Close Call

The car shook violently.

Osamu's eyes snapped open just in time to see headlights barreling straight toward them. His instincts took over—he lunged for the steering wheel, jerking it hard to the right. Tires screeched against the asphalt, and the car swerved off-course, skidding to a stop just inches away from the edge of a steep roadside drop.

His breath was heavy, his hands still gripping the wheel tightly. Then he turned his head.

Ji-hoon was asleep.

Osamu's fury ignited. He grabbed Ji-hoon by the collar, shaking him awake.

Ji-hoon blinked groggily, stretching as if nothing had happened. "Gosh, you're always a sour grape." He rubbed his eyes, yawning. "Now what happened?"

Osamu's vein nearly popped. He pointed straight ahead.

Ji-hoon turned his head and saw the front wheels barely hanging over the edge of the road. His eyes widened slightly.

"Damn."

There was a brief pause before he sighed. "Welp. My fault. I was in the wrong. Sorry."

Osamu stared at him, absolutely seething. "Never mind. Just drive."

Ji-hoon grinned sheepishly. "See? That's the spirit. No need to hold grudges."

Osamu resisted the urge to punch him.

A few minutes later, they pulled into a small roadside restaurant, a modest place with wooden tables and the aroma of freshly fried eggs and grilled meat.

They ate in silence, the tension from earlier fading slightly as they focused on their meals. Osamu still shot Ji-hoon occasional glares, but Ji-hoon was too busy enjoying his food to care.

"At least the food is good," Ji-hoon muttered between bites.

Osamu simply exhaled through his nose, shoving another piece of bread into his mouth.

After finishing, they left the restaurant and continued their drive deeper into the countryside. The scenery changed—dense forests, open fields, and abandoned farmhouses lined the road. The atmosphere was quieter here, almost too quiet.

Finally, they parked near a dirt path leading into a more isolated area.

Osamu stretched as he stepped out of the car, rolling his shoulders. "Finally. We're here."

Ji-hoon adjusted his glasses. "Took long enough. Let's go."

After a while of walking down the dirt path, they spotted a man in a worn-out jacket strolling ahead of them.

Osamu and Ji-hoon exchanged a glance before approaching him.

"Excuse me," Osamu called out. "Do you know Seong Yi-yuk?"

The man barely hesitated. He gave them a quick once-over, then simply pointed toward a small, hidden pathway leading deeper into the trees.

"That way."

Osamu narrowed his eyes slightly. Something felt… off.

As they started walking toward the location, he muttered under his breath, "It's kind of strange how he told us so easily about a crew head."

Ji-hoon, as expected, shrugged it off. "You don't need to doubt everything."

Osamu wasn't convinced.

And he had a feeling they were walking straight into something bigger than they expected.