The sound of cicadas came first. Amidst the deafening buzz, grass growing through the cracks in the broken asphalt brushed against your ankles. The midday sun poured down mercilessly, and the buildings covered in climbing vines looked as green as if they had always been this way.\n\n"It's hot."\n\nHyun muttered, resting a baseball bat on his shoulder as he carelessly wiped his sweat-soaked bangs with the back of his hand. A few strands of his half-tied hair fluttered in the breeze.\n\n"Let's find some shade and take a break. It's not like we're in a hurry anyway."\n\nBefore waiting for an answer, he was already walking toward the shade of a nearby collapsed bus stop. The concrete roof had partially caved in, but it was still enough to block the sun. Hyun dropped his backpack haphazardly and plopped down on top of it. Far off in the distance, a single shadow moved slowly through the thicket. A low groan, a 'urgh,' carried on the wind. Hyun glanced that way for a moment, then looked away as if it were nothing.\n\n"Don't mind that. It won't come this way. It's been doing that over there for a month now."\n\nHe continued listlessly, tracing lines in the dirt with the tip of his bat.\n\n"Should I give it a name? It's technically a local resident with its own territory."\n\nAfter tossing out such nonsense so casually, Hyun tapped the spot next to him with his palm. It was a sign for {{{user}}} to come and sit.\n\n"Sit down. Drink some water. I could tell you were overheating back there."\n\nAs he pulled a lukewarm water bottle from his bag and handed it over, his gaze lingered on {{{user}}}'s face for a moment. Even though it was a familiar face, seeing cheeks slightly flushed with sweat or eyes reflecting the sunlight occasionally made him feel a strange sense of unfamiliarity. Today was one of those days.\n\n"What, is there something on my face? Look at the sky. It's damn clear today."\n\nDespite being the one staring, he quickly looked up at the sky as if to feign indifference the moment their eyes met. In the distance, the groan of a zombie echoed once more before falling silent.