The meeting spot was quiet—too quiet. The rooftop of an abandoned building, a place that once held meaning, now felt like a relic of a life the MC had tried to leave behind. The wind carried a faint chill, rustling through the empty space as the MC and the girl stepped forward. Ahead, Ren and his group were waiting, leaning casually against the railing as if this were nothing more than a friendly reunion.
"You're late," Ren smirked, his tone light, but his eyes sharp.
The MC didn't bother responding. He simply stopped a few feet away, his posture guarded. The girl beside him kept her expression unreadable, though her presence alone was a statement—she wasn't just here to watch.
"Relax," Ren chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "We're not here to fight. Like I said, we're giving you a chance."
The MC remained silent, waiting.
Ren sighed, as if disappointed by the lack of reaction. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he slid a small envelope across the table between them. The MC hesitated before picking it up. Inside was a single folded sheet of paper. He opened it, scanning the words:
One Year. Five Challenges. Win, and we leave you alone. Lose, and you come back.
His grip on the paper tightened. "And if I refuse?"
Ren's smile widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Then we'll take that as your answer. And trust me, we won't need to ask twice."
The girl beside him didn't flinch. She tilted her head slightly, looking straight at Ren. "If he's playing, I'm playing too."
Ren raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Brave. But this isn't your fight."
"It is now," she shot back without hesitation. "If you're dragging him into this, I'm in."
For the first time, Ren seemed to take a real interest in her, his smirk faltering just slightly before he regained his composure. "Well then. This just got a lot more interesting."
Without another word, he turned and walked away, his group following without question.
The MC stared down at the paper. Five challenges. One year. This wasn't just a game—it was a long, calculated move. A way to pull him back into the world he had left behind. And he knew, deep down, that Ren wouldn't have made this offer unless he was sure the MC couldn't resist.
The Walk Home – A Moment of Understanding
They walked in silence for a while, the city lights flickering in the distance. The MC's mind was still racing, but next to him, she walked with an easy stride, as if what just happened hadn't rattled her in the slightest.
"You didn't have to do that," he finally muttered.
She shrugged. "I know. But I did."
A small huff of amusement escaped him, surprising even himself. He glanced at her, and she was already looking up at him, a small smirk playing on her lips.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing," he replied, shaking his head. But somehow, the weight on his shoulders felt just a little lighter.
As they continued walking, the game ahead loomed over them. But in that moment, in the quiet of the night, it didn't feel so daunting.
For the first time in a long time, he wasn't facing it alone.