The day began like any other, a familiar rhythm of monotonous classes and half-hearted conversations. Roy blended into the routine with surprising ease, even managing to laugh at a few of Kieran's ridiculous jokes during breaks. But something felt slightly off, a persistent undercurrent of unease Roy couldn’t quite place.

The hiccups started small. His pen burst in the middle of an essay, leaving an ink stain that spread like a dark omen. Later, during lunch, Kieran dropped an entire tray of food, earning scattered laughter from their school in the cafeteria. Despite these minor mishaps, they trudged through the day with their usual energy.

As the final bell rang, Kieran nudged Roy with a grin.

"Detour today?" he asked.

Roy raised an eyebrow, feigning disinterest. "Do I have a choice?"

"Not really," Kieran replied, already pulling him toward the school gates.

The walk to the park was steeped in nostalgia for Kieran, though for Roy, it was a curious blend of familiarity and distance. Each street corner and shop window tickled fragments of memory he knew weren’t truly his.

When they arrived at the park, Kieran dashed ahead toward the usual hiding spot beneath the gnarled roots of an old oak tree. With a triumphant shout, he unearthed the battered football they'd hidden there weeks ago.

"Still here! I told you no one would find it."

"Yeah, because everyone else outgrew playing secret football in a park," Roy quipped, but a faint smile tugged at his lips.

The game began with reckless enthusiasm, the two of them chasing the ball like kids much younger than they were. Roy lost himself in the simplicity of the moment, forgetting for a while the weight he carried. Kieran, ever the more athletic of the two, scored goal after goal, laughing at Roy's half-hearted attempts to keep up.

When they were finally exhausted, they tucked the ball back into its hiding spot and made their way to the hill.

The view from the top was stunning, as always. The town they lived in stretched out below them, a patchwork of rooftops and winding streets bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun. The horizon seemed infinite, a reminder of how small they were in the grand scheme of things.

Kieran flopped down on the grass, arms behind his head. "Man, I never get tired of this view."

Roy sat beside him, quieter, taking it all in. Something about the moment felt heavier than it should have.

Kieran broke the silence. "You good, man? You've been... off today."

Roy hesitated, his mind racing. The memories he'd relived during the day—the moments that weren’t entirely his—felt overwhelming. He had spent so long hiding his secret, even from himself. But Kieran’s easy grin, the trust in his voice, broke through the walls Roy had built.

"I need to tell you something," Roy began, his voice low.

Kieran turned to face him, his expression serious now. "What's up?"

Roy stared at the horizon, the words caught in his throat. He knew the consequences, but he also knew the weight of carrying this alone.

"Promise me you won’t laugh," Roy said.

"Dude, when do I ever laugh at serious stuff?"

"That’s not the most reassuring answer," Roy muttered, but he pressed on. "I have this...ability. Every time I die, I come back. Like, I reincarnate, but not in the normal sense. It’s like starting over in the new world but different."

 "I’ve named it Transmigration."

Kieran stared at him for a long moment before bursting out laughing. "Dude, you’ve been watching too much weird anime shit."

Roy’s lips twitched. "I’m serious.”

Kieran’s laughter subsided as he saw the sincerity in Roy’s eyes. "Wait...you’re serious?"

Roy nodded. "Yeah. I’ve...been through so much, Kieran. Things you wouldn’t believe. And somehow, I always end up here, back with you."

Kieran’s face softened, and after a moment, he grinned. "Well, even in every life from now and ever, I’ll always be your one and only best friend."

Roy let out a startled laugh. "Ok, that was so cringy; don’t do that ever again."

"But true!" Kieran declared, crossing his arms with mock seriousness.

They both laughed, the kind of laughter that came from a deep, unspoken bond. But then the world shifted.

The laughter stopped abruptly. The air grew eerily still. Kieran froze mid-laugh, his face locked in an expression of joy. The birds in the background hung motionless in the sky, and the sound of the wind ceased entirely. Roy’s breath caught as an unnatural silence enveloped him.

From the corner of his eye, he saw her. The witch, her ethereal beauty both mesmerising and terrifying, emerged from the shadows behind him. Her eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, and her lips curled into a cold smile.

"You broke the rules, Roy," she whispered, her voice both a caress and a blade.

Roy tried to move, to speak, but his body refused to obey. His heart pounded in his chest as the witch’s delicate hands reached for Kieran. She twisted his head in a single, brutal motion. The sickening crack echoed through the frozen air, and Roy could only watch in helpless horror as his best friend’s lifeless body slumped forward.

The witch turned her gaze to Roy, her smile never faltering. Before he could process what was happening, she stepped closer, placing a hand on his cheek. "Let’s start over, shall we?"

With a swift motion, she pierced into Roy’s chest and gouged out his heart, and she squished his heart. Darkness consumed him.

When Roy opened his eyes, he was back at the traffic lights, the familiar sound of cars and bustling streets surrounding him. His heart raced, and his hands trembled as he gripped the strap of his bag.

It wasn’t a reincarnation. He was back in the same timeline, the same day, just a few hours ago before he arrived at school. And he’d lost everything.