The train continued moving through the underground tunnel.
The rhythmic sound of the wheels against the tracks filled the carriage, mixing with the quiet conversations of passengers and the occasional announcement coming through the speakers.
Twilight stood near the door, his eyes fixed on the window.
There wasn't much to see outside except the dark tunnel and the occasional flash of lights as the train passed through another section of the underground system.
Chris stood beside him.
She didn't look outside.
She looked at him.
Three years.
It had only been three years, but somehow Twilight seemed like a completely different person.
His hair was still messy, falling naturally over his forehead, but his face had changed.
There were dark circles beneath his eyes.
His eyes themselves looked tired.
Not just the kind of tiredness someone got after a long day.
It looked deeper than that.
Like he hadn't been sleeping properly for months.
Chris quietly studied his face.
She remembered another Twilight.
The Twilight she had known three years ago.
The one who would laugh at the smallest things.
The one who would tease her whenever she got annoyed.
The one who would purposely wear something similar to what she was wearing just to make fun of her.
They used to spend entire days together.
Chris remembered the matching clothes.
The stupid jokes.
The arguments that never lasted more than a few minutes.
The times they would sit together and laugh until they couldn't breathe.
Back then, everything seemed so simple.
They were always happy.
Or at least, they believed they were.
Now Twilight barely looked like that person.
Chris wondered what had happened during those three years.
She knew pieces of it.
She knew about the monsters.
She knew about Haru.
She knew about the things that had happened that night.
But there were still so many things she didn't know.
And she didn't know if Twilight wanted to talk about them.
So she remained silent.
For now, she was satisfied simply standing beside him.
Just seeing him again was enough.
A train suddenly passed on the opposite track.
WHOOSH!
Chris looked toward the window as the bright lights of the other train flashed across the glass.
"Twilight…"
He turned his head toward her.
"Hmm?"
Chris continued looking through the window.
"Would you…"
She stopped.
Twilight waited.
Chris looked at him.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Chris suddenly felt awkward.
She quickly looked away.
"Would you like to grab some coffee?"
The question came out quieter than she expected.
Twilight looked at her for a second.
Then he glanced toward the window.
"Okay."
Chris blinked.
She looked at him again.
"Okay?"
Twilight nodded.
"Yeah."
Chris hadn't expected that.
She had spent the last few seconds preparing herself for an awkward rejection.
Instead, he had simply agreed.
A small smile appeared on her face.
It was barely noticeable.
But Twilight noticed it.
He looked at her smile for a moment.
There was something familiar about it.
For a second, he remembered the old Chris.
Then he turned back toward the window.
Chris also looked forward.
Neither said anything.
But this time, the silence felt different.
They were going to have coffee together.
After three years.
Meanwhile…
Several kilometers away, Lily was sitting inside a military camp.
She was inside her tent, holding a cup of hot coffee between both hands.
A large road map was spread across the table in front of her.
Several routes had been marked by her seniors.
Some areas had circles around them.
Others had small notes written beside them.
Lily studied the map carefully.
She had become accustomed to this life.
Three years of military work had changed her.
She was no longer the same girl who used to simply sit around with her friends and joke about everything.
She had learned how to gather information.
How to observe people.
How to remain calm when things became dangerous.
And, most importantly, how to keep secrets.
Especially the biggest one.
The search for the Masked Man.
Lily took another sip of coffee.
Suddenly, a voice came from outside.
"Lieutenant Lily!"
She looked up.
"Lieutenant Lily, you are being summoned by Officer Kang. Please report immediately."
Lily placed her coffee down.
"I'm coming."
She stood and stepped outside the tent.
The military camp was busy.
Soldiers moved between vehicles while others carried equipment from one area to another.
Lily walked through the camp toward the meeting area.
As she entered, she saw Officer Kang waiting.
She immediately stood straight and saluted.
"Sir."
Officer Kang returned the salute.
"Lieutenant Lily, please take your seat."
"Yes, sir."
Lily sat across from him.
Officer Kang looked at her for a moment.
Then he leaned back in his chair.
"Lily, you've been serving with us for quite a long time now."
"Yes, sir."
"You've barely taken any proper leave during all these years."
Lily remained silent.
Officer Kang sighed.
"There's a vacation period coming up. I think you should go home."
Lily looked at him.
Normally, she would have refused.
She had done it many times before.
Every time someone suggested that she take a break, she had found an excuse.
There was always another mission.
Another report.
Another piece of information to investigate.
Another reason to remain at the camp.
But this time, Lily didn't argue.
"Sir…"
Officer Kang waited.
"I would like that."
His expression changed slightly.
He looked genuinely surprised.
"You would?"
Lily nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Officer Kang smiled.
"That's the first time you've agreed immediately."
Lily gave a faint smile.
"Maybe I finally realized I need a break."
Officer Kang nodded.
"You do."
Lily looked toward the window of the office.
For some reason, the thought of going home felt different this time.
Maybe because she had been thinking about everyone lately.
Chris.
Henry.
Twilight.
Beau.
And even Haru.
She wondered what everyone was doing.
Maybe…
It was time they all met again.
Henry
The sun was beginning to move toward the horizon when Henry finally left college.
He walked through the streets with his bag hanging from one shoulder.
It had been a long day.
Lectures.
Assignments.
Practical work.
And several hours of studying.
Henry rubbed his eyes.
"I need sleep."
But there was another problem.
He still had somewhere to go later.
His so-called secret job.
Before that, however, he needed food.
He entered a nearby diner.
The familiar smell of freshly cooked food immediately made him feel a little better.
Henry ordered something simple and took a seat near the window.
While waiting, he pulled out his phone.
He stared at the screen for a while.
Then a thought crossed his mind.
Maybe we should all meet.
It had been three years.
They were all living completely different lives now.
Chris had her work.
Lily was in the military.
Twilight was isolating himself.
Beau was constantly disappearing with Haru.
And Henry himself had college and his own responsibilities.
They rarely had time to be together anymore.
Henry smiled slightly.
"What if I organize a gathering?"
He imagined everyone sitting around the same table again.
Chris complaining about something.
Lily pretending she wasn't enjoying herself.
Beau eating more than everyone else.
Twilight making fun of everyone's dresses.
And Haru probably appearing out of nowhere.
Henry chuckled.
"Yeah…"
He looked out the window.
"That could actually work."
His food arrived.
Henry picked up his fork.
"First I need to ask everyone."
He paused.
Then sighed.
"Which is probably going to be harder than my exams."
Deep in the woods
The forest was unusually quiet.
The sunlight was beginning to fade between the trees.
High above the ground, Haru sat on a thick branch, looking toward the setting sun.
Beside him was Beau.
The orange-haired boy was sitting comfortably against the tree, watching the sky.
"So…"
Beau looked at Haru.
"Everyone is coming, right?"
Haru didn't answer immediately.
His eyes remained on the horizon.
"Hmm."
Beau waited.
Haru finally looked down at the sword resting beside him.
"I've been thinking."
"About?"
"Giving them a break tonight."
Beau's expression changed.
"Really?"
"They've been working too hard."
Haru looked toward the distant city.
"They need rest."
Beau nodded.
"Yeah. You're right."
Haru stood up.
"I'm going to tell them that they don't need to come out tonight."
Beau immediately raised his hand.
"Me too?"
"No."
Haru answered without hesitation.
Beau's smile disappeared.
"What?"
"No."
"But—"
"No."
Beau stared at him.
"You're giving everyone else a break but not me?"
Haru looked at him calmly.
"Yes."
"That's unfair!"
Haru's shoulders began to shake.
Then he laughed.
Beau crossed his arms and turned his face away.
"Hmph."
Haru laughed again.
"Oh, come on, Beau."
Beau refused to look at him.
"You're mean."
Haru walked closer.
"We have to save as many lives as we can."
Beau glanced back.
Haru continued.
"They need more energy than we do."
He tapped his chest lightly.
"You know we're stronger."
Beau raised an eyebrow.
"So?"
"So we don't need to rest."
Beau stared at him.
Haru smiled.
"Because we don't—"
"Sleep?"
Haru paused.
Beau grinned.
"Sweat."
Haru looked at him for a second.
Then smiled.
"Good boy."
Beau immediately looked offended.
"Don't call me that!"
Haru laughed.
"Come on. Let's go."
He stepped toward the edge of the branch.
Beau followed.
Haru looked toward the city one last time.
The setting sun painted the distant buildings orange.
For a moment, everything seemed peaceful.
But both of them knew that peace in Genorex City never lasted long.
Haru jumped from the tree.
Beau followed after him.
As they disappeared into the forest, Haru called out,
"Tonight, everyone rests."
Beau smiled.
"Everyone except me."
"Exactly."
"Still unfair!"
Their voices faded into the woods.
Back on the train
The train finally began approaching the next station.
Chris stood beside Twilight, occasionally glancing at him.
Twilight remained quiet.
But unlike before, his expression seemed slightly less distant.
Chris smiled faintly.
Three years had changed all of them.
Maybe they couldn't return to the way things were.
Maybe they didn't need to.
Perhaps they could create something new.
Something that belonged to the people they had become.
The train slowed.
Ding.
The announcement played.
Twilight looked toward the doors.
"This is our stop."
Chris nodded.
"Right."
The doors opened.
They stepped onto the platform together.
Neither of them knew that this simple cup of coffee would become the beginning of something neither had expected.
And somewhere else in Genorex City, Henry was already planning a gathering.
Lily had finally agreed to go home.
Beau and Haru were giving everyone a night off.
For the first time in years…
All of them were slowly moving toward the same place again.