Good sleep was not something Serena was used to getting after the apocalypse started.

She had never slept well in her life due to financial problems and other issues, but things had only gotten worse after she lost her family at the start of the apocalypse.

It had not been her fault that her family died. The monsters had gotten to everyone precious to her before she could reach them, so logically, she knew it was not her fault.

But knowing something and truly accepting it were two different things.

Every night, she could feel hands reaching out toward her, demanding to know why she had been late. Her mother’s sweet face twisted into something accusing, asking why Serena had gone out that day and left them alone.

Perhaps it was because she had become independent so early and taken charge of her family that she felt this way.

Serena had been the one to drag her family out of financial ruin, and she had also been the one to deny her father’s growing demands for money so that her mother would not feel burdened.

Maybe because she had become so responsible, she also felt responsible for what she could not prevent.

’Serena...my poor dear! How can you leave your poor mother all alone in the afterlife? Please come and join me.’

Her mother’s voice was soft and sweet as it whispered in her ear. It urged Serena to walk toward the edge, making her unable to fall asleep.

Serena twisted and turned in her bed, trying to force herself to sleep, and eventually it got on her roommate’s nerves.

"Hey, stop moving around. Just take a walk or something if you can’t sleep."

It did not surprise Serena that Shelly had finally snapped. She could tell that the pink-haired woman did not like her, and the feeling was mutual.

Shelly gave off a creepy feeling. Serena could confidently say that Shelly was hiding a lot behind her mask, and Serena felt uncomfortable around her presence. But she was willing to put up with it for now.

However, the walk sounded like a good idea. Serena could tire herself out and maybe make the voices in her head stop.

Her feet felt heavy, as if something were dragging her back. Walking felt difficult, but Serena kept putting one foot in front of the other.

Even with invisible hands trying to pull her down, she kept moving toward an unknown destination.

Her world was empty and cold, and the only presence in it was her family, calling for her to join them.

Serena’s cold and silent world finally changed when she heard a voice different from her family’s.

"You-!"

A somewhat familiar face appeared in her vision, and she instinctively reached out toward it.

Her hands grabbed that face, turning it from side to side as she searched for injuries. She was trying to see if anything looked wrong.

But the person seemed annoyed, which made Serena let go and take a step back.

’My dear, he doesn’t need you. We need you. Please come to us and stay with us like you used to. Come and join us.’

Her mother’s voice was clear in Serena’s ears, and Serena felt compelled to follow it.

"Are you alright? What are you doing in the middle of the night?"

The other voice asked her something, but her mind was growing foggy. Serena could not focus on anything except her mother’s words.

’You are doing well, child. Just a few more steps and we shall be reunited.’

Reuniting with her mother sounded nice. Serena was looking forward to it. She just needed to go a little farther and—

Something yanked her back. The force made her crash into something hard, and suddenly all her senses came rushing back.

A gasp escaped Serena’s lips as she realized what had just happened and where she was. Her eyes immediately dropped to the warm body beneath her.

"It would be nice if you got off me."

Rin spoke while Serena’s hand was still pressed against his covered chest, and for the first time in a long while, Serena felt her face burn with embarrassment.

Now that she was fully awake and back in control of herself, she quickly pulled away from his warmth. But it did nothing to ease her embarrassment.

Rin looked equally embarrassed, but he quickly regained control of himself and gave her a worried look.

"Are you alright? You weren’t responding to anything earlier. Were you sleepwalking or something?"

Rin asked in a concerned voice, and Serena opened her mouth to reassure him that she was fine. But the words would not come out. It was as if someone were forcing her mouth shut and telling her not to speak.

’This is a matter between family members, dear. You wouldn’t involve outsiders in this, right?’

Her mother’s voice rang clearly in Serena’s ears, but the words felt foreign to her now.

And yet, despite knowing this was not truly her mother but only a phantom created by her own mind, Serena still obeyed it and forced a smile onto her face.

"I’m fine. I think I was tired enough to sleepwalk, but I’m fully awake now. I’d like to head back to my room and get some rest."

Serena sounded cheerful, and internally she sighed in relief that her voice still sounded normal. Most people would have believed her at this point.

But Rin was not most people. He continued to look at her with concern, making Serena feel as though he had seen right through her.

"You don’t look fine to me. Is there something you don’t want to talk about?"

"No, it’s nothing like that. It’s just...there’s nothing to tell. That’s all."

Even Serena could tell she was lying. But now that the words were out, it felt impossible to take them back.

An awkward silence followed her response. Rin said nothing, but the look in his eyes told Serena he did not believe her.

That should have been the end of the conversation.

But then Rin dropped another question that left her speechless.

"Serena, I don’t want to assume anything, but I have to ask...are you suicidal?"