Yemir reached the rooftop at last.
The little boy stood near the edge, one hand stretched toward the cat.
"Hey! Don’t move!"
Yemir stepped forward carefully.
The cat suddenly turned.
Its eyes landed on him.
For some reason, the animal panicked.
"Meow!"
It jumped away and disappeared toward the other side of the rooftop.
The boy’s attention snapped toward it.
"Wait!"
He reached after the cat.
His fingers slipped.
"Ah!"
His body tipped forward.
Yemir moved instantly.
He released the rope and lunged.
His hand caught the boy before he could fall alone.
For one brief second, Yemir managed to hold him.
Then both of them dropped.
"YEMIR!"
The child’s mother screamed from below.
People shouted as the news crew tried to keep their cameras trained on the scene.
"Move back!"
"Get the rescue team!"
"Where are they falling?"
Yemir tightened his grip around the child.
Below them, the emergency responders had already prepared an absorber balloon beneath the building.
The two of them crashed into it.
The massive cushion compressed beneath their weight.
The child rolled to the side.
Yemir landed beside him.
The crowd froze.
Then—
"He’s alive!"
"The child is alive!"
Several rescuers rushed toward them.
The boy’s mother pushed through the crowd.
"My son!"
She grabbed her child and pulled him close.
"Are you okay? Can you hear me?"
The boy stared ahead.
He barely responded.
The woman looked around.
"Where is the boy who saved him?"
The rescuers searched the area.
Nothing.
"Did anyone see where he went?"
"No."
"Check around the building!"
They searched the nearby streets, the emergency area, and the lower floors.
There was no sign of Yemir.
Only his jacket and helmet were found.
The boy’s mother stared at them.
She wanted to thank him.
She wanted to know his name.
But the person who had saved her son had already disappeared.
"I didn’t even get to thank him..."
Her voice dropped.
A few reporters continued filming.
The story was already spreading.
A young man had climbed a burning building, reached a child trapped on the rooftop, and disappeared after saving him.
But the real mystery was still unanswered.
Where had he gone?
The child remained unusually quiet.
A rescue worker crouched beside him and spoke gently.
"Can you tell me your name?"
The boy didn’t answer.
His mother touched his shoulder.
"Sweetheart?"
Still nothing.
Then a familiar sound came from nearby.
"Meow."
The cat walked into view.
The boy’s eyes immediately moved toward it.
He reached out.
"Kitty..."
His mother quickly stepped forward.
"Shoo! Go away!"
The cat stopped.
The boy’s face changed.
His lips trembled.
Tears filled his eyes.
His mother froze.
She looked at her son for a moment.
Then she stepped aside.
"It’s okay..."
The cat slowly came closer.
The boy reached for it again.
This time, nobody stopped him.
Later that evening, Yemir was nowhere near the fire.
He stood outside a small comic store.
The owner looked up from behind the counter.
His face brightened immediately.
"Yemir! Is that you?"
Yemir walked inside.
"You came early this time."
The owner pointed at him.
"Don’t tell me you already finished two volumes."
Yemir scratched the back of his head.
"Hehehe..."
Mr. Comico laughed.
"You really finished two volumes, huh?"
Yemir sighed.
"Mr. Comico, I’m thinking about making my own comic after I finish this final arc."
"You write?"
"Just for fun. Sometimes."
"That’s good."
Mr. Comico picked up the comic in Yemir’s hand and tapped its cover twice.
"And I still like the nickname you gave me."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah."
He smiled.
"Anyway, this is your book."
Yemir looked at it.
"This is the last volume."
His expression dropped a little.
He wandered around the store, scanning the shelves.
"John Man... Bermuda... Black Dragon..."
He pulled out one book, then returned it.
"What else is there?"
He paused.
"Maybe another day."
"Didn’t find anything you liked?"
"They’re not bad. I’ll come back later."
"You still have your payment saved here."
"I know."
"When are you coming again?"
"I don’t know."
Yemir gave him a small wave.
"Maybe we’ll meet again."
"Goodbye. I’ll be happy to see you again."
Yemir stepped outside.
The evening crowd had grown busier.
Cars moved along the street while shopkeepers called to passing customers.
A bicycle bell rang somewhere behind him.
People crossed the road in different directions.
Then Yemir noticed someone standing beside a shop.
A white veil covered her hair.
A black cloth covered her eyes.
A white cane rested in her hand.
And in the other hand—
A packet of lollipops.
One was already between her lips.
Yemir slowed.
He recognized her immediately.
He walked closer.
"Hey there..."
The girl turned slightly toward his voice.
Yemir smiled.
"Do you remember me?"
There was a short pause.
Then her lips curved faintly.
"You..."
Her head tilted.
"Are you the boy from that day?"
"Yes. You remembered me."
Yemir rubbed the back of his head.
"And we meet again. You recognized me without seeing me. That’s impressive."
Irin gave a small smile.
The tip of her cane tapped against the pavement.
Tap.
Tap.
Cars passed nearby.
Someone called out from a shop.
A rickshaw bell rang twice.
The city carried on around them.
Yemir glanced at the lollipop in her mouth.
"So, what are you doing here at this time?"
"I work part-time after college."
Irin lightly pulled the lollipop from her mouth.
"Actually..."
She adjusted the edge of her veil.
"I just realized something."
"What?"
"We never exchanged names that day."
Yemir blinked.
"That’s true."
"Irin."
She held the lollipop loosely between her fingers.
"And you?"
"Yemir."
He gave a small smile.
"I’m a college student. Final year."
"Final year?"
"Yeah."
"And after college?"
"I’m still figuring that out."
Irin smiled again.
"I work at a small studio. I’m a voice artist."
"Voice artist?"
Yemir’s ears twitched slightly.
"Wow."
Irin paused.
"Why?"
"Your voice makes it obvious."
"How?"
"Um..."
Yemir scratched his head.
"You have a sweet tone."
Irin brought the lollipop back to her lips.
"You’re saying too much just because you heard my voice."
Yemir looked away.
"I was only complimenting you."
"I know."
She sounded amused.
Yemir noticed the road ahead.
"You’re probably crossing to the other side, right?"
Irin nodded.
"That way."
Yemir stepped closer.
"I’ll help you cross."
He reached for her cane.
Irin allowed him to hold it.
They started walking.
The sound of her cane returned.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Yemir matched her pace.
They reached the roadside.
Then a car came speeding toward the crossing.
Yemir’s hand moved immediately.
"Irin!"
He caught her hand and pulled her back.
The car rushed past them.
Irin stumbled against him.
For a second, she stayed still.
Then she touched her cheek.
Her face had turned slightly red.
"I..."
She adjusted her veil.
"I didn’t expect that."
Yemir immediately loosened his grip.
"Sorry. I pulled you too hard."
"No."
Irin shook her head.
"You don’t need to apologize."
She smiled faintly.
"I should be thanking you. If you weren’t here, I might have been hit."
Yemir looked toward the road.
"Then let’s get you across safely."
He walked beside her again.
Irin kept the lollipop between her lips as they continued.
Yemir occasionally glanced at it.
"You really like those?"
Irin removed the lollipop for a moment.
"Strawberry."
"I guessed that."
"How?"
"The smell."
Irin smiled.
"You notice small things."
"Sometimes."
They crossed the road.
Yemir guided her to a safer spot near the opposite sidewalk.
"There."
Irin stopped.
"Thank you, Yemir."
She held her cane properly again.
"You’ve helped me twice now."
"It’s nothing."
"It isn’t."
She turned toward his voice.
"I appreciate it."
Yemir scratched his head.
"Then... you’re welcome."
Irin began walking away.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Yemir watched her leave.
For some reason, hearing his own name in her voice had made it sound different.
Yemir.
He almost smiled.
My name actually sounds nice when she says it.
Irin continued down the sidewalk.
She was almost out of reach when—
"Hey..."
She stopped.
"Wait, Irin."
The tapping stopped.
A light breeze moved the loose end of the cloth tied behind her head.
Irin stood still.
Her head turned slightly toward him.
why had he stopped her ?
She waited for his next words.
And Yemir stood there, suddenly unsure of what he wanted to say.