First month.

It was so instantatious. Everything went back as it was. Well, not exactly. The world seemed to also had reversed its time, leading back to my first day. This time, I wasn't Sayori. I got to keep my new look and surprisingly, I woke up at Sayori's house. It was awkward to wake up and see Sayori's mom… I felt really glad to see her. What's even more awkward was seeing Sayori herself. Turns out I became Sayori's first cousin and I was staying with them for the longest time. The simulation really thought out an excuse for me being there. As for Sayori, she's actually pretty nice and I can really say that I never pulled off the Sayori act right, now that I met her. Another weird thing was that Sayori thought that she had always known me while I knew nothing about her.

Shinji hadn't changed, but we were resetted to the point Shinji hadn't joined the Literature Club. A big difference was that I was also being told by Sayori to join a club so we don't end up as a NEET. Whatever that is.

Another change I noticed was my school ID. My name there was Chihara Zenko. Sayori and her mom still called me Zou though.

Everything went according to the game with the addition of the regular school. I was in the same class as Sayori which means I hadn't changed classes in the reset. Of course, Sawako wasn't there. I expected that but somehow it still hurt to see. Maybe I was hoping that Taiyo lied.

Sayori lured Shinji into joining the Literature Club. I refused. Why? I never really was into literature, poetry and the like. So I decided to shop around, join a different club. Plus, I didn't feel like it.

Yet somehow, I ended up in the Student Council, doing menial work just to pass the time.

Yes, I didn't expect that myself but the people there were nice and I thought I can do something like work for a change. And so life went on and I with it.


Second month.

I became the Student Council president. I never thought that could happen and yet there I was, thanking everyone for voting me. Why did I even agree to do this? I still did my duties as given and I think I was a fair leader. Everyone seemed to know who I was, seeing that almost everyone greeted me whenever I passed by. Is this what it's like to be a president in school? I greeted back everytime and gave a smile just so they don't think I'm stingy or anything like that.

Even with my new duties, I still went home together with Sayori and Shinji. Their school festival activity was a success and to my surprise, Kasukabe Tsukasa and her friends, Minori and Hanami did their superb dance number and then announced their own club, the Idol Club. Of course, I had to do a follow-up to the audience that all clubs have to go the proper procedure for establishing clubs. Tsukasa didn't like that so she challenged me on the stage to a dance-off… I know I should've refused but I felt like it wouldn't end if I rejected her.

And I beat her since she liked my dance moves better… I got a sense of deja vu at that moment.

Oh, and Tsukasa started calling me Zou-sama whenever she saw me. Which made the school call me Zou-kaichou. All because Tsukasa heard Sayori call me Zou…


Third month.

Nothing much happened since. I lived as if I had a schedule to follow. Wake up, go to school, do student council work, go home, homework, then sleep. Eventually I had to go to school without Shinji and Sayori since I had to do my duties. I don't think they mind.

Eventually, I got myself immersed in student council work that I barely do anything else. I appreciate the work but for some reason, I felt like something was missing. I know she's gone but there was something else that was bothering me…

Whatever it was, I buried it in my studies and council work.


Beginning of the fourth month.

My everyday life became pretty predictable now. I had a routine and I never strayed from it. What was new since last month? Nothing, as it would seem.

I was walking in the hallway, carrying papers for clubs' budget and opened the door to the Student Council office. It was a fairly large room with a long table in the middle and further from it was my desk. It even had a fancy office chair. As I approached my desk, the chair turned, revealing someone sitting on it.

"Long time no see, Zou." Her dark brown shoulder length hair. Her piercing red eyes. She even wore the school uniform. Her smile greeted with much genuinity.

"Creuset," I blankly said.

"You don't sound surprised."

I let out a sigh. "I expected you."

"I see."

The fact she's here… Just like Taiyo did. With her knowledge of computers, I knew it was impossible for a human to connect to a computer. At least with current technology. If Creuset had a body, then her body is most likely machine…

"You're not human, are you?" I asked her.

"No."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It never crossed my mind. I just wanted to help you the first time we met."

"So you lied by omission."

"Perhaps." Creuset stood up and faced the window behind her. "You've certainly changed."

"Something to be expected after what happened."

"Yes. But you're changing not for the best." Creuset turned her head to face me.

"What do you mean?" I lay down the papers I was holding onto the desk.

"I've asked around and all you did for the past three months was work."

"What's wrong with that?"

Creuset turned to the window again. "You keep that up and you'll end up alone."

I felt my hands curl up into fists. "What do you know? I've been doing what I can to keep going."

"Yes. And without help. In some cases, that would be admirable but not here. You've intentionally ignored everything and everyone that helped you become who you are."

"What?"

Creuset placed her hands on her back. "Your friends here. I've asked and they know you nothing more but the president."

I averted my eyes. "There were my friends before the restore. You should know that."

"And you never thought of becoming friends with them again?"

What is she trying to say? "What would be the point? We're nothing but strangers."

"All you're doing is burying the past. Because of Sawako."

"So?" I felt my hands curl up into fists. "I want to forget. If I keep seeing them, I'll only remember Sawako."

"What's wrong with that?" Creuset asked as she shrugged her shoulders.

"What's wrong with that? You're really going to ask me that!?" I raised my voice though I didn't realize.

"Yes," Creuset turned to me again. "I am asking you."

I screamed at her. "Because I'll remember her last moments! I'll remember that she's now gone and that that is normal! I don't want that!"

"So you'll avoid everyone she's also friends with just so you don't remember."

"Yes!" I answered without restraint.

Creuset's eyes looked at me as if she was analyzing me. "That's why you'll only hurt yourself more." Creuset then looked at me in the eyes. "You love her, even now. Am I right?"

It was a ridiculous question but before I answer her, I calmed myself down. "Yes."

"Then why are you trying so hard to forget her?"

"What?!"

Forget? I would never forget her! She made me who I am, gave me a reason for my ridiculous existence. She made me thankful that I was born.

Why would I forget her?

"You don't realize what you've been doing just to get over the pain."

I rushed to her and grabbed the collar of her shirt. "You don't understand! I can never forget her! She's the only one who knew about me! She made me feel like a person!"

"That's all good," Creuset said calmly. "I think I know what your problem is."

"Please do tell." I pulled her closer to me.

"You're so desperate to forget losing her. So much that you don't even try to remember your good times with her."

I just stared at her for a moment. Remember my good times… With Sawako…

"Because of that, you pushed everyone away and pushed yourself to work, just so you can drone yourself into a routine of mindless exercise, eventually relieving yourself of the pain. But is that what you want? Do you want to forget her?"

"No!" My hands slid off of Creuset. "No, I don't."

"Then you have to accept it. Not just the bad memory, but also the good ones. That way, you can live."

"But… I don't want to live normally without her. I want my normal to be with her."

"Then you're stuck. Until you decided to accept, you're just an empty shell of a person."

Creuset walked past me and to the door. I watched her and at the door way, she stopped without turning around. "I don't know anything about Sawako but what would she feel if she saw you like this?" Creuset shut the door behind her. "I'll be leaving now."

For the first time since three months, I thought about Sawako.