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.

left Helen in charge

trusted her completely and had someone loudly announce my return to my

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

fists: "Last night, I went to see Max one last

him, not when I didn't know

leaning against the

of Max covered in knife wounds, the pain he must've endured... How

those injuries

he said, helping me sit down. "You

breakfast."

said, "Crab is cold in

paused for a moment, then said, "Then let's go out

"Why don't you cook instead? It's been

taken aback by my suggestion but still opened the fridge, which, despite

had prepared

planned to cook for me all along? A final breakfast?" He ignored

packet of pills in

pocket but ultimately decided