I said I’d look over my schedule and get back to them.

After catching up on messages, I tidied up the room. There were both a package and a call from the two Elders. I had no memory of giving either of them my address or contact information.

Of course, asking how they got it would be meaningless.

As he’d said he would, Erich Erhart sent me a box of cigars.

The moment I caught the scent, I knew they were high-end cigars. Naturally.

There was also a note written in elegant handwriting.

[Looking forward to working with you, Prometheus.]

I set the note aside and checked the message from Yekaterina.

It came from a restricted number, but I knew it was her instantly.

[Now that I think about it, I’m late in thanking you for teaching my man so well.]

She meant Lee Seunghyun.

I sighed and left the message screen. I would have to speak with him eventually. I had taught not only him but also his comrades, and because of that, I hadn’t been particularly close to him.

Still, given how things had turned out, one day we’d have to talk.

I had plenty I wanted to ask.

With another sigh, I checked the rest of the messages.

Ricardo had sent a short one.

[Mission scheduled for end of November.]

So there’s a gap longer than expected.

It was strange to see a specific date. Up until now, this job had always felt like things only happened when something went wrong. So did this mean something was going to go wrong at the end of November? Or that we’d be fixing something that already had?

Either way, I’d find out when the time came.

After setting a lunch appointment with Tom and Hesh in our group chat, I wandered around the cabin. Once everything was done, the heavy thoughts I’d been avoiding came crashing in. I paced the room, trying to suppress the pressure rising inside me, but at some point, I gave up.

I sank into bed and started crying.

Rei.

Rei, I’m sorry.

***

Yun didn’t say much when I showed up for morning training with my eyes swollen.

That was one of the perks of my mentor — emotionally steady, easy to deal with even in weird situations.

Regardless of the mess inside me, my weekday routine returned: living in the dorm and training at fixed hours.

We practiced shooting.

Unlike swordsmanship, it was straightforward, methodical instruction.

Yun wasn’t exactly friendly, but he wasn’t emotional either — a surprisingly good teacher. He noticed my change right away.

“You’ve gotten sensitive?”

I nodded, wincing as the gunfire thundered through my ear protectors.

“After getting Jaeyeon’s injection, my senses opened up.”

“I plan to open it myself someday. When’s good for you?”

“Please don’t ask that so seriously when you actually mean it.”

Of course, he probably always was serious...

I chose to ignore reality.

Thankfully, Yun didn’t seem intent on cutting me open anytime soon. Apparently, he had another research project that currently held his attention. I didn’t ask what it was — I doubted I’d understand anyway.

For the whole week, I ate lunch and dinner with Tom and Hesh.

They said they’d just returned from quite an experience.

Together with Angela, Carl, and some other seniors, they’d converted what used to be C Zone into D Zone. From what I’d heard, that area was already marked by Yehyeon as the next planned territory expansion.

I remembered talking about how the “territory expansion is progressing slower than usual” back at Choi Jeseok’s mansion.

“It’d have been nice if the three of us could’ve gone together.”

“Yeah. Looks like next time we’ll be completely split up.”

“Apparently it’s rare for rookies to be on the same mission together,” Tom replied when I said so between bites of my sandwich.

His red curly hair and freckles were just the same.

“For the first year, since you’ve got a mentor, you rotate around with lots of seniors. Hard to stick with just one group.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Yeah, but they say there’s no time to bond with anyone quite like during that one-year trainee period.”

Hesh cut in after gulping down his ham-stuffed sandwich.

Sounded like advice from Angela and Carl. Hesh sipped his cola, raised his pinky, and added,

“So let’s make good use of days like this when we’re not on missions. Basketball after dinner?”

“Hmm... sure. But I’m playing guitar tomorrow.”

“Oh, you play? Let us hear you tomorrow.”

Tom looked a little embarrassed but nodded.

Unless there was a mission or something special, the three of us always ate lunch and dinner together — except on weekends. Hesh and Tom usually went to visit family then.

As for me, I stayed holed up in the dorm or cabin playing games. When my eyes got tired, I’d put down the console, drift into memories, and get swallowed by grief again. If I managed to crawl out of that heavy pit of guilt and loss, I’d browse the internet, trying to “study the world.”

Time passed like that, and before I knew it, it was the end of October.

The week I had plans with Shu — and, probably, Walker.

The meeting was on the very last day of October.

***

The sky was high and clear.

On the day of the appointment, I planned to visit the game shop in Harlem before evening. I was supposed to meet Shu in the HQ lounge just before lunchtime.

Since it was October 31st, there were people in costume on the streets.

Not too many yet — it was still midday — but once I entered HQ, even those disappeared. Inside the quiet building, I found the lounge early, arriving before the appointed time.

And there I ran into Ska, pouring coffee.

Why is he here?

Ska paused mid-step and turned to look at me, then smiled.

“You look fine.”

“Ah, yes.”

I bowed slightly.

“Thanks to you.”

After closing the door behind me, I stepped slowly inside.

Ska watched me approach silently, one hand in his pocket. As always, he wore a neat suit — the fabric crisp, the fit immaculate, a watch that matched perfectly, as if it had been made for him.

Though, no tie today — maybe he was about to get off work.

“What brings you here on a weekend?”

The aide-de-camp picked up a paper cup and asked before I could.

He stole the question right out of my mouth. I slipped my phone into my jacket pocket and answered evenly.

“I have an appointment with Shu Diamond.”

“Shu?” Ska repeated, a faint smile still at his lips.

“Getting treated to lunch, I see?”

“Yes. She said since I’m directly under her, she owed me one. Our schedules finally matched today.”

I didn’t mention that Walker might join us later. He probably wouldn’t care anyway.

Still smiling faintly, Ska nodded.

“Good. It’s smart to get close with other Badgers. Sooner or later, you’ll end up on missions together. On that note, how about lunch with me sometime too?”

“Sir?”

I blurted out like an idiot.

“Lunch?”

“Yeah. Preferably before you go out with Ricardo. If I remember right, that mission’s... end of November?”

“Yes. That’s right. Before the end of November?”

“I’m free next Friday evening.”

Why all of a sudden?

Of course, I didn’t have the guts to ask. Pale from surprise, I just answered that next Friday evening would work fine.

If I hadn’t been so drained lately, I might’ve replied with something like, “I can always make time to eat with you, sir.”

And so, I suddenly had a dinner appointment with my superior.

Ska gave a soft laugh as he watched me note it down on my phone, looking half dead.

“No need to be so stiff. Technically, you’re older than me, remember?”

Ah, so that’s how he delivers comfort and a “I heard about your past” remark in one efficient sentence.

I blinked a few times, then lifted the corner of my mouth.

“Still getting used to that fact.”

“As long as you’re used to it in front of the three executives and Yun, that’s all that matters.”

So that’s his subtle way of saying only four people should know.

I nodded obediently.

I was about to ask what he was doing here on a weekend, but the sound of the lounge door opening cut me off.

Shu?

“Shu—”

Nope.

The person who walked in was a bit taller than Shu — about Ami’s height.

And she had a giant pumpkin on her head.

“A pumpkin?”

A massive orange pumpkin carved with familiar eyes and a grin.

“A pumpkin head?”

“It’s a jack-o’-lantern.”

Ami’s voice leaked out from the holes in the pumpkin.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of the motionless pumpkin. Ska also let out a low laugh, pulling his hand from his pocket.

He was the first to comment.

“Cute.”

Seriously?

“Oh right, it’s already Halloween. Come here, I’ll give you candy.”

No wonder this man’s popular with everyone, regardless of gender.

But before the pumpkin-headed Ami could move, the lounge door flew open again.

And finally, Shu entered — but not alone. Ro came in before her, wearing his usual faded jeans and striped T-shirt.

The curly-haired man strode inside confidently, then froze when he saw Ami.

“What the hell?”

He furrowed his thick brows, staring hard at the pumpkin head.

The pumpkin didn’t move or reply.

Ro, equally silent, raised his fist and tapped the pumpkin.

“Peanut? That you, Peanut?”

“Ah.”

Ami’s voice seeped out.

“Don’t.”

But Ro kept going.

Each time, Ami said “Don’t,” yet he didn’t stop. Tap. He flicked the pumpkin lightly. “Hello? Anybody home?” he teased.

Ami started to get angry.

Even as she warned him not to, Ro clearly had no intention of listening.

Tap.

“What’s with wearing something the size of your body?”

“Don’t.”

“A peanut in a pumpkin doesn’t make a pumpkin.”

“Don’t.”

“I don’t wanna.”

Thud.

Should I step in?

Before I could decide, Ami exploded.

“DON’T DO IIIIIIT!!!”

I almost burst out laughing.

I watched with delight as Ami snapped and started beating Ro senseless.

Whack, smack, thud, thump, whap-whap-whap-whap! The lounge echoed with the barrage of blows. Ro jerked his torso back, trying to defend himself.

“Damn it, that hurts! It hurts, I said!”

He tried blocking with his arms, but Ami didn’t stop. The jack-o’-lantern-headed Badger pummeled him with both fists. Whack, thud, thump, smack-smack-smack-smack.

Rhythmic punches.

A few minutes later, Ro lost his patience.

He shouted, “Son of a—!” and reached out, yanking the pumpkin off Ami’s head and throwing it into the corner.

“Ahhh! My pumpkin!”

Luckily, Ska caught it safely.

But now Ami and Ro were actually fighting. The two Badgers’ brawl shook the lounge with deafening sounds.

Sharp echoes rang through the pristine room.

No one seemed surprised.

Guess this happened often.

Shu curved her path around the chaos and approached me. Ska, unhurried, went to break them up.

I looked down at the senior who stopped before me and gave a faint smile.

“Senior.”

“Just call me Shu.”

Under her two-tone hair — blonde fading into pink — Shu Diamond wore a pale-lavender sukajan jacket.

“There’s barely any age difference anyway.”

That was definitely not true.

Still, I nodded politely. Shu studied me for a moment, then turned her head silently. From the first time we met, I’d noticed — she didn’t show much expression. But her calmness wasn’t like Yun’s dryness. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

She simply seemed... very composed. Introverted, maybe, but not shy.

“Let’s take the bus. I don’t like driving.”

“Ah, yes. Anything’s fine with me.”

“Mind if we stop by my place first?”

Huh?

Both Ska and I blinked at the unexpected comment, but Shu just walked toward the door with her usual sleepy expression.

When she noticed I hadn’t followed, she glanced back.

“Forgot something.”

Well, in that case.

I bid farewell to the others and left the lounge.

Then I followed the two-tone-haired senior to the bus stop.

***

Shu’s place was in the busiest part of Center Core’s downtown.

A small studio on the second floor — at the top of a metal staircase steep enough to break a Badger’s neck if one fell. The ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) building itself barely looked meant for living in.

The moment she opened the door, pastel and neon colors filled my vision.

Posters covered the walls. Trinkets lined the shelves above three monitors. Half a dozen hoverboards leaned by the narrow entryway, alongside inline skates, colorful shoes, and plush toys sprawled across a sky-blue blanket.

In one corner stood a game console.

I almost fell to my knees the moment I saw it glowing there.

“That’s...”

My voice barely came out.

“Senior, that’s—”

“Ah.”

Shu glanced where I pointed and responded blandly.

She looked at the console gleaming in the small room, then nodded.

“Yeah. I like retro games.”

Retro games?

That was the very game I used to play with Rei.