Chapter 2 - The Truth

inside Lanki's quiet home.-
Taki sits in a calm, almost meditative silence, sipping a cup of tea.
Outside, the sky darkens as rain begins to fall.
Lanki sits across from him, also drinking tea.

After a moment, Taki hesitates, then finally speaks.

"Professor… you knew that your life and mine are the same.

But why did you never tell me?
And how is this even possible?
How can two people's lives be so identical?"

Lanki exhales a long breath before answering.

"I don't know either.

But if you look back at history, you'll find many cases where the pattern of two lives ran the same.
The most famous ones are John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln."

He sets his tea cup aside and continues.

"Psychology says that if a person's life mirrors another person's life completely—

and the patterns between them align,
just like they do between us—
then it is either some kind of connection…
or perhaps something from a previous life.
But I don't believe in that."

Taki listens attentively.

"When I first saw you," Lanki continues,

"I realized your life was following the same route my life once did.
At first, I was shocked too.
Then I tried to uncover the truth behind it…
and that's why I joined your school."

His voice becomes heavier.

"It's normal for two people to have similar things—
a similar job, similar name, even similar partners.
That's coincidence.
But what exists between you and me…
is NOT a coincidence."

"What Do You Mean?"

Taki, stunned, asks:

"I don't understand… what are you trying to say?"

Lanki gives a faint smile.

"You won't understand it.

And I can't fully explain it to you either.
When my own professor tried to explain this to me, even I couldn't understand it."
Taki's shock deepens.
"So… your professor's life was also like yours?"

"You could say that.

But not as similar as ours."

Taki becomes even more confused.

"But why is this happening?
How can something like this be possible?"

Lanki sighs.

"I don't have an answer.
And maybe I don't want to find the answer anymore.
I wasted my entire life chasing this question."

"Maybe it's the multiverse…

or some other life…
some parallel existence.
I truly don't know the real reason."

Then he looks straight into Taki's eyes.

"But there is something I need to tell you."

Taki freezes, anxiety rising.

"If just listening to all this scares you,

then you don't have the courage to hear what comes next."

"No… tell me.

What is it?"

Lanki takes a deep breath.

"You may not believe this,
but the way I will die…
you will die the exact same way.

The way my wife will die…
your wife will die the same way.

And you cannot change it."

Taki's face drains of color.

Lanki continues.

"If you try to change it,

then incidents meant to happen 4–5 years later
will happen earlier.
You cannot change time.
No matter what you do—
whatever is written will happen."

Taki's whole body goes still.
"I'm 50 years old today.

And if I die today,
then when you reach 50,
you will die while teaching a student the same way I'm telling you now.

If you try to change it,
you won't reach 50…
you will die at 40… or even 30."

Taki can hardly breathe.

Then suddenly, Lanki's tone becomes normal, almost casual.

"Anyway, was the tea too light for you?

My wife makes much better tea.
She stepped out for some work—
she should be back soon.
Would you like to try her tea?"

Taki, still dizzy with confusion, shakes his head.

"No… thank you.

I'll leave now.
Sakura must be waiting for me.
And the bus will leave soon."

He quickly heads out.

Taki reaches the school.
Sakura and Hoto are waiting for him near the bus.
"Where did you go?
"Sakura asks.

"Nothing… I just remembered some work," Taki replies

"Why did you take Lanki's book?"
"Why?

Didn't you return that book to his house?
That's why you left so early in the morning, right?"

"Yeah… yes.

I returned it."

Taki is still lost, drowning in overthinking.

Night – Village

The bus reaches the village.
Everyone gets off.

Taki walks straight home without saying anything to anyone.

At Home
His mother asks:

"How was your day, Taki?"

Taki doesn't answer.
He goes straight to his room.

He sits on his bed, overthinking, replaying everything.

Taki's Thoughts

"Don't let this take over your mind.
Why am I thinking so much?
Everything will be fine…

Is Professor Lanki lying?
No… he wouldn't lie.

Our life patterns are the same…
the same…
How can it be the same?

I will build my own life.
I'm not a copy of someone else.

Should I change it?
No… let things run as they are.
Everything will be fine…"*

He mutters again—

"Whatever happens will be good.

I'm never wrong.
I'm either right,
or the person in front of me is a fool.

I shouldn't worry right now.
I should focus on the present.
No matter what happens—
everything will be fine."

Suddenly, a loud noise comes from downstairs—
the sound of utensils falling.

Taki rushes down.

His mother is lying on the floor, unconscious.

Panicking, he calls an ambulance immediately.
He also calls Sakura in fear.

Later, the doctor comes out.

"Your mother is dead.

We don't know why, but she stabbed herself in the throat.
It was suicide.

Was she under any pressure?"

Taki stands frozen.

Sakura arrives crying, her family behind her.

But Taki hears only one thing echoing inside his head.
Taki's Thoughts

"Professor's mother also died by suicide…
but fifteen years ago.

How did it happen today?
Why did the incident happen early?

I didn't even try to change anything.
Still the pattern shifted?

I knew my mother would die someday…
but I still couldn't save her.

What could I have done?
I thought it would happen in the future—
how did time change?

What was supposed to happen later
is happening now.
Why?
How?"

Taki stands there, numb, silent, drowning in confusion.

CHAPTER 2 END

Written by Minus