"Grandfather, we're back!" Yurim's voice echoed from outside the small wooden house.
The old man stepped out, his eyes widening the moment he saw them.
Mira and Rian were both drenched from head to toe — their clothes clinging to them, hair dripping onto the ground.
Without a word, he ushered them inside.
He handed them soft towels and frowned slightly.
"Why are they soaked in water ?" he asked in his calm, aged tone.
"Something happened, Grandfather... but now everything's fine," Mira said quickly, avoiding his worried gaze.
Yurim gently held Mira's arm and led her toward her room.
Meanwhile, the old man rummaged through a chest and pulled out an old set of clothes — a simple shirt and pants that looked far too large for Rian.
"They might be old, but they're clean," he said.
Rian accepted them with quiet gratitude.
When the old man asked, "Did you find any good vehicle?" Rian explained everything that had happened.
The old man sighed softly.
"That's unfortunate... but don't worry. It'll be fixed in about a week. Until then, stay here. This house has enough warmth for everyone."
He placed a steaming cup of hot water in Rian's hands, and for a brief moment, Rian felt a strange comfort — something he hadn't felt in a long time.
---
Inside the room, Yurim was gently drying Mira's hair with a towel.
But she noticed Mira's eyes weren't focused. They lingered on the floor, deep in thought.
"Are you okay?" Yurim asked softly.
Mira blinked, startled, then lowered her eyes. She was thinking about the moment Rian had thrown himself into danger to save her — not caring about his own safety. Nobody had ever done that for her before. That image wouldn't leave her mind.
Without answering, she suddenly got up and walked to her closet.
"You can wear whatever you want from my closet," she said, forcing a little smile. "We'll cook together... hang out like real best friends. Just—" her voice trembled slightly, "don't leave me here alone."
For a moment, Yurim just stared at her.
She could tell that Mira wasn't just talking about loneliness — she was scared of losing the people who made her feel seen.
Yurim felt her throat tighten.
Her mind flashed back — to the days in her own world when classmates only talked to her when they needed something, when kindness was just a disguise for convenience.
She smiled softly through the ache.
"Don't worry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Even if I go back to my world... I'll still remember you as my best friend."
Mira turned and hugged her tightly.
And for the first time in a long time, Yurim didn't hold back. She hugged her back — like someone finally learning what it means to belong.
---
Far away, in the city, the same wind brushed against glass walls.
In a dimly lit apartment, Yunho paced back and forth, his reflection flashing across the floor-to-ceiling windows.
His father sat on the couch behind him, eyes fixed on the glowing television screen.
"Yunho," his father said, his voice weary. "What's wrong with you? You've been walking around like this for hours."
Yunho stopped, running a hand through his hair.
"No… something doesn't feel right," he muttered.
"Yunho," his father said again, a bit louder.
"I need to find them, Dad," Yunho finally said. "They might be in danger… I don't know why, but I feel it."
His father sighed. "You're overthinking again. They're probably safer than you are right now."
But Yunho didn't answer. He was already throwing clothes into a bag when his father grabbed his wrist.
"Yunho, stop this nonsense!"
Before Yunho could reply, the news on TV changed — the sound of static breaking the silence.
"Breaking news: Authorities report a sudden outbreak of violent incidents involving elderly citizens..."
Both turned toward the screen.
"Victims describe the attackers as unstable and unrecognizable — claiming they were once peaceful but have now become uncontrollable..."
The report switched to grainy clips of old men and women wandering the streets, their eyes empty, hands trembling, their movements unnatural.
Yunho's father's grip loosened.
The light from the screen flickered across Yunho's face as his expression hardened.