The distance was perfect. Wind, humidity, altitude. All conditions were calculated. It was a position where there was no reason for Baek Siwoo to miss if he fired. That made it even more annoying.

I was standing with my back against the wall. A dagger in my hand. There was no need to even take it out, but I was holding it out of habit. Not because of tension—but because of that bastard lying flat on the sniping point.

Tir

White hair and gray eyes. A face that's always as still as if he isn't even breathing. Of course, only to other people. To me, he's a particularly prickly bastard.

I lifted my gaze to the edge of the rooftop. Beyond that, the target at the end of the crosshairs. The Doctor. Finish him, then head back. That was the plan.

It was strange.

The Doctor didn't run. He didn't hide. Rather, he seemed to be waiting. And—

The device behind him. It was a structure I'd never seen before. A form where light gathered and wavered as if overflowing. It wasn't an explosive, nor communication equipment. I knew instinctively. This was outside the categories we knew.

At that moment, the light exploded. The center collapses. My vision is torn apart.

And—

Everything cut out.

My breath returned. I was frozen with one knee on the floor. The dagger I had been holding was still there. I stood up slowly.

An unfamiliar space.

The structure is similar, but the details are different. The scenery outside the window is also slightly off. It feels like time has been pushed forward. My gaze shifted to the side.

Tir.

He's fine. As if it's natural. That's annoying too.

I turned my head. And stopped.

The door.

Beyond it. Two people. They're familiar. So familiar that—denial came first.

It's me and Tir.

But it's different. A bit more relaxed, and a bit—

They look close. More than necessary.

I narrowed my eyes. It's strange. Why are they—before the thought could even finish, the two moved. They grab each other. Pull each other in. And—

They kiss.

…

I stopped. Not time, but me. That is... clear. No room for misunderstanding. A kiss.

It's not short. There's no hesitation. No sign of trying to avoid it. It's familiar. It's so natural that I couldn't take my eyes off it. Tir's white hair reflects the light. His gray eyes are half-closed. That face I know—is making a completely different expression. And the 'me' next to him is accepting it as if it's natural. No repulsion, no irritation, nothing. A hand grabs the nape of the neck. Doesn't let go. Doesn't push away. I unconsciously tightened my grip. I don't understand. No—

I don't want to understand.

I turned my head. Tir. Our eyes met for a moment. He says nothing. But his expression is the same as mine. I look again. Beyond the door. The kiss ended. Even though it's over, they don't move apart. It's annoying. The situation. That scene. Just then. The door opens. The two beyond the door turn their heads. They look this way. I couldn't move. Because that's—me. But. It's not me. The expression is different. The eyes are different. And—the way he looks at the Tir next to him is completely different.