episode_0017

It’s about exploring the unknown space.

It’s heart-pounding.

I walk down the hallway with brisk steps.

The wide road seemed to have no end in sight.

It doesn’t seem to be simply due to the effects of a smaller body.

No matter where I went, there was no window to look outside.

So, that means the hallway I’m walking through right now is only a very small part of the entire building.

“Jeff, is that really necessary?”

Shine speaks while touching her forehead.

It seemed like she still had a hangover.

“Of course!”

I answer confidently.

It’s very important.

Of my narrow circle of friends, these are the ones I consider to be the closest.

There’s no need to worry those guys.

Just send a message saying you’re doing well and that’s it.

“I guess this isn’t it.”

Reach the end of the hallway.

It wasn’t really the end since the fork in the road that had been there before had already appeared, but in any case, I couldn’t go any further on this path.

The countless rows of doors and the cold air inside told me that the room had not been used for a long time.

The dark hallway makes you hesitate to move forward.

I turn around, smelling the faint scent of dust.

Where can I use a computer freely?

I was wandering the hallway, worrying like that.

Grab the trouser leg of a man passing by.

“Huh?”

“Excuse me.”

He turns around with a puzzled expression at the sudden question.

But his gaze did not reach me.

His gaze simply lingered in the empty space above my head.

Feeling annoyed by him, I grab his trouser leg again.

“This way.”

“Uh… .”

His expression becomes strange.

He seemed puzzled by the sight of young children, a rare sight here.

In fact, except for me and Shine, there was no sign of any children.

“What’s going on?”

“I’m looking for a place where I can use a computer.”

“If that’s the case, if you go past the entrance to the smoking room next to the shelter, there will be a computer you can use freely.”

This can’t be happening.

The computer I was looking for seemed to be closer than I thought.

A child’s perspective is narrow.

So it was clear that I couldn’t find the computer.

I bowed my head and greeted him, letting go of the man’s trousers.

“Thank you.”

“You are very polite.”

Compliments coming from above.

I wasn’t feeling very good.

I turn around and start walking.

The destination is where the restaurant is.

I don’t know where the shelter is.

However, there was a small smoking booth next to the restaurant.

So the wide open space in front of it was clearly a shelter.

They called that place a shelter.

I felt like I had figured out something great and wanted to brag to Shine.

My mouth is watering.

I was covering my mouth with both hands, then I put my hands down, avoiding Shine’s puzzled gaze.

What were you thinking about when you had a child in front of you?

“Let’s go Shine.”

I crossed the hallway with confident steps, taking Shine’s hand.

People’s gaze remained the same.

Wherever we go, they keep their eyes on us.

Is walking so amazing?

I made eye contact with them and tried to give them a hint, but they didn’t seem to notice and just waved at me.

Then I also wave my hand and greet him.

Shine and I were able to reach the shelter.

Many people were already sitting on the soft sofas, passing the time.

I looked at them and thought.

What are so many people doing?

What are so many people doing here?

It seems a little strange to view it as a terrorist group.

It was clear that behind this place there must be someone with enormous capital that I didn’t know about.

If what I’m guessing is true, after you leave here, you shouldn’t tell the police where this place is.

Anyone who can maintain a group like this must have some kind of connection to the police.

Shine and I walked past the smoking room.

The moment I passed the smoking room, I could see a road turning to the side.

There was a large flower pot in front of it, so the path was not visible when viewed from a distance.

Fortunately, it seemed like the man wasn’t lying.

Turn onto the path past the large flower pot.

There was a long hallway there.

I can feel the presence of many people.

It feels a little dark.

Wide open doors.

There were dozens of computers lined up there.

I quickly run and enter the room where the computer is.

Amy’s oversized slippers made a loud noise.

“Is this a computer?”

“Yeah.”

I nod to Shine who is asking from behind me and go and sit down in the empty seat.

It didn’t seem like it really required money to use it.

I looked around, pressed the power button on the computer, and pulled out the chair next to me.

“Sit here.”

Shine did as I said and sat down on the soft chair.

It felt a little big for me and Shine to use, but it was okay because it was soft.

I kicked off my dangling slippers and sank into the chair.

Because of the high position of the desk, the chair size was set as high as possible.

Shine’s eyes were wide open as if the computer was a wonder to her.

The screen after booting was complete had various messengers and ordinary games installed.

I immediately launched the messenger program.

But a problem arose.

The moment I typed my ID and password with familiar hand movements.

I was able to discover a major problem.

I don’t have a cell phone.

I’m talking about a cell phone registered in my name.

The messenger I use is a program that is linked to a mobile phone, so I usually have to go through separate mobile phone authentication to log in to the computer.

I remember the last time I saw my phone, smashed in the lab.

“Oops… .”

My hands won’t move.

“Jeff?”

Shine asked me from the side as if she was curious, but it was okay.

If you can’t use Messenger, you can just log into the game.

But this time again a problem arose.

Mobile phone authentication was also required to log in to the game.

At home and in the lab, I had a designated computer so I could log in without a cell phone, but this wasn’t the case.

I wiped my dry face.

While I was thinking so seriously, I was able to find a rather old messenger icon in the corner of the screen.

“This is… .”

White cloud shaped icon.

A messenger called Cloud Talk.

It was a messenger that was only used on computers and not linked to mobile phones.

Has this been in service until now?

I run Cloud Talk with a puzzled mind.

A login window with a familiar interface begins to greet me.

Just in case, I try to log in by entering my ID and password.

The results are successful.

A familiar alarm sound is heard, and a few conversation partners pop up.

“Oh… .”

The last message record was recorded as being 3-4 years ago.

That meant it hadn’t been used for a long time.

I start writing messages to my friends just in case.

Hello. I’m back safely.

As I was writing down such strange content, I deleted all the messages.

In times like this, I think something simple would be better.

[hi]

The message has been sent.

I don’t know if the guys still use CloudTalk, but it was the only way I could contact them.

But even after several minutes, the guys didn’t read the message.

The boring wait continues.

“Jeff, are those other people?”

Shine talks while looking at her friends’ profile pictures on the other side of the screen.

These guys all use weird photos.

Some guys used pictures of anime characters, while others set pictures of their own toes as their profile pictures.

Since they are a little embarrassed to show it to anyone, they hurriedly lower the screen.

“No.”

Shine’s expression didn’t brighten as if she wasn’t satisfied with my answer.

He glares at me with a face full of anger.

I intentionally ignored Shine’s gaze and logged onto YouTube.

Since it wasn’t the computer I used, most of the recommended videos were ones I had never seen before.

“Jeff, how long are you going to be here?”

Shine already seemed bored.

I checked CloudTalk for her question.

My message has not been confirmed yet.

If it were a normal time, it wouldn’t have been strange for a reply to come right away.

As expected, it was clear that the guys weren’t using Cloud Talk anymore.

“Um… .”

The tinnitus in my head becomes stronger.

I let out a small sigh and shut down the computer.

The screen then turns black.

Two girls reflected in it.

Shine, with her lips bulging out, starts to grab my arm.

“Let’s go back.”

I felt like I should come next time.

I nod absentmindedly and get down from the chair.

Shine’s face, which had been full of grumpiness, was suddenly covered with a smile.

Next time Shine falls asleep, it would be a good idea to sneak out.

After making a small promise, I had no choice but to be led back to my room by Shine’s hand.

I wanted to explore this wide hallway a little more, but Shine wanted to go back to her room.

If she wants it, there’s nothing I can do about it.

I am helplessly dragged towards her.

We went back to our room and didn’t really do anything.

I just spend my time watching television.

That was our job now.

Lying in bed watching anime.

When the program I was watching ends, Shine takes the remote control.

So we took turns watching television to pass the time.

A shrunken body quickly becomes tired.

I was staring at the boring news screen and I started to nod off.

I’m starting to get hungry, but I wonder when it’ll be time for dinner.

As I was rolling around on the bed, I began to fall into sleep, unable to resist my heavy eyelids.

The faint sound of news penetrates my ears.

The story goes that the research lab in District 5 was attacked.

Maybe Amy will come back tonight.

Amy had the status to go all the way to District 5.

Why would someone with that kind of status join a terrorist group?

My mind is gradually fading.

The tinnitus in my head becomes stronger.

Blink your eyes with blurry vision.

Shine?

A girl with a blurred figure was looking down at me.

Why is Shine, who should be watching the news, looking at me?

She smiles and caresses my forehead.

Why are you smiling like that?

I laughed back at Shine’s rather cute smile.

Shine’s pupils dilate.

He seemed surprised that I wasn’t asleep yet.

But that’s it for now.

The mind begins to descend into the depths.