You’ll die ~

My heart pounded as I read the text on the screen. Beads of sweat trickled down my face as I glanced at Arashi. He noticed my gaze and silently raised his eyebrow, sending me to a flinch. I quickly shifted my eyes, furrowing my brows as I looked back at the hovering text.

So what? You want me to guess?!

Yup ~

My fist clenched, trembling as I started hurling at the text. And as I did, Aoi-san’s voice reached my ears in a whisper. ‘Does he get crazier with each resurrection.’

My fist halted in the air. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves and crossed my arms against my chest. I asked.

Even though I know I can die?

Exactly ~

My feet stomped the ground, pacing around as I tried to calm myself down. With each step on the gravelly surface, small clouds of dust trailed. Their gazes felt prickly—I found myself shivering as they stared. I felt suffocated as I pursed my lips to suppress a shout.

And why should I do that?!

There was a slight pause before the words shifted, morphing into a reply. The words I read made me kick at the ground, sending the littered stones flying.

Do you have a choice?

I…Fine.

I closed my eyes, whipping my head toward the two. But as I did, I noticed Aoi-san slowly reaching for her spear. Her fingers slowly curled around the silver shaft. Then, Arashi met my eyes—he shrugged his shoulders as he tilted his head toward her.

Don’t shrug me, you!

He abruptly glared, prompting me to jump back.

Are…you sure he can’t read my mind too?

Guess ~

I glared at the screen, wishing I could just smash it to pieces. I heard Arashi clear his throat. ‘Is…it really true that you lose some of your sanity with each resurrection?’

‘No, no. That’s not true!’ I shouted, frantically shaking my head toward him, waving my hands.

He stared in doubt before speaking. ‘That…is a lie…’

I pressed forward. ‘No, it’s not!’

He approached, placing a hand on my shoulder. ‘It’s okay…you don’t have to lie. You’re our responsibility now…’.

His firm gaze matched mine as he continued. ‘We won’t abandon you.’

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I froze, my mind racing as I heard his words.

He…won’t abandon me…? To someone he barely knows…Is that really…

The screen flickered, catching my attention. I clenched my jaw and faced down at the rough ground, refusing to look at it.

Don’t forget. This is all fake. He…is fake.

I took a deep breath, directing my gaze back toward him.

Even if he means it…I can't have expectations…

I felt my heart squeeze, a lump forming in my throat as a certain memory resurfaced.

Even my parents abandoned me…so why would I have expectations from a fictional character?

I sighed. The handsome protagonist stood before me, perfect in every angle.

His chiseled jawline cast a striking shadow against his long neck, while his deep-set eyes, a stormy shade of blue, held a weight of unspoken burdens.

There was a magnetic pull to his features, an effortless charm that made him almost unreal as if he had stepped out of the pages of a romance novel–well he had.

Damn…why does the male lead get to have it all?!

I saw his lips slightly curling up, his narrowed eyes softening his gaze. It radiated a warmth that felt almost…homely, an unnerving contrast to his usual cold edge.

My mind turned blank, words barely forming as I stuttered. ‘N-no. I-I mean…of course, it’s a traumatizing experience. I’m dying after all.’

I looked straight at him as he raised his eyebrows, a slight crease forming on his forehead. I continued ‘But as far as I know…the resurrection won’t make me lose my sanity.’

He parted his lips but didn’t say anything. The crackling of the fire cut through the silence, filling the air with the scent of burning wood. The sound was comforting, easing the tension between us. I tilted my head, raising my eyebrows as I wordlessly waited for him to speak. He paused, gaze drifting to the flames, before giving a reluctant nod.

‘I understand.’

The warmth vanished, replaced by his usual guarded look. His shoulders stiffened as he turned away, eyes fixed on the flames.

Is he…a tsundere?

He walked back to the fire and sat down in front of it. He resumed poking at it with a stick.

My eyes caught Aoi-san shaking her head at the ground before sighing.

I guess…he tends to act like this often…?

The screen flickered again, attracting my attention toward it. My eyes widened as I read the words displayed on it.

You’re screwed ~

Huh?

I didn’t even know what happened, but the implication was enough to make my stomach churn. My pulse raced as I watched the letters morph and change forming a new sentence. I felt like banging my head against the wall. My eyes darted between the two protagonists, stopping at the 1 above Aoi-san’s head.

I bit my lip, forcing myself to look at the screen. The words made me wonder if I should just kill myself…except I’d come back so it wouldn’t do much good.

Your favorability increased again ~

I shakily looked up as a chill ran down my spine. A 20 hovered above my head, freezing me in place before I whipped my head toward him in shock.

Twenty. Favorability at twenty. How? Just hours ago, I was at minus points...and now—Aoi-san’s is at...No. What the fuck?! What the fuck did I even do?! It doesn’t make sense. None of this does!

WARNING!

My breath hitched as I saw the ominous word flashing above me. Then, the next words on the screen were like a relentless knife, twisting in my chest. My nails dug into my clenched palm as the message flashed on the screen. It felt like my hopes were slowly being grounded into dust. I regretted it…a lot.

Why did I click that link?!

I looked at the lone back of the man sitting in front of the flames. Sparks flew from the sputtering flames, its light wrapping around his silhouette. It cast a long shadow on the ground, reaching my feet. I crouched down and gently touched it. I knew…he must have been through a lot.

This man deserved to live and if I hadn’t…that would’ve been it for him.

This situation is neither his fault nor is it mine…

I turned my head toward the woman shuffling to sit next to him.

This is all on that bitch.

I looked back at the screen and regarded the sinister words – a death sentence.

HIDDEN CONDITION: THE FEMALE LEAD'S FAVORABILITY DROPPING BELOW ZERO WILL RESULT IN FAILURE AND IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF THE STORY.

Fuck you.

To be continued…

----------------------------------------