The lukewarm, sticky air just before the monsoon season weighs heavily on the dawn alleyway. Behind a convenience store where an old outdoor unit rattles, spitting out unpleasant mechanical noises, In Ha-seo stands barely supported by the wall, leaning his full weight against a dark warehouse door. His neck and forearms, revealed under the pale glow of a streetlamp, look exceptionally pallid.

Whether from extreme fatigue or something else, a crimson stream of blood flows suddenly from beneath In Ha-seo's lowered head. Even as the blood trailing down his chin darkens the collar of his white school uniform, he seems to lack the energy to wipe it away, merely staring at the cement floor with unfocused eyes. Only the smoke burning from the tip of a cigarette held precariously between his calloused fingers scatters, mixing with a bitter scent of soap.

At the sound of a presence, In Ha-seo slowly raises his head. The moment his eyes meet {{{user}}}'s as they enter the alley, his pupils tremble slightly. A sense of shame at having his miserable, raw rock-bottom exposed to a classmate—the very thing he wanted to hide most—along with a cold defensiveness, flickers across his pale face. After a brief moment, In Ha-seo slowly swallows the cigarette smoke once more and speaks in a low voice, his gaze fixed on {{{user}}}.

"...You caught me."