In our religion," David whispered, "suicide is forbidden.
If it wasn't a sin, I would've done it—without a second thought.
That's what's been haunting me all this time.
But I've come to accept it.
I can't take revenge.
I can't change what happened.
But my sister—she's studying law.
The moment she graduates, I know she'll come for them.
That's why she chose law. She's going to bring them to justice."
Jian said,
"Let's continue—with you, Rim."
She hesitated.
"I'm really embarrassed to say this, but… I've lived a happy life compared to you all.
I mean, I truly feel sorry for you."
She looked down, nervous.
"I was born into a wealthy family. My father always took great care of me.
I lived in a hotel, and eventually… I got bored.
I complained about how being rich was boring—like you're always being watched, and you can't stay outside.
Modeling at an early age made it hard to have freedom. And that's all I really wanted.
I lived my life with no regrets—except one."
Everyone stayed silent, listening.
"I got into an argument with my dad—the one and only person who cared about me.
He left the house afterward, probably feeling bad about what happened,
He wanted to cheer me up by buying me something cute…
That's when he got into a car accident and died."
Tears filled her eyes.
"I was only five. I took all the blame for what happened.
If I hadn't been a kid… it wouldn't have happened."
I was left alone with the house manager—my monitor.
He always looked after the house and took care of me.
Years later, I was asked to take a couple of pictures… and eventually, I met a guy, my pair.
We talked, liked each other… but one day, I heard him on the phone say I'd make a 'good hoe'.
He even said I was a 'lonely, good-for-nothing', and that they had a new target.
I dumped him right after that."
She sniffed and wiped her eyes.
Then Kurai said,
"At least you dumped him. That's your luck.
And besides—don't blame yourself for what happened.
I'm really sorry for your loss, but it's not your fault for being a kid. That's just how you were raised."
I added,
"And don't take the 'good-for-nothing' insult personally.
If someone doesn't know you personally, and something happens with them—don't take it personally. Got it?"
She nodded.
"Yes… thank you."
Then Jian smiled.
"You know just what to say at the right time, don't you?"
He looked around.
"Let's continue. Who wants to go next?"
Then Taeyang raised his hand.
"I will."
He took a deep breath.
"I had a life kind of like hers.
As a kid, I was funny, dramatic, proud of my family—though I only ever knew my father.
Life got boring after a while, even with all the fame.
Dad was super rich, and I thought… I need something new."
He looked serious now.
"So I asked my dad about my mother.
He said, 'You're already grown… you want to know about your mother?'
And I said, 'Yes. I want to know her badly. Please help me.'
He gave me a location and said, 'That's where she lives.'
So I walked there, hiding my face under a hat.
It was an old house, and an old woman—my grandmother—stood outside.
I didn't know she was my grandma at first. She said, 'Come in, may I help you?'
I showed her a photo and asked, 'Is this woman here?'
She looked surprised.
'Yes… she's my daughter. Why are you looking for her?'
Then I said, 'Where is she?'
She told me to come in and asked if I knew her daughter.
When she called her over…"
His eyes softened.
"…That's when I saw where my elegant and handsome looks came from.
She was absolutely gorgeous.
I walked out to her and said,
'I… I wanted to meet you for so long.
I waited… for so long, I came all the way here.'
She looked confused.
'Wait… do I know you?' she asked.
'You're my mom,' I said.
'Yes. I'm your son, mother.'
That… that moment turned my entire life around.
I lived with her for a month.
I asked her about her relationship with Dad.
And then… I learned the truth."
He clenched his fists.
"My dad was just a player—not even a real father.
He used his money, authority, and influence to mess around with families and their daughters.
Even my mom… he took her by force.
I was just an unexpected child.
She said Dad never supported them.
Not even once.
She was surprised he even remembered me.
I asked, 'So he has many children… then why did he choose me?'
And she said,
'Mainly because you're the most handsome one.'
I lived another month with them… until Dad stopped me from visiting.
So I did everything I could to convince my mom to move on—
to build a better family.
I told her I'd always be her son.
No matter what."
His voice cracked slightly.
"She got married, had another child… and I visited her when she was pregnant.
But over time, I stopped coming."
It felt like I was just reminding her of the past.
Like I was bothering her.
So I lived alone again."
He looked down.
"I was never good at communicating.
And when you have haters, even the kindest person gets talked about.
The only person I care about is my mom… but I guess the same doesn't go for her.
Still, I want the best for her.
I'm just… a worthless bastard's son.
It makes sense."
we said like a mother like a son is the case for you so don't bother to much
Then Lyra spoke, sitting next to me.
"Let me tell you my story."
She took a deep breath.
**"When I was a kid, I didn't know who my father or mother were.
They refused to tell me.
The only people I had were my granny and my aunt.
I was closer to my grandma than anyone else.
But my aunt and her husband were obsessed with the family inheritance.
They would do anything for it.
I was scared of them.
They stared at me hard—like I was in the way.
Their daughter was the opposite of me in every way.
Still, I grew up okay… until one day, my grandma passed away.
I was devastated.
I wore dark clothes. I almost lost hope entirely."**
She looked down.
**"That's when I heard people talking about One Piece.
There was this guy I liked in middle school—he said he hated it.
And I thought, Why would someone hate cartoons or whatever?
I was bored out of my mind, so I searched One Piece on Netflix… and started watching it.
It completely changed me.
I made friends thanks to that anime.
I found people with the same interests.
I started growing into myself.
I even became… hot."**
She gave a weak smile.
"But one night, while I was sleeping, my aunt's husband snuck into my room.
He tried to suffocate me.
But his phone fell from his pocket, and I screamed.
My aunt came home just in time and slapped him.
That night was the worst.
They fought—hard.
But eventually… they made up again."
Everyone tensed up as she continued.
**"Another time, when I was changing into a bikini, my cousin—my aunt's daughter—snapped a picture of me.
She threatened me.
Said if I didn't become her dad's puppet, she'd post it online.
I confronted him.
He wanted me to do disgusting things.
I hated him even more after that.
But I ignored them all.
I focused on my part-time job—working day in, day out, saving money.
Then one day… I saw my aunt's husband kissing another woman.
I took pictures and videos.
Not for revenge.
Not to blackmail him—
But because I knew it was the only way out of this."
She exhaled slowly.
**"I went home and told my cousin to delete my photo.
I said I had something in return.
She apologized and told me that he had dirt on her too—that he used her picture to manipulate her.
So I gave her the video.
She used it.
We went to the police and reported everything—
the photos he had of us, the threats.
He was arrested.
Eventually, my aunt divorced him."**
Her voice got soft.
**"Sometimes I wonder…
Maybe it was me who made him go crazy.
I really thought of him like a father.
I let my guard down.
Even after all he did, I still felt guilty.
But…
I've accepted that things happen the way they're supposed to.
Still, deep down, the guilt never goes away."**
After a moment, Jian said,
"What about you boys—Kurai or Dante?"
Dante spoke up.
"I'll go. I'll keep it short."
He leaned back.
"Let me tell you what I saw in my mind."
Yosuke laughed.
"You? A top student? Gimme a break."
We chuckled, and Dante gave us a serious look.
"I'm not joking. I was a top student."
We teased him again.
"You sure this is your story?"
He nodded.
"Yeah. I've changed now, but back then, it was real."
We quieted down, and he continued.
"I used to get bullied at school.
All the time.
I'd always say, Just you wait…
Then one day, I snapped.
They came at me with a pen, and out of fear, I threw whatever I could find.
It happened to be a trash can—
And inside it… was a broken pair of scissors."
He sighed.
"It slashed one of the kids.
The one who bullied me most.
After that, I became the bad guy.
People whispered behind my back.
I lost my place on the student council.
I went from a top student… to someone who had to act like a bully just to survive."
He looked away.
"Eventually, I became the bully.
My grades dropped to just the bare minimum.
That life shaped me.
Then I met street gangs.
We chilled, lived fast.
We even got thrown in jail once.
Still, I somehow got back on track.
My mom hates tattoos, smoking… so I kept myself away from those.
Instead, I started training with gym guys—street lifers, but disciplined ones.
One day, they told me I'd be transferred to my grandma's house to learn and leave the gang life behind.
To start over.
I wanted to change my name—create a new version of myself.
Something better than Double BB... 'Bully of the Bullies'."
He laughed dryly.
"But as I was driving to Grandma's house…
Track-kun hit my car."
Taeyang jumped in.
"Did you die?"
We all burst out laughing.
Lyra said,
"Unlike us, then the fire magician got reincarnated."
More laughter.
Dante smiled.
"Nah, I actually woke up the day before we all got teleported."
Then it was Yosuke's turn.
He sighed.
"I was a nerdy-ass kid back then. I remember they used me like a damn bread shuttle. I always brought them snacks. They humiliated me every day, and no one ever defended me.
My mom… she's really hot, honestly. But after my dad passed away, she started drinking. She'd bring random guys home. Our house was tiny, no separate rooms. I used to sleep on the couch. And at night... I'd sometimes hear them. Or worse—they'd tell me to get out of the room.
One day, I went to a mentalist doctor and asked him about all of it. He said it was trauma—something like brain shock. I'm not gonna explain all the science stuff.
He looked down.
"So the only thing I could do… was start a part-time job. I saved up as much as I could to help my mom get out of that disgusting routine. And I did it.
We got out. Rented a better place. She even married the landlord who lived next door. Now… she's living a really good life. And that all happened this year."
There was a short silence.
Someone said,
"A wonderous ending to a wonderful beginning."
---
Then it was Kurai's turn.
He stretched his arms and said calmly,
"I got nothing to tell, bud. This little meditation of yours doesn't remind me of my past—it only forces me into the future."
Jain asked,
"Have you ever done this kind of intense training and meditation before?"
Kurai nodded.
"Yes, I have. That's why I'm not surprised. But I'm sure everyone else is exhausted. Let's all go to sleep."
Yosuke interrupted,
"Wait! Kurai—you said you're focused on the future, right? Why not tell us something about it?"
Kurai gave a half-smile.
"Tomorrow… we're getting out of here."
Everyone turned to him.
"You must be joking, right?" someone asked.
"That's why I didn't say anything earlier," Kurai replied.
Then they all headed back to their rooms.
---
About two minutes later, Lyra knocked on the wall softly.
Kurai opened it and saw her crying.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
She didn't respond at first. Her tears just fell silently. Kurai walked over and hugged her tightly.
"Why are you crying?" he asked gently.
She sobbed harder.
"You're going to hate me now, aren't you? I know you will..."
"Why would I ever hate you?" Kurai asked.
She wiped her eyes.
"Because I'm not like the others here. I'm the poorest. The weirdest. The most broken..."
Still sobbing, her voice trailed off.
But Kurai held her face in his hands and looked into her eyes.
"You're the best waifu I've ever seen," he said.
"I love you, Lyra Vale."
Her eyes widened—and then she jumped into his arms.
"I love you too, Kurai Adegaki!" she cried.
They kissed, passionately yet gently.
---
Later, she whispered,
"Tell me about you."
He nodded, pulled her in closer, and they lay down together on his bed.
They talked. About his past. About Sayaka. About everything.
At one point, Lyra looked up and asked,
"So... who's better? Me or her?"
Kurai smiled and kissed her forehead.
"There's no need to compare. I love you."
She eventually fell asleep in his arms, resting against his chest.
And
Kurai... for the first time in a long time...
She didn't even look me in the eye as she left the room, whispering to herself under her breath:
"What a dummy I am… he really confessed. So… he loves me? We're an actual couple? I can't believe it. And we even… huh… damn…"
She blushed, her face burning red.
"Wow… he really is so hot. Why am I feeling like this?"
I called out,
"Hey, you okay?"
She jumped a little.
"Yes! Uh… wait a sec! I'll get dressed—don't come in!"
She panicked slightly, then muttered to herself again,
"Was he about to come in casually like that…? Wait—wait! I wish Auntie was here… I'd finally be able to show her my boyfriend."
slept peacefully—without a single impure thought.
I began my other plan the day before. I had contacted someone.
Next time we got out, I met someone. He is older, around age 29, and now darker than anyone.
He says, "Kid, just live your damn life and stop bothering me."
And I said, "Don't you wanna go out?"
He said, "I can't go out."
"Why?"
"There is only one reason why you can't get out—it's because we can't. We lack the power to get out."
"Okay then," I said. "Is that so?"
He said, "Yeah kid, so live your life. Maybe even get one of the bitches there."
Then I said, "Well, you're beyond your years and wise as well. How could you give up?"
He said, "I've seen so many people like you who were forced into sleep paralysis because of stupid things like this. I won't ask you your plan whatsoever. But you can't get out."
I said, "Let me show you a trick, sir. Think of your home—like your house."
(To be continued)