The sun was slowly setting—
Painting the sky in soft orange.
The school day had ended.
And the members of the Elite 7—
Were heading home.
---
Jihun walked quietly.
Beside him—
Choi Kyungmin.
But something was off.
Jihun wasn't his usual self.
His mind—
Was somewhere else.
Fragments replayed again and again—
Yuna standing silently.
Her expression—
Empty.
The accusations.
His words.
Sharp.
Unfair.
---
"Hey."
Kyungmin nudged him.
No response.
"HEY!"
Jihun blinked—
Snapping back.
"…What?"
Kyungmin raised a brow.
"You okay?"
"You've been acting weird."
A pause.
"Is it because of Haeun?"
Jihun looked ahead.
"…Probably."
A small breath escaped him.
"She was my childhood friend."
"But still…"
His voice lowered.
"All the proof was against Yuna."
"And I didn't even think twice before accusing her."
His fists clenched slightly.
"…I'm the worst."
Kyungmin sighed.
"Don't be so hard on yourself."
"It's not entirely your fault."
"Everyone suspected her."
He shrugged.
"All the evidence pointed at her."
A small smirk appeared.
"Who knew Haeun would go this far… for you?"
Jihun didn't reply.
---
They kept walking.
Then—
Kyungmin suddenly asked—
"So… are you going to apologize to Yuna?"
Jihun nodded without hesitation.
"Of course."
A pause.
"She was helping me find Scarlet Shadow…"
Then he stopped mid-sentence.
"…Even if she was… herself."
Kyungmin burst out laughing.
"Seriously?"
"She was helping you find… herself?"
He shook his head.
"This Yuna is something else."
---
Suddenly—
Kyungmin stopped walking.
"…Wait."
He pointed ahead.
"Isn't that Yuna?"
Jihun looked up—
And instantly—
Stepped back.
Hiding behind a nearby pole.
Kyungmin blinked.
"…What are you doing?"
Jihun whispered—
"Shhh!"
Kyungmin smirked.
"This is your chance."
"Go apologize."
Jihun looked away.
"…I don't know."
A pause.
"…I'm kind of scared."
Kyungmin's eyes widened dramatically.
"WOW."
"The number one of Elite 7…"
"Is scared?"
He chuckled.
"Didn't expect that."
Then—
He grinned mischievously.
"Fine."
"If you won't go—"
"I'll call her."
Jihun's eyes widened.
"Don't—!"
But before he could stop him—
Kyungmin looked ahead again—
And suddenly—
He froze.
Then quickly—
He also hid behind the pole.
Right beside Jihun.
Jihun blinked.
"…What happened to you?"
"You were just going to call her."
"Why are you hiding now?"
Kyungmin slowly pointed ahead.
"…Look."
Jihun turned.
And saw—
Yuna.
But she wasn't alone.
Haru (Harin) was with her.
( Choi Kyungmin and jihun still don't know haru is a girl named Harin)
Walking side by side.
Talking.
Close.
Too close.
---
And suddenly—
A memory hit him.
Haru (Harin)'s voice—
Echoing in his head—
"If you don't do something fast… I'll take Yuna away forever."
Jihun's expression stiffened.
---
His thoughts started racing.
Why are they together… after school?
The culprit is already caught…
Then why…?
A sudden thought crossed his mind—
And his eyes widened.
Don't tell me…
I'm too late?
Another memory—
Haru (Harin ) stepping in—
Defending Yuna that day.
Standing in front of her.
Without hesitation.
Are they…
Dating?
Jihun's jaw tightened.
And no one knows…?
Because they're hiding it?
His grip slowly clenched.
As he watched them—
Laughing together.
Close.
Comfortable.
Something unfamiliar—
Twisted inside him.
Not anger.
Not exactly.
Something worse.
---
Jealousy.
Jihun kept staring ahead—
At Yuna and Haru ( Harin).
Walking together.
Laughing.
Close.
Way too close.
His thoughts were going wild—
Are they really… dating?
Since when??
Why didn't anyone know??
---
"Hey… hey… HEY!!"
Jihun suddenly turned back.
"What are you doing?!"
Choi Kyungmin flinched.
"…What?"
"Why are YOU hiding??"
Kyungmin blinked innocently.
"Oh… I just thought…"
"…I should hide with you."
Jihun narrowed his eyes.
"You're literally shivering."
Kyungmin straightened up immediately.
"I am NOT."
"…Okay maybe a little."
Jihun sighed.
Then suddenly—
His eyes sharpened.
"Let's follow them."
Kyungmin froze.
"…Let's not."
"Let's just go home."
"Peacefully."
"Alive."
Jihun looked at him suspiciously.
"…Are you scared of someone?"
Kyungmin laughed awkwardly.
"Nooo…"
A pause.
"…Okay… maybe."
Jihun smirked slightly.
"Then let's follow them."
Kyungmin: I knew this day would come.
"…O-Okay."
---
And just like that—
Both of them started following.
Secretly.
Or at least—
They thought they were being secretive.
---
Ahead—
Yuna and Haru (Harin ) were completely relaxed.
Laughing.
Talking.
Even sharing snacks.
At one point—
Haru (Harin) fed Yuna.
Jihun froze.
"…Did you see that?"
Kyungmin nodded slowly.
"…I saw that."
Jihun's face darkened slightly.
"…Are they really dating?"
Kyungmin whispered back—
"…Why else would they be like this?"
A pause.
Then suddenly—
Kyungmin muttered—
"…That should've been me."
Jihun blinked.
"…What?"
Kyungmin's eyes widened.
"NO—I mean—"
"I didn't mean like that—"
"I mean—like—"
He started panicking.
Jihun stared at him.
"…Dude."
A slow pause.
"You're a man."
Kyungmin nodded nervously.
"…Yes."
Jihun continued—
"Haru is also a man."
Another nod.
"…Yes."
Then—
Jihun leaned closer.
"…Don't tell me…"
Kyungmin froze.
"…That you are…?"
Silence.
Wind blowing dramatically.
Kyungmin looked away.
"…I also didn't know."
Jihun: "..."
Kyungmin sighed dramatically.
"A few days ago… it just hit me."
"Like BOOM."
"Life-changing realization."
Jihun blinked.
"…You're serious?"
Kyungmin nodded.
"From that day…"
He placed a hand on his chest.
"Haru lives here."
Jihun: "WHAT—"
Kyungmin continued—
"I don't know what to do."
"Every time I see him—"
"My heart goes like—"
He started acting it out—
"Dugun-dugun-dugun—"
Jihun covered his mouth.
"STOP."
Kyungmin ignored him.
"And when he smiles—"
"I forget my own name."
Jihun: "Please stop talking."
Kyungmin: "And when he talks in that princely tone—"
Jihun: "I'm begging you."
Kyungmin: "Darling—are you scared—"
Jihun: "ENOUGH."
---
A pause.
Then Jihun muttered—
"…This is getting out of hand."
Kyungmin sighed.
"You think your situation is bad?"
"At least you're confused."
"I'm suffering."
Jihun looked at him.
"…You're enjoying it."
Kyungmin thought for a second.
"…Okay a little."
---
Meanwhile—
Ahead—
Yuna suddenly paused.
Harin also stopped.
Both of them went quiet.
---
Behind them—
Jihun and Kyungmin froze.
Kyungmin whispered—
"…Why did they stop?"
Jihun narrowed his eyes.
"…Don't move."
Too late.
Yuna slowly turned.
And looked directly—
At the pole.
Where two "professional spies" were hiding.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"…How long are you two planning to stay there?"