Compared to her peers, her surprisingly mature boyfriend’s picky eating habits were something that she found quite amusing when she was younger.

Cucumbers, onions, tomatoes. What else? Things you can’t eat.

After confirming that Jae Kyung left onions uneaten at a restaurant they went to together, Na Eun pestered him about what else he disliked.

Once she learned that onions and tomatoes were simply picky eating, but cucumbers caused allergic reactions beyond mere dislike, it became her responsibility to check if they were in every menu item at restaurants they visited.

If cucumbers happened to be mixed in the food, she would scoop them all onto her own plate before Jae Kyung could eat them.

Despite Jae Kyung’s protests that it wasn’t necessary, Na Eun always took the initiative to do this.

She loved the affectionate look in her boyfriend’s eyes as he watched her diligently picking out the ingredients, so she did it even more deliberately.

…The problem was that after repeating this act for nearly two full years, it had become a habit.

“From today on, call me an idiot.”

The company dinner finally ended close to 3 AM.

After exchanging formal goodbyes with the academy staff and leaving the street lined with bars, Na Eun approached Hee Won, who was waiting for her on the main road, and self-deprecatingly said with a gloomy expression.

Hee Won, who already knew through the communicator what kind of foolish act Na Eun had done at the dinner without having to hear it, had a slightly bitter look in his eyes.

“It’s a habit. It’s not your fault.”

He knew that the bitterness he felt while saying this was not simply because he felt sorry for her, but because of his own feelings towards her.

Therefore, Hee Won did not add any more words and just summarized the earlier situation like that.

Still not recovering, Na Eun walked limply beside Hee Won with slumped shoulders.

Though not drunk, her steps were unsteady for no reason.

“I must be crazy… What was I thinking…”

Na Eun clutched her head, wondering how much of an idiot Han Jae Kyung must have thought she was.

Hee Won refrained from imagining how Han Jae Kyung might have looked at Yoon Na Eun as she habitually cleared away the food he couldn’t eat for him, not really wanting to guess.

Honestly, his mood wasn’t much better than hers.

“…Seo Jae Won was asking when you’re free again.”

To change the atmosphere around her, and also to recover his own unsettled feelings, Hee Won changed the subject.

As expected, at the mention of his younger brother from his mouth, Na Eun lowered her hands from her head and looked at Hee Won.

“Jae Won? Why?”

“He said he has something to ask you. And that you promised to buy him something delicious.”

After his ability manifested and he deliberated for quite a while, his younger brother finally entered the Center.

With the total number of people becoming odd again in the Center, which originally had a 3-person team system, the Center Director didn’t hesitate to put Jae Won on Hee Won’s team.

He protested that having family members work together wasn’t a good decision, but it was no use.

The Center Director, who was also their uncle Ji Hwan, mocked him saying, “Try dealing with the hard work of taking in an unpredictable rookie.”

It was a petty revenge against his nephew who always disobeyed him and upset him.

It was impossible for Jae Won to be immediately deployed on actual missions, and his schedule of being put on the team and receiving individual training was busier than when he was a high school senior.

Traditionally, the person who had just joined the Center before would be in charge of training the newly recruited individual.

In order, that was Lee Sun Jin, and thanks to Lee Sun Jin being more mature than at least Kwon Seung Joo, Jae Won was able to quickly adapt to the Center and the team.

It was a bit suspicious that his busy younger brother suddenly asked for permission to contact Na Eun saying he had something to ask her, but it was an appropriate topic to change the subject in the current awkward situation.

The result was successful, and Na Eun quickly erased thoughts of Han Jae Kyung and became immersed in the conversation about Jae Won.

“Then tell him to contact me directly. He knows my number.”

Hee Won just shrugged his shoulders without answering. Even with his ability manifested, Jae Won was still afraid of his older brother. In a way, it was natural.

If he thought he could match up to Hee Won just because he got a bit stronger, he would have come to deeply regret that foolishness later.

Hee Won was one of the top combatants among the 12 Center members, excluding Jae Won.

Knowing that such a brother liked Na Eun and was providing close protection for her, he was probably too scared to contact her first on his own.

Hee Won spoke nonchalantly.

“If you want to meet, you contact him first. He’s too scared of me to contact you first.”

“You’re the type of brother who really keeps a tight leash on your younger sibling, huh?”

Na Eun narrowed her eyes.

“Treat him more kindly. He’s such an adorable kid.”

“If he grows just a little taller there, he’ll be taller than me. Is that adorable?”

“I mean his behavior is adorable, his behavior.”

Recalling Jae Won who was only gentle despite the talk of him going through a severe rebellious phase, she scolded Hee Won.

“Sun Jin said he’s extremely nice. She can’t believe he’s your brother. Between the two of you, you’re the problem child in our eyes.”

“So now you’re getting all sorts of Center stories from her, huh.”

It was a half-resigned fact, but it was absurd that Lee Sun Jin had reported in detail to Na Eun, who was clearly a civilian, about the fact that she was in charge of Jae Won’s training.

However, he was in no position to criticize, having blabbed about his brother’s ability manifesting beforehand.

Originally, he was of the stance to absolutely block civilian involvement, but somehow that wall had crumbled only for Na Eun.

“I’m already done for.”

Na Eun pouted with a resigned expression at Hee Won’s reaction.

“If it’s already come to this point, rather than trying not to get involved, it’s better to actively cooperate with you guys to get out of the situation quickly.”

She began to earnestly expound her logic, saying that in movies, in these cases, a frontal breakthrough is the way to survive longer.

“I’ve thought long and hard about my role, and there are exactly two options. Either I become a sacrifice to the villain that serves as a catalyst for the protagonist to upgrade their powers, or I get kidnapped and then rescued to become the ingredient for a happy ending.”

Hee Won stared blankly at Na Eun as she explained the meaning of her existence a bit harshly and coldly.

Already accustomed to receiving Hee Won’s gaze, she continued speaking nonchalantly.

“Since it’s come to this, I’m going to do my best to make my future the latter option. I wrote down in my diary some virtues to keep while being friends with Seung Joo and Sun Jin before, remember? I couldn’t keep some of them, but anyway, if I follow that, I think I can survive.”

No, I absolutely have to survive. Who would I die for? She grumbled a bit defiantly, and Hee Won chuckled at her.

“So that’s why you did that before. Rambling on about some virtues of friendship or whatever.”

“I’ve survived until now by diligently following that. The rules I made after experiencing countless hero narratives through movies and comics must be right.”

Na Eun spoke proudly, having some confidence in the list she had written.

Finding her cute, Hee Won’s lips curled up involuntarily as he said,

“Don’t worry. Your future will be a happy ending, not becoming material sacrificed to upgrade our abilities.”

“How do you know that?”

Because you’ll protect me? Na Eun asked with a smile, and he answered.

“I heard your dream, didn’t I?”

“…”

“I want to see you achieve your dream.”

Hee Won continued speaking without erasing the smile from his lips.

“To achieve that, you need to be alive first. And if this were a movie, the director who made it probably wouldn’t want you to die either.”

Because you’re too lovable and admirable. Hee Won cut off the last words and kept them in his heart.

Meanwhile, Na Eun’s cheeks flushed red at Hee Won’s gaze that seemed to find her admirable.

Though it had been a long-held dream, she could count on one hand the number of times she had spoken about it so concretely to someone.

Because it was too grandiose, and the future seemed so daunting, she honestly prepared herself for ridicule, like “Do you think that’s possible?”

But instead, he said he wanted to see her achieve her dream. It was an answer she had never expected or anticipated from anyone.

While it was bewildering, she felt extremely happy and smiled broadly.

“…Thank you for saying that.”

Feeling a bit shy, she averted her gaze.

For a moment, an awkwardness with not unpleasant meaning wedged between the two, and disliking the continuation of that atmosphere, Na Eun decided to try picking a fight.

“But, I’m cold, aren’t you going to offer to take off your clothes for me this time?”

The predawn of midwinter was so cold that the tip of one’s nose stung. Hee Won had expected this, but he scanned Na Eun’s outfit with a somewhat cold gaze.

“That’s why I told you. I said it would be cold today so wear a padded jacket.”

“…But I don’t like how heavy it is.”

She pouted. Whoever came up with the phrase ‘fashion victim,’ Na Eun thought it truly expressed herself perfectly.

Na Eun was truly someone who would stick to wearing a coat even if she froze to death.

On the other hand, Hee Won, who had already worn a long padded jacket he rarely wore for the purpose of covering Na Eun, was annoyed that she had ignored his advice and come wearing only a thin coat again, so he pretended not to notice.

He was worried because the place where the car was parked was quite a walk away, but he thought she might wear a padded jacket next time if she really shivered from the cold.

However, Na Eun seemed to have different thoughts and approached Hee Won, who was standing a bit apart.

“Is the parking lot far?”

“It’s at least a 5-minute walk.”

“…Won’t you take off that padded jacket for me?”

Hee Won spoke deliberately firmly.

“No. I’m cold too.”

“…But you’re wearing a coat underneath?”

“I wore two because it’s cold.”

Realizing he was just pretending, Na Eun rolled her eyes for a moment before pouncing on him.

Suddenly closing the distance until she was within arm’s reach, Hee Won was momentarily flustered.

Oblivious to this, Na Eun struggled to forcibly remove Hee Won’s white padded jacket.

“Ah, take it off~ I said I’m cold.”

“…Is this a mugging or what?”

Hee Won looked at Na Eun, who was whining like a puppy saying it was obvious he came wearing it to cover her, with a somewhat incredulous expression.

It was also quite funny that Na Eun couldn’t remove the jacket from his shoulders due to their height difference, even though he was staying still because her efforts were amusing.

In the end, Hee Won pretended to give in and moved his arms to let Na Eun take the jacket from him.

Not realizing that he had willingly given it up, Na Eun was pleased thinking she had snatched it herself and quickly draped it over her shoulders.

Since it was originally Hee Won’s jacket, it was too big and the sleeves naturally covered her hands and stuck out.

Hee Won held back his laughter at her appearance like a child who had stolen an adult’s clothes.

The long padded jacket that covered Hee Won’s knees became as long as a blanket dragging on the ground when Na Eun wore it.

Watching Na Eun struggle with her hands not even coming out of the sleeves and unable to zip up the jacket because the zipper was too low, Hee Won finally bent down with a look of exasperation.

“Hold still for a moment.”

“Okay!”

Somehow knowing he was going to help her, Na Eun stood obediently in place. Hee Won firmly zipped up the jacket from the very bottom to her neckline.

Gaining the comfort of seemingly entering a sleeping bag in an instant, she smiled with her cheeks red from the cold.

Towards her excited about being warm, Hee Won cautioned,

“I really won’t lend it to you next time. Just wear a padded jacket on cold days.”

“Should I just keep my padded jacket in my car and your car?”

Hee Won clicked his tongue at Na Eun, who only wanted to use a padded jacket briefly when cold but insisted on wearing a coat for everyday outings even if she froze to death.

“If you go around like that trusting your youth, your body will break down later.”

“Wow. You really sounded like an old person just now.”

No longer cold and excited about it, she teased Hee Won and then ran ahead towards the parking lot, bouncing in the padded jacket.

Unable to hide his smile at her rabbit-like movements, Hee Won followed behind her.

“…”

Jae Kyung’s eyes darkened as he watched the entire scene from inside a car temporarily parked at a distance.

He opened the window and tapped the ash from the cigarette in his mouth.

Soon, the black sedan left the main road.

As the wheels somewhat nervously cut between lanes, the cars that were originally driving honked their horns in surprise, but the speed of the car with Jae Kyung at the wheel did not slow down at all.