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Jihoon had long grown accustomed to the feline comparisons that followed him like a shadow. Whether it was "little kitten", "big cat", "orange tabby", or any other variation of the metaphor, he had heard them all—each one delivered with varying degrees of enthusiasm by fans who seemed utterly convinced of the resemblance. And truth be told, Jihoon didn't mind in the slightest.
He'd often found himself absentmindedly scrolling through social media, only to stumble upon side-by-side comparisons of his own photos alongside those of various cats. He'd pause, tilt his head, and think to himself. Hm. That is... actually quite accurate. There was something undeniably feline about the way his small canine teeth peeked out whenever he smiled, a feature that fans never failed to capture on camera. Besides, cats were adorable creatures, universally beloved for their charm and grace. Being associated with them was hardly an insult, if anything, it felt like a compliment he hadn't asked for but was more than happy to accept.
But Jihoon knew he wasn't the only one in the LCK who had earned this particular honor. There was another player whose name carried weight, legacy, and an almost mythical reverence in the world of competitive gaming. Lee Sanghyeok. The mid laner of T1. The Unkillable Demon King. The very same player who had inspired Jihoon to push himself further, to dream bigger, to chase excellence with every match he played.
And as fate would have it, Sanghyeok had also been claimed by the fans as one of their own feline icons. Where Jihoon was the playful orange cat—warm, expressive, and endearingly clumsy—Sanghyeok was cast as the enigmatic black cat; sleek, mysterious, and impossibly cool. The contrast between them was striking, and for the fans, it was nothing short of adorable. They loved painting them as two sides of the same coin, a pairing of light and shadow, warmth and aloofness, chaos and composure.
Did Sanghyeok know about this? Jihoon wasn't entirely sure. It seemed almost impossible that the man could be unaware of how the internet saw him. But whether Sanghyeok was consciously aware of it or not, Jihoon found himself wondering: did he know that they were often compared?
Did he know that fans loved to place them side by side, two cats of different colors and temperaments, destined to be mentioned in the same breath? Jihoon had no way of confirming this, and he wasn't about to ask directly. Still, there was a part of him a quiet, hopeful part that wished Sanghyeok did know. Because the simple thought of being associated with someone like Faker, even in something as trivial as a cat comparison, was enough to make Jihoon smile to himself like a fool.
The weekend had arrived, and for once, Gen.G's schedule was mercifully clear, a rare luxury that Jihoon intended to savor. He lay sprawled across his bed, phone in hand, scrolling aimlessly through the usual flood of notifications and updates. The afternoon light filtered gently through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the room. It was peaceful. Quiet. Exactly the kind of break he needed.
Then came the knock.
Jihoon turned his head toward the door just in time to see the handle twist and a familiar face poke through the gap. It was Jaehyuk, his expression carrying that particular blend of casual curiosity and mild mischief that Jihoon had come to recognize over the years.
"Busy?" Jaehyuk asked, his voice light.
Jihoon shook his head in response, a silent signal that he was free. Satisfied, Jaehyuk stepped inside with the easy confidence of someone who had long since stopped asking for permission to enter.
"Let's go out for a bit," Jaehyuk suggested. "Just a walk in the park nearby. Fresh air, you know?"
Jihoon shrugged in agreement and rose from his bed, reaching for his jacket. There was something refreshing about the spontaneity of it, no plans, no obligations, just two teammates stepping out into the world with nothing but time on their hands.
They walked side by side along the park's winding paths, the city's distant hum muffled by the canopy of trees above them. The air was crisp and carried the faint scent of earth and leaves. Jaehyuk broke the comfortable silence first, his tone conversational and unhurried.
"So," he began, hands still buried deep in his jacket pockets, a mirror image of Jihoon's own posture, "how are you doing?"
Jihoon turned to him with a puzzled look. "What do you mean, hyung? We're together all the time."
Jaehyuk let out a dry chuckle. "You know, I don't think you've ever understood the concept of small talk."
Jihoon burst into laughter, the sound bright and uninhibited as it echoed through the quiet park. He reached over and patted Jaehyuk's shoulder repeatedly, the gesture equal parts affectionate and teasing. "Hahaha! I'm fine, hyung. Really. Thanks for checking in on me."
Before Jaehyuk could offer any kind of retort, something caught their attention, a sound so faint and fragile that it almost seemed to dissolve into the wind before it reached their ears.
Meow
They both froze mid-step, their feet instinctively halting as they strained to hear more clearly. The world around them seemed to grow quieter, as if holding its breath in anticipation.
Meow
This time, the sound was softer, more desperate, a tiny plea that tugged at something deep in Jihoon's chest. Without a second thought, he broke away from Jaehyuk and moved toward a cluster of bushes nearby, his eyes scanning the undergrowth with growing urgency.
And then he saw them.
His heart clenched painfully at the sight. Tucked behind the thicket, shivering despite the mild weather, were two tiny kittens. It's unclear how the surroundings indicate their mother. Both of them jet-black and impossibly small. They were clean enough to suggest they hadn't been abandoned for long, but their pitiful mewls betrayed a hunger that couldn't be ignored. Their eyes, wide and luminous, seemed to look up at Jihoon with a mixture of fear and fragile hope.
Without hesitation, Jihoon knelt down and gently scooped them into his arms, cradling them against his chest with a tenderness that caught even himself by surprise. The kittens pressed closer to him, seeking warmth and safety in the embrace of a stranger who had already decided they would not be left behind.
Jaehyuk approached slowly, peering at the two tiny bundles in Jihoon's grasp. His brow furrowed as he processed the scene before him. "Hey," he said carefully, a note of caution creeping into his voice, "what exactly are you planning to do with them?"
Jihoon looked up at his teammate with a grin that was equal parts sheepish and utterly unapologetic. The answer was written all over his face—stubborn, warm, and impossibly soft.
Jaehyuk sighed, already knowing deep down that this was not going to end well for his own peace of mind. But as he watched Jihoon cradling those two fragile lives, his expression softening in a way that was rarely seen on stage, he couldn't bring himself to say no.
This was probably not a good idea, Jaehyuk thought to himself.
The night had settled over Seoul like a soft velvet blanket, the city lights twinkling in the distance as Jihoon stepped out of the dormitory building. The evening air was cool against his skin, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers from the nearby park. His hands were buried deep in the pockets of his oversized jacket, the same one he had thrown on earlier that day without a second thought. But tonight, there was something different, something warm and alive nestled against his chest.
Two tiny black kittens had made themselves at home inside his jacket, their small bodies pressed close to his for warmth. They had stopped shivering hours ago, and now they seemed content to simply exist in the safety of his embrace. Jihoon had tried to leave them behind in his room, but their pitiful mewls had followed him to the door, and he found himself incapable of resisting. So here he was, strolling through the quiet streets at night with two furry hitchhikers who had apparently adopted him as their personal chauffeur.
The Gen.G dormitory and the T1 dormitory were remarkably close, a fact that Jihoon had always found amusing. Sometimes, when he couldn't sleep, he would wander out and find himself unconsciously walking past the building where Lee Sanghyeok lived. He never stopped. He never knocked. He simply walked, letting the proximity soothe something restless inside him.
Tonight was no different.
Or so he thought.
As Jihoon rounded the corner toward the convenience store that sat conveniently between both dormitories, he noticed a figure emerging from the building's entrance. Small and lean. Moving with that quiet, unhurried grace that seemed to belong only to one person. Jihoon's breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, he considered turning around and walking the other way.
But it was too late.
Sanghyeok had already noticed him.
Their eyes met across the dimly lit street, and Jihoon felt his heart do something strange, a flutter, perhaps, or the beginning of a nervous skip. He offered a small wave, the gesture feeling awkward and inadequate. Sanghyeok responded with a slight nod, his expression as unreadable as ever. The Unkillable Demon King, out for a late-night snack run. It was such an ordinary sight, and yet it made Jihoon's pulse quicken in a way that was entirely extraordinary.
"Sanghyeok hyung," Jihoon called out as he approached, his voice steady despite the chaos in his chest. "...couldn't sleep either?"
Sanghyeok's eyes studied him for a moment before he replied. "I needed something to drink," he said simply. "And you? You're out late."
"Just walking," Jihoon said with a shrug. "Sometimes the air helps me clear my head."
A brief silence settled between them, comfortable yet charged with something unsaid. Jihoon had always admired Sanghyeok from afar, as a rival, as a role model, as something more that he didn't dare name aloud. Standing here now, in the quiet of the night, felt like a dream he hadn't known he was dreaming.
Then, without warning, a tiny sound pierced the silence.
Meow
It was barely audible, just a whisper of a noise that could have been mistaken for the wind. But Jihoon felt the movement against his chest and knew immediately what had happened. His face flushed slightly as he instinctively pressed his hand to his jacket, trying to quiet the little intruder.
Sanghyeok's eyes narrowed with curiosity. His gaze dropped to Jihoon's jacket, where a subtle lump was moving. A moment later, a second mew joined the first, this one louder and more insistent. Jihoon winced internally as Sanghyeok's expression shifted from curiosity to something resembling surprise.
"Is there something in your jacket?" Sanghyeok asked, his tone carefully neutral but his eyes betraying his interest.
Jihoon hesitated, then sighed in resignation. "Well... you might want to sit down for this."
He carefully unzipped his jacket, revealing two small black faces peeking out from the warmth of his embrace. The kittens blinked up at Sanghyeok with wide, curious eyes, their tiny noses twitching as they caught his scent. One of them let out another small mew, as if saying hello in the only language it knew.
Sanghyeok's composure—that legendary, unshakable calm that had earned him his fearsome reputation—cracked ever so slightly. His eyes widened, and his lips parted in what could only be described as awe. For a long moment, he simply stared at the two tiny creatures, his expression uncharacteristically soft.
"I found them this afternoon," Jihoon explained, his voice taking on a gentle tone as he looked down at the kittens. "They were hiding in some bushes near the park. Just the two of them, all alone. They were so small and hungry, I couldn't just leave them there."
He paused, stroking one of the kittens behind its ear. "It wasn't easy convincing my manager to let me keep them, even temporarily. He kept saying something about hygiene and schedules and…" Jihoon laughed softly, “...all these practical things that made sense but didn't matter. I told him I just wanted to take care of them until they could fend for themselves. He finally agreed, but I think he's already regretting it."
As Jihoon spoke, Sanghyeok's gaze remained fixed on the kittens. There was something in his eyes, a quiet intensity that Jihoon had never seen before. Without fully realizing what he was doing, Sanghyeok took a step closer, his hand reaching out tentatively toward one of the black furballs.
"May I?" he asked, his voice softer than Jihoon had ever heard it.
Jihoon nodded, his heart swelling at the sight of Sanghyeok's unguarded curiosity. The older player gently touched the kitten's head, his fingers tracing the soft fur with unexpected tenderness. The kitten leaned into his touch, a low purr rumbling from its tiny chest.
And that's when it happened.
"I'll take one," Sanghyeok said, the words escaping his lips before he could stop them. He blinked, as if surprised by his own announcement. "I mean... if you think that's okay. I can take care of one of them."
Jihoon's jaw dropped slightly. "You... you want to adopt one? Now? Just like that?"
Sanghyeok met his gaze, and for once, there was no cool detachment in his expression, only genuine warmth. "Why not? They need homes, don't they? And I have space in my dorm. It's only a matter of getting permission from the team, but..." He paused, a ghost of a smile playing at the corner of his lips. "I'm Faker. Who's going to say no to having something this cute around?"
Jihoon couldn't help but laugh. It was such a simple, arrogant statement and yet coming from Sanghyeok, it felt entirely true. The man had single-handedly changed the landscape of competitive gaming. Surely he could convince his team to let him keep a kitten.
But there was a thought nagging at Jihoon's mind. "Are you sure, hyung?" he asked, the honorific slipping out naturally. "I mean... they're so small. They need constant attention. And what if they get stressed being separated? They've been together since… well, since before I found them. They might not adjust well."
Sanghyeok considered this for a moment, his gaze shifting between the two kittens. "Then we'll make sure they're not separated," he said simply. "At least not completely."
Jihoon tilted his head, confused.
"I have a condition," Jihoon said slowly, a small grin spreading across his face. "If you're going to take one of them, I need to visit. Frequently. For the first few weeks, at least. To make sure they're both adjusting okay. It would be cruel to just split them up and never let them see each other."
Sanghyeok's eyes widened slightly, and Jihoon wondered if he had overstepped. But then the older player's expression softened, and he nodded.
"That seems reasonable," Sanghyeok said. "I wouldn't want to cause them any unnecessary stress. Their well-being should come first."
Jihoon's heart leaped. It was such a practical agreement, a simple arrangement to ensure the kittens were happy. But somehow, it felt like so much more. It felt like an excuse to see Sanghyeok regularly. An excuse to be close.
"Then it's settled," Jihoon said, trying to keep his voice steady. "You take this one..." he gently lifted one of the kittens, a slightly rounder and fluffier one "...and I'll keep this one." He cradled the other kitten, whose eyes seemed to sparkle with mischief.
Sanghyeok accepted the kitten into his arms, cradling it with a care that made Jihoon's chest ache. The little creature immediately snuggled against him, purring loudly as if it had already decided that this was its new home.
"Have you given them names?" Sanghyeok asked, looking up from the kitten in his arms.
Jihoon shook his head. "Not yet. I wanted to see their personalities first before deciding."
Sanghyeok looked down at the kitten in his grasp—its black fur blending seamlessly with the darkness of the night, only its bright eyes giving away its presence. "Then I'll name this one," he said quietly, almost to himself. "Shadow."
Jihoon smiled. "Shadow," he repeated. "That's a good name. Then I'll name this one..." He paused, looking at his own kitten, which was currently trying to climb up his shoulder. "...Midnight."
"Shadow and Midnight," Sanghyeok echoed, a rare, genuine smile crossing his face. "They'll be fine together."
They stood there for a moment, two rivals in the world of professional gaming, now linked by something far more significant than competition. The night stretched on around them, peaceful and quiet, as the two kittens settled into their new lives.
"This is nice," Jihoon said softly, almost to himself. "Walking home together. With the kittens. It feels…" He struggled to find the right word. "...right."
Sanghyeok nodded, his gaze still on the kitten in his arms. "It does."
They began walking slowly toward the direction of their respective dormitories, neither of them in a hurry, neither of them wanting the moment to end. The two black kittens, now officially named Shadow and Midnight, seemed content in their new owners' arms.
"Same time tomorrow?" Jihoon asked as they approached the cross street where they would part ways. "For the kittens' sake, of course."
Sanghyeok smirked, and it was the most beautiful thing Jihoon had ever seen. "For the kittens' sake," he agreed. "Of course."
And as they walked away from each other, heading in opposite directions toward their separate dormitories, both of them carried a secret smile, a happiness that had little to do with the kittens and everything to do with the promise of tomorrow.
As Sanghyeok pushed open the door to the T1 dormitory, the familiar warmth of home enveloped him, along with the curious stares of his teammates who had gathered in the common area. Hyeonjoon, Hyeonjun, Suhwan, and Minseok were scattered across the couches, their attention torn between their phones and the variety show playing on the television. The moment they noticed Sanghyeok enter, however, all eyes turned toward him.
And more specifically, toward the small black lump nestled in his arms.
"Hyung," Hyeonjoon said slowly, his eyebrows rising in disbelief, "is that... a cat?"
Sanghyeok simply nodded, his expression calm and unbothered. The kitten—Shadow, as he had already decided to call it—peeked out from his embrace, blinking sleepily at the new faces surrounding it. A tiny mew escaped its lips, and collectively, the room seemed to melt.
Hyeonjun let out a low whistle. "Well, I didn't see that coming. You, of all people, bringing home a stray kitten."
Suhwan, ever the pragmatist, tilted his head. "Hyung, does the manager know about this? You know how strict they are about... well, everything."
Sanghyeok's gaze shifted toward the corridor that led to the manager's office. "I was about to take care of that."
Minseok, who had been watching the exchange with quiet amusement, finally spoke up. "You're really going to keep it? Just like that?"
"Yes," Sanghyeok replied simply. "I'm keeping him."
And with that, the manager walked toward Sanghyeok hearing the fuss.
What followed was a conversation that lasted much longer than Sanghyeok had anticipated. The manager raised every conceivable objection, hygiene concerns, potential allergies, the risk of distraction during practice, the added responsibility of caring for a living creature. Sanghyeok listened patiently to each one, his composed demeanor never wavering. He countered every argument with calm logic and, when necessary, the quiet authority that came with being the most recognizable name in competitive gaming.
"The kitten won't be a distraction," he said at one point. "If anything, it will help us relax. We work hard. We deserve something that reminds us why we do this."
The manager sighed, rubbing his temples. "Sanghyeok-ah, I understand your point, but…"
"Please," Sanghyeok interrupted softly. Just one word. But it was enough.
In the end, the manager relented. Perhaps it was the sincerity in Sanghyeok's voice, or perhaps it was simply the impossibility of saying no to Faker. Either way, Shadow officially had a home.
His teammates erupted into a chorus of cheers and congratulations. Hyeonjoon immediately rushed over to pet the kitten, cooing at its tiny face. Hyeonjun followed suit, his earlier skepticism replaced by genuine fascination. Suhwan, though still cautious, allowed himself a small smile.
There was something different about Sanghyeok these days, a subtle shift in his demeanor that Minseok had been noticing for a while now. It wasn't obvious to everyone, but Minseok had always been perceptive.
The days that followed were filled with the gentle chaos of adjusting to a new furry roommate. Shadow, true to its name, turned out to be a creature of quiet mischief, always lurking in corners, watching everything with those bright, curious eyes. It took to the team immediately, weaving between their legs during meals and curling up on their laps during breaks. The manager, despite his initial reservations, found himself secretly slipping the kitten treats when no one was looking.
But Minseok noticed something else. Something that had nothing to do with the kitten and everything to do with Sanghyeok.
Every day, without fail, Sanghyeok would step out of the dormitory with Shadow in his arms. Sometimes it was early in the morning, when the rest of them were still groggy with sleep. Other times it was late at night, after everyone had retired to their rooms. The timing varied, but the habit remained constant. Sanghyeok would leave, and an hour or two later, he would return with Shadow looking contented and well-exercised.
At first, Minseok dismissed it as simple devotion to the new pet. Off-season meant fewer responsibilities, after all. Why not spend extra time with the kitten? But as the pattern continued, Minseok's curiosity grew.
One evening, he found himself alone with Sanghyeok in the common room. Shadow was curled up in the older player's lap, purring softly as Sanghyeok absently stroked its fur. Minseok settled onto the couch across from him, his expression thoughtful.
"Hyung," Minseok began carefully, "can I ask you something?"
Sanghyeok looked up, his eyes calm and patient. "Of course."
"You take Shadow out every day. Sometimes multiple times a day." Minseok paused, choosing his words with care. "I know you love the kitten, but... is that really all it is? Are you just taking him for walks?"
A beat of silence. Then Sanghyeok's lips curved into a small, almost imperceptible smile.
"No," he admitted quietly. "That's not all it is."
Minseok leaned forward, intrigued. "Then what is it?"
Sanghyeok looked down at Shadow, his fingers still tracing the kitten's fur. "I'm meeting someone. The person who found Shadow and his sibling. They're the one who gave him to me."
Minseok's brow furrowed. "Someone from another team?"
Sanghyeok nodded. "Jeong Jihoon. From Gen.G."
The name hit Minseok like a wave of nostalgia. Jeong Jihoon. Of course he knew that name, how could he forget? They had been teammates on DRX back in 2020, alongside Hyeonjoon. Those were the days of shared victories and quiet defeats, of late night practice sessions and early morning strategy meetings. Jihoon had been younger then, still finding his footing in the competitive scene. But even back then, Minseok had recognized the spark in him, the same spark that had carried him to Gen.G, to the LCK, to the very top of the game.
"Jihoon," Minseok repeated, a knowing smile spreading across his face. "So that's what this is about."
Sanghyeok raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing," Minseok said innocently, though his eyes sparkled with mischief. "It's just... you've been going out a lot lately. And now you tell me you're meeting Jihoon. Every day."
"It's for the kittens," Sanghyeok said, though even he seemed to realize how unconvincing that sounded. "We agreed it would be better if they weren't completely separated. At least for the first few weeks."
"Of course," Minseok replied, nodding sagely. "For the kittens."
The words hung in the air between them, innocent enough on the surface, but carrying a weight that neither of them acknowledged. Minseok studied Sanghyeok's face, searching for any sign of embarrassment or denial. What he found instead was something far more interesting: a quiet contentment that Minseok had rarely seen on the older player's features.
Sanghyeok, who had built his reputation on stoic indifference, who had weathered years of pressure and expectation without flinching—he looked... happy. Genuinely happy. And Minseok knew exactly who was responsible for that.
Just then, Suhwan wandered into the room, his eyes landing on the two of them with casual curiosity. "Hyung, did you go out again? I saw you leave with Shadow earlier."
Minseok answered before Sanghyeok could. "He was meeting someone."
Suhwan blinked. "Oh? Who?"
Minseok turned to Suhwan, his smile widening into something mysterious and warm. "Let's just watch, Suhwan-ah," he said softly. "Let's see how this story unfolds."
Suhwan looked between Minseok and Sanghyeok, clearly confused but sensing that pushing for more details would be futile. He shrugged and settled onto the couch beside Minseok, deciding to let the mystery be.
Later that night, when the dormitory had quieted down and everyone had retreated to their rooms, Minseok lay in bed staring at the ceiling. His mind wandered back to 2020—to the days when he and Jihoon had been teammates, when they had shared the same hopes and struggles. He remembered Jihoon as someone who wore his heart on his sleeve, who laughed easily and loved fiercely. To see him now, apparently spending his days with Sanghyeok of all people...
Minseok smiled to himself in the darkness.
How interesting, he thought. The Unkillable Demon King and the Orange Cat. Oh? I mean, the Black Cat and the Orange Cat. What a pairing.
And somewhere in the room across the hall, Sanghyeok lay with Shadow curled up beside him, his mind drifting to a certain someone with a gummy smile and two tiny black kittens. Tomorrow, he would see Jihoon again. And the next day, and the next.
For the kittens' sake, of course.
The thought made him smile into the darkness. A rare, unguarded smile that no one would ever see.
A week and a half had passed since the night two black kittens had changed everything. The days had blurred together in a haze of quiet meetings, stolen glances, and the gentle rhythm of routine that neither Sanghyeok nor Jihoon had anticipated but both had come to treasure.
Now, they sat together on a wooden bench in the small park that lay between their two dormitories, the same park where Jihoon had first discovered Shadow and Midnight hiding in the bushes. The afternoon sun filtered through the canopy of leaves above them, casting dappled shadows across their faces. Autumn was beginning to paint the trees in shades of gold and amber, and a soft breeze carried the scent of fallen leaves through the air.
Shadow was curled up in Sanghyeok's lap, a tiny black ball of contentment, purring softly as the older player's fingers traced lazy patterns through its fur. Midnight, meanwhile, had claimed Jihoon's shoulder as his personal perch, occasionally batting at strands of Jihoon's hair with his small paws. The two kittens had grown noticeably in the past ten days. Their bodies filling out, their eyes brighter, their personalities emerging with each passing moment.
Jihoon watched Sanghyeok from the corner of his eye, his heart swelling at the sight of the legendary mid laner so utterly at ease. There was something achingly tender about the way Sanghyeok handled Shadow, the careful precision of his touch, the softness in his usually guarded eyes, the way his lips curved into the smallest smile whenever the kitten mewed. This was not the Unkillable Demon King that fans saw on stage. This was simply Lee Sanghyeok, a young man who had accidentally fallen in love with a tiny creature that had wandered into his life.
"I've been thinking," Jihoon began, his voice quiet, almost reluctant to break the peaceful silence between them. "After this week, our schedules are going to get busy again. Scrims. Matches. All of it."
Sanghyeok nodded slowly, his fingers never pausing their gentle strokes along Shadow's back. "I know. The season is starting to pick up."
"It's going to be harder to meet like this," Jihoon continued, the words tasting heavy on his tongue. "Harder to bring them together. Midnight and Shadow... they've gotten so used to seeing each other. I'm worried they might get lonely."
The admission hung in the air between them, weighted with an emotion that went far beyond concern for two kittens. Jihoon realized, with a start, that he wasn't just talking about Midnight and Shadow anymore. He was talking about himself. About Sanghyeok. About the fragile, beautiful thing that had grown between them over the past ten days—a thing built on shared silences and gentle laughter, on the quiet comfort of existing in each other's presence.
Sanghyeok looked up from the kitten in his lap, his dark eyes meeting Jihoon's. There was something vulnerable in that gaze—a rare crack in the armor he wore so well. "They'll adapt," he said softly. "Kittens are resilient. They learn to find comfort in new places."
Jihoon's chest tightened. "But what if they don't?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "What if they miss each other too much?"
Sanghyeok's lips parted, but no words came. Instead, he simply looked at Jihoon—really looked at him—and something unspoken passed between them. The air around them seemed to grow warmer, charged with an electricity that had nothing to do with the afternoon sun.
For the first time, Jihoon noticed the sadness that had crept into Sanghyeok's expression. The slight downturn of his lips. The distant look in his eyes. It was subtle—so subtle that anyone else might have missed it. But Jihoon had spent the past week and a half learning to read the tiny shifts in Sanghyeok's demeanor, the small tells that betrayed the emotions he worked so hard to hide.
He's sad too, Jihoon realized. He's thinking the same thing I am.
The thought struck him like a bolt of lightning, leaving him breathless. Here was Lee Sanghyeok, the man who had conquered worlds, who had faced down countless opponents with unwavering composure, looking genuinely distressed at the prospect of spending less time together. Jihoon's heart ached with the sweetness of it.
"Sanghyeok hyung," Jihoon said softly, the honorific slipping out like a prayer. "Look at me."
Sanghyeok raised his gaze, and Jihoon felt his breath catch at the tenderness in those dark eyes. The older player's hand had stilled on Shadow's fur, his attention now fully focused on the man beside him.
"Midnight and Shadow will be fine," Jihoon continued, his voice gaining strength with each word. "They've already found their homes. They've already found people who love them. And we can still bring them together sometimes. It doesn't have to end just because the season starts."
He paused, gathering his courage. The words he was about to say felt terrifying and liberating all at once—a step into the unknown that he had been longing to take for days.
"And besides," Jihoon said, a soft smile playing at his lips, "we don't need the kittens as an excuse, do we?"
The question hung in the air, delicate and shimmering like a soap bubble. Jihoon watched Sanghyeok's expression shift—the surprise, the dawning realization, the quiet joy that crept into his features like the first light of dawn.
"No," Sanghyeok said finally, his voice low and warm. "I don't think we do."
Jihoon felt a rush of warmth flood through him, spreading from his chest to his fingertips. He reached out, his hand hovering uncertainly over Sanghyeok's, a question waiting to be answered. Sanghyeok's eyes flickered down to the gesture, and then, without hesitation, he turned his hand over, palm open, inviting.
Jihoon's fingers intertwined with Sanghyeok's, their hands fitting together like puzzle pieces that had finally found their match.
"I don't want to stop seeing you," Jihoon admitted, his voice trembling slightly with the weight of his confession. "Not just for the kittens. I want to see you because... because it's you. Because these past ten days have been the happiest I've felt in a long time. Because when I'm with you, the world feels softer. Easier. Like everything is exactly where it's supposed to be."
Sanghyeok's grip tightened around his hand, his thumb tracing gentle circles on Jihoon's skin. "I feel the same way," he said quietly. "I didn't expect this. I didn't expect you. But now that you're here, I can't imagine not having you in my life."
Jihoon's eyes grew warm, and he blinked rapidly to keep the tears at bay. "So we'll find a way," he said, his voice firm with determination. "Busy schedules, long hours, all of it—we'll figure it out. Because this is worth it. You are worth it."
Sanghyeok smiled. A genuine, unguarded smile that transformed his entire face. "You are too," he said. "More than you know."
They sat there in the golden afternoon light, hands intertwined, two kittens nestled contentedly against them, the world around them fading into irrelevance. The words they had exchanged felt monumental, a declaration that had shifted something fundamental between them. This was no longer about kittens or convenience or coincidence. This was about choice. About commitment. About two people who had found something precious in the most unexpected of places.
Neither of them noticed the two figures lurking behind the cluster of bushes a few meters away.
Minseok had dragged Suhwan out of the dormitory the moment Sanghyeok had left with Shadow in his arms. It had become a habit now. Minseok's unofficial reconnaissance missions, his determination to witness the slow unfolding of what he had secretly dubbed "the kitten love story". Suhwan had protested at first, claiming he had better things to do, but Minseok had simply grabbed his wrist and pulled him along.
"Just come," Minseok had said impatiently. "You'll thank me later."
Now they were crouched behind a bush, peering through the leaves at the scene unfolding on the bench. Minseok's eyes were wide with barely contained excitement, his breath held as he watched Sanghyeok and Jihoon's hands intertwine.
"Look at them," Minseok whispered, his voice trembling with delight. "Look at how they look at each other. I can't.. this is too much. This is everything."
Suhwan, who had been shivering slightly, glanced at Minseok. "Hyung, you didn't even grab a jacket. It's cold out here."
Minseok waved his hand dismissively, his eyes never leaving the bench. "I don't care about the cold. This is more important. I need to see—" He gasped softly as Jihoon squeezed Sanghyeok's hand. "Oh my god. Oh my god. They're holding hands. They're actually holding hands."
Despite himself, Suhwan smiled. He had never seen Minseok this animated about anything, not even about winning championships. The older player was practically vibrating with joy, his cheeks flushed from the cold and the excitement.
"You really care about them, don't you?" Suhwan observed quietly. "Both of them."
Minseok finally tore his gaze away from the bench to look at Suhwan. "Of course I do," he said, his voice softening. "Sanghyeok hyung is my teammate. Jihoon is... well, he was my teammate too. Back in 2020. I know them both. I know how hard they work, how much pressure they carry." He turned back to the scene, his expression warm. "They deserve this. They deserve to be happy."
Suhwan watched Minseok's profile, the way his eyes sparkled, the way his lips curved into a soft, genuine smile. Something warm stirred in his chest, something he had been trying to ignore for a while now.
Without a word, Suhwan shrugged off his jacket and draped it over Minseok's shoulders. The gesture was gentle, almost instinctual.
Minseok blinked, startled. He turned to look at Suhwan, his eyebrows raised in question.
Suhwan simply smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Focus," he said softly. "You're going to miss something."
Minseok's lips parted slightly, but he didn't argue. He pulled the jacket tighter around himself—it was too big for him, the sleeves hanging over his hands—and turned back to the bench.
On the bench, Jihoon and Sanghyeok had risen, their hands still intertwined. They stood close together, speaking in low voices that Minseok couldn't quite catch. But he didn't need to hear the words. The way they stood, the way they looked at each other, told him everything he needed to know.
"This is it," Minseok whispered, his voice filled with wonder. "This is really happening."
He watched as Sanghyeok leaned slightly closer to Jihoon, as Jihoon's free hand came up to gently touch Sanghyeok's arm. The intimacy of the gesture made Minseok's heart ache in the best possible way.
"I'm so happy," Minseok continued, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so happy they made it this far. After this, they're definitely going to date. I can already feel it." He grinned, his mischievous side surfacing. "And when they do, I'm going to tax them. Both of them. For the emotional support I provided."
He laughed softly at his own joke, his eyes still fixed on the bench.
And then, without looking at each other, Suhwan spoke.
"So," he said quietly, his voice low enough that only Minseok could hear. "What about us, hyung?"
Minseok froze.
His heart stopped. Then started again, faster than before. He turned slowly, his eyes wide, to find Suhwan watching him with a look that was impossible to misinterpret.
The younger player's gaze was steady, warm, and full of something that made Minseok's breath catch in his throat. There was no teasing in Suhwan's expression, no hint of a joke. Only sincerity. Only hope.
Minseok opened his mouth, but no words came out. His mind raced, searching for the right response, for anything that could capture the sudden whirlwind of emotions swirling in his chest.
Suhwan's smile widened slightly, patient, understanding. He didn't push. He simply waited, his eyes never leaving Minseok's face.
And in the distance, on the bench between the two dormitories, Sanghyeok and Jihoon began their slow walk back, their hands still intertwined, their futures suddenly looking brighter than either of them had ever imagined.
The night stretched on around them, full of possibilities. Full of love. Full of kittens.
And somewhere in the shadows of the bushes, two hearts were just beginning to beat in sync.