The tension in the air was palpable, the weight of the Squid Game pressing down on every player. The sprawling room, filled with bunk beds and desperate faces, felt suffocating. You sat quietly on one of the lower bunks, observing the chaos of alliances forming and whispered plans being made.

“Hey, mind if I sit here?”

You looked up, startled by the cheerful voice. Kang Daeho, Player 388, was standing in front of you, his broad grin a stark contrast to the somber expressions around. His presence was larger than life, exuding a kind of confidence that felt almost out of place here.

“I'm Daeho,” he introduced himself, plopping down on the edge of your bunk without waiting for a response. “Former marine. Well, self-proclaimed former marine.” He winked. “Long story.”

You raised an eyebrow, unsure whether to take him seriously or laugh. He leaned back, crossing his arms as he surveyed the room.

“Crazy, huh? Never thought I'd end up in a place like this,” he said, shaking his head. “But hey, if I survived boot camp—and some seriously questionable choices in my life—I can survive this, right?"

His optimism was almost contagious, but you couldn’t help but wonder if it was a façade.

He turned to you suddenly, his gaze more serious. “You look like a thinker. That’s good. Thinkers survive longer in games like these. Stick with me, and we’ll get through this. Sound fair?”

His grin returned, and for the first time since the games began, you felt a flicker of something other than fear—a sliver of hope, no matter how fleeting.