The vibrant city of Seoul hums with a life of its own, a sprawling metropolis where the world's many wonders and ills coalesce. Amidst the labyrinth of its neon-lit streets and shadowy corners, a figure navigates her way with a familiar ease – Lee Yubin, a woman of intrigue and resilience.

Blessed with a slender figure, Yubin exudes an unconventional charm. Her eyes, a captivating blend of coffee and caramel, hold tales of hardship, survival, and an unyielding spirit. The silvery-gray strands of her hair, often bundled up in a ponytail, contribute to her enigmatic persona, a beacon of quiet strength amidst life's turbulence.

Born and raised in Itaewon, a starkly contrasting district nestled in Seoul's underbelly, Yubin has been weathered by life's cruelties. Itaewon, a place where luxury and struggle reside side by side, gave her a relentless education in survival. Here, she honed the art of stealth and speed, her hands evolving into the invisible tools of a pickpocket. Amongst the locals, she earned a formidable reputation as the 'Invisible Hands of Itaewon.'

Yet, in the core of Yubin's existence, there was a yearning for normalcy, a desire to cleanse her life of its illicit undertones. This longing pushed her to seek part-time jobs, trading the thrill of theft for the mundanity of honest work. Even though formal education had been a luxury she couldn't afford, her dreams remained untouched by poverty's tarnish.

Her latest attempt at an honest life led her to a part-time job at a convenience store. However, the malicious intentions of the store owner cast a shadow on her pursuit of normalcy. Accused unjustly of being shortchanged, Yubin's patience snapped. Retreating to her old survival instincts, she snatched the owner's wallet – a desperate act of defiance against an unjust world.

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"I don't understand what's going on, but this is so much more than that ert owed me. Where did Minji-unnie get this money? I know she is poor too," Yubin murmured to herself, her hands shuffling through the wad of bills stuffed inside the bag. Her brows furrowed, eyes widening at the amount of money it held. It was like peering into an oasis in the midst of a relentless desert.

Hugging the bag closer to her chest, she began wandering aimlessly through the labyrinthine streets of Seoul, her mind a whirlpool of thoughts. This bag, carrying more money than she had seen in years, was now her lifeline. With it, she could keep herself afloat, safe from the gnawing pangs of hunger, sheltered from the biting winds of winter. Yet, the origin of this lifeline baffled her.

Her mind circled back to Minji, her soft-spoken co-worker from the convenience store. How did Minji know? How did she know about Yubin's impulsive theft? A fresh wave of guilt washed over Yubin at the thought of it. Her fists tightened around the bag, knuckles white.

"Babo!" she reprimanded herself, smacking her forehead with her palm. She could almost feel the ghostly sensation of the owner's wallet in her hand, its contents unexplored, discarded as impulsively as it had been taken. That had been her breaking point - a blinding moment of anger transforming into an act she deeply regretted.

A thief she might have been, but Yubin had always been careful, always chosen her victims. This time, it was different. It was not a cool-headed decision but an explosion of pent-up frustration, a raw, visceral reaction to being unjustly wronged.

The weight of the bag seemed to grow with each step she took, a constant reminder of the path she had sworn to leave, yet kept being pulled back towards. It was the path that had led her to Minji, to this moment, and to a future now veiled in uncertainty.

Enveloped by the shadowy labyrinth of Seoul's underbelly, Lee Yubin was abruptly halted by a voice that echoed unnervingly familiar. It was like a splinter from her past, a jarring reminder of the life she'd once led. The owner of the voice was an unexpected ghost from her past, Jeon Soyeon, a girl whose rough edges mirrored those of the toughened streets.

"Yah, Lee Yubin! What are you up to? Long time no see!" The words came out more as a threat than a greeting. Soyeon was flanked by a group of figures, each radiating a certain feral aggression, their appearances no different from her own - hardened by the city's underbelly.

"J-Jeon Soyeon. W-what do you want?" Yubin stammered, struggling to maintain an indifferent facade. She avoided Soyeon's venomous gaze, her hand involuntarily tightening its grip around her bag.

"Yah, Yubin-ah. What's wrong with you? Look at me, you . You got some bones now?" Soyeon retorted, physically forcing Yubin to meet her gaze. Yubin jerked herself free, a move that was greeted by the harsh laughter of Soyeon's companions.

This ragtag bunch was Soyeon's gang, a notorious group known for its petty crimes in Itaewon. Yubin herself was once a part of this group, using her skills as a pickpocket for their benefit.

"Wanna work for me again? I hate to admit it, but nobody can match the Invisible Hands of Itaewon," Soyeon said with a grudging smirk.

"I don't do that anymore," Yubin muttered, her gaze skirting away from Soyeon's.

Annoyed, Soyeon responded with a profanity and turned to leave. But before they could disperse, a sharp exclamation from Miyeon, one of Soyeon's gang members, redirected everyone's attention back to Yubin and her tightly held bag.

"Yah, looks like Yubin got something!" Miyeon exclaimed, causing Soyeon to storm back towards Yubin, her eyes narrowing on the bag.

"Yah, Yubin-ah, you hypocrite. You keep on yapping that you don't steal anymore, but here you are, keeping a haul all for yourself," Soyeon spat, venom dripping from her words. "Give me the bag!"

"Go away, Soyeon. A friend gave this to me. I didn't steal this!" Yubin shot back, her body trembling, but her grip on the bag remained unyielding.

Soyeon's patience snapped. Pulling out a knife, she advanced towards Yubin, her intentions mirrored in the blade's glint. "Don't make me use this on your pretty face."

Before the situation could escalate further, an unfamiliar voice rang out. "I didn't know that Itaewon is full of trash in broad daylight." The tension diffused momentarily as all eyes turned to the source of the voice.

Two women were approaching the group. The one who had spoken was a captivating sight with her blue hair tied into a ponytail. However, it was the second woman who stole Yubin's breath away.

"M-Minji-unnie!" Yubin exclaimed in surprise and relief.

Jiu, known to Yubin as Minji, returned her shock with a warm smile.

"Who the hell are you two? Friends of Yubin-ah?" Soyeon sneered, turning to the blue-haired woman, Siyeon.

"If you value your own safety, I suggest that you scram away and never show your ugly face in front of us," Siyeon countered, her eyes not leaving Soyeon's as she continued her approach.

Incensed, Soyeon leaped at Siyeon, knife raised. Yet, the impending threat seemed to unfurl in slow motion for Siyeon. With a swift, calculated move, she disarmed Soyeon, followed by a brutal twist and snap of her arm.

The violent spectacle was punctuated by Soyeon's scream. "I warned you," Siyeon voiced with deadly calm as she kicked Soyeon, now writhing on the ground.

At Siyeon's daunting challenge, Miyeon rushed to Soyeon's aid, hauling her leader away from the scene.

"Yah, Lee Yubin, are you okay? Are you hurt?" Jiu's concerned voice cut through Yubin's shock, pulling her back to the reality of the deserted alleyway.

"U-unnie, I'm okay... I just... I don't understand what's happening," Yubin stammered, her body trembling from the adrenaline that had yet to subside.

"What happened," Siyeon interjected, her demeanor having returned to its usual playful energy, "is that my Jiu-unnie saved your and now you owe her your life."

"J-jiu?" Yubin asked, confusion marring her already disoriented features.

"That's my real name, Jiu. Kim Jiu." Jiu's voice was soothing as she gently guided Yubin towards a nearby bench, patting her head in an attempt to alleviate her distress. "That pretty lady over there is Lee Siyeon."

"Yah, thank Jiu-unnie or else I'll do the same to you," Siyeon joked, smirking as she leaned against the wall, watching the exchange.

Caught off guard, Yubin quickly pulled away from Jiu's comforting touch, bowing several times in rapid succession. "T-thank you, M-minji-- no, Jiu-unnie! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Her words spilled out in a rushed jumble, like a broken record stuck on repeat.

"Yah, Lee Siyeon! Stop teasing the poor girl!" Jiu scolded, though a gentle smile softened her words. She reached out to Yubin again, pulling the younger girl into a comforting hug. "No need to thank me, Yubin. It's okay."

The tender words broke something inside Yubin. Tears welled up in her eyes and before she knew it, she was sobbing in Jiu's arms. They remained like this for a while, Jiu providing silent support while Yubin released the tension and fear that had been pent up inside her.

Once her tears had subsided, Yubin opened up to Jiu about her past, recounting her youthful days as a pickpocket, the manipulation she'd endured at the hands of Soyeon and her gang, and her determination to escape that life for something cleaner, more honest.

"B-but where did you get this money that you gave me, Jiu-unnie?" She asked, clutching the bag that had caused all the turmoil.

Jiu was silent for a moment, her hand gently patting Yubin's head as she mulled over her response. "Since you opened up to me, I'll also be honest with you, Yubin-ah," she began, her gaze not meeting Yubin's. "I am just like you. The you in the past. But you are better than me. So much better. Invisible Hands of Itaewon really suit you."

Her words were confusing, her smile felt warm but held a certain sadness. "W-what do you mean?" Yubin asked.

"I am a thief. But just like you, I'm sick of doing evil. But that's the only thing I am good at. So that's why, I still steal, but from the monsters, and I give it back to the one who needs it the most," Jiu confessed, her eyes shining with a fierce determination that Yubin had never seen before.

"Y-you stole this?" Yubin questioned, pointing to the bag.

"Yes, from the erted store owner. That's what he owed you, plus the damages and trauma he caused you. I made him pay you back, ten times over," Jiu affirmed, her gaze never wavering.

Yubin was taken aback. Even though she knew stealing was wrong, she couldn't help but feel a strange thrill at the thought of using her talents for a purpose she believed in.

"I know that you hated to be used as a tool, but unnie will be asking now for a favor. Unnie needs your hands as a tool to achieve what she dreams. Will you be my invisible hands, Yubin-ah?" Jiu asked, her voice earnest as she clasped Yubin's hand in hers.

"Y-yes, I hate being used," Yubin admitted, her eyes welling up with tears again, "B-but if it's you, Jiu-unnie, I wouldn't mind. Use me in whatever you want, I will follow blindly, I will not ask." She wasn't sure why she was so willing to follow Jiu, but in that moment, she knew she would follow her to the ends of the earth, no matter what.

Jiu pulled her into a hug again, her voice thick with gratitude as she whispered, "T-thank you, Yubin."

"If Minji-unnie is Jiu-unnie, then please call me Dami," Yubin declared, choosing a new name to mark the beginning of her new life.