Chapter 2
The next morning, V woke up first.
She hadn't slept so deeply in a long time. The constant tension and worry she'd been carrying had kept her up many nights. The lonely figure of her, staring at the moon by the outdoor pool at the mansion atop Night City, had become a familiar image.
And now, the one she'd been longing for had returned, lying right beside her.
As her vision cleared, V suddenly realized something felt off. Instead of the ceiling, the wardrobe, or the view outside the window, what she saw before her was a pure white expanse.
The newly crowned Queen of Afterlife slowly turned her eyes, feeling the distinct presence of metal against her neck and waist, and the warmth of a body in front of her.
She couldn't possibly be… in So Mi's arms, could she?
At the thought, V cautiously shifted her head, trying to find a better angle for observation.
The slight movement woke the other person, who had also had a full rest. When V lifted her head, their eyes met—green and brown, so close that she could feel the heat of the other's breath.
V's brain screamed for her to pull away, but her body stayed still. She was captivated, staring at the face so near her own. Her gaze moved downward to find tiny freckles she had never noticed before, scattered across the pale cheek like little stars.
So cute, V thought.
It was only then that So Mi, who had been holding V tightly, fully woke up and realized their current position. In a panic, she tried to pull away.
"Don't move," V quickly reached out, wrapping an arm around So Mi's waist. Her voice was hoarse. "If you move any further, we'll fall off."
After pulling her close, V suppressed the desire to stay in this position and, with a swift motion, rolled over to sit on the edge of the bed.
The embrace was suddenly empty, and So Mi felt a strange sense of emptiness. Her gaze followed V's movements as she sat on the edge of the bed, her back turned toward her.
"I have to go to the Afterlife for a meeting," V said, still facing away from her. "Do you want to come with me? After it's done, we can walk around the city, grab something to eat, or you can wander on your own. Either way is fine."
"I'll go with you," So Mi said, propping herself up on the bed.
"Alright." V chuckled softly, getting up and preparing to head to the bathroom.
"V," So Mi called out to her, "Can I borrow some clothes?"
The thought of So Mi wearing her clothes made this new queen of Afterlife feel a bit weak in the knees. She didn't answer right away.
"My clothes aren't really suitable for going out," So Mi continued, misinterpreting V's silence as reluctance. "But the black jacket from yesterday should still be at Afterlife. I can—"
"That one doesn't look good," V interrupted, pointing toward the wardrobe. "There's new underwear, you can find it. The rest of the clothes are fine too. The wardrobe is yours now."
"…Thanks?" So Mi raised an eyebrow as she watched V quickly disappear into the bathroom. It seemed like V wasn't reluctant at all.
The soft white robe slipped off her body, and So Mi stood up, walking over to the wardrobe. She was taken aback by how packed the space was, filled to the brim. The wardrobe was neatly organized, with hundreds of outfits, all categorized by color, fabric, and style. She could probably find every trending piece from Night City here.
Opening the bottom drawer of the wardrobe, So Mi pulled out a set of unopened underwear, then turned her attention back to the sea of clothes. Her fingers slid over the fabric, and memories of V's almost-daily wardrobe changes when they were in Dogtown came to mind. What had she said back then? It was something like, "V, you sure are vain."
After changing into the new clothes, So Mi began to look around the room, a space she hadn't fully examined the night before. It took only one glance for her to spot something on the bedside table: a commemorative medal of Tycho.
V had placed it on the nightstand.
So Mi decided to escape downstairs.
When V deliberately took her time, eventually emerging from the bathroom at a slow pace, So Mi was standing at the bar downstairs, brewing coffee.
V looked down from the second floor and saw her. So Mi wore a pair of dark grey skinny jeans, her feet clad in black shoes with golden patterns. Her upper body was concealed beneath a worn leather cropped jacket, the oversized hood effectively hiding her cybernetic arms. Underneath the jacket was a T-shirt that V hadn't worn in a long time, but one she recognized immediately—a pale yellow potato-shaped face was grinning widely.
Wearing a custom light blue suit, the new queen of Afterlife felt a bit dizzy. She tightly gripped the stair railing to steady herself before daring to step downstairs.
"Why'd you pick this T-shirt?" V smiled as she sat down on a high stool at the bar, taking the coffee So Mi handed her.
"It feels really comfortable," So Mi pointed to the design on her chest. "And I once had a badge exactly like this one."
"Good taste," V took a sip of her coffee.
"You really like this T-shirt?" So Mi observed V's expression. "Want me to change?"
"No need." V set her mug down. "Take it. It suits you."
"Alright."
It was morning, and the mansion's large floor-to-ceiling windows allowed the sunlight to pour into the room, casting a warm glow on So Mi's beaming smile. V picked up her coffee again, appreciating the sense of fulfillment that filled her heart—something that hadn't graced this house in nearly five months.
Since she was planning to stroll around the city, V didn't call a hovercar for herself today. Instead, she led So Mi to the elevator, and they descended to the underground garage.
"Anything you like?"
As V spoke, the garage lights flickered on one by one. A vast space, built with two levels of parking platforms, quietly housed dozens of cars in various styles.
"There are so many." So Mi's perception of V's wealth was once again shaken, and she couldn't help but feel amused by V's usual flair for showing off.
"Half of them were gifts," V laughed heartily. "I picked up a lot when I was still a mercenary. They've all been put together here."
"They all look good." So Mi scanned the various cars of different sizes. "You pick."
V's eyes flashed with a hint of blue light, and the headlights of a car on a nearby parking level flickered on. A sleek, snow-white sports car slowly rolled toward them.
"Then let's go with that one." V opened the driver's side door and slid into the Excalibur by Rayfield.
So Mi got into the passenger seat, inspecting the high-tech sports coupe. Even though she wasn't an expert on cars, she could easily tell this was undeniably a luxury vehicle.
V slowly started the car, glancing at the central control screen before reaching out and casually tapping a few buttons. The passenger seat automatically adjusted, moving slowly to accommodate So Mi's body shape, ensuring it was positioned for optimal comfort.
Noticing So Mi lazily settling into the seat, V was extremely satisfied with her choice to drive this car.
"There are drinks in the armrest between us, and snacks in the glove compartment. If you're thirsty or hungry, just help yourself," V said, her eyes fixed straight ahead, driving with smooth precision.
"That's only a short distance. It's not necessary," So Mi shook her head, her gaze moving to the bustling city streets outside.
"What do you want for lunch?" V asked, looking for an opportunity to merge into the traffic as they drove onto the overpass.
"Your regular meal is fine," So Mi shifted her attention from the window to V.
"You're in for a treat then," V chuckled. "I usually just grab a pack of Burrito XXL and call it a day." She grinned. "Let's go to La Lune Bleu. I'll have Emmerich book a table."
"Mm… should I go in this outfit?" So Mi glanced down at her clothes.
Although the former FIA agent had been to Night City for missions before, the time was always tight, and she never had the chance to explore the city's restaurants. Now, unable to access the net, she had no idea what La Lune Bleu was like. However, from the name alone, it wasn't hard to guess that it must be an upscale restaurant. Dressing too casually might come off as impolite.
V had planned to say that it didn't matter, that no owner in Night City would dare refuse her, but then she thought better of it. When the words came out, they took a different turn. "How about we pick out a few outfits for you before lunch?"
The new queen of Afterlife was in a good mood, her lips curving up as she spoke. So Mi was about to politely decline, but when she saw the look on V's face, she swallowed the words back.
Forget it. The top netrunner thought to herself, with less than a hundred euros left in her pocket, having already moved into the house, worn her clothes, and agreed to lunch—there was no need to be picky about money. Once she could access the net again, she could take on some jobs and pay her back.
The car quickly entered the area So Mi had seen yesterday, smoothly parking in a spot just outside Afterlife. Emmerich was already waiting at the door, greeting his boss.
"Good morning, boss," the burly man stepped forward, opening the car door for V and giving So Mi a brief nod as a greeting.
"Has he arrived?" V asked.
"He's here, waiting in the private room," Emmerich replied.
"Alright." V stood in front of the car, waiting for So Mi to get out. "Take So Mi to meet Nix. While I'm gone, give her whatever she needs, understood?"
"Got it, boss," the man replied obediently.
"Nix is the netrunner at Afterlife," V said, walking down the stairs alongside So Mi, turning her head and smiling. "Besides you, he's the best netrunner I've ever met. Maybe you two can exchange some ideas—saves you from waiting around bored."
"Sounds good. I've been offline for almost five months; I'm curious to know if there's anything new going on," So Mi's voice sounded cheerful.
The three of them parted in front of the bar. Emmerich stayed with So Mi, accompanying her while Claire prepared lemonade, and V, her smile fading, walked towards a few clients waiting near the semi-open private room.
"It's been a while, Ivan. Come in and take a seat," V's voice carried faintly to So Mi's ears. After that, the conversation became inaudible.
When V talked business with clients, her entire aura was different. So Mi watched Claire with the lemonade absentmindedly, thinking. Although V was dressed in a tailor-made suit, she exuded an air that suggested she could pull a gun and shoot at any moment. Her voice was calm, yet distant, as if deliberately keeping a certain detachment.
This was a side of V So Mi had never seen.
Although she knew V had come from the Arasaka Counter-intel Division and had climbed to the second-in-command position at just 22, a life of diplomacy and playing people must have filled her past.
But the V So Mi knew was never like this. She was always kind and patient with her, never once speaking harshly about the dangerous tasks So Mi handed her. Instead, she often comforted her, repeatedly expressing with both words and actions her determination to always stand by her side.
So Mi took the lemonade, thanking Claire, and followed Emmerich to Afterlife's server room.
"What's V like as a boss?" So Mi asked softly. "Don't worry, I won't tell her what you say."
The man stopped, turning his head to look down at the woman, whose head only reached his shoulder.
"Cold, efficient, strict, generous. To others and to herself," Emmerich replied, then turned and continued walking. "It's fine if you tell her."
The four words echoed in So Mi's mind. Besides "generous" and "efficient," the other two didn't seem to match the V she knew. She couldn't imagine how the woman, always filled with a warm, gentle smile, could navigate the power struggles of Night City.
"Nix." The pneumatic door to the server room slid open. Emmerich addressed the person inside. "This is Song So Mi."
"Hello." So Mi stepped out from behind Emmerich and walked into the server room. "I'm also a netrunner."
"I know you." Nix nodded at the bodyguard standing at the door, who silently stepped outside.
"V told you?" So Mi asked, her eyes scanning the equipment in the room.
"No." Nix, dressed in camouflage, half-leaned against the desk. "It was the 2064 Oregon fermentation plant blackout."
"You know it was me?" So Mi crossed her arms, looking at him. "I didn't leave my name back then."
"Originally, no. But later, my boss brought in a frontal cortex cyberware called Quantum Tuner, so I took a look at the info inside," Nix glanced up at the woman across from him. "The info was missing, but I recognized the way you coded."
"I see." So Mi nodded. "V was right. You're indeed an exceptional netrunner."
"Don't say that; it's embarrassing." Nix waved his hand dismissively. "I couldn't catch up to your code even ten years ago, let alone now."
"I haven't written code in a while," the netrunner sighed slightly.
"I'm upgrading network system of Afterlife," Nix said, "Boss is always looking for trouble." He glanced at her. "If you want to code, go ahead. I can rest for a bit."
"Sure!" So Mi's eyes lit up. "But I can only write from the terminal right now."
"Well, write as much as you want. Just remember to leave notes. It's hard to understand your code without context," Nix waved his hand, getting up from the desk and lying back in the netrunner chair, closing his eyes to rest.
When V finally sent off the clients and entered the server room to find them, what she saw was Nix lounging in the netrunner chair, fast asleep, leaving So Mi sitting at the terminal, hands flying as she typed away at the code.
"What's going on here?" V asked with some displeasure, looking at her subordinate standing by the door.
"So Mi said she wanted to write some code, so Nix found her some work," Emmerich reported in detail, explaining the events of the past two hours. Aside from the initial few words of conversation, the rest of the time, all he could hear were the sounds of typing from the keyboard.
V sighed helplessly, pressing her forehead with a small smile. She lightly knocked on the door of the server room.
Nix immediately sat up, noticing the enthusiastic netrunner was so absorbed in her work that she hadn't heard anything. Nix cleared his throat a few times on purpose.
Only then did So Mi realize V was standing at the door.
"Give me five more minutes," the netrunner glanced at V, then turned her gaze back to the terminal, raising one hand to gesture. "This module is almost done."
"No rush. I'll wait for you at the bar," V said with a smile, stepping back.
Even though So Mi said it would only take five minutes, V, knowing her well, figured it would be a miracle if So Mi appeared within the next hour. So, the boss who was always "looking for trouble" wouldn't waste her time. V pulled up the sales data for last week's drinks from her portable terminal and went to the bar to discuss some adjustments to the drink menu with Claire.
To V's surprise, So Mi appeared before she even started, and it hadn't even been five minutes.
"That was fast," V raised an eyebrow, tossing her terminal to Claire. "You can take a look at the data first, I'll go over it with you later when I'm back."
"If you're busy, I can wait," So Mi guessed that V probably thought she wouldn't be done so quickly.
That wasn't V's fault. Even So Mi hadn't expected herself to immediately speed up her work upon seeing V, finishing the module, and then walking away without even running it once. After leaving notes for Nix, she left the server room without a second glance.
"It's fine. We can finish that later." V walked with So Mi towards the door. "Let's go shopping first."
Claire, standing behind the bar with her mobile terminal, exchanged a look with Emmerich. She couldn't believe V had just abandoned the work she'd barely started, leaving without a care. Emmerich, on the other hand, wore a look of indifference, as if this was nothing new.
"We'll have it easier from now on," Nix, who had somehow appeared out of the server room, sat on a barstool. "Don't look so surprised, Claire. You deserve a rest. You've been working your ass off the past few months."
V didn't care at all about the thoughts of her employees. She only wanted to enjoy her time with So Mi, shopping and eating together.
The elegant white lines of the Excalibur swept through the streets of Night City, coming to a smooth stop in front of a very impressive-looking boutique in the city center.
"JINGUJI?" So Mi raised an eyebrow upon seeing the sign. "You're taking me to JINGUJI to buy clothes?"
"Their clothes are of great quality," V smiled, though it was a bit forced. "Let's go, and if you don't like anything, we can always go to another store."
So Mi adjusted her understanding of what "generosity" meant. Even before, she rarely frequented stores of this caliber, and after this trip, she wasn't sure how many jobs she'd have to take just to pay V back. She helplessly glanced at V's smiling face, reading a hint of guilt in it.
She decided not to ruin her mood. Just pick something and leave quickly, So Mi thought as she stepped into the store.
"Welcome! V!" A black man wearing brown sunglasses greeted them enthusiastically. "Are you here for ready-to-wear or custom pieces today?"
"I'm here to pick a few outfits for my friend," V put on that polite but distant expression. "Let's start with the new arrivals, Zane."
"No problem!" Zane respectfully guided them to a seat in the store, offering drinks before turning to fetch the clothes.
The interior of JINGUJI was unified globally, with black marble and gold-accented brand colors exuding luxury. The only difference was that the Night City location was larger than the one So Mi had visited in Washington.
"Do you come here often?" So Mi picked up the glass of water with ice cubes on the table, sipping it. "That Zane looked like his eyes were sparkling when he saw you."
"I've been here a few times. Sometimes you need some clothes that look impressive." V chuckled. "But he acted that way because I once saved his life, sort of. The first time I came here, someone had a cyberpsychosis episode, and I had to hold them down," V continued casually.
"You handle cyberpsychosis too? What about the Psycho Squad?" So Mi was surprised, not expecting such incidents to occur in Night City's central district.
"I've always wondered why these troubles always find their way to me." V's voice carried a deliberately exaggerated sense of grievance. "Psycho Squad came a bit late. I had already dealt with it, and their team leader even wanted me to join."
"Actually, it would suit you," So Mi smiled, imagining V in a Psycho Squad uniform.
"I can't stand them." V waved dismissively. "I've single-handedly contained over a dozen cyberpsychos for Regina. They have to send in a whole squad to deal with one, and they always just kill them."
So Mi thought to herself, I didn't pick the wrong person back then. Cyberpsychosis was caused by the mental strain of too many cybernetic cyberwares, and if she hadn't been sent to the moon, she might have ended up in that category too. The Psycho Squad was feared because they were the only law enforcement team capable of handling cyberpsychos. But this person in front of her casually mentioned how she had single-handedly captured a dozen of them.
"This season's new arrivals are all here!" Zane returned, dragging three hangers with various outfits back into the store.
"We have everything from dresses to suits, and accessories and shoes are here too. What kind of style do you usually like? I can pick some out for you," Zane asked So Mi, his smile wide.
So Mi, dressed in street casuals, reluctantly got up. After picking two dresses, she followed Zane to the changing room.
"Send these three and the two pairs of shoes to Miss Song too," V scanned the clothes racks and pointed out a few outfits to a young saleswoman standing by.
So Mi, who initially planned to just grab a dress to handle lunch, called out to V, who was walking towards the car with seven bags in hand.
"You're spending too much on me," So Mi said, wearing a gorgeous light blue backless gown and diamond- and gold-adorned high heels, jogging to catch up with V's brisk stride. "It'll be hard to pay you back after this."
"Why should you pay me back?" V stuffed the shopping bags into Excalibur's trunk. "I have more money than I can spend. Don't worry about the small stuff."
"But it's your hard-earned money," So Mi stopped her hand from opening the car door, holding V's hand firmly. "It shouldn't be spent on me."
For a moment, V's expression looked like she had just heard something completely absurd. Her gaze moved from So Mi's hand over her metallic prosthetic arm and finally landed on her beautiful brown eyes.
"Get in the car," V's tone softened, carrying a gentle and reassuring warmth. "We'll talk more at the restaurant."
So Mi felt like she must be losing her mind. The agitation she felt moments ago was soothed halfway by the warmth and pleading in V's voice.
The rest of the ride was silent. Fortunately, the La Lune Bleu and JINGUJI were both in the city center, not far apart. The silence didn't last long, and soon V was pulling into the parking lot of a restaurant.
The waiter was already waiting at the door, giving a slight bow as he opened it and led them to their seats.
The restaurant looked just as So Mi had imagined. The primary decor was a deep, cool blue, accompanied by the soft sound of a piano playing in the background, all of which screamed high-end sophistication.
It was lunchtime, yet the restaurant was empty. So Mi couldn't help but wonder if V had reserved the entire place.
"Go ahead," the netrunner said once the waiter left, "We didn't finish our conversation earlier."
V pressed her lips together.
That expression would likely never appear in front of her clients. Through the soft lighting of the restaurant, So Mi studied V closely. Right now, she looked far too much like someone who had been cornered and had no way out.
The thought made the netrunner feel a little deflated. V had always been so genuine with her. She was the one who had saved her life. Should she really be so harsh? But hadn't she already paid her back for what she owed? The Relic issue had been solved by V herself. If things kept going like this, how was she supposed to face the sincerity of their friendship?
"If I've made you uncomfortable, I'm sorry," V finally released her lips, speaking with a slight heaviness. "Since I took over the Afterlife, I've hardly had time for anything else. I haven't seen a friend in ages. Maybe I've forgotten how to interact with friends normally, rather than just throwing a few bucks around."
V gave a self-deprecating laugh, a tinge of pain showing in her eyes.
"Why?" So Mi asked. "I remember you had a lot of good friends before. You seemed happier then."
So Mi didn't think that V was the kind of person who had to chase power for its own sake. She had heard V say more than once that she wanted to become a living legend, but that had always been based on her unmatched combat skills, not trying to stir things up in the political and corporate worlds.
"Because…"
V lifted her eyes to look at So Mi. She thought of Johnny for a moment. If that guy was still around, maybe she'd have had more courage to tell the person in front of her everything. Maybe she could tell her that she didn't have much time left, and everything she had built would one day be So Mi's foundation, a source of power that would ensure she'd never be threatened again.
So Mi didn't press her, quietly watching V, waiting for her to continue.
"I just want you to be safer when you come back," V sighed and decided to tell part of the truth. "NUSA isn't easy to deal with. Myers has been breathing down my neck, so I have to do everything I can to pull all the forces together and fight back. I can't afford to relax."
After saying that, V fell silent, whether So Mi agreed or not, she had said what she needed to.
So Mi's eyes widened. Although V had said she had suppressed Myers, the way she'd spoken before had made it sound so easy. Even though the former FIA agent had guessed that dealing with this wouldn't be easy, she hadn't expected that her fight with NUSA was the very thing that had driven V into the corner she was in now.
No. So Mi quickly thought. It was me who pushed V into this. If it weren't for me, V might still be a free mercenary, taking jobs and laughing and fighting with her friends, living a life full of freedom.
I am the real culprit. I not only deceived and used V to survive, but I also took away her freedom.
But the netrunner still didn't understand. V had already been so kind to her back in Dogtown. What reason did she have to go this far for her? Before, V hadn't even known if she would make it back from the moon, yet she had willingly cleared obstacles for So Mi on Earth.
Unless…
So Mi looked at the pair of uneasy, clear green eyes in front of her, and a flood of memories rushed through her mind. Aside from the initial wariness when they first met in the Relic, V had always been willing to help. When So Mi went off the grid, V had panicked and shouted for her. At the Black Saphire Party, V had openly marveled and admired her. During their conversation on the rooftop, every word was full of understanding and support. After escaping Dogtown, she had stood still and watched as So Mi walked away. And during the airport battle, V had stayed steadfast, guarding her from the pursuing enemies, keeping her safe, even without a single scratch.
And in the past five months, everything V had done… Based on the reactions of Emmerich, Rogue, and Nix when they saw her, it was clear that V's inner circle had been keeping tabs on her, preparing for her return.
None of this seemed like the attitude someone would show to a friend they had only known for a month. It felt more like V was treating her as something to be cherished and protected.
So Mi's cold metallic fingers touched her forehead. She didn't dare ask V. She didn't know what kind of feelings she had for her. There were so many conflicting emotions—guilt, gratitude, an understanding that mirrored her own, and the bond formed through life-and-death battles. These complicated feelings made it hard to tell if she was just grateful or if it was something else. So she didn't dare ask. No matter what V's answer was, she didn't know how to respond.
The waiter came and went, and the table in front of them was soon filled with exquisite, rare dishes from Night City. But the two people sitting across from each other didn't seem to notice, frozen in place.
"I understand now," So Mi finally spoke, lowering her hand from her forehead, her face calm again. "You told me yesterday that I don't have to worry about Myers anymore. Does that mean you can relax a bit with your work now?"
V stared at So Mi in confusion, not sure how to feel. It was like a prisoner waiting for the guillotine to fall, only to hear the judge say in a calm tone, "You have been working so hard lately, do you mind resting for a while?"
A bit of relief, but not much. The guillotine still hung above her head, its fate uncertain.
"…I can relax now," V hesitated before speaking. "Right now, the main thing is just sorting out a few new ways to make money. But those are already on track."
"Then, good," So Mi nodded. "Let's eat."
The sound of metal meeting metal echoed as So Mi picked up her knife and fork and began to eat the food in front of her.
V picked up her fork, but didn't take any food. She blinked, unsure whether she should say something else.
The person across from her cut a small piece of fish and chewed it with a squint.
V watched her for a moment and suddenly felt that everything else didn't matter.
Her feelings for So Mi had always been a burden. She had noticed something was off back in Dogtown, as this netrunner had taken up all of her thoughts almost from the moment they first met. Everything V had done after that was to save her life, even putting aside her own looming death.
Johnny had commented on it countless times, but in the end, he had forced her to live by using the name of the person sitting in front of her.
V wasn't planning to torture herself in her final days. She of course wanted to take things further with the person she cared about, and wouldn't hide her feelings.
But she was close to death.
So, even if So Mi understood her feelings, what would it matter? She was still inevitably heading toward death. Rather than selfishly tearing down the barrier between them and forcing a change in their relationship, leading to a painful farewell later, it was better to maintain the current balance and not rock the boat.
There wasn't much time left anyway.
"I don't know if it's my taste buds that are off," V finally said, her mood lifting as she thought things through, "But I've always felt like synthetic fish tastes better than the real deal."
"I feel the same," So Mi leaned slightly forward, lowering her voice, "It seems like the synthetic fish from All Food Factory tastes even better."
V chuckled softly.
The two of them finished the meal, both lost in their own thoughts. During the meal, V's holo-phone rang a few times, but she unhesitatingly hung up each time.
"Is there somewhere you want to go next?" V asked, leaning against the car door.
"Back to Afterlife. I can write some more code," So Mi said. "You've still got work, right?"
"It's not urgent," V frowned slightly. She didn't want So Mi to feel like she had to adjust for her.
"I'm not going anywhere for a while," So Mi said, her tone tinged with a helpless smile. "You've got plenty of time to show me around the city, no need to rush it in a day or two."
V was drawn in by the meaning behind her words. Did this mean that, for the foreseeable future, So Mi would stay with her?
"Alright," V's eyes lit up.
The new queen of Afterlife under the sunlight looked soft and bright, as if she could be molded and shaped by So Mi's hand, full of anticipation and joy reflected in the corners of her eyes.