I opened my eyes.
My mind was in a fog. All I could see was the pure white ceiling. In the empty room, the ticking of the clock was the only reminder that time was passing.
.
I sat up in bed. I didn't know my name, my past, or even what I looked like. As I gazed at my pale hand, even that felt unfamiliar.
What broke the deadlock was a strange string of text that flashed before my eyes.
.
"Oh my god, I feel like a kid again! Is this getting a sequel? Is it streaming live?!"
"Aaaah, my baby looks so young!!"
"This scene... are they streaming from the very beginning? Is it a rerun...? Then how many times has he returned now?"
"He looks so calm. This probably isn't his first return, right? This room also looks like the original world. If only we could see outside the window, then we'd know for sure."
.
The words flickered and scrolled in front of my eyes like chat comments, then disappeared.
Strangely, they didn't block my vision. If I concentrated and imagined that I was "understanding" them, I could grasp their meaning, even though the writing looked like something I'd never encountered before.
.
I got up, put on my slippers, walked to the window, and pulled back the curtains.
Bright sunlight spilled into the dim room. Pedestrians queued at a roadside stall to buy breakfast, then turned and boarded a bus. An old man whistled as he pedaled a tricycle piled with recyclables, a banana-leaf fan tucked into his waistband.
Everything felt unfamiliar, but I wasn't panicked. On the contrary, my body relaxed.
.
"So, he's gone back to the beginning. Looks like it worked..."
"But his memories should have been wiped as the price, right?"
"Our baby is so strong. Surely he can keep at least a little bit of them? (feeling guilty)"
"Even if his memories are gone, his personality and instincts are still there, right? He shouldn't forget the things he's learned. He'll probably pick them up quickly again..."
"I know, but I still can't help worrying."
.
.
.
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#The protagonist never lets the chat know he can see it, and never gets exposed#
#Still deciding on the love interest. He may appear late, and the romance will be slow-burn! Also, there's a good chance he's mentally ill (warning)#
#The protagonist is chaotic neutral, cold on the outside and warm underneath. He's a bad guy, but not rotten to the core, and he has his own principles#
#The protagonist may have a rough time, and there may be angst (looks away). This is not a sweet romance#
Theme: Just give up and take it easy!