Seifer couldn't shake the feeling that the loop had happened again, and he was determined to find Rinoa and get the explanation over with. He needed her help to break this bizarre cycle.

He made his way through Garden, passing new cadets and SEEDs making their way to classes and study groups. Seifer hadn't even pretended to entertain the thought of going to any classes. Why would he? If these loops continued, it would just be a waste of time. Literally.

Finally finding Rinoa in the library, he greeted her warmly, but their unspoken connection allowed the conversation to transcend words.

Seifer sighed, "Rinoa, it feels like we've been through all of this before. I need your help with something," he conveyed, his emotions evident in the way he spoke.

Rinoa looked at him, confused. He began to tell her everything. The past loops, his acceptance in her experiment, and of course, the thing that hurt most: losing Zell over and over again. Her expression was a mix of shock, disbelief, sadness, and curiosity.

"So you're caught in a loop that seems to start over every day?" She asked, sadness evident in her tone.

Seifer nodded solemnly. He hated that he would have to repeat this same story to her after the loop restarted, but he'd have to suck it up.

Rinoa began to explain the time spells again, how she theorized the spell acted like other time spells. He tuned out most of it, having heard all this before.

Seifer's gaze wandered into the distance, lost in thought. When would he go home or back to his time? His time, he thought darkly. Only a day's difference, he guessed, but it felt further and further away in his mind with each reset.

"...and that's why you should probably try to spend more and more time with Zell when possible."

That caught his attention. "Come again?" he said genuinely curious, feeling somewhat guilty he had tuned her out.

She huffed at that. "Seifer, were you even listening!? This is important!" waving her hands to express her frustration at him.

Seifer chuckled at her antics but apologized. "Sorry, I've been in a few loops and heard most of this already. What were you saying about Zell now?"

She sighed. "I was saying, Seifer, that emotions and bonds can tie people together through time. Before we entered Lunatic Pandora, Laguna told us to believe in our friends, what places reminded us of our friends, to believe in their existence when we entered time compression. That's what kept us bound together and saved us, it especially saved Squall."

He gave her a look of suspicion. "I'm not too sure about what you're saying here."

She huffed, "Seifer, you need to pour more into this timeline, Zell! You guys share a bond prior, though not the best, but if Zell was so easy to forgive everything and accept you as his boyfriend, then there might be more to the bond than even you realize. You may be able to disrupt this spell enough to get home!"

Seifer never really believed in "love transcending time" or other romantic nonsense. He cared for Zell, but Zell caring so much for him that it'd disrupt Ultimecia's magic? He doubted it. He had always treated Zell badly. He didn't want Zell to know back then, was even jealous they never seemed to click together, but after Ultimecia was defeated, it changed him. It had changed them all, really. But he'd try it. He had to admit getting Zell to be his boyfriend had become easier after each loop. Mostly due to his confidence and knowledge that whatever he said would be forgotten and allow him to approach Zell from a different angle.

"Now," Rinoa said matter-of-factly. She slammed a tome in front of him. "Let's get some research done. We may find more! Let's get to it!"

Hours passed as they tirelessly searched for clues, but Seifer's mind kept drifting to Zell. He couldn't help but think about his boyfriend throughout all this research, and how Zell wouldn't remember their relationship each time the loop began.

In a way, it's both frustrating and intriguing, Seifer thought inwardly, recalling the joy and happiness he shared with Zell in each cycle, only to see it reset as if it never happened.

Seifer wanted to protect those precious moments they had, even if they kept slipping through his fingers like sand.

He forced himself to focus on the task at hand, gathering information and making sense of the puzzle they faced. After a long afternoon, he was tired of reading, his eyes crossing, Rinoa having to wake him a time or two. He hated studying!

He yawned, closing the large tome on "Time spells and the effects."

"You've been a great help, Rinoa. Let's stop for now, and I'll think about what we've found," Seifer said, his exhaustion showing.

Rinoa tried to protest, knowing that she wouldn't remember any of it tomorrow, but Seifer waved it off.

"Don't worry about it. I'll piece things together, and maybe tomorrow will be different," he said, hoping that they were making progress, even if it didn't seem that way.

As they parted ways, he thought about what Rinoa had said about strengthening his bonds with Zell, the one person who seemed to be a key of sorts according to Rinoa. Seifer yearned to protect their relationship, to find a way to break free from this repeating cycle, and to make every moment with Zell count, no matter how many times they had to relive it.

--

Later that day, Seifer found himself near the training center, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. He had taken Rinoa's advice to heart and was determined to spend quality time with Zell.

As he approached the training center, he noticed Zell practicing his martial arts moves, his body moving with precision and grace. Seifer couldn't help but admire Zell's dedication and skill. He took a deep breath and approached, his usual confident demeanor slightly wobbly.

"Hey, Zell. How's your day been?" Seifer greeted playfully with a wink, putting his hand on Zell's waist.

Zell seemed taken aback by Seifer's unexpected affection, but he tried to play it cool.

"Uh, um... it's been okay, I guess, Seifer. What's gotten into you?" Zell replied, blushing slightly.

"Just seeing how my favorite chicken wuss is doing?" He said, moving a strand of hair out of Zell's face. "You look beautiful as always, by the way," he said smoothly, making the smaller boy blush.

"Thanks." He said shyly, looking up at Seifer. "Well..."

Seifer

He listened intently to Zell's rambling, enjoying every moment of their interaction. His energetic boyfriend seemed excited Seifer was here giving him attention, and that excitement was infectious. Even though he wasn't sure he could rightfully call him his boyfriend after each time the loops restarted.

"You know, you should talk more. It's cute when you get all flustered," Seifer teased.

Zell playfully punched Seifer's arm. "Hey, I'm not cute!"

Despite their usual banter, Seifer felt a warm affection for Zell. He knew that beneath the surface, there was something special between them.

"Let's get some food. You must be starving after all that training," Seifer suggested with a smile.

"Yeah, I am pretty hungry," Zell grinned. He's always hungry, Seifer thought, laughing at the excitement on his boyfriend's face at the mention of food.

They spent the afternoon together, sharing stories, laughing, and enjoying each other's company. Seifer made a conscious effort to be attentive and affectionate, determined to strengthen the bond between them.

As the sun began to set, Seifer and Zell found themselves sitting on the shore outside Garden. The sky was painted with hues of orange and pink, the orange hues of the setting sun casting a warm and serene glow over the landscape. It was a perfect setting, the tranquil waves gently crashing against the shore creating a serene backdrop for their conversation.

"You know, Zell," Seifer began, his voice softer now, "I've been thinking a lot about us lately."

Zell looked at him curiously. "Yeah? What about us?"

Seifer took a deep breath, his heart racing. "I want you to know that you mean a lot to me. I know we've had our differences in the past, but I've changed, Zell. You've changed me."

Zell's expression softened, his eyes locked onto Seifer's. "Seifer, I've seen the changes in you too. You're not the same guy you used to be."

Seifer reached for Zell's hand, intertwining their fingers. "I want us to give this a real shot, Zell. No more misunderstandings, no more holding back. I want you to be my boyfriend, for real."

Zell's cheeks turned a deep shade of red, his lips curling into a shy smile. "You're really serious about this, huh?"

Seifer nodded, his gaze unwavering. "More serious than I've ever been. I don't want to waste any more time, Zell. I want us to be together."

Zell's smile widened, his eyes sparkling with a mixture of happiness and relief. "Seifer, I've been hoping you'd say that."

They sat there in comfortable silence, watching as the sun dipped lower in the sky. Seifer's heart raced as he realized that this was the perfect moment. He reached into his around his neck undoing the necklace, the pendant glinting in the soft light. He handed it to Zell who looked surprised his eyes asking "Really?" Seifer nodded watching Zell put it on with haste looking content, his hand immediately going back to holding Seifer's.

As the two of them sat there, their fingers entwined, Seifer couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment he hadn't experienced before. He realized that even if the loops continued, even if their memories were erased time and time again, he would keep fighting to make these moments count.

The setting sun cast a warm glow over them, and Seifer knew that this was a memory he would cherish, a memory that no spell could ever erase. And maybe, just maybe, their bond would be strong enough to break through the confines of time itself.

--

To be continued