(POV Gi-hun)



The black suit felt weird on my skin, I hadn't often worn such exquisite material. Over the black buttoned up shirt I wore a thin leather jacket with a hood to cover my hair and then the most important thing: the mask. It was neither a circle, triangle, or square mask nor was it similar to the one the Frontman was wearing. The mask was smooth and shiny with almond-shaped holes for the eyes – at least I didn't have to look through that annoying grid like the one that was covering the Frontman's eyes. After I changed I was picked up and escorted to a room by a guard. Before he opened the door to let me in he hissed:

"You better consider wisely how you want to behave, Player 456. Just know that there will always be a gun pointed at you." 'How nice, such a warm welcome', I thought, entering the room. I had expected the VIPs to be there or at least some managers – but my heart started racing when I saw that there was only In-ho. Frontman stood in the middle of the room, turning his back on me. I tried my best to sound unbothered and unimpressed:

"You should teach your staff better manners."

"Sharp-tongued as always, No 456", he answered, to my surprise in his original human voice. In-ho turned around and scrutinized me from top to toe. He was wearing the usual Frontman-outfit with the long leather coat but his hood was down and no mask covered his face. He looked insanely handsome and I hated him for it. I hated him so much I automatically imagined how I would attack him, rip his clothes off and do unholy things with him... STOP! 'What the hell, Gi-hun, you better get your sh!t together.', I thought. Still I tried to make my voice sound casual: "Are you going to put that mask on or what?" First In-ho raised his eyebrows then he suddenly let out a little laugh. "Afraid to look me in the eyes, No 456? One should think it wouldn't bother you since you saw more than my face before."I inhaled sharply remembering the passionate moments we had shared. I needed to come up with a good response.

"I just got tired of your looks, maybe you're not as much of an eyecatcher as you think.", I answered and watched with satisfaction that he lost control over his expression for a moment. "And stop calling me No 456. I have a name you know. And unlike others it's actually my real name." In-ho's eyebrows raised even higher but he couldn't suppress a smile.



(POV In-ho/Frontman)

He looked stunning. The black clothes suited his body perfectly and the leather jacked gave him a bad-boy-vibe; even the mask looked hot especially because I could still see his eyes. He looked incredibly handsome and I had a hard time not to drool. But those eyes were glaring at me and I could feel his fury in the tension between us. When he started to drop snappy and provocative comments it was over for me. It wouldn't have been a surprise for me if I had been staring at him with heart-eyes – but back to business. Good thing I would wear a mask around the VIPs; I couldn't let anyone find out that this man incarnated all my weaknesses. I tried to prepare him for what was about to happen:

"Look, however much you hate me, it's important that you do as I say as soon as we go in there. The VIPs will be seated, have drinks and bet on the players. Then the game will be announced and we watch it live – don't forget that the VIPs only see the players as horses. They are heartless and cruel so for God's sake don't try to convert them or else they'll get suspicious. When the game is over they normally stay there and continue drinking and talking about the games and we are condemned – I mean requested to participate. That's the time when you might get the chance to talk to them and carefully tell them your thoughts and ideas. You have to make them think that it was their own idea to make them like it. Oh and one last thing: Careful with the drinks. It's not only alcohol, they are slightly modified. Let's say if one's body is not used to it you could find yourself very enthusiastic or...excited." I looked at him urgently, hoping he had understood everything. Gi-hun nodded and adjusted the mask on his face. I took a deep breath. "Ready?"

"Ready when you are." The words slipping out of his mouth were the same ones I had answered him before we left the dormitory to go on our suicide-mission days ago. For a moment I knew that we both remembered and in this short moment we were Player 456 and Player 001 again. Then I opened the door to the VIP's lounge.