Kai didn't move.
The rain hadn't started yet.
The streetlight flickered above him, casting uneven shadows across the empty pavement.
"…again," he whispered.
"Oi! You're doing that thing again."
Her voice came, bright and familiar.
Kai closed his eyes for a second.
Then opened them.
Lina stood beside him.
Alive.
Smiling.
Unaware.
This time… something was different.
Not the world.
Not the timing.
Him.
He didn't panic.
Didn't react.
Didn't grab her.
He just looked at her.
Carefully.
Like he was trying to memorize something he knew he was about to lose.
"…Kai?" Lina tilted her head. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
He didn't answer immediately.
His throat felt tight.
Words felt… heavy.
"…just making sure you're real," he said quietly.
She frowned. "That's creepy."
"…yeah."
The silence between them lingered longer than usual.
Not awkward.
Just… fragile.
Kai exhaled slowly.
Then—
He stepped closer.
Lina blinked in surprise.
"…what are you doing?"
He reached out.
Took her hand.
Warm.
Real.
His grip tightened slightly, as if he was afraid she might disappear if he let go.
"…Kai?" her voice softened. "You're seriously worrying me now."
He forced a small smile.
"…stay with me."
"What?"
"Just… stay close."
She hesitated.
But didn't pull away.
"…okay…"
The moment stretched.
Quiet.
Still.
Then—
CRACK.
The sound returned.
Louder than ever.
Closer than ever.
Lina froze.
"…that again…"
Kai's expression didn't change.
"…I know."
This time—
He didn't run.
The ground trembled.
The building groaned.
Glass shattered outward.
Chaos began.
But Kai stayed.
"…Kai, we need to move!" Lina said, panic rising in her voice.
"…no."
"What?!"
He stepped in front of her.
Positioned himself between her and the collapsing building.
"I'm not running anymore."
"Are you crazy?!"
"…maybe."
The building began to fall.
Everything slowed.
Kai moved.
Not away.
Toward her.
He pulled Lina into his arms—
Tightly.
"What are you doing?!" she shouted.
"…this time," he whispered, voice trembling slightly,
"…I'm not letting you go."
The world collapsed.
Debris rained down.
The ground split.
The air roared.
Kai turned his body—
Shielding her completely.
Pain exploded across his back.
But he didn't let go.
Didn't move.
Didn't hesitate.
"I've got you…" he whispered.
For a moment—
Just a moment—
It worked.
The noise faded.
The weight stopped.
Kai slowly opened his eyes.
"…Lina…?"
She was there.
In his arms.
Alive.
His breath hitched.
"I… did it…"
Her eyes met his.
Soft.
Confused.
"…Kai…"
"I saved you…" he whispered.
Her hand lifted weakly.
Resting against his chest.
"…you always say that…"
His smile faltered.
"…but this time it's real…"
Her expression softened.
But something felt… off.
"…Kai…"
"…yeah?"
"…you're bleeding…"
His eyes widened.
He looked down.
Blood.
A lot of it.
Too much.
The pain hit him all at once.
His body shook.
"…oh…"
The world tilted.
"…Kai…?" Lina's voice trembled now.
He smiled weakly.
"…guess I changed it after all…"
His vision blurred.
And just before everything went dark—
He saw something.
Behind Lina.
Watching them.
The distortion.
Closer than ever before.
And this time—
It was smiling.