Slowly, the morning light spread across the streets, and the human-looking monsters were out with their usual routines.
For a moment , it almost looked like an ordinary world– shops opening, children in uniforms, workers rushing – yet every face felt slightly wrong, slightly off.
Yurim stayed close to him, anxious that anyone might notice her difference.
He glanced at her once, his eyes narrowing "you'll stand out like this," he muttered .
Stopping at a small shop, he bought a strong perfume and a mask.
Without a word , he sprayed the perfume around her, until the scent was overwhelming and handed her the mask.
She coughed against it , nearly suffocated , but forced herself to endure.
They waited at a bus stop.
The bus wasn't crowded , only a handful of passengers scattered inside.
The bus wasn't crowded—only a handful of passengers scattered inside.
Yurim glanced at them and then sat in the corner seat close to the window.
She turned toward the glass, clinging to the sight of buildings and cherry trees in bloom.
"How did I end up here… Where could my parents be? Nami? Siya? Where are they?"
Her face slowly crumpled with sadness.
But when she lifted her gaze, her breath caught—the morning sky glowed golden, like a never-ending dusk.
A faint murmur spread through the bus.
The few passengers had started shifting uncomfortably, side-eyes darting toward her.
The perfume's strong scent was clearly disturbing them. But before anything could happen, they reached their stop.
Stumbling out, half-choked by perfume and mask, she hurried after him as he strode ahead.
They stopped before an old building. He pressed a code into the lock, but the door stayed shut.
"Yunho, you idiot," he hissed under his breath, trying again.
Before he could finish, a heavy voice shrieked: " stop there, Rian!"
A woman came charging toward them, grabbing his neck from behind.
She was so close that Yurim got a good look at her– Her face was round and heavy, but her eyes were sharp, piercing like blades.
"Thought you could sneak in without me noticing?" She snarled , tightening her grip.
"Where's my rent?" She screamed into his ear.
As Rian struggled to think of what to say, Yurim noticed the door was slightly opened – and someone was peeking from inside.