In the isolated coastal town of Kurohane, eerie spiral patterns begin appearing everywhere—on walls, in trees, even in people’s reflections. When Renji Kisaragi, a skeptical high school journalist, returns home after hearing about his brother Shun’s sudden and mysterious death, he finds himself trapped in a nightmarish time loop.

Every time he dies, time rewinds—resetting two days earlier. But with each reset, reality twists further: people disappear, time fractures, and his own body begins to change. As he searches for the cause, he discovers his estranged father, Kaoru Kisaragi, may have been the one who triggered the loop.

Aided by his childhood friend Aoi Tsukimura, who holds secrets of her own, Renji must uncover the mystery of The Spiral Gate before it consumes everything. But some truths are worse than death. And the entity behind the spirals does not want to be stopped.

Renji must make an impossible choice: sacrifice himself to break the loop—or risk losing his humanity to escape.

Renji's fingers trembled as he traced the faint spiral scar on his palm.


> "The one who breaks the cycle becomes the new vessel."


The words from the notebook echoed in his mind, growing heavier with each repetition.


Aoi shut the notebook, her face pale. "There has to be a way to remove it."


Kaito ran a hand through his hair. "Or at least stop it from spreading."


Renji clenched his fists. He could feel something beneath his skin—something stirring.


> Like a whisper waiting to grow louder.


"We need answers," he said, forcing his voice to stay steady.


Aoi nodded. "There's an old university in the next city. They have an archive of ancient folklore. Maybe we'll find something there."


As they left the inn, a strange pressure settled in Renji's chest.


The world around him felt… different.


The colors of the buildings seemed a bit off—like the hues were slightly twisted, warped at the edges.


The distant sound of chatter from people walking past felt distorted.


"Renji?" Aoi's voice was laced with concern.


But as he looked at his reflection in a nearby shop window—


The train ride to the next city was quiet.


Renji sat near the window, staring at his palm, feeling the scar itch.


Aoi and Kaito sat across from him, their unease evident.


Kaito finally broke the silence. "Tell me the truth. How bad is it?"


He wanted to tell them that he was fine. That this was just another mystery to solve.


"I don't think this is just a mark," he admitted. His voice was barely above a whisper. "I think… something is inside me."


Aoi swallowed hard. "We'll find a way to stop it."


But deep inside, a whisper coiled around his thoughts—soft, insidious.


But as the train continued forward, he couldn't shake the feeling—


Chapter 37 - The Vessel’s Burden