Chapter 0

Moving even a single finger was impossible.

This wasn’t a metaphor; the bones in both arms, including his hands, were completely shattered. However, knowing that they would eventually heal, it wasn’t considered a big deal. The immediate problem was the lack of strength to support his body and get up from the ground.

– Tap, tap.

Thin raindrops started to fall, one or two at a time. He stared blankly at the white streaks they left under the streetlamp’s light, realizing that lately, he had been on the brink of death more often than not.

Noah slowly closed and reopened his eyes, then turned to look in the direction where Regina had been standing. Even though he had confirmed her safety until the last moment, he wanted to make sure once more.

“…?”

But Regina was nowhere to be seen. She had been holding a black cat in her arms, watching him with anxious eyes. Where had she gone? As he moved his gaze to find her, he saw Regina running beyond the streetlamp.

“…”

He blinked slowly, watching her run away as if she were fleeing.

– Next time, just go.

He had definitely told her that before.

– …If I get injured and lose consciousness like this, just run away.

Although he had said that, he hadn’t expected her to actually flee without looking back the moment she got the chance. Momentarily flustered, Noah tried to get up, but collapsed again, unable to bear the pain from his shattered wrist pressing against the ground.

“Ugh!”

– Thud.

Lying on the ground in an awkward position with his face against the dirt, Noah laughed weakly after a while.

‘…Ah, right.’

Come to think of it, she had repeatedly told him that she would definitely run away if given the chance, to the point where his eardrums nearly burst. So, it wasn’t surprising that she was leaving like this.

It was only natural for her to run. It was instinctual to flee from a predator to survive, and Noah understood her. He hadn’t mocked her when she had previously given up on escaping, either.

Even so, understanding and feeling disappointed were two different things, and he wanted to see her leaving one last time.

Noah barely managed to sit up, leaning against the streetlamp behind him. The slight movement made his breathing ragged, and his vision spun. He forced his eyes to stay open, staring at Regina’s figure as she ran away, her long black hair trailing behind her.

“…”

Calling out her name wouldn’t make a difference at this distance. Still, he traced her receding figure with his immobile fingers, hoping his voice might somehow reach her.

If she heard his voice, she would stop.

She would look back at his injured form, unsure of what to do, and eventually come back to him, crying like before. Knowing this, he didn’t call out to her. Perhaps it was Noah who truly wanted her to escape.

As his strength faded and he closed his eyes, darkness swept over him.

In the darkness, he could still see her running away, and he kept watching endlessly.

Regina.

Regina.

He called her name over and over in his mind.

“Noah! Stay with me, Noah!”

A frantic hand lightly slapped his cheek, and his eyes, which had involuntarily closed, opened slightly. Regina was looking down at him, her tear-streaked face full of desperation. Soaked by the rain, her face was even paler than his as she shook his body.

“Noah! Can you hear me?”

Why did she come back? He thought he had asked the question, but no sound came out. As his blurred vision struggled to focus, she spoke, looking down at him.

“Noah, I called for help. They’ll be here soon, so please, stay with me!”

Her violet eyes were filled with fear, and her hands trembled. Tears streamed down her cheeks, mingling with the cold rain as they fell incessantly onto his face. Each drop felt like a burn.

“Sob, please… Don’t die, Noah…!”

The rain had grown heavier.

Noah’s body temperature was dropping rapidly. Realizing this, Regina urgently pulled his head into her arms.

But she was also soaked and shivering, so it didn’t help much. Growing even more distressed, Regina wiped his face repeatedly with her trembling hands, trying to dry the cold water.

“Sob! What do I do? You’re so cold.”

Noah looked up at Regina, who was holding him tightly, and slowly raised his hand toward her. His fingertips touched her wet black hair. Despite the heat that made his eyes feel like they were burning, he didn’t close them. Instead, he silently watched her as she cried.

Suddenly, the rain blurred, and her hair and his fingers intertwined. At that moment, everything in his sight seemed to swell and shrink, constantly changing shape.

In the spinning world, only she and he remained clear.

He finally realized.

Ah, this is a dream.

It seemed he was dreaming of her return. Although he found it absurd to dream like this, he didn’t feel too bad about it.

Yes, if it’s just a dream.

Noah gently wrapped his hand around the back of her head. As his unexpected touch caused Regina to lean forward, her wet hair fell over his ear.

Seeing her violet eyes tremble, he brushed his lips against her red ones.

If it’s just a dream.

Their lips trembled together. Staring at them, Noah slowly closed his eyes.

Regina.