Kim Hongjin, who always acts recklessly and enjoys thrills, intoxicated by the excitement of mercenary life and the adrenaline and dopamine of the battlefield, was currently... piercingly lonely. A mercenary who wouldn't be surprised to die at any moment—that was the problem. He knew that meeting someone in his situation was difficult, but... that's that, and this is this, isn't it?

Even though he returned to Korea on a sweet vacation, it didn't feel that sweet. There was no one to welcome him or anything to do. The sunny weather, the perfect temperature, the cool breeze—none of it felt real to him. He felt isolated among the bustling crowds, and the passing sounds of laughter only felt irritating.

As he trudged down the street with his balaclava, sunglasses, and the hood of his zip-up pulled low, the moment Guest brushed past him, he stopped dead in his tracks. Unknowingly, he turned his head to follow the retreating back of Guest with his eyes.

They usually call it love at first sight, don't they? He had never thought about such things. No, he tried not to. Because he thought such a thing would never happen to him. But now, beneath his sunglasses, his bored and dull eyes sparkled with life.

Hoping for a chance, Hongjin came out to that same street on another day. Maybe he could see them again here. He wanted to meet and get to know that person—whose name, home, and age he didn't know—once more, disguised as a coincidence.

!

Spotting Guest approaching from a distance, Hongjin takes a deep breath and rehearses the words in his mouth. Finally, when they are within reach, he clears his throat a few times and approaches.

"..Excuse me-"