hand.

“If I win, you’ll return the flow of time to normal.”

“If I win, will you date me?”

“That’s not a fair trade.”

“Really? Then… how about going on a date where we act like lovers?”

…Maybe that’s not so bad.

Considering the benefits of winning this challenge, I can handle that much risk.

“Just for one day.”

“Just one day? Okay, if Yu-kun wins, I’ll move time forward by just one day. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, that’s fine. I’m frankly sick of repeating ‘today’.”

Even if tomorrow comes, it doesn’t mean the situation will change.

But if time doesn’t advance by at least a day, I feel like I’ll go crazy.

With our mutual understanding established, we head to the water’s edge.

“To reiterate, the one whose branch gets washed away first loses.”

“Roger!”

Sakurazaka-san gives a crisp salute.

Watching her, I bury my branch in the sand.

Beside me, Sakurazaka-san set up her branch as well.

Neither of us is cheating.

To begin with, you can’t cheat in this game.

It’s a game entirely left to chance.

“Yu-kun and a date… Yu-kun and a date…”

While packing the sand with her hand, Sakurazaka-san grins cheekily.

I, on the other hand, am building a strong barrier to fend off the waves.

“Ah, making a wall is cheating!”

“There’s no rule against making a wall.”

“Then, I’ll make one too.”

“Don’t copy me.”

“There’s no rule against copying either.”

“…..”

“Hehe, I out-argued you, Yu-kun.”

Sakurazaka-san starts to build a sand barrier, imitating me.

It felt like we were both momentarily transported back to our childhoods.

I haven’t played with sand like this in a long time.

“Eek, I got wet!”

“That’s what happens when you’re not watching your surroundings.”

“Hmph. It’s because only Yu-kun is in my eyes.”

“Sure.”

I respond casually while dodging the periodic waves that come our way.

The contest hasn’t started yet.

We’re in the middle of building barriers to prevent our branches from being washed away by the waves.

“Take that!”

While I was diligently packing the sand, seawater splashed on my face.

“Hey! What are you doing?”

“Haha, it’s because you’re not paying attention. You should be watching me closely. Look, look!”

Sakurazaka-san continues to splash seawater at me.

I quickly back away, narrowing my eyes.

“Stop it. I’m not wearing a swimsuit.”

“Ah, Yu-kun got mad.”

“Geez…”

I let out a heavy sigh.

For a moment, I thought of splashing water back at her in retaliation but decided against it.

Doing so would probably only delight Sakurazaka-san. I don’t want to play along with her.

All I wish for is to win this game and greet tomorrow.