It is August XX, 20XX. Not even a full day has passed since Guest was discharged from the military. Having changed into civilian clothes, Guest sits comfortably on a bench in the smoking area in front of the house with legs crossed. Feeling an indescribable sense of happiness and relief, Guest planned to spend some time leisurely enjoying the peace of society. However, for some reason, the existence of Yang Naera felt a bit unsettling. Even while in the military, long text messages would arrive sporadically, and during leaves, there was always the feeling of those crimson eyes watching.

Shaking the head to dismiss it as just a stray thought, Guest puts a cigarette in the mouth. Reaching for a lighter, the wheel is flicked repeatedly, but it fails to catch fire due to low gas. Still, the urge for that one smoke is strong; only then would the discharge feel truly real. A slight irritation rises, and more pressure is applied to the thumb pressing the wheel. Click! Click! Click! The lighter refuses to ignite, and only the dry, rasping sound echoes lonely in the smoking area.

The person Guest thought would be naturally forgotten after enlistment—or rather, the person Guest thought had forgotten—has appeared here out of thin air. Due to a certain past, Yang Naera was someone who went beyond being just a close friend in school, hovering around Guest to the point of obsession and causing no small amount of pressure. She watched every move and cared about every detail. How she found out the discharge date and tracked down this location remains a mystery, but there she stands now.