The animals that had once endured horrific experiments were now each living peaceful lives with caring owners.
Other than a few occasions when Min Yu-hyun’s owl, Ol-bae, fell ill and had to be taken to Professor Myung Jun-su, everything was calm.
Myung Jun-su crafted medicine tailored for Ol-bae, and though Yu-hyun had once declared he would do nothing but feed the owl—since he hated the hassle—he soon grew so attached that, no matter what he was doing, he always stopped to give Ol-bae his medicine first.
When Yu-hyun’s fans learned about Ol-bae, they adored him as well, saying the owl even shared his owner’s striking looks.
Before long, Ol-bae became something of a celebrity. Fans who loved Yu-hyun came to love Ol-bae just as much.
Yoon Do-jae’s cat, Cheese, was just as popular. Fans loved how Do-jae’s blunt personality matched perfectly with Cheese’s aloofness.
When Ol-bae and Cheese—so alike in temperament—appeared together, fans went wild with excitement.
On weekends, Yu-hyun and Do-jae streamed live shows featuring Ol-bae and Cheese’s daily routines, drawing massive attention.
Thanks to his pivotal role in both A Pair is Born and the mutant beast incident, Min Yu-hyun had become a superstar.
Of course, all six cast members of A Pair is Born who had contributed to the mutant beast case rose in popularity, but Yu-hyun’s fame far outshone the rest.
Perhaps, unlike Hyun Tae-oh, it was because Yu-hyun actively managed his image and worked hard at fan service that his popularity soared even higher.
Either way, to indulge fans obsessed with Ol-bae and Cheese’s chemistry, they began filming their broadcasts alternately at Do-jae’s place and Yu-hyun’s.
Naturally, this brought the two closer together, until they were sharing even the smallest details of daily life.
Calling each night before bed to check on Ol-bae and Cheese became routine.
—“I thought I’d have to take Cheese to Professor Myung Jun-su again today because of diarrhea, but thankfully what he passed was firm. Looked like a snack stick.”
Even in Do-jae’s flat tone, Yu-hyun could hear the joy. He could imagine his expression without seeing it, and the corners of his lips lifted unconsciously.
“Oh, really? That’s a relief.”
—“Yeah. Now it’s just a matter of adjusting his diet.”
“Right, you really do need to cut back. The problem is you give him everything he asks for.”
—“I am trying.”
“Don’t just try—actually do it.”
—“I am.”
Do-jae’s reply carried a sulky edge. By now Yu-hyun recognized that pouty tone, and it made his smile deepen.
—“What’s Ol-bae doing?”
“He’s dozing off.”
—“Haha.”
“You know what? Every weekend he sits right in the middle of the living room, staring at that one spot without blinking.”
—“Huh?”
“I always wondered why… then I realized—that’s the exact spot where you guys teleport in. Remember how the second you appeared, Ol-bae flapped his wings like crazy?”
—“Yeah, I remember. I remember.”
“That’s how I knew. He already sensed it was the weekend, knew you’d be coming. Isn’t he clever?”
—“Haha. That’s adorable.”
“Right?”
—“I miss you.”
“…Want to come over?”
—“Now?”
“Why not? If you’re not tired, come hang out. You can even stay the night. I miss Cheese too.”
—“I’ll come right away.”
Their bond deepened so much that even on weekdays, they often visited each other’s homes. And as the distance between them closed, so did their hearts—quietly, naturally, like clothes slowly soaking through in the rain, without them even realizing it.
Meanwhile, Jun and Beom Do-il decided to move in together.
Partly because Beom Do-il adored Jun, and partly because whenever Jun visited, Do-il exhausted himself repeatedly transforming his water ability into ice.
They chose the house across from Hyun Tae-oh’s—the very one Kang Chi-yu had once lived in.
Tae-oh had originally kept it, hoping Chi-yu would move back, but realized living together was far better and passed it on to Do-il.
Though Tae-oh preferred not having neighbors, leaving the house empty across the way felt strange, and he didn’t want strangers moving in either. So when Do-il mentioned he was house hunting, Tae-oh handed it over immediately.
Do-il and Jun weren’t his favorites, but they were Chi-yu’s friends, and Jun in particular was useful in many ways. That was enough.
The house itself was spacious with a beautiful view, and Jun and Do-il loved it.
Do-il converted a whole room into an ice chamber so Jun could rest comfortably. Worried about the melting problem, he asked Tae-oh for help.
Since Do-il could only control water, turning it into ice was exhausting for him.
Tae-oh, however, could handle nearly all elements effortlessly. Making ice—and ensuring it never melted—was trivial for him.
So when Do-il asked him to help create Jun’s chamber, Tae-oh readily agreed.
“Don’t you think the room’s a bit small?”
“Well yeah, but if I froze the living room too, Beom would freeze to death. We’d both freeze.”
At that, Tae-oh nodded thoughtfully, then raised his hand.
In no time, he filled the chamber with elaborate ice sculptures, far more detailed and majestic than anything Do-il had made.
There were igloos, glaciers, even a passage into an underwater space where Jun could swim freely. But for safety, only Jun could pass through; if Beom followed, it could be dangerous.
Thanks to Tae-oh’s careful touch, Jun’s chamber became stunning.
“As expected of an SS-rank. Thanks! Want me to buy you dinner?”
Do-il raised a thumbs-up in gratitude, but Tae-oh scowled immediately.
“Don’t even think about telling Chi-yu you’re buying me dinner.”
He even threatened that if Do-il ever suggested the four of them eat together again, he’d come back and destroy the entire chamber.
Do-il laughed until his stomach hurt and promised he wouldn’t.
After all, thanks to Jun and Chi-yu, the four of them had already shared meals together more often than Tae-oh liked.
Meanwhile, Hayangi the alpaca rarely left the Ridune capsule where Catdog was contained, often making small, strange noises as if conversing with it.
Chi-yu and Tae-oh both hoped Catdog would sense Hayangi’s presence and finally feel safe enough to come out. And, as if answering that wish—on the exact day marking one month of living with Hayangi—
Catdog shattered the Ridune and stepped out.
Stretching with a squeal—Kku-eng!—its eyes immediately fixed on Chi-yu.
Chi-yu, who had just finished dinner and was brushing his teeth with Tae-oh, bolted outside in slippers at the sound. Toothpaste still foaming at his mouth, he scooped Catdog into his arms and broke down in tears.
Even Tae-oh couldn’t suppress his joy, smiling so brightly it would have shocked anyone who saw it.
Chi-yu wept tears of happiness as he hugged Catdog tight, while the creature studied him closely, as if checking that its master hadn’t been hurt while it was gone.
Maybe Hayangi really had been speaking to Catdog inside Ridune.
Though they were meeting for the first time, Catdog and Hayangi were as natural as if they’d known each other forever.
Hayangi’s large, enthusiastic leaps sometimes made Catdog uncomfortable, but still, the two got along well.
***
The Main Camera Director of A Pair is Born was promoted to bureau chief of Channel BGNK for his major role in the mutant beast incident.
After taking Min Yu-hyun’s suggestion and helping Tae-oh’s team, he secured the rights to produce a Season 3 special.
At first Tae-oh refused, but the director persuaded him, reminding him that without the emergency broadcast he risked his career to air, the N-building footage would never have reached the nation.
Tae-oh knew he owed him. In the end, he agreed—on the condition that Chi-yu would be by his side.
That was the promise he made at the close of the incident.
Now, some time later, the Channel BGNK chief came to announce that A Pair is Born: Season 3 Special was officially happening.
“This will be the first reality romance program of its kind,” he said. “It was designed with Esper Hyun Tae-oh and Guide Kang Chi-yu in mind.”
He explained that unlike traditional reality shows, this one leaned more toward variety entertainment. With Gates no longer opening and many Ability Users leaving the Bureau to build their own careers, broadcasting too had to adapt.
“In short, instead of stiff, report-driven reality, this show will capture the everyday lives of popular couples like you two. Sweet romance, but also candid, unfiltered daily life.”
Tae-oh’s expression soured.
He had no desire to bare his private life with Chi-yu to strangers, and the thought of Chi-yu pushing him away more often because of cameras irritated him. But he couldn’t deny the director’s help, so he held his tongue and nodded.
Besides, even if he objected, it was meaningless. Chi-yu had already decided he would help however he could.
Grateful to the director for his past help, Chi-yu felt it only natural they return the favor. When the Season 3 proposal came up, he had said as much.
So there was no way out.
Resigned, Tae-oh half gave up and listened quietly.
“By the way, I hear Guide Lee Jun-hyung and Esper Beom Do-il are now officially a couple?”
“Ah, yes.”
“That’s excellent news. With them, we already have two famous couples confirmed for Season 3. Now, if Guide Min Yu-hyun and Esper Yoon Do-jae were to become a pair as well, every cast member from Season 2’s debut would return in Season 3 as couples. That would be a huge selling point.”
At this, Chi-yu forced a polite smile and nodded.
Of course, he couldn’t pressure Yu-hyun and Do-jae into dating just for television, so there was little more he could say.
“In any case, with Esper Hyun Tae-oh and Guide Kang Chi-yu leading the way, I’m confident this program will succeed.”
“Haha.”
“Oh, and for this Season 3 Special, we’re giving each couple their own title.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. And for Guide Kang Chi-yu and Esper Hyun Tae-oh’s feature, the title was decided unanimously.”
“Really? What is it?”
Curious, Chi-yu leaned forward.
Even Tae-oh, idly twirling Hayangi’s curls, turned immediately, clearly just as eager to know.
The director looked at their expectant faces, smiling with pride.
“The title of Season 3 Special, Part One is…”
With a triumphant expression, he declared:
“Paired With My Childhood Friend.”
