How could he ever find happiness?
The question haunted him. His future remained a blank canvas he couldn’t bring himself to imagine, and all that played in his mind was the torment of his past.
The moment Zero died repeated endlessly in his head. Each time it did, he wished he could just stop breathing right then and there.
“And… I’m going to change my name.”
“Your name?”
“Yeah.”
That man had told him not to forget—he was the one who gave him his name. But holding on to it meant he’d never escape the nightmare that man had cast over him.
Ji Yeon-woo looked into Lee Haru’s eyes. The gloss in those clear, mirror-like pupils made his heart tremble faintly.
Even though he knew Haru was with someone else now, it felt like he still needed a little more time before he could truly let go.
But maybe—just maybe—he was allowed to be a little selfish, for the sake of his own happiness. If it were Lee Haru giving him a new name, maybe it would help him break free from his past a little sooner.
“Would you name me? My new name.”
Lee Haru parted his lips slightly. He knew just how much weight a name could carry.
He had once abandoned his own name too, choosing “Lee Haru” for himself. It was a decision grounded in resolve—to live fully in the present rather than lingering in the memories of his old life.
“…If that’s what Guide Ji Yeon-woo wants.”
He had a feeling why Ji Yeon-woo was making this request—and he couldn’t bring himself to say no.
To Ji Yeon-woo, he was the embodiment of the outside world. After being trapped by Black for so long, it was through Haru that he’d finally escaped. Haru might mean more to him than he ever realized.
He was also the only one who had heard the deeply buried wounds of Ji Yeon-woo’s past.
“And when you name me… please speak to me informally too. That’s the one selfish thing I want.”
Such a small request. Haru gave a faint smile and immediately dropped the formal tone.
“Alright.”
Ji Yeon-woo smiled back. His delicate face was still veiled in shadow, but at the edge of his lips, a faint glimmer of hope clung to his smile.
***
“Ah—I forgot to tell him.”
The vibration in his hand made Haru wrinkle his nose. He hadn’t noticed the time passing while talking with Ji Yeon-woo.
If Ji Yeon-woo hadn’t drifted off into a light doze—probably from emotional exhaustion—the call might’ve gone completely unnoticed.
When he saw the name on the screen, Haru quickly answered.
“Esper Yu Je-hyun.”
—Where are you? I’m home, and you’re not here.
Yu Je-hyun’s voice carried a trace of unease, barely hidden. Though they weren’t face-to-face, Haru’s brows dipped low in response.
“I’m at the Association’s hospital. I came to visit Guide Ji Yeon-woo. I meant to text you when I left, but everything happened so fast… I’m sorry.”
It wasn’t an excuse—he genuinely meant to message him. Things had just gotten hectic when Kang Min showed up unexpectedly.
—I’ll come to you, then. If I call again, come to the front entrance.
“Okay.”
Even after the call ended, guilt lingered, chewing at Haru’s lip. Yu Je-hyun had told him to wait for another call, but Haru decided to head out early and wait at the front gate.
Kang Min had long since left, citing a packed schedule.
Jin Sung-joon also seemed busy, so Haru simply gave a brief goodbye to the nurse at the desk and exited the building.
Summer evenings were long. The sun was still shining brightly, the heat sharp against his skin.
He wasn’t the type to sweat easily, so only his cheeks had turned red. Just then, with a loud engine roar, a familiar car pulled up to the gate.
Yu Je-hyun spotted him, stopped the car, and rolled down the passenger window.
“Why are you standing out here? I told you to wait inside. Seriously, you never listen.”
“I just wanted to see you a little sooner, Esper Yu Je-hyun.”
“…Is that so?”
He had started to scold him out of concern, but Haru’s simple answer tugged a reluctant smile from Yu Je-hyun’s lips.
“Get in. I’ve got the AC cranked up.”
Yu Je-hyun didn’t really feel heat or cold. He had lowered the temperature to the point where the seats felt cool—just for Haru’s sake.
Haru quickly climbed into the passenger seat. Escaping the punishing sun felt like a reprieve. He tugged at the front of his shirt to fan himself, and the heat in his body began to cool.
Yu Je-hyun couldn’t take his eyes off the soft, peach-colored flush in Haru’s cheeks. Then, all at once, he leaned in.
“…What are you doing?”
“A greeting.”
Caught off guard by the sudden kiss, Haru stared at him in a daze, but Yu Je-hyun just grinned.
“If we leave now, we’ll get there just in time.”
Yu Je-hyun fastened Haru’s seatbelt for him before shifting into gear, while Haru blinked in quiet surprise.
“Where are we going?”
Lee Haru rubbed his cheek, now flushed for a completely different reason than before. The name flashing on the GPS was unfamiliar.
“It’s a fusion Korean place that’s been blowing up on social media. It opened recently, but it’s already super popular.”
Yu Je-hyun had a habit of discovering buzzworthy restaurants and dragging Haru along. Even though Haru no longer clung to food the way he used to, his heart still fluttered helplessly—because he knew Je-hyun did it just to see him happy, enjoying a good meal.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Haru threaded his fingers through Je-hyun’s.
With one hand on the wheel, Je-hyun glanced over. That relaxed, easygoing smile made him look especially handsome today.
His outfit, too, was unusually striking. Haru blinked, surprised he hadn’t noticed it sooner.
Instead of his standard uniform, Je-hyun wore a sharp black suit with a faint bluish sheen, tailored to perfection. Haru’s eyes blinked faster, taking in the unexpected change.
“Wait… is today some kind of special occasion?”
Haru quickly ran through his memory. Had he forgotten an anniversary or something? But nothing came to mind. It was just that he’d never seen Je-hyun wear a suit before—he usually stuck to casual, comfortable clothes—and the contrast made Haru’s cheeks flush.
By comparison, he felt painfully underdressed in his plain white shirt, faded jeans, and simple slip-ons.
If he’d known, he would’ve made an effort to dress up too.
“What, do I look good today?”
If anyone else had said that, Haru would’ve quietly looked away and tried to shrug it off. But coming from Je-hyun, the words somehow sounded charming. He was clearly in too deep.
“Yes. You look amazing. Like someone straight off a TV drama.”
Haru answered honestly, speaking straight from the heart. This time, it was Je-hyun who couldn’t hide his flustered expression.
He turned his attention to the road, his face slightly redder than before.
“Ahem. There’s something I really wanted to tell you today.”
“Something to tell me?”
“Yeah. I’ll tell you later.”
Je-hyun gave Haru’s hand a gentle squeeze. Seeing that excited, almost boyish look on his face, Haru felt reassured—it didn’t seem like bad news. He decided to let himself savor the giddy anticipation.
Eventually, the car pulled up in front of the restaurant, located inside one of Seoul’s most iconic skyscrapers.
Since the emergence of monsters, tall buildings had become more tightly regulated than ever, making restaurants in high-rise towers especially exclusive.
And given that both of them typically ate enough for three, Haru was already bracing himself for the check.
Even with a steadily growing bank account, spending over a million won on a single meal still made his hands tremble.
The reason he couldn’t get used to it was simple: he’d never once paid for a meal himself.
Now that he was earning too, Haru wanted to treat Je-hyun to something nice. But Je-hyun always beat him to it, slipping in first to settle the bill before Haru had the chance.
In the elevator, Je-hyun pressed the top floor without hesitation.
Haru, determined to pay this time, gently swung their joined hands and spoke up.
“Can I pay for dinner today? You always treat me.”
“My money is your money. Why does it matter? …Wait, is it making you uncomfortable?”
One of Je-hyun’s eyebrows lifted slightly. He looked like he’d be genuinely hurt if Haru said yes.
Haru shook his head quickly.
“No, it’s not that. I just… want to treat you to something good too, Esper Yu Je-hyun. I feel the same way you do.”
It was natural to want to do something for the person you love. Even the house they lived in now was one Je-hyun had bought.
Every piece of furniture inside had been his choice too. Haru had walked into that mansion with nothing but himself.
He didn’t know yet what made today special, but he could tell it was important. And if nothing else, he wanted to buy Je-hyun a nice dinner with his own money—just this once. That was how he really felt.
