Eight years had passed since Light, Sophia, and Bosvel left Japan.
They had settled in an estate in Gangnam, South Korea—an estate Daniel had purchased during his time in the country.
It was one of the few things he had left behind.
And now, it had become their home.
Gangnam, Seoul
March 20, 2033
7:19 AM
An alarm beeped from a wooden cabinet beside a medium-sized bedroom.
Beep!
Beep!
Beep!
A hand suddenly emerged from beneath the blanket and slammed down on the alarm.
The room fell silent.
A few seconds later, the blanket moved.
"Ahh… Why does it ring during the best part of the dream?!"
Light sat up on his bed, his hair untidy and his eyes barely open.
The bed was large enough to accommodate two people, though he occupied it alone.
Beside him, on the wooden cabinet, stood a small photo frame.
It contained a picture of his family.
Sophia.
Bosvel.
Light.
And Daniel.
His late father.
Light's sleepy expression slowly faded.
He reached for the photo frame and held it carefully in both hands.
For a moment, he simply stared at Daniel's smiling face.
Then he placed the frame back on the cabinet, closed his hands together, and lowered his head.
"Good morning, Dad…"
His voice was quiet.
"I hope you're doing well… wherever you are."
He paused.
"Please keep watching over us."
After finishing his prayer, Light stretched both arms above his head.
"Aghh… Finally. It's Sunday."
He yawned.
"Aunt must've made something good to eat…"
He stood up from the bed.
Then he stopped.
His eyes narrowed with sudden determination.
"But first!"
He pointed toward the bathroom.
"I tidy myself up!"
Several minutes later, Light walked down the stairs and entered the living room.
The room was spacious but comfortable. A large couch faced the television, while sunlight entered through the wide windows.
Bosvel stood near the couch, holding a newspaper in one hand.
Light immediately approached him.
"Yo, Bose. What's for dinner?"
Bosvel lowered the newspaper.
"It is breakfast, young master."
"Same thing."
"No, it is not."
"Then what's for breakfast?"
Bosvel adjusted his glasses.
"Your aunt has prepared some homemade Korean food."
Light's eyes widened.
"Really?!"
"Yes. She has prepared kimchi fried rice, japchae, and mandu."
Light stared at him.
"Wait…"
He slowly turned toward the kitchen.
"When did she learn how to cook Korean food?"
Bosvel folded the newspaper.
"I believe she has been practicing."
"I thought she gave up on cooking years ago."
"No one can guess what your aunt is thinking."
Light nodded seriously.
"That's true."
Then, without warning, he jumped over the armrest and landed on the couch.
Bosvel's eyes twitched.
"Please do not use the furniture as gym equipment."
Light grabbed the remote.
"Relax. It's Sunday."
He turned on the television.
A colorful cartoon immediately filled the screen.
Light leaned forward, completely absorbed.
Bosvel sighed.
Then a voice echoed from the narrow hallway.
"Hey! I told you to turn off the television when we're eating!"
Light froze.
Sophia appeared from the hallway, carrying two plates.
She looked a little older than she had eight years ago, but her sharp eyes and familiar expression had barely changed.
"Ahh, come on, Aunt!" Light protested. "Just this once!"
He turned around and gave her an exaggerated pout.
Sophia placed the plates on the table.
"Every Sunday, you say 'just this once.'"
"Because every Sunday is special."
"That makes no sense."
"Of course it does."
Sophia shook her head.
Light glanced at the plates.
"By the way, where's your plate?"
Sophia smiled.
"Of course I wouldn't want to poison myself."
Bosvel slowly turned his head toward her.
A memory entered his mind.
Sophia standing in the kitchen.
Smoke filling the room.
A frying pan on fire.
Light screaming from the hallway.
And Bosvel quietly opening every window in the house.
His expression became pale.
"Oh no…"
Light looked at him.
"What?"
Bosvel placed a hand on Light's shoulder.
"We must run away."
Sophia's smile disappeared.
"Bosvel."
"Yes, madam?"
"Sit down."
Bosvel immediately sat.
Light burst out laughing.
The peaceful morning continued in its usual chaotic manner.
For a brief moment, it felt as though nothing had changed.
As though Daniel might suddenly walk through the front door.
As though the past eight years had never happened.
Then Light accidentally swatted his hand against the remote.
The television channel changed.
The cartoon disappeared.
A news reporter appeared on the screen.
The reporter's expression was serious.
"We now bring you an update regarding an incident that took place last night in Seoul…"
Light stopped laughing.
Sophia turned toward the television.
Bosvel lowered his newspaper.
The reporter continued.
"A young woman was found and taken to hospital following a serious assault. The police have begun an investigation, and the victim's identity has been protected…"
The atmosphere in the room changed.
The three of them looked at the screen.
A photograph appeared beside the reporter.
Light froze.
His eyes widened.
The girl in the photograph was familiar.
Too familiar.
"Eun-se-beom…?"
Sophia looked at him.
"Do you know her?"
Light slowly stood up.
"Yeah…"
His voice became quieter.
"She's my classmate."
He stared at the screen.
The girl had been in his class since junior high school.
She had always followed him around, clinging to him like a sloth whenever she got the chance.
Light had never been particularly close to her.
But he knew her.
And now her face was on the news.
Sophia sighed.
"That poor girl…"
Her expression hardened.
"Why do some men think they're superior to everyone else?"
Bosvel remained silent.
The reporter continued.
"According to the police, forensic investigators have already identified a possible suspect. However, the authorities have not yet permitted the media to reveal—"
The screen suddenly switched to another reporter.
"We apologize, but the police have stated that the suspect's identity remains confidential. We will bring you further updates as soon as more information becomes available."
The news segment ended.
Sophia let out a frustrated sigh.
"It's always like this whenever someone powerful is involved."
Light looked at her.
"You think it's a politician?"
"I wouldn't be surprised."
She folded her arms.
"Probably some politician's spoiled son."
Bosvel adjusted his glasses.
"That is only speculation, madam."
Sophia glanced at him.
"And yet, you don't seem surprised."
Bosvel said nothing.
Light slowly sat back down.
The cartoon returned to the screen.
But nobody watched it anymore.
The rest of the morning passed quietly.
The plates were cleared.
The television was turned off.
Sophia returned to the kitchen.
Bosvel went through his usual household duties.
Light spent most of the time in the living room, occasionally checking his phone.
He tried to push the news report out of his mind.
But Eun-se-beom's face kept returning to him.
By the afternoon, the house had returned to its usual silence.
Then—
Bosvel's phone rang.
He calmly took it from his pocket.
"Hello?"
He listened.
At first, his expression remained unchanged.
Then his eyes widened.
His posture straightened.
"I understand."
He glanced toward Light.
"Yes. He is here."
Bosvel walked toward the couch and held out the phone.
"Young master. The caller wishes to speak with you."
Light looked up.
"Me?"
Bosvel nodded.
Light accepted the phone and held it near his chin.
"Hello. Who am I speaking to?"
A man answered from the other side.
"Seoul Metropolitan Police Department."
Light immediately sat up.
"Ah—yes, sir. I'm Light."
He glanced at Bosvel.
"May I ask what this is about?"
The officer hesitated.
"It concerns a case involving a young woman named Eun-se-beom."
Light's eyes widened.
"Ah! Yes! I saw it on the news this morning. Eun-se-beom is my classmate."
He quickly continued.
"Actually, we aren't that close. She just follows me around a lot. But I don't know anything about what happened last night."
The officer's voice suddenly became irritated.
"You idiot! Let me finish speaking!"
Light flinched.
"Sorry…"
"It isn't about you being involved in the incident."
"Oh."
Light relaxed slightly.
"Then… do I know the suspect?"
There was a long silence on the other end.
The officer finally spoke.
"Yes."
Light's expression changed.
"But it's complicated."
"Complicated?"
The officer took a breath.
"We found biological evidence at the scene. The forensic examination produced a match."
Light frowned.
"To whom?"
The officer hesitated again.
Then he spoke.
"To Daniel."
Light stopped breathing.
For a moment, the entire room seemed to lose its sound.
The officer continued.
"Your father."
Light slowly stood up.
"What?"
"Your father's DNA was identified—"
"Are you messing with me?!"
Light's voice suddenly rose.
"Is this some kind of prank?!"
"Listen to me—"
"I swear to God, I'll find you and—"
"LIGHT!"
The officer's voice thundered through the phone.
Light froze.
The officer continued, his tone strained.
"Listen carefully. We know Daniel is dead."
Light's anger faltered.
"We have seen the footage. We know what happened eight years ago."
He took another breath.
"That is exactly why we have not released the suspect's identity to the media."
Light stared at the floor.
His hand tightened around the phone.
"So…"
His voice became low.
"Are you telling me my dead father came back from the grave?"
"No."
The officer answered immediately.
"We are telling you that the forensic evidence matches him."
"That's impossible."
"We know."
"Then how?"
"We don't know yet."
The officer sounded exhausted.
"That is why we contacted you."
Light's eyes slowly moved toward the family photograph on the cabinet.
Daniel's smiling face stared back at him.
The same face that had watched over him every morning for eight years.
The same face that had disappeared beneath a collapsing building.
The same man who had died in front of him.
Light swallowed.
"This isn't funny."
"I am not joking."
"Then what do you want from me?"
"We want you and your family to come to the station. We need to discuss the case in person."
Light remained silent.
The officer continued.
"Please understand. We have rechecked the forensic results several times."
His voice lowered.
"This is not a prank."
The call ended.
Light slowly lowered the phone.
For several seconds, he stood motionless.
Bosvel watched him carefully.
Sophia entered the living room from the kitchen.
"What happened?"
Light looked at both of them.
His face was pale.
"The police called."
Sophia frowned.
"Why?"
Light opened his mouth.
No words came out at first.
Then he finally spoke.
"They said…"
His eyes shifted toward Daniel's photograph.
"They said Dad's DNA was found in a criminal investigation."
Sophia's expression froze.
Bosvel's hand tightened around his newspaper.
"What?"
Light shook his head.
"They said the forensic evidence matched him."
Sophia stepped closer.
"That's impossible."
"I know!"
Light's voice cracked with frustration.
"He's dead!"
Bosvel looked toward the photograph.
For the first time in eight years, the room felt unfamiliar.
Sophia slowly sat down.
"Maybe there's a mistake."
"They said they checked it."
"Then they're lying."
"Why would the police lie about something like this?"
Neither of them had an answer.
Light stood in the middle of the living room, staring at the family photograph.
The peaceful life they had built in Korea had lasted eight years.
Eight years without Daniel.
Eight years of recovery.
Eight years of pretending that the worst day of their lives was behind them.
Now, a single phone call had torn that peace apart.
Somewhere in Seoul, a dead man's name had appeared in a police report.
And nobody knew why.
Light slowly clenched his fists.
"Dad…"
His voice was barely audible.
"What happened?"
Outside the estate, the city continued moving.
Cars passed through the streets.
People walked beneath the sunlight.
The world carried on as usual.
But inside the house, everything had changed.
Again.
TO BE CONTINUED.