Chapter 45

When they returned home, the tension between them had already gently eased. Naru’s anger had clearly subsided, so it seemed they could finally have a proper conversation. Gyu-yeon sat Naru on the sofa and went to make a warm milk tea.

Naru, looking at the neatly cleaned surroundings with curious eyes, took the offered milk tea and began drinking it immediately. Yelling in the hallway had left their throat hoarse.

Naru swallowed the milk tea as if it were soda, let out a “kya,” and set the cup down. It seemed hotter than expected, because they clasped their throat with both hands. Gyu-yeon looked at Naru with affection.

“We still have more to talk about.”

Gyu-yeon, who had waited until the drink was finished, brought the conversation up again. Yes, the atmosphere between them might have loosened, but there were still many things to sort out—things like Naru’s true identity and what they should do going forward.

Naru, uncharacteristically tense, nodded. They had been confident just a little while ago, so the sudden anxiety felt odd.

Naru was afraid to reveal his upbringing to Gyu-yeon. See, Gyu-yeon had been born into a good family, seen and worn only good things, while Naru had been born as a puppy-type Beastkin and had grown up not even treated like a person.

Besides, this world had no puppy-type Beastkin. Would Gyu-yeon fully accept Naru’s existence? There were so many issues that could arise from telling him.

“Until now, I kept misunderstanding you as someone else.”

“…Mm.”

“Now that I know that’s not the case, I want to know the real you.”

“Why?”

A question mark appeared on Gyu-yeon’s face because Naru’s reaction was lukewarm. He had already confessed his feelings and the misunderstanding had been cleared, so it was time to learn the truth. But Naru kept dodging his gaze and didn’t seem likely to speak.

“Because I like you.”

“……”

Gyu-yeon, when you say that, I can’t refuse. Why are you suddenly being so sweet?

Silently replying inwardly, Naru squeezed their eyes shut. Gyu-yeon’s plain confession made their heart flutter, but the worries remained.

What if he rejected me because we grew up differently? What would happen if I revealed I’m a puppy-type Beastkin? No, before that, would Gyu-yeon even believe me?

A thousand thoughts rushed through Naru’s head. As Naru fidgeted their fingers, Gyu-yeon, watching them, spoke in a softer tone than usual.

“Don’t feel pressured, just speak comfortably. I just want to know the real you.”

“The real me? You won’t regret it…?”

“What?”

Gyu-yeon was confused. Naru’s pupils trembled and looked glazed. He had only said he wanted to know the real Naru, so why were those eyes appearing all of a sudden? He became anxious. On top of that, Naru prepared him, asking if he wouldn’t regret it.

Well, surely they wouldn’t call me a criminal or something crazy. What on earth?

Tensing up as well, Gyu-yeon swallowed dryly. When Naru nodded that he wouldn’t regret it, Naru clenched his fist as if resolving something.

“I grew up very differently from you.”

“Oh, most people are like that.”

“…Really?”

“Maybe.”

It was an irritating remark. “Most people are like that,”—well, it wasn’t entirely nonsensical. Gyu-yeon was the youngest son of the powerful YK, after all.

Naru, who had been asking with a puzzled face, relaxed only after hearing that most people were like that. He wondered why he had worried so much. Misunderstanding Gyu-yeon’s meaning, Naru felt relieved and began to continue the story.

“I see. I don’t have a family.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know where my older brothers and sisters went. The youngest was hit by a car and died along with our mother.”

“……”

That was a somewhat heavy family history to call “typical.” Gyu-yeon was stunned by words he couldn’t have imagined. Naru spoke as if it were nothing, but Gyu-yeon felt at a loss for how to respond.

While Gyu-yeon stood dazed, Naru continued telling his story. The way he recounted their family history in a flat voice made them seem mature in an unusual way, and yet somehow empty.

“They died when I was very young. I, well, there were bad things that happened then, so I couldn’t even see my mother and sibling off. I still don’t know what became of them.”

Naru shook his head, euphemistically calling being taken by illegal Beastkin traffickers “bad things.” Recalling that time after so long made his heart heavy like cotton soaked in water.

Gyu-yeon’s heart grew heavier. He had casually said others were the same when Naru mentioned growing up differently, but hearing this story made him sorry for speaking thoughtlessly.

As the mood sank, Naru summarized his life and hurriedly wrapped up the story.

“After that, I lived like trash. Trash gets pecked at by crows, right? I was that kind of trash. Emotionless trash that had to stay still even when being pecked.”

“Why are you trash?”

“Because my life was dirtied. That’s why I’m trash.”

“Your life is trash that’s been dirtied as much as it can be.”

No family, nowhere to go, no money—truly a trash life. Of course, things weren’t much different even now. If Naru left Gyu-yeon’s house, he might repeat their old life.

Naru recognized his situation and accepted it meekly. Yes, my life is trash. Admitting it brought a bit of peace. He no longer felt wronged or bitter when ignored. Maybe it’s because I’m trash, my life is trash, so I get treated like this. Living like that felt easier.

Gyu-yeon sighed with a heavy heart. He hadn’t expected such an answer. Hearing something worse than he anticipated left him conflicted.

He was quite shocked, actually. Naru speaking so calmly felt like someone resigned, which was startling. The kid who always ran around cheerfully making that expression—his chest ached.

“You can stop talking about it now.”

“Weren’t you curious?”

“I’ve heard enough.”

Gyu-yeon cut off the conversation. Not wanting to drag up painful memories, he hurriedly changed the subject.

“Sorry for grabbing you and bringing you here without permission. I was immature and did something I shouldn’t have.”

“Yeah, I searched on my phone and that kind of action is called crazy. Gyu-yeon’s crazy.”

“……”

“But to me, you weren’t crazy. I was glad to have a place to stay.”

Naru, who searched “I was suddenly grabbed and brought here” in the search bar, learned for the first time that Gyu-yeon’s action was considered insane. Naru had searched it sleeplessly while at the farm, and was startled to learn the new fact.

In any case, because of Gyu-yeon’s unreasonable action, Naru experienced a happiness he’d never felt in his life. It was an action that was hard to forgive if seen simply, but Naru had always thought he had been sold, and Gyu-yeon’s act had had positive effects, so he chose to forgive.

Gyu-yeon was dumbfounded. Naru sometimes surprised people like this. He could act innocent like a child who knew nothing, and other times behave maturely. It felt like he was growing little by little in a strange way.

“I’m relieved to hear that…”

“Mm.”

“Do you want to keep living with me?”

It was a surprise question. This was what Gyu-yeon had most wanted to ask: whether Naru would continue living with him. Now he had to properly ask and get Naru’s agreement.

Naru, who had been thinking deeply about Gyu-yeon’s question, couldn’t answer easily. Gyu-yeon had expected them to nod immediately and say yes, so it was unexpected. Uncharacteristically, he fretted. He feared Naru might say he didn’t want to live together.

Naru had different concerns from Gyu-yeon. While living together, there had been many times Gyu-yeon didn’t understand Naru and would easily get irritated. Though he still took care of things one by one, Naru worried whether it was okay to keep making him frustrated. Looking at Gyu-yeon with a clear face, Naru subtly asked.

“You won’t kick me out, right?”

“Why would I kick you out?”

Gyu-yeon sighed at Naru’s wary eyes and answered as if it were obvious. From there, a barrage of questions from Naru exploded like bombs.

“What if I mess up the house?”

“Okay.”

“What if I eat cereal with my mouth?”

“…Okay.”

“What if I hit you when you annoy me?”

“Hey.”

Gyu-yeon, answering meekly, frowned as usual. Naru finally relaxed his expression and smiled brightly. Sure enough, Gyu-yeon being only kind wasn’t great. It suited him better to show annoyance and poke at things.

When Naru smiled, Gyu-yeon let out a small laugh too. His face, which had been stiff moments ago, softened pleasantly. A corner of Gyu-yeon’s mind flickered with the thought that he wished Naru would keep smiling like this.

Naru, regaining his usual energy, answered vigorously.

“Yes, I’ll live with you!”

It had a nuance of “I’ll particularly live with you.” It might have sounded rude from someone else, but coming from Naru it was brazen in a way that wasn’t annoying. It felt like being chosen by a street cat or a puppy.

“Do I have to at least say thank you?”

“Yeah. Say it. Say it with a kiss.”

“You’re always trying to flirt whenever there’s a chance.”

Gyu-yeon pinched Naru’s nose gently, then, pretending to dislike it, kissed him. Surprised by the quick touch, Naru’s ears flushed bright red. He had asked for it earlier, but being actually kissed made him shy in an adorable way.

Stroking Naru’s head naturally, Gyu-yeon hesitated to bring up the last remaining topic. Now that they had decided to live together, what remained was the relationship between Naru and Gyu-yeon.

Usually, after some physical affection, it’s tacitly understood that they’re a couple, but Naru seemed like he wouldn’t know unless it was said aloud. Gyu-yeon wanted to define this ambiguous status as a relationship before any misunderstandings could arise.

“From now on, we—”

“Yu Gyu-yeon.”

Just as Gyu-yeon was about to speak, Naru beat him to it and called his full name.