"John Chou."
I said calmly, but inside, I was already overwhelmed with emotion. In these past two years, John Chou and I have never again sat down for all-night conversations like before. Whenever I needed help, he would come to my aid. Seeing him now after so long, I couldn't help but feel my eyes grow wet.
Drip, drip. Unconsciously, the things I had long forgotten yet felt so familiar returned to me. Tears slid from my eyes.
A crisp sound of leather boots approached as John Chou slowly walked up to me, extending a finger to wipe the tears from my cheek.
I stared in surprise at John Chou, touched my own cheek, and realized these tears—tears I hadn't shed in so long—were flowing from my eyes.
"Brother, what's wrong? As a person, it's normal to cry. Or is it that seeing me made you shed tears?"
I quickly wiped away the overflowing tears. Cornered as I am now, I desperately need help—even if the guy before me is a ghost, I trust him.
"Is it the Return Image?"
I asked, as it was the only explanation I could think of for how John Chou could appear in this death dream.
"Brother, you know, the greatest feature of Instinct is that its bearer can use techniques like Return Image."
This is the first time I've heard about this. John Chou still hasn't told me everything. I know why—he wants me to take each step on my own.
"Again? After I've lost everything, you show up."
"What are you saying, brother? There's no such thing as coincidence in this world."
I laughed. If anyone else had said this, I might have believed it. But coming from John Chou...
John Chou burst out laughing and clapped me on the shoulder.
"Brother, growing up always means losing something, gaining something, understanding something. This time, what have you understood?"
I hesitated. He always asks me, after I've been through something—like a wise teacher.
"Maybe things are nothing like I imagined. I can't grasp them. Now, once again, I have nothing. It's almost funny. For a moment, I even doubted everything I believed in—because I don't know what it means to step back."
"Come with me."
John Chou said, turning around and leading me down the street built from my own dream. I followed behind him, wanting answers. After all, this isn't the first time he's appeared in my dream as Return Image.