[Four Years Later — 2032]
Time had moved on.
Four years.
Four long years since that night in Seoul.
The world didn't remember it.
There were no records.
No news.
No proof.
As if…
It had never happened.
But for Izumi—
It never left.
[Morning — Izumi's Room]
Sunlight slipped through the curtains.
A soft breeze entered the room.
Papers scattered across the desk.
Certificates.
Resume drafts.
Notes.
Izumi sat on his chair.
"…Rejected again."
He sighed.
Laptop screen glowing faintly.
Another email.
"We regret to inform you…"
"…Yeah, I regret it too."
He leaned back.
"…Graduated… but still jobless."
His phone buzzed.
Goutham Calling…
Izumi picked up.
"…What do you want?"
"…GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE!" Goutham shouted.
"…Why are you like this in the morning?"
"…Because I have good news."
"…You found food?"
"…Better."
"…Impossible."
"…I GOT A JOB!"
Silence.
"…Wait… really?"
"…YES!"
"…Who hired you?"
"…A company."
"…Obviously."
"…Don't ruin my moment!"
Izumi chuckled softly.
"…Congrats."
"…Thanks. What about you?"
A pause.
"…Still trying."
"…You'll get one."
"…Hopefully."
"…Don't worry. Worst case—you work under me."
"…I'd rather stay unemployed."
"…RUDE!"
They both laughed.
"…Anyway," Goutham added, "we should meet soon."
"…Yeah."
"…It's been a while."
"…It has."
Call ended.
Izumi stared at the ceiling.
"…Four years…"
Everything had changed.
But something…
Still felt the same.
[Living Room — Family Scene]
"…You're still at home?" his uncle asked.
"…Just for a few more days."
"…That's what you said last week."
"…finding Job is tough."
"…Life is tough."
"…That's helpful."
His aunt placed breakfast on the table.
"…Eat first. Worry later."
"…You sound like Goutham."
"…Then listen."
He smiled faintly.
Sat down.
"…Any interviews today?" his uncle asked.
"…Two."
"…Good."
"…Let's see."
A pause.
"…You've grown," his uncle said suddenly.
Izumi blinked.
"…What?"
"…You're calmer now."
"…Am I?"
"…Less reckless."
A flash crossed Izumi's mind.
Blood.
Rain.
Screams.
"…Yeah…"
"…I guess I am."
His uncle looked at him carefully.
"You'll find a job soon."
"Yeah..."
[Outside — Afternoon Walk]
Izumi walked slowly down the street.
People moving.
Cars passing.
Normal life.
"…Everything looks the same…"
But he knew.
It wasn't.
He stopped near a small park.
Sat on a bench.
"…Four years… and nothing strange happened…"
A pause.
"…Maybe it's really over…"
Then—
A faint sound.
Like a whisper.
"…Izumi…"
His eyes widened.
"…What…?"
He looked around.
No one.
Just wind.
"…I heard that…"
His heartbeat quickened.
"…No… it's just my imagination…"
He stood up.
"…Yeah… just stress…"
But deep inside—
He knew.
That voice—
Felt real.
[Evening — Room Again]
Izumi sat at his desk.
Typing.
Deleting.
Typing again.
"…This is tiring…"
He rubbed his eyes.
Then noticed something.
The katana.
Hidden.
Still there.
Wrapped carefully.
Untouched for years.
He stared at it.
"…Should I…?"
A pause.
"…No."
"…It's over."
But his hand moved anyway.
He slowly unwrapped it.
The red stone.
Still glowing faintly.
"…You're still active…"
A chill ran through him.
"…Why now…?"
The air felt heavier.
"…Something's coming…"
He wrapped it again quickly.
"…No…"
"…I'm done with that life…"
But deep down—
He knew.
That life—
Wasn't done with him.
[Night]
Izumi lay on his bed.
Eyes open.
"…A job…"
"…A normal life…"
"…That's all I want."
A pause.
"…Right?"
Silence.
Then—
Darkness.
And a voice.
Soft.
Familiar.
"…Izumi…"
His eyes snapped open.
"…That voice again…"
His breathing slowed.
"…Who are you…?"
No answer.
Only silence.
But one thing was clear—
The peace…
Was ending.
[Next day — City Café]
The café buzzed with quiet chatter.
Izumi sat at a corner table.
"…Late as usual."
He checked his phone.
"…10 minutes late."
A pause.
"…15."
"…20—"
"IZUMI!"
A loud voice cut through the café.
Everyone turned.
Izumi closed his eyes.
"…Why am I friends with him…"
Goutham rushed in.
Breathing heavily.
"…I made it!"
"…You're 23 minutes late."
"…Traffic."
"…You don't even have a bike."
"…Walking traffic."
"…That's not a thing."
"…It is now."
Izumi sighed.
"…Sit."
Goutham dropped into the chair.
"…Man… you look older."
"…We are older."
"…No, I mean… like… responsible older."
"…And you look the same."
"…Handsome?"
"…No."
"…Rude."
They both smiled.
A waiter came.
"…What will you have?"
"…Anything cheap," Goutham said instantly.
"…Water?" Izumi added.
"…Hey!"
They laughed.
[Casual Talk Turns Funny]
"…So," Izumi said, "how's the job?"
Goutham leaned back proudly.
"…Corporate life."
"…Meaning?"
"…Sit. Eat. Pretend to work."
"…Sounds accurate."
"…And meetings."
"…Useless meetings?"
"…The most useless."
"…Nice."
"…What about you?"
Izumi sighed.
"…Still searching."
"…Any luck?"
"…Rejections."
"…Same."
"…You just said you got a job."
"…Emotionally rejected."
"…By who?"
Goutham went silent.
Izumi raised an eyebrow.
"…Wait…"
"…Don't."
"…You got rejected again?"
"…I DIDN'T EVEN CONFESS!"
"…Then how—"
"…She got a boyfriend before I could!"
Izumi stared at him.
"…That's not rejection."
"…IT IS IN MY HEART!"
"…You're unbelievable."
"…Four years, Izumi."
"…What?"
"…FOUR YEARS."
"…And still…"
He leaned closer dramatically.
"…NO GIRLFRIEND."
Izumi tried to stay serious.
Failed.
"…You're making it sound like a disease."
"…IT IS!"
"…What are the symptoms?"
"…Loneliness. Overthinking. Eating too much."
"…You already had those."
"…Now it's official!"
Izumi laughed.
"…What about you?" Goutham asked suddenly.
"…What about me?"
"…Videl."
Silence.
"…We're just… in touch."
"…JUST?"
"…Yeah."
"…Four years?"
"…Yeah."
"…Bro."
"…What?"
"…You're worse than me."
"…How?"
"…At least I try."
"…I did."
"…WHEN?"
"…Two years before Seoul."
"…AND YOU'RE STILL WAITING?!"
"…It's complicated."
"…No, you're just slow."
"…Shut up."
They both laughed again.
[Deeper Moment — But Still Light]
"…Things really changed, huh?" Goutham said softly.
"…Yeah."
"…Feels normal now."
"…Too normal."
Goutham looked at him.
"…You still think about it?"
A pause.
"…Sometimes."
"…Same."
Silence for a moment.
Then—
"…But hey," Goutham said, "at least we're alive."
Izumi smiled faintly.
"…Yeah."
"…That's enough."
[Night — Walking Back Home]
Streetlights flickered softly.
Izumi walked alone.
Hands in pockets.
"…Same idiot…"
A small smile.
"…But nothing changed…"
A pause.
"…Or maybe everything did."
He stopped for a second.
That same feeling.
A faint chill.
"…Again…?"
He looked around.
Nothing.
"…I'm just overthinking…"
He continued walking.
But slower.
[Home — Late Night]
Izumi entered quietly.
"…I'm back."
"…Food's in the kitchen," his
Aunt's voice came.
"…Okay."
He walked into his room.
Dropped his bag.
Sat on the chair.
"…Another day…"
His laptop blinked.
New Email.
"…Probably another rejection…"
He clicked it lazily.
Then paused.
"…Wait…"
His eyes focused.
"…This is…"
He sat up straight.
"…Congratulations…?"
He read it again.
Slower.
"…We are pleased to inform you…"
His heartbeat increased.
"…You have been selected…"
"…For the position of—"
"…Male Nurse…?"
He blinked.
"…Wait… what?"
He scrolled.
"…Hospital…"
"…Singapore?"
Silence.
"…SINGAPORE?!"
He stood up instantly.
"…No way…"
He read it again.
"…This is real…"
"…I got a job…"
A pause.
"…But why Singapore…?"
Confusion mixed with excitement.
"…Out of all places…"
Then—
That feeling again.
Stronger this time.
The air felt heavier.
"…What is this…?"
The laptop screen flickered slightly.
"…Is this connected…?"
His mind raced.
"…No…"
"…It's just a job…"
But deep inside—
He knew.
"…This isn't random…"
His grip tightened.
"…Something's waiting there…"
The red stone katana, wrapped nearby—
Faintly glowed.
As if responding.
Izumi looked at it slowly.
"…So it starts again…"
A mix of fear.
And excitement.
"…Singapore, huh…"
He exhaled softly.
"…Let's see what's waiting for me there."
The screen glowed.
The future—
Uncertain.
But moving.