Hyunrin retrieves a bento box and a bottle of water from the guard. She lays on her stomach on her bed, opening the box and a smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. In-Ho always loved her bento boxes.
     I was about to leave for work when I noticed a lonely lunchbox on the counter. A scowl formed on my forehead as I checked my bag. I then realized it wasn't my lunchbox. I sighed a smile and snatched it from the counter.
     I stopped by the police station. The woman behind the desk smiled and asked what she could do. It was then that In-Ho called my name. I walked up to him and smiled. He was happy to see me, yet a tad confused. I handed him his lunch box and the realisation hit.
"Thank you, my love," he bowed his head.
"So, this is the famous Hwang Hyunrin," his male coworker smirked. "The only one who managed to make Hyung stumble—no matter how tough he was—and fall in love." I laughed as he guided me into his office.
"Did you know he kept all of the notes you put with his lunch?" I gasped as my heart warmed. I turned to In-Ho, who stood there with a look of pride and love.
"I did not," I smirked at him and walked up to him. "Did you become a softie?" I challenged. He remained silent but the look in his eyes spoke his deeds. I felt a sharp pain through my body, causing me to collapse. In-Ho caught me and his teasing behaviour snapped into concern.
"I'm alright," I reassured. "I'm okay, my darling."
It was only the beginning of this awful disease. She forces herself back to reality and stares at the lunchbox. It wasn't long after but Jun-Hee asked to join her. Hyunrin makes room for Jun-Hee to sit, which she appreciates.
     "How far are you?" Hyunrin questions before turning to Jun-Hee, who seems to be startled by the question. She sends her a smile to reassure her. "It's okay, I've been there too." The tensity in her shoulders ease.
     "Fifteen weeks," she mutters and turns to Hyunrin. "How did you know?"
"Your hand on your stomach," Hyunrin answers. "Plus, once you've been pregnant, you recognize one other." She chuckles.
"Were you scared?" she then asks, silently indicating that she is. Hyunrin puts down the spoon and swallows.
''I was,'' she replies. "I found out I was with child while having cancer. I needed a donor but we couldn't get the money. My husband promised me to make it work. Never seen him ever since." Jun-Lee mutters an apology. "It's okay. I was scared to give birth alone, without my husband by my side but my brother-in-law was there for me. Do you have a partner?" Jun-Lee leans in closer to Hyunrin, finding comfort in her. She shakes her head.
     "The father is player 333, Myung-Gi," she mutters. "I want nothing to  do with him, yet that doesn't mean I'm not scared." Hyunrin puts her arms around the girl and pulls her closer to her.
     "When we make it out alive, I'll make sure to be there with you," Hyunrin promises, silently making a promise to ensure her safety. "If there is something wrong, come to me." Jun-Hee smiles and nods.
     "Thank you, Unnie," she says, bowing her head. Hyunrin rubs her arm and takes another bite.

Jung-Bae plops down next to Gi-Hun with his box and bottle of water. He opens it, only to groan in excitement.
     ''Just like my mom used to make,'' Jung-Bae smiles and nods to Gi-Hun's box. ''What's in yours?'' He looks at his friend, who sadly stares at his box.
''Aren't you going to eat?'' He sighs and holds a spoonful of rice near him. ''Look, you've got to eat. You know what they say, even eat on your death bed. Just do your thinking while you eat, or afterward. Here.'' Watching Gi-Hun not take the bite, he gives up and takes the spoonful himself.
''This might be for the best,'' he says with a mouthful. Gi-Hun turns to his friend, not believing what he just heard. ''I don't know about you, but that twenty million wouldn't even cover my interest. If we play just one more game—''
     ''Jung-Bae," Gi-Hun interrupts. ''Last time I was here, someone said the exact same thing. And in the end, that person died here.''
     ''Then help us, sir.'' Gi-Hun and Jung-Bae lift their head to see Player 001 and several others. ''You said you've played these games.'' Gi hun looks forlorn. ''I pressed the O button because of you. Honestly, I was scared. I wanted to quit and leave. But you made me think maybe I could play just one more game.''
     ''Yes.''
     ''Me too.''
     ''Same.''
     ''Sir. You know which game's next, don't you?'' In-ho questions. Everyone leans in closer, eager to survive these days.
     ''That's right,'' Jung-Bae gasps. ''You're a previous winner, so you should know. What are we playing next?'' Gi-Hun glances around, his eyes scanning every man that has gathered around him.
     ''The second game was dalgona.''
     ''Dalgona? The sugar candy with a shape you can carve out?'' The man on the bed asks, mingling into the conversation. He has his mouth full of rice.
     ''That's right. We had to choose one of four shapes and carve it out.''
     ''Four shapes? Which was the easiest one?'' Jung-Bae asks eagerly.
     ''The triangle.''
     ''Which was the hardest one?''
     ''The umbrella.''
     ''The umbrella?'' In-Ho scoffs a laugh. ''Some people chose the umbrella? Those unlucky bastards must have bitten the dust.'' Gi-Hun lifts his head, not knowing what to say. He looks at him, not even daring to tell he had chosen the umbrella. He got a flashback from when he was licking the dalgona, eager and desperate to pass.
     ''So that means we should all just pick the triangle.'' One of the men who stood there urged away. It was Yong-Sik, the son of player 149–Geum-Ja. He runs up to her bed, only to find her bed empty. ''Mom?'' He glances around and searches for her. He then spots her near two women and runs towards them.
     ''Mom, I just found out something important!'' Yong-Sik urges. He pulls his mother by her arm, away from the two women.
     ''Find me if something is wrong!'' She directed her words toward them before returning to scold her son. Jun-Hee slowly turns to Hyunrin with an arched eyebrow.
''That was a little odd,'' she says.

''May I ask you something? Why did you come back to this place?'' In-Ho questions, sitting down on the stairs. ''You said you won and made it out. Then you must have received 45.6 billion. Did you spend it all?''
     ''Did you bet on horses again?'' Jung-Bae questions surprised.
     ''That money doesn't belong to me. It's blood money for the people who died here. That same goes for the money up there,'' Gi-Hun nods toward the piggy bank.
     ''You don't have to think of it that way. It's not like you killed those people and saving that money won't bring them back to life.''
     ''If you had pressed the X, everyone here would've made it out alive,'' Gi-Hun answers with reproach and resentment.
     ''That's right. I was the last to press the O button but 182 more people wanted to stay,'' In-Ho reasons.
     ''And there were also 182 people who wanted to leave,'' Gi-Hun counters.
     ''Let's say, I pressed X and we all left. Would everyone have been happy? Do you think if they ran into me later, they'd thank me for saving their lives and tell me they're happy now?'' In-Ho explains, a bitter tone lacing his voice. Gi-Hun is lost for words, avoiding eye contact with the man.
     ''All right. There is no point in placing blame now. You know the saying, a widow understands a widower best. Let's just focus on tomorrow's game, okay?'' Jung-Bae says before continuing about sticking together. The man who mingled during the dalgona conversation jumps from his back and agrees. He feels the tension and heartily tries to introduce himself, telling how much of a fan he was of Gi-Hun's 'Freeze'. By doing the freeze pose, his tattoo on his upper arm got exposed.
     ''You were in the marine?'' he questions surprised.
''Yes, why?''
''Class number?'' Dae-Ho laughs, not believing why he'd ask him. Jung-Bae throws his jacket off his shoulder to show him his marine tattoo. Dae-Ho freezes and salutes.
''Victory at all costs, sir! I was in class 1140, sir!''
''At ease!''

In the meanwhile, Thanos and Nam-Gyu taunt Myung-Gi for their loss in an online coin. Their taunt turns into a two-on-one fight. Thanos throws him on the ground.
''I lost all that money because of you, fucker," he grits through his teeth and stomps him in the stomach. ''You piece of shit.''
''You son of a bitch," Nam-Gyu adds a kick to the stomach, only to be thrown aside by Thanos. He continues to kick him.
''Be grateful and fucking eat what you're given!'' By now, every player is watching the fight. Dae-Ho jokes about being that young and having that kind of energy.
''He might get really hurt. Someone should stop them," Jung-Bae says, indicating that he wouldn't step in. From behind, In-Ho makes his way to Thanos.
''Boys, what are you doing in the middle of mealtime? No fights during mealtime.'' As if she were stung by a wasp, Hyunrin turned her face to the direction of his voice. She knew that voice by heart, but it couldn't be. Jun-Hee notices the shift in her posture but remains silent.
''There are elders present. Mind your manners. And two against one? Aren't you embarrassed?'' In-Ho confronts, approaching the two boys.
''You're lecturing me when you ended up in this shithole too? Dude, stop running your mouth and take care of your own damn kids," Thanos scoffs. In-Ho kept his composure but his eyes narrowed. Hyunrin's thoughts went to her son, Min-Ho and she wondered how he was doing.
''What did you just say?''
''I said save the lecture for your own damn kids.'' Thanos barely finished his sentence as In-Ho grabbed him in the neck.
''Son of a bitch,'' Nam-gyu curses. He runs up to him but In-Ho kicks him to the ground. He lets go of Thanos, who goes for attack but In-Ho punches him in the stomach.
''Wait.'' He extends his hand but In-Ho twists it so Thanos falls to the ground. He receives a few kicks before he gets grabbed by the throat and watches in fear as In-Ho lift his fist.
''I'm sorry. Please," he chokes.
''Let me go.'' In-Ho releases the grip on Thanos' throat, who backs away in fear. The players start clapping as In-Ho turns to where his wife is sitting. He looks into her eyes and observes how visibly tense she is. Hyunrin is too far away to read the look in her eyes, meaning In-Ho doesn't know how she'll react. He watches her mouth move as if she is whispering his name. He snaps back into his role and acts shy, bowing to the players.
     He heads back to Gi-Hun and Jung-Bae, sensing his wife's gaze burning into his back. A faint smile plays at the corner of his mouth.

In-Ho lies in bed, observing the others asleep around him. Quietly, he slips out of bed and moves toward his wife. As he reaches her side, he sees she's sound asleep. A soft smile tugs at his lips as he gently traces her cheek with his thumb.
     No words or feelings could fully capture how much he missed her or how deeply grateful he was to see her alive. That brief moment of eye contact seemed to stir something in her. He knew she was aware of his presence, and her gaze met his with a look of recognition. He silently prayed that she would continue to love him.
     "My moon and stars," he whispers. His heart skips a beat as a faint smile appears on her face. He can't tell if she's truly awake or if it's simply a subconscious response. After one last lingering glance, In-Ho turns his attention back to his mission: manipulating player 456.
     "Excuse me," he says, taking a seat next to Gi-Hun's bed. ''I think I was out of line before. I want to apologize. I'm sorry.''
     ''No, that's okay. I laid all the blame on you. I was out of line,'' Gi-Hun apologizes, bowing his head in In-Ho's direction. They sit in silence for moments before In-Ho breaks the silence.
     ''My wife is very sick,'' he starts. Even though she is here with him, it breaks him to tell the story. ''She has acute cirrhosis. She needs a liver transplant but when she was going through the tests, we found out she was pregnant. The doctor suggested a termination, but she won't listen. She said she'd give birth even if it killed her. You see, my wife is stubborn.'' He chuckles, falling in love all over again.
     ''I've never been able to change her mind about anything. We were struggling to find a donor and her condition was getting worse. I borrowed as much money as I could, but it still wasn't enough. I was desperate. Then one of my oldest vendors heard about my situation and offered to help. So I borrowed money from them. But people saw it as a bribe, and I got fired. I had devoted my entire youth to it. These games were my last hope.'' He let a silence settle between them. He isn't lying about everything, but Gi-Hun doesn't need to know everything.
     ''I get it. I know what you were trying to say, Mr 456. What that money represents. But I, I really need that money. Even if it is blood money. I need that money... to save my wife and our child.''

ᵀᴿᵞᴵᴺᴳ 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚞𝚙𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎