Chapter 1:
Ren woke up very early every day.
Today, after sitting up on his bed, he glanced at his clock — it was 5:03 AM. He usually woke up before five, so today he was slightly late.
Just then, his elder sister Lihua entered his room and greeted him with a bright smile,
"Good morning!"
But Ren felt confused.
From sunrise until the sun begins to sink in the west is called morning. But the sun hadn't even risen yet. So how could this be morning?
Ren belonged to a very religious and disciplined family clan. Their clan name was Tokisaki. Therefore, his full name was Tokisaki Ren.
Anyway, Lihua's cheerful morning greeting at such an early hour didn't feel pleasant to Ren. He didn't like his elder sister at all. The reason wasn't very clear — perhaps she was too caring toward him, or perhaps for some other reason.
Ren always called his sister by her name instead of addressing her as "sister." He coldly told her to leave his room. Since childhood, Lihua had grown accustomed to Ren's indifferent behavior, so she quietly left.
Ren then went to the bathroom to wash his face. He noticed that the toothpaste had run out, meaning he would have to buy some after breakfast.
After washing up and taking a bath, Ren came to the dining table for breakfast. Lihua sat beside him, and across from them sat their father, Tokisaki Kanzaki, a Deputy Commissioner (DC) in the Japan Police. He was extremely strict and cold-blooded — but only toward criminals. With his family, he was gentle and cheerful.
During breakfast, Kanzaki asked Ren whether he would still go to school before the Annual Exam. Ren replied that he wouldn't. Today was November 10, and with only about twenty days left before the exams, he wanted to study at home.
After breakfast, while leaving for the office, their father warned both his children to be careful.
He said that from November to February, gods descended from their realms to Earth. Therefore, one should be cautious while walking outside.
Ren was surprised. He asked Lihua about gods and their realms. Lihua explained that in Japanese beliefs, there were many deities worshipped by ancient people — such as Shinigami, the God of Death, and Takigami, the God of Time.
Ren immediately said he didn't believe in any of those myths or gods. He never had, and never would.
Lihua then explained why gods came down during this season. According to belief, they came to punish those who didn't believe in them — especially Takigami. Those who denied his existence would be cursed and trapped forever inside a time loop.
Ren assumed Lihua was simply trying to scare him. After all, a 17-year-old Japanese boy wouldn't normally believe in such things. Ren was seventeen, and Lihua was about two and a half years older than him.
After finishing breakfast, Ren left the house to buy toothpaste.
While walking, he started thinking about Takigami. Did such a god truly exist? And even if he did, what proof was there? Humans existed because others could see and touch them. Eyes existed because they could see. But if Takigami couldn't be seen or touched, then what proof of existence did he have?
The world had advanced far beyond blind belief. A large portion of the global population was becoming atheist, ignoring religion and faith. Some even used logic to prove that gods didn't exist at all.Tokisaki Ren was one of them.
Ren reached the grocery shop. The shop auntie knew him well. After buying toothpaste, he headed back home. On the way, he saw an electric pole on fire, with many people trying to put it out.
Ren enjoyed experiencing something new every day. Every day brought new events. Even if a day went badly, people knew tomorrow would be another new day, another chance to try again.
Thinking about all this, Ren returned home and went straight to the family library. There was a book titled "Takigami", written by his grandfather himself.
Although Ren didn't believe in gods, he loved learning about mythologies — Greek, Egyptian, and others. Now, he decided to explore his own culture. He spent the entire day reading the book. To him, it felt like the greatest work of fiction ever written.
That night, after dinner, Ren searched for more information on his computer. At that time, Lihua came into his room with an apple. She took great care of her little brother. Both of them had loved apples since childhood, and Ren ate one almost every day.
The next morning, Ren woke up and looked at his clock.
5:04 AM.
Once again, he was late.
Just like yesterday, Lihua entered his room and greeted him, also pointing out that he was late.
Ren replied,
"You're right. Just like yesterday, I'm late."
Lihua was confused.
"Like yesterday?"
Ren went to the bathroom to wash his face — and froze in shock.
The toothpaste was finished.
How was that possible? He had bought a new one yesterday and replaced the old tube himself. Everything still seemed normal, yet this was impossible.
At breakfast, Ren felt a strange sensation — as if experiencing déjà vu. Lihua sat beside him, his father across. Then his father asked the same question again — whether Ren would go to school before the Annual Exam.
Ren replied, "I already told you yesterday I wouldn't."
His father stared at him.
"I'm asking you for the first time."
Now Ren was completely shocked.
But what truly stunned him was when he saw his father's phone.
Today's date — 10 November.
Ren stood up abruptly. He clearly remembered living through November 10 already. Today should have been the 11th.
His father kept questioning him, but Ren couldn't respond. His mind was blank. Suddenly, Lihua slapped him on the cheek. She loved him dearly, but his silence toward their father angered her.
Ren was utterly confused.
What exactly was happening?
He returned to his room and lay down, thinking perhaps the phone had malfunctioned. But how could it display the wrong date? Soon after, Lihua came in with an apple and apologized for slapping him.
Ren asked her what today's date was.
"November 10," she replied.
Ren's anxiety deepened. Was yesterday just a dream? But how could a dream feel so real?
Before leaving, Lihua reminded him to buy toothpaste since it had run out.
Ren went outside again, feeling as though he were still trapped on November 10. He bought toothpaste, and on the way back, the same electrical pole caught fire again.
At this point, Ren remembered Takigami's curse.
Maybe, just maybe, because he didn't believe in gods, he had been cursed.
Back home, he read his grandfather's book again — this time carefully, noting every important line. He spent the entire day reading, just like before.
That night, after dinner, Ren sat in deep thought. What was happening to him? Was this a form of déjà vu? A dream? But neither could ever feel this real.
Before sleeping, Ren noticed that it was a full moon.
What did it matter?
As he drifted to sleep, Ren made a silent wish.
If tomorrow was still November 10,then he had truly fallen into a curse.
But if tomorrow became November 12,then today would have been nothing more than a meaningless illusion.