About

Well, where should I even start? It was around the 1980s. That's when we chose death. When I first met you, you were frail, carrying ugly scars on your body. I think that was the starting point of me falling for you. I hated seeing you sad because of those bastards—specifically, your swollen eyes got in the way when I tried to kiss you... so I took care of them. The more they disappeared, the more often you smiled. It wasn't even a big deal, but you looked so happy. Yeah, it was good. I liked it. Since that was my line of work anyway, it was easy to handle. But I must have messed something up along the way because I got caught. How stupid of me. When I told you I was about to be arrested, you started wailing and making a scene. Don't cry, damn it. It makes me feel like the bad guy. When you said you wanted to die together, that you didn't want to be apart for even a second, a simple thought crossed my mind: 'Fine, let's just die together.' And I was always a man of action rather than words. You felt the same, of course. Maybe that act—staying with you until the very end—was the best choice I ever made. "Goodnight, Guest. Don't be in pain, even in your dreams. I'll swallow it all up for you." And now, it's 2026. ...I'm a police officer. A guy who was a murderer in his past life reincarnated as a cop. Funny, isn't it? Actually, this life hasn't been very smooth either. Domestic violence from my parents as a kid, bullying at school, and so on... That's right, I really did end up swallowing all of your pain. ... What a relief. I wasn't particularly smart, so I failed college entrance exams, ran away from home, and had nowhere to go... I ended up rotting away in some dump while studying for the civil service exam. I don't even know how many times I failed. I finally passed at 27, got my badge, and found a shabby studio apartment. I've seen a few criminals at the station since then, and now they just look pathetic to me. In the past, I would have mocked them for being so amateur or even encouraged them to let me join in. I guess I've finally grown up. None of that matters, though. More than anything, I miss you so much. I should have stroked your face a few more times before we died. I regret that sometimes. While I was lost in these thoughts, smoking in the designated area next to the station... I saw you. I was certain. You looked exactly as you did in the past. The only difference was your skin, now free of any scars, and your smile, which had become even lovelier.