Orv: Laughter is chaos

Tom's POV

The story was changing.

That much was expected. But the way it shifted? Unpredictable. Messier.

I stood there, arms crossed, watching as panic slithered through the subway car like a slow poison.

No one had made a move yet. No one had killed.

But the timer was ticking.

I scoffed under my breath and shook my head.

There was no saving everyone. I'd accepted that long ago.

"...What to do," I murmured, glancing around. "So much's already changed, just because I'm here."

I'd disrupted the script.

Thrown pebbles in a carefully laid track.

Some things had already veered left of canon—and I wasn't sure how far the ripple would go.

Still. I had priorities.

Dokja.

And the kid. Gilyoung.

They came first.

My gaze flicked toward Kim Dokja—and something in me snagged.

'Since when did I start referring to him as Dokja?' I thought, blinking.

The familiarity sat on my tongue like a word I wasn't meant to say yet.

He caught me staring.

"Are you okay?" Kim Dokja's voice was low. Careful.

I blinked again. The way he looked—dark hair falling into his eyes, jaw set tight with nerves but still trying to stay rational. He was really cute.

Which was absolutely not helpful right now.

I coughed into my hand, turned my face slightly, and tried to hide the sudden heat blooming in my cheeks.

"...Just thinking," I muttered. "Trying to figure out how to keep you safe. In case something worse happens."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kim Dokja stiffen. His expression shifted—eyes widening, then narrowing, like he was trying to fit me into a shape that didn't make sense.

His voice was almost a whisper.

"...Why?"

Why protect me?

Why care?

I hesitated. Then gave him a crooked, awkward smile.

"Because," I said softly, "I don't want to lose you yet."

Kim Dokja's POV

"Because I don't want to lose you yet."

The words settled like ash in my lungs.

I stared at him.

Why?

We'd just met.

He didn't know me.

Not really.

So why...?

Why would he say something like that?

Why did it sound like he meant it?

I didn't know what disturbed me more—that he said it...

Or that my chest tightened when he did.

That shouldn't have happened.

That shouldn't have meant anything.

But it did.

God help me, it did.

3rd person pov:

Tom and Kim Dokja were still staring at each other.

Neither spoke. Neither moved. It wasn't clear who would break the silence first—or if either of them even knew why they were staring.

Then—

"Ahem."

A cough. Subtle, awkward, and very human.

They both turned at once.

To their left stood a broad-shouldered man—his military posture unmistakable even without a uniform. Beside him was a child, still tightly clutching an insect case like it was a life raft.

Lee Hyunsung. And the boy... Lee Gilyoung.

The kid blinked at them. His expression was wide-eyed, confused—but not frightened. He just stood there, holding his bug cage, watching the two grown men like he'd walked in on a scene he wasn't meant to see.

Tom and Kim Dokja both looked away from each other, flustered.

Tom was the first to recover. He cleared his throat and tilted his head at them. "Can we help you?" he asked, his voice calm but a little sheepish.

The child didn't answer. Instead, he walked forward without hesitation—and reached out.

His small fingers latched onto both their sleeves.

Kim Dokja stared at him.

Tom blinked in surprise.

The boy said nothing. He just stood between them, clinging tightly.

[The constellation "Laughter is Chaos" chuckles softly.]

[Several constellations are moved by the young child's trust.]

[The constellation "The One Who Waits Beneath the Snow" is silent.]

Tom's eyes flicked toward the mother again—curled up in the far corner of the subway car, her hand still wrapped around a kitchen knife. Her back was to them. Her eyes were distant. She wasn't there anymore.

He realized it then: The kid must've been terrified. Alone.

Tom knelt down slowly, placing a gentle hand on Gilyoung's head. He ruffled the boy's hair softly.

"It's okay, kid," he said, his voice low and kind. "We'll protect you."

[The constellation "Laughter is Chaos" coos, 'Awww, my precious little survivor group~']

[The constellation "A Voice Like Distant Thunder" is pleased by your empathy.]

[A few constellations flicker with interest at the unfolding party dynamics.]

The boy didn't speak. But his hands tightened on their sleeves, holding on with quiet desperation.

Kim Dokja, still stiff, finally moved. He hesitated for just a moment—then sighed and shifted, wrapping a careful arm around the child in a protective half-embrace.

Tom smiled faintly.

[The constellation "Laughter is Chaos" says, 'Just a family~' and pouts.]

Tom's eye twitched.

Ignore them, he told himself. Ignore the cosmic gremlin narrating your life like it's a drama rerun.

He turned his attention to Lee Hyunsung, who was watching them closely, hands folded behind his back.

Tom gently released the child's sleeve and stepped forward. He extended a hand toward the soldier and, with a cautious glance around, spoke in English—keeping his tone low.

"No offense, but some ears around here aren't trustworthy," he muttered. "Name's Tom. Nice to meet you."

Lee Hyunsung's eyes widened, then he smiled—a quiet, grateful expression that made his soldierly features soften. He took Tom's hand in a firm shake.

"Lee Hyunsung," he replied. "And... thank you. For protecting the boy."

[The constellation "Master of Steel" nods approvingly at your alliance.]

[A few constellations offer coins to support the alliance.]

[The constellation "Laughter is Chaos" throws imaginary rice at the handshake.]

[The constellation "Watcher of Silent Bonds" is quietly pleased.]

Their handshake ended—but something invisible settled between them. Mutual respect. Quiet understanding.

In this wreckage of the world, those things were rare.

But maybe, just maybe, this was how something survived. In the background, Kim Dokja was still shielding the boy, glancing at Tom like he couldn't decide if he was impressed or suspicious.

Tom tilted his head at him. "You good, Dokja?"

Kim Dokja blinked. "Don't call me that so casually."

[The constellation "Laughter is Chaos" gasps: 'Oho~ So formal~']

[Several constellations are whispering excitedly.]

Tom smirked faintly.

The train car was still tense. Blood on the floor, system messages lingering in their vision, a mother gone silent, and an ominous countdown ticking down somewhere behind their eyes.

But for just a moment, three strangers had become something resembling a group.

And the constellations?

They were watching.

Tom's POV

Now what?

We only had a few minutes left. Honestly, it felt longer than the original timeline. Time stretched weirdly here—slower, heavier. Maybe it was just the pressure.

I'd already changed a lot.

I blinked, attention snapping to Kim Dokja's voice.

"I'm Kim Dokja. Are you perhaps a soldier, Hyunsung-ssi?"

He was calm. Steady. His tone polite but direct as he extended a hand.

Lee Hyunsung nodded with military precision, his posture straightening a little more before he returned the gesture and shook Dokja's hand respectfully.

"Yes, I am. I've been trying to contact my unit, but... there's no response. No signal," Hyunsung said, his voice laced with quiet frustration.

I nodded, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yeah. Signal's dead. Has been since the start."

Of course it was. The scenario had them boxed in, cut off. No messages out. No help coming.

My gaze flicked between the two as they spoke. Dokja and Lee Hyunsung—talking this early. That wasn't supposed to happen yet. Not like this.

Another deviation from canon.

I narrowed my eyes.

Everything really was shifting. And fast.

Then I felt it.

A small hand slipped into mine.

I looked down—and there was Gilyoung, holding on without saying a word. His bug cage dangled from his other hand like a lifeline.

I couldn't help it. I smiled.

Even Lee Gilyoung was here. Early.

Even he had chosen to trust me.

Another thread I hadn't meant to pull—yet here we were.

Then I felt it.

Eyes on me.

But not from the constellations this time.

No, this was something else. Heavier. Closer.

I turned my head slightly—and there he was.

Kim Namwoon.

Lurking a few seats away. Watching us.

How could I forget?

The first antagonist. The catalyst of the original slaughter. The wildcard soaked in blood by Chapter 3.

Only... this time, he hadn't moved. He wasn't laughing. No knife out. No cruelty yet.

He was just... observing.

Silent.

It unsettled me.

Kim Namwoon was dangerous. Unpredictable. A powder keg in human form.

And yet, for now—he was still.

I didn't know how to feel about that. A part of me wanted to act now, stop him before he could do something terrible. But...

But I didn't want to kill anyone.

Not yet.

Especially not a kid. Even him.

Still, I couldn't let my guard down. Not with Kim Dokja here. If Namwoon went after him—

He shouldn't. Not yet. Not without a trigger.

But people like him didn't always need a reason.

For now, he was just watching.

So I would watch him, too.

"Tom-ssi."

"Tom."

Two voices snapped me out of my thoughts.

I blinked and looked up—Kim Dokja and Lee Hyunsung were both staring at me.

"Huh? What?" I asked, blinking again, a bit thrown off.

Dokja gave me a look that bordered on exasperation. "Are you seriously spacing out at a time like this?"

There was a faint sweatdrop forming at his temple. Cute.

I laughed nervously, scratching my cheek. "Haha—just thinking about something..."

I glanced between the two of them. "So? Why are you guys calling for me in stereo?"

Dokja sighed. That familiar, weary sound like the universe itself disappointed him on a daily basis.

Lee Hyunsung stepped forward, still a little awkward around me, and offered a small, polite smile. "Tom-ssi. Dokja-ssi and I were... discussing our next move."

"Next move?" I tilted my head, then crossed my arms. "Isn't it obvious?"

They both blinked at me.

"We survive," I said simply, with a smirk tugging at my lips.

A beat of silence.

I saw the flicker in Kim Dokja's expression—amusement, and maybe something else. Hyunsung looked more hesitant.

But I was already this deep. Might as well be the one to push the story forward.

"We survive," I repeated, quieter this time, "even if it's just us."

Hyunsung's brows furrowed. "But—"

I raised a hand, cutting him off gently. "Soldier, you should know... once that timer hits zero, we're dead. No exceptions. This scenario isn't bluffing."

I met his gaze, serious now. "The rule is simple: kill or be killed."

Hyunsung looked down, fists clenched. His jaw was tight. I could tell he hated it. He closed his eyes for a second, as if forcing himself to breathe.

"...I still want to save people," he said quietly. "There has to be a way."

My chest tugged at that. This guy—he really was kind. Like a damn saint dropped into a hellscape. I softened.

"...Then we try," I said.

Hyunsung's head shot up. "How?"

I glanced at Dokja.

"Actually," I said, "Dokja and I already cleared the condition."

Hyunsung blinked. "What...?"

"You read the scenario, right?" I continued. "'Kill one living being.' It doesn't say human being."

Hyunsung's eyes widened as realization hit. He whispered it like a mantra.

"...It doesn't have to be human."

"Exactly," I said. "The question is—what counts?"

Just then, a soft ding echoed in the air.

Achievement notification.

All of us turned to the left—Kim Dokja was standing there calmly, holding something.

The insect case.

Lee Gilyoung stood beside him, clutching Dokja's hand with one of his own. With the other, he reached out and took hold of my sleeve again.

I looked down at him—and grinned.

Smart kid. Smart guy.

Kim Dokja raised the insect case slightly, then looked at us. "I think I know how."

Hyunsung's breath caught. His eyes flicked from Dokja to the bug cage, then to Gilyoung—and finally back to me.

And just like that, the path locked in.

I smiled.

Kim Dokja had made his move.

Finally.

To be continue