Chapter Text
The fluorescent lights of the subway station flickered weakly overhead, buzzing like tired insects trapped in glass.
Dust floated through the air.
The first scenario had only just begun.
People huddled in frightened groups along the platform, whispering in panic while staring at the strange messages hovering before their eyes. The reality of the apocalypse had not fully settled in yet.
Among them stood two men who would one day shape the fate of the world.
Kim Dokja stood slightly apart from the crowd, his shoulders tense as he stared at the glowing scenario window.
Even though he had read this story for years… experiencing it in real life was different.
His heart pounded.
So it really started.
Nearby, another figure stood with quiet authority.
Yoo Jonghyuk leaned against a subway pillar, arms folded as he observed the chaos with sharp, calculating eyes.
Unlike everyone else, he wasn’t confused.
He looked… irritated.
Like someone forced to replay an old memory.
Dokja swallowed.
The protagonist himself…
Just seeing him made Dokja nervous.
The two of them had barely spoken yet in this timeline, and their relationship was already… strained.
Dokja looked away quickly before Jonghyuk noticed him staring.
That was when it happened.
The air in the station trembled.
A ripple spread across the platform like a stone dropped into water.
The constellations watching from above murmured in curiosity.
Then—
Crack.
Space split open.
A thin fracture of light appeared in the middle of the platform, widening slowly until it became a swirling distortion.
Everyone froze.
“What the hell is that…?”
“Another monster?!”
But instead of a monster—
Two figures stepped out.
The rift closed behind them with a soft hum.
For a moment, the station went completely silent.
The first man who appeared wore a long white coat draped casually over his shoulders.
His black hair fell messily across his forehead, and his expression carried a tired sort of amusement—as if he had already experienced far worse than this moment.
It was Kim Dokja.
But… older.
More confident.
His posture was relaxed, almost careless.
Beside him stood another man.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Dressed in dark clothing that looked far more suited for battle than for surviving a subway apocalypse.
His black coat moved slightly as he crossed his arms.
His expression was cold.
Sharp.
Unimpressed by everything around him.
It was Yoo Jonghyuk.
But again—
Older.
More dangerous.
Future Kim Dokja glanced around the station slowly.
His eyes swept over the terrified civilians, the dim platform lights… and finally landed on two familiar figures across the room.
He blinked.
Then sighed.
“Well,” he said calmly, adjusting his coat. “It seems there was a mistake in the process of transferring incarnations to the scenario location.”
Future Yoo Jonghyuk didn’t respond.
He had already noticed them.
Two people standing near the opposite pillar.
Dokja nudged him lightly with his elbow.
“Hey, Yoo Jonghyuk.”
Jonghyuk didn’t look at him.
Dokja grinned anyway.
“Look.”
He pointed.
“Don’t they remind you of the past?”
Across the platform—
Past Kim Dokja stared back in absolute confusion.
“…Huh?”
He looked from the strange older version of himself… to the older Yoo Jonghyuk standing beside him.
His brain stalled.
Why does that guy look exactly like—
Before he could finish the thought—
Past Yoo Jonghyuk had already moved.
In a blur of speed, he crossed the distance between them.
His hand shot out.
Grab.
He seized Past Kim Dokja by the collar of his suit, lifting him halfway off the ground.
Dokja yelped.
“H-Hey—?!”
Past Yoo Jonghyuk’s eyes were sharp with suspicion.
“Bastard,” he growled.
“What did you do to me?”
Past Dokja flailed.
“I didn’t do anything!”
Future Kim Dokja clapped a hand over his mouth to stop himself from laughing.
His shoulders shook slightly.
“This is incredible.”
Future Yoo Jonghyuk remained expressionless.
Past Dokja pointed accusingly at his older self.
“Did you brainwash Yoo Jonghyuk?!”
Future Dokja blinked.
“What?”
Past Dokja continued in panic.
“Did he finally go crazy from depression after doing regressions over and over?!”
The entire station went quiet again.
Future Dokja slowly turned his head toward the man standing beside him.
“…You hear that?”
Future Yoo Jonghyuk’s eye twitched very slightly.
Past Yoo Jonghyuk tightened his grip.
“Explain.”
Future Dokja raised both hands casually.
“Relax. I didn’t do anything.”
He tilted his head toward the man beside him.
“If you want answers…”
Future Yoo Jonghyuk stepped forward.
The air around him shifted.
Even the terrified civilians felt it.
The pressure.
The overwhelming presence of someone who had survived countless battles.
His gaze landed on his younger self.
Two identical pairs of dark eyes met.
Past Yoo Jonghyuk froze.
Because the man walking toward him…
Moved exactly like him.
Same posture.
Same cold expression.
Same overwhelming aura.
But older.
Sharper.
Like a blade honed through endless wars.
Future Yoo Jonghyuk spoke calmly.
“Why don’t you ask me directly?”
Past Yoo Jonghyuk released Dokja instinctively.
Dokja collapsed to the ground coughing.
But neither of them noticed.
Both younger versions were staring at the future ones.
Past Dokja pointed shakily.
“…Why does he look like you?”
Past Yoo Jonghyuk frowned.
“…And why does he look like you?”
Future Dokja shrugged.
“Coincidence.”
Future Yoo Jonghyuk glanced sideways at him.
“Stop lying.”
Future Dokja smiled innocently.
“Fine, fine.”
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“This situation is… a little complicated.”
Past Dokja slowly stood up, brushing dust from his suit.
His brain was working overtime.
That guy looks like me.
But older.
And that Yoo Jonghyuk…
He looked at the two-standing side by side.
Future Yoo Jonghyuk stood slightly in front of Future Dokja.
Not blocking him completely—
But just enough that anyone attacking Future Dokja would have to go through him first.
Past Dokja blinked.
Wait.
He looked at Past Yoo Jonghyuk.
Then at Future Yoo Jonghyuk.
Then back at Future Dokja.
Why is he… standing like he’s protecting him?
Future Dokja sighed.
“Well,” he said casually.
“This is going to be awkward.”
Behind them, unseen by most humans—
The constellations watching the scenario exploded into laughter.
Because something truly entertaining had just happened.
The past versions who barely tolerated each other had just encountered the future versions who would burn entire worlds to protect each other.
And none of them were ready for that conversation.
Future Dokja looked at his younger self again and muttered softly:
“…Wow. I was really pathetic back then.”
Future Yoo Jonghyuk responded without hesitation.
“You still are.”
Future Dokja gasped in fake offense.
“Hey!”
Across from them—
Past Yoo Jonghyuk narrowed his eyes.
Something about this situation felt deeply wrong.
But he couldn’t figure out why yet.
And Past Dokja…
Was starting to feel a strange, creeping suspicion.
Why do they look like they know each other so well…?
The scenario had only just begun.
And already—
Time itself had started to break. 😏