[Leon- So, this is my life now, huh? Pretending I forgot my past when in reality, I don't even know this kid Ethan or the people connected to him. But hey—thank you, God. I thought if I got a second chance, you'd make me a damn Doberman Pinscher or something, but this is good too.]
One Month Later
The sun hung high, blazing against the crisp blue sky as Ethan—or rather, Leon in Ethan's body—stepped out of the hospital for the first time in weeks. He inhaled deeply, the fresh air filling his lungs, replacing the sterile hospital smell that had clung to him like a bad memory.
His right hand—finally free of that damn cast—twitched as he flexed his fingers, testing their strength. Good as new. He rolled his wrist, cracking his knuckles with satisfaction.
Behind him, Dr. Leonard and Nurse Elena stood near the entrance, watching as Izzy sorted through the final discharge papers at the front desk.
Dr. Leonard adjusted his glasses, his face serious. "Ethan, I know this is a tough time for you, but try to fit into society. It doesn't matter if you've forgotten your past—what matters is the present and future. You have a chance to collect new memories."
Ethan nodded, slapping on a polite, grateful smile. "Thank you for taking care of me, Doctor. You really helped me a lot."
[Leon- Yeah, really—thank you, Doc. Because of you declaring that I have amnesia, I can start a brand-new life. If I were still Leon the Criminal, I would've recruited you into my syndicate and made you my exclusive gang doctor… fake reports and all! Hahaha!]
Dr. Leonard chuckled, patting Ethan's shoulder. "You're very mature for your age, Ethan. I'll miss you, boy."
Elena clapped her hands together, beaming. "Yes, we'll miss you! Please come back again!"
Ethan quirked a brow. "Huh? You want me to get into another accident or something?"
Elena's eyes widened, her face paling. "H-Huh?! No, that's not what I meant!"
Dr. Leonard threw his head back, laughing heartily. "Hahaha!"
Ethan smirked. "Yeah, I know. I'm just messing with you."
Just then, Izzy strolled over, tucking the discharge papers into her bag. "Alright, we're good to go. Ready to leave?"
Ethan took a deep breath, stretching his arms out as he stared at the open world before him. His lips curled into a slow grin.
"Yeah."
[Leon- Hell yeah!]
Turning back one last time, he gave the doctor and nurse a lazy wave. "Bye, Elena. Bye, Dr. Leonard. Thanks for everything."
Then, as they walked toward the taxi waiting by the curb, Ethan rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck with satisfaction.
(And hey… new life.)
On the Road
The taxi weaved through the crowded streets, the city alive with honking horns, chattering pedestrians, and neon lights flickering against the dusk sky. Ethan—or rather, Leon in Ethan's body—leaned back against the seat, arms crossed, eyes lazily scanning the passing scenery.
Then, he saw it.
A narrow alleyway, shadowed between two old buildings, barely noticeable unless you knew where to look.
His breath hitched.
His fingers twitched against his knee.
That alley.
A pulse of something cold ran through him, an eerie, gut-churning sensation crawling up his spine. His muscles tensed before he even realized it.
That was it. The place where Leon—the real Leon—had fought for his life.
The night flashed in his mind. The smell of blood. The sharp sting of cold steel. The sick grin of a bastard who thought he'd won. The pain. The rage. The goddamn unfairness of it all. And then—darkness.
Ethan's stare lingered on the alley, his expression unreadable. He barely registered Izzy talking beside him until she stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes followed his gaze, her body stiffening.
(Izzy swallowed hard, her hands clenching in her lap."That alley… That's where we found Ollie and Ethan that day… Does he—?")
"Ethan?" she asked carefully. "Is something wrong?"
Ethan blinked, snapping out of it. His posture eased, and he forced his lips into a lazy smirk.
"Hm? No."
[Leon-Why the heck does she look so damn tense?
His mind raced, trying to gauge her reaction. "Did something happen to Ethan here? Was that why she was acting weird?" He had no clue about this kid's past. But he knew his own. Better to play dumb.]
He threw in a casual shrug. "I think I saw a cat. Did I like cats before?"
Izzy blinked at the unexpected question. "Cats? No. You were allergic to them."
Ethan's eye twitched. "Allergic?"
Izzy nodded.
[Leon- The fuck?! Allergic to cats?! This weak-ass body…]
The taxi jerked forward as traffic cleared, snapping him out of his frustration. They sped past the alley, and soon, it was out of sight.
For now.
They Arrived At Their Home
The taxi pulled up in front of a two-story house—nothing fancy, just a normal family home with a small front yard and a porch light glowing softly in the evening air.
Ethan stepped out, staring up at the building with mild curiosity.
"So this is where I live now, huh?"
It was a weird thought. Like slipping into someone else's clothes that didn't quite fit.
Izzy pulled out her wallet, paid the driver, and turned to him with a small smile. "Welcome home, Ethan."
Ethan didn't respond immediately. The words felt… off. Like they weren't meant for him.
Izzy didn't seem to notice his hesitation. She grabbed her bag and headed inside, setting it down on the living room table. "Do you want to eat something? I can make something quick."
[Leon- glanced around the house, taking in the details. Family photos on the wall—Ethan and Izzy as kids, their parents in a few. A couch that looked well-used. A kitchen that smelled faintly of spices and home-cooked meals.
Too domestic. Too normal.
His lips twitched in amusement. "If my old crew saw me now, they'd lose their goddamnminds." ]
He turned back to Izzy. "Nah, I'm good right now. Just tell me where my room is."
Izzy wiped her hands on her jeans and nodded toward the stairs. "Upstairs, first door on the right. The one in front of it is the storage room."
Ethan nodded. "Got it."
As he climbed the stairs, Izzy let out a long breath, running a hand through her hair. Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"He really forgot everything… My poor brother."
Her fingers curled into a fist.
"And the ones who did this… they're still out there, living their damn lives like nothing happened."
She exhaled sharply, pushing the anger down. She couldn't change the past. But she could at least take care of what was left.
"I should make something he likes for dinner."
Rolling up her sleeves, she stepped into the kitchen.
Leon Exploring the Room
The door clicked shut behind Ethan as he stepped inside. Small, Clean, No stench of cigarette smoke or alcohol. He let out a long, drawn-out sigh, raking a hand through his hair.
"Haaah…"
[ Leon- I really lived like a bastard in the past, huh? But not anymore.]
He threw himself onto the bed, staring up at the plain ceiling. His fingers drummed against his stomach as silence pressed in around him.
It wasn't bad, …But it wasn't good either.
Seconds passed.
Minutes.
Then—
"…It's fuckin' boring."
He groaned and sat up, rubbing his face.
"What the hell do I do now?"
His gaze swept over the room. Simple. Minimal. Too neat. His brows furrowed. Feels like a damn hotel room… no personality.
Then—his eyes landed on the closet.
[ Leon- Hm. Hm… Hm!]
A smirk tugged at his lips. "Alright. Let's start there."
He pushed himself off the bed and strode over, yanking the door open. Inside, the neatly hung clothes greeted him with absolute mediocrity.
T-shirts. Striped short-sleeves. School uniforms.
Ethan wrinkled his nose.
[Leon- This kid had no taste in clothes.]
He rifled through them, unimpressed. Maybe the pants were salvageable—Then, his fingers hit something. A different texture.
He pulled it out.
…And stared.
A pair of brightly printed shorts.
Covered in cartoonish, grinning suns and pineapples wearing sunglasses.
"…The fuck is this?"
He held them at arm's length like they were a biohazard.
Then, with a flick of his wrist—
FWUMP!
The offending garment hit the floor.
Nope. Not even gonna acknowledge that.
He continued searching until his eyes landed on something tucked away on the top shelf. A box.
Neatly wrapped. A small tag with the kid's name scrawled across it.
[Leon- Sorry, kid. I'll just take a peek.]
He pulled it down, peeled back the lid, and—His brows lifted.Inside was a gray T-shirt and black pants.
Simple. Clean. But with actual style. A slow smirk curled his lips.
[Leon- Now this is good.]
He ran his fingers over the soft fabric, letting out a satisfied hum before setting it aside. His gaze drifted across the room again. Nothing else interesting.
His lips twisted.
"Tch. I need a damn bath."
He grabbed the fresh clothes and headed for the door. As he stepped into the hallway, he reached for the second door—
CREEEAK.
A musty storage room greeted him.
"Ah, not this one."
He shut it and moved to the next.
Click.
The bathroom. Stepping inside, he flicked on the light and His gaze snapped to the mirror. he turned to face the mirror and for a long moment—he just stared.
At himself.
At the person looking back. Then—slowly—he pulled off his shirt.
[ Leon- "…Shit, I can't get used to these…"]
Scars and old injuries.
Some faded, some deep. All over his body. His fingers traced a particularly jagged one across his ribs. A frown pulled at his lips.
Ethan"They say it's from the accident… but I don't think so."
His gaze shifted—to his shoulder.
Another scar.
One he recognized.
[Leon- Torture... or builied ]
His stomach twisted. Was your past not normal either, kid? High school kids get picked on, sure… but to be beaten this badly?
Just looking at the scars made his blood boil. His jaw tightened. His fingers curled into fists. But if Izzy didn't want to tell him—fine. He wouldn't ask.
Didn't mean he'd ignore it. With a sharp exhale, he forced himself to relax, rolling his shoulders.
"Whatever. Let's just get this bath over with."
CREEEAK.
A few minutes later, Ethan stepped out of the bathroom, lazily rubbing a towel over his damp hair. Droplets of water dripped from the ends onto his bare shoulders.
Ethan let out a deep sigh and walked toward the mirror, ruffling his now-dried strands.
"...Tch."
He tugged at a few uneven strands, squinting at his reflection. "I need a fuckin' haircut…"
Before he could dwell on it, Izzy shouted for him, her voice echoed from downstairs. "Ethan! Dinner's ready!"
He blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
[Leon- Oh. She's callin' for me.]
Shaking off the thought, Ethan grabbed a clean shirt and pulled it on. "Yeah, yeah, I'm comin'!"
The scent hit him first. Warm, Savory, A mix of garlic, soy sauce, and grilled meat. When he reached the dining table, his stomach let out a low, traitorous growl. Fried rice. Grilled chicken. Sautéed vegetables.
Ethan smirked as he dropped into his seat.
[Leon- Now, if only there was some alcohol… this'd be perfect.]
Izzy sat across from him, her usual calm expression in place. She handed him a plate.
"Here you go."
Ethan grabbed it, nodding. "Oh, looks good."
He reached for his utensils—But paused.
Izzy wasn't eating. She sat still, hands clasped together, eyes closed.
"...?"
He raised an eyebrow. She opened her eyes, smiled, and said,
"Thank you for the food."
Ethan blinked.
[Leon- Oh. Right. That thing.]
A beat of silence. Then, awkwardly, he muttered,
"Uh—yeah. Uh. Thanks for the food."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he mentally kicked himself.
[Leon- Shit, I should write that down or somethin' so I don't forget next time.]
Finally, he took his first bite—And his chewing slowed. Eyes widening slightly, he glanced down at his plate.
"Oh, damn. This is really good."
Izzy watched him, amused.
"Has your appetite grown?" she asked. "Before, you wouldn't even finish this much."
Ethan barely hesitated before bullshitting his way through.
"Ah, well… food's just really good, and, uh—" he stuffed another bite into his mouth, talking between chews. "I'm a growin' boy, so I should eat more, right?"
Izzy chuckled. "Yeah, you should."
She served him another portion. And he devoured that one too.
"Ahhh…" He leaned back, satisfied. "That hit the spot."
Izzy seemed pleased.
"Really? That's good."
Izzy stood, stacking the plates. "I'll do the dishes, then head out for work. You can rest. If you need anything, let me know—I'll bring it back when I return."
Ethan frowned slightly, processing that.
[Leon- Wait. She works at night?]
He tilted his head. "Huh. Workin' late?"
Izzy nodded, already gathering utensils.
"Yeah, I do night shifts."
Something about that didn't sit right.
Ethan scratched his jaw, watching her. "Ah… hey, you need help? I can—"
Izzy cut him off with a gentle shake of her head. "Oh, no, you don't have to. I can handle it."
Ethan paused.
For some reason, that rubbed him the wrong way. But he let it go.
"Tch. Fine. I'll go up, then."
Pushing his chair back, he stretched his arms over his head. As he headed for the stairs, he cast one last glance over his shoulder.Izzy was already at the sink, her back turned.
Something about the sight felt… off.
But he shoved the thought down and continued upstairs.
TO BE CONTINUED....