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Cell 4 went and scouted together, Sayeon was of course taking the lead — completely in her mind of thoughts whilst observing every blade of grass they walked by and looking at graffiti walls they’d pass by that were in alleyways, Iseul would bring small conversation from time to time as they kept moving forward, Ryujin would be the one to answer Iseuls hypothetical life or death situations, And min would just be listening to their discussions.
Whispers of strangers talking behind their back, and head turns away from them, but nowadays the suits weren’t bothered enough to care anymore. They’ve always known that their lives would go downhill after joined the corps.
“Okayokay— Would you rather be with a dragon? Or face a volcano parkour with lava overflowing?” Iseul says seriously, eagerly waiting for Ryujins response.
“Dragon, duh. I’m not spending my last moments being chased by lava just to wound up being boiled alive.”
“Hmmm, true! But why would you choose the dragon? You know it’d bring you dying too!” Said by the boy who brought a floating Bungeoppang to his open mouth, who was walking backwards but keeping pace with Sayeon steps, while face to face Ryujin and Min with orange essence beaming from his eyes.
Ryujin shrugged, huffing smoke out of her mouth while bringing down her lit up cigarette between her fingers. “Well sure it will, so what? Also, you’re the one who made up this question.” She reminded.
“Can’t help it if I’m curious!—”
“Wait.” Said by the short girl who’s essence was now activated.
The halt made the others stop in their tracks, Sayeon especially. Ryujin’s eyes darted to her right to an open, empty, eerie street.
“Aura—”
Sayeon laid her hands on the shoulder pads of the other girl. Red having teal meet mutual eye contact before the taller one had spoken,
“Ryujin, Where?” She demanded, as if she were asking a dog if it had found something they had been looking for.
It wasn’t long until Ryujin pushed Sayeon away from her, closing down her essence. “I’m not telling you jack shit. We— You are not getting us into another fight. And If you run—”
Unfortunately, as her dialogue gets interrupted for the second time by audible muttering,
To the right. Sayeon recalled where ryujin had looked when she stopped everyone.
“Sayeon, wait!—” Iseul calls out as an attempt to get a hold of her, but his words were ignored when she dashed to the street.
She hadn’t even tried to even bring up an excuse this time. Sayeon would probably say something that her super instinct said this and that, but to suddenly say her gift said to go towards where Ryujin had sensed an aberrants aura would be worthless in this case.
Ryujin couldn’t help but groan in frustration— she could feel a migraine incoming and it’d be Sayeons who’s at fault for it.
Although, She did notice how she’d been more silent— as if she was in her own world, or spaced out by thinking. Sure it’s Sayeon, It shouldn’t be surprising that she’d do this again, But to not even hesitate this time or even paying it any thought felt weird.
A sigh escaped from Iseul as he watched Sayeon disappear from the scene. “Shoot.. Should we go after her?”
“No, no. We aren’t doing this again. She fended off a member of the begonias group, yeah? Then she can handle it on her own.” Ryujin walks past Iseul, implying to keep on walking forward. “Let her know her stupid fucking actions can have Consequences.”
Iseul worried, but Min walked after Ryujin which led to him following along, bringing them to proceed with their scouting back on the road without their leader of the cell.
—
It was time to return to H.Q. The sun had begun to set, walking back on the same path they had took this afternoon.
They still had their talks and such on their way, but it felt more quiet than earlier after Sayeons departure.
But just when they had reached that same spot near the unsettling street— it sent a jolt through Ryujin.
She sensed aberrants aura again, but it was different. The same one she had once confronted Sayeon about in the bathroom, but stronger.
“…Fuck. Let’s go get Sayeon.”
“Finally! Thank you! I’ve been thinking the same thing!” Iseul spoke out before rushing with Ryujin and Min towards where Sayeon is located.
But by the time they had reached her, the first thing they saw were Sayeon stumbling down onto the ground on an empty field, alongside a tall blonde suit that just stood in front of her, Who oddly resembled.. Taeho?
Iseul was the first to speak, “Sayeon? Are you okay—”
This had been the Fourth time that they had been interrupted.
This time went differently, to be greeted by an explosion. And it had felt oh so familiar to Ryujin especially.
It took a second until the harsh breeze sourced by the detonation to tip the hat off her head, and the wind getting into her eyes, causing her to blink rapidly to really get ahold of the situation.
“Shitshitshit— Sayeon!” Ryujin ran, and ran to the girl who got caught in the outburst.
She could hear Iseul shouting out something, but the smoke— the smoke was blurring her vision.
Not again. Not again. Her mind raced over and over, desperately searching while holding back the feeling to hurl right now.
It was hard to look where she was heading until feeling a crack under her foot-
Ryujin deduced that it was the glasses, Sayeons. She knew after seeing the same crimson rimmed frame right below the shoe she raised to see.
Breathing out slowly, “You. have to be fucking kidding me.”
She picked up the glasses and felt light scratches on her hand, possibly by the broken lens.
The aftermath of the smoke was gone. The blonde haired man wasn’t anywhere to be seen, and Sayeon was found coughing nonstop.
Min darted towards Sayeon, helping her balance on her feet on one side and Iseul assisting him by carrying her aswell by the opposite where min was.
Ryujin stood for a moment, gripping the broken pair of glasses tightly in her palm to stare back at the ground,
And felt empty.