61

"I don’t know where she is," he admitted, voice barely audible. "But I know one thing for sure." His fingers clenched around the bouquet, his nails digging into his palm.

"She’s still alive. Somewhere out there—breathing the same air I am now."

His eyes, for the first time in days, held something other than despair.

Determination.

"Rafta. Habi-san." His voice steadied. "Today, I promise."

He placed a hand on his heart, his gaze unwavering.

"I will find her."

Then air around him grow dense.

"I don’t care how long it takes."

He pressed his forehead against the stone one last time, closing his eyes.

"I won’t lose her too."

And with that, Haari stood up, letting the air over him—cleansing, unforgiving, relentless.

The world hadn’t stopped moving.

And neither would he.

Next day.
The office was as busy as ever. The rhythmic tapping of keyboards, the occasional ringing of phones, and the low murmur of conversations filled the air. It was a place where time never stopped, where people pushed forward, consumed by work and deadlines.

But for Haari, it felt distant—like a world he no longer belonged to.

He stepped into the boss’s office without hesitation. The door clicked shut behind him, and the woman seated at the desk immediately looked up.

"Haari?" Boss quickly stood, concern flashing in her eyes. "Why did you come all the way here? If you needed something, you should have just called me."

Haari shook his head as he walked in, taking a seat in the chair across from her.

"No, the company needs you more than I do," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I didn’t want to disturb you when you're so busy."

Boss sighed, sitting back down. "It’s not a problem. You need rest right now."

"I’m fine now."

A moment of silence settled between them.

Then, Haari took a deep breath. "Boss… I’m quitting."

Boss blinked. "...What?"

"I’m sorry for leaving so suddenly," he said, his gaze unwavering.

"It’s not about it being sudden but—" Boss hesitated, her brows knitting together.

"I’m going to find `Ashi," Haari interrupted.

Boss’s lips parted slightly in shock. "What? But Haari… she’s…"

"She’s alive," he stated firmly.

A pause. The room seemed to shrink.

Boss studied him for a long moment before speaking. "How do you know that? Where is she?"

"I don’t know." Haari clenched his fists. "But I know one thing—she's still breathing somewhere. And that’s enough for me." His voice was resolute, unwavering. "That’s why I’m quitting. I need to search for her, and I don’t know how long it’ll take."

Boss leaned back, exhaling heavily. "You don’t have to quit for that, Haari. You could just take a leave of absence."

He shook his head. "I don’t want to put the company in a difficult position. If I leave now, I don’t know when I’ll come back… or if I ever will. Quitting is the best choice."

Boss remained silent, then finally nodded, accepting his decision.

"Alright," she said softly. "But remember one thing—if you ever think about coming back, this company will always have a place for you."

Haari smiled faintly. "Thank you, Boss."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine concern.

He shook his head again. "No, you’ve already helped me enough. Thank you for understanding."

Haari stood up, ready to leave.

Boss followed his movement, rising from her chair. As he reached for the door, she spoke once more.

"Haari," she called, making him pause.

He turned slightly, waiting.

"You and your friends… you weren’t just good employees," she said, her tone softer now. "You were my best friends I ever had."

A lump formed in Haari’s throat.

"I believe in you," she continued. "I know you’ll find her. Good luck."

Haari turned fully and gave her a small but grateful nod.

"Thanks, Boss."

And with that, he walked out, closing the door behind him.

But for Haari, his world had just begain to change.

After walking out of the office, Haari moved in silence. The building still pulsed with its usual rhythm, as if nothing had happened. Yet, to him, everything had changed.

His gaze drifted across the rows of desks. For a fleeting moment, his imagination painted familiar ghosts into those empty seats. At Rafta’s desk, he could almost see him slouched back, scrolling lazily through his phone with his feet propped up. At Oki’s, she appeared as she always had—focused, flipping diligently through files with unshakable concentration.

But those were only illusions. Memories clinging to hollow spaces. The lazy man’s desk, the dedicated employee’s desk—both now filled by fresh recruits who knew nothing of the ones who came before.

Haari lowered his eyes as he walked further. Then, his steps faltered. Just a few paces ahead was her desk. Ashi’s.

His eyes went numb. His heart clenched as he forced himself to imagine her sitting there, typing, smiling faintly as she worked. But the image crumbled before it could fully form. He didn’t have the courage. His chest tightened with shards of regret—regret for never confessing his feelings, regret for failing to protect her that night.

Dragging his heavy feet, he reached the elevator. His hand hovered over the button when a voice tore through the air.

“HAARI!”

The shout jolted him. He turned—and was slammed hard against the wall.

Riku stormed toward him, face contorted with rage. Grabbing Haari by the collar, he smashed him back again. The sound reverberated across the office as employees stopped what they were doing and crowded around.

“You bastard!” Riku’s voice cracked with fury. “You killed her—you killed an innocent person!”

A ripple of gasps moved through the crowd.

From behind them, a voice cried out. “Brother!” Ane pushed her way forward, her eyes widening as she saw Riku pinning Haari. Her temper spiked, her fists trembling.

“She was happy… She would of been alive! If it wasn’t for you, she would still be here!” Riku roared.

Haari’s eyes widened. The words struck deeper than any punch could. In his mind, that night replayed itself—the fire, the chaos, Ashi’s terrified eyes. He’s right, Haari thought bitterly. If she hadn’t been with me… she’d still be alive. If she’d just gone straight home, she would’ve slept peacefully that night. But I dragged her near that building. I… I was the one who led her there.

“You killed my Ashi!” Riku’s voice thundered, his spit landing on Haari’s cheek.

Something inside Haari snapped. His fist clenched, and before he could stop himself, he swung.

The punch landed square on Riku’s jaw. Riku stumbled back and crashed onto the floor, stunned.

Haari’s eyes burned cold, his glare sharper than steel. When he spoke, his voice carried no warmth—only ice.
“Don’t you dare… speak her name from your filthy mouth again.”

The silence in the office was suffocating. Employees exchanged terrified glances, too afraid to breathe.

Haari turned toward the elevator. But then—he froze.

Ane was standing there, her lips trembling, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Haari took a slow step toward her.
Later...

The small shop smelled exactly the same—grilled fish, steaming rice, and the faint, comforting scent of aged wood. Haari pushed the noren curtain aside, stepping into the dimly lit space. The quiet hum of an old radio mixed with the clatter of dishes from the back, creating an atmosphere that felt untouched by time itself.

Behind the counter, the old man turned at the sound of the curtain shifting. The moment his eyes landed on Haari, his wrinkled face froze in shock.

“...Haari.” His voice cracked like a whisper that had been waiting months to escape.

Haari gave him a small, tired smile. “Hey, old man.”

The man quickly stepped out from behind the counter, his sharp eyes scanning Haari from head to toe. His gaze lingered on the sling supporting Haari’s right arm, and his jaw tightened.

“Boy, you—” His voice wavered before he let out a sharp exhale. “You should still be resting.”

Haari chuckled weakly, sliding onto a stool near the counter. “I’ve been resting for six months. That’s enough, don’t you think?”

The old man shook his head, muttering under his breath as he returned to the counter. “Six months in a damn hospital… you had me worried, you fool.”

Haari lowered his gaze, his fingertips tracing invisible patterns on the wooden surface. “Didn’t mean to make you worry.”

The old man scoffed. “Hah. Like hell you didn’t. You just vanished after that night. I kept wondering if you’d ever wake up.”

Haari’s throat tightened. He swallowed hard and looked away. “…Yeah. Me too.”

For a few moments, silence weighed between them—until the old man let out a long sigh. “Wait here. I’ll make you your usual.”

Haari didn’t argue. He simply nodded.

Minutes later, a tray was set before him, the steam curling upward. The familiar warmth of the dish filled the air.

“Eat up. You need it,” the old man said gruffly.

Haari picked up his spoon and began to eat. The flavors were the same, yet they no longer carried the same comfort. Each bite was heavy, as though he was chasing after something that wasn’t there anymore.

When the meal was done, he set his spoon down quietly and reached into his pocket for money.

The old man shook his head immediately. “No. Keep it.”

“But—”

“It’s on the house.” Crossing his arms, he added firmly, “You’re like family, kid. I don’t take money from family.”

Haari hesitated before slipping the bills back into his pocket.

Silence lingered again, until he finally spoke.

“…Old man. This might be my last meal here for a while or maybe for forever.”

The old man’s expression stiffened. “…Where are you going?”

Haari drew in a deep breath. “…I’m going to find Nicawa-san.”

The old man froze. His hands stilled against the counter, his eyes narrowing in thought before softening. “I see… So, you’re finally leaving.”

Haari nodded once. “Yeah.”

“You really believe she’s out there?”

Haari’s fist trembled slightly against his knee. “…I know she is.”

The old man exhaled slowly, then gave a firm nod. “Then that’s enough for me.”

Haari blinked, lifting his head. “…You’re not gonna ask why I think so?”

The man chuckled, his shoulders shaking faintly. “Nah.” He leaned forward, pressing a hand to the counter. “If you believe she’s alive… then I believe it too.”

Haari’s chest tightened. A lump rose in his throat, but he swallowed it down.

“…Thanks, old man.”

The old man nodded, a soft smile tugging at his lips.
“Take care of yourself, Haari. And… bring her back. I’m very excited to see my daughter-in-law.”

Haari’s face twitched, and he let out a sharp exhale. “Old man, you’re getting way too ahead of things.”

“Oh, am I?” The old man raised a brow, his grin unshaken.

Shaking his head, Haari pushed himself up from the stool. His gaze lingered on the shop for a moment—the wooden beams, the faint smell of grilled fish, the warm glow of the lanterns. A place that had stayed the same, even when everything else in his world had fallen apart.

He stepped outside. The night air was cool against his skin, the city lights flickering distantly like scattered stars. Pulling his coat tighter around himself, he muttered, “Okay, old man. See you soon.”

“Be safe out there,” the old man’s voice called back through the noren.

Later, Haari found himself staring into a mirror at the hospital.

The man staring back felt like a stranger. His face had grown thinner, his skin pale from months of immobility. His dark hair was unkempt, and the fatigue etched into his eyes refused to fade.

With a deep breath, he raked his fingers through his hair and adjusted the sling on his right shoulder.

It’s time to leave.