As lunchtime arrived, Yin-Shin and Sang-ji found themselves sitting on the school rooftop, their usual spot to escape the chaos of Na-Seong High. Today was unusually peaceful. The sky was clear, the sun casting a gentle warmth over the city, and a calm breeze swept by, ruffling their hair.
Sang-ji leaned back, resting his head against the wall, a bag of snacks in his hand. "It's been a while since it's felt this quiet," he said between bites. "No fights, no drama. Almost makes you forget about everything else."
Yin-Shin nodded, his eyes scanning the horizon. The peace was a welcome change, though he knew it wouldn't last. The looming meeting of Carnage and the threats it would bring lingered in the back of his mind.
"Days like this don't come often," Yin-Shin said quietly, his gaze fixed on the clear blue sky. "It's nice, but temporary. You know things are about to shift soon."
Sang-ji sighed, popping another snack into his mouth. "Yeah, I know. But for now, let's just enjoy it while we can. There's enough to worry about without constantly thinking about what's coming next."
Yin-Shin leaned back against the wall beside him, letting the quiet wash over him. For a brief moment, it felt like they were just ordinary students, free from the game of carnage and the violence that often plagued their lives. But even in the stillness, Yin-Shin couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that this was merely the calm before the storm.
Sang-ji noticed the distant look on Yin-Shin's face and nudged him with his elbow. "Hey, stop thinking so much. We're not in the game right now, remember? Just two guys eating lunch on a rooftop."
Yin-Shin smirked faintly. "You're right. For now, we're just two guys enjoying the peace."
They sat in companionable silence, savoring the rare tranquility, even as the shadows of the game waited just beyond the horizon.
Sang-ji glanced at his watch, a frown forming on his face. "Where is Min-Ji? She's late again," he muttered. "Did she go to the canteen to buy food, or is she still busy making her own gourmet lunch like she always does?"
Yin-Shin smirked slightly, his eyes still scanning the peaceful sky. "Knowing her, she's probably whipping up something fancy. You know how she gets with her cooking."
Sang-ji chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, it's either that or she's stuck arguing with the lunch lady about the quality of the food again."
The two shared a light laugh, the familiar banter about Min-Ji's love for food and her perfectionist streak easing the tension that had been hanging over them. Sang-ji leaned back, more relaxed now. "I'm just saying, she always takes forever. But when she shows up, she'll probably have something amazing."
Yin-Shin nodded, his smirk widening. "As long as she doesn't burn the kitchen down."
Sang-ji grinned, tossing a snack in the air and catching it. "Well, whatever she's up to, I hope she's quick. I'm starving, and her food is always better than mine."
Yin-Shin chuckled softly, but his thoughts drifted again, wondering if Min-Ji was okay. Despite the lighthearted conversation, the game of carnage was never far from his mind, even in peaceful moments like these.
The school rooftop door burst open with a loud bang, startling Sang-ji so much that he almost dropped his snacks. "Whoa! What the—"
Yin-Shin, on the other hand, remained calm and slowly turned his head to see who had caused the commotion. There stood Min-Ji, grinning widely, her arm wrapped around the same girl Yin-Shin had saved yesterday. She was holding the girl's hand tightly, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Guess what?" Min-Ji announced cheerfully, practically dragging the girl forward. "She's my friend now!"
Sang-ji blinked in surprise, then broke into a laugh. "Of course she is, Min-Ji. You always have a way of pulling people in."
The girl, still a bit shy and unsure, smiled nervously but stayed close to Min-Ji's side. She seemed overwhelmed by the sudden attention but didn't resist.
Min-Ji plopped down between Yin-Shin and Sang-ji, pulling the girl down to sit next to her. "Her name's Hae-Won," Min-Ji explained proudly, "and we're gonna make sure she's never alone again. Right, Hae-Won?"
Hae-Won nodded hesitantly, her eyes flickering between the three of them. "Uh, yeah. Thanks, Min-Ji," she said softly, her voice still carrying the weight of the trauma from yesterday.
Yin-Shin gave a slight nod of acknowledgment to Hae-Won, his calm demeanor reassuring her. "Good to see you again," he said quietly, his tone measured and gentle.
Min-Ji, however, was her usual vibrant self. "I figured I'd introduce her to you guys properly," she continued, smiling like she'd just won a prize. "And besides, with everything going on, she needs people to stick by her."
Sang-ji, still grinning, leaned back again. "Well, the more, the merrier. Welcome to our rooftop crew, Hae-Won."
Hae-Won gave a small, tentative smile, still a bit shy but clearly grateful to be welcomed into the group. The tension from before seemed to lift as the four of them sat together, sharing a moment of connection amidst the larger, darker world looming outside the school walls.
The school rooftop door burst open with a loud bang, startling Sangji so much that he almost dropped his snacks. "Whoa! What the—"
Yin-Shin, on the other hand, remained calm and slowly turned his head to see who had caused the commotion. There stood Min-Ji, grinning widely, her arm wrapped around the same girl Yin-Shin had saved yesterday. She was holding the girl's hand tightly, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Guess what?" Min-Ji announced cheerfully, practically dragging the girl forward. "She's my friend now!"
Sangji blinked in surprise, then broke into a laugh. "Of course she is, Min-Ji. You always have a way of pulling people in."
The girl, still a bit shy and unsure, smiled nervously but stayed close to Min-Ji's side. She seemed overwhelmed by the sudden attention but didn't resist.
Min-Ji plopped down between Yin-Shin and Sangji, pulling the girl down to sit next to her. "Her name's Hae-Won," Min-Ji explained proudly, "and we're gonna make sure she's never alone again. Right, Hae-Won?"
Hae-Won nodded hesitantly, her eyes flickering between the three of them. "Uh, yeah. Thanks, Min-Ji," she said softly, her voice still carrying the weight of the trauma from yesterday.
Yin-Shin gave a slight nod of acknowledgment to Hae-Won, his calm demeanor reassuring her. "Good to see you again," he said quietly, his tone measured and gentle.
Min-Ji, however, was her usual vibrant self. "I figured I'd introduce her to you guys properly," she continued, smiling like she'd just won a prize. "And besides, with everything going on, she needs people to stick by her."
Sangji, still grinning, leaned back again. "Well, the more, the merrier. Welcome to our rooftop crew, Hae-Won."
Hae-Won gave a small, tentative smile, still a bit shy but clearly grateful to be welcomed into the group. The tension from before seemed to lift as the four of them sat together, sharing a moment of connection amidst the larger, darker world looming outside the school walls.
It didn't take long for Min-Ji to shift into full interrogation mode. She leaned toward Hae-Won with her characteristic energy, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Alright, Hae-Won, now that you're officially part of the crew, I've got some questions for you."
Hae-Won looked a bit startled but nodded, clearly not wanting to offend her new friend. "Uh, sure... what do you want to know?"
Min-Ji grinned mischievously, rubbing her hands together. "First things first—what's your favourite food? This is critical information, and I won't accept vague answers!"
Sang-ji laughed, shaking his head. "Of course you'd start with food."
Hae-Won, relaxing a little in the light-hearted atmosphere, thought for a moment. "I guess... I really like kimbap," she said with a small smile. "My mom used to make it all the time."
Min-Ji nodded approvingly. "Solid choice. Alright, next question. What's your secret talent? Everyone has one."
Hae-Won blinked, her shyness creeping back. "Um, I'm not sure... I don't think I have any talents like that."
"Oh, come on, everyone's got something!" Min-Ji pressed. "Do you play an instrument? Good at sports? Maybe you're secretly amazing at video games?"
Hae-Won hesitated before responding. "Well, I used to draw a lot... but I haven't had much time lately."
Min-Ji's eyes lit up. "There we go! An artist in the group! You should totally bring some of your sketches next time."
Hae-Won's smile grew a little more confident. "Maybe I will."
Sang-ji, still lounging lazily nearby, grinned. "Looks like you're getting grilled, Hae-Won. But don't worry, Min-Ji means well."
Yin-Shin, who had been quietly observing, gave a small nod. "She likes to know everything about her friends. It's how she shows she cares."
Min-Ji gave a mock-offended look. "It's called being thorough! I need to make sure I know my people."
The playful atmosphere continued as Min-Ji kept the questions coming—ranging from favourite movies to pet peeves—slowly helping Hae-Won feel more comfortable. For the first time since the incident, Hae-Won seemed to let her guard down, laughing softly and answering Min-Ji's rapid-fire questions.
As Min-Ji's questions continued, she suddenly shifted to a more personal topic. "So, what about your family, Hae-Won?" she asked, her tone gently inquisitive.
Hae-Won's smile faded slightly, replaced by a faint, nostalgic expression. "I have an older brother," she began, her voice soft. "We aren't as close as we used to be, but he's still the best brother I could ask for. He's two years older than me. It's been a while since I've seen him."
The warmth in Hae-Won's eyes as she spoke about her brother was evident, though her expression also carried a hint of sadness, as if the distance between them weighed on her.
While the others listened attentively, Yin-Shin's demeanor shifted subtly. His gaze, which had been calm and observant, grew cold and distant. The mention of family seemed to trigger a reaction in him, causing his thoughts to darken.
Sang-ji, noticing the change in Yin-Shin's expression, glanced over but said nothing, sensing that the topic might be affecting him more deeply than he was letting on.
Min-Ji, caught up in the conversation, didn't notice the shift in Yin-Shin's mood. "It's nice that you have such a close bond with him, even if you're not as close now," she said. "I'm sure you'll get to see him again soon."
Hae-Won nodded, her gaze returning to the group. "I hope so. It would be nice to catch up with him."
As the conversation moved on to other topics, Yin-Shin remained lost in his thoughts. The mention of family had struck a chord with him, bringing up memories and emotions he usually kept tightly under control. He kept his responses minimal, his focus elsewhere, trying to push away the unsettling feelings that had surfaced.
The group continued to talk and laugh, but the undercurrent of tension around Yin-Shin was palpable. The light-hearted moment had given way to a deeper, more somber reflection, reminding him of the complexities and pains that lay just beneath the surface of their everyday lives.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the city, the peaceful afternoon on the rooftop gave way to the cooler, more reflective evening. The sky transitioned from bright blue to a rich gradient of oranges and purples, signaling the end of another day at Na-Seong High.
Yin-Shin, Sang-ji, Min-Ji, and Hae-Won had since left the rooftop, their conversation winding down as they prepared to head home. The school grounds were quieter now, with fewer students lingering as the day's activities drew to a close.
Min-Ji, who had been her usual energetic self earlier, now appeared thoughtful. "I guess we should head back," she said, her tone softer. "It's getting late."
Sang-ji stretched, his gaze following the setting sun. "Yeah, we've had a full day. I'll see you guys tomorrow."
Hae-Won nodded, her mood more subdued but appreciative of the company. "Thanks for everything today," she said quietly. "It meant a lot."
Yin-Shin gave a small, reassuring smile. "Anytime, Hae-Won. If you need anything, just let us know."
As the group parted ways, Yin-Shin lingered a moment longer, watching the evening sky. The approaching darkness seemed to deepen his contemplative mood. He was still grappling with the emotions stirred up by the earlier conversation about family. The peaceful scene was a stark contrast to the turmoil within him, reminding him of the complexities of his own situation and the challenges that lay ahead.
With a final glance at the fading light, Yin-Shin turned and headed home, the weight of the day's events and the uncertainty of the future heavy on his mind.
As Yin-Shin approached the school exit, he noticed Sang-ji waiting by the gate, leaning casually against the wall.
"Why didn't you leave yet?" Yin-Shin asked, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.
Sang-ji flashed him a grin. "Can't leave my buddy alone, can I? Figured I'd stick around a bit longer."
Yin-Shin raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I'm surprised you're not rushing off for your usual evening activities."
Sang-ji shrugged nonchalantly. "Thought I'd see you off. Besides, it's not every day you get to hang out on the rooftop with a new friend."
Yin-Shin nodded appreciatively. "Thanks. I guess I could use the company."
The two of them began walking together, the evening air growing cooler as the city lights started to flicker on. Despite the calm appearance, the day's events and the looming meeting of Carnage still weighed on their minds.
"So, what's your plan for tonight?" Yin-Shin asked, trying to shift the conversation to lighter topics.
Sang-ji chuckled. "Probably just unwind. Maybe catch up on some video games or something. How about you?"
Yin-Shin sighed, his thoughts still swirling. "I might just take it easy, too. Reflect on today and try to clear my head."
As they walked side by side, the camaraderie between them felt like a small but significant comfort amidst the uncertainties of their world. For now, they enjoyed the simple act of being there for each other, a small but meaningful reprieve from the challenges they faced.
Peace of solitude …