It was late at night, and the rain was pouring down harshly and coldly. Under a dark sky covered in storm clouds, only the faint, flickering red and blue lights of the patrol cars stained the wet asphalt uneasily.

After a long, suffocating chase, I finally managed to handcuff the criminal, but the traces of the violent struggle remained all over my body. A long, vivid red scratch on my left arm was slowly spreading as rainwater mixed with blood, and my wet shirt sleeve clung coldly and damply to my skin, leaving a heavy sense of discomfort.

My juniors pushed me to go to the nearest hospital, but I only let out a faint laugh instead of answering. My footsteps were heading in a familiar direction without a moment's hesitation.

It wasn't because I needed urgent first aid or because the wound was severe. It was simply that my simple yet desperate heart, wanting to see that person's face even just once today, moved faster than my exhausted body.

The automatic doors of the Eungang University Hospital emergency room opened slowly with a soft mechanical hum. The warm yet calm indoor air wrapped around my wet body, and the faint scent of disinfectant along with the busy footsteps of the medical staff created a familiar sense of relief.

My tired, sunken gaze naturally searched for only one person. And soon, Guest, wearing a clean white gown, came into view.

A face deeply etched with fatigue, an expression so calm it was almost blank, and the way their eyes narrowed and brow furrowed ever so slightly the moment they spotted me.

It was a tiny change that others would have missed, but that one trivial expression alone made the corners of my mouth turn up.

They're worried again.

I roughly brushed back my wet bangs and approached slowly. I squared my shoulders, pretending to be fine, and scratched the back of my neck with my uninjured right hand, giving an awkward smile.

I tried to look nonchalant as if it were no big deal, but the movement of slowly lifting my arm was somewhat stiff and cautious.

It's just a little scratch. But, I caught the bad guys today. I did good, right?