Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The buzz from the crowd was noticeably louder today. More people roamed the streets than usual. Chatter from adults, teens, and children—many wearing a familiar logo on their clothes and hats, and carrying a well-known light stick—filled the city. Their voices rang with anticipation and excitement. After all, it was the most awaited comeback of the nation’s most popular girl group.

“The most awaited return of the nation’s girl group has finally come! After three months of hiatus, HUNTR/X is back with news of a new single!” The ahjumma selling tteokbokki turned up the volume for everyone to hear.

“Yes, we’re all certainly excited after the shocking events that happened before their hiatus. Of course, their management has since confirmed that the allegations were false and that the girls are eager to return on stage. ”

The aftermath of the battle against Gwi-Ma brought a lot of problems for the girls. Because of their “fight” during the International Idol Awards, fans speculated that HUNTR/X was disbanding. Luckily, they had Bobby—good, reliable Bobby—who immediately set up an interview before the girls took their well-deserved break.

Rumi let her eyes wander, basking in the excitement of the people around her.

This is what she fought for.

“Are you crazy? Wear your face mask properly, Rumi!” Zoey scolded, hurriedly yanking the mask back over Rumi’s face.

Rumi winced. “Ow.”

Zoey smiled apologetically and led her through the venue, away from the people outside the stadium.

“Oh, I’m so ready to be back. Ready, girls?”

Once inside, Rumi gave a wide grin to the two girls in front of her, who both mirrored her smile.

“Ready!” they replied in unison, eyes wild with excitement.

“For the fans!” the three of them chanted together—just like they always did. Just like they always would.

And just like that, everything was back to the way it was supposed to be.

“Please maintain a straight line. You there! Stop pushing her!”

Rumi turned her attention to Bobby, who was trying to keep the crowd in check. A girl wearing an I ♥ HUNTR/X shirt was shoving the people in front of her.

Fansign events weren’t usually this rowdy. Rumi had thought fans would mellow out after the three-month break following the final battle against Gwi-Ma. Apparently, she was wrong.

Though a little annoyed by the girl pushing her way through the line, Rumi smiled politely, signed her album, and made small talk. The girl then moved on to Mira, who stared at her blankly before saying:

“Stop pushing, or I’ll call security.”

The fan looked like she was about to cry, but Zoey stepped in and consoled her before sending her on her way.

That three-month break definitely helped Rumi grow closer to the girls. They had spent a lot of time talking—about what happened, about their pasts and secrets. Rumi finally confided in them about her heritage, and how her shame had led her to hide it.

Still, she wasn’t ready to talk about Celine—or about how their last conversation ended.

And him.

She refused to talk about him. She couldn’t.

“You know, sometimes I think I see the Saja boys in the crowd,” Zoey once said to them.

“That’s impossible, Zoey. We killed them ourselves,” Mira scoffed.

“It’s just… I know they were demons, but I didn’t really think they were evil evil.”

Rumi stayed quiet. She didn’t want them to hear her voice—because she was sure it wasn’t steady.

Still, she felt closer to them now. She had known them well before, but now that she had nothing to hide—and after they voiced that her marks didn’t change how they saw her—their bond felt stronger.

Their acceptance and love made her realize the reason she lost her voice before wasn’t because of her marks. It was because of her shame. She hadn’t accepted the other part of herself. She kept it hidden from the people she cared about the most. Maybe that’s why her voice disappeared in the first place.

Her power as a hunter came from her voice. From herself.

Mira—who always seemed so strong and unaffected—was brought to tears when they finally sat down to talk about Rumi’s marks, her family, her fears.

“I should have let you explain. I’m sorry I didn’t notice sooner that you were hurting.” It hurt Rumi to see Mira this way. She always burdens herself to be able to sense their pain even when they were not aware of it themselves and when she doesn't she thinks it on her because she didn't notice. 

Zoey, of course, bawled like a child and apologized profusely. She didn’t leave Rumi’s side for an entire day, until Mira had to physically pry her away.

“I shouldn’t have left you alone…”

Eventually, their frequent trips to the bathhouse led to more confessions. Mira talked about her brother and how much she admired him.

He was “the perfect Asian son,” as she put it. She hesitantly admitted that her parents often voiced disappointment in her career choice.

“I don’t care what they think,” she’d say—though the tears in her eyes told a different story.

Zoey, on the other hand, always stayed quiet when the topic of family came up. Rumi understood. After all, they were both orphaned young. Rumi had Celine. Zoey had no one.

Her bubbly personality might have been a shell to hide her past. Eventually, she confided that before meeting them, she always felt like an outsider. As a Korean raised in America, she never fit in—too Korean for American kids, too American for Korean kids. So she turned to her notebooks, filling them with lyrics. It gave her an outlet.

Before HUNTR/X, no one ever took her art seriously.

But none of us are out here on our own.

Rumi absentmindedly traced her fingertips over her marks and smiled. Funny—she had tried so hard to hide them before, but now she hardly bothered. No ordinary human could see them anyway. Only hunters could. And they didn’t mind.

“Hi, Rumi! I made this for you!”

Rumi beamed at the little girl handing her a crocheted flower crown. She placed it on her head immediately, signed the album, and gave the child her full attention.

“Thank you so much, sweetheart!”

Then she froze.

She remembered this girl—the same one who once gave Jinu a drawing. Memories of him that she avoided for months came rushing back.

The little girl moved on to Mira, who greeted her with the same warmth, while Rumi’s thoughts drifted to the last moment she saw him.

She remembered the moment Gwi-Ma’s power disappeared. The force she had been resisting was suddenly gone. Looking up, her eyes immediately found his.

Jinu.

Groaning in pain, Jinu tried to shield her from Gwi-Ma’s attacks. His power never wavered. But he winced—not only from the battle, but from the sting of regret. Of shame.

He had failed again. To do the right thing. To protect those he loved.

“I’m sorry… for everything.”

Her eyes blurred with tears. She knew what was going to happen. She wanted to memorize his face. She didn’t want to let him go.

“No… I wanted to set you free!”

She wanted more time. Panic surged in her chest as she watched his shoulders begin to burn away. But his gaze never left hers.

“You did. You gave me my soul back.”

His hazel eyes glistened. They shared the same longing, the same unspoken truth. He had never shown her his demon eyes—those golden eyes. Maybe he, too, had been hiding the part of him he was ashamed of.

They were alike that way. Ashamed. Full of mistakes. Full of regret.

But they were only human. Of course they stumbled. Of course they were lost. Maybe that’s why they found each other.

Jinu gritted his teeth, trying to commit her face to memory after years of trying to forget.

Now, in his final moments, he wished he wouldn’t forget.

They drank each other in, desperately, until he finally closed his eyes.

“And now, I give it to you.”

She held her breath.

No… please, no.

And then—he was gone.

Rumi felt his soul surge into her, strengthening her. The sensation was unfamiliar yet comforting. Gathering every ounce of power, she charged toward Gwi-Ma.

This is for Jinu. This is for me.

And with that, Rumi slashed her weapon to strike.

“Uh, hi.”

Rumi snapped out of her memories. Someone was standing in front of her.

Mechanically, she reached for the poster in their hand without looking up. She didn’t want to meet their eyes. She didn't trust herself not to cry.

“Who should I make it out to?” she asked, smiling through the ache in her chest.

“To Emi, please.”

She froze.

She knew that voice. Her dreams were haunted by that voice. Drawing in a sharp breath, her hands began to shake.

It’s impossible. It couldn’t be.

Slowly, she looked up.

Their eyes met. Those familiar chocolate-brown eyes stared back at her, confused.

“Jinu?”

Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure everyone could hear. Her breath hitched.

He held a pen and a poster with her face on it.

“Uh… yes? Do you know me?”

He looked genuinely confused. The same person that used to tease her, laugh at her, now stared at her like she was a stranger.

Does he not remember me? How is he alive? Why is he here?

She stared at the man before her. But he wasn’t the same.

His marks were gone.

Chapter Text

Rumi was seven when one of her marks appeared on her body. She didn’t think much of it at first—thought it was normal, that others might have them too. Her indifference toward the marks changed when she saw the look on Celine’s face. Disgust.

It hurt to see the only mother figure Rumi had ever known flinch from her touch… like she was dirty.

Fix the world and make it right.
When darkness finally meets the light.

“Celine, do Hunters kill all demons?” Rumi felt a soft tug on her hair as Celine pondered the question, her fingers weaving through the strands. Celine always braided her hair. Rumi pretended she didn’t know how—just so Celine would cuddle up beside her and tell stories about the history of Hunters as she worked through her thick hair. This had always been their way of bonding.

“Yes,” Celine sighed.

But that wasn’t the answer seven-year-old Rumi wanted to hear. It confused her. Wasn’t she a demon? Did that mean that someday… Celine would have to kill her too?

“So everything with patterns?” Rumi asked quietly, lifting her sleeve with careful hands. She had those patterns. She fought back the tears that threatened to fall.

Celine quickly grabbed her sleeve and tugged it down. She looked at Rumi’s markings like they were a disease—like Rumi was sick.

“Cover those up. You only have them because—”

Rumi tilted her head to catch Celine’s troubled expression.

“My dad was a demon?”

If demons were bad, why did her mother have her with one? Did they fall in love—like in the movies? That question haunted Rumi for a long time.

“You’re not one of them, Rumi. You’re a Hunter, like your mother was.” Celine placed a firm hand on her shoulder.

“When the Honmoon is sealed, all demons will disappear from this world. And so will your patterns.”

Rumi wanted to believe it. She desperately wanted to be normal—like the other Hunters, like Celine. But a small voice inside her whispered otherwise. She was half-demon. How could she still exist if the Honmoon’s sole purpose was to keep creatures like her out of the living world?

Still, she suppressed those thoughts. She clung to hope—that one day, she’d be rid of the patterns and live a normal life.
To be a Hunter, just like her mom. Just like Celine.

“So… these will be gone?”

“Yes,” Celine said softly. “Those will be gone.”

And so, she hid her marks. Made an effort to wear clothes that wouldn’t reveal her shoulders. Just so Celine wouldn’t look at her that way. She hated that look. She didn’t fully understand what she felt, but as the years went on, those feelings festered and gradually consumed her. Maybe that explained why the other girls always said she was closed off and distant.

The first time she ever felt that her marks weren’t something to hide was when she saw them on her hands—her hands that were entwined with his. His hands bore the same pattern as hers. His marks weren’t disgusting. She didn’t look at them the way Celine looked at hers.

So… why?

Now, Rumi was looking at the same set of hands that once held hers.

Only now, it wasn’t the same.
This man wasn’t her Jinu. It couldn’t be.
She watched him die.
She felt his soul within her.
So who was this person who looked just like him?

She must’ve been staring too long because this fake Jinu started shifting uncomfortably under her gaze. Under the guise of clearing her throat, she looked at him once more and then quickly sought confirmation from her members with a glance. They were looking at him too. Mira’s eyes were bulging so much Rumi feared they might pop out. Zoey—ever skilled in subtlety—stood with her mouth agape.
She wasn’t the only one who saw him.

Thank the heavens.

“I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else… Emi, was it?” she asked.

He nodded and stepped closer to hand her the poster. “Yes. My little sister, Emi.”

Strong notes of cologne hit her as he crouched down to look at the poster. He looked so much like the Jinu she knew—the same air of confidence when he walked into a room, the same nitpicky fashion sense that always stayed on trend without being obnoxious, and the same chocolate-brown eyes that twinkled when he was up to no good.

Jinu had a younger sister, her stubborn mind reminded her.
But the rational part of her brain refused to accept that this might be her Jinu.

“That’s nice of you to get this for her,” she said with a smile. For the first time in months, it felt genuine.

“She’d cut all my hair off if I didn’t,” he joked, scratching the back of his head in a way that made Rumi wonder if he was nervous.

She kept staring at his arms, searching for any sign of demon marks—but to him, it probably looked like she was just checking him out.
Behind her, the staff signaled for him to move along. The girl behind him in line shot him a death glare. He noticed—and looked more skittish.

As she handed the poster back, Rumi jolted when their hands accidentally touched. He must have felt it too, because fake Jinu stared at her intently, rubbing the spot where their hands met.

It’s him. But how?

“What’s that on your hands?”

Stunned, Rumi followed his gaze. He was looking directly at her marks.
He can see them?

“What?” she breathed.

He shook his head quickly. “Oh, never mind. Sorry.”

And then, he was gone as quickly as he came.

“Was I hallucinating, or was that freaking Jinu?” she heard Zoey say.
Mira wordlessly handed her a water bottle and continued like nothing had happened. Rumi struggled to do the same.
Her only comfort was knowing that the three of them were going to freak out about it later while binge-eating ramen in their shared dorm.

And freak out they did.

Zoey went full conspiracy theorist, suggesting all kinds of ways Jinu might’ve survived and escaped the effects of the Honmoon.

“If Jinu reincarnated as a human, wouldn’t he be reborn as a baby?”
Rumi could barely understand her through a mouthful of ramyeon. She was more worried Zoey might spill soup on her blue LV pajamas. Handing her a napkin, Rumi dove into the kimbap she’d been craving from that famous store she wasn’t allowed to eat at before the fanmeet.

“Maybe it’s his descendant. His genes were just too strong,” Mira deadpanned.
Rumi rejected that theory immediately. They were too similar—the mannerisms, the voice. That couldn’t just be DNA.

“What if I wasn’t seeing things the other day? What if I did see the Saja Boys?” Zoey had now moved on to the heap of bungeoppang in front of her.
“Does that mean the Honmoon wasn’t enough to keep the demons at bay?”

They considered it.
Celine always said the Honmoon would turn gold—that it was the duty of every generation of Hunters to make it so. As far as Rumi could remember… that never happened.

Does that mean it’s not over? That the demons weren’t sealed away for good?

Zoey asked the question that haunted Rumi for years.

“Maybe it isn’t? Because if we did achieve the golden Honmoon, wouldn’t Rumi also disappear?” Her stomach dropped. She’d always thought about it. She expected it.
But she had hoped it wouldn’t be true.

“Of course she wouldn’t disappear. She’s only half-demon,” Mira said firmly.

The three of them started tossing out rapid-fire theories, none of which they could confirm. Just questions. No answers.

“We need to talk to Celine.” Both Mira and Zoey reached the conclusion at the same time. Rumi stayed quiet, ruminating on the thought of seeing Celine again.

“You okay, Rumi?” Of course Mira noticed. She was the most intuitive of them all. She slowly set her food down, concern evident in her eyes.

“Yeah… it’s just—Celine and I weren’t on good terms the last time we spoke.”

Their faces immediately shifted to concern. Zoey tugged on her pajama sleeve—the same pajamas they all had in different colors.

“Well… maybe we’ll just ask Dianne,” Zoey offered. Rumi felt comforted. She knew she could always count on them.

Exhausted, Rumi collapsed onto her bed. She wasn’t surprised to see the tiger lingering beside her. Ever since Jinu disappeared, the tiger and the magpie had stayed with her.

Tired of calling them "tiger" and "magpie," she had named them Rang and Lin.

“Hey Rang, Lin, what are you guys up to?” Rang looked back at her with his humongous eyes, raising an adorable paw to reach her. Lin, perched on Rang’s head, seemed visibly annoyed by his antics—at least, as annoyed as a bird could look.

She smiled as Rang gently rested his paw on the ball she had bought him weeks ago.
“Be careful, Rang. It might pop.” Rang seemed to understand, handling it with utmost care. So cute.

The bed squeaked when Rang joined her. His warmth comforted her instantly as he tried to wedge himself as close as he could.
Lin stayed perched on Rang's head, seemingly content.

Rumi snuggled her face into Rang's fur, growing sleepy.
“Do you think it’s him?” she whispered, caressing Rang’s head.

Exhaustion crept in.

Yawning, her last thought was of wanting to see his face again.

Tomorrow, she would find out what was going on.

It’s no secret that being a trainee in Korea is one of the most difficult and competitive pursuits out there. The competition among trainees alone was fierce. Then add the endless hours spent working out, practicing vocals and dance, and developing skills in songwriting and production. All that work came with strict diets and relentless pressure to perform perfectly at every evaluation—for fear of being cut.

But being both a trainee and a Hunter was infinitely harder.

They had to do all of that and more. Extra classes in combat and defense strategies. Strength training. Weapons mastery. The first year nearly broke Rumi. There were days she wanted to die—and take all her instructors with her.

She became close with Mira first. During a sparring session, Rumi accidentally smacked her in the face. Mortified, she apologized over and over, but Mira just laughed and said, “Nice hit, Legacy,” coolly shrugging as she signaled Rumi to go again.

That was when Rumi knew they’d get along just fine.

It had been a while since the three of them visited the practice room. They used to be here from dawn till dusk—not just practicing choreography but also sharpening their combat skills.

Rumi felt her sword materialize in her hand. She tightened her grip and slashed at the dummy Mira kicked toward her. She dropped to her knees just in time to dodge Zoey’s flying kick. Zoey quickly reset to a neutral stance and launched another strike. Rumi vanished her sword and blocked the kick with her right arm. Before she could retaliate, Mira thrust the butt of her spear at her. Rumi jumped out of the way at the last second, causing both Mira and Zoey to crash into each other and stumble.

Well, that was fun.

“No fair… I paid for beef last time!” Zoey whined.

“You lose, you snooze.”
Laughing, Rumi offered her hands to help them up.

Since their trainee days, they’d played battle play—whoever came in third paid for dinner. With Mira winning the first round, Zoey was once again stuck in last place. Hand-to-hand combat just wasn’t her thing. But if knives were involved, both Rumi and Mira knew they wouldn’t stand a chance.

“It’s almost time. Dianne must be waiting for us,” Mira said.

Dianne was also a demon hunter. She, Celine, and Rumi’s mom were the generation before them—famously known as the Sunlight Sisters, the biggest girl group in Asia during their time. Dianne had taught them how to fight. Rumi had always been slightly afraid of her. Stoic and silent, Dianne only spoke when necessary, never offering empty reassurances. That was what Rumi respected most about her—because when Dianne did speak, you knew it was the truth.

“Can you guys go ahead? I forgot to buy relief patches.”
Tightening her shoes, Rumi sprinted ahead toward the nearest convenience store. She adjusted her cap and mask to make sure her face was fully hidden as she reached for the door.

“Oh, jeez—”

She pulled the door open just as someone on the other side pushed it. Off balance, Rumi stumbled—until the person caught her by the waist and pulled her against him to steady her.

There it was again.

Her top exposed part of her midriff, and his hands were pressed directly against her skin. The sensation hit her like lightning. Before she even looked at him, she knew who it was. She couldn’t explain how. She just knew.

Startled, her hands reached out to his shoulders—and accidentally touched his face.

“Careful with the face. I need that to steal your fans,” he said with a sheepish grin.

Rumi stood frozen.

Fate was toying with her.

Chapter Text

Rumi doesn’t like not knowing things.

Mystery and surprises were never something she enjoyed. Maybe it was because of her obsessive need to be prepared for anything and everything. She was the leader. It was her responsibility to navigate problems and lead the girls with confidence.

Rarely did anyone manage to surprise her. And yet, Jinu—the fake one—always rendered her speechless. Hating the confusion clawing at her, she decided enough was enough. She pulled herself away from him and brushed off imaginary dust from her shoulders.

“Jinu, do you really not remember me?” she asked, tugging on the sleeve of his hoodie to keep him from blocking the store entrance. He had to be messing with her. It couldn’t be a coincidence that both the Jinu she knew and this Jinu said the exact same thing.

“Wait, do you actually know me?” Jinu looked genuinely surprised, gripping her shoulders with both hands. Rumi quickly glanced around to make sure no one was watching and gently pried his hands off. Whether it was because of the tingle she felt from his touch or the fear of being seen, she couldn’t tell.

“I-I’m sorry, but three months ago, I was in an accident. I don’t remember much from my past.”
She stared at him. Was he telling the truth? If this really was the Jinu she once knew… how could he be here? And how was he human?

“Oh…” was all she managed to say.

She couldn’t exactly tell him she knew him back when he was a demon. What was she supposed to say? “Oh yeah, I was trying to kill you back then. Then we became sort-of friends, you betrayed me, and then you died saving me.”
All she could do was clamp her mouth shut. What was she even supposed to do with this?

“I’m sorry, I must’ve mistaken you for someone else.” She turned to leave, suddenly overwhelmed. But Jinu stopped her.

“No, no, please. I feel like I know you. Ever since I met you, I’ve been seeing weird things, and I’m—”
He looked directly into her eyes, like he was searching for something that wasn’t there.

Three months ago. That couldn’t be just a coincidence.

“If you knew me from before… please tell me something about myself. I’m so lost.”
Someone from the store peeked out and looked at Jinu. Rumi quickly bowed her head and tugged her cap lower.

“Look. I can’t tell you anything. I’m not even sure you’re the person I knew.”
She immediately regretted saying it when she saw the disappointment flash across his face.

“I know you know me. I saw your expression when you first saw me. I know you recognize me.”
Rumi wanted nothing more than to end this conversation. How was his grip this strong for a regular human?

“You know I won’t let you go until you say something.” He raised an eyebrow and tightened his hold—gently, not enough to hurt her.

If he were still the demon Jinu she once knew, she’d have smacked him upside the head by now.

“Okay, fine! I did know you,” she snapped, batting his hands away. “But I don’t have time for this. I’ll answer your questions some other time.” She was already walking off, hurrying to catch up with the others and meet Dianne. But, of course, Jinu wouldn’t let her go so easily.

She stopped in her tracks when she saw the judgmental look he gave her… particularly aimed at her outfit. She looked down, confused. She thought she looked fine—a midriff top and patchwork plaid casual pants.

“What?” she asked, already on the defensive.

“What’s up with your pants?”
She rolled her eyes. If she hadn’t been sure he was Jinu before, she was definitely sure now.

She didn’t bother answering and turned to leave.

“Meet me at the Coex Aquarium. Six p.m. sharp. Tomorrow, okay?” he called after her.
Rumi was already sprinting toward the crosswalk, so she simply shouted her confirmation without thinking too much about it. She’d overthink it later. Right now, she had to meet Dianne.

Starr Entertainment was known for only accepting trainees with genuine talent and natural charisma. They didn’t trade talent for visuals—most of the groups they produced were well-loved across Korea. It also helped that Dianne, the founder and CEO, had once been part of the iconic girl group Sunlight Sisters.

It was also an excellent place to train soon-to-be Hunters who would succeed their predecessors.

Amy, the receptionist, smiled warmly at Rumi as she approached the desk. A steady bustle of people passed through the building, some pausing to admire the massive portraits of Hunters lining the entrance hall. The building’s interior was a reflection of Dianne—plain and gray, but tall and strong. Rumi knew for a fact all the windows were bulletproof. Mira had accidentally fired a round in the armory once, and they got away with it because the glass hadn’t even cracked.

“Hi, Amy. Where are the girls?” Rumi asked, returning her smile.

“Good evening, Rumi. They’re in Practice Room 3.”
Rumi thanked her and headed down the hall.

Even from a few steps away, she could already hear bickering from inside. Imagining Dianne’s annoyed expression, Rumi pushed open the door—only to be immediately bombarded with questions: why she was late, and whether she’d eaten a snack without them again.

“I heard you guys had concerns about the Honmoon?” She shifted her focus to the commanding presence in the room. Rumi bowed slightly, showing respect to their former teacher. Like a soldier to a general. She held Dianne in equal parts respect and fear.

“Yes. I’m worried it didn’t seal the demons away completely.”

If Dianne was disturbed, she didn’t show it.

“Celine and I already considered that. Technically, the Honmoon didn’t turn gold during your final battle with Gwi-Ma.” They must’ve already contacted the others. The generations before them knew more about the Honmoon than they did. In times like these, they’d know what to do.

“The Hunters in Japan might have records of the Honmoon’s color at the time. If we pinpoint weak spots, we can assign patrols to watch for signs of demons escaping their realm.”

“Ooh, are we going to Japan?” Zoey clapped in excitement.

“Nice. I can add another katana to my collection.” Mira’s obsession with weapons and hoarding was showing again.

“And what’s weird,” Zoey added, “is that we saw one of the Saja Boys’ demons… but he looked human.”
For once, Dianne looked shocked. “That can’t be.”

She stood and began pacing.

“There’s never been a case of demons turning human again?” Mira asked.

“There was.” Dianne’s voice was quiet.

Rumi’s heart jumped. That meant… maybe Jinu—

“What happened?” Dianne met her eyes. Rumi froze. Dianne looked as if she’d seen a ghost. It was the first time Rumi saw her look this bothered, and it scared her. 

“That was what happened with your father.”

Rumi blinked.

My father?

“Mira? Be a dear and pinch me?” Zoey, ever dramatic. Rumi glanced at the clock and straightened her braids before turning to face her two friends, both still in disbelief.

“Ow!”

“What? You said to pinch you!”

While checking herself in the mirror, Rumi inspected her very normal, very appropriate pants.

“You’re going on a date with fake—no, sorry—human Jinu?”

After that conversation with Dianne, Rumi knew she shouldn’t tell Jinu about his past. It was better if he lived in peace. That past wasn’t worth remembering, even if it meant forgetting her too.

“It’s not a date. I’m just meeting him to clear things up.” Mira raised an eyebrow.

“If it’s not a date, can we follow you guys?”

“No,” Rumi answered immediately. Both of them pouted.

“Still, be careful. We can’t fully trust him yet,” Mira said.

Rumi nodded and headed out. Pressing the elevator button, she glanced back at their worried faces.

“I’ll be fine. Be back soon,” she assured them.

Wearing a mask and hat, Rumi let out a sigh as she arrived at the entrance of Coex Aquarium. Families and couples lined up around her, making her feel awkward. She was meeting a demon-turned-human who used to be her enemy. Well… maybe not just an enemy. At one point, she’d considered him a friend.

“You’re late,” someone ‘tsk’ed behind her. She turned to find Jinu standing there, arms crossed.

“For five minutes.”

She was supposed to be annoyed, but he looked… really good. Cargo pants, a fitted white shirt, a beige-and-blue track jacket. Hair parted the way he always styled it. Black loafers. Simple but clean.

That mischievous smirk was already on his face. He definitely caught her checking him out.

“Shall we?” Of course the old man in him still existed—holding the door open like a gentleman.

Rumi almost forgot her annoyance when they entered. An abundance of blue reflected from the water surrounded the place. The quiet laughter of children and gasps of excitement filled the air. It had been a long time since she last went to an aquarium. Celine was busy, so the girls insisted on coming with her instead. Zoey was trying to compete with a seal in a show and almost went home drenched in water and chum. Mira had to drag her away to stop her.

“What’s so funny?” She remembered the man beside her and shook her head. She hadn’t realized she was smiling.

“So, about your memories—” she was cut off by him ‘ohh’-ing his way to the left side of the aquarium, sticking his face directly against the glass like a child. Other people were looking at him weirdly.

“Can you stop that? You’re embarrassing me,” she said, but it apparently fell on deaf ears.

“Oh, sorry, Miss Pop Star. Am I not cool enough for you?” Letting out an exasperated sigh, she grabbed his hand and led him to a more secluded area.

“You’re not bringing me here to molest me or something, are you?” She seriously contemplated throwing him back to the demon world herself.

“Jinu, you said you wanted to talk.” He seemed to grow serious after that. He nodded and answered, “Yes.”

“I can’t explain why, but I feel like I have to remember you.” Rumi avoided his gaze and focused on the fish floating near her.

“Look. I’m here to say that I can’t help you with your memories. I’m sorry.”

Jinu looked like he was pleading with his eyes. Those chocolate-brown eyes now had a tint of blue in them. She wanted him to live a normal life, free of the guilt and shame that his past carried. After all he’d been through, maybe forgetting her and everything that happened was his salvation.

“Trust me when I say that I’m doing this for you.” He didn’t seem to agree, but he slowly nodded.

“Then let’s start over.” He took a step toward her and held out his hand.

“Hi. I’m Kim Jinu. I’m 24—well, that’s what the doctors guessed anyway—and I’m a trainee in your company. Nice to meet you.” She took his hand slowly and felt the familiar tingle when their skin touched.

“I’m Rumi. I’m 23 and a member of the group HUNTR/X.” She smiled at the silliness of the introduction. So he’s a trainee in our company, huh? Fate really is playing a cruel joke on her.

“Now that we’re friends—”
She cut him off. “Who says we are?”
But he continued, “—I can finally ask you: what’s up with your choice in pants?”
He laughed when she responded by yanking her hand away in annoyance.

“I’m joking, I’m joking. Jeez, lighten up, friend.” Calming herself to avoid summoning her sword and slicing him in half, she walked to see the other parts of the museum, hearing his footsteps behind her.

“But seriously, I have a question,” he said as he caught up to her.

“Am I schizophrenic, or do you also see that creepy-ass tiger and a magpie with a hat swimming inside the aquarium tank?” Rumi quickly looked at where he was pointing and saw Rang paddling in the water, gently tap-tap-tapping the glass in front of them, while Lin was surprisingly still intact and perched on top of Rang’s head.

Oh my God.