This person… he is just as beautiful inside as he is on the outside…
As Lee Haru’s gentle hand brushed through his hair, Ji Yeon-woo felt the guilt that had been weighing on him slowly begin to ease. A part of his heart that had remained tense finally loosened.
He was truly relieved—thankful that things had not taken a turn for the worse. In truth, he owed his own rescue entirely to Lee Haru. Had Haru not been an S-rank Guide, the Association would never have mounted such a full-scale raid on Black’s base.
“Are you hungry? Did you eat anything yet?”
Haru wiped away the tear that clung to the corner of Ji Yeon-woo’s eye with his thumb. Just as Yeon-woo opened his mouth to reply, his stomach let out a loud, unmistakable growl.
“Ah, I mean, uh… that is…”
During his stay at the Association, the staff had ensured that he never missed a meal. But between his constant worry for Haru and the discomfort of being surrounded by strangers, he had never managed to get past more than a few bites.
Even when fine food was set right in front of him, everything felt like chewing on sand. The unease twisted in his chest and turned each mouthful dry and gritty.
“Aigoo, guess my stomach’s making a fuss because I haven’t eaten anything all day.”
Haru laughed sheepishly, crinkling his nose like someone caught in a lie. Because, well—it was a lie. Up until his discharge, Haru had been happily snacking the entire time, never letting his stomach go empty.
Pretending the noise came from his own belly was Haru’s quiet way of looking out for him. The sight of Yeon-woo, flustered and pink-cheeked, stirred something tender.
“Wait here just a minute. I will make something delicious.”
Ji Yeon-woo bit down on his lower lip. He could not even remember the last time someone had shown him such thoughtful kindness.
That gentle hand on his hair—its warmth seemed to radiate from Haru’s very heart. Ji Yeon-woo’s gaze lingered on Haru’s retreating back as he walked toward the kitchen.
…This feeling is strange.
He pressed a hand to his chest. His heart was pounding so hard, it made his ribs ache.
***
“Wait a second… did no one do the grocery shopping?”
Haru let out a deep sigh as he peered into the nearly empty fridge. He had hoped to make something special—something that would really surprise Yeon-woo—but there was almost nothing to work with.
“Well… at least there is kimchi, eggs, onions… and some canned tuna.”
He gathered what little he could find from the refrigerator and cupboards. As he looked at the humble ingredients laid out in front of him, one dish instantly came to mind.
Kimchi Fried Rice.
Simple. Satisfying. A dish beloved by just about every Korean. It did not need much, but it always hit the soul just right.
To save time on cooking the rice, Haru popped a pack of instant rice into the microwave and pulled out the cutting board.
In moments, an entire onion was diced to perfection. Rather than using syrup to add sweetness, he relied on the onion’s natural sugars to create a deeper, richer flavor.
“Ugh… my eyes…”
But the pungent aroma wafting up from the board stung his eyes, blurring his vision. As he tilted his head upward, tears spilled from the corners of his eyes and slid down his temples.
Just then, Ji Yeon-woo stepped into the kitchen. Sitting around doing nothing had made him feel uneasy. And more than that, he just wanted to be near Haru.
But when he entered and saw Haru’s tear-streaked face, he panicked.
“A-Are you okay?”
“It is fine—just stay over there. It is not safe right now…”
Haru held out an arm to stop him from getting closer. The onions were brutally strong today. He needed to toss them into the hot pan quickly and sauté them until they turned soft and translucent.
Ssshhh—
Tears continued to stream down Haru’s cheeks as he stirred the ingredients, his hands never stopping. Meanwhile, Ji Yeon-woo hovered nearby, fidgeting anxiously.
He wanted to help, truly—but he had never cooked before and had no idea what to do. Every time he tried to step closer, Haru would gently hold him back, leaving him to pace helplessly in place.
“Sniff… do you like your fried eggs runny or fully cooked?”
“Huh?”
“Or should I make one of each?”
With tear-dampened eyes, Haru turned to ask Yeon-woo how he liked his yolks. Caught off guard, Yeon-woo simply nodded.
Haru placed a small pan beside the one with the onions and got started on the eggs.
Haru hyung is good at cooking, too…
Once the onions were perfectly sautéed, he added a generous scoop of chopped kimchi and tuna. With practiced hands, he tossed the mixture in the pan.
The ingredients, once distinct in color, blended together into one mouthwatering hue.
Every time Haru’s muscles flexed as he stirred, definition showed along what Ji Yeon-woo had assumed were delicate arms.
A spicy, savory aroma filled the kitchen. Afraid his stomach would growl again, Yeon-woo took a few steps back.
But now that he had caught the scent of real food, the hunger he had been trying to ignore came roaring back with a vengeance.
“All done! Yeon-woo, go ahead and sit inside.”
Haru made sure each grain of rice was perfectly coated with flavor before setting down the pan and wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.
The tears were gone now. In their place, tiny beads of sweat dotted his brow.
As Ji Yeon-woo stood silently watching him, Haru gestured toward the dining area and pulled out two large plates.
He heaped the glossy, crimson-tinted kimchi fried rice high onto both dishes.
One got a runny egg, the other a firm one. Just looking at it was enough to make anyone’s mouth water.
“Here you go. I made it myself, but I promise—it is good.”
Haru placed one plate in front of Yeon-woo, who was now seated quietly at the table, and set the other across from him for himself.
“I will bring some water too. Go ahead and start eating.”
“…Okay. Thank you.”
Ji Yeon-woo murmured softly, tracing the rim of his plate with the tip of his index finger. Haru gave his hair a light, passing stroke before turning toward the kitchen, where he retrieved two bottles of water and a couple of glasses.
When he returned, Ji Yeon-woo was still sitting motionless, not even reaching for his spoon. Haru gestured encouragingly.
“It will not taste good once it cools down. Come on, just take a bite.”
He had only taste-tested it once during cooking, but the vibrant color alone told him enough. Even with minimal ingredients, this kimchi fried rice was bound to taste good.
“Thank you for the meal.”
As Haru began pouring water into a glass, Ji Yeon-woo scooped up a generous bite of fried rice and pushed it into his mouth.
…It’s delicious.
It might have been the best thing he had ever eaten in his life. Maybe it was because it was the first time someone had ever cooked just for him.
As the rice broke apart between his molars, a haze clouded his vision. Tears gathered and welled up without warning.
“Is it really that good? Good enough to cry over?”
Seeing Ji Yeon-woo silently weeping after a single bite, Haru could not help but panic. When Yeon-woo gave a tiny nod, his chest tightened with emotion.
The way Ji Yeon-woo was so moved by something so simple—it said everything. Haru could feel just how much pain he must have endured in Black’s hands. The thought made his own nose sting.
His eyes are already turning red…
Haru picked up the glass of water and approached him. Yeon-woo had started hiccuping now, crying harder, and Haru grew worried.
At this rate, he was going to choke on his food. Haru stepped in, planning to help him drink some water first. But just as he reached him, a cold, cutting voice abruptly sliced through the moment.
“…What the hell are you two doing?”
“Ah! You scared me!”
The sudden voice made him jump so hard it felt like even ghosts might’ve flinched. Haru’s eyes went wide, his heart pounding wildly before he could even recover.
“Wait—why did my hand…”
Startled, his grip faltered. As if someone had knocked into it, the glass tipped sideways.
Because he had been standing directly beside Ji Yeon-woo, the full glass of water spilled right onto him.
From the angle, it looked suspiciously like Haru had dumped the water on him on purpose.
“Oh no—are you okay?! Hold on just a second!”
Haru quickly set the glass on the table and lifted the hem of his T-shirt.
In his panic, he just wanted to wipe the water from Ji Yeon-woo’s face.
For Ji Yeon-woo, the moment became a cascade of shocks: first, Yu Je-hyun’s sudden appearance. Second, the ice-cold water dumped over his head. And third, the glimpse of Haru’s smooth, bare waist beneath the lifted shirt.
The mushy rice in his mouth slid down his throat as his Adam’s apple bobbed.
It smells good…
The soft, warm scent brushing his face came not from cologne, but from Haru himself—something cozy and sweet. The fragrance clung to the fabric and filled his senses. His cheeks turned scarlet, the flush spreading all the way down his neck.
“I asked you—what the hell are you doing?”
Yu Je-hyun, standing at the entrance to the dining room, had witnessed the entire scene. In the next breath, he stormed forward and grabbed Haru by the wrist.
His jaw clenched so tightly the muscles stood out, his grip trembling with the effort not to squeeze too hard.
It was Haru’s discharge day, and of course—of course—he had been assigned a mission. Je-hyun had pushed himself past the brink to wrap it up early. The Espers dispatched with him had practically groaned in despair at how ferociously he rushed them.
He had gone straight to the hospital, only to find that Haru had already been discharged. Without a second thought, he drove like a madman, barely avoiding a speeding ticket on the way to the mansion.
As soon as he opened the front door, he heard voices coming from the dining room. And when he stepped inside—there was Haru, sweetly fussing over someone who was openly crying.
Two plates of kimchi fried rice sat on the table.
It was not hard to guess what had transpired while he was gone.
And in that moment, white-hot sparks exploded in front of his eyes.
