(POV Gi-hun)

The vote? I had forgotten that the games were still going on – maybe I had expected them to be canceled after the rebellion. So it meant that the other players didn't get to face consequences or punishment for our revolt? I sighed in relief; at least some lives seemed to be spared.

The square-guard escorted me to my room and pressed a switch on the wall: suddenly some huge curtains were pulled back and showed a TV. He switched it on and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the remaining players on the screen – obviously their number was decimated. Without a word the guard left the room and I was left by myself. Watching the screen I counted the players with the Xs and the Os – and it suddenly hit me like a truck that it was obvious how the vote would turn out: half of the Xs were dead after last night, either killed by the Os or being one of the 10 who were part of my suicide squad. All in all there were 42 Os left and 29 Xs. A guard came forward and spoke to them:

"Players, congratulations on surviving the night. You witnessed that Player 456 and Player 001 were leading a rebellion against the game masters. I hereby assure you that everyone who was caught participating has been eliminated. But we were also informed that brutal fighting has taken place in this dormitory, started by Player 124. Violence against other players is hereby strictly prohibited. From now on all players who attack others irreversibly lose their right to vote. Player 124, for inciting others to act violently, you hereby lose your right to vote with immediate effect."

I saw on the screen that No 124 didn't dare to contradict – he happened to be the killed rapper's accomplice. But something else made my mind spin: suddenly the game masters were prohibiting violence, even punishing it. And even weirder, it was not punished by death but still punished in an effective way. I couldn't believe I was thinking that but it gave the impression that someone of them had for once come up with a rule that was actually rational and not just cruel. 'Frontman suddenly getting soft', I thought contemptuously. I didn't get it, as hard as I tried. Instead of punishing the remaining players he was suddenly preventing violence, probably even saving lives with this rule. "We are exactly alike" Again I heard his voice in my head and it didn't let go of me. Was there any chance that he could be...right? My thoughts were interrupted by the vote, which was about to start, announced by the guard:

"This time the vote is going to take place in original order – No 006, please vote." A sudden pain pierced through my chest and I gasped for air. Of course Player 006 would start the vote since there was no Player 001 anymore – but hearing it made Young-il's death reality. Suddenly all the walls I had built up to keep my emotions at distance crashed and I broke down. My whole body was shaking as I cried, mourning my great loss. "Young-il...", I whispered through the tears. "Young-il, did you know it? I would've stopped this whole rebellion to save you, in a heartbeat, no question. YOUNG-IL, DID YOU KNOW IT WHEN YOU DIED?", I cried out loud.

"Player 120", I suddenly heard from the screen and looked up in tears. I had heard right: Player 120, the trans-woman somehow managed to survive. As I watched them more carefully I also found Dae-ho and sighed in relief. At least two of them who had survived. Did the guards really not know that they were part of last night's revolt? I wanted them to survive. We had been comrades, friends... they had to live. There were too many lives lost. Like Jung-bae, like...Young-il. Again tears came to my eyes and while I watched the vote resulting in 41 Os to 29 Xs I just sat on my bead, covering my face like a kid, whispering Young-il's name.



(POV In-ho/Young-il/Frontman)

"Frontman. Manager 001, your sister-in-law, just arrived from Europe." My officer's voice interrupted my staring at the huge screen in my room – I had pretended to watch the vote while I was actually watching Gi-hun watching the vote. I nodded and gave him a wink to bring her in. The door opened and I knew she was there, probably already informed about everything that happened and the part I played in it. Her voice sounded through the room as she officially announced her arrival to me: "Sir. Manager 001 reports for duty."

I sighed and took my mask off as I turned around. "Pretty late, aren't we? You missed half of the games, Mi-na." She shrugged her shoulders and snorted.

"Not everyone finds it entertaining to watch hundreds of people die, you know", she answered, now losing the formal tone. She wore a pink overall like the other guards, the hood covering her light hair, but instead of covering her face, the square-mask was spinning between her fingers. "I hear you participated in the games this time?" I nodded as she continued: "You are aware that there are rumors spreading about why you did it? The guards kept saying you developed some kind of obsession or even... affection for Player 456."

I sighed. Since my wife's death and my return to the games her sister was all family I had left – I had even turned away from my stepmother and my brother Jun-ho. "I... I wish I could explain it to you, but I don't know it myself. He kind of unlocked something in me I guess", I admitted. Mi-na looked at the screen showing Gi-hun in his room, making it obvious that all the rumors were true. I suddenly froze when I heard my name coming from the screen: "Young-il" I watched Gi-hun breaking down in tears."Young-il, did you know it? I would've stopped this whole rebellion to save you, in a heartbeat, no question. YOUNG-IL, DID YOU KNOW IT WHEN YOU DIED?"

When I heard this I felt like my organs stopped working for a moment. Seeing him like this, hearing him say what he felt for me made me excited and happy on one side – and on the other side it tore me apart even more because I knew exactly that it was all my fault. Tears came to my eyes and I was unable to move or say something. Mi-na's trembling voice broke the silence as she looked at me, tears running down her face as well.

"In-ho, is he mourning...you?" My inability to move and the tears in my eyes were enough of an answer. My sister-in-law took a deep breath.

"In-ho, you can't do this. This is far more cruel than all the killing. He's suffering, he loves you." I winced as she said the word and I shook my head firmly: "No, impossible, he can't possibly..."

"Excuse me, but it's as obvious as the nose in your face. Dude, you can't let this go on. You'll come up with something and then you tell him that you're alive. Think of something and find a way to talk to him. He may hate you but you'll find something. For your own good."

***************

Author's note: Hi guys, hope you're not bored by now – I'm trying to make the story as realistic as I can. It wouldn't be likely for Gi-hun and In-ho just jumping into bed in peace after all this happened, right? But I want them to end up together, so I'll think of something.

I invented Frontman's sister-in-law as a figure who has a friendly relationship to him and who may have the chance to tell him all the things probably ALL OF US would like to say to him. She's speaking for the whole fandom haha

Spoiler: Next chapter will be the 001x456 reunion, so stay tuned <3