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“This training session feels like it’s dragging on forever!”

It kept going until 4 PM, which made me realize just how hot it still was—definitely summer vibes.

But I wasn’t just cooped up like I was before coming here. Well, this isn’t exactly home, more like our accommodation. Anyway.

There’s nothing more foolish and wasteful than sitting around in our place when we came here to have some fun. We needed to get out and do something!

So, of course, we were buzzing around here and there like headless chickens.

As soon as we got free time, we headed for the memorial park. Apparently, it was built on the Ground Zero site from the Gate Flood incident.

If it weren’t for the mention of Ground Zero, I wouldn’t have known an accident like that happened here.

That’s how well-kept the memorial park was. It was slightly bigger than a typical urban green space, but other than that, it had a pretty dull park vibe.

“But doesn’t seeing the nearby buildings remind you of what happened back then?”

“There are no gates here, no eye monsters either. Plus, unlike you guys who were cleaning up the area, I was too busy running off to kill the monsters, so I didn’t get a chance to check out the buildings.”

As I touched the grass while saying this, Minho agreed, adding that we should check out over there.

In the center of the memorial park stood a large stone with small engravings, arranged like Stonehenge.

Squinting at it, I wondered what kind of obsessive person carved all of that. Each and every one of those many letters was a name.

Was it a tribute to the deceased?

Even though we saved them in simulations, I couldn’t help but think: did those people actually survive?

As I looked at countless names that I couldn’t even begin to picture, I momentarily got lost in thought. The kids next to me, acting all out of character, seemed to be paying their respects too.

I always thought memorials were pretty pointless acts. In the end, nothing changes.

The dead don’t come back, and the living have to continue on with their losses; that part never changes.

But, if it brings peace to those who live on, isn’t that enough?

Thinking that as I wandered the park for a bit, I eventually left.

“Considering how serious Ground Zero was back then, it looks like Busan is doing just fine.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“What exactly is unfortunate, Miss Seolhwa…?”

“Not being able to see the ruins. Ruins are awesome!”

Ageha asked again, looking like she couldn’t grasp Seolhwa’s taste, but Minho covered for her, saying there’s a certain bittersweet beauty only ruins possess.

I agreed. Creatures ruined and left behind by their creators can be both pitiful and beautiful at the same time.

“Still, isn’t it better where there are lots of people than in ruins? I just love places filled with laughter and people!”

“Same here! But sometimes you just want to see something bizarre, right? That’s why I’m all about that now. You can’t beat the feelings only the real deal can give you.”

“Is that so…?”

Even Minho seemed unable to cover such a deep taste, only managing an awkward laugh while trying to change the subject.

Seolhwa’s praises for ruins continued, but few truly resonated with her.

It wasn’t until we reached a sushi place that her one-woman talk show finally came to an end.

“Sushi? Hmm, not that I dislike it or anything, but it feels kinda out of nowhere. Ageha, do you like sushi?”

“Not exactly love, just curious. I wonder how the sushi here is different from the original.”

If you’re specifically looking for those subtle differences, that’s not just curiosity—you definitely like it!”

Having struck a secret chord, Jin-hyeon got Ageha thinking, admitting she’d never thought of it that way but maybe she did like it.

Without hesitation, Ageha insisted on treating this time.

“This time, I’ll pay. I’ve been working part-time and saved up quite a bit.”

But Minho seemed eager to earn some brownie points, puffing up a little as he stepped forward.

Ageha, instead of being impressed, found it a bit amusing and playfully responded.

“Are you really sure you can back that up?”

Minho’s eyes flickered, as if he sensed something in Ageha’s voice. But he quickly steeled himself, confidently stating he wouldn’t take back his words.

“Is this a geographical thing? It doesn’t seem very different from the original in terms of taste or variety… yum. Next up, o-toro…?”

Ageha ordered a piece of sushi with a price that made your eyes go dizzy even just looking at it, sneaking glances at Minho.

Minho’s face was looking dark, almost despondent.

With every single expensive bite plummeting his wallet, it was just natural that he was feeling the strain.

“Uh, um, Ageha? Isn’t this a bit expensive for Minho to pay…?”

Even LaPis, whose perception of money was off the charts, seemed to be reconsidering with that one.

“It’s alright, since Minho-kun said it was fine! Right, Minho-kun?”

“S…sure…”

If Sisyphus had been rolling a rock for an eternity, he’d probably look livelier than Minho did at that moment. Listening to his nearly dead voice, I started contemplating if I should just cover for him.

It was a bit of a burden for me too, but at least I probably had more money than him.

Besides, I had eaten quite a bit as well.

Just as I was about to offer to help, Ageha was already thanking the staff as she took the card to pay.

Watching Minho stare blankly at that, Ageha chuckled, amused.

“What? Did you really think I’d make Minho-kun pay it all? Hehe, no way!”

“No, Ageha. Isn’t that still a pretty hefty amount for you…?”

“Hmm, yeah… maybe it’s about two weeks’ worth of allowance. But still, I came here to hang out, right? And besides, if it’s for you guys, it’s worth it!”

“Looks like you’re just spending money like it’s nothing, but you could afford it, huh?”

Seolhwa pointed out bluntly, teasing Ageha’s spending habits.

“Ahaha, it’s not like that. I just never had anywhere to spend it! Even if I wanted to, I didn’t have many friends… and the few I had all drifted apart once we entered the Academy.”

“So that means we’re your closest friends now?”

When I said that, Ageha agreed, saying she was glad to have met us all.

Seeing her smile so brightly, I felt a sharp pang in the corner of my heart.

“Geez, it’s not even night yet, and you’re already bringing up such mushy stuff?”

Maybe that’s why I interfered, cutting the sentimental flow just to mess it up.

As if splashing cold water, Ageha seemed a bit embarrassed, remarking she must have gotten a little too emotional.

“Talking about that stuff can wait until bedtime, it’s not necessary to do it when everyone’s listening.”

O-toro sushi, huh.

After popping a few pieces in my mouth, amazed at how they just melted away, Ageha rushed to shove the remaining ones into her mouth, claiming she had intended to eat those.

She really does love sushi.

As we stepped outside, Minho’s expression was quite mixed. He looked relieved, yet at the same time, there was a hint of defeat.

His face was one of that ambiguously mixed feeling.

Having stepped up to spend some money, only to realize it was a bit too much, must have bruised his pride somehow.

He even started passing out fish cakes to make up for earlier, as if trying to recover from it.

“There’s really not much space left.”

“Didn’t you already eat four skewers?”

Jinhyeon stated bluntly, hitting the nail on the head as I shot a cold glance at him, tearing a wad of cash from Minho’s pocket with a flourish.

“Eat up, eat up! Especially LaPis, you gotta eat more! If someone saw you, they’d think you’re a middle schooler.”

Minho’s words were probably unintentional, but they seemed to trigger something in Yeonhwa as she abruptly got defensive, snapping back.

“There’s demand even for the small ones?!”

LaPis and Minho looked a bit perplexed by Yeonhwa’s outburst.

“Hang in there…”

Ageha seemed to understand Yeonhwa’s sentiment and quietly encouraged her.

It took me a moment to ponder what she meant by that when I finally realized that among her peers, she was the only one with a smaller chest.

Seolhwa, Ageha, and even me—we all had a pretty standard size, at least large enough for someone to notice it was “there.”

LaPis was about the same size as Yeonhwa, but I think she was even slightly bigger.

So that’s why she had been so sensitive about size being brought up until now.

Now that I knew Jinhyeon had his eyes on the bigger ones, I imagined Yeonhwa’s anxiousness wouldn’t really lessen.

“Someday, your time will come, Yeonhwa. You’re still in your growth phase, after all.”

I cheered her on, finishing my broth completely.

“Even if you say that, it doesn’t really resonate with me!”

“Believe it or not, I was also a late bloomer.”

Who knows, you might be in the same boat as me. Saying that caused Yeonhwa to reconsider seriously, as if a new hope had sparked within her.

In the fading sunlight, her already reddish hair looked even more vivid.

Someday, you’ll reap the fruits of your labor.

Even though it wasn’t appealing that Jinhyeon got a girl like that, if it’s based on Yeonhwa’s effort, I’m more than willing to shut my eyes to it.

So, Jinhyeon’s heart might need to be torn a bit, just to keep things balanced.

As others basked in their youthful energy, mine was shadowed by a sunset hue.

 

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