THE AFTERMATH OF A BLUE OCCASION WAS THE WORST. Besides the humiliation of the adversary players, mostly the selfish and the godforsaken, there was the constant thought "What if I die now?" Which was a very valid one that spread as fire through all the red patched players, walking with heavy steps and lowered heads in defeat.

For a moment, Tae-Ri felt lost, and this was confirmed when she spot Gihun, the one leading it all, completely in shambles as well. The elderly woman, Jang Geum-Ja, cried, hugging her son so tight Tae-Ri could almost feel it.

The things she would do to only have a glimpse of her father, even if a small feature of his smile, instead of the tragedy she found herself in. Damned was the moment she called her number, the biggest regret of her life.

"Hyun-Ju!" Tae-Ri then spot her, sitting at a corner, in the same bed she woke up when it all started, hugging her legs and trying to ignore the callings. "Hyun-Ju!!"

"Tae-Ri..." She mumbled, a bit shy now, her expressed a hidden guilt. "Look, I-"

"Why didn't you vote X? I can't understand." She shook her head. "You are risking your life-"

"I don't have a life." Hyun-Ju spoke a bit louder this time, her face serious, carrying sadness. "Outside here...I don't have a life. Not yet"

Tae-Ri sat down, next to her, touching her shoulder, as she attempted her best to understand. "Money comes and goes, but you only have one life." She tried to make her understand. "What about all the others here? Do you really want them to die?"

"I don't know them." She responded. "And I'm very sure they won't care about me either."

"...well I do." Tae-Ri looked down, her voice as a whisper, as Hyun Ju's lips quivered, but still unable to say her truth. "Why do you need the money so badly?"

She looked the other way, trying to avoid her, hugging tight her legs wigh the bitter taste of lying in her tongue. A hard time trusting, a hard time living, the scars Hyun-Ju carried, in her opinion, were impossible for anyone else to understand.

She couldn't risk her life for someone like Tae-Ri, so pretty, so...normal, to return and resolve her problems, while she couldn't even wake up and stare at herself in the mirror.

It just didn't feel right, nothing felt, but running for the hills wasn't heer style, it would never be. If she entered a fight, then she would finish, and victorious.

"I'm sorry." Was all she said to her friend. It was bittersweet, how for a moment they seemed both strangers and friends. A game like those could change it all within seconds.

Tae-Ri took the hand off her shoulder, mouth curved with sadness, as she nodded, unwilling to push her further into a matter she wouldn't speak about. "I'm sorry too."

With a deep breath, Tae-Ri raised from the bed, walking ahead. "Where are you going?" Hyun-Ju asked.

"Bathroom. Do you want to come with me?"

Hyun Ju looked away, another obstacle in her hellish life "No. I'm good."

Tae-Ri made her way to the bathroom, eyes lost in the mirror as the shootings from before still echoed her thoughts, mixed with a child laughing with a sunset in the background, cascading butterflies in a field of daffodils.

"Tae-Ri! You can't catch me!" Her brother chuckled, taking small steps ahead, holding a handle of flowers in his hands to gift their mother aftwards.

"Oh really? Just you wait!" A younger Tae-Ri would say, slowing down only to give him a chance of winning before tickling him with her fingers, both rolling down on the ground.

"Kids! Lunch is ready!"

Water running down the sink with blood, hands resting on both sides, deep breaths. She wouldn't last another round, there wasn't a single possibility she could make out alive.

The guard knocked on the door, almost in a way to tell her to leave already, the lights would soon be turned off. She barely realized it was night already.

Tae-Ri walked off, with heavy legs, tryung to visualize an available bed to sleep on. All the beds next to Hyun-Ju were occupied, although she doubted Hyun-Ju would like to see her now, after the tense argument they just had. It only showed lack of trust, but she was right, after allthey met within a day, what was Tae-Ri expecting.

"You don't seem so positive now." A voice said behind her.

Back resting on an iron bunk bad structure, hands on his pockets, Player 001 looked back at her, eyes twinkling with mischief.

Tae-Ri looked at him dead in the eyes, stopping her plans to find a bed and reaching over him. "Do you think this is funny?" She already carried an offended tone, scoffing as she stared back at that charming asshole. "Do you even know what you've done to all of us here? To you?"

He sighed, shoulders rising and falling, even his breath was hot. "I understand, you're upset, and you have reason to be."

"Then why?" She furrowed her eyebrows. "People are dying, for God's sake, why does no one sees it?!"

"I see it. Trust me I was scared." He tried to reassure her, a good boy expression to convince anyone. "But when player 456 said he won, I thought that maybe I could win another game."

"Don't you get it? There might not be another game!" She sighed, hands running through her face. "Look, I know it's a lot of money, but it's not worth it."

"Some of us don't have the choice." His semblant was soft, almost sincere as he stared back at her. The other players were there, already picking beds to sleep, as the two continued their argument. "And I'm sure that if you're here, you have a reason to need this money as much as I do." He looked right into her soul. "If we play one more game, we won't leave empty handed-"

"I did not want to be here!" She almost yelled.

Silence.

Player 001 only stared, a bit stunned, as some others who passed by ignored. The guard next to the bathroom paid more close attention, alert in any sign of danger. But Tae-Ri only stood there, stressed and headaching, trying to keep it in, conceal it.

"I was not supposed to be here." She admitted in a whisper.

He furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"I..."She sighed, this secret.was killing her. "I wasn't invited, my father was." It was almost as if a ghost had crossed Player 001's face, purely in shock for reasons she wasn't aware of.

"But...how did you even enter then? Didn't the guards-"

"I only used his name and they let me in the van."

It was hard for Tae-Ri to decipher what exactly passed through Player 001's, after all he stood there, quiet, staring blankly at her as if he heard thr most absurd thing he has ever witnessed in his life.

Someone was getting fired.

"So...you just risked yourself for him?" He recomposed himself.

"I wanted to know what all of this was about, did not know I'd be fighting for my life." She shrugged. "Or that psychos like you would insist on staying." The last sentence carried a more humorous note.

He shot her a smile that almost blinded her from gorgeous it was. The man was insane for wishing to stay, but his insanity paid off by the looks.

"You're a great daughter to be here for him." He nodded. "You shouldn't be afraid, I'm sure that after this game you'll be with him again." He touched his chest. "I will vote X, that's a promise."

"You don't need to promise me anything" She shook her head a bit embarrassed.

"No, I owe that to you and all the players who wanted to leave." He continued, polite and kind. "I just...I need the money, even if it's blood money." He said, this time slightly more serious, heavy speaking. "...I need it to save my wife and my son."

Tae-Ri looked a him surprised, able to feel the great depression in his chest by the way he spoke. He must've loved his family, loved so much to risk his life. Whoever his wife was, she was lucky to have him by her side.

"You're a great husband and father." She complimented back, as he gave a weak smile. "But you better watch it if you vote O again." She teased, pointing to him.

His laugh was low, sweet to the ears, eyes interested in her own smile spreading on her face. "Is that a threat..."He looked at her tag. "...player 321. Sounds like a countdown." He joked.

"Yeah, when they count I always think they're speaking to me." That was the most horrible comeback joke she has ever done. And worst of all, he found it hilarious.

Perphaps he had the same stupid humor, it almost made her like him, almost. That stupid circle tag always reminded her of his decision still.

Suddenly the lights went out. The only lights were the red X and the blue O on the ground, glowing in the center.

"I think they want us to sleep." He squinted his eyes with a smirk.

"Oh finally, I'm exhausted." She yawned, stretching her arms. "I should search for my friend."

"Have a good night. See you tomorrow" He waved, watching as she walked away.

For her owm surprise, she waved back, still with a smile across her face. Fine, maybe he wasn't so bad. But if she died, it would be all his fault, maybe she could come back as a ghost to haunt him.

Within her thoughts, Tae-Ri remembered her bed was occupied by a random player next to Hyun-Ju. Damnit, what now? She looked around the room, walking through the darkness until she felt a hand on her shoulder, startling her to death.

"Hey, hey it's me!" Player 456 was right there, behind her, a step back scared since she had raised her hand to slap whoever approached her.

"Oh, hey..."She sighed, lowering her hand as she let her go. "Sorry, I didn't see you."

"I was just going to ask if you want to join us." He explained. "In bed-" His eyes widened at the realization of what he said. "I-I mean dtay next to us, because it's dangerous at night! A-and I keep watch, that-that's all, I swear, nothing weird will happen or-"

Tae-Ri laughed, his embarrassment was adorable. Someone so hurt by the past and so serious like him, when clumsy almost made her imagine how he was before.

"I understand what you mean, relax." She smiled, as his shoulders fell down relieved. "And I accept, thank you." She smiled. "I was actually looking for a spot."

"Oh, great." He smiled back. "I...mean, good, good, um...follow me." 456 Gestured, guiding her to the beds, where he was located, above him his other friend from before.

"Ooh, hello miss!" His friend waved, his round face lightning up with a hint of mischief. "So that's why Gi-hun escaped for, he was looking for you."

"Shut up, Jung-bae" 456 said, cheeks burning, thankfully not being able to be seen in the darkness. "You can sleep there, 321."

"Thanks." She got on her bed, next to 456, lying down as she watched the red and blue light at the center and the hundreds of strangers sleeping in that strange cell. "Good night guys." She whispered at last.

"Good night!!" Jung-bae teased his friend, as Gi-hun threw his pillow at him. "Ay!" He threw it back.

This happened at least 2 or 3 times, Tae-Ri wasn't exactly sure, since in a matter of minutes...seconds..it...all...faded...to...black.

...

"It's just like those my mom used to make for me" Tae-Ri smiled as she opened the lunchbox.

Rice, eggs, vegetables. Food served by the guards in line, in individual portions counted by finger, to each of the players, so they could have more strentgh to continue playing.

She was sitting next to Jung-bae and Gi-hun, each with their own aluminium lunch box, and while she devoured it, she visualized a familiar figure from afar.

"Hyun-Ju!" She waved with a smile.

But Hyun-Ju did not reply, instead, she turned her face, walking shy and embarrassed to another corner.

"Your friend?" Jung-bae asked.

Tae-Ri nodded. "I may have argued with her, she voted O." She sighed. "But I don't want to be mad at her, I just wanted to understand her."

"She will come around eventually, right Gi-hun?" He asked.

But 456, or better, as she heard, Gi-hun, was mostly silent, eyes to oblivion, barely touching his food. His friend seemed worried.

"Gi-hun, you need to eat" Jung-bae said. But he wouldn't respond. "Tsk. it won't be of any use if you starve yourself to death."

"He's right." Tae-Ri nodded. "You should eat" She encouraged. "Or do you want Jung-Bae to lead the spoon to your mouth like a baby?"

Gi-hun finally lookes at them, almost offended, as Jung-bae laughed loudly, tears running down his face as he grabbed a handful spoon and raised it in the air.

"Open wide, Gi-hun, aahhhh" He teased.

456 Chuckled, pushing the spoon away as he rolled his eyes at them. "Fine, I'll eat."

"Yes! High-five!" Tae-Ri cheered as she high fived Jung-Bae.

"I like her." The friend said. "Oh, where are my manners, I didn't even introduce myself." He turned to her. "I'm Park Jung-Bae." He offered his hand.

"Son Tae-Ri." She responded with a smile shaking his hand. "And you, Mr.456?"

He blushed a bit. "Seong Gi-hun."

She shaked his hand, the contact giving him shivers. "Nice name." She complimented. "Better than numbers."

Before more small talk could be developed, a group aporoached them, all with matching blue tags, leaded by the charmest of them all.

"321, we meet again." Player 001 smiled to her, greeting amicably. "Mr.456." He said a bit more gentle.

Tae-Ri gazed at the man again, just as when she was shoving a huge spoon down her throat, almost making her choke, if she didn't know any better she could almost feel rice coming out her nose.

Player 001, on the other hand, looked down, with a hint of a smile at the scene.

"Mr.456." Player 001 looked at Gi-hun. "You said that you'd been here before. You're the reason I ended up voting to stay."

Other people in the crowd agreed, but Gi-hun only lowered his head, disappointed and frustrated.

"After the first game, I thought I was gonna quit. And then I saw you. And I thought to myself, One more. Then I can go." explained.

"I thought the same thing."Another one said.

Gi-hun sighed, still at the same olace, messing the food in his lunchnox with the spoon, as the other olayers put even more pressure on his tired shoulders.

"Sir. You know what's next, don't you?" 001 asked, in a rather humble tome. The crowd encouraged, hungry for an answer.

Within the many questionaments, the anxious players, he finally surrended. "The second game we... we played was Dalgona."

The crowd begun to gossip, fervescent to the news, excited, other nervous. Tae-Ri stood there, mind racing wuth the revelation. At leats it wasn't any that demanded physical effort like Red Light, Green light. Maybe she could stand a chance.

"Dalgona?!" A guy on a bunk bad gasped, almost startling Tae-Ri. he has a marine tattoo on his arm, and huge joy in his eyes. "Like, the honeycomb you carve the shape out of?"

"That's right." Gi-hun explained. "We had to pick one out of the four shapes they showed us."

"Okay then. So, of those, which was the easiest one to do?" Player 001 asked.

"The triangle."

"And which was the hardest one?"

"Umbrella."

"Umbrella?" Player 001 scoffed, a chuckle escaping his throat, almost in mockery. Oh that was hot."Some people chose umbrella? Those unlucky bastards must have bitten the dust"

Gi-hun lowered his gaze at the exact moment he said those words, avoiding the conversation. It was almost an indirect answer to what shape he has chosen and the offense he has taken.

"Not exactly." Tae-Ri said instead, surprising player 001. "If they put umbrella it means it's completely possible, only harder. Skilfull players must've succeeded, right, Gi-hun?"

Player 001 stared at her for a moment, in interest, smirk across his face. Funny, she knew 456's name, she had already gotten close to him. Either a strategist, or still a hopeful dreamer. Whatever was the reason, he would keep close watch.

"Yeah..."Gi-hun nodded, still a bit overwhelmed.

"So all everybody needs to do is oick the triangle." The man marine tattoed player said. "Everyone should be able to get through this one, right?"

"Hey, wait, wait, wait!" A hushed voice cut within the crowd, hungry and evil eyes glowing at the opportunity. Player 100. "If all 365 of us survive, that means the prize will stay the same." He realized, as the crowd looked at him amused, agreeing. "We'd have risked our lives to play another game for nothing." More whispers and gossip spread around the group. "Good. We keep this quiet. It stays between us so that means we're the only ones who know. Sound good?"

"What?!" Tae-Ri gasped, looking iutraged at the man. "You must be out of your goddamn mind, you want people to die?"

The old man seemed slightly angry at her refusal to join the strategy. His wrinkles showed the disagreement. "I'm trying to make money, not friends." He complained. "If some players don't die, we leave with the same amount, the voting will have no use."

Tae-Ri felr her blood boil, she put the lunchbox aside. "Tae-Ri he's not worth it..."Jung-bae whispered.

But she still stood up anyway, walking up to him, finger just right in front of his face. "You listen here, old man." She raised her chin. "I don't care if you're indebted until your due age, but there are innocent people here who want to leave. People who actually care about their lives. And your greediness won't stop us."

Player 100 continued furious, others only watched, amused at her audacity, and 001...well, he tried his best to keep a straight face. The joyful woman ready to stand up for others, now the first to create a conflict, this should be interesting.

She was interesting.

"You better stay out of this, girl." Player 100 hissed.

"Or what?" She dared. "If you try anything, I'm going to yell right here and now."

"You wouldn't..."

"DALGONA!" She yelled. Gi-hun and Jung-bae's eyes widened to the scene. "IT'S DALGONA! PICK THE TRIANGLE!!!"

Some who would listen would think she was a lunatic, others tried to understand what she actually meant. Player 100 cursed her, pissed off, while Jung-bae laughed just as the man on the bunkbed.

Player 00q pursed his lips, holding his smile, as he stood in between both, hand touching her shoulder.

"I think that's enough. He got the message." He calmly established, as her screams subsided.

But Tae-Ri sas willing to fight an elderly. "Hey." She pointed to Player 100. "Watch for yourself, or I'm gonna screw up all your chances of winning."

"Fucking bich" Player 100 cursed.

"What did you just call me?!" She advanced to his direction.

But those strong hands again gripped her upper arms, keeping her still in place, chests closed, as she shaked like a cat about to be bathed. She wasn't even tall to begin with, barely could keep her balance, and yet wanted to still pick a fight.

"Hey, hey, it's not worth it." Player 001 said to her. "321." He shook her, making her get back to her senses. "Keep it together." He ordered.

Cheeks blushed and dazzled at his tone, she took a step back, where Jung-bae already held out her lunchbox so she could resume her eating. She sat back, trying to keep her cool, and ignored the old man leaving.

"Sorry." She muttered, looking down, her cough back again.

"Are you okay?" Gi-hun asked.."You've been coughing a lot."

Player 001 was still there, watching intently. While Tae-ri tried not to show any sign of weakness. "Yeah, just the flu I think"

Even not welcomed, and with a croed that had already left after the confusion, 001 sat down, next to Tae-ri, as she finished the lunchbox, and a tense atmosphere took over the room.

"Are you cold?" 001 asked, unzipping his green jacket, taking it off, only showing the white T-shirt underneath. "Do you want my jacket?"

Jung-bae side eyed the two and then Gi-hun, while Tae-Ri awkwardly shook her head. "No, thanks" She gestured. "I...already have mine. But thanks.

"Okay. If you need it, just ask." He kindly offered, still keeping the jacket aside, next to her. "Mr.456, do you mind if I ask you a question?" 001 said. "Why are you here?Why'd you come back again? You said you won the game, made it out. And that would mean you won 45.6 billion won. Did you spend all of it already?"

"Those are a lot of questions." Tae-ri raised her eyebrows teasing, while 001 gave a short smile at her comeback. "Are you from the FBI?" She teased. "Or maybe you're one of the headmasters of the game?"She joked.

At this moment, it was almost like he had caught red handed on something. Hr onlu forced a laugh. "Just curious."

"Did you start betting again?"Jung-bae questioned Gi-hun.

"Wait, did you bet before?" Tae-Ri asked.

Gi-hun tiredly tried to deceive himself from the questions. "That money doesn't belong to me. The ones who died in this place, that's their blood money." He continued, sadness filled his soul. "And the same goes for everything in there."

"What point is there in thinking about it like that?" 001 said instead. "After all, it's not like you killed anyone yourself. And that way of thinking won't help bring any of them back to life."

That statement seemed to awaken a hidden anger inside 456. "If you'd pressed "X" like I asked you to, we all could've left here alive."

Jung-bae gazed at Tae-ri, both knowing this wouldn't end well. "True. I was the last player to press "O.", but there's 182 other people who wanted to stay here."

"Yeah, and 182 more of them who wanted to get the hell out of this place."

"If I hadn't pressed "O"... If I'd hit "X" and we'd all gone home, you think they'd appreciate what I'd done?" Silence. That was an argument many couldn't deny. "if one of these people ran into me, years from now, do you think they'd say they were happy I voted to go? That they ended up with a great life after all?We just need to focus on winning the game tomorrow."

"All right, that's enough." Jung-bae spoke up between them.  "It is what it is. No use in pointing fingers now."

Tar-Ri nodded, as she put aside a box milk she didn't drink, while the players exchsnged hostile gazes.

"That's right, my friends." The Marine guy from before hopped off the bed,  muscled and goofy, smiling to them. "You say we should work as a team, right? I agree."

"...And who are you?"Tae-Ri asked confused.

"Ah, excuse me." He stuffed his chest. "Dae-ho. At your service." He winked. Oh, God he winked, the 4 people laughed. "Kang Dae-ho. That's me."

"Ah, Dae-ho. Do I know you?" Jung-bae squinted his eyes, walking up to the young man.

"Earlier, when Mr. 456 went "Freeze!" " He mimicked Gi-hun perfectly, Tae-Ri couldn't stop laughing. "I loved it. Became an instant fan." He insisted. "I'd like to get to know all of you. Give me a chance, sir." "

"Uh-huh." Jung-bae said attentive to something on his arm. " The Marines?Which cohort?" Dae-ho chuckled at the man, not believing him. Only to gasp as he raised his sleeve, showing a matching tattoo.

"Victory at all costs! Sir! Cohort 1140, sir!"He yelled at the top of his lungs.

The dynamic went on, Tae-Ri already had tears in her eyes from laughing when she stood up, catching the attention of 001 and 456 still sitting down nearby.

"Where are you going?" Gi-hun asked, as a puppy lost in the rain.

"Oh, I'm just gonna see my friend."She picked up the milk box. "I'll be back soon."

"Do you-"

"Do you need any help?" 001 said first, offeringm "Maybe someone to accompany you? Thr circle guys may not be very happy with what you said earlier."

Gi-hun made a face at his attitude, but he was correct, making enemies in just the beginning wasn't the best way to start things. Still, Tae-Ri was too stubborn to just accept any help..

"I'll be fine, and if that old man comes, I'll just kick his balls." She simply. "Oh, no offense to you guys."

001 was chuckling to himself, watching her leave until he spot 456 smiling to himself, as she left. Just then realizing what was happening.

Who would've known, a dead man falling like autumn leaves to someone so full of life?

Perphaps he had to do something about it.

...

"I come in peace." Tae-Ri said, as she found Hyun-ju at the bed, hugging her legs as she stared back at her sudden apperance. "And I bring a sign of my honesty." She handed her the milk box.

A smile escaped 120's face, as she stared at thr milkbox fondly, and then at the friend sitting down next to her.

"Where did you sleep tonight?" Hyun-ju finally asked. "You didn't come back...O was worried."

Finally, peace at last. "I was with Player 456." Hyun-Ju blinked at her response. "W-wait not in that way, I mean, next to him, not on the same bed."

Hyun-ju chuckled, she had forgotten how she was always smiling next to Tae-Ri, merely hours without her and that game had turned boring and hostile, but when she was around, everything felt so easy.

"I'm...sorry about how I acted yesterday"She looked down. "I know you're worried."

"I shouldn't have pushed you to press X." Tae-Ri retorted. "It's your choice."

"I don't want anyone to die but.."She sighed. "There's nothinh for me out there. Not while I'm like...this." She gestured to herself, bitterness on her tongue.

"What do you mean?"

"If I have money for the sugeries...if I become prettier-"

"That's such nonsense." Tar-Ri furrowed her eyebrows, almosy offended  "You're so pretty, you don't need anything done."

"I do." Hyun-Ju insisted, sighing. "And I won't be comfortable in my own skin until then I just...I just really need that money, Tae-Ri." She sadly established, as they both stared back at that huge piggy bank. "It's my only chance."

She recalled 001's words, so many stories all searching for the same common goal. Her heart ached to see Hyun-Ju so needy for that money, or to know people like 001 were willing to risk it all, or even let others die in order to save people outside that place.

It all felt like a sacrifice, inevitable pain she couldn't avoid. Why did life have to be so hard?

"I'm sick." Tae-Ri admitted, making her friend stare back at her. "I have Lupus, and it doesn't have a cure, only an expensive treatment I can't afford."

"Tae-Ri...I-I didn't know-"

"My dad signed up for this games but I stole his card and got here pretending to be him." She shook her head. "I keep thinking I wasn't supposed to be here, but at the same time I'm starting to understand why so many people pressed O."

Hyun-Ju rest her head on her shoulder, watching the huge piggy bank glowing abovr with only a few sum available. Many more to die in order to fill it, a dilemma that crossed ethics and moralism.

"If I win, I will divide it with you." Hyun-Ju whispered.

Tae-Ri sniffed, with a weak smile. "I don't want to stay that long" She refused. "And I really hope you change your mind before that." She rest her head on hers fondly. "We could leave this place, have soondae together."

"And soju."

"And soju" They chuckled. "I just want to leave this place alive."

"Me too, Tae-ri...me too."

Yellings crashed through the surface,  and to make it worse, punches, kicks. The guy known as MG COIN was being destroyed by Thanos with a friend, while everyone only watched. It was brutal to the eyes.

"What the hell..."Hyun-Ju mumbled as she showed it to Tae-Ri. "It's the rapper you said."

"Oh my God." Tae-Ri covered her mouth. "Someone should help that guy."

At the same instant, Hyun-Ju quickly gazed at her, and it didn't take a second for her friend to start getting off the bed.

"What are you doing? No, no! Get back here!" Hyun-ju held her hand. "They're going to hurt you, don't go there."

"We can't just watch someone get hurt like that."  She insisted.

"If that means we are protecting ourselves, yes we can." Hyun-ju tried to be reasonable. "There are 300 people in this room, most men, they can do something if they want to. But you stay here."

Tae-Ri sighed as she was pratically dragged back to the bed and watched the you g man groan in pain, those bastards hurting him so bad, and no one moved a finger.

"They're gonna kill him that way, we need to do something-"

"Hey, kids." A strong voice called, and the image that appeared in the middle of the room seemed like an illusion. Player 001, stepping in, bravely getting into a fight. "What makes you think you can behave like that?" He dared, as Thanos turned to him, leaving the guybhe was beating on the groumd. "Especially while people are eating. And in front of your elders too. It's bad manners, not to mention it's two against one." He called them out. "Shame on you guys."

"You're in here just like everyone else. So cut the lecture... Grandad." Thanos yelled back, appraching him.

"He behaves like a child." Hyun-ju rolled her eyes.

But Tae-ri instead only had her eyes glued to the familiar charming face getting in trouble, eyes fearless at the enemy.

"How about instead of yip-yapping at me, you go back home to your own kids, you yell at them?" Thanos dared once again, finalky striking a nerve.

It was notiveable the moment that sentence pressrd a button, a switch even, in 001's mind. The humble, gentle aspect gone, now replaced with bloody, dangerous gaze and fist closed tightly to his sides.

"What did you say?" He gave him another chance.

"I said, save the lecture for your own kids." Thanos dared, as Player 001 finally gripped on his jacket. "Hey, get your fuckin..."

A punch to the ground, then, when his friend approached, another kick, all without bately moving, standing still as the crowd stared amazed at the action scene, worth of a movie star statue.

In a matter of minutes, Thanos was on the ground, 001 had him under his control, fist raised in the air, ready to cause real damage while staring at him, blood pumping inside his veins, hatred burning inside.

It was almost like another man had taken over him, a spirit, possessed for revenge over a simple sentence said to the wind.

And then he stopped. Standing uo still as people applauded, crowd going wild and praising, while he still seemed a bit lost.

His eyes crossing for a moment with Tae-Ri's, reflecting her shock at his image, as he turned away, head down, walking back to the place he got off from.

"Wow, that was amazing." Hyun-Ju complimented. "Who's that?"

Tae-Ri could only feel her face burn, and a nervous sensation taking ove rher body as she stared at 001's wide back as he returned victoriously to 456's group, praised by thr mariners, silently watched by 456.

That was different, she felt inside, jittery, nervous, warm but cold. Hopefully just a sign of her disease, it would be better than admit it to be some sort of attraction, or as a teen would say, a crush.

But all she could mumble to her friend at that moment, as she stared in awe at that man was "....I don't know."