The rain had been falling since the afternoon.
At first, it was gentle—soft taps against the window.
Now, it poured relentlessly, as if the sky itself refused to stay quiet.
"…This is pointless."
I stared at the open textbook in front of me, unmoving.
The words blurred together.
None of it made sense.
How do people even study like this…?
The door creaked open.
"Big brother…"
A small, hesitant voice.
"…What is it, Lily?"
"I'm bored…"
She stepped inside slowly, clutching the edge of her dress.
"Let's play something."
I paused.
Just for a second.
Then—
"I'm busy. I have exams tomorrow."
"…You're always busy."
"I told you, I have exams. Go play by yourself."
"…Okay…"
Something about the way she said that made me turn.
Lily stood near the door, her shoulders slightly lowered, her lips puffed.
She wasn't crying.
But she looked… hurt.
"…Big brother?"
"Hm?"
"Why are you studying?"
"What do you mean?"
"I've never seen you study before."
"…Hey. That's rude."
"But it's true."
…Direct hit.
"Tomorrow's exam is important," I said.
"For once."
"That's weird."
"What is?"
"You never cared before."
I couldn't argue with that.
"I just… want to make Mom and Dad proud."
The moment the words left my mouth—
even I knew they sounded fake.
Lily stared at me for a few seconds.
Then—
"Hmmm…"
She frowned.
"You're acting strange today."
"…Just go play."
"Hmph!"
She puffed her cheeks.
"Fine! I'll play alone!"
She turned and walked out.
Her footsteps echoed down the hallway—
then faded as she ran downstairs.
The room fell silent.
"…Why does it feel so quiet…?"
I stared at the door.
For a moment—
I almost got up.
"…No. I said I'd study."
I forced myself to look back at the book.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
"Yeah… no. This is impossible."
I shut the book.
Hard.
"I seriously can't do this…"
Why could I read novels for hours—
but not this?
"…Maybe I'll just go down for a bit."
I stood up and stepped out of my room.
The hallway felt… strange.
Too quiet.
"…Lily?"
No response.
I walked toward the stairs.
Slowly.
Step.
Step.
Step.
"…Lily?"
Nothing.
And then—
"…Huh?"
My body froze.
She was there.
At the bottom of the stairs.
"…Lily…?"
Not moving.
I stepped closer.
Slowly.
Something red spread beneath her.
"…No…"
My heart skipped.
"No… no… no…"
I rushed forward and dropped beside her.
"Lily! Hey—Lily!"
I grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
"Wake up!"
Her body was limp.
Too still.
"This isn't funny… stop joking…"
My voice trembled.
"…That's…"
Blood.
"WAKE UP!!"
"Let's play! You said you wanted to play, right?!"
No response.
"Please… just open your eyes…"
"HELP!! SOMEONE, HELP!!"
My voice echoed through the house.
No one came.
"…Why…?"
Where were the maids?
The guards?
Why was no one here?
My hands shook as I grabbed my phone.
"Pick up… pick up…"
Click.
"Rey? I'm in a meeting—"
"MOM!! LILY—LILY'S—!"
My voice broke.
"She's bleeding! She won't wake up!!"
"…What?"
Silence.
Then—
"What did you say?!"
Her voice cracked.
Completely different from before.
"M-Mom, there's blood everywhere—I don't know what to do—she's not waking up—!"
"…No… no, that's not—"
I heard something fall on her side.
A chair, maybe.
"Rey, listen to me! Stay calm—no, don't stay calm—just listen!"
Her breathing was uneven.
Shaky.
"Is she breathing? Rey, is she breathing?!"
"I—I don't know—!"
"…Call an ambulance! Right now! And the police too!"
"O-Okay—!"
"And Rey—!"
Her voice dropped.
Trembling.
"…There might still be someone in the house."
My body froze.
"Lock yourself in a room. Don't move. We're coming back right now—right now, do you hear me?!"
"…Yeah…"
Then—
I felt it.
A presence.
Right behind me.
"…Ah…"
Slowly—
I turned around.
A man stood there.
Tall.
Broad.
Wearing a suit.
Holding a knife.
"…You've been quite loud."
He smiled.
"…Why…?"
I recognized him.
The head of security.
"Turn off your phone."
My hand moved before I could think.
The call ended.
"Good boy."
He stepped closer.
Placed his hand on my head.
"…Why did you do this…?"
"Hm?"
He tilted his head.
"I made a deal."
"There are many valuable things in this house."
"…So you killed her?"
"She came downstairs at the wrong time."
Something inside me snapped.
I punched him.
He didn't move.
Not even a little.
"IF YOU WANTED TO STEAL, THEN STEAL!!"
"WHY DID YOU KILL HER?!"
He smiled.
Wider.
Then—
He raised the knife.
"…Ah…"
I couldn't move.
The blade pierced my chest.
"…Ah…"
No pain.
Just cold.
"…So this is… dying…"
"…Lily…"
If only—
"…Mom… Dad…"
If there really is a god—
"Give me… one more chance…"
"I'll do it right…"
My vision faded.
Darkness.
Then—
Warmth.
"…Huh…?"
Someone was holding me.
Gently.
My body felt small.
Light.
"…Where…?"
I couldn't think.
Sleep pulled me under again.
And just like that—
My second life began.