（View of Xinlan Yu Nai）

If you could start over, what form would you wish for?

If it were me…

"Die! Die! Just die!"

My eyes were fixed on the TV screen, not taking my hands off the game controller, playing frantically!

And on the screen, the hero, under my control, fought bravely like a paladin, cutting down all blockers, until reclaiming the castle belonging to the strong and saving the beloved…

"Hehehe, annoying, Jiangwu!"

"Hey hey, is there anything wrong with confirming the progress of your girlfriend?"

It’s that couple from the hallway again, ugh!

Interrupting my gaming enjoyment, but who asked us, or rather, me, to work in this kind of convenience store?

I ruffled my wind-blown hair in annoyance.

"Hate it, forget it, let's freshen up for today first!"

Oh, I haven’t introduced myself yet. While I'm still getting ready, let me introduce myself.

Oh right, I haven’t introduced myself yet. My name is Xinlan Yu Nai, a student who was supposed to go to high school and live a very ordinary life that can be described as repeatedly repetitive.

But a year ago, due to poor exam results, I managed to get admitted to a private academy.

Initially, the tuition fee of the academy was reasonable, or else my father would definitely not let me go.

Honestly, Grandpa is very stubborn and cold towards me, but Grandma is kind to me, occasionally checking on me and once even tried to pay my tuition for me which I stopped her from doing.

I really don’t want to cause trouble for my family anymore, nor do I want my parents to misunderstand me again!

"Gurgle...ugh!"

I spat out the mouthwash, looking at the face in the mirror that seemed forever asleep, I scoffed.

“Am I not their real daughter? Why should I be blamed for their poor education?”

Complaining to myself, after arranging my toiletries, I returned to my room and faced the shabby desk in the corner.

"Alright, my shoulder bag, laptop, etc...ready, oh...wait, there's one more thing!"

Saying that, I turned to the photo frame on the desk and waved my hand.

"Take care, sis."

This morning, the manager is on duty, our manager is a slightly older single woman.

If spoken softly, she's the kind of woman who can never get married...haha, uh!

I don't know when the manager suddenly appeared behind me and gave me a slap on the back of my head, making me suddenly half awake.

"You aren't badmouthing me in your head again, are you?"

A horrifying face pressed closely against my shoulder from behind, orange hair wrapping around my neck, making me unable to move.

"Manager… manager?!"

"Prepare yourself!"

I thought the manager would hit me with something strange again, but surprisingly, after closing my eyes for a while, there was no sensation of contact on my body.

"..."

"I tricked you, hahaha!"

The manager smiled and handed me a somewhat thick envelope, comforting me by saying,

"Just take the extra ten thousand as additional support."

"Eh?"

The manager is actually giving me a raise, but I'm just doing part-time work here, is that okay?

"Well, the number of items sold this month has increased a lot, not to mention…"

"Hmm?"

"It's almost Christmas, how can I go out with my boyfriend without a little help?"

She pushed me from behind with a smile.

"Help me watch the store, we can only leave at noon!"

"Okay."

Since my parents and grandparents moved out, this place has become empty. Now, I'm the only one living here, while my grandparents live in a small village ten kilometers away from the city.

Perhaps they prefer the tranquility, as for my parents, they probably gave up on my family situation a long time ago.

"Words spoken will lead to regret, I'm so naive."

I didn't come into this world to accept other people's kindness.

That doesn't mean I've been redeemed by others, even though it's frustrating, that's the reality.

"Sorry, but I need to go back home as someone's there!"

"It's okay... young people like you these days are so unreliable."

"...Did I mention I'm busy?"

I work at a friend's place that I know, doing cleaning work. I've always worked here, coming in from time to time, as I need to take care of myself.

I can't remember why I started working at this electronics store and how I knew her.

"Hehe, just kidding. But remember, you have to work overtime all day tomorrow when you come back."

"Yes, manager."

After thanking the manager and bidding farewell to everyone in the shop, it's quick and easy for me to go back home now.

Even though my previous home was always wealthy, it was also restrictive. But now, the feeling of freedom is much better than before.

All I need now is to calmly wait, that's enough... it's just enough!

（Tsubaki KyuJuxi）

The ice and snow began to erode my body, white things moving everywhere, constantly multiplying as if to grasp and engulf me in it.

I can't distinguish whether what's in front of my eyes is reality or not. If it's an illusion, then let me stay in this night forever.

Physical sleep is natural, but I have no drowsiness at all now.

Wake up quickly... it's time to wake up, don't fall asleep again...!

In a daze, it seems like someone is whispering next to my ear, urging me to leave quickly and not stay any longer.

"..."

In a sudden moment, I wanted to open my eyes from the darkness, but I had no idea what I could do.

What reason is there to live?

After figuring it out, I'll open my eyes and see this world, and discover... discover.

In the corner, there is still that boy, wearing a white T-shirt with a cap pulled down so low that it couldn't go any lower, seemingly out of place with everything around him.

"Hey, don't you want to..."

"What?" Silence ensued as the youth wanted to make friends, but the coldness in the boy's beautiful eyes made the youth hesitate.

"That!" The youth's words made the boy a bit impatient, and right before the storm, he calmly asked, "What's bothering me?"

"Would you like to know what kind of underwear girls wear?!"

Nervousness overwhelmed the youth's rationality. It seemed like he mustered up courage and lost control of his brain to say this earth-shattering sentence.

"Chuckling... Well, hahaha."

The boy covered his mouth, trying hard to hold back his laughter. His faint smile gradually turned into a hearty laugh, leaving the teenager feeling a bit bewildered. However, the full smile on the former's face made the latter unable to help but burst into silly laughter as well.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh," he cursed in his heart, "I'm not a homo! It's not because I like you!"

After much internal struggle, Yuanhui also gave him a big smile. However, in his eyes, it was comparable to the villainous grin in a certain movie, a chilling smile that was enough to give anyone on the street a reason to beat him up.

"Alright, alright, you know the person who doesn't take anything lightly. I need to rest in the infirmary for a while, so you go back to the classroom and attend your classes first."

"Of course, as a top student like you, skipping classes won't make you fall behind. If a slacker like me doesn't attend classes, I'll be in big trouble!"

Before leaving, he couldn't resist making a joke, teasing the boy by pulling a funny face.

"How could I... um?"

Everything around him felt so unfamiliar. Yukari was no longer by his side, leaving behind... what?

A strange girl he had never seen before stood in front of him, slender fingers reaching out with a transparent glass of water.

"Thank you."

This time, it was his turn to politely take the glass of water and gulp it down.

*Gulp, gulp... cough, cough!*

Chugging down a big gulp almost choked him, causing the girl to panic and vigorously pat his back until he could catch his breath.

"You... you're a bit strange, aren't you?"

She seemed to have noticed something, her eyes showing a hint of suspicion that made him uncomfortable.

"Strange?'' He reached out to touch the corner of his mouth, but there was no trace of any shameful liquid (saliva) there, which only added to his confusion.

"That's enough!"

Even though she was wearing the oversized black coat from his room, there was nothing underneath except for underwear.

I tried to shift her out of my sight as much as possible.

"Hold on, I don't even know your name."

She tried to grab my arm first, but I coldly pushed her away.

"Neither do I." I knew saying this might come off as trying to act cool, but I didn't have time to waste with her now.

"Hey!"

"Hmm?"

Although it pained me to do so, I opened up about my true feelings.

After all, I had bid farewell to the hypocritical creatures called humans...

Seated on the couch, I pretended to ignore her presence, avoiding eye contact and not looking in her direction, but out of male instinct, I couldn't help steal a glance.

Her hair was still damp from the shower, with dewdrops glistening faintly on top.

"I'm truly grateful to you."

"Why? I haven't done anything."

Looking back, I knew I couldn't stay there any longer.

Perhaps there was nothing worth waiting for.

The events of that day were still fresh in my mind, reminiscing...

The world seemed to quiet down, devoid of the tremors of life, burdened only by guilt.

Death, so common yet so painfully hard to accept.

I tried to struggle to stand up from the ground but found myself...

"Mmm... well, you've done much better than I expected."

Edward couldn't wait to leap off the osprey, pinched the sweat dropping from his hands, and glanced at the underground full of his people's corpses before clapping his hands in approval.