Chapter 2

           It’snoteasytellingapersonsomethingyouknowisgoingtomakethemcry,letalonedoingitwithanaudience.AndifJinYonabaruisinthataudience,you’reupshitcreekinaconcretecanoewithaholeinthebottom.

           Lasttimeithadcomeoutsoundingtooforced.Iwastryingtothinkofabetterwaytosayit,butIcouldn’tcomeupwithanythingshortandsweetthatwouldletRitaknowthatIwasalsoexperiencingthetimeloops.MaybeIshouldjusttellherthat.Hell,Ididn’thaveanybetterideas.

           I’dneverbeenparticularlysmart,andwhatlittlebrainsIdidhavewerepreoccupiedwithtryingtofigureoutwhyIhadn’tbrokenoutoftheloopaccordingtoplan.I’ddoneeverythingjustasRitatoldme,buthereIwasonmy160thdaybeforethebattle.

           TheskyovertheNo.1TrainingFieldwasasclearthe160thtimeasithadbeenthefirst.Theteno’clocksunbeatdownonuswithoutpity.PThadjustended,andtheshadowspooledatourfeetwerespeckledwithdarkerspotsofsweat.

           Iwasatotalstrangertothiswomanwithrust-coloredhairandskinfartoopaleforasoldier.Herrichbrowneyesfixedonme.

           "Soyouwantedtotalk.Whatisit?"

           Iwasoutoftime,andIwasfreshoutofbrightideas.I’dhavebeenbetterofftakingherasidebeforePT.Toolatenow.

           IlookedatRitaandsaidthesamebitaboutgreenteaIhadbefore.Hey,thatdidn’tgosobadthistime,Ithought.Maybeshe’snotgoingto-oh,fuck.