Encounter

Raindrops fell, drenching the cemetery and the mourning crowd.

The boy suddenly snapped out of his reverie and looked around in confusion. Then, he noticed his own black clothing and still felt like he was dreaming.

A moment he could never forget. The moment when he had to choose his future after his parents died.

I'm back... The boy pinched his hand and immediately realized the pain of reality. He wasn't dreaming.

So, he really had returned to his first life after reincarnation.

Whether it was because he was a child again or for some other reason, his mind and heart were a bit shaken.

He couldn't stop his parents' death. It made him wonder why he didn't return to a time before they were gone forever.

The rain grew heavier, causing people to leave, leaving only family members and close relatives.

"Yoru."

The boy heard a call from behind him. He saw the shadow of a black umbrella lifted over him to shield him from the rain.

He couldn't help but remember what he did in his first life. He was hysterical then and became irrational. In the end, his choice was decided by relatives, and he lived far away from his most beloved brother.

"Let's go home," someone invited, gently patting Yoru's head.

Yoru looked at his parents' tombstone for a moment before turning around and lifting his face. He finally saw his most beloved older brother. His second brother, Kaisel.

That face was still the same, though it looked younger. His second brother was in his twenties and had become a film actor.

Yoru remembered that his relationship with his first brother was not very good. His first brother was the family heir and had a cold and strict personality.

Even when their parents were alive, Yoru rarely communicated with his first brother. That was why the only person he considered his brother was Kaisel.

When their parents were busy, Kaisel took care of him and played with him. He did everything for him.

Meanwhile, his sister was cared for by relatives and sent abroad, so Yoru also didn't interact much with his sister during his childhood.

However, in his first life, he chose to leave that brother and stay with the family relatives. It was a foolish choice that led to his family's downfall.

This time, Yoru made a different choice. He would correct his mistakes and protect his family.

Yoru opened and closed his mouth before finally calling out, "Brother."

Kaisel looked momentarily surprised but quickly adjusted his expression. He reached out for that small hand and held it.

"Come home with me," he said like a plea.

Yoru nodded, and he felt assured that his brother looked relieved.

They both walked out of the cemetery area, accompanied by assistants in black suits and a black car waiting outside.

There were some media people stopped outside by family guards and relatives waiting for Kaisel's arrival.

Strangely, Yoru didn't see his first brother. This was different from the previous timeline. His first brother should have also come with his sister.

When they arrived, Kaisel pushed Yoru to get into the car first while he dealt with the relatives.

This timeline was different from the start. Something was odd. Yoru pondered the strangeness.

The butterfly effect can be amazing. However, he had only slightly changed his ways. He didn't become hysterical and remained calm—was that what caused the chain reaction?

The unknown is always the scariest. Yoru would be more relieved if things that shouldn't have been affected by him remained the same. That way, he could ensure what could change because of him.

But now, he seemed unable to predict it anymore.

He pressed the button to open the car window, and the soundproofing was released. He could hear his brother's conversation with the relatives amid the sound of the rain.

"Let us take care of him. He's still so young. It will be difficult for you to find time for him, Kaisel, with your busy schedule."

It was his mother's sister's voice. Yoru recognized her because she had taken care of him before.

Auntie is a sly person, Yoru criticized in his heart.

He remembered his aunt taking all the allowances his brother sent him. Also, until he became a high school student, his aunt made sure his brother never visited him even once.

Apparently, it was his aunt's manipulation that caused the siblings' relationship to strain. Whatever his aunt did, it made his brother reluctant to visit him.

He learned all that too late from his sister, which caused Yoru to hate his brother, thinking he didn't care about him anymore.

Moreover, his aunt let him get involved in bad circles and never cared about him. She only cared about his money.

"No, Yoru will stay with me. I will be his guardian. If you disagree, you can meet the family lawyer to contest custody." Kaisel didn't give any face to the relatives.

He indeed had a bad relationship with the relatives and did whatever he wanted. He was the hardest person to control.

After retorting to the bloodsucking relatives, Kaisel got into the car and sat next to Yoru.

He instructed the driver to start driving away from the place.

Kaisel glanced at his little brother, who seemed calm, which made him more worried. Kaisel preferred if his little brother showed his emotions rather than suddenly becoming calm like now.

"Yoru," he called, stroking his small head, then hugging him.

"It's okay, you can cry if you're sad, don't hold it in," Kaisel whispered, patting his back.

Yoru, being hugged, was disturbed by a familiar scent. In his second life, he had smelled a similar scent. Was it the same perfume his brother used?

He felt warm after going through the cold world. At the end of his first life, he was alone, and in his second life, he was also alone.

For just a moment, he wanted to feel this peace and warmth. Meeting his most beloved brother again. He wouldn't leave him again.

"He's finally asleep." Kaisel noticed and made him comfortable while still holding him.

Kaisel realized he cared too much for his little brother, even Reina called him crazy. He knew his feelings were excessive, but it was because his little brother was the only one he considered family.

Allen, the first brother, was more like a boring robot, while Reina rarely interacted with him because she was cared for by family relatives earlier.

Their parents, who had a big business, were too busy, so they entrusted Reina's care to relatives and Yoru's care to Kaisel.

Meanwhile, Allen was with their parents managing the business abroad.

Left alone with only Yoru, Kaisel wondered if it wasn't reasonable for him to care too much because he only had him?

However, one day he realized his affection was excessive. Yoru began to fear him and stopped calling him brother.

Kaisel's heart hurt a lot. But he couldn't do anything about it because he didn't want to scare his little brother more, so he voluntarily kept his distance.

When his little brother called him brother again at the cemetery, Kaisel was shaken. He could hardly believe it, but his little brother really didn't avoid him anymore when he held his hand, even when he hugged him.

Relief filled his heart. Compared to the sadness of their parents' death, Kaisel was more affected by Yoru's change in attitude.

He would take care of him forever and wouldn't let anyone take him away from him.

***