Cho Sa-Rang felt relieved for the first time in a long time after the system came into her life.

She finally felt atleast a bit of happiness in all the mess that life has given her.

She slowly stood up, taking one last deep breath to steady herself.

"...Thank you."

The words were quiet, but sincere.

Baek Eun-Woo smiled gently.

"You don't have to thank me."

"No," Sa-Rang shook her head. "I do."

"If you hadn't been here... I don't know what I would've done."

An awkward silence settled between them.

She nervously fidgeted with the sleeve of her uniform before gathering the courage to ask,

"Um... would it... be okay if we met again sometime?"

The question slipped out before she could stop herself.

For a brief moment, she wondered if she had been too forward.

Instead, Eun-Woo simply smiled.

"Ok."

Her eyes lit up.

"Really?"

He nodded.

"Of course."

Sa-Rang hesitated for another second before scratching her cheek in embarrassment.

"Then... could I have your number?"

"Sure."

He took out his phone, and after exchanging numbers, he tucked it back into his pocket.

"Take care on your way home."

"I will."

She smiled—an actual smile.

One she hadn't worn in what felt like forever.

Neither of them noticed that, from a distance, a man and a woman had been quietly watching the entire interaction.

Not far behind them...

Another man stood alone in silence.

His gaze remained fixed on all four of them.

None of them noticed him.

Sa-Rang looked down at the newly saved contact on her phone.

**Baek Eun-Woo.**

A small grin spread across her face.

She hugged her phone against her chest and happily skipped down the sidewalk.

For those few precious moments...

She almost forgot.

Forgot the red arrows.

Forgot the hate values.

Forgot the system threatening her life.

Then her footsteps gradually slowed.

The smile faded.

Reality caught up with her once again.

"...My life is still on the line."

The words escaped as little more than a whisper.

The weight in her chest returned almost instantly.

She lowered her head and quietly continued the walk home.

By the time she reached the front door, all the happiness she had felt earlier had disappeared.

She entered the house and was greeted by silence.

A note sat on the dining table.

**Dad and I left for your distant aunt's wedding. Dinner is in the fridge. We'll be back tomorrow. Love you.**

Sa-Rang stared at the note for a few seconds before setting it back down.

Usually, she would've warmed up dinner.

Taken a shower.

Changed into comfortable clothes.

Today...

She couldn't find the energy.

She walked into her room, dropped her school bag beside the bed, and collapsed face-first onto the mattress without even washing up.

She let out a long, exhausted sigh.

It sounded as though the entire world had ended.

"...Well..."

She let out a weak, humorless laugh.

"My life really is on the line."

The room fell silent once more.

Only the ticking of the clock reminded her that time was still moving forward.

And with every passing second...

The deadline the system had given her crept a little closer.