Rebirth Into My Second Chance

I clamped my hands over my ears, refusing to listen. Max, who'd sworn he'd rather die than surrender, was still lying in bed, and I just couldn't bear the thought of going through that again. There were too many people I wanted to save. But I was utterly powerless.

"Claude, don't you die on me," I said before turning and running away.

But at that moment, Claude was actually smiling as he handed a black bag to his bodyguard.

It wasn't until the next day when I used what was in the bag that I understood.

I spent the night beside Max, feeling his body temperature gradually fall.

"Max, you gotta wake up soon, buddy. If you do, we might just have won this thing."

I rested my head on his arm, the one without wounds, and felt his warmth. It was the only comfort I had these past few days.

Without him, life felt empty and meaningless. I fell asleep by his side, and in my dreams, I felt someone kiss my forehead.

I smiled in my sleep.

The next morning, I woke up early to find Max unchanged. He was in no condition to move, but I figured he'd be safe now with the Hilton family.

charge of looking after

completely and had someone loudly announce my return

come looking for me last night, probably delayed by something. When I opened the door, Richard was there, setting up breakfast. "Decided to come back, huh?" He didn't meet my gaze, but the coldness in his eyes sent a shiver down

away, clenching my fists: "Last night, I went to see Max one

no excuse would convince him, not when I didn't know how much he already

and unsteady, leaning against the wall. He reached out to steady me, and I trembled

it?" The thought of Max covered in knife wounds, the

those injuries

Crestview Metropolis is a stroke of luck," he said, helping me sit down. "You loved the lobster yesterday,

breakfast."

glanced at it and said, "Crab is cold in nature; it could

for a moment, then said,

don't you cook instead? It's been a while,

the fridge, which, despite his long absence, was stocked with fresh

prepared

cook for me all along? A final breakfast?" He ignored my question, busying himself in the

the packet of pills

pocket but ultimately decided