: Dangerous Discovery and Tenderness
So-hyun felt exhaustion flood his body. His head spun, and his eyes drooped. Min-jun immediately caught him, holding him carefully. He gently carried So-hyun to the bunk and covered him with a blanket.
"You need to rest," Min-jun said softly, almost a whisper. "You've done too much." One hand rested on So-hyun's shoulder, the other ran through his hair, stroking it as if transferring strength and protection. "I'm here. You're safe."
So-hyun opened his eyes. There was no fear — only determination and trust. "I know another way," he whispered. "To control the portals, it's not just energy that's needed… but blood. Our blood. We are the keys. If we use it correctly, we can return without destroying this world."
Min-jun squeezed his hand, their fingers intertwining. "Together." His gaze was full of certainty. They understood each other without words. Their bond was stronger than fear, stronger than fatigue, stronger than Echo. It was not mere friendship or attraction — it was the merging of two halves of one soul.
They remained in the laboratory, watching the flickering screens and sensors, but now their attention was not only on the science and Echo energy. It was on them. On their shared goal. On the future they were determined to build together.