< dilapidated building >

Vigilant gaze tarried upon the mayor on the dais, figure abided far behind from the mob, reluctant to join the mass of bodies jostling against one another at the front. The lone man standing on the podium was all his regard resided upon, heeding no mind to the whispered colloquy of the crowd, expectant of the speech which would be delivered. Seated on a pew, Ten perked up when Mayor Jung begun orating, distantly noting the hushing of the throng as all eyes landed upon the spokesperson of their town.

The initial round of applause was out of habit and courtesy, Ten aping along deftly before the acclamation died down to permit the mayor to resume. The precipitous yield in sangfroid left Ten stunned, lips separating an infinitesimal bit as eyes filled with puzzlement and pity stared at the crying mayor. Someone clapped their support, followed by another, and before long, everyone joined in the applauding, exhibiting their succour for the mayor and conveying a silent message, informing him that he had them and that he wasn’t alone.

Ten smiled, lifted his own hands, and clapped slowly in suit.

A quiet evening in which the wind oscillates with Jaehyun's breathing, the warm zephyr under blueberry skies enwraps the mayor into contention. The people gather beneath, the platform upheld by sturdy metallic-reinforced floorings, the microphone standing upright in front of Jaehyun. His hand holds onto the neck thereof just as a rasp elicits out of his throat. "Good evening, everyone," Jaehyun starts, knuckles rapping onto the wood of his desk.

"This the twenty-fifth founding anniversary of Purple Autumn, a town weathered by time, resistant through calamities, whose capability is all because of you." A clapping ensues. "With which I am all grateful for; had it not been for you, this town would be unable to even stand and be a home to nurture you in all at this moment. So really thank you." Composure shatters underneath the pressure, his facade crying in shards of iridiscent judgments calibrated by the watchful eyes of the townspeople. A show of hands booms through the sudden silence, another pair and another pair until the building is crowded with the sound of clapping. Jaehyun lifts up a shaky smile upon his lips, grateful and thankful.

It doesn't answer as to why the people are locked up though.