----
Training started after dinner.
And, as promised—
It was hell.
"Faster!"
Jiwoo vanished from one side of the basement and appeared near the opposite wall, sneakers scraping against the reinforced floor as he tried to stop without losing balance.
His breath came hard.
Sweat dripped down his temple.
But his eyes were focused.
Kayden sat on top of a training block in cat form, tail lashing sharply behind him.
"No. Again."
Jiwoo swallowed.
"Yes."
He pushed awakened energy through his body.
Carefully.
Not all at once.
Not like before.
He could feel the old instinct trying to return.
Gather everything.
Use everything.
Move once.
Strike once.
Win once.
But now, beneath his core, there was that second space.
The vacuum.
The strange storage Asuka had built for him.
It pulled faintly at his energy, not greedily, but steadily. Like a second breath inside him.
His reserves felt larger.
Not endless.
Not even close.
But fuller.
Stable.
Less fragile.
He moved again.
A blur.
Faster this time.
Kayden's eyes sharpened.
"Good. Again."
Jiwoo almost smiled.
Then Kayden snapped, "Don't get happy. That was still slow."
"Yes!"
"You can go faster."
Jiwoo planted his feet.
"I know."
"You don't know. If you knew, you'd already be faster."
Jiwoo winced.
"That's… true."
"Stop agreeing and move."
Jiwoo moved.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Each dash cut sharper through the room.
His steps became cleaner.
His breathing steadier.
The secondary space inside his core trembled whenever he drew too much too quickly, so he slowed his pull, adjusted the flow, and tried again.
Energy from the main core.
Energy resting in the secondary space.
Circulation.
Recovery.
Movement.
His body was exhausted.
But he wasn't empty.
That alone felt incredible.
Kayden noticed too.
Of course he did.
His eyes followed every shift in Jiwoo's energy.
Every wasted movement.
Every correction.
Every tiny improvement.
"Hah."
Jiwoo stumbled to a stop.
"Mr. Kayden?"
"You're lasting longer."
Jiwoo's face brightened.
"Really?"
"Don't look so pleased. You're still inefficient."
"Oh."
"But less inefficient."
Jiwoo smiled again.
Kayden clicked his tongue.
"That wasn't praise."
"It sounded like praise."
"It wasn't."
From the stairs, Asuka watched quietly.
She had been there for a while, leaning against the doorway with her arms loosely crossed.
Expression calm.
But her attention stayed on Jiwoo's core.
The secondary space was holding.
Good.
Not perfectly.
Not yet.
Sometimes the circulation stuttered.
Sometimes Jiwoo pulled from it too quickly and disrupted the flow.
Sometimes his body still treated the second storage like an emergency reserve instead of part of a continuous system.
But he was learning.
Fast.
Because he always did.
Asuka's mouth softened.
Then Kayden shouted, "Stop smiling, Jiwoo!"
Jiwoo startled.
"I wasn't!"
"You were!"
"I was just thinking I can do better!"
"That is worse!"
Asuka decided she had seen enough.
Training would continue.
Kayden would yell.
Jiwoo would somehow become encouraged by the yelling.
The basement would survive.
Probably.
She turned and headed upstairs.
The night air was cool.
Asuka stepped out onto the porch and closed the door softly behind her.
Inside, she could still hear faint sounds from the basement.
Kayden yelling.
Jiwoo apologizing.
Kayden yelling louder because Jiwoo had apologized instead of moving.
A normal evening.
For them.
Asuka leaned against the porch railing and lifted her hands to the bandages around her eyes.
She paused.
Then slowly unwound them.
The fabric loosened.
Cool air brushed against her skin.
She exhaled.
Her eyes opened.
Sky blue met the night.
The stars above were clear.
Not impossibly bright.
Not magical.
Just ordinary stars.
Distant.
Quiet.
Beautiful.
Her cream hair fell around her face, stirred gently by the breeze. She had left it loose, the strands still soft from her shower earlier, catching faint silver from the moonlight.
For once, she did nothing.
No future sight.
No training.
No planning.
No watching for incoming disaster.
Just air.
Just stars.
Just a small moment of peace.
She liked these moments.
Small.
Unimportant.
Easy to lose.
Maybe that was why she treasured them.
Then headlights turned onto the street.
Asuka's gaze shifted.
A sleek car slowed in front of the house.
Not hostile.
Not unexpected.
Still, her eyes sharpened slightly.
The driver's side opened first.
Inhyuk stepped out.
Then he moved around the car and opened the rear door.
Jiyoung Yoo stepped out.
Elegant.
Composed.
Her dark hair fell neatly around her shoulders, her posture straight despite the late hour.
Then she looked up.
And stopped.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Jiyoung had seen Asuka with bandages.
She had seen her calm.
Strange.
Quiet.
Difficult to read.
But this was different.
Asuka's eyes were uncovered.
And Inhyuk had been right.
They were sky blue.
Not the cold, unsettling blue he had described earlier.
Not now.
Now they were lighter.
Calmer.
Like an open sky after rain.
Still strange.
Still too clear.
Still carrying something Jiyoung could not name.
But beautiful.
Undeniably beautiful.
The breeze moved again, lifting Asuka's cream hair across her cheek. She tilted her head slightly, and the movement made her look both younger and somehow older than she should have been.
"What brings you here, Chairwoman?"
Her gaze moved.
"Inhyuk?"
Inhyuk recovered first.
"We came to talk about what happened this afternoon."
Asuka hummed softly.
"I see."
She stepped away from the railing.
"Would you like to come inside?"
Jiyoung shook her head.
"No."
Her voice was quiet.
"I don't want to intrude."
The word landed gently.
But Asuka understood.
So did Inhyuk.
Not inside.
Not after Shinhwa people had already crossed that boundary without permission.
Asuka's expression softened by a fraction.
"Then here is fine."
Inhyuk explained first.
Efficiently.
Carefully.
He told her what they had found.
That the two awakeners had been from Shinhwa. That they had been connected to Chairman Lee's side. That Chairman Lee was Jaehyuk Lee's father. That he had recently been appointed representative.
That he had raised complaints about Shinhwa sponsoring Jiwoo and Asuka as independent students for the academy. That what happened had been framed as a background check. A quiet, private investigation. A test of unknown variables.
Asuka listened.
She already knew.
She had seen enough through future sight to understand the shape of it.
Chairman Lee.
His irritation.
His arrogance.
His mistake.
Jiyoung's response.
Still, she did not interrupt.
Because they had come here personally. Because Inhyuk was explaining something he did not have to explain in detail. Because Jiyoung had come herself.
That part was the surprising one.
Not the politics.
Not the internal power struggle.
Not the fact that someone inside Shinhwa had decided to treat two unaffiliated sponsored students like objects to inspect.
That was predictable.
Disappointing, but predictable.
Jiyoung standing in front of her house at night?
That was not.
Asuka's gaze moved toward her.
Jiyoung met it.
For a moment, those sky-blue eyes rested on her without the barrier of bandages. Jiyoung understood then. Asuka knew more than she said. Maybe not everything. Maybe more than anyone should.
But she knew.
Jiyoung lowered her head.
"I'm sorry."
Inhyuk went still.
Asuka's eyes widened slightly.
Just slightly.
But it was enough.
Jiyoung continued, "It's my fault."
The night quieted around them.
Asuka stared at her.
Then said, "It is not."
Jiyoung lifted her head.
"You did not send them," Asuka said.
"No."
"And you did not approve it."
"No."
"Then it is not your fault."
Jiyoung's expression remained calm, but there was something heavier beneath it.
"They were Shinhwa people."
Asuka paused.
"They acted under Shinhwa's name," Jiyoung said. "Even if I did not order it, the responsibility does not disappear."
Inhyuk lowered his gaze.
"Chairwoman warned them in person," he added quietly. "This won't happen again."
Asuka looked between them. She had already known it would be handled. But she had not expected this. Not Jiyoung's personal apology. Not this degree of accountability.
She had known Jiyoung was strong. That much was obvious. Powerful enough to hold Shinhwa. Young enough that people were still waiting for cracks. Carrying too much under shoulders that should have been allowed to rest more often. Asuka recognized that. Haruka had known what it meant to be young and dangerous.
Young and watched.
Young and expected to carry weight because everyone else had decided she could.
But Jiyoung…
Jiyoung could have sent Inhyuk alone. It would have been enough. She could have issued a formal message. She could have apologized through someone else. She could have treated this as a solved internal matter and expected gratitude.
Instead, she came.
In person.
At night.
To stand outside the home that had been violated by people under her organization's name and lower her head.
Asuka's evaluation shifted.
Quietly.
Permanently.
"It's okay," Asuka said.
Jiyoung looked at her.
Asuka's voice remained calm.
"I am aware there are things inside Shinhwa that neither you nor Inhyuk can monitor every second."
A pause.
"Organizations are complicated."
Jiyoung's gaze sharpened faintly.
Asuka continued, "Power struggles. Pride. People testing boundaries. People assuming sponsorship means ownership."
Inhyuk's eyes widened slightly.
Asuka spoke as if she had seen the inside of countless systems.
Because she had.
Different world.
Same structure.
Different names.
Same rot.
"Shinhwa has already done a lot for Oppa and me."
A pause.
"Jiyoung has."
Jiyoung's expression shifted.
Just faintly.
"And Inhyuk has."
Inhyuk flushed immediately.
Not dramatically.
But enough.
Asuka lowered her head slightly.
"I am truly thankful."
The sincerity was quiet.
Simple.
Unexpectedly heavy.
"So there is no need to apologize again."
Inhyuk looked away, one hand near his mouth.
There it was again.
Jiwoo's kindness was bright.
Obvious.
Sun-warm.
Asuka's kindness was quieter.
Hidden under deadpan words and strange calm and impossible power.
But it was there.
Very much there.
And somehow, that made it worse.
Because both Seo siblings had a way of making adults feel painfully responsible.
Jiyoung watched Asuka carefully.
Then nodded once.
"I understand."
A pause.
"But I still wanted to say it."
Asuka's mouth softened.
"Then I accept."
For some reason, that felt more formal than expected.
Like a small treaty.
Jiyoung nodded again.
"T-Then…"
The slight stumble was barely there.
But there.
"We'll get going."
Inhyuk immediately straightened.
"Right. It's late."
Asuka looked between them.
"Have a good night."
Then, after a beat—
"Drive safely."
Inhyuk smiled.
"We will."
Jiyoung turned toward the car before Inhyuk could fully reach the door.
He blinked.
"Chairwoman—"
"I can open it."
"Yes."
She entered quickly.
Too quickly, maybe.
Inhyuk did not notice.
The faint color at Jiyoung's cheek.
Small.
Almost invisible.
But there.
Inhyuk hurried to the driver's seat.
The car started.
Slowly, it pulled away from the house.
Through the tinted window, Jiyoung glanced back.
Only once.
A small glance.
Measured.
Quiet.
To see Asuka's uncovered eyes one more time.
She probably thought Asuka would not notice.
But Asuka did.
Their gazes met through the darkened glass.
Briefly.
Jiyoung's eyes widened by a fraction.
Then the car continued down the street and disappeared around the corner.
Asuka stayed outside a little longer. The breeze moved through her hair. The stars remained where they were.
Quiet.
Unbothered.
She thought of Jiyoung Yoo.
Chairwoman of Shinhwa.
Strong.
Controlled.
Burdened.
She already knew Jiyoung was strong.
Anyone could see that.
A young woman carrying an organization on her shoulders with the kind of composure most adults failed to maintain.
Asuka understood that more than she wanted to. As Haruka, she had seen too many young people forced into positions they should not have had to bear. Asuka knew what responsibility looked like when it was too heavy.
Jiyoung wore it elegantly.
But it was still weight.
And yet, despite that weight, despite her position, despite the fact that she could have handled everything from behind a desk—
She came.
Personally.
To apologize for something she did not do.
That was rare.
Reliable.
Maybe even safe.
Asuka tilted her head slightly.
"It is hard to imagine Jisuk is her younger brother."
She paused.
Then corrected herself.
"No. Maybe it explains some things."
Jiyoung carried responsibility like a blade.
Jisuk carried affection like an insult.
Different methods.
Same direction.
Mostly.
Still…
"It is a wonder he did not inherit even a strand of her grace."
From inside the house, Kayden's voice echoed faintly from the basement.
"Faster! That was pathetic!"
Jiwoo shouted back, "Yes!"
A crash followed.
Then Kayden yelled, "Not into the wall!"
Asuka sighed.
Normal.
Very normal.
She wrapped the bandages loosely around her wrist instead of putting them back on and stepped inside.
The house smelled faintly like dinner, cat food, and whatever chaos Jiwoo had caused in the basement.
She could still hear Kayden shouting.
"You have more energy now! Use it properly, not like an idiot!"
"I'm trying!"
"Try better!"
"Yes!"
Asuka walked to the kitchen.
Opened the freezer.
Pulled out strawberry ice cream.
The spoon was already in the drawer where she liked it.
Good.
She served herself a small bowl, then added a little more.
Because the day had been troublesome.
Then she moved to the couch, plopped down, and picked up her book.
The Meaning of Life.
She was nearly finished with the second volume, though the first volume Life Is Meaningless remained her favorite so far.
The next volume waited on the side table.
A Meaningful Life???
Kayden had seen the title earlier and declared it suspicious.
Which obviously meant Asuka was excited to read it.
She took a bite of ice cream.
Cold.
Sweet.
Perfect.
Downstairs, Jiwoo crashed again.
Kayden yelled something that sounded deeply insulting.
Jiwoo apologized.
Kayden yelled louder.
The grey scarred cat climbed onto the couch beside Asuka and curled against her thigh.
Asuka stroked its head with one hand while turning the page with the other.
Her eyes remained uncovered.
Sky blue in the warm living room light.
Not cold now.
Not sharp.
Just calm.
Thoughtful.
Quiet.
For once, the future did not demand her immediate attention.
Chairman Lee had been handled.
Jiyoung had come personally.
Jiwoo was training.
The cats were safe.
Kayden was shouting.
And Asuka had ice cream.
Perhaps the awakened world was still troublesome.
It probably always would be.
But for this moment, at least—
Life was acceptable.
Maybe even pleasant.
She took another bite of strawberry ice cream and smiled faintly at the next sentence in her book.
Then from the basement came Kayden's furious shout.
"JIWOO, WHY ARE YOU SMILING WHILE SUFFERING?!"
Jiwoo's voice answered, breathless and bright.
"Because I think I'm improving!"
Asuka's smile grew.
Yes.
Definitely pleasant.
Later, Wooin came over again.
At this point, Jiwoo did not even ask if he wanted tea.
He simply made it.
Wooin accepted it with both hands and sat on the floor near the couch, the white stray from the alley immediately settling beside him like it had signed a permanent lease on his personal space.
The house was calm.
Mostly.
Kayden was on the couch arm, watching everything with the expression of a cat who had never once caused a problem in his life.
A lie.
A bold one.
Asuka lay stretched along the couch, one arm draped over her eyes.
Her bandages were not on.
They rested loosely on the side table beside The Meaning of Life.
Her cream hair spilled over the cushion, soft and slightly messy. She looked asleep.
She was not.
Not completely.
Her breathing had evened out, her body relaxed, but her awareness remained spread through the house like a thin thread.
The cats.
Jiwoo.
Wooin.
Kayden.
The doors.
The windows.
The street outside.
She was resting.
But if something happened, she would know.
Kayden knew that.
Which was why he did not tell her to go to her room.
He simply watched her for a moment, then looked away with a quiet huff.
Troublesome girl.
Even her naps were guarded.
Jiwoo sat across from Wooin with a cup in his hands.
He had been smiling earlier.
Trying to, at least.
But Wooin noticed the small crease between his brows.
The way his fingers tapped once against the cup before stopping.
The way his gaze kept drifting toward Asuka on the couch.
Wooin looked at him.
"Jiwoo."
Jiwoo blinked.
"Yes?"
"Is something wrong?"
Jiwoo paused.
Then smiled.
"No, it's…"
Wooin waited.
Jiwoo's smile softened into something more honest.
"A little."
Kayden's ear twitched.
Asuka did not move.
But she listened.
Wooin lowered his cup.
"What happened?"
Jiwoo looked toward Asuka again.
His voice dropped, even though she could hear him perfectly.
"Someone broke into our house earlier."
Wooin stilled.
The cat beside him lifted its head.
Jiwoo continued, "They were awakeners."
A pause.
"From Shinhwa. But not sent by Jiyoung."
Wooin's expression changed.
Subtle.
But sharp.
"They came here?"
Jiwoo nodded.
"When I was at school."
Wooin's gaze moved toward Asuka.
"She was alone?"
Jiwoo looked down.
"Asuka was here. And the cats."
Wooin's eyes lingered on Asuka.
Her arm still covered her face.
Still.
Quiet.
Resting.
But Wooin remembered the feeling of her finger poking his cheek.
The pain disappearing.
The bruises vanishing.
The way she had acted as though healing him was nothing.
He remembered her sitting with that strange book while listening to him talk about the orphanage.
He remembered how she had thanked him without making it heavy.
Asuka was kind.
Not in the same way Jiwoo was.
Not openly.
Not brightly.
But she was.
And someone had broken into her home while she was alone.
Wooin's hand tightened slightly around his cup.
"Was she hurt?"
Jiwoo shook his head quickly.
"No."
His voice softened.
"But one of the cats was."
Wooin looked down at the cat beside him.
Jiwoo's smile became smaller.
"Asuka healed it."
Wooin nodded.
"I see."
Then, after a moment, he said quietly, "She is strong."
Jiwoo nodded.
"I know."
"And the cats are strong too."
Jiwoo looked up.
Wooin's expression remained serious.
"The grey one especially."
For some reason, that made Jiwoo laugh.
Just a little.
Soft.
Surprised.
"Yeah."
Wooin looked relieved by that tiny laugh.
Not because the situation was funny.
Because Jiwoo had looked like he needed permission to breathe.
"It is good that everyone is okay," Wooin said.
Jiwoo nodded.
"It is."
"But you are still worried."
Jiwoo looked down at his tea.
"I know Asuka can protect herself. Better than anyone."
Kayden gave a quiet, approving huff.
Jiwoo continued, "But I don't like that it happened when I wasn't here."
Wooin listened.
"I don't like that someone came into our home because of me and Asuka being invited to the academy."
"It was not your fault."
Jiwoo smiled faintly.
"Asuka said that too."
"She is right."
Jiwoo looked at him.
Wooin's voice stayed calm.
"If someone chooses to do something wrong, that is their choice."
A pause.
"You did not make them do it."
Jiwoo's eyes softened.
"Wooin…"
Wooin looked away slightly.
"I am not good at cheering people up."
"You are."
"No."
"You are."
Wooin considered that.
Then said, "You should drink your tea before it gets cold."
Jiwoo smiled more naturally this time.
"That does help."
Wooin nodded once.
"Good."
Asuka's mouth curved faintly beneath her arm.
Not bad.
Wooin was improving.
The front door slammed open.
"I brought tribute."
Jiwoo jolted.
Wooin turned.
Kayden's expression went flat.
Asuka did not move.
Jisuk Yoo stood in the entryway holding multiple bags of cat treats like he had robbed a pet store and was proud of it.
"Why do you keep entering like that?" Jiwoo asked.
Jisuk kicked the door shut behind him.
"It was unlocked."
"It wasn't."
"Then your lock sucks."
Kayden narrowed his eyes.
Jisuk immediately straightened.
"Not criticizing the house. The lock. Respectfully."
Jiwoo blinked.
"Respectfully to the lock?"
Jisuk ignored him and stepped inside.
He approached Kayden first.
Obviously.
He opened the best-looking bag of treats and offered one with the grave seriousness of a knight approaching an emperor.
"For you."
Kayden stared.
Jisuk's hand did not tremble.
Much.
Kayden accepted the treat.
Slowly.
With dignity.
Jisuk exhaled like he had survived a trial.
Then he turned to the other cats.
"All right, you freeloaders. Line up."
The cats did not line up.
They swarmed.
Jisuk immediately got surrounded.
"Hey. One at a time. One at a— don't climb me, you little bastard!"
Jiwoo stood quickly.
"Jisuk, don't call them that."
"It's affectionate!"
Wooin watched as a tabby climbed Jisuk's pant leg.
Jisuk looked down at it.
"You have ambition. I respect that."
Kayden muttered, "He's building an army."
Asuka made a tiny sound from the couch.
Jisuk glanced over.
Then paused.
Asuka was lying there, hand over her eyes, uncovered bandages on the table.
He could see only a sliver of her face.
Cream hair against the cushion.
Bare legs curled slightly beneath the oversized shirt.
One hand loose at her side.
She seemed asleep.
Jisuk blinked.
He had never really seen her without the bandages before.
Not properly.
But her hand covered enough that he could not see her eyes.
He was curious.
Of course he was.
But he was not stupid enough to wake her.
Especially not with Kayden watching him.
Especially not after learning that Asuka had the kind of power that made even Kayden call her troublesome.
So instead, Jisuk lowered his voice slightly.
"Is she sleeping?"
Jiwoo glanced at Asuka.
"Resting."
"What does that mean?"
Kayden said, "It means she can hear you."
Jisuk froze.
To everyone else, it was a quiet meow.
Jisuk swallowed.
"Oh."
Jiwoo smiled.
"Casein Nitrate likes when the house is quiet."
Jisuk slowly looked at Kayden.
Then nodded.
"Right."
He lowered his voice even more.
"I will be respectful of the sleeping monster."
Asuka's lips curved faintly.
Jisuk pointed at her.
"She heard that."
Jiwoo smiled.
"She hears everything."
"That's creepy."
Wooin said, "A little."
Asuka murmured, "I also hear insults."
Jisuk jumped.
"You're awake?!"
"No."
"That's not how being awake works."
Asuka did not move.
"I am resting."
Jisuk stared.
Then looked at Jiwoo.
"She's weird."
Jiwoo smiled fondly.
"I know."
Jisuk looked back at Asuka.
His mouth opened, probably to make another comment.
Then he noticed Jiwoo's face again.
The smile was there.
But it looked tired.
Not physically.
Not just training tired.
Something else.
Jisuk's eyes narrowed.
"What's with you?"
Jiwoo blinked.
"What?"
"You look weird."
"I do?"
"Yes."
Jiwoo smiled.
"I'm okay."
Jisuk stared harder.
"No, you're doing that thing."
"What thing?"
"The smiling-like-an-idiot-while-something-is-wrong thing."
Wooin looked at him.
"That is accurate."
Jiwoo looked embarrassed.
"It's not—"
Jisuk turned to Wooin.
"What happened?"
Jiwoo panicked.
"Jisuk—"
Wooin answered calmly, "Someone broke into the house earlier while Jiwoo was at school. Asuka was here alone. They were from Shinhwa and were investigating them because of the academy sponsorship."
The room went quiet.
Very quiet.
Jisuk's expression changed.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just hard.
"What?"
Jiwoo immediately waved both hands.
"It's okay."
Jisuk slowly looked at him.
"What do you mean, it's okay?"
"The chairwoman and Mr. Goo already handled it."
Jisuk's eyes sharpened.
"Who?"
"I don't know the details."
Wooin added, "Someone from inside Shinhwa."
Jisuk's jaw tightened.
Asuka remained still, but beneath her arm, one eye opened faintly.
She already knew what shape this would take.
The future flickered.
Jisuk's anger.
Jaehyuk Lee.
Boyoung Choi covering her mouth in shock.
A fist.
A very stupid boy learning that being someone's son did not protect him from Jisuk Yoo.
Asuka closed her eye again.
She was too comfortable to intervene.
Also, it would be handled.
Messily.
But handled.
Jisuk stared at Jiwoo.
"How are you laughing right now?"
Jiwoo blinked.
"I'm not really laughing."
"You were smiling."
"I just…"
He lowered his hands.
"It's not a big deal."
Jisuk's expression darkened.
"It is a big deal."
Jiwoo looked away.
"From this incident, I found out only a few people from Shinhwa can participate in the academy."
Jisuk paused.
Jiwoo continued, "I heard everyone worked really hard to attend."
His voice softened.
"After hearing that…"
He looked down.
"I wasn't sure if I had the right to participate."
Silence.
Wooin looked at him.
Jisuk went completely still.
Jiwoo smiled faintly.
"Shinhwa is sponsoring me and Asuka even though we don't belong to their group."
A pause.
"If someone else lost their spot because of us…"
His fingers curled.
"I'd feel bad."
Jisuk stared at him.
For once, he had no immediate insult.
No loud retort.
No irritated click of his tongue.
Jiwoo looked up and tried to smile again.
"But it's okay. Really. The chairwoman said we can go. And Asuka thinks it's useful."
Kayden watched Jisuk carefully.
Jisuk's expression had settled into something dangerously blank.
Asuka sighed softly.
There it was.
Jisuk turned.
"I'm leaving."
Jiwoo blinked.
"Already?"
"Yeah."
"But you just got here."
"I dropped by."
"With four bags of cat treats?"
"It was on the way."
Wooin looked at the bags.
"All four?"
Jisuk pointed at him.
"Don't start."
He shoved his hands into his pockets and headed toward the door.
Jiwoo stood.
"Jisuk?"
"What?"
"Thanks for the treats."
Jisuk did not turn around.
"Tch."
A pause.
"Whatever."
Then he left.
The door shut behind him.
Jiwoo stared after him.
"Was he upset?"
Wooin looked toward the door.
"Yes."
Jiwoo's eyes widened slightly.
"Because of me?"
Kayden muttered, "Because he has common sense once every three months."
Asuka's mouth curved faintly.
Jiwoo looked confused.
"Casein Nitrate?"
Kayden flicked his tail.
Wooin quietly said, "I think he is worried."
Jiwoo looked down.
"Oh."
Asuka shifted slightly on the couch.
Her hand stayed over her eyes.
"Oppa."
Jiwoo turned.
"Yes?"
"Let him."
Jiwoo tilted his head.
"Let him?"
Asuka's voice was soft with sleep.
"Jisuk does not like feeling helpless."
Jiwoo blinked.
"And he is bad at comforting people."
Wooin nodded.
"That is true."
"So he will do what he is good at."
Jiwoo looked toward the door again.
"What is he good at?"
Kayden grinned.
"Violence."
Jiwoo paled.
"Asuka?"
But Asuka was already quiet again.
Resting.
Or pretending to.
Jisuk found Jaehyuk Lee exactly where he expected him to be.
With Boyoung Choi.
Of course.
The two of them were inside their lounge, talking as if nothing had happened.
As if Chairman Lee's people had not broken into someone's home.
As if unaffiliated students were just names on a paper.
As if Jiwoo had not sat there wondering whether he had stolen an opportunity from someone else.
Jisuk stopped walking.
Jaehyuk noticed him first.
His expression immediately twisted.
"Jisuk Yoo?"
Boyoung turned too.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Jisuk?"
Jisuk said nothing.
Jaehyuk frowned.
"What do you want?"
Jisuk's hands stayed in his pockets.
"You know what you did?"
Jaehyuk's face shifted.
Not enough.
But enough.
Boyoung noticed.
Jisuk did too.
Jaehyuk scoffed.
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb."
Jisuk stepped closer.
The air around him stirred.
"You sent people to investigate Jiwoo and Asuka's house."
Jaehyuk's expression hardened.
"I didn't send anyone."
"You did."
Jaehyuk's eyes narrowed.
"You're making a big deal out of nothing."
Jisuk stopped smiling.
Nothing.
That was the wrong word.
"Nothing?"
Jaehyuk folded his arms.
"They're unaffiliated. No background. No organization. They suddenly get sponsored by Shinhwa to attend the academy? Anyone would investigate."
"They broke into their house."
"That's not my problem."
Boyoung's hand flew to her mouth.
Because she saw it.
The exact moment Jisuk's patience snapped.
Wind burst around him.
Not enough to destroy the street.
Enough to make the air scream.
Jaehyuk barely had time to lift his guard before Jisuk crossed the distance.
The first hit slammed him backward.
The second took his balance.
The third cracked his defense wide open.
Boyoung gasped.
"Jisuk!"
Jisuk grabbed Jaehyuk by the collar before he could fall and dragged him close.
"Listen carefully."
Jaehyuk coughed, glaring.
"You—"
Jisuk drove him down against the ground hard enough to knock the breath from his chest.
"Jiwoo didn't steal your spot."
Another gust of wind pinned Jaehyuk in place.
"Asuka didn't steal anyone's spot."
Jaehyuk's teeth clenched.
"They—"
Jisuk leaned closer.
"If you have a problem with Shinhwa's decision, complain to my sister."
That made Jaehyuk flinch.
"Not them."
The wind sharpened.
"And if anyone from your side goes near that house again…"
Jisuk's eyes turned cold.
"I'll stop being this nice."
Boyoung stood frozen, one hand over her mouth, unable to do anything but watch.
Because Jisuk was angry.
Not the usual kind.
Not loud, childish irritation.
This was different.
Focused.
Protective.
Furious in a way that made it obvious he was not doing this for himself.
Jaehyuk coughed.
"You're insane."
Jisuk released him.
"No."
He stepped back.
"I'm annoyed."
A pause.
"Big difference."
He turned to leave, then stopped.
"And tell your father something."
Jaehyuk glared at him from the ground.
Jisuk looked over his shoulder.
"If he wants to measure people, he should use his own hands next time."
Then he walked away.
Boyoung stared after him.
Then looked down at Jaehyuk.
Then back toward where Jisuk had disappeared.
Her fingers remained over her mouth.
For a long moment, all she could think was—
Something had changed.
Jisuk Yoo had changed.
And whoever Jiwoo Seo and Asuka Seo were…
They were not people Shinhwa could quietly overlook anymore.
Asuka saw enough of it in fragments.
She did not open her eyes.
She did not sit up.
She simply lay on the couch, hand still resting over her face, while the future settled into the present.
A punch.
A warning.
Boyoung's shocked eyes.
Jaehyuk on the ground.
Jisuk's anger cooling into embarrassment the moment he realized he had done something kind.
Asuka smiled faintly.
Predictable.
But not unpleasant.
Kayden looked at her from the couch arm.
"You saw."
"Yes."
"Should we stop him?"
"No."
Kayden grinned.
"Good."
Jiwoo looked between them.
"Stop who?"
"No one," Asuka murmured.
Kayden's grin widened.
"Definitely no one."
Jiwoo looked more confused than before.
Wooin quietly drank his tea.
He understood enough to not ask.
Night came.
The house had settled.
Wooin had gone home earlier.
Or, at least, that was what Jiwoo thought.
Kayden had moved to the couch.
Asuka had finally sat up, eaten a late snack, then returned to resting with her book half-open against her lap.
Jiwoo was in the living room, still looking a little troubled despite everyone's attempts to reassure him.
Then came a knock at the door.
Jiwoo blinked.
"At this hour?"
Asuka did not look up.
"Open it."
Jiwoo stood and walked to the door.
When he opened it, Jisuk stood outside.
Hands in his pockets.
Expression irritated.
Like he had been dragged there against his will.
By himself.
"Jisuk?"
Jisuk looked away.
"I was nearby."
Jiwoo blinked.
"This late?"
"I said nearby."
"You came here from nearby?"
"That's what nearby means, idiot."
Jiwoo smiled a little.
"Do you want to come in?"
"No."
Jisuk shifted on his feet.
"I'm just dropping by."
Jiwoo looked at him.
There was something awkward in Jisuk's expression.
Something almost embarrassed.
"What is it?"
Jisuk clicked his tongue.
"Don't feel sorry."
Jiwoo blinked.
"Huh?"
"For participating in the academy."
Jiwoo went still.
Jisuk stared at the side of the doorway rather than directly at him.
"There's a policy."
"A policy?"
"Yeah."
Jisuk scratched the back of his neck.
"They need some independent awakened ones to attend too. People like you and your sister."
Jiwoo's eyes widened slightly.
"What?"
"You didn't steal anyone's opportunity."
Jisuk finally looked at him.
"So there's no reason to feel sorry."
The words were blunt.
Almost harsh.
But Jiwoo heard what was underneath them.
He always did.
His expression softened.
"Jisuk…"
Jisuk immediately frowned.
"Don't make that face."
"What face?"
"That one."
Jiwoo smiled.
"I'm happy."
"Why?"
"Because you came here to tell me that."
Jisuk's face flushed instantly.
"You crazy?!"
Jiwoo blinked.
"I'm not—"
"I said I was dropping by!"
"But—"
"I was nearby!"
"At night?"
"Do you want the information or not?"
Jiwoo smiled wider.
"Yes."
"Then shut up and accept it."
"Okay."
Jisuk looked away.
"Idiot. What are you smiling for?"
Jiwoo's smile did not disappear.
"Thank you."
Jisuk's ears turned red.
"Tch."
He stepped back.
"I'm leaving."
"Oh."
Jiwoo brightened.
"Okay, Jisuk. Bye!"
Jisuk waved one hand without looking back.
"Yeah, yeah."
The door closed softly.
Jiwoo stood there for a moment, warmth blooming in his chest.
Jisuk had come all the way here.
At night.
Just to tell him he did not need to feel guilty.
Jiwoo's eyes softened.
"He's really kind."
From the couch, Asuka murmured, "Do not say that to his face."
Kayden snorted.
"He might die."
Jiwoo laughed quietly.
Outside, Jisuk shoved his hands deeper into his pockets and walked away from the Seo house.
His face was still hot.
Stupid.
This was stupid.
He had only told Jiwoo a fact.
A necessary fact.
That was all.
It was not comforting.
It was not kind.
It was not anything.
He was just making sure Jiwoo stopped looking like an abandoned puppy over something that wasn't his fault.
That was all.
Completely normal.
Then he turned the corner and nearly ran into Wooin.
Both stopped.
Jisuk blinked.
Wooin blinked.
Jisuk's eyes narrowed.
"What are you doing here?"
Wooin looked toward the Seo house.
"I was nearby."
Jisuk stared.
"That's my line."
Wooin paused.
Then said, "I was worried."
Jisuk scoffed.
"About Jiwoo?"
Wooin nodded.
"And Asuka."
Jisuk rolled his eyes.
"Jiwoo is not a little kid."
A pause.
"Asuka maybe, but she's tough."
Wooin stared at him.
Jisuk immediately pointed.
"Don't look at me like that."
Wooin did not stop.
Jisuk's face reddened again.
"What?"
"You came too."
"No, I didn't."
Wooin blinked.
"You were at the door."
"I was dropping by."
"Because you were worried."
"No."
Wooin continued staring.
Jisuk's eye twitched.
"Not me. I was just dropping by."
"Late at night."
"Yes."
"Nearby."
"Yes."
"To tell Jiwoo not to feel guilty."
Jisuk's face turned redder.
"You're getting really annoying, you know that?"
Wooin's mouth twitched.
"Sorry."
"You don't sound sorry."
"I am a little sorry."
"That means you're not sorry."
Wooin did not deny it.
Jisuk sighed heavily and started walking past him.
Then stopped.
"Hey."
Wooin looked at him.
Jisuk kept his gaze ahead.
"I smashed up the punk who sent those intruders to investigate them."
Wooin went still.
"Jaehyuk Lee?"
"Yeah."
A pause.
"Message sent."
Wooin looked at Jisuk.
Jisuk huffed.
"What?"
Wooin raised one hand.
Thumbs up.
Jisuk froze.
Then snapped, "Don't give me a thumbs up!"
Wooin lowered his hand.
"But that was good."
"It wasn't good."
"It was helpful."
"It was violence."
"Sometimes those overlap."
Jisuk stared at him.
Then slowly pointed.
"You've been around Asuka too much."
Wooin considered that.
"Maybe."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I know."
Jisuk groaned.
"You people are impossible."
Wooin glanced back toward the Seo house.
Through the window, warm light glowed softly.
Inside were Jiwoo, Asuka, Kayden, and too many cats.
Safe.
For now.
Wooin's expression eased.
And outside, somewhere down the street, Jisuk Yoo pretended very aggressively that he had not just done something kind.
Inside the house, no one believed him.
Not even a little.
----