The city felt normal again.
Too normal.
People walked past us like nothing had happened.
Cars moved.
Voices filled the air.
But for me—
Everything had changed.
I glanced at her.
She was walking beside me.
Quiet.
Her steps slower than before.
"…You're injured."
I said.
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
She stopped.
For a moment—
She looked like she was going to argue.
But then…
She sighed.
"…It hurts a little."
"A little?"
She didn't answer.
That was enough.
"Sit."
I pointed at a bench nearby.
"…You're ordering me now?"
"Just sit."
A small pause.
Then she did.
Slowly.
Carefully.
I sat next to her.
Closer than before.
Not too close.
But not far either.
"…Let me see."
She hesitated.
Then slowly—
She moved her hand.
There was a bruise.
Worse than I expected.
"…He hit you hard."
"…Yeah."
Silence.
My jaw tightened.
"…Next time, I won't let that happen."
She looked at me.
"…There will be a next time."
I knew.
But hearing it…
Made it real again.
"…We need to get stronger."
I said.
She nodded.
"…Fast."
I looked at my hand.
The mark was still there.
Faint.
But alive.
"…That voice…"
I said quietly.
"It mentioned a skill."
She nodded again.
"…Awakening."
"You know about it?"
"A little."
I turned to her.
"…Then tell me."
She looked ahead.
Thinking.
"…When you survive your first real encounter…"
She said slowly.
"…the system recognizes you."
"…Recognizes?"
"…Like you're part of the game now."
A cold feeling ran through me.
"…And then it gives you something."
"…A skill."
"Exactly."
Silence.
"…Do you have one?"
I asked.
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
"…Yeah."
"What is it?"
A pause.
"…I move faster."
I blinked.
"…That explains earlier."
She gave a small nod.
"…What about you?"
"…Reaction Boost."
She looked at me again.
"…That's useful."
"…Barely saved me."
"…But it did."
Silence.
For a moment—
Things felt… calm.
Strange.
In the middle of all this—
We were just sitting there.
Talking.
Like normal people.
"…Why did you do it?"
I asked suddenly.
She frowned slightly.
"…Do what?"
"…Step in front of him."
Silence.
Her eyes shifted away.
"…I don't know."
"That's not true."
A pause.
She exhaled slowly.
"…I didn't want you to die."
My chest tightened.
"…Why?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Just stared ahead.
"…Because…"
Her voice softened.
"…you stayed."
I blinked.
"…What?"
"…You didn't run."
A small pause.
"…Most people do."
I looked down slightly.
"…I was scared."
"I know."
Silence.
"…But you still stayed."
Something about that…
Felt different.
Heavy.
But not bad.
"…You're weird."
I said.
She looked at me.
"…You're not normal either."
I smiled a little.
"…Fair."
For the first time—
She smiled too.
Small.
But real.
And for a second—
I forgot everything.
The game.
The danger.
The marks.
Everything.
Until—
The mark burned again.
"—!"
I clenched my hand.
"…You felt that?"
She asked quickly.
I nodded.
"…Yeah."
Her expression changed instantly.
Serious again.
"…It's starting."
"…What is?"
She stood up.
"…The next phase."
My chest tightened.
"…Already?"
"…There's no time limit."
Silence.
"…Only pressure."
I stood up too.
"…Then we don't wait."
She looked at me.
"…You're changing."
"…I don't have a choice."
A pause.
"…We train."
I said.
"…Right now."
She nodded slowly.
"…Good."
For a moment—
We just stood there.
Facing each other.
Closer than before.
"…We survive together."
I said.
She held my gaze.
Longer this time.
"…For now."
Not forever.
We both knew that.
But still—
It was enough.
They chose to fight together…
But in a game where only one survives…
How long can that last? 👀💔