[Morning — The Next Day]
Sunlight filled the house.
The smell of breakfast spread through the air.
Voices.
Laughter.
Plates clinking.
Izumi sat at the table.
Surrounded.
His uncle.
His aunt.
Their children.
And at the head—
His grandfather.
"…Pass the Sauce," his uncle said.
"…Here," Izumi replied, handing it over.
"…You woke up early today," his aunt said.
"…Couldn't sleep much."
"…Thinking about jobs again?"
A pause.
Izumi looked around.
Everyone.
Relaxed.
Normal.
He took a breath.
"…Actually…"
They all looked at him.
"…I have something to say."
"…That sounds serious," his uncle said.
"…You didn't break something, right?" one of his cousins asked.
"…No."
"…Then it's not serious," the other cousin added.
"…Let him speak," his grandfather said calmly.
Izumi smiled slightly.
"…I got a job."
Silence.
Then—
"…WHAT?!"
"…YOU DID?!"
"…FINALLY!"
The table exploded with excitement.
"…Where?!" his uncle asked.
"…What job?" his aunt added.
"…When do you start?"
"…What's the salary?"
"…Is it good?"
"…One at a time!" Izumi laughed.
His grandfather chuckled softly.
"…Congratulations, Izumi."
"…Thank you."
His uncle leaned forward.
"…So? Tell us properly."
Izumi nodded.
"…It's a hospital job…"
"…Doctor?" his cousin asked.
"…No."
"…Then?"
"…Male nurse."
A small pause.
"…Still a good job," his aunt said warmly.
"…Yeah," his uncle nodded,
"respectable."
"…You'll look good in uniform," one cousin teased.
"…Shut up."
They laughed.
But then—
His uncle asked—
"…Where?"
Izumi hesitated for a second.
Then said—
"…Singapore."
Silence.
Everything stopped.
Just for a moment.
"…Singapore?" his aunt repeated softly.
"…Yeah."
They exchanged glances.
Not shocked.
But thoughtful.
"…That's… far," his uncle said.
"…Very far," one cousin added.
"…You'll be going alone?" his aunt asked.
"…Yeah."
Another pause.
This time—
Heavier.
His grandfather finally spoke.
"…Have you told your parents?"
Izumi shook his head.
"…No."
"…I wanted to tell them in person."
His grandfather nodded slowly.
"…Good."
"…They should hear it from you first."
Izumi looked down at his plate.
"…Yeah."
His aunt smiled gently.
"…They'll be proud of you."
"…Of course they will," his uncle added.
"…Our Izumi finally got a job."
"…FINALLY?" Izumi raised an eyebrow.
"…We waited long enough," his cousin said.
"…You were unemployed longer than our homework deadlines."
"…That's rude."
"…But true."
Laughter filled the room again.
The heavy moment faded.
But not completely.
After a while—
The energy calmed.
Plates half-empty.
Coffee being poured.
His uncle leaned back.
"…When are you leaving?"
"…Not sure yet."
"…Soon, I guess."
"…Hmm…"
His aunt looked at him carefully.
"…You're okay with it?"
"…What?"
"…Going so far."
A pause.
Izumi thought for a moment.
"…I don't know."
Honest.
"…It feels sudden."
"…It is," his uncle said.
"…But opportunities like this don't come often."
His grandfather added—
"…Sometimes, life pushes you forward before you're ready."
Izumi looked at him.
"…And sometimes," his grandfather continued, "there's a reason for it."
Those words lingered.
"…A reason…"
Izumi's mind flashed—
That voice.
"…Izumi…"
His grip tightened slightly.
"…Yeah…"
"…Maybe there is."
One cousin leaned toward him.
"…Bring gifts when you come back."
"…I haven't even left yet."
"…Still."
"…What do you want?"
"…Anything expensive."
"…Get a job first."
"…Unfair."
Another cousin added—
"…Bring chocolates."
"…That I can do."
"…And clothes."
"…I'm not your shopping app."
"…You are now."
Everyone laughed again.
The mood lifted.
But beneath it—
A quiet feeling remained.
Breakfast ended.
Chairs moved.
Plates cleared.
Izumi stood up.
"…I'll go meet my parents today."
"…Good," his aunt said.
"…Stay for lunch before you go," his uncle added.
"…Yeah."
His grandfather looked at him one last time.
"…Be careful."
Izumi blinked.
"…For what?"
A pause.
Then his grandfather smiled faintly.
"…Just… be careful."
Izumi nodded.
"…I will."
But as he turned—
That same feeling returned.
Stronger.
Colder.
"…Singapore…"
His thoughts echoed.
"…Something is waiting for me there…"
He didn't know what.
But one thing was certain—
This wasn't just a job.
_________________________
[Afternoon — Izumi's Room]
The room was quieter than usual.
Suitcase open.
Clothes folded neatly.
Documents placed carefully on the table.
Izumi stood still for a moment.
"…So it's really happening…"
He picked up a shirt.
Paused.
"…Singapore…"
The word still felt unfamiliar.
He placed it inside the suitcase.
Zip.
The sound echoed louder than it should.
"…That's it."
Everything packed.
Everything ready.
He sat down on the bed.
Looked around his room.
Memories.
Years of life.
"…I'm leaving all this behind…"
A faint smile.
"…For now."
His phone lit up.
Flight Search Page Open
He scrolled.
"… to Seoul…"
A pause.
"…Then Seoul to Singapore…"
He exhaled softly.
"…Guess I'll stop there first…"
Seoul.
The city where everything changed.
"…It's been four years…"
His fingers hovered over the screen.
Then—
Booked.
"…Done."
He leaned back.
"…No turning back now."
[Night — Departure]
The road was quiet.
A car moved steadily.
Streetlights passing one by one.
Izumi sat by the window.
Silent.
Watching.
"…Feels strange…"
Leaving again.
Not as a student.
Not as a kid.
But as someone stepping into life.
"…This time… it's real."
The airport lights appeared in the distance.
Bright.
Cold.
"…Let's go."
[Flight]
The hum of the plane filled the air.
Passengers silent.
Some sleeping.
Some scrolling.
Izumi sat by the window.
Clouds stretching endlessly.
"…Four years ago…"
He closed his eyes briefly.
Rain.
Screams.
Blood.
"…No…"
He opened them again.
"…That's over."
Outside—
The sky was calm.
Too calm.
[Evening — Seoul Airport]
The plane landed.
Lights everywhere.
Voices.
Announcements.
Izumi stepped out slowly.
"…Seoul…"
The name felt heavy.
Familiar.
But distant.
He walked through the airport.
Everything looked the same.
"…Nothing changed…"
But to him—
Everything had.
He stopped for a second.
That same feeling.
Cold.
Watching.
"…Not again…"
He turned quickly.
People everywhere.
Normal.
No one suspicious.
"…I'm just imagining things…"
But his instinct said otherwise.
He continued walking.
[Outside — Taxi Ride]
"Where to?" the driver asked.
Izumi gave the address.
The taxi started moving.
City lights passed by.
Buildings glowing in the night.
"…Same city…"
"…Different me."
The driver spoke again.
"First time in Seoul?"
"…No."
"Visiting family?"
"…Yeah."
"Good place."
"…Yeah."
Silence returned.
Izumi looked outside.
But then—
Something strange.
For a split second—
A reflection in the window.
Not his.
"…What…?"
He blinked.
Gone.
"…I definitely saw something…"
His grip tightened slightly.
"…That voice…"
"…That presence…"
"…It followed me?"
The car continued.
Unaware.
[Arrival — Home in Seoul]
The taxi stopped.
"…We're here."
Izumi stepped out.
Looked at the house.
Same as before.
Unchanged.
"…Feels nostalgic…"
He walked toward the door.
Paused.
Took a breath.
"…Let's do this."
He rang the bell.
Footsteps inside.
The door opened.
"…Izumi?"
His mother's voice.
Surprised.
"…I'm back."
A moment of silence.
Then—
"…IZUMI!"
She pulled him into a hug.
"…You didn't even tell us you were coming!"
"…I wanted to surprise you."
"…You did!"
His father appeared behind her.
"…So you finally came."
"…Yeah."
"…Come in."
Izumi stepped inside.
Warmth.
Familiarity.
Home.
"…Feels good…"
But deep inside—
That uneasiness remained.
Like something was waiting.
Watching.
Patient.
________________________
[Night — Izumi's Home in Seoul]
The house felt warm.
Familiar voices.
Soft lighting.
Dinner was already on the table.
"…You should've told us earlier!" his mother said.
"…I wanted to surprise you."
"…You definitely did," his father added, sitting down.
"…So? What brings you here suddenly?"
Izumi looked at them.
A small smile.
"…I got a job."
Silence.
Then—
"…WHAT?!"
"…Really?!"
"…That's amazing!"
His mother's eyes lit up instantly.
"…I knew it!" she said proudly.
His father leaned forward.
"…Where?"
"…At a hospital."
"…Doctor?" his mother asked.
"…No," Izumi smiled, "male nurse."
A brief pause.
Then—
"…That's still great!" she said warmly.
"…A job is a job," his father nodded.
"…And a good one too."
Izumi took a breath.
"…It's in Singapore."
Another pause.
This time quieter.
"…Singapore…" his mother repeated softly.
"…That's far…"
His father looked at him carefully.
"…When do you leave?"
"…after a week."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then his mother smiled again.
"…We're proud of you."
Izumi blinked slightly.
"…Thanks…"
"…You've grown a lot," his father added.
"…Yeah…"
A faint smile appeared on Izumi's face.
"…I guess I have."
__________________________
[Next Day — Morning Walk]
The sky was clear.
Cool breeze.
Seoul looked alive.
Izumi walked slowly down the street.
Hands in pockets.
Relaxed.
"…Feels different being back here…"
Not fear.
Not tension.
Just memories.
"…Four years ago…"
He stopped near a familiar road.
Then—
A café.
Laughter.
Voices.
He glanced casually—
And froze.
"…Videl…?"
There she was.
Standing near the café entrance.
Talking with her friends.
Smiling.
Same as always.
Unchanged.
"…She's still the same…"
For a moment—
He just watched.
Quietly.
Not wanting to interrupt.
"…It's been so long…"
He took a step forward.
Then stopped.
"…Should I go…?"
A pause.
Then—
He simply raised his hand.
A small wave.
Calm.
Natural.
Videl noticed.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Izumi…?"
She looked at him from a distance.
Surprised.
Then—
A soft smile appeared on her face.
The same smile.
Warm.
Familiar.
Time slowed for a moment.
No words.
Just that silent recognition.
"…He's back…"
Izumi lowered his hand slowly.
A faint smile on his face.
"…Yeah…"
"…I'm back."