Why? || The Max-Level Player 100th Regression x F!Reader

Encounter

"You can do this. I have no doubts." I squeeze her hands.

"We can do this." She smiles back, it's comforting to have someone else alongside you.

Even though that costed my life by a certain someone.

But not Zuri. She died to protect me. And this time, I'll protect her till the very bitter end too.

"We had to clear our minds so quickly with shopping, we didn't get to talk about the last round." She looks next to her, as if she's looking at her status window. "My nickname is Dahlia. Of course I didn't choose the same looks."

I nod in approvement of her decision. "Same, I also chose a different appearance, and my nickname is Vern."

"Hmm I didn't see that before, we're probably in different regions..." She holds her chin thinking.

"Probably," I would've definitely noticed her if she were in the same region as me. "but that's not a problem since region has the same tests."

"So I've heard too. What kind of rune or beginner power did you get?"

"I would love to tell you everything, but it's possible someone got some mind reading power, so it's best we keep it lowkey even to each other."

"Oh right.. smart. I didn't think of that." She looks bummed, but understands my reasoning.

'Well, there's always a flaw to a power, so they probably couldn't read someone's mind who's a higher level.'

'It's still risky.'

She goes back to unpacking and we hear a knock on the door. Zuri hops up to answer it, while I finish folding the last of my clothes.

After a few moments, I hear her call out. And I see her walk back in with a box of tiramasu. "Girl look what the new neighbors got us!" She's sparkling as she puts it down on her kitchen island.

I stand up and head over, but stop right in my tracks once I see him in the doorway.

Ryu Min.

That bastard.

He doesn't say anything to me, and the little brother smiles brightly. "Nice to meet you! Do you live here too? I'm Ryu Won and this is my brother Ryu Min."

Oh I know.

But I only give them a polite smile. "Hello there, no I'm just Zuri's friend."

"Best friend!" She yells from the kitchen. Her cheerful voice chimes, oblivious to the tension brewing from inside me.

The comment makes me chuckle, but my eyes stay on Ryu Min, who's staring right back at me, keeping me on the edge. It's almost as if he recognizes me, but that's impossible... or is it?

'I never ran into him before like this. We only met up outside or at my place...but never at his. I didn't know he was Zuri's neighbor.'

Then again, all the hallways and doors look the same. How rich it might be.

The silence between us stretches for too long, uncomfortable and awkward until I finally break it. "Still, I'm over often, so lets get along." I hold the door, ready to close it as soon as they leave.

And I know it didn't slip from Ryu Min's attention, so he smiles, holding the back of his neck. "We won't take more of your time up, maybe we'll see each other around."

"Yes, maybe." I don't have to start a conversation.

He leads Ryu Won away, and I close the door behind them.

'It's almost as if he recognized me.'

I know his identity, but he doesn't know that.

And unbeknownst to me, he knows my identity.

It turn back to Zuri, who's already digging into the tiramasu.

"I did research girl." She waves me over while nomming on the tiramasu. And I walk over to her.

"Already? Geez just how fast are you?" I lean against the kitchen counter, taking a spoon too to have a taste.

"Call me the FBI, because I can find out anything~" She hums pleased, and then shows me an article of someone winning the lottery ten times at once.

"Wow- no wonder they came moving here." I do remember something along those lines. That he won the lottery and where his wealth started.

"Seriously, I'd also do the same, he's basically done working for life." She scrolls on her phone,, but then looks up with a slight smirk at me.

"Don't you think he was cute? Kind of your type right? Why not go on a date with him~"

"Please Zuzu, I'm not interested," I wave her off, dismissing the idea.

'I won't let him have me again. After stabbing me in the back.'

"Come on girl, you need to get laid." Her words make my cheeks heat up and I look at her in disbelief.

She can only laugh at my reaction.

"You're so cute when you react like that!" She hits the counter from her laugh.

"Ugh... you caught me off guard.. that's so embarrassing." I turn your head away a bit, my cheeks still red.

'I'll have to come up with a plan and make some moves since I'll meet him soon in the game too.'

Even when I continue to spend time with Zuri, to clear our minds, to have fun. My thoughts keep getting tugged on by Ryu Min.

___

1st POV (RYU MIN)

As soon as the door closes behind us, I feel the weight of her stare lift off my shoulders, but her presence lingers, I can't remove the image of her.

'It was definitely her, but what is she doing here? Have I really gone all these lives not knowing she was close with my neighbor?'

'Maybe I should work on my social involvements.'

Ryu Won chatters beside me, oblivious to my mental absence. He's still talking about the neighbors.

"She seemed nice, don't you think? It's cool how she's over there often, they must be really really close," Ryu Won remarks, his usual cheerful self.

I nod absentmindedly, though my thoughts are miles away. To the fact she used to be with us a lot before.

I miss it.

Ryu Won always got along with her too.

'But maybe this time we could get close again. It wasn't an obstacle in the previous regression.'

But guilt swells up in my guts.

'I had no other choice back then. I'll handle it differently now.'

We enter our own apartment, and change to get comfortable.

As I'm changing, I can't help but think back to that moment in the doorway. She recognized me too-of that, I'm certain. Her polite smile didn't fool me. It's the same mask she wore when we first met, back before I regressed.

'She always had her guard up.'

I know I'll see her again, soon.

And I have all intentions to have her by my side once again. But this time until the very end.

Once I take my seat next to my little brother who's already comfortable watching the tv, I try to not think of ways to rush my encounter with her.

'We'll meet naturally at this rate. If I just make the right moves.'

I'll need to tread carefully, play the part until the time is right.

And this time, I intend to win this game. No matter the cost.

This is my last chance.

___

What do you guys think?

Zuri is my oc i just came up with by the way!