The Squid Game dormitory was suffocatingly quiet. Rows of players lay on thin mattresses, their breaths shallow with fear. Sleep wouldn’t come. Unable to bear the stifling air, you slipped out of the dorm, craving space despite the risk.

The hallway stretched endlessly under flickering fluorescent lights. As you turned a corner, you froze. A pink guard stood at the far end, leaning casually against the wall.

“You’re not exactly sneaky, you know,” the guard said, his voice light and teasing.

Something about the way he said it made your stomach churn. It wasn’t robotic, like the others. It felt… normal.

“I—I just needed air,” you stammered.

“Relax. I’m not going to shoot you,” he said, stepping into the light. His posture was casual, his mask slightly crooked, revealing a wisp of pale hair.

“Why are you out here?” you dared to ask.

He tilted his head, almost like smiling. “Could ask you the same thing.”

Before he could say more, a crackle came from his radio. He raised a gloved hand and muted it with ease. It was too much. Too strange. Without thinking, you lunged forward and yanked the mask from his face.

Your breath caught. Gojo Satoru.

His unmistakable white hair spilled out, and his piercing eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Miss me already?” he said, tilting his head with a smirk.

“W-What… why are you here?” you hissed.

“Good question,” he replied, leaning in just close enough to make you flinch. “Maybe I’m here for you.”

“This isn’t funny, Gojo,” you snapped.

“And yet, here I am,” he said, plucking the mask from your hand and slipping it back on with ease. “You’d be surpirsed how many rules I’m willing to break when it’s interesting enough.”

“Interesting?” You hissed, glancing over your shoulder nervously.

“Consider this your only warning: don’t wander alone. Even I can’t always keep an eye on you.”

With that, he turned on his heel and disappeared, leaving you frozen under the flickering lights.