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His breath hitched as he looked at her, everything came to mind but nothing escaped his lips.
Her face remained graceful, a gentle smile that complimented her beauty mark as eyes betrayed her, giving way to her pain and relief.
She had succeeded.
After so long, she finally passed through the Wall; she could reach out—and she did.
“Bastard…” She whispered.
He stayed silent, cupping her hand as he slowly pulled her closer.
The two embracing after so long, it was clear she was the one far more up-front about the damage. No longer could she remain steadfast against her cries as her face was buried into his black shirt, slowly, he felt it get wet.
Kim Dokja caressed her head softly, a sullen smile present as he looked down at her, her muffled sobs drowning out the movement of train tracks.
Han Sooyoung pulled away slowly, her head face down as to cover the redness of her cheeks. Forcing his gaze to the sterilized whiteness of the cart as she cleaned her face rapidly.
“Ngh…”
Was all Kim Dokja let out as his face was assaulted by her hands?
Immediately, she pulled away and sat down, looking up at him expectedly.
Sitting beside her, the two subconsciously interlocked fingers as the train showed no signs of stopping.
“How long has it been?” Her tone was soft.
I paused, how long had it been? The last time I asked, I was told 48,635.
“I think 60,000 give or take.”
She didn't answer, she didn't have to. The sudden tightness from her grip paired with the gentle quivering of her body told him exactly what he expected.
He heard her mutter something, but he didn't push on it, only gently caressing her palm.
“How are they?”
“Good… They're good. They miss you.”
She spoke disconnected from them, as if his question didn't include her.
“Did he do anything stupid?”
This one was too clear: it was about Yoo Joonghyuk.
She chuckled, shaking her head as she recalled it all. “Yeah… I'll tell you later though.”
Han Sooyoung then stood up, looking down at him, her face now possessing her iconic smirk.
“Think you've dreamt enough?”
That question shocked Kim Dokja; he finally took a good glance at himself in the reflection of the window.
He was younger.
He wasn't at the same age as the 'Most Ancient Dream', but he was younger, probably around the age of Han Sooyoung if not younger by a year.
This was the natural cost of becoming this world-lines 'Most Ancient Dream'.
He hadn't scattered himself to the winds, as he wanted to for so long, this was the organic process of regression.
「Is this truly what you want? 」
The words of [The Fourth Wall] startled Kim Dokja, maybe he had already internalized it: the need to move on.
But what about Yoo Joonghyuk, Jung Heewon, Lee Hyunsung, Shin Yoosung, Lee Gilyoung, Lee Jihye, Lee Seolhwa, Jang Hayoung, Han Myungoh, and Gong Pildu?
What about the Constellations?
Would they really all be okay if he suddenly gave up the position of the 'Most Ancient Dream'?
「You think too much 」
Kim Dokja felt uneasy, he shifted a little before noticing Han Sooyoung had already made her way to the exit doors of the train.
For once, the neverending trip had begun to slow down, until it came to a full halt.
「Go, I did my best to protect you; to ensure you'd reach your Conclusion, and here it is 」
Slowly, I stood up and stood beside Han Sooyoung.
The platform felt daunting. Nothing could prepare me for it.
['The Fourth Wall' is thinning…]
['The Fourth Wall' has sacrificed itself.]
What?
「Be happy, Kim Dokja 」
In the next instance, Han Sooyoung grabbed my hand with a smile and pulled me out.
Unlike last time, I was fully out; no Avatar, no forsaken memories… I was out of the subway.
The train picked back up, and for a second, I saw a tall figure donned in a fedora in the seat I'd stayed in for the last 60,000 years.
“Stop standing there, come on!”
She was already at the top step, the sunlight radiating behind her a piercing ending: this was my Conclusion—my own happy ending.
I smiled and stepped up, walking out of the station as I felt the warmth of the sun touch me for the first time.
I was snapped out of it by a sudden call-out.
“Ahjussi?”
“You've kept us waiting, Kim Dokja.”