The River of Time!

Ongoing Serial: a series of episodes, published over a span of weeks/months/years where the story plot is connected from chapter to chapter and must be read in chronological order for it to be understood properly.
Chapter Serial: a series of episodes, published over a span of weeks/months/years where the story plot is self-contained to a single chapter. There may be an overarching plot, but the stories can generally be read in any order and be understood
Book: an all-in-one self contained story published as a one-off.
Supplement: an an all-in-one self contained story published as a stand-alone supplement to a regular weekly/monthly periodical.
Short Story: an all-in-one, self contained story that was published in a regular weekly/monthly periodical
Anthology: a collection of all-in-one, self contained stories that were published in a regular weekly/monthly periodical but are generally grouped together.

“The River of Time!”
Ryuichi seems to have it all – his grades are at the top of the class, he’s the school’s kendo champion, and he’s dating Kumiko, the prettiest girl in school. Frustrated by Ryuichi’s luckiness in love, the school bully decides to have him followed and soon discovers the secret to his success – Ryuichi has found a secret tunnel that gives him access to the River of Time! Flowing in the opposite direction of normal time, the river allows someone to return to the past and gives them a chance to do something over and over again until they get it right… including figuring out what will get you a date with the prettiest girl in school.Of course, then the race is on to see who can win Kumiko’s heart. As the two rivals push further and further into the river, a fight breaks out and the bully ignores the warnings and ends up floating just a bit too far…

From the story, “Good Fortune” (1970), part of Tezuka’s “Twilight Zone” style work, The Crater (1969-70).

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