Beep! Beep! Beep!
An alarm screamed through the room.
One hand emerged from beneath the blanket and slapped the alarm clock.
Without even opening his eyes, Yemir silenced it.
A few minutes later—
Beep! Beep! Beep!
A second alarm rang from the other side of the room.
Still half-asleep, Yemir stretched one leg out and stopped it with his toes.
Silence returned.
For exactly three seconds.
Then his sleepy brain finally put the pieces together.
"...College."
His eyes snapped open.
"Shit."
He jumped out of bed.
Still barely awake, he stumbled toward the bathroom.
Brush his teeth.
Wash his face.
Put on his college uniform.
Grab something to eat.
Everything happened through pure habit, interrupted by a yawn every few seconds.
As he rushed through the living room, he switched on the television without thinking.
A breaking-news report immediately appeared on the screen.
"Breaking News."
The reporter’s voice filled the room.
"Two major drug suppliers were arrested on the outskirts of the city last night."
Yemir slowed down for a moment.
According to the report, the suspects had been found restrained beside their truck.
Twelve crates of an illegal drug known as Hevix had also been recovered.
Footage of the wrecked truck appeared on the screen.
The reporter continued.
"Witnesses claim that a mysterious vigilante known as Unknown Z was responsible for capturing the criminals."
A handwritten note appeared on the screen.
"The sins they chose have been judged."
"Unknown Z’s true identity remains completely unknown."
Yemir barely glanced at the report before moving on.
He grabbed his bag, slipped on his shoes, and headed for the door.
As soon as he stepped outside, the morning air brushed against his face.
Behind him, the television continued playing.
Yemir turned it off.
After adjusting his clothes, he put on a pair of sun-reactive glasses.
Bright sunlight was already pouring through the gaps between the curtains.
He stopped.
"...Sunlight?"
With a quiet sigh, he pulled the curtains shut.
Then he picked up an umbrella from beside the door and walked outside.
The sky was perfectly clear.
There wasn’t a single cloud overhead.
Yet Yemir opened the umbrella above his head and continued walking as if nothing was unusual.
A few minutes later, he reached a small bus stop.
He waited quietly.
Then—
"Hey, Yemir!"
A familiar voice came from behind him.
Yemir turned around.
A lively boy came running toward him, waving.
"Heh... hey, Vini."
Vini stopped beside him with a wide grin.
"So? Did you see the pictures I sent you last night?"
A faint blush appeared on Yemir’s face.
"...Yeah."
"But..."
"Don’t ever send me anything like that again."
Vini burst out laughing.
"Why are you so embarrassed?"
"I’ve known you for ten years, and you’ve been single the entire time."
"Isn’t it about time you started liking someone?"
He leaned closer and whispered something into Yemir’s ear.
Yemir’s ears immediately turned red.
"H-Hey..."
Before he could respond, the sound of an approaching engine came from down the road.
Yemir quickly pointed toward it.
"Look..."
"The bus is here."
But Vini wasn’t finished teasing him.
Even after the bus stopped at the station, he continued.
The doors opened.
Yemir took the opportunity to escape.
He quickly climbed aboard and claimed an empty seat while Vini laughed from outside.
Inside the bus, Yemir sat beside the window.
He rested his head against the glass and watched the city slowly pass by.
A moment later, Vini appeared beside him.
"Move over. I’m sitting here."
But before he could sit—
Thud!
Someone suddenly bumped into him and sent him stumbling into the aisle.
"Hey!"
His angry complaint stopped halfway.
He looked up.
And froze.
Standing in front of him was the last person he expected to see.
A girl with long legs, a short school skirt, a neatly fitted uniform, and a cute face stood there.
Cisia.
Vini’s entire expression changed.
His eyes widened.
"...Oh."
"...Ohhh."
Cisia tilted her head.
"Sorry. I didn’t mean to bump into you."
Then she glanced at the empty seat beside Yemir.
"Can I sit here?"
Vini’s brain seemed to stop functioning.
He simply nodded repeatedly.
Cisia smiled and sat down.
Then she looked toward Yemir.
"Oh... hi, Yemir."
She shifted slightly closer.
Yemir immediately became uncomfortable.
"Um..."
"Could you sit a little farther away, please?"
Cisia stared at him.
"Wow."
"You just broke my heart."
"Your heart?"
"Yeah."
"And you’re calling me you like we don’t even know each other."
"Don’t you remember we’re classmates?"
Yemir thought for a moment.
"...Oh."
"Yeah, that’s right."
Cisia’s expression went blank.
"That’s right?"
She sighed.
"Forget it."
"At least look at me when you’re talking."
Reluctantly, Yemir looked into her eyes for a brief moment.
Then immediately looked away.
"No."
"I can’t."
He turned back toward the window.
Behind them, Vini watched the entire scene.
His spirit seemed to leave his body.
He leaned against his seat.
"why..."
"Why does this never happen to me?"
The bus continued through the city.
Cisia quietly pulled out her phone.
"Smile."
Before Yemir could understand what she meant—
Click.
She took a selfie.
Yemir’s face immediately turned red.
Without saying anything, he pulled a comic book from his bag and raised it in front of his face, using it as a shield.
From behind them, Vini leaned forward with the biggest grin he could manage.
Click.
He accidentally appeared in the corner of the photo.
Cisia looked at the picture.
Her expression fell.
"...Seriously?"
Vini scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.
"Heh..."
Trying to change the subject, Cisia looked at the cover of Yemir’s comic.
"Oh?"
"You read Dracula comics too?"
Yemir lowered the book slightly.
"...Hmm."
Before Vini could join the conversation, Cisia’s eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"I love Dracula too."
She leaned slightly closer with a smile.
"You know..."
"I’ve always thought Dracula looked pretty cool."
Her eyes lingered on Yemir’s face for a moment.
"...He kind of looks like you."
Yemir blinked.
"...Huh?"
"What?"
"Yeah."
A mischievous smile appeared on Cisia’s lips.
"I think you could play a pretty convincing Dracula."
Yemir looked away awkwardly.
The tips of his ears turned slightly red.
"...I’m fine being human."
Cisia quietly smiled at his reaction.
Meanwhile, Vini had raised one hand, clearly preparing to enter the conversation.
After a moment, he slowly lowered it.
He turned toward the window.
"...Why am i even here?"
The comparison to Dracula made Yemir sit up straight.
He waved both hands.
"That’s weird."
"Why do you keep comparing me to Dracula?"
Cisia blinked.
Every time she tried to get closer to him, somehow he managed to create even more distance.
Still, she forced a smile.
"Oh..."
"I see."
"Anyway..."
"I don’t really like Dracula’s fangs."
She studied Yemir’s face for a few seconds.
Then she spoke softly.
"So..."
"I think you’re more handsome than Dracula."
Yemir immediately coughed.
"Let’s stop talking about this."
Just then—
The bus slowly came to a stop.
"...The bus stopped," Yemir said quickly, using the opportunity to end the conversation.
He immediately stood up.
Cisia stood as well.
"Come with me."
Yemir shook his head.
"No..."
"I’ll get off after the crowd clears."
Vini suddenly jumped to his feet.
"I’ll go with you!"
Cisia muttered under her breath.
"...Idiot."
Then she looked back at Yemir and smiled.
"Fine. I’m going ahead."
"See you later."
The bus doors opened.
Cisia stepped outside.
Vini eagerly followed behind her.
Yemir remained in his seat.
He waited.
Only after the two of them had disappeared farther down the road did he quietly leave through the rear door.
He entered a narrow alley beside the road.
After making sure no one was watching, he carefully peeked around the corner.
Cisia and Vini were already walking away.
Yemir finally let out a relieved breath.
"...Thank goodness."
He turned around.
Then looked to his right.
A little farther down the alley, a manhole lay open in the middle of the road.
A few construction signs had been placed nearby, but the quiet surroundings made them easy to overlook.
Then—
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
The sound of a white cane echoed through the alley.
Yemir turned.
A young woman was slowly approaching the open manhole.
A cream-colored veil covered her head completely.
A black cloth covered her eyes.
She couldn’t see the danger ahead.
Yemir’s eyes widened.
He immediately reached out a hand.
"Wait!"