The archive room felt strangely cold after Mr. Kang left.
Hana stared at the doorway.
"Min-jae…"
He didn't respond.
His attention was fixed on the back of the photograph.
The name written there was still visible.
Seo Ji-ah.
His sister's name.
Beneath it was a date.
Three days from now.
Hana slowly looked at him.
"Why would your sister's name be written here?"
"I don't know."
"You said she transferred schools three years ago."
"She did."
"Then what happens in three days?"
Min-jae shook his head.
"I don't know."
For the first time since Hana had met him, he looked completely lost.
She stepped closer.
"Then we'll find out."
He looked at her.
"You don't have to be involved in this."
"I know."
"Then why are you staying?"
Hana smiled softly.
"Because you stayed when I needed someone."
Min-jae's expression softened.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Hana noticed something else.
"Wait."
She pointed at the photograph.
"There's something written underneath the date."
Min-jae turned it over again.
A tiny sentence had been written beneath Ji-ah's name.
Meet me where it started.
Hana frowned.
"Where did it start?"
Min-jae thought for a moment.
"The festival."
"The festival from three years ago?"
"Yes."
"But the old auditorium isn't used anymore."
He looked at her.
"The auditorium isn't the only place where the festival happened."
Hana's eyes widened.
"The storage hall?"
Min-jae nodded.
"That was where everyone prepared before the performances."
They exchanged a glance.
"We should go," Hana said.
"Not alone."
"Who should we tell?"
Min-jae hesitated.
"That depends on who we can trust."
After school, they went to the old storage hall.
The building looked almost forgotten.
Dust covered the windows, and several old posters still hung on the walls.
Hana pushed the door open.
A quiet creak echoed through the room.
"Three years," she whispered.
Min-jae walked inside.
"My sister spent almost every afternoon here preparing for the festival."
Hana looked around.
"Maybe she left something behind."
They searched the shelves, boxes, and old cabinets.
Nothing.
Then Hana noticed a loose floorboard.
"Min-jae."
He came over.
She pointed down.
He carefully lifted the board.
Underneath was a small metal box.
Hana's heart raced.
"What if that's it?"
Min-jae picked it up.
There was a lock.
No key.
Hana sighed.
"Of course."
Min-jae examined the box.
"Wait."
He turned it around.
There was a small inscription.
Smile when you remember.
Hana froze.
"That sounds familiar."
Min-jae looked at her.
"What?"
She reached into her bag and pulled out the note they'd found earlier.
She placed it beside the box.
The handwriting looked almost identical.
Hana's eyes widened.
"Someone left both of these."
Min-jae nodded slowly.
"And they wanted us to find them."
Suddenly, they heard a noise outside.
Both turned toward the door.
Someone was standing on the other side.
Hana's heart jumped.
"Who's there?"
No answer.
Min-jae moved toward the door.
But before he could open it, a piece of paper slipped underneath.
Then the footsteps disappeared.
Hana picked it up.
There was only one sentence.
If you want to know what happened to Ji-ah, come alone tomorrow.
Min-jae read it.
His expression hardened.
"No."
Hana looked at him.
"You're not going."
"Neither are you."
"But—"
"No."
He folded the paper.
"Whoever sent this wants one of us isolated."
Hana nodded slowly.
"Then we go together."
Min-jae looked at her.
This time, he didn't argue.
Outside, the sun was beginning to disappear behind the school buildings.
Three days had suddenly become two.
And somewhere in the school, someone was already waiting for them to make their next move.