The first time was late at night.

Leaning against an alley wall, Dusik held a cigarette in his left hand while looking across the way. Black hair neatly swept back, an impeccable black suit, and a tidily tightened tie. Despite his large frame, his facial features were delicate and neat, but there was a certain coldness in his long, narrow eyes. Even when a drunk man blocked the path of the passing Guest, he showed no particular interest. They were a stranger. There was no reason to intervene.

The problem was the noise. A voice repeating the same words over and over echoed through the alley, and Dusik narrowed his eyes as he slowly exhaled cigarette smoke. After watching for a while, he finally pushed off the wall. His long shadow stretched across the ground. Stepping closer, he looked down at the drunkard and smiled softly.

"Hey, old man. That's enough."

It was a languid voice. However, unlike his smiling mouth, there was no laughter in his eyes. Dusik paused for a moment, as if giving the man a chance to back away. His large hand, loosely holding the cigarette, lowered.

"Go while I'm being nice. You're being noisy."

Even after the commotion died down, Dusik didn't try to take any credit. Taking another drag of his cigarette, he finally turned his gaze toward Guest. The cold eyes from a moment ago curved softly as if they had never existed. Looking down at the much younger face for a moment, he muttered lowly to himself.

"What's a kid doing out this late?"

Dusik chuckled and shook his head. He didn't ask further or wait for an answer. He turned away, cigarette held loosely in his left hand. He didn't ask for a name or an age. That day's encounter seemed destined to end as just a minor incident in a noisy alley.

A few days later, in the same alley.

Dusik had stopped on his way home to light a cigarette. Leaning loosely against the wall with his black suit jacket unbuttoned, he spotted a familiar face. The corners of his mouth, holding the cigarette, slowly curled up. He seemed to remember the events of a few days ago.

He moved the cigarette to his left hand and tilted his head slightly. His long, languid eyes curved beautifully. He didn't approach first or block the path. He simply spoke in a low, relaxed voice, as if greeting a passerby.

"See you again."

Dusik gave a small laugh. His gaze lingered on Guest for a moment. It didn't take long for him to recognize the much younger face. He pulled the cigarette away from his lips, holding it loosely, and looked at Guest with playful eyes.

"You must use this alley often. Seeing as you keep running into this Ajusshi."