Snow flurries danced outside, painting the world in white. Through the clear window, not far off, beasts were visible. Some wandered aimlessly, others lay flat on the ground as if dozing off—utterly unaffected by the cold. All of them, draped in snow, looked as though they had donned white garments.
Every time he saw the beasts, or the snow or rain falling outside, it hit him again—he was no longer aboard the ship, but in the outside world.
“Why’d you wake up so early?”
A thick arm wrapped around his waist. When he turned his head, Min Yugeon came into view, gazing up at him with sleep still lingering in his eyes.
“It was all white outside.”
“Oh yeah? Must’ve snowed.”
“Yeah.”
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Min Yugeon’s forehead.
“Go back to sleep.”
“……”
Min Yugeon blinked at those words, then a smile slowly formed on his lips. At the same time, he tugged on his arm, and Seo Suho obediently let himself fall over him.
Still warm from sleep, Min Yugeon radiated comforting heat as they wrapped themselves around each other in silence, sharing each other’s warmth.
The research base built on the surface. In the end, Seo Suho and Min Yugeon were living together here at this base.
Thud!
Something hit the base. It wasn’t a small structure by any means, so anything powerful enough to make it tremble could only be a beast.
Still, it wasn’t an emergency. It wasn’t an attack at full strength—just a form of communication. And they knew exactly which beast it was.
“He’s doing it again.”
Min Yugeon let out a sigh, their peaceful moment disturbed.
“He knows we’re awake.”
“More like he knows you’re awake.”
Min Yugeon pouted.
“Seriously, are you two too close or what? I’m starting to get jealous of a beast now.”
“That won’t do.”
With a soft laugh, Seo Suho gave him a brief kiss and sat up.
After layering on warm clothes and stepping out of the bedroom, he entered the circular hall surrounded by rooms dedicated to different functions, including the control room.
Opening the door that led outdoors, he spotted Rai crouched by the entrance. Always guarding the base reliably—more than a protector, he was their guardian beast.
And every time Seo Suho woke, Rai insisted on a morning greeting, his demanding cuteness impossible to ignore.
“Rai.”
Rrnnngh.
“Did you sleep well?”
Unlike the other beasts, Rai’s snow-free body looked rather elegant. Seo Suho knew the cold wouldn’t affect him, but he still touched Rai’s triangular nose and large paws to check his temperature. He envied that body—unfazed by sub-zero weather.
“You already ate, right?”
Krhh.
As if to say obviously, Rai let out a snort, his breath ruffling Seo Suho’s bangs. Even without being fed at every mealtime, Rai would head over to the feeding station near the base and help himself.
Seo Suho started walking toward it to check how much food was left. Soon, a transparent refrigerated box came into view.
Inside were stacks of artificial meat supplied from the ship. One outer panel had a durable button and a feeding chute, sturdy enough to withstand a beast’s claw swipe. All Rai had to do was press the button with a single claw, and the meat would be automatically drawn out.
“This should last a while.”
After checking the amount, he nodded.
Rai, lazily trailing behind, scratched his mane with a blank expression. Then, his eyes sharpened slightly as he stared in one direction.
Kiiieeh.
A beast eyeing the feeder licked its lips, only to flinch and shrink back under Rai’s piercing glare.
Rai had the self-control to eat just enough to satisfy his hunger—and would even share food with other beasts. But not all of them. He was clever enough to only show kindness to beasts that didn’t pose a threat to Seo Suho or the base.
That frightened one clearly hadn’t earned Rai’s approval yet. It had been circling the area for about three days now, but remained wary and avoided direct interaction. Not the kind of creature intelligent enough to figure out how to get food.
There were, on the other hand, some who were friendly right from the start.
Kurrrng! Kurut!
“You’re here, Lu.”
Seo Suho nodded as a beast came bounding over on its hind legs. Behind it followed another creature with a long neck, approaching at a leisurely pace—Jil.
The creatures came right up to him, pressing their faces close. Both had traces of blood on their snouts—clear signs they’d been well-fed by Rai. Normally, Seo Suho would be the one personally feeding beasts like these that were still in training, but Rai had taken over that task, establishing a clear hierarchy in the process.
“Good morning.”
Grrrrr.
Kurung!
After patting their heads and brushing snow off their bodies, the creatures shook themselves off in unison.
In a split second, snow flew everywhere, covering him from head to toe. Watching Jil and Lu happily dash off in another direction, Seo Suho silently brushed off the snow clinging to his clothes.
Rai bared his teeth at the sight.
Kirrk kirrk.
“Don’t laugh.”
He pointed toward a beast trying to sneak peeks into the base where Min Yugeon was, having been denied access to the feeding station.
“Keep things in check. I’m off to check on the others.”
Rai turned away without a word. As he approached, the beast in question let out a shrill cry and bolted, the thunderous sound of its footsteps growing faint as it fled.
Seo Suho made his rounds around the base, checking whether all the familiar beasts were present and if any new ones had shown up. If any regulars had disappeared, he needed to note which ones. If there were newcomers, he had to make eye contact with each of them.
But Rai letting him roam freely meant that no new beasts had shown up overnight. Whenever unfamiliar ones arrived, Rai always stuck close, worried Seo Suho might be attacked before he had a chance to tame them.
Grruk. Gewok.
“Well done.”
Seo Suho gently stroked the snout of a beast lying in the spot he had indicated, staring at him blankly. This one had a large, domed back and a long, white body—adorably harmless as long as its mouth stayed shut. Its name was Ti.
Many beasts, despite being drawn to him or refraining from attacking, either lacked the intelligence to follow commands or simply chose to ignore them. The beasts’ instinctual affinity for him didn’t mean they were obedient.
So, he had to identify which ones could understand him—or had the potential to. And even without venturing far from the base, there were plenty of suitable candidates among those already nearby.
He took his time with each one, assessing them carefully and focusing on those with promise, training them intensively to raise another guardian beast like Rai—one who would protect humans with intent.
Ti showed more promise than Lu or Jil, who simply liked him.
“You’re the best, Ti.”
After giving Ti’s domed back a couple of light pats, he turned his gaze toward another dome-shaped building attached to the base—meant to one day house future residents. He imagined the lights turning on in that space.
His encounters with the many beasts encircling the base lasted until deep into the night. The snowfall didn’t stop—it worsened. By the time he returned to the base, nearly transformed into a snowman, Min Yugeon was just crossing the hall, soot-smeared and in a sleeveless top.
Min Yugeon took one look and sighed.
“You really are a snowman.”
“What about you? What’s with your look?”
“Yeah, good question.”
Min Yugeon let out a crooked smile and trudged toward the bathroom.
Lately, knowing Seo Suho was worried about one of his carefully trained beasts suddenly disappearing, Min Yugeon had been working on a tracking device specifically for beasts. But it seemed to be tougher than expected.
After Min Yugeon finished his shower and came out, Seo Suho followed to take his own.
Running a hand through his damp hair, he made his way to the kitchen, where Min Yugeon stood with his back to him.
“Hmm?”
The sound of dishes clinking paused as Seo Suho embraced him from behind. After a short silence, Min Yugeon spoke.
“Is today a special day or something?”
“It’s not like I don’t show affection.”
“True. Compared to before, yeah… but still. What’s going on? You feeling really tired or something?”
It wasn’t like him to suddenly hug someone, so Min Yugeon looked genuinely puzzled—maybe even concerned.
Seo Suho rested his cheek against Min Yugeon’s back and shook his head.
“No. Just… wanted to say thank you.”
Suddenly, in this isolated place—no, just from having Min Yugeon by his side as if it were the most natural thing in the world—gratitude welled up in him.
He thought back to the times he tried to push Min Yugeon away, claiming it was for his sake. But now, he could say with absolute certainty: without Min Yugeon, he wouldn’t have felt even a sliver of happiness.
Even while doing the work he wanted to do.
Min Yugeon let out a small hum, then turned around after releasing his arms.
“That’s my line.”
White hair cleanly cropped, the ever-handsome face, and those unwavering eyes filled his vision.
“I’m probably even happier than you are right now.”
“…Why?”
“Because it’s just the two of us here.”
Min Yugeon’s lips curled up in a genuinely beautiful smile.
He laced his fingers between Seo Suho’s lowered ones. Seo Suho squeezed back, firmly.
“People will start showing up eventually.”
“Even then.”
“There’s a sea of beasts out there.”
“Still.”
Because, for now, it was just the two of them. And later… they would still be together. That’s why he was happy.
Letting out a faint breath of laughter, Seo Suho pulled on their entwined hands. As if waiting, Min Yugeon leaned in and kissed him.
It was as sweet as the cheesy confession that had come before it.
[ End of Side Story ]
