Ryu-Jeaerin stalker incident.

In late 2013, a shocking event took the nation by surprise,

which became the reason why Jaerin focused on activities abroad,

and it caused her to develop a panic disorder, making her hesitant to appear in public.

“It’s well-known that Jaerin attends Daejong High, so stalking her must have been easy.”

Is there any easier job than following a student around?

Thus, the culprit deliberately aimed for a day when Jaerin had no schedule.

“One by one, it’s coming back to me.”

It was said that when Jaerin accidentally entered an empty alley,

the stalker suddenly appeared and blocked her way.

“Of all times, it was on Christmas day.”

At a time when everyone should be laughing and celebrating, this happened.

“Targeting an idol who’s just finished her activities to take a break? What a despicable guy.”

The biggest problem lay in the final part of the future text.

– [The culprit climbed over the wall and avoided the CCTV blind spot, hence was not caught.]

– [Furthermore, the streetlight in the alley happened to go out at that moment, and no one even saw the stalker….]

In 2013, South Korea still had many blind spots in CCTV coverage.

It was a time when discussions about budget issues and privacy invasion were rampant.

“So even if he got caught by nearby people, he quickly ran away.”

In residential areas and alleyways, a person could vanish in an instant.

In fact, this was the biggest issue.

The stalker didn’t harm Jaerin directly,

“Actually, he did try to harm her, but Jaerin fought back fiercely.”

But on top of that, he wasn’t caught?

The anxiety only grew stronger.

And that would become a chain that continually tormented Jaerin in the future.

“We mustn’t let that happen.”

Thinking this, I calmly checked the items I had purchased.

Black gloves, a black mask, a black hoodie, and a black hat.

I was dressed exactly like a criminal from Conan.

“I’m not a weirdo, though.”

Anyway,

I was all set.

There was one goal.

“To ensure that Jaerin never encounters her stalker.”

To achieve that, stealthy movement was necessary.

++++++

Bloombell’s debut song had the concept of becoming your bride,

a song that warmed the hearts of many.

But a very small number of people took it in a completely different way.

“My, my bride!”

Such was Song Byeonggu’s interpretation.

He was once a promising athlete,

but fell into alcohol and gambling, forgetting his purpose and spiraling downwards.

So, he spent all day doing nothing,

drinking while watching TV.

It was during a music broadcast of Bloombell that a mistaken delusion sparked in Byeonggu’s mind.

That’s when the stalking began.

At a time when the private lives of celebrities weren’t as protected,

one could easily find the addresses of celebrities online,

and random violence was in vogue.

Byeonggu continuously followed Ryu Jaerin.

As Christmas approached one day,

it was pure coincidence when Jaerin entered that eerie alley.

“B-b-bride….”

Murmuring meaningless words, he stalked her.

Bump.

He collided with someone.

“W-what is it?”

Even though it was a narrow alley, around five people could walk in a line.

But to bump into someone in such a place? It had to be intentional.

“W-who are you?”

The man stood just over 180 cm with a definitely intimidating build.

From the slight bump, it was clear he was solid as a wall.

Regardless,

the man who collided with Byeonggu silently pulled out his phone.

Tap, tap.

A very familiar action.

Then, after comparing the photos on his phone with Byeonggu,

he nodded.

Without a word, he nodded.

That nonchalance drove Byeonggu mad.

“Show yourself!”

This seemed to be his only chance to talk,

but each time that weird guy tried to pass by, he blocked his way.

“No, seriously, who are you?!”

Byeonggu roughly pushed the man, but—

Bump!

It was like pushing against a solid wall; the man didn’t budge at all.

Only then did Byeonggu properly take in the man’s features.

‘What kind of body….’

The gaze he had been fixed on Jaerin vanished like a dream,

and he fell back to reality.

The man was entirely clad in black.

Not receiving a single ray of light,

only the dim old streetlight above flickered to illuminate him.

“Hey, what’s your problem? Are you looking for a fight? Do you know who I am?”

No matter how long it had been since he stopped exercising, a former athlete is still an athlete.

Experience doesn’t fade,

and that experience acted meaningfully even if dulled with time.

Thus, Byeonggu couldn’t ignore the provocation,

and just as he prepared to release his pent-up anger,

thud.

It was as if the streetlight flickered and went out.

In the alleyway where he relied on that one light,

the moment the light disappeared, darkness enveloped him in an instant.

Panicking, Byeonggu drew the knife he had prepared for unexpected situations.

“Say something, you bastard!”

He faced the terrifying gaze that looked down at him without a word.

At that moment when Byeonggu aimed the knife, ready to kill,

“Uh?”

In a flash, Byeonggu’s perspective shifted.

His view suddenly lowered,

‘Did he press down on my head?’

While he was contemplating this,

thud.

His wrist holding the knife twisted in a flash.

“Ugh…!”

Just as he was about to scream in pain,

a rag of cloth was stuffed into his mouth.

Clatter.

He heard the sound of the knife clattering to the ground,

and simultaneously, a rib-breaking sound echoed inside him.

He hadn’t broken anything with a weapon.

Just pure fists.

A punch had cleanly struck his solar plexus,

cutting off his breath,

and preventing him from opening his eyes properly.

He tried to gag, but even that was suppressed by the cloth in his mouth.

Even though it was his own body,

he couldn’t do anything, trapped by fear.

The dread of possibly dying surged,

mixing fear that locked his knees in place.

Even if he wanted to beg for his life, he couldn’t do it.

All he could do was cry and pray for this moment to end.

‘Huh?’

Had that prayer been answered?

‘…No more hits?’

There were no further blows.

In fact, aside from that one punch to the solar plexus, there were no more hits.

Lowering his head, twisting his arm, and a single shot to the solar plexus.

With just those three moves, he was perfectly subdued.

So, when Byeonggu dared to look up again,

<Don’t touch me>

A short and concise message appeared.

What it referred to was obvious even to a fool.

But.

‘What a foolish guy.’

Byeonggu chuckled.

Because in the time taken to write that message, his subdued arm was released,

his body was free once again.

‘You think you can just—!’

The moment Byeonggu grabbed the knife with his unrestrained wrist.

Bam.

As if it had been waiting, the streetlights flickered back on.

The sudden brightness distorted his vision.

And at the same time,

“AHHHHHH!”

People behind him shrieked at the sight of Byeonggu holding the knife.

Clearly, he had become the assailant with a weapon.

‘Damn it!’

Byeonggu desperately attempted to flee, but

BAM!

The man blocked Byeonggu’s path once more.

Striking the middle of the shin with the toe of his shoe,

Byeonggu collapsed on the spot.

‘Done for.’

The man.

No, Kim Donghu nodded internally as he leapt over the wall.

‘If people call the police now, it’ll be over.’

Satisfied with the outcome,

Kim Donghu turned his back and left the scene,

while Ryu Jaerin, far away, turned to look back at the screams of the crowd.

‘Huh?’

Something seemed to have happened, but she wasn’t sure what.

‘That person in black… I feel like I’ve seen them somewhere before.’

The thought of who it was flickered briefly in her mind.

Shrugging it off,

Ryu Jaerin continued on her way.

‘Even if I can’t spend Christmas with them,

I can at least make a cake to give.’

Taking a shortcut to the department store,

Ryu Jaerin walked with a light step.

+++++

The next morning, after neatly wrapping up the incident,

“Shock! Are there still malicious fans…? A tragedy almost occurring on Christmas, who is the hero?”

“Is there a more perfect restraint than this? Experts say, ‘There’s a high possibility CQC was employed.'”

“Light punishment for stalking crimes, should we still let it slide?”

I nodded with satisfaction while reading various articles surfacing.

‘They surely caught him.’

He had been restrained by both wrists and one leg so he couldn’t escape,

no matter how athletic he was, he had to be caught.

‘So, did I just prevent a future tragedy for the first time?’

Thinking back, there were several other incidents I should prevent.

Things I had forgotten in my previous life but are now dear to my heart.

If I prevent them in advance, I’m sure I can avoid them.

‘The problem is I can’t remember them properly.’

Of course, all those details would be told to me by Sims, so I wasn’t worried.

‘And the biggest tragedy I have not forgotten.’

I must prevent the important tragedy that will occur in 2015.

‘I think about a year is left.’

Even a hedgehog thinks its babies are cute.

An incident that even deprived her of that cuteness.

‘The death of my parents.’

Resolutely promising it would never happen,

I was checking my schedule when

“?!”

An unexpected message from Jaerin arrived.

“How did you know!?”

That shock didn’t last long.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Donghu, open up, I brought cake!”

Jaerin came to visit.

An attack possible because she lived next door.

‘W-what is happening!’

I genuinely felt like my heart was about to drop.