The soft glow of the moon filtered through the window, casting a gentle silver light over the room. Aizen lay beside Lyra, her warm breath brushing against his chest as she peacefully slept in his arms. But his own sleep was far from peaceful.
Darkness wrapped around his mind, and soon, memories that didn't belong to this world began to flicker behind his closed eyes.
He saw himself—not as a Black Lion beastman, but as a 16-year-old high school boy. He had short black hair, worn sneakers, and a school uniform. His name was still Aizen, but his world was very different.
In that life, he wasn't good nor bad—but he was strong. He stood up for the weak, especially in a school full of bullies. After countless fights and standing up to injustice, he earned the title of "Top Dog." Not because he wanted power, but because he wanted peace. His little sister, Sarah, was a tsundere—always pretending to hate his guts but secretly admiring his strength. Their mother had died in a tragic accident, so their strict but kind father raised them alone.
Then came her.
Her name was Miyako Mizaki—a gentle, radiant girl with silver hair and violet eyes. She was his classmate and longtime crush. One day, she gathered her courage and confessed her feelings. And to Aizen's joy, they started dating. Their days were filled with laughter, warmth, and hope.
Until it all shattered.
Miyako was kidnapped by strangers demanding ransom money. Aizen, enraged and desperate, gathered information with the help of his friends. He stormed the hideout with fury in his heart and took them all down.
But he was too late.
In the chaos, both he and Miyako were shot in the stomach by one of the kidnappers. As they lay side by side, bleeding, Miyako turned her face toward him. Her voice trembled with pain.
"I love you, Aizen… I wish we could be lovers… in our next life…"
Aizen's eyes widened.
But before he could respond—before he could even cry—he woke up.
His eyes snapped open, his body covered in cold sweat. Lyra stirred beside him, sensing his unrest.
"Aizen?" she asked softly, her golden eyes half-open. "Were you having a nightmare?"
He looked at her—his wife, his partner, his love—and forced a small smile. "No. It's nothing. Go back to sleep."
She hesitated but nodded, curling back beside him. But Aizen stayed awake, staring at the ceiling.
That wasn't a dream. That was a memory.
Why am I remembering this now…?
Why now?
---
Meanwhile, Lyra had her own quiet moment.
In her past life, she had been a girl who loved helping her mother and older sister. But their father, a proud and fierce man, was never satisfied with her gentler side.
"Why are you acting like another person? What is happening to you, Lyra?" he had once said.
She could never explain it.
In her dreams, she was someone else. She had a partner named Raizen—a fierce, loyal warrior with fire in his heart. Together, they lived, loved, and fought side by side. Until one day… they were ambushed.
And just like Aizen's past life—Raizen and Lyra were both killed by a gunshot. The memory never faded.
She was reborn, years later, as a Dragonkin girl. Her face had changed. Her body had changed. But her heart remembered. She kept her emotions buried, hidden beneath layers of duty and kindness.
Until she found Aizen—alone, broken, struggling in the snow.
That was the moment she chose to help him. The moment something inside her whispered, "I've met him before…"
---
In the kitchen, Mikaela was teaching Amethyst how to cook. Despite being older than the twins, Amethyst had never cooked a proper meal before. All his life, he'd stolen scraps just to feed his little sister.
But now, with Mikaela's help, he was learning.
He proudly presented a dish to Aizen—something simple, but made with care.
Aizen smiled as he took a bite. "It's good."
Amethyst's face lit up with pride. He had never been praised like this before.
Crystal clapped her hands, giggling with joy, while Mikaela patted his head gently.
For that brief moment, they were just a family—laughing, living, and healing.
But deep down, they all knew the truth.
They would have to leave this city soon.
---