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CHAPTER 004—I'M SORRY, DAISY.

Author: Faithy
last update publish date: 2026-07-10 15:20:17

After leaving Tristan and Grace behind, Seraphina and Daisy continued walking, hand in hand. Neither of them spoke.

Daisy noticed Sera kept glancing over her shoulder, her expression distant.

"Sera!"

No response.

They kept walking, but Seraphina was somewhere else entirely, lost in her own head. Daisy tapped her shoulder, pulling her back.

"Mm?"

"What's wrong with you?" Daisy asked, her voice flat.

Seraphina forced a smile. "I'm fine."

"You're lying. That smile doesn't reach your eyes."

"I'm perfectly okay."

"Stop. Please."

"Do I look like someone who isn't okay?" Seraphina asked, meeting her eyes directly.

"Yes."

"How?"

"First the dark circles and the weird makeup, now you're wandering off into your own thoughts mid-conversation."

"I didn't sleep well last night, that's all."

"And the makeup?"

"I didn't get a chance to look in the mirror."

"Why not?"

"You're asking too many questions."

They walked on in silence. Daisy clearly had more questions, but held them back.

Sera finally broke the quiet. "Daisy."

Daisy turned to look at her.

"I have a question."

"Go ahead, I'm listening." She tilted her head to prove it.

"Okay." Seraphina took a breath. "If someone walked up to you right now and told you the world was going to end... would you believe them?"

Daisy laughed at first, but the laughter died the moment she saw Seraphina wasn't smiling.

The mood between them shifted. Instead of answering, Daisy asked her own question.

"Did you have another nightmare?"

Seraphina nodded.

"What was it about? Because ever since you got here, I don't understand what's going on with you."

"It's nothing. Just answer my question, please."

"No, I wouldn't believe them. And the world isn't ending, so get that out of your head. You're not crazy."

Seraphina nodded, and they kept walking until they reached the parking lot.

Daisy opened her car door, and Seraphina rushed forward and wrapped her in a tight hug before she could get in.

"Sera!"

"Shh. Don't say anything."

"...Huh?"

"I'm sorry," Seraphina whispered. "I'm so sorry, Daisy. I should have believed you. I should have listened to you. I shouldn't have pushed you away. My eyes are finally open."

Daisy had no idea what was happening. She just stared.

Seraphina let go. "Am I forgiven?"

Daisy laughed uneasily. "You're acting like I'm dying tomorrow."

The words struck Seraphina like a blade. She couldn't speak, because in another life, Daisy had died. Not tomorrow, but eventually, and it had been too late for any of this.

"Can you stop? You're scaring me," Daisy said.

"Okay, fine. I'm sorry."

"Can you at least tell me why you've apologized about ten times today? Because I genuinely don't understand."

"You don't need to understand. I just need to hear you say it. Sera, you're forgiven."

"How can I forgive you for something I don't even know you did, or are going to do?"

"Please," Seraphina pouted.

"Fine. You're forgiven. Can I go now?"

Seraphina threw her arms around her one more time before they finally climbed into the car.

"I'll drive," Sera announced.

Daisy laughed. "Since when do you know how to drive?"

"Watch me. I'm a pro now." In my past life, I learned to drive just to impress Tristan.

"Seatbelt. Now."

"My parents are still waiting for me to graduate. My life still matters to me, you know."

"And mine doesn't?"

"Who knows. You were ready to throw your life away for one particular person not too long ago, so it wouldn't be shocking if you were looking for a way to—"

"Who?"

"Tristan. Who else makes you this lovesick?"

"I've changed."

"Oh?"

"I don't love him anymore."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. Now every time I see him, I want to punch him in the face."

"Maybe you're just putting on a show for me."

"I'm not."

"Can I tell you something?"

Sera nodded.

"Do you know why I never liked Tristan?"

"No."

Daisy hesitated. "It's not because I'm jealous, and it's not because I don't have a boyfriend of my own. It's because of the way he looks at you. Like he's waiting for something. Like he's expecting to gain something from you."

Seraphina remembered it all, every warning, every argument they'd ever had over him. The guilt settled over her like a weight she couldn't set down.

She grabbed Daisy's hands and held them tight.

"Promise me something." Her voice trembled.

Daisy smiled. "I promise."

"Promise me what, exactly?"

"Promise me that no matter what happens, you'll never leave my side."

Daisy laughed. "What kind of promise is that?"

"I mean it."

Seeing how serious she was, Daisy softened. "Fine. I promise. Not in this life, not in another. We stick together."

Sera pulled her into another hug, and they drove the rest of the way home.

When they arrived, Seraphina climbed out of the car. "I'll walk the rest of the way."

"Bye," Daisy called, waving.

Seraphina waved back and walked on alone.

On the street, children played. A mother and father walked hand in hand with their daughter, who ran ahead of them with an ice cream cone melting down her fingers. Somewhere nearby, a child was crying over a dropped toy.

Seraphina stopped walking and simply stood there.

In her last life, every one of them had turned. No smiles left anywhere. Only blood.

"Enjoy today," she whispered. "You never know if this is the last peaceful day you'll get."

The blue screen reappeared, Pixy's voice unusually serious.

[Host.]

[Emotional instability detected.]

Seraphina rolled her eyes. "I'm grieving."

[Grief decreases survival efficiency.]

She laughed bitterly. "I'm human."

For the first time, Pixy said nothing at all.

Another panel appeared.

[Main mission updated.]

[Accumulate sufficient supplies within seven days.]

[Rewards: beginner inventory, halo points, beginner survival pack.]

[Penalty: unknown.]

Seraphina stared at it. This time, she didn't reject it outright.

Maybe, she thought, I can't do this entirely alone. I might need help from somewhere.

She went home, straight to her room, and pulled out her notebook.

SAVE THEM ALL.

Beneath it, she began a list.

Mom.

Dad.

Daisy.

She hesitated, pen hovering over the page. Should I write Tristan?

"No," she said aloud, answering her own question. "You're already dead to me."

The moment she closed the notebook, Pixy glitched.

The cheerful tone vanished, replaced by something distorted, broken.

[Warning.]

[An unknown presence has altered the timeline.]

Another screen flared into view.

Future accuracy: 80%.

75%.

70%.

65%.

60%.

55%.

50%.

Seraphina's smile vanished entirely.

"What do you mean by that?"

Pixy stayed silent.

Then, one final line appeared.

[Host... the future you remember is no longer guaranteed.]

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