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“…”

Jang Chae Yeon silently gazed at the bed, then asked,

“Are you going?”

She looked at me.

“Uh…”

I glanced at Song Ah Rin with a puzzled expression.

As if she had never looked at me before, she let go of my sleeve and turned her gaze elsewhere.

Let’s be honest.

Even if I were to sleep next to Song Ah Rin right now, I didn’t think anything would happen.

My mental strength and physical endurance had reached their limits, and Song Ah Rin was likely the same.

Nothing would happen, but…

“A-Rin.”

At my words, Song Ah Rin hesitated and looked up at me.

“Is something wrong?”

I was just curious.

Song Ah Rin is a strong person.

No, to put it another way, she is someone who can act strong.

Everyone goes through tough times.

Some, like Jang Chae Yeon, can respond with a little more indifference in the face of pain; others, like Yu Da On, might just laugh and brush it off; and there are those, like Song Ah Rin, who endure the waves with a confident face.

But even such people sometimes have their masks crack.

“…”

At my words, Song Ah Rin released her grip on my sleeve.

“I just… had a bad thought.”

“…”

I turned my gaze to Jang Chae Yeon.

She looked at me without saying a word.

“I was being a bit odd earlier.”

In a much steadier voice than before, Song Ah Rin murmured and looked at me.

“Let’s just sleep.”

“If it comes to that, I might sleep with Chae Yeon…”

“I don’t want to.”

“I absolutely won’t.”

“…Okay.”

Before my words were finished, both of their replies came at once, and I could only shrug my shoulders.

*

– Swish…

The sound of water was heard from the bathroom.

I was so tired that I wanted to collapse into sleep immediately, but the strange smell coming from my body was too horrifying. If I laid down as I was, I suspected it would be hard to sleep properly.

So, I ultimately compromised that Song Ah Rin would wash first, followed by Jang Chae Yeon and me.

Listening to the sound of water from beyond the bathroom, Jang Chae Yeon and I sat facing each other.

“When is he coming?”

Unlike the completely collapsed Song Ah Rin, Jang Chae Yeon didn’t seem too troubled aside from appearing tired.

“That person?”

“The annoying one.”

“Oh. Ahn Sang Hyun… you mean the one who rolls around?”

“Yeah.”

I figured it would be easier to call him that rather than trying to remember his full name.

“I heard he would join us when the time comes.”

“When is that?”

“They say he will come once he finds the necklace.”

“And that’s it?”

“It seems finding it will happen quicker than expected.”

And it needs to be fast.

If this dragged on too long, Song Ah Rin might lose her mind before anyone else.

“Got it. If it comes to that, I’ll help.”

“You’re always so reliable, Chae Yeon.”

“Yeah.”

Jang Chae Yeon nodded at me.

“I’m the one you need most when it counts.”

What a wonderful self-promotion.

– Bang!

The door swung open, and Song Ah Rin emerged from the bathroom.

Rubbing her hair with a towel, she glanced at us, hesitated for a moment, then plopped down on her bed and looked at Jang Chae Yeon.

“What are you doing, white hair? Hurry up and wash.”

“I will.”

Jang Chae Yeon nodded and walked toward the bathroom.

“…”

“…”

The door closed, and silence fell.

An uncomfortable silence.

Unlike Jang Chae Yeon, who was suited for silence, Song Ah Rin was not someone who thrived in it.

“…Don’t you have anything to say?”

In the end, it was Song Ah Rin who couldn’t handle the silence first.

She was staring at me intently.

“Well…”

What should I say?

I couldn’t think of what to say, but I had a question.

“What was that sound?”

What was that sound that Song Ah Rin disliked?

“…It was just a scream.”

Song Ah Rin murmured, pulling her knees close.

“I heard a scream.”

“…It may be inappropriate to say this, but I thought you’d be used to such sounds, A-Rin.”

At my words, Song Ah Rin looked at me.

“You’re not wrong.”

“But what makes it so…”

“Different.”

Song Ah Rin shook her head.

“Do you remember what I said?”

“What you said?”

“What I told you at my house.”

“…”

A self-deprecating smile blossomed on Song Ah Rin’s face.

“If it was just a scream, I would have gotten used to it by now, like you said.”

She hugged her knees and looked at me.

“But I still find it hard to hear sounds I hate.”

An overwhelming fatigue resonated in her voice.

“Song Ah Rin.”

“…I’m tired, can I sleep first?”

“…”

Ignoring my response, Song Ah Rin lay down and stared at the wall.

“I’ll sleep.”

Silence continued.

What was she thinking as she looked at the stained wall?

“…”

Slowly, I got up and sat on her bed.

Song Ah Rin’s body jerked slightly.

I had no intention of lying down.

I was just sitting, leaning my body against her back.

On this night, when the heat still lingered, a moderately warm body heat was felt between us.

“…Thank you.”

“Not at all.”

Song Ah Rin quietly murmured, and I answered as if it meant nothing.

For the first time, the silence with her was not uncomfortable.

*

I woke up to the alarm.

<It’s time for the morning shift.>

The mechanical voice echoed through the room.

“Ugh…”

My whole body ached.

I always feel this way, but the day after a tough day is truly the hardest.

Groaning, I got up and looked at the other two.

“…Ugh…”

Song Ah Rin got up in her pajamas, groaning in discomfort.

And,

“…”

Jang Chae Yeon lay there without saying a word.

“Chae Yeon?”

“…Go…”

“What?”

“Leave… me…”

She spoke in a fading voice and looked up at me.

Right, Jang Chae Yeon had the weakest stamina among us.

“Come on, Chae Yeon. You have to get up quickly.”

“Ugh…”

After forcibly getting Jang Chae Yeon to sit up, I began changing clothes.

“I’m going to properly look for the necklace starting today.”

At my words, both of them nodded.

“The problem is we need to find where it is.”

My gaze turned to Song Ah Rin, who sighed and drooped her shoulders.

“Yeah, it’s my job to do that, right?”

“It may be hard, but I’m counting on you.”

“What choice do I have?”

Song Ah Rin groaned while moving.

“Chae Yeon, please hang in there just a little longer.”

“…Yeah.”

She clearly said she understood, but she looked so weak that I couldn’t help but worry whether she might collapse while working.

*

– Splash!

I squeezed in my arms.

This is not a person.

I repeat that to myself over and over.

If it were a person, I would have seen it with my eyes.

But I couldn’t just keep doing this either.

“…”

I glanced at Song Ah Rin.

Without saying a word, she matched her legs and frowned.

“A-Rin.”

“I’m fine.”

She murmured and shook her head.

“Just give me a little more time. There must be a place where the sound is loud.”

“I understand—”

– Crash!

From far away, something toppled over, and then,

“Stop! I want to stop!”

A man’s voice called out.

“Ah! Stop! Stop talking!”

I quickly turned to where the sound came from and locked eyes with Jang Chae Yeon.

“Chae Yeon.”

“Yeah.”

“I also…”

“A-Rin, you stay here.”

Right now, Song Ah Rin had the more important task.

“You understand?”

“…”

Song Ah Rin nodded and hurried to where Jang Chae Yeon and the sounds were coming from.

A man in the same clothes lay on the floor, struggling.

“Stop! Please make it stop!”

Next to him were two people who remained silent and merely wrapped their arms around him.

As if they couldn’t hear any sound, the two just did what they needed to do.

A translucent window appeared above his head.

[Name: Gil Tae Seong]

[Age: 25]

[Specialty: X]

[Talent: X]

[Background: He is becoming contaminated, and this will soon be a significant factor in seeing things from various perspectives. Through this, he—]

– Crackle!

The translucent window shook.

As if intentionally cutting off, the background faded, revealing a weakness.

[Weakness: Just like an ordinary person.]

“Hey, focus!”

I rushed over to the man.

“Aaagh, ugh…!”

He clutched his head and murmured an unintelligible sound.

Then, he began to claw at his own face like a madman.

His nails scratched his skin, and blood flowed down—

“Chae Yeon.”

Jang Chae Yeon immediately reached out to pin his arms down to the floor.

“Aaagh, ah…!”

After shaking his head repeatedly, he…

“…”

Became quiet again.

He locked eyes with Jang Chae Yeon.

Something was there.

“I’ll check the inside.”

“I’ll look outside then.”

“Thirty minutes.”

“Is it where we were working?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

As if choreographed, Jang Chae Yeon headed outside while I went inside.

“…”

I quickly walked through the place where only mechanical sounds echoed.

I would rather have a headache and find a way than keep going like this.

With no other symptoms manifesting in my body, all I could do was wander aimlessly.

I continued to search inside.

“…25 minutes.”

I checked my smartphone.

I should head back soon—

At that moment, I turned my gaze and spotted purple hair.

“A-Rin?”

Song Ah Rin was staggering as she walked.

At my call, she lifted her head.

Beneath her eyes were dark circles, and her expression was as if her soul had left her body. She walked toward me and pulled me into an embrace.

“A-Rin!”

Her eyes met mine.

The swaying sky, the beautifully clear sea, the rising sunset, and the setting morning sun.

– Fwish!

The manual fell from my pocket, hitting Song Ah Rin on the head, and my memory ended there.

*

“…”

I opened my eyes.

Song Ah Rin was hugging me, and then…

“Hello.”

A familiar voice rang in my ears.

It sounded youthful but carried an aura of maturity.

Though we were friends, there was always a feeling of distance.

I turned my gaze.

I met the familiar face, and our eyes locked.

“Long time no see.”

Despite the years that had passed, the child who hadn’t changed nodded awkwardly at me.