Liya stared at Ethan like he had just broken reality.
Because… he had.
Yesterday—well, the first version of yesterday—Ethan never asked her to get coffee.
He bought the book.
He left.
And later that night he died.
But now?
He stood across the counter, smiling like he had just suggested something completely normal.
"Coffee?" he repeated.
Liya blinked.
"That wasn't supposed to happen."
Ethan laughed.
"I'm starting to enjoy how concerned you look."
"You weren't meant to ask that."
"And yet here we are."
He tilted his head slightly.
"So… yes or no?"
Liya hesitated.
Her mind raced through possibilities.
If she left the bookstore early, that would already change the timeline.
And if the timeline changed…
Maybe Ethan's death could be avoided.
Or maybe it would just happen somewhere else.
She took a slow breath.
"Fine," she said.
Ethan smiled.
"Great."
"But we're not going to that café down the street."
"The death café?"
"Yes."
"Fair enough."
Ten minutes later they stepped outside.
The rain had softened into a gentle drizzle.
People walked along the sidewalks while cars moved slowly through the wet streets.
Everything still looked exactly the same.
But Liya felt something different.
A tiny shift.
A new path forming.
"So," Ethan said as they walked, "how many times have you lived today?"
"Twice."
"And I died both times?"
"Yes."
He whistled softly.
"Not great odds for me."
"You're taking this too calmly."
He shrugged.
"I figure if you were lying, you'd pick a less depressing story."
Liya glanced at him.
"You really believe me?"
"I believe you think it's real."
That answer didn't fully comfort her.
They walked in silence for a moment before reaching a small café on a different street.
Not the one from the accident.
A quiet place with warm lights glowing through the windows.
Ethan held the door open.
"After you."
Liya stepped inside.
The smell of coffee filled the air.
They sat at a corner table near the window.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Ethan leaned forward slightly.
"So tell me something," he said.
"What?"
"If today resets… do we remember anything from previous loops?"
Liya shook her head.
"Only I do."
"Interesting."
"Why?"
He tapped the table thoughtfully.
"Because earlier, when you said my name…"
"Yeah?"
"It felt familiar."
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
Ethan frowned slightly.
"I can't explain it."
He looked out the window at the falling rain.
"But when you said 'Ethan' earlier… it felt like I'd heard you say it before."
Liya's heart skipped.
"That shouldn't happen."
"Well, it did."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Ethan suddenly smiled.
"You know what this means?"
"What?"
He leaned closer.
"If this day resets every midnight…"
"…we technically have unlimited time to hang out."
Liya blinked.
"That's your takeaway from all this?"
"Absolutely."
He grinned.
"Think about it."
"Think about what?"
"If the world forgets everything tomorrow…"
He pointed between them.
"…we can do whatever we want today."
Liya shook her head, half amused, half overwhelmed.
"You're unbelievable."
"And yet you're still here."
He raised his coffee cup.
"To the weirdest day of my life."
Liya hesitated.
Then she lifted her cup too.
"To changing the ending."
They clinked cups.
Outside, the rain continued falling softly.
For a moment, everything felt almost normal.
But deep inside, Liya knew the truth.
Night was coming.
And somewhere in this city…
Fate was still waiting for Ethan.
The real test hadn't even begun yet.