----
The next day came with another meeting.
Which, according to Asuka, was already one meeting too many.
She walked beside Jiwoo through Shinhwa headquarters with Kayden resting comfortably in her arms.
Comfortably according to everyone else.
According to Kayden, he was being transported because walking around Shinhwa in cat form was beneath him.
Naturally.
Asuka's arms were simply convenient transportation.
Nothing more.
Absolutely nothing more.
His eyes were half-lidded as one of Asuka's hands rested beneath him and the other moved occasionally over his back.
He was not enjoying it.
Obviously.
The Shinhwa employee guiding them glanced back.
"This way, please."
Jiwoo smiled.
"Thank you."
Asuka dipped her head.
Kayden yawned.
The employee smiled at him.
"What a cute cat."
Kayden's eyes opened.
Asuka's mouth curved.
Careful.
He felt her amusement immediately.
"Don't."
"I said nothing."
"You thought it."
"Unfortunately, you cannot prove that."
Kayden narrowed his eyes.
Jiwoo looked between them.
"Casein Nitrate seems happy today."
Kayden stared at him.
Asuka nearly laughed.
Poor Oppa.
Still innocent.
They reached the room a moment later.
The employee opened the door.
"The other Shinhwa participants are already waiting inside."
Jiwoo's expression brightened with curiosity.
Asuka already knew who was there.
Of course she did.
And more importantly—
She knew what one of them looked like today.
Which was why the corner of her mouth twitched before they even entered.
Inside sat two young awakeners.
Boyoung Choi.
And—
Jaehyuk Lee.
Asuka turned her covered gaze directly toward him.
Oh.
Wonderful.
Jisuk had truly done a number on him.
His face was still bruised.
Not destroyed.
Not seriously injured.
But definitely—
noticeable.
Very noticeable.
Kayden followed Asuka's attention.
His eyes narrowed.
Then he recognized the boy from the future fragments Asuka had mentioned.
The son of the man responsible for yesterday's mess.
Interesting.
Jiwoo, completely unaware of the tension Asuka was already sensing, smiled.
"Hello!"
Boyoung looked up.
Then immediately stood.
Jaehyuk did too, though considerably slower.
Probably because his ribs hurt.
Asuka knew they did.
Jisuk had been enthusiastic.
Boyoung smiled politely.
"Hi."
Her attention immediately moved between the Seo siblings.
Jiwoo first.
So this was Jiwoo Seo.
The unaffiliated awakener Shinhwa had personally sponsored.
He was—
Boyoung blinked.
Small.
Not tiny.
But definitely smaller than she expected for a guy.
And his face…
He looked incredibly harmless.
Soft features.
Warm eyes.
A bright expression.
He looked less like some mysterious awakener powerful enough to earn special sponsorship and more like the kind of student who would apologize if someone stepped on his shoe.
He looks so naive.
Jiwoo smiled again.
Boyoung mentally sighed.
Poor guy.
Her eyes moved slightly toward Jaehyuk.
Jaehyuk is never going to leave him alone.
Then her attention shifted.
To Asuka.
And stopped.
Cream-colored hair.
Bandages covering her eyes.
Quiet posture.
A large orange cat resting in her arms.
The first thing Boyoung wondered was obvious.
Is she blind?
But something about that assumption immediately felt wrong.
Asuka walked too naturally.
Too precisely.
Never hesitated.
Never searched for where anything was.
When she entered, her head had already turned toward every person in the room.
Not approximately.
Exactly.
And more importantly—
There was something around her.
Boyoung could not explain it.
Not energy.
At least, not energy she could clearly detect.
Pressure?
Maybe.
Something subtle that made every awakened instinct she possessed whisper—
Pay attention.
Her eyes moved toward the orange cat.
Then back to Asuka.
The cat was—
Large.
Very large.
That is one fat cat.
Kayden's ear twitched.
Asuka gently stroked his back.
"Do not commit murder."
Kayden glanced up at her.
"I didn't say anything."
"You thought it."
"You can't prove that."
Asuka's mouth twitched.
How familiar.
Boyoung blinked.
Had the blindfolded girl just whispered something to the cat?
Strange.
Very strange.
Still—
Boyoung stepped forward politely.
"I'm Boyoung Choi."
She smiled.
"I'll be attending the academy with you guys."
Jiwoo immediately bowed slightly.
"Nice to meet you."
Boyoung blinked.
So polite.
Jiwoo added, "I'm Jiwoo Seo."
"I know."
"Oh."
His ears turned faintly pink.
Boyoung almost smiled.
"Also…"
She waved one hand.
"You can talk casually with me."
Jiwoo looked surprised.
"Really?"
"We're the same age."
"Oh."
His smile warmed.
"Okay."
Boyoung nodded.
Better.
Much better.
Jiwoo gestured toward Asuka.
"And this is my sister, Asuka."
Asuka dipped her head.
"Asuka Seo."
Boyoung looked between them.
Siblings.
The resemblance was immediately obvious because of Asuka's cream hair and there was something similar in the softness around their expressions.
Except—
Asuka felt infinitely more dangerous.
Boyoung smiled.
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
Her voice was soft.
Measured.
Boyoung liked it immediately.
Jiwoo scratched his cheek.
"I'm kinda clueless about all this…"
Boyoung blinked.
Jiwoo laughed awkwardly.
"So I hope we can help each other out."
Before Boyoung could answer—
"Who's helping who?"
Silence.
Boyoung closed her eyes.
There it is.
Jaehyuk leaned back in his chair.
Despite the bruising along his cheek and jaw, he somehow managed to look arrogant.
Actually—
The bruises almost made it worse.
Like arrogance had been physically punched into a different shape but survived anyway.
Jiwoo looked toward him.
Jaehyuk's expression hardened.
"You and your sister have no affiliation."
Jiwoo went quiet.
"Your powers haven't been properly proven either."
Boyoung sighed.
Please stop.
"You seriously think you're on the same level as us?"
Jiwoo blinked.
Asuka's head tilted by approximately two degrees.
Kayden's eyes opened.
Jaehyuk continued.
"You might be attending under Shinhwa's sponsorship, but technically, you're irrelevant to Shinhwa."
Jiwoo stared.
Not offended.
Mostly confused.
Boyoung rubbed her temple internally.
Why is he like this?
Then Jaehyuk's gaze shifted toward Asuka.
More specifically—
Toward Kayden.
His face twisted.
"And are you kidding?"
Asuka went still.
"What did you bring that thing for?"
Silence.
Kayden's pupils narrowed.
Jiwoo froze.
Boyoung felt something in the room change.
Not dramatically.
Not enough that she could identify it.
But—
Danger.
Her instincts screamed it.
Asuka's fingers stopped against Kayden's fur.
Beneath her bandages, sky-blue eyes cooled.
Not because Jaehyuk had insulted her.
She would not care.
Not because he had insulted her affiliation.
Even less relevant.
But—
That thing.
He had called Kayden a thing.
Her master.
Her ridiculous, arrogant, loud, round master.
The man who had trained her Oppa.
The person she had slowly, inconveniently, reluctantly accepted into the small circle of things she cared about.
A thing.
Blue twitched somewhere far beneath her fingertips.
Then disappeared.
Asuka sighed.
Long.
Cold.
Almost amused.
Jaehyuk frowned.
"What?"
Asuka tilted her head.
"I was wondering…"
A pause.
"What happened to your face?"
Boyoung's eyes widened.
Jaehyuk froze.
Asuka continued with perfect calm.
"It is quite unfortunate."
Jaehyuk's face darkened.
"What?"
"The bruising."
She gestured vaguely toward him.
"I can practically feel the ugliness radiating from here."
Boyoung choked.
Actually choked.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
Jaehyuk's face turned red.
Asuka continued mercilessly.
"God bless these bandages."
She touched the edge of her blindfold.
"They are doing remarkable work protecting me from the tragedy of seeing your face."
Silence.
Complete.
Absolute.
Boyoung's shoulders started shaking.
She covered her mouth harder.
Don't laugh.
Do not laugh.
Jaehyuk looked like his soul had temporarily disconnected.
"You—"
Asuka tilted her head innocently.
"Yes?"
Kayden was staring up at her.
Then his mouth curled.
Oh.
He liked this side of his disciple.
Maybe too much.
Jaehyuk's fist clenched.
"Are you insulting me?"
Asuka seemed genuinely thoughtful.
"No."
A pause.
"I was making an observation."
Boyoung made a strangled noise.
Jaehyuk whipped toward her.
"Are you laughing?!"
"N-No!"
"You are!"
"I inhaled wrong!"
Asuka's mouth curved.
Jiwoo looked between everyone with concern.
Then pointed gently toward Kayden.
"Also, we were told we could bring him."
Jaehyuk snapped back toward him.
"Who the hell said you could bring a cat?"
BAM.
The door swung open.
Everyone jolted.
Inhyuk stood there.
Boyoung immediately straightened.
Jaehyuk practically launched himself upright despite his bruises.
"Good morning, Mr. Goo!"
"G-Good morning!"
Inhyuk did not look at either of them.
His eyes had already found—
Kayden.
His entire expression transformed.
"Aww!"
Kayden froze.
Asuka felt him stiffen in her arms.
Inhyuk rushed forward.
"My little Casein Nitrate is here!"
Boyoung stared.
Jaehyuk stared.
Jiwoo smiled.
Asuka watched with growing amusement.
Kayden looked like he wanted death.
Whose death was unclear.
Inhyuk crouched directly in front of Asuka.
"I ran all the way here to see you!"
Kayden's ears flattened slightly.
"How have you been?"
Inhyuk leaned closer.
"Have you eaten?"
Kayden stared at him.
"You look so healthy!"
Asuka's shoulders moved once.
Inhyuk reached out.
Then wisely stopped before touching him without permission.
"Still so cute."
Kayden's soul was suffering.
Boyoung's brain was struggling to process this.
Mr. Goo.
Inhyuk Goo.
One of the strongest awakeners in Korea.
A central figure of Shinhwa.
A man who had served directly beside Chairwoman Yoo for years.
Was currently—
baby-talking a fat orange cat.
Jaehyuk looked like he had entered the wrong reality.
Then Inhyuk remembered himself.
He stood abruptly.
Cleared his throat.
"Ahem."
His entire posture straightened.
Professional again.
Mostly.
Then he finally looked at the other two.
"Jaehyuk. Boyoung."
They stared.
Inhyuk blinked.
"You're here too."
Boyoung sweat-dropped.
"…Yes."
Jaehyuk's eye twitched.
"Yes, sir."
Asuka looked away.
This was already entertaining.
Perhaps meetings were not entirely useless.
"Everyone take a seat."
They did.
Asuka chose a seat near the window.
Kayden remained in her lap.
Jiwoo sat beside her.
Boyoung and Jaehyuk sat across.
Inhyuk stood at the front.
Asuka reached into her bag.
Pulled out her book.
Opened it.
Boyoung stared.
The Meaning of Life.
Was she seriously reading right now?
Inhyuk began explaining.
"As all of you know, the academy was created to bring young awakeners from different organizations together."
Jiwoo listened attentively.
Boyoung listened.
Jaehyuk listened.
Asuka turned a page.
"The academy isn't simply about combat ability."
Jaehyuk raised his hand slightly.
"Shouldn't we prepare ourselves?"
Inhyuk looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
Jaehyuk folded his arms.
"The competition will obviously be tough."
His expression sharpened.
"All the major groups are sending their best young awakeners."
Boyoung nodded.
"That's true."
She leaned forward slightly.
"Other groups are probably preparing their participants thoroughly so they can show off their abilities."
Inhyuk smiled faintly.
"You're probably right."
Boyoung nodded.
"But I believe both of your families are already making such preparations."
Boyoung immediately went quiet.
Because—
Yes.
Absolutely.
No point denying it.
Jaehyuk's family had definitely been preparing him.
Her own family had too.
Training.
Evaluations.
Expectations.
Their performance would reflect on Shinhwa.
On their families.
On Korea's awakened community.
Boyoung knew exactly how much pressure came with the academy.
Jiwoo—
Had absolutely no idea what anyone was talking about.
His eyes moved between them.
Competition?
Show off?
Families preparing?
He looked toward Asuka.
She was reading.
Of course.
"Asuka," he whispered.
"Hm?"
"Do we need to prepare something?"
"No."
Jiwoo blinked.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Kayden's tail flicked.
Across from them, Boyoung watched.
Strange.
Very strange.
The door opened again.
Jisuk walked in.
Late.
Barely.
But late enough.
Inhyuk looked toward him immediately.
"Jisuk."
Jisuk sighed.
"It was only a few minutes."
"You were told what time to come."
"I know."
"Then why are you late?"
"Because time betrayed me."
Inhyuk stared.
Jisuk walked toward an empty chair.
Jiwoo's face brightened.
"You're here!"
Jisuk dropped into the seat.
"Yup."
Then he noticed Kayden.
His arms had been crossed.
They uncrossed immediately.
His posture became considerably more respectful.
Kayden stared.
Jisuk looked straight ahead.
Boyoung noticed.
Her brows rose.
What was that?
She looked at Jiwoo.
Then Jisuk.
Then Asuka.
Then the cat.
What exactly had been happening while she wasn't looking?
Jiwoo smiled.
Boyoung leaned toward him slightly.
"You know Jisuk?"
Jiwoo nodded.
"Yeah."
A pause.
"We're friends from school."
Jisuk scoffed instantly.
"Friends, my ass."
Jiwoo blinked.
Boyoung sweat-dropped.
How?
She studied Jiwoo.
Sweet.
Polite.
Almost painfully sincere.
Then Jisuk.
Aggressive.
Arrogant.
The human equivalent of someone throwing a rock through your window because saying hello felt emotionally vulnerable.
How are these two friends?
But—
Jisuk had not denied knowing him.
He had not told Jiwoo to stay away.
He was not going wild.
Actually—
When Jiwoo had greeted him, Jisuk's shoulders had loosened.
Barely.
Boyoung stared harder.
There is definitely something there.
Jisuk slowly turned.
"What the hell are you staring at?"
Boyoung jolted.
"S-Sorry!"
Jisuk's face darkened.
"Tsk."
Inhyuk immediately snapped.
"Hey, Jisuk!"
Jisuk turned his head away.
Boyoung stared at the side of his face.
So that's how he reacts when someone literally just looks at him.
Amazing.
Absolutely impossible.
How did Jiyoung Yoo produce a younger brother like this?
Asuka turned another page.
She had wondered the exact same thing yesterday.
Inhyuk sighed.
"All right."
He looked around.
"Any questions?"
Jiwoo raised his hand immediately.
"Mr. Inhyuk."
Silence.
Boyoung's head snapped toward him.
Jaehyuk's too.
MR. INHYUK?!
Boyoung stared in horror.
This boy—
This sweet, clueless, small boy—
had just casually addressed Inhyuk Goo by his first name.
Inhyuk Goo.
One of Korea's top awakeners.
A man who had been assisting the Chairwoman in virtually every Shinhwa matter for years.
A respected senior.
A figure most younger awakeners would address with extreme formality.
And Jiwoo—
"Mr. Inhyuk."
Boyoung nearly died.
Jaehyuk looked personally offended.
Is he insane?!
Inhyuk smiled.
"Yes?"
Boyoung froze.
Wait.
He—
Didn't care?
Jiwoo pointed toward Kayden.
"May we take our cat to the academy?"
Kayden stared.
Asuka lowered her book by approximately one centimeter.
This was the important question.
Inhyuk smiled.
"I think so."
Jiwoo's entire face brightened.
"Really?"
He raised both arms.
"Yes!"
Boyoung stared.
Jaehyuk stared.
Jisuk looked away.
Asuka's mouth curved.
Inhyuk explained, "Some participants will bring their main weapons."
Jiwoo lowered his arms.
"And others have abilities involving animals, so there will be animals at the academy too."
Jiwoo brightened again.
"Then he can come?"
"Yes."
"Yay!"
Kayden closed his eyes.
Boyoung stared at Inhyuk.
Then Jiwoo.
Then Kayden.
Mr. Goo doesn't mind.
Not even a little.
Actually—
He looked pleased.
Like this conversation had happened before.
Like Jiwoo calling him by his first name was normal.
Like a giant orange cat attending an awakened academy was perfectly reasonable.
Jaehyuk's expression was becoming increasingly strained.
And Asuka—
was reading.
Naturally.
The door clicked open again.
This time—
Everyone felt it.
Not overwhelming pressure.
Nothing crude.
Just presence.
Inhyuk looked over immediately.
"Chairwoman."
Boyoung and Jaehyuk shot upright.
"Good morning, Chairwoman!"
Their backs were straight.
Perfectly respectful.
Jisuk remained seated, though his posture shifted.
Asuka's finger paused against the page.
Jiwoo stood too.
Not frantically.
Not with the same almost military urgency as Boyoung and Jaehyuk.
Just quickly because everyone else had.
Inhyuk lowered his head slightly.
"You're here."
Jiyoung stepped inside.
"I heard everyone had gathered."
Her gaze moved across the room.
"So I thought I would stop by."
Jiwoo smiled immediately.
"Hi, Jiyoung."
Silence.
Boyoung's soul stopped.
Jaehyuk looked like someone had stabbed him.
JIYOUNG?!
No title.
No Chairwoman.
No formality.
Just—
Jiyoung.
Boyoung stared at Jiwoo in complete disbelief.
Does he want to die?!
Jaehyuk's temple visibly twitched.
Jiwoo's expression suddenly changed.
"Oh."
He realized.
His face went red.
"I'm sorry."
Boyoung nearly exhaled in relief.
Finally.
Jiwoo scratched his cheek.
"I should call you Chairwoman."
Boyoung nodded internally.
Yes.
Jaehyuk's expression said exactly the same thing.
Obviously.
How could some unaffiliated punk casually call the Chairwoman—
"It's all right."
Both of their thoughts died.
Jiyoung looked at Jiwoo calmly.
"You can call me however you like."
Silence.
Boyoung stared.
Jaehyuk stared.
Inhyuk did not react.
Jisuk looked bored.
Jiwoo looked uncertain.
"But…"
He rubbed his cheek.
"It doesn't feel right."
Jisuk immediately cut in.
"I call her Jiyoung too."
Jiwoo looked toward him.
"Oh."
Jisuk shrugged.
"What's wrong with that?"
Jiwoo looked back toward Jiyoung.
"Is it really okay?"
Jiyoung nodded.
"Yes."
Jiwoo smiled.
"Okay."
Boyoung felt like the structure of the awakened world was collapsing in real time.
Jaehyuk looked worse.
And then—
Jiyoung's gaze moved.
Past Jiwoo.
Toward the window.
Toward Asuka.
Asuka had not stood.
She remained seated.
One hand rested against her cheek.
Her book lay open across her lap now, forgotten for the moment.
Her face was turned toward the window as if she had been watching the sky outside.
Bandages still covered her eyes.
She appeared almost—
Disinterested.
Boyoung swallowed.
She didn't stand.
Jaehyuk noticed too.
His mouth almost opened.
Then something stopped him.
Maybe yesterday's beating had finally taught him survival instincts.
Maybe.
Jiyoung simply looked at Asuka.
She was not offended.
Not even slightly.
Because she knew.
Asuka had known she entered.
Probably before the door opened.
Maybe before Jiyoung even reached the hallway.
Jiyoung knew something Boyoung and Jaehyuk did not.
Those bandages did not hide blindness.
They hid sky.
Sky-blue eyes.
Clear and almost impossibly beautiful beneath starlight.
Eyes Jiyoung had found herself thinking about much more than she intended.
Asuka sensed her gaze.
Of course she did.
Slowly, she turned her head.
Bandages faced directly toward Jiyoung.
And despite the fabric separating them—
Jiyoung had the strange feeling of being looked at perfectly.
Not approximately.
Not toward her.
At her.
Asuka tilted her head slightly.
Jiyoung's expression softened almost imperceptibly.
A silent exchange passed between them.
Jiwoo can call me what he wants.
And so can you.
Asuka understood.
Her lips parted.
A quiet hum.
"Hm."
That was it.
No words.
No acknowledgment beyond that.
But somehow Jiyoung understood the answer too.
Noted.
Boyoung's eyes moved between them.
What was that?
Jaehyuk was thinking exactly the same thing.
Jiyoung Yoo.
Chairwoman of Shinhwa.
Had just looked at Asuka Seo—
and Asuka Seo had responded with a hum.
A hum.
And no one was angry.
No one was correcting her.
Inhyuk looked completely normal.
Jisuk looked completely unsurprised.
Jiwoo was smiling.
The cat was sleeping in Asuka's lap.
Boyoung's mind was starting to hurt.
She looked at Jiwoo.
Then Asuka.
Then Jisuk.
Then Inhyuk.
Then Jiyoung.
Then the fat orange cat.
What the hell is going on?
Jaehyuk's face twisted with the same question.
And then Kayden opened one eye.
Looked directly at Jaehyuk.
Jaehyuk immediately looked away.
Asuka felt it.
Her mouth twitched.
Smart.
Maybe the beating had helped after all.
Jiyoung's gaze finally moved across the group.
"The academy will be different from what you're used to."
Everyone listened.
"Different organizations will be watching one another."
Her tone remained calm.
"Some participants will treat it as competition regardless of the academy's stated purpose."
Boyoung nodded faintly.
That made sense.
Jaehyuk straightened.
Jisuk looked bored because he already knew.
Jiwoo listened like every sentence mattered.
Asuka quietly closed her book.
That made Kayden open both eyes.
Interesting.
Jiyoung continued.
"Do not allow unnecessary conflict to dictate your actions."
Her gaze lingered for exactly half a second on Jisuk.
Jisuk looked offended.
"Why are you looking at me?"
Inhyuk sighed.
"Why do you think?"
"I haven't done anything."
Boyoung's eyes went involuntarily toward Jaehyuk's bruised face.
Jaehyuk noticed.
His face reddened.
Jisuk saw too.
He smirked.
Jaehyuk glared.
Boyoung immediately looked away.
Jiyoung closed her eyes briefly.
"Jisuk."
"What?"
"Behave."
Jisuk crossed his arms.
"I always behave."
Everyone stared at him.
Even Kayden.
Jisuk's expression darkened.
"What?"
Asuka said quietly, "An interesting interpretation."
Jisuk whipped toward her.
"Stay out of this."
Kayden opened one eye.
Jisuk immediately added—
"Respectfully."
Boyoung stared.
There it was again.
That weird shift whenever the cat reacted.
What—
Exactly—
was going on with that cat?
Jiyoung's gaze moved briefly toward Asuka.
Asuka's mouth had curved faintly.
And for one brief moment—
Jiyoung almost smiled too.
Almost.
Boyoung caught it.
Her eyes widened.
Chairwoman almost smiled.
She looked at Asuka.
Then Jiyoung.
Then Asuka again.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Before Boyoung could think about it more, Inhyuk clapped his hands lightly.
"All right."
Everyone looked toward him.
"You'll receive final schedules and transportation information soon."
Jiwoo nodded eagerly.
Boyoung nodded.
Jaehyuk did too.
Jisuk yawned.
Asuka reopened her book.
Inhyuk continued.
"Train as you normally would."
Jaehyuk frowned.
"Normally?"
"Yes."
"But other groups—"
Inhyuk smiled.
"Jaehyuk."
He stopped.
"The purpose isn't to win."
Kayden's ear twitched.
He clearly disagreed philosophically.
Asuka stroked between his ears.
"Do not start."
Kayden looked up at her.
"I said nothing."
"You radiated disagreement."
"Because he's wrong."
Asuka's lips twitched.
Boyoung watched again.
That girl really did interact with the cat like it was a person.
Strange.
Then Inhyuk said, "It's to learn."
Jiwoo smiled.
"That sounds good."
Jaehyuk scoffed quietly.
Boyoung glanced toward him.
Poor Jiwoo.
She could already tell—
Jaehyuk absolutely was not going to leave him alone.
But when her gaze moved to Asuka—
Something in Boyoung's instincts twitched again.
Quiet girl.
Blindfold.
Book.
Cream hair.
Fat cat.
No obvious affiliation.
No proven combat record.
Nothing outwardly threatening.
And yet—
Boyoung had this strange feeling.
Not about Jiwoo.
About Asuka.
If Jaehyuk chose to bother her too much…
Boyoung looked at his bruised face.
Then back toward Asuka.
Asuka turned another page as if completely detached from the room.
Kayden rested comfortably in her arms.
Boyoung swallowed.
Maybe Jaehyuk should just leave that one alone.
Some instincts existed for a reason.
And hers were screaming.
Asuka's head tilted faintly in Boyoung's direction.
Boyoung froze.
Could she tell she was being watched?
Asuka's mouth curved.
Barely.
Boyoung immediately looked away.
Yep.
Definitely leave that one alone.
----