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Ogata is still as he aims. The first shot is easy. The target is not moving.

Noppera-Bou dies immediately as the bullet hits his head.

The second shot is more difficult. Sugimoto is already moving, desperate to outrun the death, as he always does. Ogata sees him catching Noppera-Bou’s body to use it as a cover. Sugimoto’s moving so quickly and efficiently, Ogata knows that if he tarries even one second he won’t make it in time.

Ogata shoots.

The bullet pierces Sugimoto’s head.

Ogata stills, watching the body. In any other scenario he would be sure of his aim and the kill, but Sugimoto is ridiculous enough to maybe survive a headshot after all. Ogata aims again, and shoots.

The second bullet pierces his torso.

As does the third and fourth.

It’s only when he runs out of bullets that it finally occurs to Ogata that he has succeeded. A part of him still feels wary about the body, but the reality before his eyes remains unchanged. As if to confirm he is right, Tangiaki stumbles on the scene and checks Sugimoto’s vitals. His reaction cements Ogata’s certainty.

He did it. He killed Sugimoto the Immortal. Well, just Sugimoto, since he just made the dumb title outdated. Still, there’s a smile playing on Ogata’s lips at the thought that he managed what so many people before him failed to do.

A more rational part of Ogata tries to point out that it isn’t such a big deal. Sugimoto was a human, after all. Sooner or later a well placed bullet just had to do its job.

But it was his bullet.

It takes a surprising amount of self-control to calm himself down, but he has a plan to follow.

He goes to the set meeting spot and leaves with Kiroranke, Shiraishi and Asirpa. Asirpa is sad and refuses to believe that Sugimoto is dead, but she is forced to accept it.

To concentrate on the escape.

But when they stop on a shore for a quick rest in late hours of the morning, he catches her tearing up again when she thinks nobody is looking. She keeps mumbling something to herself, as she stifles her tears.

Ogata pretends not to see. He’s very good at that.

It’s easy to act normally and pretend he wasn’t the one to cause this situation. Easy to bury down an itch he feels whenever he glances at Asirpa. It’s more difficult to not think about it, because the events of that night seem to have carved itself with blood in his mind.

All Ogata can think of, as he lets himself drift off into a light sleep, is the memory of Sugimoto’s body going still.

*

Ogata wakes up with a start. Something is strange. It’s too dry and too warm around him. He isn’t sure where he is, but it definitely doesn’t seem to be the makeshift camp they made in hurry after escaping from Abashiri.

The grip on his rifle tightens, as he slowly opens his eyes to ascertain the situation, but what he sees goes against all his expectations.

It’s Abashiri. He is back in the room they used during their preparation to raid the prison and Sugimoto is napping opposite to him, very clearly breathing.

Ogata is at loss. Not only due to the absurdity of the situation, but because he remembers this moment.

It’s the afternoon before they set out to find Noppera-Bou. It feels like it’s more than a week ago with how much happened, but without a doubt this is the previous day.

Or is it?

Ogata is not sure what to think. Did he just dream about what he wanted to happen? For a dream it was uncharacteristically nightmare-less. In fact it was probably the nicest dream he had in a while, which is even stranger, because he remembers waking up yesterday—today? He remembers a vague nightmare that involved Yuusaku inviting him for a dinner and giving him a bowl of an anglerfish nabe...

Maybe he is finally going crazy? That seems to be the most sensible explanation at the moment.

Sugimoto stirs opposite of him. Ogata freezes. He knows his face shows nothing, but a part of him expects that Sugimoto will suddenly lunge at him to retaliate for being shot. Technically, Sugimoto from his dream (today? yesterday?) shouldn’t know who shot him. However, Ogata’s almost sure that Sugimoto of all people would be able to tell who killed him, even without seeing the person and if it happened in a dream.

Sugimoto groans as he opens his eyes, clearly startled. Ogata wishes he knew why. Frustratingly enough, he can’t remember if last time Sugimoto woke up with a start. It would be helpful in determining whether it was a dream or if he is in fact living through yesterday again.

No, he can’t. That would be… illogical.

Sugimoto suddenly looks at Ogata and their eyes meet. There’s a barely hidden hostility in Sugimoto’s gaze and Ogata is sure that he is about to be killed.

Except the next second Sugimoto moves his head to the side and his animosity is gone as suddenly as it appeared. Sugimoto gets up and goes to the next room, leaving Ogata to his thoughts. They offer no obvious solutions, so he leaves shortly too, deciding to ascertain the situation.

*

Everything had been going the same so far. It’s comforting and disconcerting at the same time. Last time everything ended up working in Ogata’s favour, so any changes would only muddle the already good outcome. Still, having to live through the same event a second time for some unexplainable reason is making Ogata’s skin crawl with uncertainty.

He likes logical and understandable things and this situation is certainly neither. It reeks too much of strange superstitions the Ainu girl loves so much, and in which Ogata just can’t find any meaning.

He focuses on what he can see happening in Abashiri. He can’t see everything, as the buildings sometimes obscure his vision, but what he can observe matches up with his memories. The alarm at the prison. The arrival of Tsurumi’s troops. Sugimoto’s meeting with Noppera-Bou.

Sugimoto’s death.

Everything is exactly the same, Ogata thinks as he lowers his rifle. Tanigaki appears, late as always, and checks Sugimoto’s vitals only to confirm the inevitable outcome.

It’s almost disappointing in how smoothly everything goes. A worthless repetition with no variation. How pointless.

Ogata reaches the meeting place and escapes once more.

As he goes to sleep, he hopes it has been a one-time strange phenomenon.

*

Ogata opens his eyes to see a familiar room and Sugimoto napping by the wall opposite to him.

He narrows his eyes in a fleeting show of frustration, but quickly corrects his expression. There’s no point in getting unnecessarily frustrated. Even if he is caught in something... strange.

That strangeness must operate based on some rules, if he figures them out he will be able to stop this day from repeating. There definitely is a logical and solvable answer to this problem. He just has too little information.

Yes, he just needs to wait, gather information and before long he will have the solution.

It’s only then that he realizes that Sugimoto is staring at him. Ogata stares back, but it doesn’t bring the desired result because Sugimoto doesn’t avert his gaze.

“Do I have drool on my face?” Ogata asks to break the tension. Was he so deep in thought that he showed some emotions? It seems unlikely, but he can’t rule that possibility out completely.

“No, I was just thinking your face is ugly,” Sugimoto retorts. There’s something challenging in his gaze.

Ogata just smiles slightly at that. It’s a refreshing change of pace in this unexplainably repeating day.

“Oh, you must be feeling proud about making it uglier, don’t you?” he asks and then raises his hand to leisurely move his thumb over the scar on his check. “This is your handiwork after all.”

Sugimoto makes a disgusted face and finally averts his gaze. Ogata lets his hand linger over his scar for a moment longer just to make Sugimoto more uncomfortable.

*

Ogata decides to kill Shiraishi to see if it will help break this strange cycle.

It’s all too easy since at this point he had memorized where everyone should be at all times.

Shiraishi falls and Ogata waits for the moment when Sugimoto and Noppera-Bou will meet.

Something is different.

It takes Ogata a moment to realize that Sugimoto isn’t limping as much as he should.

Was it because Ogata shot Shiraishi? Or did someone else make a change?

Ogata really wants to know, but he doubts he will get the answers he seeks any time soon.

Sugimoto seems to be saying something to Noppera-Bou, but Ogata finds himself not having patience to let them talk things out. They are bound to die anyway.

He shoots them before Sugimoto even finishes his speech to Noppera-Bou.

When he rejoins Kiroranke and Asirpa, Shiraishi isn’t with them. Apparently, it resulted in Inkarmat pursuing Kiroranke this far in her doomed attempt to stop him. It falls on Ogata to take Asirpa away so she doesn’t witness how Kiroranke kills Inkarmat. Or attempts to. Ogata never had time to stop and check how badly she ended up hurt.

Tanigaki will be probably rather unhappy with this outcome either way.

Kiroranke returns and they set off. He asks Asirpa some questions trying to figure out if shooting Shiraishi changed something, but it doesn’t seem to have made a difference.

Not surprising. Shiraishi was never truly that important.

Maybe he should kill Hijikata next time.

*

The room in Abashiri starts to feel uncannily familiar, the same way the barracks back at the Port Arthur used to feel like a fixture of his life. A place of brief respite before he would have to be thrown into the same, unchanging warzone.

He wonders if Tanigaki or Sugimoto would feel the same if they remembered this repeating day, too. Not that they do. Or at least neither of them showed visible signs of doing so.

After the last cycle Ogata is starting to wonder if maybe Sugimoto doesn’t remember something. He is the only one who acted differently, but it’s possible that someone simply warned him. There’s also that time when he insulted Ogata, but it could have just been his reaction to the fact that Ogata himself was acting slightly off back then.

Besides, if Sugimoto remembered being shot in the head he would probably do something about it at this point. Ogata had seen what happened to people who failed to kill him, he has a pretty good idea of what would happen if Sugimoto remembered being successfully killed thrice.

Involuntary, Ogata looks in his direction. It seems Sugimoto woke up already.

He looks somehow offended.

A more paranoid part of Ogata suggests that maybe he feels offended that he was killed before he even finished his riveting speech to Asirpa’s dad. A more logical part of Ogata counters that he would feel much more volatile emotions over being killed part.

“What are you staring at?” Sugimoto asks confrontationally when Ogata doesn’t avert his gaze quickly enough.

“Ah, I was just thinking you had a very stupid expression.” He makes sure to look at the wall rather than a very angry man, as he explains himself. Ogata’s not sure why he’s feeling so confrontational.

“Stupid expression,” Sugimoto repeats as if daring Ogata to elaborate.

Maybe he just wants some validation. Seeing Sugimoto angry makes it all too easy to imagine that he remembers.

“Yeah, like someone made you shit your pants, or something.” Ogata says. It’s way too easy to rile Sugimoto up to get an expected reaction.

Ogata moves his head to see the angry expression, but Sugimoto is faster than he expected. When he turns his head, it’s already too late for him to escape. Sugimoto pulls him by the collar, until Ogata is standing, leaning against the wall.

Ogata finds himself more curious than alarmed by that development. Their allies are just a wall away. If Sugimoto hurts him everyone will know minutes later. It’s Sugimoto who has everything to lose here, not Ogata. Especially, because Asirpa will return here in less than half an hour and Ogata almost wants to set himself up to see that particular fallout. A blackened eye would be worth seeing Sugimoto sulk, as the Ainu girl looks at him judgmentally.

“You will be the one shitting your pants, if you don’t keep your mouth shut,” Sugimoto threatens.

Ogata cocks his head, as if Sugimoto’s reaction was honestly puzzling to him.

“Why are you so offended? Did you actually remember shitting your pants?” There’s a slight pause, just for the effect before he continues. “Sorry about that, I guess I shouldn’t have assumed you were above things like tha…”

Sugimoto pulls him and then painfully shoves Ogata against the wall. It’s certainly not the worst thing that happened to him, but the impact is powerful enough to push the air out of his lungs. He reflexively gasps for breath. He blinks to clear his vision and looks at Sugimoto wondering if he plans to end on this pointless show of strength or—

“What’s going on here?” Ogata doesn’t remember last time he felt so happy to hear Hijikata’s voice. There’s another feeling mixed in, but Ogata ignores it.

“Nothing,” Sugimoto says, letting go of the sniper.

It costs Ogata a lot to not fall on his knees, as his body still hasn’t recovered from the impact. He wobbles, but makes sure to keep standing. He’s not going to give Sugimoto the satisfaction.

“It seems my joke was more badly received than I expected,” Ogata says forcing himself to sound light-hearted, but his voice comes out slightly hoarse.

Hijikata looks between the two of them and then sighs.

“I know you are probably nervous before today’s raid, but try to keep yourself in check,” he chastises them.

“Sorry,” Sugimoto says, sounding utterly remorseless. Ogata just shrugs, as if to say that he should not be expected to take responsibility for a force of nature like Sugimoto.

Hijikata just shakes his head and leaves without a word. Sugimoto soon follows after.

Ogata decides that he feels grateful enough not to shot Hijikata this time.

He might as well try killing Tanigaki or Inkarmat first.

*

Tanigaki makes himself a difficult target this time.

Ogata is sure it wasn’t the case the last few times. It’s pretty obvious someone other than Ogata is trying to make waves.

How annoying.

He settles for killing Inkarmat. He knows it’s a bit too suspicious, especially because Asirpa is so close to her, but then again Kiroranke will stab her in less than an hour, anyway.

A bullet has to hurt less than being gutted by someone you know.

Ogata moves his rifle to aim at his regular targets. Noppera-Bou seems frozen with dread at seeing Inkarmat get shot. Ogata decided to wait until Noppera-Bou got a hold of binoculars for a stronger surprise factor.

A sound decision. He falls easily.

Ogata moves his rifle, but this time Sugimoto is already moving. Someone had to have warned him, as he’s already moving towards the cover of the nearest building.

Ogata is not about to let his prey escape. He shoots quickly. The precision of the shot is laughable, but it’s enough to hit Sugimoto’s side, making him stagger from pain.

A second shot follows, this time piercing his torso with more precision. Ogata swears it must have hit his heart, but somehow he is still moving. The sniper isn’t sure if it’s because he missed or because Sugimoto is that stubborn. Maybe both.

There’s silent frustration in the next few shots. It ended up being a messy work.

Ogata hates messing up.

He shots Sugimoto’s corpse one more time than strictly necessary just to spite him. The kill isn’t as perfect as he wanted, so Ogata may as well indulge himself while he’s at it.

He nods to himself, as he leaves to meet up with Asirpa, Kiroranke and Shiraishi.

*

Things go… differently.

He expected that to certain extent. With Inkarmat out of the picture it was obvious that the events had to change. Ogata was counting on that change to move the frozen bubble of time he ended up stuck in.

He doesn’t like the change that he finds. It takes form of a furious Ainu girl, who almost throws herself at Ogata with ferocity that could rival Sugimoto’s. Kiroranke’s strong arms barely manage to hold her in place. Kiroranke himself is also giving Ogata a nasty glare. Probably over Inkarmat. However, he holds back his own grudge, busy playing the good uncle for Asirpa.

“You!” Asirpa hisses. She sounds angry, but Ogata can feel a much thicker layer of sadness hiding underneath her fury. “Why did you kill Sugimoto?!”

There are tears in her eyes. How funny. None of them deserve those tears and yet she sheds them for people like them. Like Sugimoto.

“Why do you think I killed him?” Ogata asks. Asirpa has never suspected him in previous iterations of the Abashiri raid.

“Sugimoto… he told me that you would kill him… That you would betray us! I didn’t believe… I didn’t want to believe… Why? Why did you have to kill him and Aca?! Did you shoot Inkarmat too?! We could have all gotten out of there alive! Why did you have to do it?”

He can almost physically feel her frustration. It’s emanating from her in waves, washing over him with strangely raw emotions that seem to resonate with something deep within him.

He dislikes that feeling.

“Because I could,” Ogata says, coldly, deciding to give up on pretending. Were someone else to ask him he might have lied, but Asirpa deserves at least that small, if completely worthless truth. “But Sugimoto… huh, I didn’t expect it was him.”

“What are you talking about?” Asirpa demands angrily.

“Nothing. Thanks for telling me that. It answers some questions I had,” he says nonchalantly. His mind is already calculating, analyzing the new information so he can utilize them when the day restarts. Some part of him can already tell this loop is a bust too. He can feel the pointlessness of even trying. He has no solid proof of that and yet there is strange certainty that seems to have permeated his body like a disease. It makes his reactions sluggish and everything feels distant and unfocused.

Ogata has to consciously force himself to concentrate.

Asirpa is still struggling in Kiroranke’s grasp, as she shouts.

“Why? Why did you kill them… Sugimoto… Aca… Inkarmat… All of them!” Her eyes are full of tears. It’s a much more violent reaction than the usual one. Unsurprising given that this time there is a clear target for her pain and powerlessness.

“I don’t have an answer that would satisfy you,” Ogata says slowly. He’s looking straight at Asirpa. “You are free to hate me for this. In fact, you are welcome to try to kill me, although Sugimoto will probably roll in his grave when that happens.” He chuckles despite himself at the vision.

Something stirs inside of him at the thought of Asirpa coming to kill him, but he forces himself to ignore those thoughts. There’s no point in dwelling on this scenario when this doomed loop is nearing its end.

“How dare you… mention him…” Asirpa is struggling to get words out of herself.

“Who? Sugimoto?” He barks, his throat producing a sound that’s not really a laughter. “You wouldn’t understand it, but from the beginning it would definitely have to end with one of us killing the other.”

“No!” Asirpa shouts with all the denial of a young girl, who believes she can make a change. “I know… you were butting heads… but that… saying something like that…” She mumbles something under her breath, but Ogata can’t hear it.

He turns around. He’s fed up with this whole thing.

“I don’t think you want me to come anymore, so I will be leaving. Good luck on escaping.” Asirpa makes a whine. Somehow Ogata knows exactly what it meant. “Don’t worry, I will make sure to survive this. So if you ever make up your mind I will be waiting. Just don’t think I will make this easy on you.”

He disappears into the nearby woods after this, while Kirorane and Shiraishi pull the resisting Asirpa onto the boat. They have already gained some distance from the shore when Asirpa suddenly stands up.

“I will never forgive you if you do!” she shouts. There’s still pain and sadness in her voice, but there is also something else hiding in her words.

Ogata finds himself covering his face with his hand, even though there’s nobody around to see his expression.

*

He finds a good place to hide. It’s not perfect, but Ogata only needs to avoid Tsurumi’s troops for two hours at best. It’s sufficient for that purpose.

As he sits hidden behind the bushes, he thinks of all that just happened. It seems that despite his initial assumptions someone other than him has also been retaining their memories. And if Asirpa is to be believed, it’s Sugimoto. It’s a strange revelation, but it makes sense to some extent. Sugimoto probably needed some time to comprehend this unusual situation first.

Then again it’s also possible that someone else had told him, but there are no good candidates. Everyone he can think of has reasons to regret something that happened at Abashiri and nobody had done anything about it yet. Asirpa would try to save her father and Sugimoto. Tanigaki would have done something to protect Inkarmat. Similarly, it was obvious that Kiroranke would really rather not stab her.

As for Shiraishi, he would already have a nervous breakdown about the entire situation, while Hijikata and his followers would do something about coming out of this whole mess with literally nothing. And Tsurumi… Tsurumi would have already done something so out of the left field nobody would have seen it coming.

Yeah, he would definitely be Ogata’s least favourite pick for a person to be stuck with in a time loop.

Anyway, if Sugimoto is the one who remembered, and he has already figured out who kept killing him, things could get troublesome…

Ogata tries to figure out what to do, but it’s hard to predict how Sugimoto will act when the time restarts again. He had abstained from killing Ogata so far, but will that continue? The situation is so irregular, but there’s a slight feeling of relief hidden underneath his anxiety.

Some part of him hoped to find a confirmation that there exists another person aware of this repeating day, even if they were bound to become a threat.

Before he knows it, Ogata drifts off into an uneasy sleep.

*

Ogata wakes up, the familiar feeling of wooden floor underneath him informing him of the situation before he even opens his eyes. It’s frustrating in its predictability, but he shakes off the heavy feeling.

He just needs to try again. Last loop was a bust, but it wasn’t a waste.

Ogata opens his eyes to begin this new day of endless possibilities just in time to see a pair of hands fill his vision as they descend on his throat. He tries to react, but it is too late. He hears the sound of his rifle being kicked off and landing somewhere out of his grasp, while the calloused hands reach their destination.

They mercilessly constrict around Ogata’s throat cutting off the air from his lungs. He tries to pry them off, but he can’t. It’s no surprise.

Sugimoto is physically stronger than him.

Ogata is starting to feel himself weaken, as his body is desperately fighting for the air, but it’s a doomed effort. Sugimoto’s steady hold on his throat blocks any calls for help. Despite the painful burning in his lungs he can’t even produce a whine of pain. Just quiet wheezes caused by the oxygen deprivation.

It takes all of Ogata’s remaining strength to raise his head slightly so he can actually look at Sugimoto’s face. If he’s going to die then he at least wants to do it while looking straight at whoever kills him.

Ogata’s sight is starting to fail him, but Sugimoto’s face is close enough that he can see his steely expression and eyes burning with resentment.

Ogata smiles at that. Or tries to. It feels like his mind and body is getting more and more disconnected. His senses are failing him.

He knows it is hypocritical for a sniper like him, but some part of him wishes that Sugimoto will remember this moment well enough to earn Ogata a place in his nightmares. It’s the only fitting way for memory of him to survive.

For people like them ending their own nightmares means becoming one themselves.

*

The wooden floor is hard. The air is a bit stagnant.

It takes Ogata more time than usual to regain himself. To process the fact that he’s not dead, after all. There’s a strange discrepancy between his mind, which is still caught up in the darkness and despair of death, and his living and breathing body.

He opens his eyes with a start to take in the world Ogata has thought he had irrevocably parted with.

However, the euphoria of being alive lasts only a second, because the first thing that he sees is Sugimoto standing over him with his rifle raised and a bayonet attached to it.

“Sugi…” Ogata isn’t even sure what he wanted to say and he doesn’t get to find out, because the bayonet pierces his heart with a deadly precision. There’s pain, but his body seems to be shutting down already, making it feel like a distant problem.

Ogata once more falls into non-existence.

*

He loses count somewhere between fourth and fifth death. Sugimoto gets so proficient at it, Ogata starts to have trouble telling if he already got killed or not. It’s just a loop of death and life twisted so tightly together that one blends into the other. He wakes up only to immediately get sent into the embrace of eternal slumber. Except he doesn't, because against all logic he wakes up again.

And again he dies.

*

Ogata once more wakes, violently pushed back into the land of living. His body is already bracing for the deadly blow that is coming, even before his mind catches up.

Except it doesn't.

Ogata opens his eyes to see Sugimoto sitting opposite of him, unmoving.

He blinks. He looks around to make sure that it is indeed still Abashiri. Once he confirms that he looks down on himself. He almost expects to see his uniform ripped from when Sugimoto stabbed him with bayonet. He can also feel no bruises and cuts on his throat even though he is sure Sugimoto had managed to decapitate him at one point.

Finally, Ogata stills to look at his killer, who hadn't said a word yet. Instead, he just keeps glaring at Ogata as if he hoped to will him out of existence.

“Did you get bored?” he asks, his voice lacking tension. He finds himself more curious than actually offended for now.

Sugimoto doesn't answer, instead digging himself deeper into his scarf.

“Well, I guess that killing me here wasn't a very good move. Asirpa was probably very disappointed in you. You should know better than kill people where she can see,” Ogata says. Judging by the way Sugimoto glares at him, his speculations must be on point. “What? I’m giving a valid advice.”

“Screw yourself with it.” Sugimoto finally starts talking, even if it is just profanities. Ogata counts it as a small victory. He has a lot of petty resentment to burn after multiple consecutive deaths. Sugimoto at least got to enjoy most of his day before he would get shot, while Ogata didn’t even get a small toilet break between constantly getting killed.

“Well, if you enjoy making her cry, I’m not stopping you,” Ogata adds just to twist the knife a bit deeper. He’s not sure how Sugimoto even managed to live through it a few times in a row. Ogata had enough after one. Dealing with sad brats accusing him of murder was one of the least enjoyable parts of this whole ordeal so far. “To each their own I suppose.”

“Shut up!” Sugimoto barks.

Ogata really wants to burn some more frustration, but at the same time he’d rather not test his patience too much. He’d really enjoy starting a new loop without having his head bashed into a wall.

He silently gets up and leaves.

*

“Did you say something to Sugimoto? He was sulking and muttered your name really angrily at one point,” Asirpa asks.

Normally she wouldn’t seek him out. It seems that Sugimoto’s bad mood had accidentally triggered a change.

“He’s sulking because I gave him a piece of advice,” Ogata says, as he pretends to be busy preparing himself for tonight’s action. In truth there’s not much preparation to do. He had already set everything up before the starting point of the loop.

“Was it a good advice?” she asks. Ogata glances at her.

“I think so. I told him not to make you sad.”

“That was a great advice!” Asirpa immediately agrees, raising her thumb in approval. However, she quickly turns thoughtful. “But then why would he be angry over it?”

“He’s probably just annoyed I was the one to tell it to him. He doesn’t like me too much.”

I don’t like him, either goes unsaid. Ogata isn’t such a hypocrite as to voice that thought.

“I see. I guess I can see the problem now,” she decides.

When Ogata turns she is no longer there.

He’s almost curious what sort of talk she will give Sugimoto, but he knows better than to indulge his curiosity.

He has a role to play after all.

*

It’s halfway through the night when something doesn’t go as planned.

The tree he’s been sitting on shakes.

“I know you are there, Ogata. I’m aiming at you. Get slowly down if you don’t want to get shot,” Tanigaki threatens somewhere in the darkness below.

“What are you doing here?” Ogata asks, disbelief coloring his voice. “Shouldn’t you be out there protecting Inkarmat and Asirpa?”

“That’s what I’m doing. Sugimoto told me. You are actually planning to betray us,” Tanigaki replies, his voice steely. “Now get down unless you want me to shot you. And don’t even try to aim your rifle anywhere close to me.”

Ogata clicks his tongue, but raises his hands so that Tanigaki can see them and then slowly puts the rifle on his back. He proceeds to descend from the tree.

“There. Happy?” he asks as he lands on the ground, his hands still raised. “I don’t know what kind of ridiculous stories Sugimoto told you, but I really think this isn’t where you should be.”

“Shut up, you are coming back with me,” Tanigaki orders, pushing the barrel of his rifle into Ogata’s back.

They begin a slow descend down the hill. Ogata is quiet at first, thinking about the situation. If things continue like this he will miss his chance to shot Noppera-Bou and Sugimoto.

That would be bad.

“Sugimoto told you that I would betray you, didn’t he? Did he say anything else?”

“You seem awfully interested,” Tanigaki says warily.

“Well, he obviously didn’t explain everything to you, so I’m trying to figure out how much you know,” Ogata explains, a small smile forming at his lips. He can feel Tanigaki’s growing concern.

“What do you mean everything?” Tanigaki asks. He’s clearly suspicious, but his worry outweighs his caution.

“I mean, he told you about the threat against his life, but he clearly didn’t tell you that Inkarmat was in danger too.”

Ogata feels a sudden pull and before he knows it a very angry Tanigaki is holding him by his jacket.

“What do you mean that Inkrmat is in danger?” he asks.

“I only planned to get rid of Sugimoto if he interfered with my plans. But Kiroranke… now he has reasons to want Inkarmat out of the picture,” Ogata explains unhurriedly. “I don’t have a solid proof, but I suspected he is planning to use the cover of darkness to get rid of her.”

He can see the doubt on Tanigaki’s face, but also the fear at the scenario Ogata is painting for him.

“If Sugimoto knew about Kiroranke he would have told me!” he argues.

Ogata chuckles at his reaction.

“Would he?” he asks as a sleazy expression spreads over his face. “Even if it cost him his own life?” Words seem to get stuck in Tanigaki’s throat. “He’s a man with a mission. He promised to make sure that Asirpa would meet Noppera-Bou. When he realized that I was in the way of that goal he decided to use you.”

He pauses to give Tanigaki a moment to understand everything. He needs to build up his fear, if he wants to succeed.

“As long as he pretended to not know about Kiroranke’s plan later nobody would suspect a thing. He’s such a straightforward guy after all...” Ogata doesn’t manage to finish, as Tanigaki pull on his jacket.

“You are lying,” he hisses, but he sounds much less certain than before.

“If you are willing to bet on Immortal Sugimoto being a paragon of virtue then sure, you are free to,” Ogata says with a small shrug, but his eyes narrow as he stares at Tanigaki. “But personally, I know he would sacrifice every single one of us for Asirpa’s sake if he was sure she wouldn’t find out. Talk about twisted. But well... aren’t you the same when it comes to Inkarmat?”

Tanigaki seems frozen in spot, but Ogata can feel his hands that are still holding him in place shake slightly.

“I would hurry if I were you…” Ogata points out. “If you leave now you should still be able to make…”

A punch hits Ogata in the face. He staggers and falls into snow.

He can hear Tanigaki’s footsteps receding in the distance, as he slowly raises from the ground. His nose is bleeding, but it’s a cheap price to pay for successfully distracting Tanigaki.

“You should know better than that, Sugimoto,” Ogata mutters to himself, as he gets up. His vision is swimming a bit, but he forces himself to climb the nearest tree despite that. He wasted too much time already. “You can’t win a battle of wits against me.”

He’s cutting it close. This position is much worse, limiting his vision, so it takes him a few minutes to find Sugimoto. He’s already making contact with Noppera-Bou.

Despite the previous impact and the limited visibility, Ogata’s aim is steady. He has a pretty clear view of Noppera-Bou’s head, but the problem is Sugimoto who is partially obscured by the roof.

Ogata’s brain is quick to point out that he only really needs to shoot Noppera-Bou. Sure, Sugimoto is also a problem, but a smaller one that can be dealt with later.

His body readjusts and he shoots at Sugimoto.

He only realizes that as he aims a second time. The first shot hit his stomach, but that’s definitely not enough to kill him…

Ogata is aware that Noppera-Bou is escaping, but that seems like a secondary concern compared to the fact that Sugimoto is still alive.

The second shot misses Sugimoto’s torso, but hits his ankle. He stumbles down, almost completely disappearing from Ogata’s view. Ogata tsks in annoyance. He needs a better vantage point. He glances at the tree he is sitting on.

It would be dangerous, but if he climbs just slightly higher…

The branches creak ominously under his weight, but Ogata moves with single-minded focus. He can barely stabilize himself using the thin branches, but he manages to get in position.

The wind picks up, making the tree shake, but just for a moment it tilts the tree enough for Ogata to get a clear view of Sugimoto who is crawling on the ground.

He pulls the trigger.

The wind bends the tree once more and this time Ogata hears a clear snapping sound, before the gravity pulls him and the broken branch towards the ground. The sniper hits a few branches on the way down with a painful grunt, before he finishes his descent in a snow pile.

He pulls his head out of the snow and spits out some of it that got into his mouth.

His whole body hurts, but miraculously enough he doesn’t seem to have broken any bones with that impact.

...but more importantly…

A smile blooms on Ogata’s lips, as he remembers seeing his bullet kill Sugimoto, right before he had fallen off the tree.

It’s his victory.

*

On a second thought leaving Noppera-Bou alive might have been a bit of a mistake.

A blunder really, if he thinks about it.

Someone has to pick his slack and that ungrateful job falls to Kiroranke, who kills Noppera-Bou right before Asirpa’s eyes.

Some part of Ogata enjoys the fact that at least this time it’s not him, as he arrives on scene just in time to witness his death. He immediately reminds himself that it’s not that important who finishes him off.

Except it is.

Ogata knows the script. If he has to pick someone else's role to finish this farce so be it.

He gets a hold of Asirpa's hand and pulls her behind himself.

“Don't come any closer,” he threatens, aiming his rifle at Kiroranke.

This clearly surprises him, rendering him speechless for a moment.

“Ogata…”

“Wilk!” another distressed voice joins them, as Inkarmat appears a bit later than usual. She kneels next to the body, but gets up as soon as she realizes that he is dead. “You… how dare you!”

She lunges at Kiroranke. Ogata realizes this is probably the best distraction he is going to get.

“Shiraishi, get Asirpa and run!” he orders.

“But…” Shiraishi tries to argue, but one steely glance from Ogata is enough to annihilate all of his doubts. “Come on, let’s go, Asirpa.”

“No, Inkarmat is…!” she protests, fighting against Shiraishi’s hold, just as Kiroranke’s and Inkarmat’s struggle over the knife the former still holds reaches it’s inevitable conclusion…

...and Tanigaki bursts out from the nearby bushes, pulling Inkarmat away.

Everyone watches mesmerized as Inkarmat barely avoids the knife, falls back and lands on the ground. Tanigaki doesn’t even look back at her, instead placing himself between her and Kiroranke, while taking a combat stance.

The button from his shirt pops off, as his muscles tense in preparation for a fight.

“And that’s our cue,” Ogata decides, picking up Asirpa and starting to run towards the boat.

As it turns out carrying Asirpa really isn’t as easy as Sugimoto and Kiroranke make it look like. They can both do it with one hand, but Ogata quickly realizes that even his military training didn’t prepare him for carrying so much of living and resisting weight.

Ogata haphazardly puts the rifle on his back, before picking Asirpa with both his hands. It’s easier to run now with her weight evenly distributed, and she seems so surprised she forgets about resisting for a moment.

Ogata doesn’t look at her, more focused on making sure that he doesn’t trip over anything and listening for any sounds of a chase, but he can’t hear anything other than Shiraishi following them.

It’s only when they reach the boat that Asirpa remembers that she was supposed to protest.

“We can’t leave yet! We should…”

“Sugimoto and Noppera-Bou didn’t make it. There’s no point in waiting for them,” Ogata says coldly, as he unfastens the rope holding the boat in place. He strains his ears, but only hears distant sounds of the fighting from Abashiri. It seems that Tanigaki was successful in stopping Kiroranke from pursuing them.

“But…” Asirpa tries to protest, but Ogata pushes the boat and jumps into it.

“Even if they weren’t, they would want you to escape safely first and foremost,” Ogata points out. Asirpa looks at him, then at her hands and finally the tears start flowing out of her eyes, as she truly comprehends her loss.

Shiraishi awkwardly tries to cheer her up, but Ogata hits him with a paddle to get him to work. With Kiroranke gone he now needs to help Ogata row the boat until the wind picks up. As a result Asirpa is left to grieve alone. Ogata can’t help glancing at her from time to time.

Her tears shine brightly in the remains of the slowly fading moonlight.

*

Ogata wakes up feeling slightly alarmed, but when he opens his eyes Sugimoto is keeping to his side of the room and not attempting to make a sport out of consecutive Ogata murder.

Which is a good thing.

Ogata hides his short-lived panic behind the usual emotionless facade. Overall, he finds himself in a pretty good mood, so he even decides to keep to himself and not try to annoy Sugimoto.

Surprisingly, he is the one to initiate the conversation.

“Did you kill Tanigaki?” His voice is surprisingly emotionless. It seems like Sugimoto is already adapting to the harsh realities of this time loop, weathering them like any other hardships.

“Nah, didn’t need to,” Ogata says. “I had a few tricks up my sleeve.”

Ogata is really glad that the time reset removes any wounds, because it would be a lot more difficult to feign confidence if Ogata had to deal with the pain from the fall. Especially, when it only got worse after he strained himself carrying Asirpa. He would probably look pathetic, rather than smug.

“You aren’t lying?” Sugimoto asks, glaring at him with clear suspicion.

“It was probably his best run. He even got to save his girlfriend from getting stabbed,” Ogata quips, but then falls silent as he sees Sugimoto’s confused face. “Wait, you didn’t know?”

“I would probably know if someone didn’t keep killing me,” Sugimoto counters. He’s not wrong, but Ogata is not going to validate his opinion.

“I thought you got to see that during those few runs when you kept killing me,” he replies. “Then again, I guess it’s not surprising that things go differently if I do end up being removed from the picture.”

“Yeah, someone else comes to kill me,” Sugimoto complains. Ogata is about to ask him who, but stops himself. The answer is actually pretty clear.

“Guess you are just popular,” Ogata says. If Sugimoto figured out that he is working with Kiroranke he might use that against the two of them. He must keep that in mind. Just because he had yet to weaponize this knowledge didn’t mean he wouldn’t at some point.

“With all the ugliest guys.”

Ogata leaves. He feels magnanimous enough to let Sugimoto have the last word.

The true victor will be the one to survive this night.

*

It’s five loops later that Sugimoto gets to see Inkarmat getting stabbed. Ogata takes out Tanigaki, but Sugimoto manages to avoid death long enough that he stumbles on Kiroranke and Inkarmat’s struggle and then chases Ogata up to the meeting point.

Ogata kills Sugimoto, but Asirpa ends up calling him murder again.

It’s a bittersweet victory.

*

“You should remember your own advice,” Sugimoto points when they wake up. He sounds somehow cheeky.

Ogata swears to himself to kill him particularly early this time round.

Sugimoto dies after he infiltrates the building where the fake Noppera-Bou is held.

Ogata kills Kiroranke too.

The tomorrow doesn’t come.

*

He kills Nagakura in addition to his usual victims.

It doesn’t stop the day from repeating.

*

He kills Hijikata.

It turns out to be a bad decision. Without him they fail to find Noppera-Bou.

Ogata shots Sugimoto just so he wouldn’t feel like he had wasted time.

*

He poisons Ushiyama and Ienaga. Ushiyama is resilient enough that Ogata needs to shoot him on the way back to finish him off completely.

As expected it changes nothing.

*

Sugimoto kills Ogata off early, probably to vent his frustration, but Tanigaki stumbles in just in time to witness it.

Sugimoto can’t plan murder for shit.

*

It’s about thirtieth time loop.

Right after shooting Noppera-Bou, Ogata falls from a tree again, but this time breaks his neck.

He spends the next hour lying on the snow, unable to move, feeling as the cold death slowly claims him. He’s almost happy when a lone wolf stumbles upon him and hastens his death by ripping his guts out.

More than anything he hopes Sugimoto won’t find out about this.

*

It occurs to Ogata that his priorities had shifted.

He’s starting to get used to this looping world to the point where he’s clearly thinking less and less about what will happen if the time does start to run its proper course.

It’s worrying, but it’s not like Ogata can actually do something. He’s still clueless as to what is causing this time anomaly with no hints in sight even though it’s been almost two months since the looping started.

Maybe it is something that would be obvious for a person who isn’t as incomplete as me?

Ogata thinks on it. Maybe there is a meaning to the fact that only he and Sugimoto keep retaining their memories, but even so…

“It’s not like it will change something,” he says into the cold night. Ogata knows that they are both too twisted. If anything, the fact that they have both gotten used to this hellish looping world is a proof enough that they are beyond saving. A normal person would have already broken down from experiencing their death so many times. From having to witness this violence and despair so many times with no hope of it ever stopping.

The fact that they both keep struggling is a proof enough that they are just irreparably broken.

*

“Say Asirpa… do you know of any Kamuy who could trap people in time?”

Ogata didn’t expect to accidentally stumble on Sugimoto and Asirpa in the woods. They haven’t noticed him yet and now he doesn’t really want to reveal himself. The topic of their discussion piques his interest.

“Trap in time?” Asirpa repeats clearly confused.

“Make them live again through the same event over and over again,” Sugimoto explains.

Ogata can’t help straining his ears for an answer. As much as he doesn’t really care for Ainu superstition, he feels hope pooling down in his gut.

“Live over? That… that doesn’t really sound like something Kamuy would do…” she says. The whole idea must be very outlandish, because for the first time she looks lost as she answers.

“I’m sorry for asking a weird question,” Sugimoto says quickly, picking up on her uneasiness.

“Well, it’s not like Kamuy wouldn’t be able to, but it just… it feels like something a human would ask them to do…” Asirpa tries to explain. “I don’t think any Kamuy would trap a human like that on their own.”

Ogata feels himself freeze.

Did that mean that either him or Sugimoto wished for the time to freeze?

It feels like a ridiculous notion, but for the first time in a long while Ogata feels like he might be close to forming some sort of an answer. His brain suggests some theories.

Ogata doesn’t like any of them.

Sugimoto thanks Asirpa. He tells her to go ahead and then turns towards the bushes where Ogata is hiding.

“Why did you keep hiding? That’s creepy!” Sugimoto says with way too much honesty.

“It felt impolite to interrupt your conversation,” Ogata replies calmly, letting the insult slide for now. He has all the time in the world to get back at him for every single offensive comment, after all.

“She wouldn’t mind, you know,” Sugimoto points out. Ogata isn’t sure why he felt the need to state obvious. It’s not her Ogata is concerned about. “For some reason she seems to actually like you a bit.”

“I thought you would prefer if I spent as little time as possible with her,” Ogata says. He watches in fascination how Sugimoto’s face suddenly scrunches, as if Ogata’s comment actually reminded him that he has reasons for not wanting to see his own killer get chummy with the girl he wants to protect. “But if you don’t mind, I will make sure to interact more with Asirpa.”

It’s actually comical to watch Sugimoto forcibly swallow back a protest. He’s the one who dug the hole underneath himself and Ogata will gladly make sure to bury him in it.

“I trust this applies indefinitely,” Ogata adds, allowing himself to smile a little. Sugimoto seems to be boiling at this point, judging by how red his face is, but he doesn’t protest.

“Fine, but if you hurt Asirpa I will not let you talk with her again,” Sugimoto finally says with a huff.

“I will keep that in mind,” Ogata assures him, before nodding his head. “Well then, I will be going.”

Ogata manages to walk a dozen steps when he hears a sound of someone shooting and feels a sudden pain in his chest. He forces himself to duck behind the nearest tree, while turning his head.

Sugimoto is standing there with his rifle smoking.

Ogata has almost forgotten he can do that. Sugimoto isn’t a good shot by any stretch of the definition, but from such a close distance guess even he could hit his target.

And he got Ogata good judging by how stained with blood his uniform is. Ogata can feel his vision start to swim and his body feels more and more heavy with each second. The blood loss must be really bad if he is already affected to this extent.

Another shot lands pretty far away from Ogata. Guess Sugimoto hadn’t improved that much after all.

Ogata tries to think of a way to save himself, but he can’t. Sugimoto won this round. It’s over.

Still, he might have been too impatient. Asirpa should have still been close enough to hear the shoot and…

“Sugimoto!” Ogata hears the familiar disapproving voice. Guess he was right about…

*

Ogata blinks, finding himself back in the same old starting point.

Sugimoto wakes opposite of him looking harrowed. Ogata has no idea what happened in that loop after he died, but it sure looks like Sugimoto was pulled through a grinder. He is hiding his face as if he was barely holding himself together.

It's pathetic.

“You shouldn’t use a gun if you lack the patience,” Ogata says out loud. His words seem to pull Sugimoto out of whatever bad recollection he was having.

“Eh?”

“You should have waited a bit longer. It was obvious Asirpa would hear that shot,” Ogata points out. He's not exactly sure why he's lecturing Sugimoto. Maybe it's just easier to keep his own demons at bay when he doesn't have to watch someone else losing shit over theirs.

“I think she was watching us from a distance,” Sugimoto explains with a sigh. “Waiting wouldn't have changed anything.”

Ogata nods slightly. Sugimoto looks more put together but still somehow vulnerable.

Maybe this is a good time…

“Hey, would you like to help me check out one thing that might stop the time from repeating?” Ogata asks, as his face betrays nothing.

*

“I honestly didn't think you would actually agree,” Ogata says, after they have moved out outside for their discussion. He doesn't want them to be overheard.

“I haven't agreed yet,” Sugimoto points out.

Ogata knows that getting Sugimoto to listen is the hard part. Convincing him shouldn’t be that difficult in comparison.

“Don’t be like that. What I want to ask you concerns my attempts to get out of this strange time trap,” Ogata reminds him.

“Your attempts?” Sugimoto says with unhidden derision. “You’ve been doing nothing but shooting people!”

“Yes, I thought that by changing events this way I may be able to make the time move forward. I have no idea what was the trigger, but I suspect that it is someone within this looping world. So by taking the culprit out we would be able to stop the day from repeating.”

“Wait, so you haven’t just been shooting all those people for fun?” Sugimoto asks visibly surprised.

“No, just you. And there are reasons for why Noppera-Bou had to be removed from the picture, but don’t expect me to share them,” Ogata adds. “Other than that, yes, I was just testing various scenarios to see…”

“Wait, so all this time you kept shooting me for fun of it?!” The loud complaint interrupts Ogata, who sighs.

“Don’t sweat small stuff,” he says waving his hand.

“You kept killing me every time! It’s not a small thing!”

“Hey, at least you got to enjoy most of your day and didn’t get killed immediately after waking up for several days,” Ogata points out drily. “I would say we are pretty even at this point. Also it hurts like hell when you kill me, at least I’m considerate enough to always try giving a quick death.”

Sugimoto still looks like he has a lot of complaints to pull out of his ass, but he decides to mercifully shut up and talk business.

“So what is this thing you want to ask of me?” Sugimoto asks grumpily.

“It’s simple. Well, not that simple in execution. There’s one more person I want to try killing, but I realized I wouldn’t be able to do it alone.”

“And that person is?” Sugimoto asks expectantly, visibly preparing to shoot down Ogata’s suggestion.

“First Lieutenant Tsurumi,” Ogata answers and relishes in the fact that Sugimoto bites down on his rejection. “I thought you would have no objections to getting him out of the picture.”

“And why can’t you do this alone?” Sugimoto asks, looking out for the small print Ogata must obviously be hiding.

“Because no matter how many times he invades Abashiri he never walks into a space open enough for me to shot him.” Ogata let’s the smallest bit of frustration slip into his voice. There might be reasons why he wants to kill Tsurumi a bit more than other people caught in this looping world, so the fact that he has gotten no such chance feels a bit like a giant joke aimed specifically at him.

“So you want me to be the bait,” Sugimoto says, not sounding terribly happy about it. Still, it’s good he is quick on the uptake.

“Yes. Even if I tried to get into Abashiri he has too many people around him. They would likely get rid of me before I even got a good chance to aim at Tsurumi. My best bet is to have someone draw him out where I can get a shoot at him.”

“And why do you think I would risk my life for your stupid plan?” Sugimoto asks, crossing his arms.

“You don’t really need to risk that much. It seems most of Tsurumi’s people get taken down in fight with prisoners. And you don’t need to be a literal bait. As long as you can make them think that Noppera-Bou is close you should be able to lead them into the trap without even showing yourself,” Ogata explains.

“And if you are wrong?” Sugimoto asks, visibly hesitant to trust Ogata. “What if taking out Tsurumi doesn’t fix this issue?!”

“Then we wake up tomorrow in the same place as always. It’s not like we have that much to lose.” Ogata tilts his head. “I mean, if you just want us to try to kill each other as always then sure we can do that, too. I just hoped you wouldn’t mind actually doing something constructive about getting out of this place.” He pauses, his eyes gleaming maliciously. “Unless… you really enjoy living through this time and time again, getting to kill all the people without…”

He’s interrupted by Sugimoto’s fist flying right next to his cheek and hitting the tree Ogata is leaning on. It shakes and some of the snow falls on the sniper. He wants to shake it off his head, but doesn’t move, not wanting to accidentally provoke Sugimoto.

“One more word and next time my fist will not miss,” Sugimoto threatens.

“How scary,” Ogata says, hiding his fear behind the familiar mask of indifference. “So are you doing it or not?”

Sugimoto is so close Ogata can easily see how his fury changes into consternation, his brows knitting as he actually considers his options. Finally, his expression morphs into resignation, as he pulls back his fist.

“Fine, but if you try something funny, I will make sure to pay you back double for it,” Sugimoto says just to make himself feel more in control. Ogata doesn’t try to destroy his delusion.

“I will keep it in mind,” he assures seriously, then crouches and picks up a stick to draw on the undisturbed snow. “So let me explain what I know about Tsurumi’s whereabouts…”

*

Ogata stays calm even though he can feel his heart beat just a bit faster than usual.

He always knew he would have to kill Tsurumi someday. He was simply too dangerous man to leave alone, and knew enough about Ogata to be a threat to him. Everything that lead Ogata to this place is just consequences and logic…

...and would he bleed like his father? No, Ogata hoped it would be better than that. Tsurumi had to be better than that for all the time Ogata invested in him. It just wouldn’t be fair otherwise. He had no choice in who his father was, but he chose to follow Tsurumi, so of course he should be a better prey. Ogata had a keen eye for those things.

And he waited for this moment. Hoped he would get a chance to sever their ties once and for all. Mark him as another memorable trophy in his mind, where he would buried together with all other ghosts of Ogata’s past.

Outdo him one last time to prove once and for all that he is better than Tsurumi. Always was. So he can laugh at his foolishness and the fact that Tsurumi thought he could use him like all those other fools…

There’s a movement in Abashiri that draws Ogata’s attention. Apparently Sugimoto managed to catch attention of Tsurumi’s goons. Ogata doesn’t shoot them. He needs to lure Tsurumi into a false sense of security. Otherwise the fox will never leave its burrow.

Besides, Sugimoto already managed to kill no less than three soldiers. Unlike them, he is fighting on his home turf. He probably has the layout of Abashiri completely memorized after so many loops.

One of the soldiers manages to shoot Sugimoto in arm. His luck must have ran out, as the shot has clearly severely damaged the limb. It hangs uselessly at his side, the blood streaking down the fingers. Another shot seems to take down his leg, forcing Sugimoto to kneel.

As if lured by the smell of blood, the fox finally shows up. Ogata can’t see that well, but Tsurumi seems pretty pleased at the fact that he had cornered Sugimoto. He has stopped his men from shooting to indulge in a small speech. Sugimoto doesn’t seem to be too thrilled about it, judging by his expression.

Ogata stills his breath as he aims. He needs to do it on the first try. Kill him perfectly with one shot.

He pulls the trigger.

Tsurumi staggers from the impact and Ogata waits expectantly. Will the damage his brain receives fatal enough this time?

Tsurumi's limp fall onto the ground is a telling answer.

The soldiers around him start to panic without their charismatic leader to guide them. One of them charges at Sugimoto in panic.

He’s the next to fall.

One by one Ogata takes out Tsurumi’s goons. He doesn’t really feel like he needs to, but it’s appropriate somehow. Tsurumi craved company so much, it’s probably fitting that Ogata sends some fools along with the lieutenant so they can console him.

Finally, the only person left is Sugimoto. Ogata’s aim stills on him. Right now he has exactly one bullet left in his rifle. Exactly one chance to kill the Immortal Sugimoto.

It’s exciting.

What’s unusual is that Sugimoto is looking straight at him. Ogata isn’t used to that. Usually his targets remain unaware of him or his position until the very end. Even Tsurumi wasn’t looking his way when he died.

But Sugimoto is looking straight at him. He definitely can’t see Ogata from this distance, but he knows where and who he is. Sugimoto knows he is about to be killed.

It feels like Ogata’s head is filled with static, as he steadies his aim and shoots. He sees how Sugimoto’s head leans back from the force of impact. The blood isn’t very visible in the murky darkness, but Ogata can almost see it. The red that must be now dripping down his cheeks, framing his face. Sugimoto’s still kneeling as if his muscles refuse to give in even in his death.

Even after killing him so many times at this point…

...it’s more satisfying than killing Tsurumi.

Ogata freezes, as his mind finally catches up to the discrepancy he is feeling. It’s strange. He has waited so long to kill Tsurumi, imagined it a number of times, and now that he finally got a chance…

Tsurumi won’t even remember it tomorrow.

Ogata feels cold as he realizes that. It doesn’t matter how many times he kills Tsurumi in this looping world. He will just appear the next day being none the wiser about Ogata’s actions.

All Ogata did today was just an empty gesture of self-satisfaction that he can’t even enjoy now that he realized his own foolishness. He didn’t just trick Sugimoto, he actively lied to himself so he would feel like this fool’s errand had a meaning.

It’s both a blessing and a curse that he has finally realized the truth, because on one hand he is not likely to make the same mistake again, but on the other he is now well aware of a new issue.

Sugimoto.

This whole time loop has became much more annoying now that Ogata realizes that killing Sugimoto is the only thing that keeps him going through this repeating hell.

*

It’s not that different from the war.

No, maybe it’s exactly like that.

When Ogata wakes up his mind is still dazed by the realization from the previous loop.

Ogata hates the fact he has started to subconsciously rely on Sugimoto. And he absolutely detests the fact that he will have to continue to do so. If even killing Tsurumi wasn’t enough to fill the void that keeps stretching within him, then it is safe to assume he is too far gone to find enjoyment in anything else than killing the only other person aware of the situation.

The sniper opens his eyes just in time to see Sugimoto loom over him. His face is grim. In his right hand is a knife.

Right, Sugimoto said he would pay him back, didn’t he?

Ogata attempts to leap to the side, but is too slow. Sugimoto catches the scruff of his uniform and pushes him onto the floor. They make enough noise to probably alarm their allies in other room, but Sugimoto doesn’t seem to care. Ogata is looking straight at his steely face, inadvertently memorizing it. Even when he knows he will wake up later, he can feel his body reject the death and struggle against the hold.

Sugimoto swings his knife down towards Ogata’s face, which makes the sniper reflexively close his eyes.

He’s not exactly wrong in thinking that Sugimoto’s face will be the last thing he will see today.

*

“I can’t believe you, Sugimoto!” Asirpa says angrily. “Doing something like that right before we go out to meet Noppera-Bou.”

“I told you he is planning to betray us. And I made sure not to kill him. This way that bastard just won’t be able to shoot us in the back.”

His wound hurts and itches, but Ogata fights the urge to scratch it. It would just make things worse

“You could have talked about it to us,” Hijikata points out calmly. “I don’t think it’s wise to cripple our forces before major operation like this.”

“Well, he was the one talking how we are stupid for trusting each other… and I might have realized I agree with him to some extent on that point,” Sugimoto says, sounding clearly unrepentant. “Especially, after I realized he was relaying information on us to Tsurumi.”

“I’m not working for him,” Ogata says, feeling annoyed about the association, but Asirpa quickly holds his cheeks with her hands to stop him from speaking.

“Don’t talk, we are not done,” she chastises him. She and Ienaga are finishing bandaging his face. Ogata is grateful for their ointments and the painkillers even if they make him slightly groggy.

Not that Ogata can see the two of them. Or will, for that matter.

“I’d rather you had a more substantial proof of his betrayal before you blinded our only competent sniper.” Hijikata is clearly exasperated by this turn of events.

Ogata is mostly blindsided.

Actually, more like completely blinded by Sugimoto’s new scheme. He must have planned this back in the previous timeline and Ogata is caught between anticipation and dread at how far Sugimoto has thought this through.

He moved from blindly killing Ogata, through realizing that he could have someone else take care of him, to finally arriving at the solution of just crippling him. Sure, it still earns him some bad stares from his allies, but probably not as much disapproval as if he went for murder. And when Tsurumi inevitably strolls into Abashiri everyone will think Sugimoto was actually right about suspecting Ogata.

Sugimoto from the first rendition of the Abashiri raid would never think so far ahead.

Something churns in Ogata’s stomach. He can barely manage to keep still with all the feelings that seem to mix inside of him. The itch in the place where his eyes used to be is almost unbearable.

“Anyway, with him in this state, we will have to leave Ogata here,” Hijikata decides. He doesn’t say Ogata’s a liability at this point, but it’s heavily implied. Maybe with some training Ogata would be able to shot blind like Anji, however that’s a question for a future that doesn’t exist in this repeating world.

If he endures and waits here everything will be solved by tomorrow morning.

Ogata’s fist tightens so strongly he can feel pain even through the haze of the painkillers he was given.

*

Ogata pretends to be out of it. Maybe he is out of it. His mind is hazy and unfocused. His thoughts are fleeting.

He listens as everyone prepares to leave. Usually he wouldn’t be here, already having taken his position in the forest. Still, he can’t find himself appreciating the novelty. A part of him hopes Kiroranke is at least subtle enough not to glance worryingly in his direction.

He had managed a few time loops with Ogata dead already, he surely can manage one with him being blind.

The party leaves and as always they run into a few guards soon after making Kiroranke and Ushiyama move out to help.

Ogata is silent through all that, thinking on what to do. Theoretically, he should be able to sit this one out. There would be no downsides, as long as he made sure to not let Sugimoto surprise him once they wake up in the next loop.

He should just wait patiently like he always does.

The wounds itch so strongly, Ogata wants to tear his bandages off.

“Hey, old man, I know you are there. Help me leave with you,” Ogata says. He feels Hijikata’s presence more than actually hears his footsteps.

“What makes you think I’m leaving? And why would I take you with me?” Hijikata asks.

“You are clearly scheming something,” Ogata explains pushing himself to stand up. He’s not used to moving around without his sight. “And I honestly don’t care what it is. I just want to give Sugimoto my thanks for what he did to me. If you help me I can guarantee you I will make sure he’s occupied at least for a while.”

“That’s a lot of confidence for someone who struggles to walk around on his own,” Hijikata points out. Ogata can tell he is being tested.

“Worst case scenario, someone kills me while I’m outside. You have nothing to lose and something to gain out of helping me. And I’m honestly not that confident. It’s just…” Ogata pauses as he searches for words.

Hijikata doesn’t say anything. Ogata desperately searches his mind for an argument that will convince him.

“I know I’m probably done for. I won’t survive long without my eyesight, but before that… I need to get to Sugimoto and stab him for what he had done,” Ogata says, his voice dripping malice. He almost never expressed his hatred so directly, but it feels like the lack of sight is pushing him to do things he wouldn’t have done otherwise. “I don’t care if it will be the last thing I will do.”

Hijikata is silent. Ogata hates the fact that he can’t gauge his expression. He can do nothing, but wait for a verbal cue.

“Fine,” Hijikata finally agrees. “I don’t believe much in your success, but it’s true it would be useful to have someone distract Sugimoto. However, I will only lead you for a short while.”

“That’s all I want. I can mange once I’m outside,” Ogata assures, feeling Hijikata’s hand grip his.

He lets the old man lead him into the familiar hell of Abashiri.

*

Ogata knows the layout of the prison, but it’s hard to move around without his sight. He’s more used to confirming his presence visually than counting his steps. He runs into the wall at least once and trips over a broom someone forgot to hide.

It would be a lie to say anything is going smoothly.

Ogata knows he is a mess right now. His emotions are going awry in a way he never really let them to, but they give him strength to push forward. So he allows it. If he stays as he is he will never catch up to Sugimoto.

He must catch up to him.

So he keeps moving until he hears a familiar voice.

“Ogata?! What are you doing here?!” Shiraishi asks surprised.

“Shiraishi? Are you there?” Ogata asks, faking vulnerability. He leans on the wall he has been using to track where he is and looks around as if he can’t tell which direction the voice is coming from. “I’m glad I found someone… there’s a problem…”

“Problem? You mean the 7th storming us? Yeah, I’ve seen that,” Shiraishi says, but despite the hesitation in his voice he comes closer. “Was… was Sugimoto telling the truth? About you selling us to Tsurumi?”

“The only thing Tsurumi would gift me right now is a bullet to the head. I’m not working for him. A few of his men found our hideout. Ushiyama took them out, but we had to escape in case more of them came. I got separated from the others,” Ogata lies. “Please, Shiraishi, help me find the way.”

Shiraishi seems to hesitate, but Ogata’s acting seems to be enough to sway him.

“Alright, alright, I will help you find a safe place,” he says, taking a hold of Ogata’s hand. “But you must listen to me and…” Shiraishi’s voice cuts off, when he suddenly feels Ogata pull him by his hand, and a knife stops right next to Shiraishi’s throat.

“No,” Ogata says, all the faked vulnerability gone in an instant. “You will listen to me. I need you to take me to Sugimoto. And don’t even try to lead me in a false direction. If I start to feel like you are making a fool of me I will make sure it will be the last bad decision you make in your life.”

“Wait, Sugimoto? Why would…” Shiraishi shuts up as he feels Ogata push the knife with more strength against his soft neck.

“Less talking, more searching for Sugimoto.”

Shiraishi finally moves forward, still tense, but no longer frozen in fear. Ogata eases the pressure of his knife a bit, but holds Shiraishi firmly. He’s not going to underestimate the Escape King.

Shiraishi keeps quiet after this and Ogata follows him. It’s strange how he is going into this completely blindly, not just literally, but also figuratively. Ogata can’t even pretend he has a plan. He just keeps desperately grasping anything his hands can reach.

But he’s getting closer. He can almost feel it, just one more push.

“Shiraishi, what are you…?” Sugimoto says, but then stops probably realizing what is happening.

“Hey… sorry, but I guess I got caught up into something…” Shiraishi says awkwardly.

“Ogata…” Sugimoto mutters. His voice is not hostile. Rather it’s a mixture of so many emotions Ogata’s not sure he could untangle them.

“Move closer,” Ogata whispers to Shiraishi, then turns toward where Sugimoto’s voice is coming from. “Sorry, but I guess I couldn’t just sit out the fun.”

“You shouldn’t have come,” Sugimoto says, sounding regretful.

“And why is that?” Ogata asks. Shiraishi has been very slowly moving forward. Sugimoto’s voice is clearer now, but still slightly too far. Fortunately, he doesn’t seem to be moving.

“Last time we tried your method, so this time I’m doing mine,” Sugimoto explains. “I guess I should thank you for giving me idea.”

“And what method is that?” Ogata asks. His throat is feeling dry and his wounds are itching, but he manages to ignore his discomfort and control the nebulous feelings that pushed him to come here.

“You said you’ve been killing people to break this repeating world. But what if it’s the opposite? What if someone needs to survive?”

Ogata feels the laughter slowly build inside of him. First with a snicker, which then grows into a few stifled chuckles only to erupt into an unhinged laughter.

“Of course… It’s such an obvious answer…” Ogata mutters between the chuckles.

“It didn’t occur to you,” Sugimoto states, rather than asks.

“What are you two talking about?” Shiraishi asks, probably feeling very out of the loop.

“Nothing that concerns you,” Ogata says coldly. “So shut…”

He doesn’t get to finish because the next second he feels Shiraishi’s body move weirdly. He isn’t even sure what exactly happened, because he couldn’t see it. He only knows that a second ago Shiraishi was there, but now isn’t.

“I’m sorry Sugimoto, I leave him to you,” Shiraishi says, as he runs off. Ogata can hear his receding footsteps.

“I guess he did his job,” Ogata says, as he regains his balance.

“You are going to get in my way, don’t you?” Sugimoto says.

“Of course. I don’t want this kind of future.”

Ogata moves forward, gripping the dagger. He knows more or less where Sugimoto is.

It’s foolish, really. He knows he has no chance against Sugimoto in hand-to-hand combat.

But it doesn’t matter. Ogata didn’t come here because he has a plan.

He’s here to kill Sugimoto. That’s all there is to it.

He keeps his body low as he charges. He might not be a master of hand-to-hand combat, but he knows his basics. He changes his angle slightly to hopefully avoid the attack.

He doesn’t. Sugimoto’s punch hits him square in the face.

Ogata falls, but quickly jumps to the side, only to hit a wall. He pushes himself up, feeling anger and embarrassment fill him.

“Give it up, you can barely stand, Ogata,” Sugimoto points out. He’s not moving from his spot.

For him Ogata no longer qualifies as threat. That fact hurts more than any punch would.

“...I…”

His body is off balance, and his wounds are itching, but Ogata can’t go down. He can’t.

He promised Asirpa he wouldn’t.

His veins seem to be pumping fire rather than blood. Ogata’s body isn’t moving according to any logic now. It’s just pure stubbornness pushing him forward.

Ogata launches forward, he can hear Sugimoto sigh.

“I told you to stop!” he shouts, annoyed.

Ogata can’t see the punch. But he knows it’s coming. He makes a dive, letting himself fall towards the ground. If he’s low enough Sugimoto’s punch won’t reach him.

He slashes blindly, but this time he knows he will hit. Sugimoto doesn’t have enough time to dodge the attack. Ogata’s knife slashes his calf.

He hears the grunt of pain, but Ogata is already moving. That’s not enough. He needs to to stab Sugimoto more if he hopes to kill him.

“You little…” Sugimoto sounds like he is in pain, but that just makes him more dangerous. Ogata tries to move faster. He feels Sugimoto’s next attack barely miss him. He tries to use this opportunity to slash at him, but this time Sugimoto is quicker. He catches Ogata’s armed hand, stopping his attack.

“That’s the end, Ogata,” he says.

He’s right, but not because he caught him.

He’s right because Ogata not only has two hands, but also two knives.

The pained grunt that comes from Sugimoto the moment Ogata stabs him into abdomen is very satisfying. He doesn’t manage to push the knife as deeply as he wanted, but it seems to be enough. Ogata pulls out the weapon to hasten the blood loss and attempts to stab again, but this time Sugimoto manages to block the attack by hitting his wrist. The knife falls from Ogata’s hand and lands somewhere on the ground, but it doesn’t matter.

Sugimoto’s hold is already weakened and Ogata manages to free his other hand and slash with it. The wound is shallow, Sugimoto must have taken a step back to avoid the hit. Ogata tries to chase him with the next attack.

One of them loses his balance. Ogata can’t tell which one. But they both tumble down gracelessly on the ground. Ogata feels around, frantically trying to find where to stab. Sugimoto has enough power to bat him away, making Ogata fall on the ground.

Still, the wound on Sugimoto’s calf and the blood loss must be taking its toll. Sugimoto doesn’t seem to be able to get up, instead lying defenselessly on the ground. He isn’t saying anything anymore.

Ogata crawls toward him once more. Sugimoto is ridiculous enough to maybe survive those wounds. Ogata needs to be completely sure that he is dead.

He manages to find the body again. Sugimoto seems to swat his hand at him. It slaps Ogata in the cheek, but it lacks strength to stop him anymore. As he touches the uniform he feels the wetness of blood soaking it. It’s satisfying to know the wound is grave, but it’s not enough.

He crawls on top of Sugimoto, searching for where the heart is. He needs to make sure that the strike is lethal. Heart seems like the most solid option. Without his vision Ogata can’t find it though. The layer of clothing is muting its sound and vibration. He manages to identify the part of Sugimoto’s chest where it should be by groping blindly, but he needs to feel the heart going still, if he wants to be certain of the kill.

Ogata slashes at the clothing, hoping to get it out of the way. He hears a quiet hiss of pain which suggests that Sugimoto isn’t completely unconscious yet. It takes Ogata a few tries to actually remove the haphazardly-cut pieces of uniform, but soon he can feel the warmth of Sugimoto’s skin underneath his fingers. It contrasts strongly with the chilly air. Ogata never paid much attention to it, but now that he can’t see, it feels almost profound to know that this heat is going to disappear soon.

He moves his hand searching for the exact spot where the heart is. A smile spreads on his lips, as he can finally feel the insistent beats underneath his fingers. He makes sure he is holding the blade properly. He’d rather it didn’t lodge between the ribs. He feels for the heart the last time to make sure he is aiming properly.

He hasn’t killed many people from such a close distance.

“Goodbye, Sugimoto,” Ogata mutters to himself, as he brings down the knife. He feels the impact and the way skin and muscle try to resist against the steel. He quickly pulls the knife out and places his hand there. He feels the warm blood spurting out of the wound and the last beat of Sugimoto’s heart before it stops completely.

He won.

It should have been impossible, but Ogata won.

The tension he felt disappears suddenly replaced by the rawest feeling of euphoria Ogata ever remembers feeling. If that’s how Sugimoto usually feels during his kills it’s no wonder he goes for close combat so often. Ogata can almost see the appeal. Almost.

He tries to get up, but realizes his limbs don’t work as he wants them to. Ogata blinks, realizing that his body feels much heavier than before and his mind…

...he feels himself fall down on top of Sugimoto before his senses cut off completely.

*

The wooden floor underneath Ogata feels the same as always, but he himself feels different.

He wishes he had some time to calm down in the previous rendition of Abashiri. As it is he wakes up still feeling the vestiges of euphoria and the memory of Sugimoto’s heart beating and then stopping ingrained in the tips of his fingers.

He wants to feel it again.

It’s a dangerous line of thought, especially with Sugimoto sitting right opposite of him.

Ogata looks in his direction almost expecting a hostile gaze, but instead Sugimoto’s face is just blank, as if he decided to make an annoyingly good impression of Ogata himself.

He wants to say something to pull him out of this uncharacteristic expressionless state, but everything that comes to his mind feels much too revealing.

He finds himself leaving the room, just so he doesn’t have to think what he should say to Sugimoto.

*

Ogata isn’t really someone who regrets things.

Regret is a useless thing to hold on to, when you could be doing things to make your life less miserable. Like murder the family that caused the said miserableness in the first place.

Ogata likes to think of himself as someone who actively does something about his problems, even if he takes his time doing so. Patience is probably the only virtue he inherited from his esteemed father.

So Ogata is not feeling regret, or pity, or anything like that. Rather than that, his chest is filled with frustration that he can’t find any outlet for. Ogata is usually better at this—at keeping his emotions in check.

It feels like, at some point of their dance with death, Sugimoto and him started to lose pieces of themselves—and in the attempt to put themselves together they ended up taking much more of each other than any of them wanted.

It’s annoying in ways that Ogata can’t even articulate. He wants to go back to the time where he was just himself, but it’s impossible. Even if they break from this looping world, the damage won’t disappear—their memories of blood they’ve spilled will remain. It will remain, staining their hands.

They will survive this even more twisted than when they started.

It would be like coming back from war all over again except this time there wouldn’t be anyone else who would understand what it’s like. After all, Ogata would have to kill Sugimoto to ensure…

No, he would have to kill Sugimoto regardless of everything. He saw too much… No, he knew too much about Ogata…

He would be too dangerous regardless of everything.

The problem is that until they find a way to stop this day from repeating Sugimoto can’t die. At least not permanently. It’s a tricky situation for many reasons. Especially, if Sugimoto’s theory is right…

If it’s true then to break the loop Ogata would have to not kill Sugimoto. Except he needs to kill him to have what he wants. The means and goals are irreconcilable.

He sighs in frustration. This would have been so much easier if someone other than him or Sugimoto got caught in the loop. It was just his luck to end up with someone so mismatched.

Ogata finds himself instinctively pulling out his rifle as a sound of footsteps catches his attention. As he aims it, the intruder moves from behind the trees.

It’s Sugimoto.

Ogata almost puts down the rifle before remembering that it wasn’t that long ago when Sugimoto shot him in the back.

“Do you want something?” Ogata asks, not lowering his rifle. It takes a conscious effort on his part to not stare at Sugimoto’s chest. He keeps expecting to see a wound there.

“Just checking to see what you were scheming,” Sugimoto says with a sneer. “I feel safer knowing what you are doing.”

“Wow, that’s creepy,” Ogata says with no inflection, but lowers his rifle and slings it back. The standoff feels unnecessary somehow. In a glass world where death is nothing but a fleeting experience, it has slowly been losing its meaning. “I just wanted some time to think.”

“Yes, that’s what I was worried about,” Sugimoto confirms.

“Just because I’m capable of thinking about more than one thing at a time doesn’t mean you need to be so alarmed each time I do it,” Ogata says. He hopes for a reaction, but Sugimoto doesn’t give him one.

“I only trust your brain when it’s scattered on the floor,” he replies in a way that could be either a joke or serious remark.

Ogata sighs.

“You were more fun before,” he says. He doesn’t specify before what. He doesn’t need to.

“Because it was easier to rile me up?”

Ogata nods. He is looking straight at Sugimoto, but all he sees are blurred images of the time where things were simpler. They were simpler.

...he’s acting like some grandpa.

“I still don’t think you are fun,” Sugimoto admits. He sounds genuine.

“You wound me more than a bullet in stomach,” Ogata quips.

Sugimoto actually makes a small chuckle at that which he quickly tries to hide. What a hypocrite.

“So is there anything you want, or can I return to scheming in peace?” Ogata asks. Somehow he didn’t expect the mood to be so good after the carnage that happened during the last Abashiri rendition.

Maybe Sugimoto was unconscious through the stabbing after all? That would explain why he was taking this surprisingly well.

“There is…” Sugimoto admits sounding almost regretful at having to destroy this momentary peace. “I just… wouldn’t you consider trying to use my method to break the loop?” he asks. Almost pleads, really.

Ogata is silent. He watches his own breath turn into mist before disappearing as he considers Sugimoto’s words.

“You really think this will work?” he asks. Truth to be told he is almost sure it will work, but he wants to buy some time. He still hasn’t decided what to do.

“You said you went around killing people and that’s when I thought that maybe the answer was the opposite of killing. What if someone had to survive to…?”

“Hate to break it to you, but I think everyone survived at least once until the end.”

“Noppera-Bou too?” Sugimoto asks surprised.

Ogata nods.

“Yeah, remember that time I shot you earlier than usual? Since Noppera-Bou didn’t meet you I let him wander to see what would happen. He and Asirpa had a happy reunion. Shame you weren’t there to see it,” Ogata adds the last one just to try to rile Sugimoto again.

“Wait, Kiroranke didn’t come to kill him?” Sugimoto asks surprised. As suspected, he must have acted in the iterations where Ogata had been taken out in the beginning.

“I might have been checking if killing him will change something in that run,” Ogata admits. Sugimoto looks at him as if Ogata had just admitted to feeding orphans on streets rather than committing homicide on his ally.

It was nothing more than a test. And if needed, Ogata could always take out Noppera-Bou later.

“So even Noppera-Bou escaping didn’t break the loop?” Sugimoto asks for confirmation.

“No. I thought that maybe such a sickeningly happy ending would satisfy whatever thing is forcing us to live through this again and again… but no. I just ended up waking up in the same place as always.” Ogata hides the disappointment he felt back then.

He hated having to see that happy future—and learning it was all for nothing just made him feel more bitter about experiencing it.

It was easier to steal the future from people when you hadn’t actually seen it.

“That’s…” Sugimoto starts, but doesn’t finish. It seems whatever idea he had on ending the loop clashes with information Ogata provided him.

“Anyway, I’ve been wondering,” the sniper says, deciding to not give Sugimoto too much time to think. It clearly wasn’t doing Ogata any favours. “Why are you even trying so hard to break out of this repeating world?”

“Huh? Weren’t you the one who was trying to break out of here in the first place?” Sugimoto seems surprised by the question.

“I did, but that doesn’t answer my question,” Ogata counters.

There’s a tense silence after that, as they stare at each other. Ogata does his best to look aloof. It’s Sugimoto who has something to gain here after all. He should be the one laying his cards and putting the effort.

“Fine, I thought it was obvious. I can’t fulfill my promise to Asirpa like that,” Sugimoto explains with a sigh.

“To meet Noppera-Bou? Can’t you count it as fulfilled? Or do you plan to forever keep trying to make the two of them meet?”

Sugimoto shakes his head.

“That’s not it… what I promised… I promised to give her the future,” Sugimoto stumbles a bit on his words, but continues nevertheless. “However, there is no future in this closed world. We just keep going through the same day. I must find a way to break through for her sake!”

Such a bullheaded answer definitely fits Sugimoto. Guess he hasn’t lost himself after all.

“So what do you say? Will you work with me?” he continues, looking expectantly at Ogata.

Ogata sighs.

“I know you said that keeping everyone alive will stop the loop, but I don’t believe it will work,” he lies.

“We won’t know until we try, but there’s no harm in—”

“Don’t give me crap, Sugimoto,” Ogata cuts in, his voice steely. “And what if you are right? What if everyone surviving will move the time? Have you thought where that leaves me?”

“That’s…” Sugimoto pauses. He visibly hadn’t thought that far.

“You can’t just pretend everything hasn’t happened. Even I’m not that good at lying. Not to mention the second we are out of here you will just kill me,” Ogata finishes, his voice morbid.

Sugimoto freezes at that, as his mind finally catches up to the vision that Ogata is painting.

“I don’t fault you. After all, I did take the first chance I had to get rid of you. But if you expect me to just walk into a trap like that you still have a lot to learn.”

“Then would you rather spend the rest of your life here?!” Sugimoto shouts, finally losing his cool.

Ogata makes sure his face is a careful mask of indifference as he stays quiet for a moment.

“I’ve been thinking about it, but is it really that bad?” he asks, trying to make himself sound earnest.

“This shithole! What’s good about it?!” Sugimoto is incredulous.

“Say, since this started, did you have any nightmares?” He can see Sugimoto thinking on the question.

“No…” The answer is clipped and uncertain, as if it only occurred to him now.

“I for one enjoy dreamless nights. Not to mention the fact that I can’t be killed permanently. It’s refreshing not having to worry about it anymore,” Ogata recounts. “You understand where I’m coming from, don’t you?” His voice is almost friendly as he addresses Sugimoto. He recoils, as if struck by the association.

Good.

“Even… even if it’s true, we can’t keep others trapped here,” Sugimoto tries to argue.

“Why? They have no idea about the loop. We are the only people getting hurt here,” Ogata points out, easily disarming his argument.

“We can’t keep Asirpa trapped here!” he insists. “Don’t you care about her too?”

That last part is unexpected. Ogata tilts his head in confusion.

“What?” He’s almost sure he had to mishear that accusation. “Why do you think I care about her?”

“She’s the only person you haven’t killed, isn’t she?” Sugimoto points out.

Annoyingly that is true. There’s a logical reason for that. Ogata needs Asirpa to find the hidden gold. She’s the only person he can’t kill, even if it would release them from the loop. His plans hinge on her survival.

However, Sugimoto doesn’t know that.

Ogata chuckles.

“What’s so funny?” Sugimoto asks defensively. He seems alarmed that Ogata had showed emotions for once.

“You think I haven’t been killing Asirpa from the goodness of my heart? That’s hilarious. Ah, but that’s not the only thing you are mistaken about.” Ogata pauses, seemingly to regain his breath, but mostly to build Sugimoto’s anxiety. “Remember that time when you told Asirpa that I would kill you?”

Sugimoto doesn’t say anything, but his expression is an answer in itself.

“She was furious. She couldn’t forgive me for taking you away from her. So in her anger she attacked me. It was pretty clumsy, but she has enough skill to hurt me if she wanted…”

“You didn’t…” Sugimoto growls in a warning.

“So I defended myself. A bit too well. I wasn’t planning to kill her.” Ogata pauses, but then gives Sugimoto a twisted smile. “But that’s probably for the best. If I hadn’t stopped her, she would have become a murderer like us and that wouldn’t be good. Honestly, it was such a hassle, having to take responsibility for your mistake—”

It happens so quickly Ogata doesn’t have time to react. Not that he planned to.

Sugimoto’s hand wraps itself around Ogata’s neck, pinning him to the tree he was leaning against. The hold is strong enough to make it hard to breathe, but not enough to strangle. Not yet.

“You bastard!” Sugimoto growls. “I thought that maybe you had some human feelings, but you are just… just a murderer!”

“...That’s… funny… from you…” Ogata barely manages to speak, but it’s the last push Sugimoto needed. His second hand also wraps itself around Ogata’s neck and starts to push on his windpipe.

It’s almost the same as the first time Sugimoto killed him in this looping world, but this time they are on the same eye level. They stare at each other as Sugimoto slowly squeezes life out of Ogata.

His lungs are burning and he feels tears prickle his eyes. He tries to resist, but he knows it’s futile.

He dies smiling, looking Sugimoto straight in the eyes.

If there is no future waiting for Ogata outside of this time loop, then he just needs to make sure that he and Sugimoto will keep killing each other for the rest of eternity.

*

Ogata doesn’t let the initial confusion of death take a hold of him this time. He woke up in this room countless times and knows exactly where everything is. He doesn’t even need to waste time opening his eyes. He’s already halfway on the way to the entrance when he does, only to see Sugimoto lunge towards him.

Ogata pushes himself slightly off-course to avoid being pinned to the ground.

Unfortunately, even though he misses, Sugimoto manages to grab Ogata’s cloak, pinning him in place. Ogata curses, as he quickly undoes the buttons, hoping he will manage to escape before Sugimoto gets off the ground.

He manages, just barely. He feels Sugimoto hand reach to stop him, but he’s already moving. He did it.

He sur—

There’s a feeling of impact. Ogata feels the vertigo kick in as he hits a flat surface and something heavy falls on top of him. He's disoriented and can’t even say if it’s the ground or wall he is flattened against. Honestly, he’s not crossing off the possibility that it’s the ceiling either. It wouldn’t even be the weirdest thing to happen in this looping world.

“What are you doing?” Hijikata asks in disapproval. Ogata would sigh in relief if there was any oxygen left in his lungs after the impact. It seems that he managed to reach the other room after all.

There’s no verbal answer but Ogata finds the heavy weight on top of him has disappeared. It takes him a moment to force his muscles to cooperate and push himself up from the floor.

“I would like to know too,” Ogata says, when he’s finally standing. “I woke up only to feel like someone is about to attack me. It was you?” Ogata feigns surprise. He can’t help feeling the satisfaction over the fact that Sugimoto is once more acting exactly as he predicted.

Sugimoto is quiet, but he’s looking intently at Ogata.

“I must have had a nightmare,” he finally says. He doesn’t apologize, instead turning around and leaving. Hijikata glances at Ogata, but he just shrugs pretending to be oblivious.

The chase has begun and Ogata is eager to find out who will be the hunter and who will be prey this time.

*

He outwits Sugimoto by tricking Ienaga, who had also witnessed his aggressive bout, into giving Sugimoto a drug that will slow him down. When Sugimoto realizes something is wrong it’s too late.

Ogata has already shot him.

*

Sugimoto doesn’t attack immediately next time. He waits for his chance and stabs Ogata to death in the forest.

It’s good thing that Ogata warned Kiroranke and Hijikata about this potential development. This way the loop shouldn’t go like Sugimoto wants it.

That thought is enough to make this day worth it.

*

He stabs Sugimoto with the knife as soon as he wakes up. Sugimoto fights back and even manages to rip off Ogata’s ear, but at the end Ogata stands bloodied and victorious over his body.

He gets bound and kept captive for the rest of the night, but he’s not lonely. Sugimoto’s corpse is right next to him. The throbbing pain emanating from where Ogata’s right ear used to be fills the emptiness of the night.

It’s a pain that can only be felt when you are alive.

*

They shoot at each other in the forest and both hit. Ogata dies a moment later than his opponent, because Sugimoto is still a terrible shot.

*

Sugimoto breaks his spine and dies, when Ogata’s shot makes him fall off the prison’s roof after his infiltration of Abashiri.

Ogata is not counting the days anymore.

*

“What kind of nightmares do you have?”

Ogata didn’t expect Sugimoto to get all existential while he’s dying, after he walked into a trap Ogata set up in the forest. He was right in suspecting that Sugimoto will follow him.

“Such sentimental question. That steel wire must be really cutting off the blood from your brain,” Ogata notes.

“Maybe.”

“I will tell you if you tell me yours,” Ogata decides, because some part of him is curious, too.

Sugimoto is silent for a moment as he considers.

“Dried persimmons,” he replies sounding wistful.

“Anglerfish nabe,” Ogata says, because that seems to be a fitting answer.

“That’s stupid…” Sugimoto mutters, completely ignoring the fact that he was the first one to bring up food.

It’s the last thing he says in that run.

*

Sugimoto ambushes Ogata from behind. He cut off his own arm for that trap.

It was a sly win. Ogata needs to find a way to outwit him next time.

*

Ogata poisons his own food and then shares it with Sugimoto and Tanigaki. Ienaga will be probably unhappy that he stole her poison, but it’s worth the incredulous look on Sugimoto’s face when he realizes what is happening.

It was a good idea to add a bit of variety to the killing routine by using the poison, he decides, shortly before it kills him.

*

“Are you still alive?” Sugimoto asks, while Ogata slowly bleeds on the snow. Surprisingly, Sugimoto doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to finish him off. Instead, he sits by the nearest tree, dressing his wounds and watching Ogata bleed out.

Ogata can’t even judge him on this pastime, as much as he prides himself on killing in one shot, he understands the enjoyment of watching a doomed being slowly creep closer to death.

“Yes, you did a terrible job,” Ogata barks out. His guts are slowly freezing, which is a weird feeling. Unfortunately, it’s not strong enough to overshadow the pain from having his stomach ripped apart.

It’s still better than when the wolf tore it apart.

His mind decides to produce an image of Sugimoto eating his entrails raw at that association. It’s almost funny, except Ogata can’t laugh or else his guts will spill out even more.

“Don’t worry, it shouldn’t be long,” Sugimoto says, completely dismissing Ogata’s complaint in favour of finishing wrapping a cloth over the wounded arm.

“Then why are you asking? Are you lonely?” Ogata speaks a bit too quickly, hoping to rile Sugimoto up a bit before he dies. He feels something slither over his stomach.

Disgusting. Ogata has never hated his own insides so much as now, when he has to acknowledge their very physical existence.

Sugimoto hesitates before answering.

“Isn’t that obvious?” he says slowly, as if he wasn’t sure if it’s something he should voice. “Nobody remembers what’s happening. I used to be able to laugh with them, but now it feels… empty.”

Sugimoto is silent for a moment. Ogata feels his consciousness pull away, as the lack of blood finally claims him.

He just barely hears Sugimoto’s wistful words.

“It feels like we are the only living people among corpses...”

*

“Did something good happen?” Asirpa asks. Ogata isn’t sure why she seeked him out.

“Nothing in particular. Why do you ask?” he replies evenly. Even though she won’t remember it he tries to be polite toward her. Guess old habits die hard.

“It’s just… It feels like you and Sugimoto act nicer than usual,” she says hesitantly as if she was worried that her words will change that.

Ogata’s brain quickly analyzes the last few loops for any proof of that, before he remembers that Asirpa doesn’t carry over her memories and she’s only referring to the last three hours.

He’s not happy that both analyses seem to confirm her words.

“Well, I’m making sure to play nice before the big mission. It would be bad if Sugimoto got distracted because he couldn’t take a joke,” Ogata explains.

“Oh, so you are even joking with each other!” Asirpa seems to almost shine at the thought that Ogata had fallen victim to the power of friendship. Ogata opens his mouth, but then closes it, deciding that he can live the next few hours with that particular misunderstanding.

“I guess. Though I don’t think he likes my jokes,” he says, letting the conversation continues. He used to avoid talking so much, but after countless repetitions it’s refreshing to have a new conversation.

“Well, Sugimoto’s clumsy. He won’t get it unless you spell it out for him,” she advises him seriously. The way she tries to sound all mature as she give Ogata pointers on how cultivate his non-existent friendship with Sugimoto must be what people call cute. If brats could be cute.

“He wouldn’t believe me if I told him that to his face,” he says just for the sake of argument.

Asirpa considers his words with a stone face.

“That’s true,” she agrees sagely. Ogata feels like maybe he should tell Asirpa that he would take her advice more seriously if she wasn’t forcing herself to make such serious expressions. They just underline how young she is.

Though maybe that’s a good thing. Brats should be brats.

“See, that’s why we can’t be friends,” Ogata says adding some false regret to his voice.

He doesn’t expect Asirpa to suddenly come closer, as if to bodily confront that idea.

“That’s not true,” she insists. “If you give up so early, you will never succeed.”

The words irk Ogata, mocking him for giving up. He reminds himself that Asirpa doesn’t know about the loop, but her straightforward gaze seems to pierce right through his lies anyway.

“You got me,” he says, deciding to give Asirpa this small victory. “I guess I just don’t feel like trying when my chances of success are so low.”

Asirpa makes a face at him.

“So you think finding the gold is more probable than you being friends with Sugimoto?” she asks just to make sure. Ogata wonders how to explain that those two things are mutually exclusive.

“Gold can’t betray you,” he finally says. “That’s something only people can do.”

“Sugimoto wouldn’t betray us!” Asirpa insists. Ogata wonders since when she started to count him as a part of her merry band.

“I wonder about that…” Ogata says, unable to hide his scepticism. This is as far as he is willing to play along with Asirpa’s delusions. “I’m sure there are things he would be willing to betray us for.”

“You will never have friends if you can’t trust them,” Asirpa points out, seemingly unphased by his doubts. “You will gain nothing if you can’t reach out for it,” she says extending her own hand in his direction.

There’s a feeling of jealousy stirring in Ogata at that. Noppera-Bou might have been a terrible father in some aspects, but at least he was a loving one. Ogata wants to tell Asirpa he can’t be like her. She has something that he will never have and can never obtain. It will forever stay outside of his reach, because he was born lacking.

It’s wholesome people like her, like Yuusaku, that can extend their hands to others with trust.

“I’m afraid I’m more used to waiting for the right moment,” he says, trying to sidestep the issue. As refreshing as the conversation was in the beginning, he feels fed up with it now.

Asirpa looks at him with mild disappointment. When it becomes obvious that Ogata won’t shake her hand she slowly drops it, as if hoping that he will change his mind.

He doesn’t.

She turns around, seemingly confirming this is the end of conversation, but suddenly she speaks up.

“You know, you might be slightly smarter than Sugimoto, but you are even clumsier than he is. No wonder you two struggle so much.”

Ogata wants to disagree, but words get stuck in his throat.

Asirpa is long gone by the time he finds them again.

*

Sugimoto doesn’t try to kill him during that loop, so Ogata shoots him.

*

“Ogata…”

Ogata didn’t expect Sugimoto to seek him out while looking like he wants to talk.

“What is it?” Ogata asks from the branch of the tree on which he is sitting. He doesn’t feel like coming down. If Sugimoto wants to talk face to face he will either have to climb up or shake Ogata off the tree.

“I… won’t you reconsider?” Sugimoto asks in one breath as if he wants to get the words out before he changes his mind. He looks smaller and more vulnerable than usual from the high point Ogata occupies.

It’s the lack of foresight on Ogata’s part, he realizes. He should have known that he wasn’t the only one who got a “talk” from Asirpa. And unlike him, Sugimoto has a very weak spot for the Ainu girl.

“I won’t pretend to be friends with you so you can make Asirpa happy,” Ogata replies. “Besides, she already forgot what you talked about yesterday.”

“Wait… how?” Sugimoto asks visibly taken aback. “Did you eavesdrop on us?!”

“And what if I did?” Ogata asks, because he would be lying if he said that Sugimoto’s flustered reaction didn’t pique his interest. He must have told Asirpa something quite embarrassing.

“That’s… I… I mean…” Sugimoto clearly can’t find words, pushing the hat over his eyes as if wanting to hide his expression. Not that Ogata can see much of it from the tree. “She had a point about me taking things for granted a bit too easily and…” He pauses as if something occurs to him. “Wait, a moment, did you really hear our conversation?”

“I never said I did,” Ogata points out.

“But you…” Sugimoto starts, then pauses probably replaying the conversation back in his mind. Suddenly he groans loudly as he realizes where he has made the mistake. Ogata can almost feel Sugimoto’s frustration and chagrin emanating from the ground.

“Don’t hold back, if you want to get it out of your chest I’m not a bad listener,” Ogata mocks him, bringing the hand to his chest as if to assure Sugimoto of his incredible people skills.

Sugimoto produces a number of expletives in response that are loud, but simplistic, just like he is.

“Do you feel better?” Ogata asks, when silence fills the space in place of curses.

“I hate you,” Sugimoto says, leaning over the tree, but his words lack bite. He mostly sounds resigned. “You are doing it again.”

“What?” Ogata asks feigning obliviousness.

“Derailing things! You always make me angry when you don’t want to talk about something!” Sugimoto says, finally looking up again, straight at Ogata. “Are you that scared?”

“That’s a bit of a leap. Just because you get easily worked up over things doesn’t mean I’m scared of you, you know,” Ogata says. Internally, he can’t help feeling anxious about the fact that Sugimoto had seen through one of his tactics. Of course, he won’t be outdone with just that, but if Sugimoto figures out more…

It would be bad.

“If you aren’t scared, then why are you sitting all the way up there.”

Ogata pulls the rifle off his back and aims it at Sugimoto in one fluid movement.

“So I can kill you efficiently,” he says. He can see Sugimoto’s frown through the lense.

“I will still come to talk with you even if you kill me now,” he threatens. Ogata clicks his tongue.

He lowers his rifle.

“If you are done asking pointless questions then I think you should go,” Ogata says, signaling the end of conversation.

Sugimoto looks unsatisfied with that.

“Fine, but just tell me one thing. How did you know that I talked with Asirpa?”

It must really bug him. Ogata considers lying to him, but truth would probably make him more angry.

“Isn’t that obvious? She came to give me a friendship speech, too,” he says, making sure to put derision into his voice. “I pretended to listen to her ramblings, which probably gave her some false hope that she could mend things between us.”

There’s no reply from Sugimoto. Instead he has a complicated expression on his face as he leaves.

*

Sugimoto doesn’t attempt to kill him this time either. Ogata starts to feel annoyed at that.

*

Ogata should have sensed the calm before the storm, but the last few loops where Sugimoto did nothing apparently made him complacent.

When he wakes up to see Sugimoto standing over him, it’s too late.

*

“Sugimoto, can you explain to me why you broke both arms of our team’s sniper?” Hijikata asks, trying and failing to sound patient.

“No, but he knows he deserves it,” Sugimoto says with no remorse in his voice, as Ienaga and Asirpa immobilize Ogata’s arms with bandages.

He can’t help being reminded of that time Sugimoto blinded him.

“Is this okay?” Asirpa asks, as she finishes setting the arm sling. Ienaga and Ogata both give her a nod. Asirpa smiles at that, then turns to throw Sugimoto a very disappointed stare, but he weathers it.

As the party prepares to leave Sugimoto finds a moment to get close enough to Ogata to whisper, “Don’t try anything stupid.”

“You wish,” Ogata says out loud, when he has left, as he already plans his next step.

*

He misses the burst of desperation he had when he was blinded. It feels like it helped him through the haze of painkillers. Or maybe he got a bigger dose of them this time?

Regardless of reason he feels extremely sluggish, but he fights against it.

It takes him a few tries, but he manages to pull out the knife from his bag and catch the handle in his teeth. He suspects he will lose some of them if he actually tries to stab Sugimoto like that, but it doesn’t matter. He will get them back once the day restarts.

He slips out shortly after Hijikata.

It’s difficult to find the way with his vision swimming from the drugs. He takes a wrong turn at least once and almost runs into small unit of Tsurumi’s soldiers, but despite that his effort leads him to where he wants.

Sugimoto seems speechless when he sees him. Ogata realizes he probably looks a bit ridiculous with both his arms on sling and knife between his teeth. Some saliva inevitably dripped off his chin as a result making him look even more messy and feral.

Ogata can’t speak with the knife in his mouth, but he doesn’t need to. He poises himself for an attack.

The pain appears slightly earlier than the sound of a gunshot. Ogata registers Sugimoto’s shocked face, while his mind frantically tries to understand what’s happening.

Ogata feels his right leg falter, as pain spreads through it. There’s a second gunshot, more pain and Sugimoto’s enraged roar.

The sniper hits the ground, his head turning slightly trying to see what had happened. He notices one of the soldiers guarding the prison with a rifle in his hands, before Sugimoto descends on him like a bear, overwhelming him with his strength in an instant.

Ogata tries to assess his own health. The damage seems serious. The pain is excruciating despite the drugs that Ienaga stuffed into him. He probably won’t live through this.

“Ogata… Hey, Ogata,” Sugimoto’s voice resounds close by and Ogata gets rolled on his back. He blinks, as he sees Sugimoto crouching over him.

It’s embarrassing. To be taken out by some random goon. Ogata doesn’t want to go out like that.

“Su… gimoto…”

“Don’t move, maybe if I get Ienaga we can…” Sugimoto seems to be panicking, which feels weird. They’ve killed each other so many times.

“...Kill… me…” Ogata finally manages. It’s hard to breathe for some reason. Ogata’s vision is dimming.

“What? I can’t do that!” Sugimoto says. It’s ridiculous, but Ogata barely has strength to speak. He doesn’t have time or energy to argue.

“...Please…” he says. It won’t have meaning if he just dies randomly like that. It will be unbearable. He needs Sugimoto to do it.

Something wet falls on Ogata’s face. It takes Ogata a second to realize that Sugimoto’s crying. How puzzling. It’s not like he has a reason.

“I’m sorry…” Sugimoto mumbles, as he holds him more tightly.

It’s strange how all Ogata can think off as he drifts off into the embrace of death is that it’s been long time since someone held him.

*

Ogata wakes slightly panicked, expecting to have his arms broken again, but is surprised to find Sugimoto sitting still at his side of the room. He glances in Ogata’s direction, but then averts his eyes as if he can’t stand looking at him.

Ogata isn’t sure what happened at the end of the last loop. A part of him wants to make a comment about it to rile Sugimoto and pull out the answer out of him, but he stops himself.

A different part of Ogata makes him get up and leave without a word.

He tries to tell himself it’s not because he is scared of the answer.

His hand shakes slightly, as he feels the phantom vibrations of Sugimoto’s heart on tips of his fingers. He rolls it into a fist, but he can’t shake the feeling off completely.

*

He doesn’t go to the tree which usually serves as his sniping spot. Instead he wanders into a more secluded part of the forest. He knows Asirpa usually doesn’t come here, and he made sure to hide his tracks a few times, which should grant Ogata some solitude.

He needs peace and quiet to think on his problem—and that problem is that for the last three loops Sugimoto did not try to kill him. What an asshole.

Ogata can feel that it’s already throwing him off. He needs that feeling of thrill and pursuit, so he can keep at bay other emotions that threaten to swallow him. Without the distraction, the endless repetition will soon devour his mind and reason.

Why would Sugimoto give up on that? He should need that distraction, too. Is he trying to drive Ogata crazy and defeat him this way? No, that’s too long-term plan for him—

There’s a sound of footsteps which draws Ogata out of thoughts. He reflexively reaches for his rifle. He stops when he recognises Sugimoto’s figure. Ogata finds himself reconsidering the initial idea of pulling the rifle and shooting him here and now.

Something that sounds suspiciously like Asirpa’s voice asks him if he is going to run away again.

He doesn’t shoot.

“I thought I told you to let me scheme in peace,” Ogata says instead of a greeting. He doesn’t raise from the log he is sitting on. He doubts Sugimoto is here to kill him.

“I figured you didn’t want to see me the third time I had lost your trail,” Sugimoto replies, as he moves through the bushes to enter the clearing Ogata occupies.

“Then either get to killing me or scram,” Ogata hisses. He has no patience for whatever bullshit Sugimoto came to preach.

Sugimoto makes a face at that and scratches his neck.

“Well, that’s part of the reason why I came here,” Sugimoto admits. Unfortunately, he is not pulling any sort of weapon, which suggests he wants to talk about murder rather than actually do the deed.

Ogata’s fingers itch. He tangles them in his cloak.

“Why do I get a feeling I’m really not gonna like what you have to say?” Ogata asks, trying to remain calm.

It’s difficult when his mind had already narrowed down the answers as to why Sugimoto would act strangely like that. Why he would stop killing Ogata and then cry over him. No matter how much he thinks about it, his mind inevitably loops back to one answer.

“I’m not going to kill you anymore,” Sugimoto announces. “At least not as long as this loop is still going.”

The hand, which Ogata wrapped in his cloak, tightens its hold.

“I’m not going to stop,” Ogata says. He wants to sound unshakeable, but it’s hard to hide the anxiety that coils around his stomach.

There’s no plan anymore, and no future Ogata can grasp.

The second Sugimoto stops participating in their messed up killing dependence they will just rot—turn into living corpses caught in the world that does not allow death.

“I know,” Sugimoto confirms taking a step closer. Ogata really hates his expression. For once Sugimoto looks strangely calm, like he has made peace with something. “You lied about killing Asirpa so I would have a reason to hate you.”

Ogata stills. He did not expect to be seen through like this.

“What makes you think it was a lie?” Ogata asks, trying to maintain his composure. He stands up as if to confront Sugimoto’s accusation.

“You are a good actor. But not a perfect one. We’ve been stuck together for so long that I got enough read on you to recognize at least some emotions you hide. And when you told me about Asirpa… there was no sadness there,” he explains.

“I told you, I don’t have any nonsensical ties to her,” Ogata says, feeling his patience thin. “I wouldn’t feel something unnecessary like that if I killed her.”

Sugimoto sighs tiredly, as if Ogata’s obtuseness on the topic actually pained him.

“That’s a pile of horseshit,” he spits out. “Didn’t you notice yourself? Through all the repetitions Asirpa was the only person you worried about. You fucking lectured me on not making her cry. Whatever scheme you came up with it would never hurt her directly. You didn’t think twice about poisoning yourself, but you never stooped to something that would result in her death.”

Ogata wants to say it’s not true. Asirpa is just means to the goal that is a pile of gold. He doesn’t care about her well-being. He definitely didn’t—

“You just want it to be true!” Ogata hisses, glaring at Sugimoto. “You are the one lying to yourself! You just want to think that I’m less of a monster so you don’t have to feel bad about your dumb feelings!”

Sugimoto freezes visibly shaken by the words. Then his expression drops.

“So that’s what you think,” he mutters. Ogata doesn’t like it. He doesn’t like that for once it feels like it’s Sugimoto seeing through him and not the other way round. He doesn’t like the fact that deep down he knows that he wouldn’t be able to kill Asirpa as easily as he claims. He doesn’t like that that the hand clenching on his cloak is shaking slightly.

He doesn’t like that Sugimoto is moving closer again, slowly but steadily.

“Of course I do,” he says, his voice sounding hollow.

He pulls out the rifle in one fluid movement and aims.

Sugimoto rushes forward, trying to stop him. Ogata pulls the trigger. He can’t miss from this distance.

A shot resounds through the forest, scaring a nearby flock of birds that take into skies.

“You are dumb, Ogata,” Sugimoto says, holding the rifle away from himself. He’s not hurt.

He easily pulls the rifle from Ogata’s grasp and tosses it away. His left hand is holding Ogata’s right to keep him from reaching for his knife.

“Let go,” Ogata growls, fighting against the hold. He digs his boots into the snow, trying to get a better foothold, but Sugimoto pushes forward in response, making him stumble. His back hits a nearby tree.

“No,” Sugimoto says. “Not until you stop lying!”

Ogata grits his teeth.

“You are the one deluding yourself!” he shouts. “You think that wanting to protect that girl makes you or me less of a monster? We are both killers. Nothing will ever erase that fact. What’s the point of leaving this looping world when there’s no place for either of us there?!”

“That’s not…” Sugimoto tries to argue, but Ogata doesn’t let him.

“Don’t give me platitudes. You know it’s truth. You think I haven’t realized why we are stuck here? I know it’s my fault!” Ogata shakes in his hold, trying to free himself.

Sugimoto has a stunned expression.

“What are you talking about, Ogata. You are not making sense!” he shouts, making sure to not let Ogata go.

“We both heard Asirpa. Someone wished for this twisted world. I’m not sure what bored deity would want to grant a wish from a bastard like me, but the results speak for themselves. This kind of hell where I can kill people again and again... Who else could cause it?”

“We don’t know that for sure!” Sugimoto insists, through he doesn’t seem to be dismissing the idea completely. “It’s not like you to jump to conclusions like that!”

“I’m not jumping to conclusions! I had days to think on this. It had to be caused by either you or me, since we are the only ones to retain our memories! And you never wanted time to freeze like this. So it had to be me. That’s the only explanation!” Ogata insists. “So stop pitying me! This hell on earth is my fault!”

“Get over yourself! Just because we got stuck here doesn’t mean it’s your fault!” Sugimoto shouts back, clearly having enough of Ogata’s self-accusation. “You are right! No damn deity would care about you!”

“Then whose fault is this?!” Ogata hisses once more, trying to pry Sugimoto’s fingers from his wrist. “Are you telling me it was you?!”

“It doesn’t matter!” Sugimoto shouts and then moves forward.

Ogata is confused for a second, as suddenly he realizes that his hand is free, but instead he is completely engulfed by Sugimoto’s body.

“What are you doing…?” Ogata asks, because his mind seems to have a hard time processing this sudden development.

“Hugging you, you idiot,” Sugimoto hisses into his neck. “It’s not like you to fall apart like that. You should have said it was hard you dumbass...”

Ogata wants to say something, but he can’t. He is too overwhelmed by the feeling of a warm body against his. He didn’t even realize how much he craved the contact. The warmth seems to sip through the cracks into his soul.

His hands are free. He could stab Sugimoto if he wanted now. It would be stupidly simple.

Instead, Ogata feels his hands grasp on Sugimoto’s uniform as if to make sure he won’t leave just yet.

He didn’t want this. Sugimoto knows too much at this point and Ogata hardly trusts his own feelings. He can’t control them as well as he used to before he got thrown into this repeating nightmare.

But the void that stretches within him doesn’t let him go. He needs that warmth to keep it at bay.

“Are you crying?” Sugimoto asks after a moment.

“No,” Ogata says, burying his head in Sugimoto’s scarf. “Snow flew into my eye.”

Sugimoto moves his hand reassuringly over Ogata’s back.

“I actually like some of your jokes,” Sugimoto admits, filling the silence that fell over them.

“I noticed,” Ogata replies dryly.

“And I think I may like you sometimes, too,” he adds more bashfully.

“Sugimoto,” Ogata mutters impatiently.

“What?”

“Can you stop ruining the mood already and kiss me before I change my mind?” Ogata pulls his head away to stare at him, unimpressed, but doesn’t let go. “You are really testing my patience with the mushy nonsense.”

Sugimoto seems to need a moment to gather himself.

“Oh, right,” he mutters. He’s blushing so much that he starts to stand out even more against the snow. Ogata is getting slightly impatient, but he also doesn’t want to make the first move.

He prefers to wait for the right moment.

Finally, Sugimoto leans forward, his eyes shut tightly. Ogata pulls on his scarf to redirect him slightly and make sure their noses don’t collide. Honestly, Sugimoto is as bad at aiming as always.

Sugimoto makes a light yelp when he feels the sudden pull and opens his mouth a bit too much, making his teeth scrape against Ogata’s lip. Not that Ogata is complaining about this development, as he adjusts his head to let their lips meet properly. Sugimoto is overeager. He must be as starved for this as Ogata is, since despite his initial hesitation his kiss is long and fervent. Ogata has to break it, since he feels himself run out of breath, but he quickly returns back to bite on Sugimoto’s lower lip.

Sugimoto makes a displeased grunt at first, but doesn’t seem to mind when Ogata starts to suck on it. Ogata had spilled so much of Sugimoto’s blood it’s only fair he gets to taste some of it. The heavy coppery taste lingers in his mouth even as they break the kiss.

Sugimoto is already unbuttoning Ogata’s cloak to get to more of his skin. Ogata doesn’t stop him.

“Sugimoto,” he mutters. He gets a hum in response. It seems that Sugimoto is using his one existing braincell for the manual labour and can’t talk. “I will still kill you.”

Sugimoto finishes and Ogata’s cloak gets pushed back. Sugimoto looks at him sternly.

“I’m immortal,” he announces seriously. “You can’t kill me.”

“You know what I’m talking about,” Ogata insists. Sugimoto might be dumb, but Ogata can see in his eyes that he understands.

“Fine,” Sugimoto says, before he descends on Ogata’s neck. Ogata feels a rush of pain and pleasure as he feels a bite on his skin. Sugimoto sucks on it after that.

It will definitely leave a mark.

“Now you can’t say I didn’t leave you anything to remember me by,” Sugimoto says sounding proud of his handiwork. Ogata tentatively touches the spot and the pain that jolts through him is reassuring.

Maybe it’s fine to just let this doomed feeling bloom at least once.

“I have those ugly scars, you know,” Ogata points out, somehow feeling lighter, as he moves his finger over one of them.

“I might have lied about your face being ugly too,” Sugimoto admits as his eyes track the movement of Ogata’s finger.

Ogata chuckles for once. One of his hands lands on Sugimoto’s chest, but this time Ogata can feel the beats even through the uniform.

“You don’t have to state the obvious,” he says as he pulls on Sugimoto’s scarf to coax him into another kiss.

For the first time in a long while Ogata lets himself go.

*

It changes nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Sure, sitting on the tree is more uncomfortable now than in any previous iteration, but nothing has fundamentally changed about their situation. When all was said and done, they straightened their clothes and wordlessly returned to the very same roles they started with.

Ogata isn’t sure why he feels disappointed. He has always known that whatever feelings he or Sugimoto has are pointless. No, even worse than that—counterproductive to what they are both trying to achieve.

It boils down to who they are. Endless repetitions might have broken some of their defenses, but they couldn’t truly change their essence.

Ogata is fine with that. Mostly, he just resents the fact that even in this somehow unusual moment of weakness, the world keeps moving through the same retreaded paths. Usually, he enjoys that reliable indifference, but today he finds himself wishing once more for the time to move on.

Not that he himself plans to do anything out of norm. This day will finish like the countless ones before. Then, everything will reset and any proof of today will be gone. All wounds and marks made non-existent...

Ogata’s hand shakes slightly. He grinds his teeth and wills it to be still again. There’s a lingering taste of Sugimoto’s blood in his mouth.

Maybe it would be better for today to end quickly after all.

Things go as usual in Abashiri. Alarm, Tsurumi’s arrival, the general chaos. The only thing that is out of norm is the fact that Sugimoto is limping again. He had managed to avoid those wounds for such a long time that Ogata almost forgot it was a possibility.

“Guess, someone got distracted,” he snickers to himself.

It’s not long before Sugimoto faces Noppera-Bou. Ogata feels magnanimous enough to let Sugimoto convince him that he is working with Asirpa. Not for the first time he wonders if maybe Sugimoto had heard about the gold’s locations or the code on the tattoos in any of the loops. Ogata always made sure to kill him before that happened when he was alive, but there were a number of occasions when Ogata got taken out early.

Ogata likes to think Sugimoto squandered them all.

He aims and shoots Noppera-Bou to once more make sure that Sugimoto learns nothing. Sugimoto is already pulling the dead body to shield himself, since his wounded leg doesn’t allow him to escape quickly, but he’s not fast enough.

Ogata is already aiming at his head.

As he pulls the trigger his hand shakes a bit.

Ogata sees the bullet hit, but he knows it was off. He clicks his tongue and shots again, but Sugimoto’s torso fell at such a weird angle that it’s hard to aim properly. The bullet misses, but Ogata is already correcting his aim. This time he—

Suddenly, Tanigaki appears on the scene.

Ogata shoots quickly, internally still reeling from that new element. It’s not the first time he came to help Sugimoto, but usually he would appear too late to change anything. Was it because Sugimoto limped this time? Or did Ogata give Sugimoto too much time?

The doubts don’t slow the pace or the accuracy with which Ogata sends new bullets towards his targets, but through sheer obstinacy Tanigaki manages to pull Sugimoto’s body under the cover of the nearest building.

There’s nothing more that Ogata can do.

He leaves for the meeting point.

*

Things feel different now.

That feeling is in stark contrast with the events, which play exactly how Ogata remembers them. They converge on the meeting point without any troubles. Inkarmat is left to bleed to death as usual, judging by Kiroranke’s haunted face.

Asirpa’s despair when he tells her that Sugimoto and Noppera-Bou are dead isn’t new, either, but this is the first time when Ogata truly lies. He doesn’t think Sugimoto is dead. Definitely seriously wounded, but still breathing.

Ogata briefly wonders if the possible brain damage would make Sugimoto even dumber. For a second he imagines him with Tsurumi’s metal plate and immediately regrets it.

When they stop for the quick rest, Ogata finds himself feeling hopeful for the first time in a while.

*

Ogata wakes up. The ground underneath him is cold, uneven and slightly damp.

He doesn’t think he’d even felt more relieved to wake up in terrible camping conditions. His companions are still sleeping, but they will need to wake up soon. They don’t have much time to waste, Tsurumi will definitely make someone talk and send pursuit after Asirpa.

Ogata’s gaze drifts to the sleeping Ainu girl. Her eyes are still puffed, but her breath is even. It seems the exhaustion at least helped her catch some sleep.

In the light of day Ogata realizes that foresight is a truly cruel thing.

Now that he has escaped the looping world, the culprit seems painfuly obvious. No, not only that. The culprit, the reason… Well, the means are not clear, but you can’t have everything.

He can accept it. He’s content knowing that the human culprit is none other than Asirpa.

Ogata feels slightly ashamed for not figuring it out during the loop. It feels incredibly obvious now. The only constant in the loops was that either him or Sugimoto would end up dead. He suspected that if both of them were to survive then the loop would end. However, it was only now that this theory had been confirmed, that it occurred to him that there was only one person who could have wished for something like that.

It’s just like Asirpa. Rather than wanting to have her father back, her true wish was for her companions to survive. The hellish repeating world was nothing but a twisted byproduct of that innocent wish. Ogata can’t even be annoyed at the girl herself. The fault lies with whatever being decided to grant her wish in such a roundabout way.

Ogata reflexively glares at the sky, but quickly lowers his gaze. No point in thinking too deeply about weird supernatural things. With any luck they won’t consider interfering again. Ogata would rather not waste time, energy and headspace on immaterial problems that he can’t kill with a bullet.

He briefly wonders if killing Asirpa would release them from the looping world, too, but immediately abandons that line of thoughts. There’s no point in dwelling on possibilities he had not taken.

He slowly rises from the ground. None of his companions wake up. He walks a bit until he finds a tree that fits his purposes. He climbs it.

He scouts the area. He sees a few Ainu boats, but no signs of Tsurumi’s soldiers chasing them.

Ogata moves his binoculars to look at Abashiri. It’s barely visible from this distance, as trees obscure most of it.

It was just one night to everyone else, but he remembers the several months of death and violence he had experienced. It feels unreal now that he has escaped that closed world.

Ogata moves his hand to his neck. There’s a small spark of pain as touches the mark Sugimoto left. It helps Ogata ground himself. He knows it will probably disappear in few days, but it’s still reassuring to have a proof that it wasn’t all just a fever dream.

He doesn’t feel regret. If anything he is excited at the prospect of meeting Sugimoto one last time for the final showdown. Their conclusion was inevitable from the beginning, even if it got derailed by a strange supernatural event. The certainty of the end feels sweet on his lips.

He couldn’t ask for anything more. He doesn’t even have to do anything, now that he has Asirpa. In time, Sugimoto will come on his own to finish everything.

He wonders if he will ever get to touch the wound he has made in Sugimoto’s head. He rubs his fingers in anticipation.

Maybe when he makes a second one.

“See you later, Sugimoto. Next time we meet, I will kill you for sure,” he mutters before he gets down onto the ground.

There’s a busy day before him. They will have to set out soon again. Not to mention, he will have to help Asirpa cheer up, so they can get the information about the code out of her.

Now that he has grasped it, he will not let anyone take the future from his hands.