December 7, 2030

  Ko Ye-eun woke up in a hospital bed. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Hinata Nobuin in front of her, and when she sat up, she faced Suzumura Hideki. Scratching her head, she asked, “…What’s going on? Yesterday, I was helping with Gamagogi’s experiment and went home… did I fall asleep?” Suzumura sighed and responded in Japanese. “…Ms. Ko Ye-eun, it wasn’t Gamagogi you saw. It was Park Sung-jae.” Ko Ye-eun looked puzzled and turned to Hinata Nobuin. “…For real?”

  Hinata didn’t answer. Suzumura continued with difficulty. “…Actually, the person who rented you the house wasn’t Nagato Soren either. It was Gamamusa. Remember?” Ko Ye-eun nodded, clapping her hands. “…Wow, yeah! I thought it was cool their names sounded similar…” Hinata Nobuin snorted, amused. “Pfft… exactly. Who’d have thought that cocky kid my husband adopted would come back? He swindled me over tax issues and even stole my house. Grown up, but still a troublemaking prankster.” Ko Ye-eun’s eyes widened. “…Huh? Nobuin, you know Professor Gamamusa? And he was… adopted by Professor Gamagogi?”

  Suzumura nodded to the bewildered Ko Ye-eun. “…We’ll talk about that later. Right now, we have urgent matters. We need to investigate you, Ms. Ko Ye-eun. Tell us what happened last night, starting with how you fell asleep.” Ko Ye-eun tilted her head and answered honestly. “…I don’t remember much. I was lying at home, then gas filled the room, and the next moment, I was here.” Suzumura glanced at her, feeling a sense of familiarity. “…Do you know someone named Ko A-young?” Ko Ye-eun clapped again. “Oh! How’d you know? She’s my estranged sister. Have you met her?” Suzumura shook his head. “…How we know her is classified. It’s better for your safety if you don’t know.”

  …

  Crunch, crunch. Jung Min-ju chewed the cigarette in her mouth. In the airplane bathroom, she smoked while plotting what she’d do to Ko A-young. A flight attendant knocked. “(Russian) Ma’am, no smoking here. Come out now.” Jung Min-ju tossed the cigarette in the toilet and opened the door. Ignoring the attendant’s startled look, she shoved past. The attendant cursed in Russian behind her.

  When the plane landed, Jung Min-ju headed to the lounge at Domodedovo International Airport. She put a cigarette in her mouth but, unable to light it, threw the lighter away. “Need a light?” Hearing Korean, Jung Min-ju turned, dropping the cigarette. Ko A-young held out a lighter. “You didn’t come here empty-handed, did you? Without NIS credentials, you can’t beat me.” Jung Min-ju glared. “…You crazy bitch. Hiding behind Gamamusa all this time, and now you show up? I heard you were in Denmark.” Ko A-young smirked. “You knew I’d come to Russia. I came early from Denmark to bring something here.” Jung Min-ju looked incredulous.

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  Ko A-young sighed. “…You must’ve gotten the report. You know Gamamusa visited Song Jae-seob in prison.” Jung Min-ju frowned. She’d already been briefed by Agent Kim Min-seok. “…I know he approached Song Jae-seob. What’s his damn plan? A terrorist hanging with a delinquent and a thief—birds of a feather?” Ko A-young chuckled. “…You’re the one who tied me to Song Jae-seob. Can you ease up? I’m tired of dealing with your hysterics.” Jung Min-ju shot her a fierce look.

  …

  June 10, 2004

  Rustle, rustle. Song Jae-seob slipped something into Ko A-young’s bag. His crew snickered, while Jung Min-ju kept watch. “…Yo, Jae-seob, classmates are coming. Get ready.” Song Jae-seob and the others casually returned to their seats. Jung Min-ju did the same, trembling as she rubbed her hands, guilt weighing on her. “…So, ugh, you won’t believe how shocked I was when my pencil case turned up in A-young’s locker! I didn’t make a fuss, just quietly cut her off.” The girls gossiped about Ko A-young as they entered and sat. Moments later, Ko A-young returned from the bathroom, looking dejected.

  “…Ugh, what an eyesore. I’ll never end up like her.” A girl glared at Ko A-young and opened her bag, then froze. “…Huh? My nail polish! My toothbrush is gone too!” The girls rallied around her, searching the area. Ko A-young, confused, pulled nail polish from her bag. “…What? That’s my nail polish!” The girls turned to her. As Ko A-young panicked, they swarmed her. “…Knew it. Guess being an orphan makes you a pro thief.” Ko A-young shook her head. “…N-no, this isn’t—” A girl slapped her. Smack! Ko A-young’s vision blurred as her glasses fell.

  “You thief, thought we wouldn’t notice? You keep stealing from classmates, so you deserve this!” The girl raised her hand again. Creak. Someone entered the classroom. The girls turned to see Song Jae-seob. He looked at Ko A-young’s face, then at the girl who slapped her. Song Jae-seob approached and slapped the girl. Screech! The room froze. The kids quieted, slinking back to their seats. Song Jae-seob loomed over the girl. “…Who said you could touch my girlfriend?”

  Ko A-young was stunned. Catching Song Jae-seob’s manipulation, she glared with contempt. “…I-I hit A-young ‘cause she stole…” Song Jae-seob yanked the girl’s hair, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Then I guess I should get beaten daily for extorting you all?” The girl looked down. Song Jae-seob smirked, offering Ko A-young his hand. “…Come on, A-young, take my hand.” Ko A-young slapped it away and stood. She stormed into the hallway, and Song Jae-seob followed.

  “…Yo, be my girlfriend. I’ll protect you.” Ko A-young shoved his hand off. “Get lost! I’m not like you, you psycho!” Song Jae-seob slapped her. “You crazy bitch… go back to your friends. Think anyone’s on your side? A thief clinging to a delinquent?” He grabbed her collar and dragged her down the hallway stairs. “Follow me, you nutcase.”

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