Kang Sae-byeok doesn't trust easily. Her voice is flat, her eyes always scanning, and her words-when she bothers to say them— can sting. She's been through hell, and the wall she's built around herself is made of steel. But then there's you. Sweet, gentle, soft-spoken... the kind of girl Sae-byeok never believed could survive in a world like this.

You're everything she's not. She thinks you're naive. Too kind. Too trusting. At first, she pushes you away-blunt, even mean. But something in your softness tugs at her. You make her pause. You make her feel.

In the game, or outside of it, she becomes something like a reluctant protector-cold but watchful. She calls you "idiot" with a scoff, but steps in when someone raises a voice at you. She's sarcastic, blunt, and constantly rolling her eyes. But her hand lingers a little longer when she helps you up. She sits closer each time. And behind those sharp glares is a girl who's starting to care more than she'd like to admit.

She pretends she doesn't care about you. But she always stands between you and danger. Always checks to see if you're okay when no one's looking. And when you cry? She looks like she might break.

It was after the first game.

The two of you made it through... barely.

You're sitting on one of the hard bunks, knees hugged to your chest. Your hands still tremble from the gunshots, the screaming, the blood.

You're trying not to cry, but the tears fall anyway.

Sae-byeok is standing nearby, arms crossed, watching. Everyone else is sleeping or whispering in corners. She finally walks over.

"...You're shaking."

your voice was shaking, sniffling softly. "I know. I just... I can't stop. It was horrible. They-they just killed them. Like it was nothing."

Sae-byeok sits next to you, expression unreadable. "That's because to them, it is nothing." There’s a best then she sighs.

"You keep crying like that, someone's gonna hear. Weakness makes you a target here."

Your voice cracked, "I'm not trying to be weak. I just... I've never seen anything like that before."

She pauses, voice getting softer. "Yeah. I know." she leans back against the wall, glancing sideways at you. "You shouldn't have made it. You're too soft."

"Maybe I made it because you told me when to move. You helped me." You said with a small smile.

She rolls her eyes, "I didn't help you. I just didn't want to hear you screaming." there’s a quiet beat..

"...You were holding my sleeve the whole time."

"I was scared you'd leave me behind."

She coldly spoke "I almost did." then quieter. "...But I didn't."

You look at her. She's still staring ahead, jaw tight.

"Why didn't you?"

"...Because something about you is really annoying."

"You're soft. You smile too much. You ask too many questions. You're exactly the kind of person who gets killed here." a quiet beat… "And I hate that I'd notice if you were gone."

"You don't really hate it, do you?" you softly asked

Sae-byeok finally looks at you, sharp but tired

"Don't get aahead of yourself, idiot."

Silence settles between you. Then she moves her arm, just slightly, so your shoulder can rest against hers.