Rebirth Into My Second Chance

I had a nightmare again.

It was still Scar Man's hideous face haunting me. I was curled up in a corner, calling out Claude's name over and over again.

"Save me, Claude."

But the dream was a never-ending darkness. No matter how loud I shouted, there was no response.

My tears wouldn't stop flowing, and even when they dried up, Claude never came.

"Claude, why didn't you come?"

Crying myself awake, I realized my eyes were wet, and my pillow was soaked through with tears.

Those dreams, even though they're relics from a past life, still bring me sorrow just by surfacing in my sleep.

Back then, Claude never came to save me, leaving a lasting pain in my heart that I couldn't get rid of.

"Awake?" A deep, cold voice snapped me back to reality, reminding me that I had fainted right as the elevator doors opened.

Am I in Max's apartment? Lying on his couch?

His place has a vibe completely different from mine. While mine is all standard-issue decor, his is custom-designed, dominated by dark colors, simple yet comfortable.

And it's spotless. Every single item is neatly arranged, often at perfect angles-just like Max, meticulous and immaculate.

is white, now stained with the imprint of

tried to clean

of the voice. Max, dressed casually, held out a glass of warm water to me, saying,

didn't seem to mind the mess I made on

felt the warmth from Max, realizing he might be warmer than his

asked

I nodded hastily.

and opened the front door, saying,

he was

his table, thanked him, and

voice:

It was Ronald.

room, a towel draped over his head, his

I covered

"Sorry, to

quick my leaving now. I don't

exit.

They were living together!

as Max closed the door, I heard Ronald say, "Did that young lady

detective living together seemed like a perfect

I thought about it, a thunderclap sounded, signaling