The next day, Mira and Celi were quietly watching Sable.
He was sitting at the table, but his eyes were unfocused — completely empty.
His fingers tapped lightly against the edge of the table in a slow rhythm, as if he didn't even realize he was doing it.
Celi leaned closer and waved her hand in front of his face"Brother."
No response She frowned, then grabbed his shoulder and shook him.
"Brother! Why are you staring at nothing again? Are you even here?"
Sable blinked slowly, as if returning from far away, and finally looked at her"…I'm here."
"You look like you left your soul somewhere," Celi said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
Near the door, Mira adjusted her bag and sighed softly"Sable."
He turned his head toward her"Yes, Mother. What is it?"
"I'm going to drop Celi at school," she said. "And what about you? Today is your day off, isn't it?"
She paused and looked at him carefully"You've been acting strange lately. Didn't I tell you not to think too much?"
Sable lowered his gaze for a second.
"Mother… I also want to go out today."
Mira raised one eyebrow"Oh?"
"With a friend," he added calmly. "Can I go?"
Celi gasped loudly"A friend? What friend? A girl friend?"
Sable ignored her and kept looking at Mira"She invited me. The girl who came before… you know. So don't worry."
Mira crossed her arms, then nodded slowly"That girl? I see. Good job, my son."
"Yes… but why are you saying it like that?" he muttered.
Celi leaned forward with a big grin "Is it a date?"
"It's not. Where did you even learn that word?" Sable replied quickly.
Mira smiled faintly"You look nervous. Is this your first time?"
"I'm not nervous. We're just friends."
He stood up and fixed his shirt slightly, smoothing the wrinkles with his palm.
"I'll take another shift later. I won't skip work."
Mira looked at him for a few seconds, then nodded"Alright. Go."
She opened the door"But don't make her wait."
Sable froze for half a second before nodding"…Okay."
They left the house together, but at the street corner, they separated.
Mira and Celi walked one way Sable walked the other.
His hands slipped into his pockets.
(If Yachiyo notices something strange… it will be a problem.)
She always paid attention to small details.
He exhaled slowly.
(Just act normal. And hope nothing goes wrong.)
When he reached the meeting point near the park fountain, he slowed his steps.
And then he saw her Yachiyo was standing under the sunlight.
She wore a light sundress that moved gently with the wind.
Her brown hair rested softly on her shoulders, held by a simple hairband. Her hazel eyes shone brightly in the morning light.
A small silver ring rested on her finger.
Sable stopped walking for a moment.
(She looks… beautiful. Is she really my friend? Ah… right. I'm in someone else's body.)
Yachiyo noticed him staring She crossed her arms "You're late."
"I'm not."
"You are."
He checked his phone"I'm three minutes early."
She looked away with a small huff"I've been here for ten."
"Then you're early. How is that my fault?"
She glared at him slightly"Don't twist my words."
He stepped closer There was a short silence between them"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.
"Like what?"
"Like I did something strange."
"You look… different."
Her eyes narrowed"Different? Bad? What, do I look like a monster to you?"
"No."He hesitated She tilted her head slightly.
"Say it properly."
"…You look nice. And cute."
For a second, she froze Then she quickly looked away "…Idiot."But her fingers tightened slightly around her bag strap.
The wind passed between them gently.
"Let's go," she said softly.
They started walking side by side There was a small gap between them.
Not too close. Not too far Sable glanced at her again(Did she really invite me just to hang out? Or is she just used to dressing like this?)
She stayed quiet, but her fingers kept touching the ring again and again
He noticed the small movement.
(We're best friends… right?)
For some reason, his heart felt uneasy And he didn't know why.
After a while, Yachiyo suddenly turned her head and looked at him carefully"First, we're eating," she said firmly.
"You look pale. Like you didn't eat anything."
Sable blinked"It's true," he admitted. "At the store, I've been cleaning since morning. After that, I came here."
"Mother went to drop Celi at school today."
Yachiyo slowed her steps"So what's troubling you?"
"Nothing."
"It's obvious on your face," she replied sharply. "Is this because of what I said last time? I don't regret saying that."
Sable looked at her quietly"I know. You were just worried. Anyone would do the same."
She kept watching him He continued, his voice lowern"My mother asked me about my future. What I plan to do."
Yachiyo's expression softened slightly.
"And?"
"I told them… the truth. That I'm a player."
She froze mid-step Her fingers tightened around her bag strap (I knew this day would come… when you finally say it clearly.)
"They know?" she asked quietly.
"I can't hide it anymore. And the WPA also knows about me now."
Yachiyo lowered her eyes (So he already decided…)
Suddenly, Sable reached out and lightly touched her wrist to stop her from walking further.
She stiffened immediately"W-What are you doing?" she asked, pulling her hand back quickly. Her ears turned red.
"You were walking too fast," he said calmly.
"Then just say it! Don't grab me!"
She walked ahead with small annoyed steps, mumbling under her breath.
A few minutes later, they reached a small café.
The bell above the door rang softly when they entered.
They sat near the window Sable looked at the menu and frowned.
"Yachiyo… it's expensive."
She didn't even look at him"It's fine. You're always worried about money."
"But—"
She raised her hand to stop him "Order. Or I'll buy everything on the menu."
He sighed quietly and ordered something simplenWhen the food arrived, she started eating calmly.
He, however, still calculated the price in his head.
After a few bites, she looked at him.
"So," she said. "What did you decide? Don't tell me you're planning to enter the Player Academy."
Sable rested his elbows lightly on the table"Not yet, but—"
Her eyes narrowed"But?"
He looked out the window for a moment before speaking
"You know my financial situation. If I become a player… it would help a lot."
He paused"That's why it's complicated. I haven't decided whether to register or not."
Yachiyo's fingers slowly stopped moving"Sable," she said quietly,
"do you even think about the fact that you can die in the academy?"
He looked back at her "What about you?"
She froze (If my family decides, I'll be sent there anyway. It was never really a choice… And somehow, I feel better imagining him there with me.)
But she never told him about her family. About their expectations. About the pressure.
She lowered her gaze.
"That's different."
"How?"
She didn't answer Silence fell between them Sable leaned back slightly.
"By the way," he said casually, almost joking, "if I go… will you follow me?"
Yachiyo's head snapped up "What?"
"You heard me. Last time you said you would go with me."
There was a faint teasing look in his eyes She slammed her fork down lightly.
"Don't joke about that! We're discussing serious matters about your life."
"I'm not joking."
"You're impossible," she said sharply.
"You talk about risking your life like it's nothing, and then you ask stupid questions."
Her cheeks were slightly red — not only from anger.
"Who would follow you?" she added, looking away.
Sable watched her quietly.
(She would. That's what scares me. She was serious that time.)
But he didn't say it Instead, he picked up his cup "Relax. I was joking."
She glared at him"You're the worst."
Yet she didn't leave And she didn't change the topic either The tension between them didn't disappear.
It only became quieter — heavier than before.
Sable looked at her while she was still pouting slightly"By the way," he asked casually, trying to lighten the mood, "how was your exam?"
Yachiyo immediately frowned "It's none of your business."
She picked up her fork and stabbed a piece of food harder than necessary, the metal scraping lightly against the plate.
Sable tilted his head "Why are you angry?"
"I'm not angry."
"You look angry."
She looked up at him sharply"Stop observing my face."
He raised both hands lightly in surrender"Alright."
A few seconds passed in silence. She avoided his gaze, chewing slowly, then suddenly spoke again.
"Anyway… whatever you do, it's always better than others."
He blinked"What?"
She clicked her tongue softly, clearly annoyed at herself for saying that.
"I mean… if you go to the Player Academy, I'll go too. So don't overthink."
She finally looked at him directly "You look ugly when you think too much."
Sable stared at her"…Yachiyo."
"What?"
"What's your rank right now?"
She froze mid-movement Her fork slowly lowered back to the plate.
"What kind of question is that?" she said carefully. "Did you forget about me already?"
He leaned back slightly"Rank changes. That's why I asked."
(And because I really don't know you.)
She narrowed her eyes at him, studying his expression for a moment before answering.
"A+ rank. Right now."
Sable's expression shifted slightly.
"A+…"
She tried to act casual and took a sip of water"It's normal in my family. My sister was an S rank."
But her fingers tightened slightly around the glass (She's really strong…)
He studied her quietly.
(She really feels like someone from a wealthy family… Is she some kind of oujo-sama?)
Before he could ask anything—His phone rangnThe sudden vibration against the table made both of them look down.
Sable saw the caller ID [Mother.]
His chest tightened instantly He answered without hesitation.
"Mother?"
On the other side, there wasn't just crying.
There was chaos Loud voices People shouting.
A siren wailing in the distance.
"Sable—" Mira's voice was shaking badly. She was breathing unevenly, like she had been running.
His grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned pale.
"What happened?"
"Celi's school—" Her words broke. He could hear her struggling to steady her breath.
"There's an emergency alert. They said a gate… a gate appeared near the building and—"
His chair scraped loudly against the floor as he stood up "What?"
"She's still inside," Mira said, her voice cracking despite her effort to stay calm.
"They aren't letting parents near the entrance. I can't see her. They pushed us back—"
In the background, someone shouted for people to move away.
A loudspeaker repeated evacuation instructions "Sable, what do I do?"
Her voice sounded small Not as a mother.
Just as a terrified person.
His jaw tightened "Mother, stay there," he said quickly, forcing his voice to stay steady.
"Don't go near the gate. And don't worry. Celi is strong."
On the café television, the news suddenly switched to breaking coverage.
Emergency footage A live report Gate detected at an elementary school.
Sable's eyes locked on the screennHis heartbeat pounded loudly in his ears.
"Mother," he said again, his voice firm now. "I'm coming."
The call ended.
For half a second, he just stood there Yachiyo grabbed his arm tightly.
"Sable. What happened?"
He turned to her All the color had drained from his face"Celi's school," he said quietly. "There's a gate. She's inside."
Yachiyo's fingers tightened around his sleeve"A gate…? How can—"
He gently pulled his arm back and grabbed his bag"I'm going. Please excuse me."
He didn't wait for her answer He rushed out of the café.
The bell above the door rang violently as it hit the frame.
Outside, the air felt heavier (Celi…)
Behind him, Yachiyo ran after him "Sable, wait!"
But he didn't slow down His hands were shaking His breathing was uneven.
He didn't think about the academy.
He didn't think about ranks.
Right now—He was just an older brother running toward danger.
People turned their heads as he ran through the street without slowing down.
Within seconds, he disappeared into the crowd.
Yachiyo stopped, breathing hard"…Idiot."
Her fingers trembled slightly as she pulled out her phone.
She dialed quickly.
When the call connected, she spoke without hesitation"I need your help, Mother."
She didn't explain much Then she cut the call.
Her eyes hardened"Don't do something reckless alone…"
And she started running again.
Meanwhile—Sable ran toward the school.
His breathing was heavy.
His heart was beating so loudly he could barely hear anything else.
When the school building came into view in the distance, he slowed down slightly.
His thoughts finally caught up (What should I even do?)
He stopped near a corner and bent forward, catching his breath.
(I'm unregistered. Even if I arrive… they won't let me enter.)
His fist clenched tightly"But Celi is inside… There must be a way."
He pulled out his phone and quickly called someone.
The line rang once twicenWhen it connected, he didn't waste words.
"I'm near the school," he said shortly. "Be ready."
He hung up and started walking again, faster this time.
When he arrived at the school entrance, chaos filled the area.
Parents were shouting Police were blocking the main gate Emergency vehicles surrounded the street.
Mira was standing behind the barrier with Kuro in her arms.
Her hair was messy. Her face was pale. Tears were running down her cheeks, but she didn't even wipe them away.
She looked smaller than usual"Mother," Sable called out.
She turned quickly."Sable!"
Relief flashed across her face for a second.
Then fear returned He reached her and gently took Kuro from her arms
Kuro whined softly and pressed against Sable's chest"How is the situation?" Sable asked, trying to stay calm.
Mira shook her head, her shoulders trembling"Celi is still inside… with the other students."
"They said players are coming soon. They told us to wait. They said it's not a dangerous gate… to calm down…"
Her voice broke on the last wordsn Wait.
Sable looked past the barricade.
Smoke-like mana leaked from inside the schoolyard.
A dark, unstable gate floated in the air, shaped like a semi-circle bubble, covering the entire school grounds like a small dungeon.
His jaw tightened (Soon isn't enough.)
He handed Kuro back to Mira gently.
"Mother, stay behind me."
He patted Kuro's head softly"Kuro, come with me."
Before she could react, he stepped forward A police officer blocked his path.
"Sir! Stay back!"
Sable's eyes shifted to one of the emergency responders nearby.
A player weapon hung at his belt.Without hesitation—Sable moved.
He slipped past the officer's side, grabbed the weapon from the distracted responder's belt in one smooth motion, and activated it.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" someone shouted.
Mana gathered around his body"Merge. Activate."
The skill responded instantly.
A faint glow wrapped around him. His eyes began to shine with a cold light.
He dodged an outstretched arm and rushed toward the unstable barrier"Sable!" Mira screamed.
But he didn't turn back Suddenly—Kuro jumped from Mira's arms and ran after him.
"Kuro!" she shouted.
Sable reached the edge of the restricted zone.
The pressure from the gate's mana weighed heavily in the air.
People were shouting behind him But he stepped forward.
One more step—And he entered the gate.
Kuro leaped right behind him.
The dark curtain of light swallowed them both.