Chapter 2Rebirth In Hardcore Mode I Want A Happier Life

I got another chance, and the system filled me in on my family situation.

My mom, Lisa Riley, was a self-proclaimed “Rebel Queen.” She was in high school, spent her time chanting and dancing online, and went by the name “Street Queen Lisa Riley.”

Wait, who cares about her online handle?

I cut off the system and asked the real question:

“What about my dad?”

The system paused briefly, then spoke in a strangely poetic tone, “On the other side of a wall.”

“?”

“Huh? Like… did he move abroad?”

“Actually, no… he went inside.”

Turns out he and his friends had a scuffle over a bowl of chili because they didn’t have enough cash. They started fighting over who’d eaten more and ended up getting hauled away by the cops.

Lisa took it hard, quit her online life, and wore his black-and-white photo as a necklace every day.

It’s just a year for brawling, not like he died… why the theatrics?

With that locked in my brain, I waited for my next reset. As I was about to get tossed down the toilet again, I grabbed onto Lisa’s necklace, clutching the locket hard.

“What are you doing?!” she shouted, ready to get angry until she saw my tiny hand holding the photo against her chest.

Suddenly, Lisa teared up.

“Ray… Ray Wayne, did you want me to keep this baby?”

“Would you really… want me to raise someone else’s kid?”

“…?”

What? Did I just hear her right?

Despite the emotional confusion, Lisa actually chose to take me home over singing “Rose Funeral.”

Sure, it was chaotic, but at least my grandparents might keep me safe.

Or so I thought. But then we arrived in a dark, dingy basement.

“Hey, Kyle! Can you watch the kid while I go to class?” she yelled from the door.

After a long pause, the door creaked open, and I heard chanting inside. A skinny arm, strung with prayer beads, reached toward me.