Chapter Text
"Winter is coming, isn't it?".
The red leaves fell and soon, they would change into the fallen snow. He was never fond of the Winter. Though, the idea of spending the holiday with his family was a welcome respite. Always. It had been 13 years ever since his new family picked and adopted (saved) him when he was all alone in that subway. His childhood memory, everything that happened before he was locked in the subway that felt like an eternity, was blurry.
Who would have known if it happened to him of all people?
Kim Dokja sighed heavily as he stepped out of the subway. It was started after this. He narrowed his eyes and tilted his eyes when he found a figure of a woman staggered. She collapsed unconscious, lying on the subway's cold floor. Well, considering the late hour and no one here other than him, he obviously could not leave her alone, right? He approached her, lifting her upper body and tried to wake her up.
She opened her bleary eyes. Lifting her trembling hand, she cupped his cheek. The touch was not too warm, but not as cold as the snow. She mumbled weakly, "...Kim Dokja, don't forget...".
Kim Dokja's eyes dilated. Who was she? How could she know his name? Also, did he know her? For the latest question, he would not possibly forget it if he ever had a friend this pretty. Before he could say a word, she lost her consciousness.
Kim Dokja wondered if it was possible or not. Could it be, she was the part of his blurred childhood memory? Perhaps, she was in the same school as him?
You could hardly forget the child who threw off himself and jumped from the window, after all.
Kim Dokja decided, no matter what the problem he would get, he did not care. What was important, he should help her. After wrapping his coat around her body, Kim Dokja carried her piggyback and went back home.
Yoo Joonghyuk—Secretive Plotter—glared at the clock on the wall "...He's late".
Uriel chuckled "Now, now, here we go again".
Lee Hyunsung shook his head in amusement "Yoo Joonghyuk-Ssi, he's 28 years old and practically an adult. It's been 13 years ever since we took him".
Uriel clarified what Lee Hyunsung tried to say "For how long you're planning to treat him as a kid? Not like I can't understand it, though. I understand why".
"Yeah, that kiddo is constantly getting into trouble, as if he's a trouble-magnet", Lee Jihye munched the potato chips in her hands "Sometimes".
"I'm home!", Kim Namwoon who just went back from his workplace, looking around "Huh? It's so rare. That kid hasn't come back home? Usually, he's already home when I'm home".
After they arrived in this worldline, they lived in the same home and got their occupation.
Lee Hyunsung worked for the military.
Kim Namwoon worked as a detective.
Uriel worked as a spy which she disguised as being a designer.
Lee Jihye worked as a coach for the atlet in the school.
Secretive Plotter, also known as Yoo Joonghyuk, worked as the pro gamer (with several underground businesses like the broker information, but let's keep it a secret).
Most Ancient Dream, Kim Dokja who had fully grown up into an adult, worked as a librarian and sometimes, he also taught the kids for the private lessons. Considering his schedule, he was supposed to come back home by this hour after going to Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung's place. So, what made him—
Oh, the bell was ringing. It meant he came back home already. Finally.
Yoo Joonghyuk was about to ask him why did he come back late but he froze "...Kim Dokja, what is that you're carrying on your back?".
Panting, Kim Dokja asked him pleadingly "Hyung, I will explain it later. For now, please, call the doctor".
When the doctor examined her (with Uriel standing on the door, looking back and forth between the bedroom and the living room), Kim Dokja sat on the couch across from Yoo Joonghyuk who stared straight at him intently. Lee Hyunsung, Lee Jihye, even Kim Namwoon nervously were looking down to Secretive Plotter.
Putting down his glass, Secretive Plotter demanded "Explain".
Kim Dokja knew that his Hyung, his father figure was a man of a few words. He recited about what happened this night and reasoned "I know, I should not bring a stranger to our house, but I could not possibly leave her be, right? Especially because... She might know me".
Lee Jihye sniggered at the irony "For a second, I was so shocked. I thought you kidnapped a girl from where?".
Kim Namwoon added in jest "Or, you finally brought your girlfriend back to home".
When Secretive Plotter glared at them, they instantly shut their mouth.
Lee Hyunsung shook his head "You should know better than to tease him at a time like this".
Uriel exclaimed, "Oh, she's awake!".
Secretive Plotter stood "Good, now we can interrogate her".
Kim Dokja facepalmed "Hyung, it's not like she's going to bring harm on us or anything in her weak state".
This Kim Dokja (Most Ancient Dream) might not remember it, but Secretive Plotter and the rest of their group remembered. The woman that Kim Dokja brought this night, she was Han Sooyoung. They did not know what she wanted. However, if she ever tried to bring harm to Kim Dokja...
Secretive Plotter kept his sword on his hip. The others did the same. Even Uriel who had been standing on the door also prepared her hidden weapon (throwing knives were ready on her hip, hidden under her dark gown.
Looking up, Han Sooyoung blinked her eyes "...Where am I?".
"You're in my house. You lost consciousness, so I brought you here", Kim Dokja sat on the side of the bed "How do you feel?".
"My head hurts...".
Secretive Plotter bluntly said, "Sorry, but can you tell us your address or the number we can call? So, we can call your family to pick you".
Kim Dokja exasperatedly rolled his eyes "Hyung, please... She just woke up".
"My name is Han Sooyoung. I am a writer who was born on 1st April and...", Han Sooyoung froze and her hand, which was running through her hair, froze too "...I don't remember".
Kim Dokja gaped "...What?".
The doctor suggested they bring her to the hospital for a thorough medical check-up. There was a chance that she suffered a severe injury in her head, which caused her memory loss. About whether the memory loss was temporary or permanent, whether she lost all her memories or not, they only could conclude about it after they got the complete result of her test. After the doctor left, Secretive Plotter and the other five had gathered in the living room when Kim Dokja stayed with her.
Lee Jihye scratched her head "Now, this is a mess...".
Lee Hyunsung turned to Yoo Joonghyuk "What should we do, you think?".
Uriel felt the urge to smoke "...I will ask my co-workers".
Kim Namwoon chorused "Either do I. I will check the list of the missing people tomorrow, or to see if there's a family who lost their daughter".
Yoo Joonghyuk ran his hand through his hair "For now, I will observe. Let's watch over them".
Kim Dokja wondered how did it feel for her. You know, how did she feel when she only remembered her occupation, birth date, and name only when she woke up in a foreign place? He could not help but to ask "Are you okay?".
Turning her head, Han Sooyoung curtly answered "You think? Normal people will not be fine, to find out that they are in a completely foreign place with the strange people and they lost their memory. Not to mention, one of them clearly showed the hostility".
"...You're right. It was a stupid question. I'm sorry".
"What are you sorry for?".
"Well... Hyung didn't mean it. He's not a bad person, you see".
"...I'm not feeling that bad, because...", Han Sooyoung intertwined her fingers in between Kim Dokja's knuckles "I don't know why, but I feel safe when you're around. So, it's fine for me now".
Kim Dokja remembered that his family sometimes did this to him when he got a nightmare. With the hope that she could get proper sleep and would not have a nightmare, Kim Dokja squeezed her hand and smiled "Rest. You must go to the hospital tomorrow. I will stay until you're asleep".
"What? Am I a child for you?", Han Sooyoung chuckled when he was blushing "But thank you".