I met his mother.

She was locked up in a chamber of the asylum.

The nurses called her dangerous and warned me to rethink meeting her.

"I don't think she'd be of any harm."

The looks they gave weren't very pleasant.

But I can cope with that.

As long as I could get any lead to what might've happened that day.

The first thing she said when she saw me was,

"Wh-where is m-my NingNing?"

My heart had squeezed when I saw her eyes shining with hope.

I stayed silent.

She continued.

"Please f-find my NingNing, h-he would be hu-hungry.
I made h-his favorite t-teokbokki."

I had to stone myself from the overwhelming emotions.

"You have to tell me more about your NingNing so that I can find him quickly."

It was like talking to a five-year-old kid explaining about his imaginary friend.

I listened to her every word carefully.

"He n-never makes fr-friends.
A boy had p-pushed him i-in the l-lake when he was e-eight.
I-I am his f-friend, he s-says."

He really was alone.

All on his own.

Why don't you want friends, Kai?

Why do you love that toy car from when you were four so much that you never slept without it?

Do you still have that car with you?

Are you able to sleep?

Are you alive?