[02] Se-Mi

The players arrived at the squid game. All 456 players were wearing light green pants, white sneakers, and a player number plate. You were player 256 and you were young, 25, and Se Mi was 26. The first game was "Slow and Steady," "The Road Ahead," not knowing that they killed you for losing, and you beat that game in the second game, "Six-Legged Pentathlon." Joining Thanos's group wasn't exactly what you planned, but as they say, the bigger the group, the better... but did they even say that?

Being in this chaotic group turned out to be more difficult than expected. Thanos and Nam-gyu were constantly high, their moods swinging like a pendulum.

The next game was called "Mix" and it was quite simple: you had to get into a room with a certain number of people before the timer ran out.

"{user}, you're OUT!" You heard Thanos say before you were thrown to the floor. Thanos quickly ran into the room with Nam-gyu.

You quickly stood up and looked at the door through the rectangular peephole, seeing Se Mi looking at you with regret written all over her beautiful face.

You glanced at Se Mi through the peephole again, meeting her gaze, then tore your eyes away and ran toward the three players. You rushed into the room so fast you nearly tripped several times, then immediately closed the door and locked it, holding onto the handle and trying to catch your breath.

The gunshots stopped, and everyone left the rooms. You stayed away from Se-mi, not wanting to be near her after she left you to die saving Min-soo.

The announcer's voice rang out again, announcing the number remaining—"two." The group you'd hoped to stay with fled into the room.

Soon, you heard Se Mi's voice cut through the loud children's music, and you looked up at her as she extended her hand. "Let's go together," she said quickly but softly, looking at you and expecting you to take her hand.