The screen didn't change.
But the way they looked at it did.
Su Young stood beside her desk, eyes fixed on the data.
"I cross-checked all six victims again," she said.
Ara stepped closer.
"With what?"
"Service records," Su Young replied.
"Public service access logs—places where personal information is handled."
Bong Soo frowned.
"…like what?"
"Clinics. Consultation centers. Registration offices."
She clicked.
The screen zoomed in.
"These are visit logs pulled from different facilities within the same zones we mapped earlier."
Names appeared.
Dates.
Time stamps.
Kang Min's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…these are the victims."
"Yes," Su Young said.
Another click.
The same locations began to overlap.
Ara leaned in.
"They all visited these places?"
"Not all," Su Young replied.
"But each of them passed through at least one of these."
A pause.
"These places require personal details—names, contact, address."
Silence.
Bong Soo spoke slowly,
"…so someone had access to their information."
Kang Min nodded once.
"Before they became victims."
Ara added,
"And without raising suspicion."
Su Young looked at them.
"He doesn't follow them randomly."
A pause.
"He selects them from records."
The room went quiet.
Because now—
The pattern made sense.
Access.
Not chance.
Kang Min straightened slightly.
"List every facility."
Su Young nodded.
"I already started."
Ara added,
"We narrow it down. Staff, access levels, movement."
Bong Soo muttered,
"…this guy planned everything."
No one disagreed.
Because this wasn't random anymore.
It was structured.
That night—
Ara's apartment was calm.
Ha Eun sat cross-legged on the floor, flipping through her notes.
Ara leaned back on the couch, watching her.
"You're still working?" Ara asked.
Ha Eun didn't look up.
"You too."
Ara smiled slightly.
"Fair point."
A short silence.
Then Ha Eun closed her notebook.
"…work has been a lot lately."
Ara nodded.
"It's been the same for me."
Another pause.
Then Ha Eun spoke again.
"Next month…"
Ara looked at her.
"…it's already that time again."
Silence.
They both knew.
Their parents.
Anniversary.
Ara's expression softened slightly.
"…we'll go," she said.
Ha Eun nodded.
"Like always."
A quiet moment passed between them.
Just remembered.
Then Ha Eun smiled slightly.
"We should go earlier this time."
Ara raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"To avoid the crowd," Ha Eun replied.
Ara nodded.
"…okay."
Another pause.
Then—
"You've been busy lately," Ara said.
Ha Eun shrugged lightly.
"Just work."
Ara looked at her for a moment longer.
But didn't press.
"Don't overdo it," she said instead.
Ha Eun smiled.
"I won't."
Across the city—
Kang Min's apartment was quieter.
Ji Won sat at the table, scrolling through her phone again.
Kang Min leaned back in his chair.
"You're always on that thing."
Ji Won didn't look up.
"You're always working."
A pause.
Fair.
Kang Min shook his head slightly.
"Weekend," he said.
Ji Won glanced up.
"What about it?"
"We're going out."
She blinked.
"…really?"
"Yes."
A small pause.
"Where?"
"I'll decide."
Ji Won narrowed her eyes slightly.
"That doesn't sound fun."
"It will be."
She studied him for a second.
Then—
"…fine."
A small smile formed on her lips.
"Don't cancel."
"I won't."
Silence settled again.
But this time—
It felt lighter.
Because for a moment—
Things felt normal.
