Black Badger

So, her last memory was—

...What was her last memory?

Ami stared at the white ceiling, thinking.

Her head didn’t seem to work properly.

Strangely enough, her body wouldn’t move either. It was a bizarre sensation—one she had never experienced before—so it took her a moment to even understand it. It felt like the circuits of her body were slightly misaligned.

Right!

I was falling!

Then... this must be a hospital.

She remembered gripping the control stick until the very last possible moment.

Wow. I survived.

Ami blinked in surprise. She had been certain that was the end.

Someone even brought me to a hospital!

She was deeply moved by her incredible luck.

She had woken up safely. She could even think clearly. Even if her body wouldn’t move at all right now—just being able to think properly felt like a miracle. As if she had used up all the luck she would ever have in her lifetime.

But... what happened to the war?

She couldn’t remember clearly, but she recalled the mass of soldiers covering the ground. She had failed to eject in time because she was trying to avoid colliding with them.

They were trying to take down some enormous Creature, right?

Did they manage to kill it?

Her youngest older brother... he’s alive, right?

What about Yehyeon?

A sudden wave of sadness hit her.

She realized she didn’t know whether the people she cherished most were alive or dead.

It had already been so long since she had last heard any news about Yehyeon.

Before, they had at least been able to confirm each other’s status somehow. But at some point, Yehyeon’s name had disappeared from the unit entirely. Even Yun—who was always eerily good at tracking people down—had failed repeatedly to find any trace of him, and that had made them all extremely tense.

Yun would definitely have told those bastards to go to hell—the ones who said Yehyeon was probably dead.

He didn’t need to say it out loud. Ami knew.

But Yehyeon oppa is definitely alive.

Even as she realized she couldn’t move a single finger, she clung to that thought.

He has to be alive. It’s just the chaos of war. That’s why we couldn’t get in touch. There’s no way someone as sharp as him would die.

In truth, Ami knew better than anyone that survival on the battlefield was mostly luck.

Still—

she would believe, until the very end, that Yehyeon was alive.

“...Ami?”

I miss him so much I’m even hearing things.

Ami stared at the ceiling.

That sounded like Yehyeon oppa’s voice.

“Ami?”

But it was trembling, like a goat...

...Huh?

“Ami? I’m not hallucinating, right? Choi Ami?”

Yehyeon was there.

Her field of vision was limited because her body wouldn’t move—but within that narrow edge, Yehyeon suddenly appeared.

The moment she saw those familiar eyes, Ami’s eyes widened.

That pale skin. Those slightly drooping eyes.

That husky voice. That black suit.

...A suit?

Not a uniform. That was strange—but Ami didn’t dwell on it.

It’s Yehyeon oppa!

He’s alive after all!

If she could have spoken, she would have shouted his name immediately.

Yehyeon oppa!

It’s really you, right? It really is you! I’m so happy I can finally see your face again!

Do you know how worried I was? But it’s okay now—we met again. Oppa, how have you been—

...Huh?

Yehyeon disappeared from her view.

Confused, Ami realized he had dropped down beside her.

From near her head, she heard his voice.

Crying.

Yehyeon had buried his face into the bed and was sobbing.

What’s wrong?!

She had never heard him cry like that before.

What happened?! Why are you crying like that, Yehyeon oppa?

“Y-Yun...”

Yun what?

Choi Yun what?!

Ami panicked. It was terrifying enough seeing Yehyeon cry like the world had ended—but hearing Yun’s name through those broken sobs sent a chill down her spine.

Did Yun oppa die?

No... that can’t be right.

They had spoken just a few days ago.

Then why was Yehyeon crying like he was about to hyperventilate?

Ami had seen him cry before. Because of his rough upbringing, Yehyeon was someone who shed tears easily.

But this—

this level of collapse—

she had never seen it before.

Just hearing him cry like that made tears well up in her own eyes.

Don’t tell me...

Her chest turned cold.

Don’t tell me... really...

Really...

Her favorite younger older brother—

“C-Call... Yun...”

Ah.

Wait, he’s alive!

Relief flooded her instantly.

He can even take a call! That’s amazing!

THUD!

Crash—THUD!

A loud noise came from where Yehyeon was. It sounded like he had tried to stand up and fallen—or maybe dropped a gun or a communicator.

But Ami just blinked calmly now.

They’re both safe.

I’m so happy.

And she herself was alive.

Whether her body was paralyzed or not, she didn’t know—but just being alive, just being able to think, was enough to make her happy.

I was ready to die... but if I really had died, oppa would’ve been devastated.

She felt a little regret that she couldn’t move and comfort Yehyeon.

If I had died, he would’ve cried even more like this... right?

No matter how badly she was hurt, just being able to see them again—

was more than enough.

Crrrk—

BANG!

The door was flung open.

It slammed violently into something with a loud crash. Judging by the sound, it might’ve broken.

THUD!

No—definitely broken.

The sound of the door tearing off its rail and collapsing onto the floor followed.

He broke the door?!

Ami was startled.

He must be in a bad mood.

Short on manpower? Well, it is a hospital—there’s an IV line in her vision, and a monitor showing various numbers.

The war had been going on for a long time.

She knew how hard the medical staff must be working.

Sounds like someone had a really rough day.

Listening to the approaching footsteps—fast and rough—Ami thought.

Strangely, they sounded like bare feet.

And somehow... they were completely different from her younger brother’s.

Even when wearing shoes, Yun moved quietly—but barefoot, he was practically silent, like a ghost.

“Yun.”

Huh?

...Huh?

Oppa?

The moment Yehyeon called his name in a choking voice, a familiar face appeared in her view.

Ami’s eyes widened in joy.

Her mouth opened slightly. She thought she couldn’t move it—but apparently she could.

Yun oppa!

She even managed to move her fingers—just a little.

So I’m not paralyzed!

Thinking things were only getting better, she looked at Yun carefully.

Oppa.

Yun oppa.

Even though they had talked over calls, seeing his face like this—it had been so long.

Choi Yun.

She felt like she might cry.

Back when Yun had been doing his mandatory service, she had visited him.

But once the war began, she was always in the air, and Yun was in the army—and in completely different regions. Meeting had been impossible.

She had asked him to send photos, but he always ignored her.

How many years has it been?

She studied his pitch-black eyes.

Two years, maybe?

Anyway—

it was a relief he didn’t seem injured.

Though she didn’t understand why he was wearing a shirt instead of a uniform.

Still—

he looked the same.

A little tired, maybe—but that expressionless face, those cold, inorganic eyes—

exactly the Choi Yun she knew.

...Then why is he just staring at me like that?

The question grew as he didn’t move.

If he was checking her condition, he should be looking at the monitor.

If he couldn’t speak, he should at least indicate it somehow.

But he did neither.

He just stared down at her.

That’s... kind of scary.

After a while, she genuinely thought so.

What’s wrong with him?

Did the war mess up his head even more...?

...No, if that were the case, Yehyeon would’ve told me, right?

Not being able to speak was incredibly frustrating.

Ami gathered all her strength and furrowed her brow.

For the first time, Yun’s face—like that of a robot—showed a change.

His eyebrow lifted slightly.

“Yun.”

Yehyeon oppa!

Ami was thrilled as Yehyeon came back into view.

Talk to him! Why is he just staring at me like that?!

She screamed internally.

But instead, Yehyeon grabbed Yun and hugged him tightly.

Even as Yehyeon clung to him like he might break, Yun kept looking down at Ami.

Unbothered, Yehyeon buried his face into Yun’s shoulder and sobbed.

Ami grew confused.

Had something happened to the entire Choi family—Hyunyoung included?

Just as fear began to rise—

Yehyeon spoke.

“You did well.”

Did Yun oppa bring me to the hospital?

“All this time...”

Instead of answering, Yun lightly patted Yehyeon’s shoulder.

Then he gently pushed him away and stepped closer to Ami.

She watched his hand as he reached out.

His finger approached cautiously.

His index finger tapped her eyelid.

“You’ve been sleeping long enough.”

That was the first thing Yun said to her after she woke.

“Choi Ami.”

“Uba...”

Ami tried to speak.

She had meant to say “oppa.”

Her slurred pronunciation made her frown.

At that, Yehyeon gasped and started crying again.

Ami was so startled that she forgot all about her frustration.

But thankfully—

it seemed Yun’s social skills had improved a bit over the years.

He turned his head and looked Yehyeon up and down.

“Stop crying already. You’ll collapse at this rate.”

“How can you say that... Ami finally—”

“I should tell Samuel to go home.”

Yun replied, slipping his hands into his pockets.

“If we tell him, he’ll finally get off work for once and come see Choi Ami.”

“Ugh.”

Ami made a sound.

Frowning, she tried hard to communicate.

“Ugh! Summ—!”

“Hm? You’re hot?”

“Explain it.”

As Yehyeon leaned in closer to her, asking again, Yun smirked and translated.

“She’s wondering why you’re crying like your eyes are about to fall out.”

Tell me why you were staring at me like that too!

Ami shouted with her eyebrows.

And why you’re both wearing shirts instead of uniforms!

And what happened to the war—

And whether Hyunyoung unni and everyone else is safe—

And my comrades—

What were humans even fighting in that last battlefield?

The battlefield burned in dark crimson.

As she blankly recalled that overwhelming force—

her vision dimmed.

Yehyeon and Yun ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) leaned over her.

Yehyeon with tear-filled eyes.

Yun with a slow, curling smile.

Their shadows fell over her. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The three of them stared at each other without blinking.

It was Choi Yun who broke the silence.

“You slept for two years.”

Ami almost jumped out of bed in shock.