—"'So like, what do you think dying felt like for Natasha' Oh, so you mean me? I mean, me personally? I would probably be terrified as hell because I've built a lot for myself now... But that Natasha is like, 16 or 17 at this time. I wasn't really alright in the head during that time. That's all I'm gonna say. Well no, that's not all I have to say actually, there's more to it—I think they portrayed that well; my mentality during that time I mean, based on what hints I gave during the character creation. Yeah, that's all I had to say on that topic. Uh, chat...? What are y'all saying right now, it's moving so fast and stuff, man I got glasses but I'm still squinting my already narrow eyes, my vision is cooked. 'All this yapping and she still ain't answer the question bro...', Hey I gotta build up to it though like, what do you want me to do? 'Holy yap my sister'?! Isn't that crazy? I can't even storytell anymore?! '"Storytell", "I was leading up to it" and meanwhile bro says "That's all I have to say" just lying for no reason, crying emoji'... Damn. Nah, fuck this, of course, dying would be painful as hell dawg I was just trynna lead up to it, maybe add a few more words. Not my fault college made me a yapper bro y'all gotta be nicer to me for real. (RUS) College made me yap so much to fill in that wordcount man, it's part of me now... Huh? 'You're speaking Russian' (JAP) Eh? For real?"

  Natasha felt a migraine coming on as she listened to her parallel talk about her again, not to mention in those bloody accents... Gosh, she hated it so much and she didn't even want to think of what transpired after she switched languages unconsciously, she disliked that too. All of these things, did it even need to be said that she was guilty of them as well? Somewhat irritated, but unable to pinpoint where, Natasha subconsciously peddled but her feet only touched the ground. Confused, the girl tried to open her eyes.

  She was largely unsuccessful with the endeavor but she could still see what was in front of her...

  The room was still illuminated at this time, and because of the setting sun, it took the form of an orange glow, symbolizing the day reaching its twilight.

  At a time of 6:00 PM the clubroom inhabited by a single—Japanese-Russian girl was undoubtedly peaceful. That is, despite the monsters roaming about unhindered.

  Natasha blinked, and looked down at the phone in her hand. It was definitely on and the time it showed was definitely 6:00 PM. Natasha took a deep breath and leaned back into the hard seat, she couldn't help but groan.

  'What happened?! Did I die? Or did the time loop happen before I did?' Natasha scratched her head, messing up her hair but not enough to affect her long double braids. Her eyes was still narrowed but now they held a hint of frustration in their depths. Something that wasn't common.

  If she died, she didn't know how she did or how it felt like. If she didn't die, she still didn't know when the time loop that likely saved her would happen. Did it occur early? Later? If so, by how much? A minute or was it two?

  She didn't know anything and that urked her somewhat, no, a lot. This very much pushed her buttons in a lot of ways that it shouldn't but it wasn't like she could do anything about it. At least, she didn't think she could. Unless she could reach the other side of campus in an instant or somehow defeat the Flame Monkey.

  Both of which were impossible.

  'No...' Natasha bit her lip, seeing the time increasingly moving towards 6:01 PM. Specifically, it was at 6:00:27 PM. She had activated that function for the more precise telling of time, as it was now, not a single second had to be wasted.

  'There is still another option. It's not like I actually have to be there to help them...' Natasha looked at the phone, a modern communication device, in the palm of her hand, and for the first time in her nearly 17 years of life, she felt a smidgen of awe and gratitude for the ordinary device.

  She went to the phone app that was literally built into all phones in existence, across the board whether they were IOS, Android, or whatever else, and once again felt but of awe. In her chest there was a bit of comfort knowing that she still had a way, but, it still couldn't have been the best way.

  After all, she had Leon's number but they didn't actually know each other. And it wasn't to say she had gotten the number in a conventional way like swiping it off of a group chat, asking one of his friends, or even having another girl swipe it for her.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  No... Natasha had a slightly more crazy method.

  "Should I video call or just a regular voice call," Natasha bit her lip, but not in a nervous way, her finger playing with her hair.

  But what should she say?

  —Hello, Leon. This is the girl who totally isn't stalking you and stole your number after cracking your phone while you were on the court playing basketball... I also totally don't know exactly where you are and who you're with. They're totally not two girls who like you that I sometimes fantasized about killing to keep you for myself, haha...

  Okay... Maybe not this.

  "Okay, I might be a bit of a weirdo, but, let's look at it this way. I'm trying to save his life and it's not like I can't lie either. I'll just say I swiped it from a friend of mine, even though I barely have any friends. Or maybe, I can say I asked one of his friends that'll work. I haven't talked to them either though... Tsk, why am I caring about this anyway a lie is a lie because it isn't true."

  Natasha who had spoken out her internal monologue, nodded as if reassured. As she stared a Leon's profile, one she had stolen from very far away with a quality camera to capture her favorite angle of his face. She wasn't being creepy, she was being detailed and serious, she took her job very seriously.

  Natasha shook her head, 'Don't get distracted, I can think about all of this later once we're both safe and out of this fucked up school.'

  She quickly got to Leon's number among the pitiful amount that was there. There honestly wasn't more than 7 and 2 of which were past numbers of Leon.

  [Husband ??~]

  [Call — Message — Video]

  Natasha directly scrolled and clicked on the [Call on WhatsApp] option. Opting to use her cellular service for urgent situations since the Wifi was still up and running.

  After initiating the call, Natasha placed the phone to her ear and went near one of the windows of the clubroom.

  'I believe the Flame Monkey was in the northeast side of campus... I should definitely share that, and get some information on the Earth Meta-Beast in the south where they are. I'm currently near the north-to-northwest area in the Biological Sciences Building of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Building complexes... That should be easy to find, though I can't pinpoint their set location... Uh, what else, what else.' Natasha quickly recapped on all the information she had as the phone kept making it's ringing sound, and then, she heard a click.

  [Leon: Yo, this is Leon. Who is this?]

  Natasha's heart rate instantly spiked, and her face was flushed red. Her gripped on the phone tightened and she couldn't help rejoicing tat she hadn't opted for a video call earlier.

  Natasha cleared her throat, praying that she wouldn't give a bad impression by having her voice choke and went forward to speak as if she were talking to her fiance.

  [Natasha: Uh, Leon, is that your name? That should be your name, right? I'm a schoolmate, though you may not have met me, I was uh, there when you were with that girl behind the school so like I just wanted to ask if you were alive...?]

  She wanted to come off familiar but I. The end changed her mind, pretending to not know him was the best in terms of not weirding him out.

  [Leon: I know who you are.]

  Natasha's nose immediately bled, and she felt her body shiver for a moment. Touching her blushing face, she couldn't help but sigh.

  [Leon: You are... Natasha Ivanova, from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences right? You should be a what? A double, or triple major?]

  [Natasha: I'm a double major in Foreign Languages and Psychology.]

  [Leon: Nows, not the time, but it always feels ridiculous for a high school to have the major and elective system that colleges and universities do. Listen, it's always nice to chat but we're in a bit of a situation here, so I can't really entertain you...]

  Natasha's fingers trembled, and she looked at the phone, thankful that he hadn't ended it and the quickly began to lay her cards.

  [Natasha: Wait, wait, wait. I know something about the Earth Meta-Beast...]

  [Leon: Meta-Beast? Does it have an official classification?]

  His voice sounded confused and intrigued, and it sounded like he was putting more than a little thought into the mild amount of information that was given to him. Natasha couldn't help but imagine his face, confused yet interested.

  [Natasha: Yes, yes. There's also the Flame Monkey...]

  [Leon: Wait? Flame Monkey, you mean there's another one of those things just roaming around where you are?!]

  Natasha was about o joyfully reply but then she heard a female voice butt in suddenly.

  [???: Hey who are you talking to? It sounds like a girl, there's no way you had a girlfriend while I was confessing to you right? Right?! I swear I would have known, you know?!]

  Natasha who was going to fly into a sudden rage at the voice of the girl who nearly stole Leon away from her, instantly deflated when the girl mistook her for Leon's girlfriend.

  By this time, she had already half forgotten that she was in a dangerous situation. Just then, she heard something else.

  [???: Hey, hey, let's do a video call. I wanna see the other girl. C'mon...]

  She sounded very comfortable and spoiled with him, something Natasha didn't like at all.

  Another girls voice was heard, though it was slightly strained and dull, there was also the sound of chewing. It appeared she was having difficulty doing to as well.

  [???: Video call, video call.]

  Natasha was stunned and for a time there was no answer on the other end. Then Leon finally asked the question.

  [Leon: I mean, you heard them.]

  Natasha pouted but looking at the dwindling time, she gave her answer.

  [Natasha: Okay, but don't be stunned by me.]