During the summer vacation of his second year in high school, Sakamachi Yuto suddenly finds himself thrown one month back in time.
He doesn't understand why it happened or why a senpai who should be dead is still alive. But there is only one thing that matters to Yuto: saving the beloved senpai who died at last year's Inter-High.
The senpai's name is Shinkai Haruto. He was the ace of the bicycle road racing club, a person as bright as the sun, faster than anyone else. But just before the finis
Pedal Once More: The Day We Reclaim That Summer - A cold testimony, a shadow emerges.
The lab air was frozen solid.
The low hum of the AC. The faint flicker of old fluorescent lights.
Yuuto stared hard at Kai Ryousuke's back.
"...No doubt about it."
Kai turned around.
On the monitor: the crash footage, zoomed in.
A split-second flash on the rear rim of the rider ahead of Haruto-senpai.
Kai zoomed in further.
"Laser pointer. High output. Aimed from the top deck of that equipment stand in the spectator seats."
Yuuto's throat made a dry, whistling sound.
"...So it wasn't an accident."
His voice shook.
That crash was staged.
Someone aimed that light at Haruto-senpai — with intent to kill.
His mouth went bone-dry.
Rage.
Blood boiling rage, all through his body.
His left hand grabbed his own collar without thinking.
Fingers dug in.
"Can I get this footage? The analysis data too."
"Yeah. But don't carry this alone. I'll do what I can."
"...Thank you."
He bowed his head.
But no.
This is my fight.
After school.
Yuuto sat alone on a train heading into the city.
Unfamiliar streets streamed past the window.
Buildings. Expressways. Sprawling overcast sky.
Toumyou Academy.
The place where Haruto-senpai's greatest rival was.
The only rider who didn't get caught in the final crash in the previous timeline.
He passed through the school gate.
So big.
Clean buildings.
Well-kept grounds.
Nothing like Minase Minami.
He'd already looked up the club room location.
The newly built training center behind the gym.
Yuuto stood at its entrance.
He waited.
Ten minutes.
Fifteen.
—Creak.
The door opened.
Out came a tall man.
Short hair, nearly silver, streaked with white.
Skin so pale it looked sick.
Narrow, sharp eyes.
They gleamed pale blue depending on the light.
Koga Souma.
His gaze caught Yuuto.
Eyes like ice. No warmth at all.
"...What do you want."
His voice was cold too.
Not a trace of emotion in it.
Yuuto stepped forward.
"Koga Souma, right. I'm Sakamachi Yuuto. From Minase Minami."
"I know. Shinkai Haruto's assist, I assume."
The moment his name came up, Yuuto's chest clenched tight.
"I'll get straight to it. Last year's Inter-High, the final crash. The rider ahead of Haruto-senpai — right before he lost balance — did you see anything strange?"
Koga's silver eyes narrowed, just a fraction.
"...What do you know?"
Silence.
Yuuto stared back, refusing to back down.
"I want you to answer."
Koga let out a small breath.
"It wasn't an accident."
He said it with certainty.
"Right before the rider ahead had his tire burst — his eyes flickered. Just for a moment. Like something blinded him. As if he'd looked straight into a strong light."
Yuuto's fingers twitched.
"...I knew it."
"You knew. Why."
Emotion crept into Koga's voice for the first time.
Suspicion.
"I can't tell you. But I have to protect my senpai."
"...I see."
Koga looked away from Yuuto.
"Do you know a freelance mechanic named Kurosaki Tetsuji?"
The name made Yuuto's heart jump.
"...Yeah."
"Kurosaki handles equipment for several powerhouse schools single-handedly. Before every race, he makes the rounds checking each school's pit equipment. Before last year's final — one of our club members saw him touching Haruto's bike."
Certainty hardened inside Yuuto.
The culprit is Kurosaki.
"But there's no proof. Only circumstantial evidence."
Koga's words gouged into Yuuto's chest.
"What can you do alone? What matters is proof."
He'd hit the mark.
Yuuto couldn't say a word.
He was forced to face the truth: he had nothing but memories from the future.
"...Why are you telling me this?"
Koga turned his back.
"Because it's not rational. Shinkai Haruto was an opponent I was supposed to defeat. Having that taken from me in such a way — I can't accept it."
With that, Koga disappeared back into the training center.
Yuuto stood there, frozen.
He clenched his fists.
The train ride back.
Outside the window, it was already dark.
Haruto's smile surfaced in Yuuto's mind.
A smile bright as the sun.
At the same time, the sharp downhill curve of Kazakiri flashed through his thoughts.
The sound of brakes.
Frames piling on top of each other.
Red.
No time.
Impatience squeezed at his stomach.
He had to get proof.
But how?
The train's swaying felt far too heavy.
By the time he got back to Minase, it was completely dark out.
Yuuto got on his bike and headed for the club room.
Up Inori Hill.
The slope felt longer than usual.
The club room lights were off.
No one's here anymore.
That's what he thought.
—But.
There was a figure in front of the club room.
Arms crossed, leaning against the wall.
Short, brownish hair.
Even in the dark, he knew.
Shinkai Haruto.
Yuuto's heart hammered.
Haruto raised his head.
His eyes held none of their usual sunlit glow.
"...You're late, Sakamachi."
A low voice.
Yuuto stopped his bike.
"Senpai... why are you here?"
"We need to talk."
Haruto looked straight into Yuuto's eyes.
That gaze felt like it would crush his heart.
"Open the club room."
Yuuto did as he was told and took out the key.
With trembling fingers, he slid it into the lock.
Click.
The door opened.
Haruto went in first.
Yuuto followed.
Inside the pitch-black club room.
A closed-off space. Just the two of them.
Haruto didn't turn on the lights.
Silence pressed down on them.
Yuuto swallowed his breath, as if resigning himself.
—Now. I'll tell him everything.
That was the moment he made his decision.
Brrrr.
Haruto's smartphone rang.
Haruto looked at the screen.
"...It's the faculty advisor."
He answered the call.
A short exchange.
"...Yes. ...Understood. Final confirmation for tomorrow's joint practice. ...Yes. Excuse me."
He hung up.
In the darkness, Haruto looked at Yuuto.
"...I'll hear what you have to say after practice tomorrow. Don't run."
With just those words, Haruto left the club room.
The door closed.
Yuuto stood alone in the dark.
A few hours left.
He had to tell him everything.
Haruto-senpai had already seen through his lies.
He had no choice but to talk.
But — would he believe him?
Fear crawled up from his feet.
Despair tightened around his heart, vise-like.
Even so, Yuuto let out a small breath.
No choice but to do it.
Whatever the outcome, there was no turning back now.
Alone in the darkness, Yuuto thought only of tomorrow.
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