A few months after.
The sound of laughter, clinking glasses, sizzling pans filled the air.
The chatter blended together, a warm, chaotic hum of life.
Steam rose from bowls, a radio murmured softly somewhere near the counter, and someone called for another bottle of soju over the noise.
Outside, neon lights reflected off the damp pavement.
A bright sign glowed above the doorway, letters bold against the wooden frame:
태양식당 — Taeyang Sikdang.
…
A small figure darted through the crowd.
A kid, no older than seven, a white mask covering half his face as he weaved between adults.
He wasn't watching where he was going.
The next second, thud.
He bumped into someone walking the other way and fell back onto the pavement, hands scraping the ground.
The person stopped and knelt immediately, hand extended.
"Hey, you okay?"
The kid looked up.
It was Seojin.
Before they could help, a woman came running from behind, breathless.
"Oh my god, there you are!"
She pulled the kid up quickly, dusting him off.
Then she noticed the mask.
Her eyes widened.
"Who gave you this!?" she snapped, yanking it off. "You can't wear this outside! Masks are banned, do you want to get caught!?"
The kid shrank under her voice.
"But… mom… masks are cool…"
The mother tossed the mask into a trash can nearby, still scolding as she took the child's hand.
"Cool? We don't have enough money to pay the government for these silly games!"
The boy cried quietly as she pulled him into the crowd.
…
Seojin straightened up slowly, gaze lingering on the trash can.
The white mask sat half-buried among scraps of paper and plastic.
They looked up, toward the restaurant's glowing sign.
Through the window, laughter and warmth spilled into the street.
After a long breath, Seojin pushed open the door.
Ding.
The bell above the entrance chimed softly, a gentle welcome.
…
The smell hit them immediately.
Steam rising from bowls, broth, garlic, sizzling meat, warm and comforting. It wrapped around them, making their shoulders loosen without realizing.
Behind the counter, Darin stood in uniform, tying her apron while scribbling down an order. When she looked up, her eyes lit up.
"There you are!" she said, grinning as she came around the counter. "Got a good sleep last night?"
Seojin was half-stunned by the brightness, the noise, and the scent of food.
"Yeah," they said quietly.
"Good."
Darin reached under the counter, grabbed a neatly folded uniform with the nametag Kwon Yujin, and tossed it at them.
"Let's get you ready. You still remember what I taught you yesterday?"
Seojin caught the uniform.
"…Yeah."
Darin tilted her head playfully. "Alright then…" she pointed at a sign above the menu board, painted in neat hangul.
"What's this say?"
Seojin's eyes followed her finger, lips moving silently as they sounded out each syllable.
"…Doenjang jjigae."
Darin's grin broadened. "Exactly."
They reached the back hallway together. Seojin stopped by the changing room door, reflection faint in the polished metal handle.
"Oh, Seojin," Darin said, tilting her head as she stepped closer.
Seojin turned slightly, confused.
"Aww, you've forgotten it again," Darin said, hands on her hips, mocking disappointedly.
Seojin scratched the back of their head sheepishly.
"You are Kwon Yujin, not Yeon Seojin," Darin reminded them gently.
Seojin's eyes widened a little as they nodded.
"Oh… got it."
Darin's expression softened. She rested a hand lightly on the doorframe, smiling warmly.
"Alright then. Today, let's do our best, okay? Fighting!"
Seojin looked at her, then lifted a small fist with determination.
"Fighting," they echoed.
She nodded once, smiling as the door closed between them.
…
The camera lingered on the restaurant's interior, the counter lined with steaming bowls, low chatter of customers, the faint clink of chopsticks.
As Darin walked back to the kitchen, she passed a section of the wall.
Hanging there, between framed photos and handwritten menus, was a simple wooden plaque.
The words carved into it read:
"Live on." — Taeyang
Darin's hand brushed lightly against the edge of the plaque as she passed.
And for a brief moment, her smile softened, her gaze lingering just a second longer.