The smell of frying eggs filled the lab's small cafeteria space, mixing with the faint aroma of instant coffee. Kim Jisoo sat stiffly at the metal table, cutting into his breakfast with the precision of a surgeon, every slice methodical, every bite measured. Across from him, Lee Hana devoured her plate like someone who hadn't eaten in days—probably true, given how long they had been moving around.
Her cheeks were puffed like a chipmunk's, and she hummed in satisfaction. "Mmm… Jisoo, this is so good. I didn't think you could cook."
"I can't," he replied flatly, stabbing another piece of egg. "It's basic survival. Not cooking."
"Well," Hana said, pointing at him with her fork, "your survival tastes better than most restaurants."
Before Jisoo could respond, the soft, artificial voice of RAIN echoed from the ceiling speakers."Alert. There is someone outside the lab perimeter. Human male. Condition: poor health. Appears sick or injured."
Jisoo froze mid-bite. Hana blinked, lowering her fork.
The System, perched casually on a nearby counter in his childlike form, tilted his golden head and smirked faintly. His voice was calm but carrying an odd note of amusement."It's him. Ryu Saeyoung."
The fork nearly slipped out of Jisoo's hand. His eyes narrowed."…That's not possible."
Hana frowned. "Who's Ryu Saeyoung?"
The three of them were not on the same topic. One knew who he was, one was worried about his lab's location and other simply didn't know what was going on.
Ignoring her, Jisoo stood abruptly, chair scraping against the floor. His chest tightened. This place—this lab—was supposed to be hidden. Known only to him… and now Hana and the System. How could someone walk straight here as if they had a map?
He moved quickly down the narrow hall to the reinforced entrance. The heavy steel door groaned as it opened, revealing the dim morning light outside. And there he was—Ryu Saeyoung—stumbling near the threshold, his lips pale, his posture swaying like he could collapse any second.
He was handsome, but looked pale like he was dying. He had dangerous air about him but when he looked at Jisoo, those eyes softened like cotton.
Jisoo's eyes widened, his heart hammering against his ribs. For a moment, he couldn't move.
Then Ryu Saeyoung looked up—and tears streamed down his cheeks. His voice cracked as he whispered, "Thank God… thank God you're safe…"
Before Jisoo could react, Saeyoung lurched forward and wrapped his arms around him in a crushing hug.
Jisoo froze. Absolutely froze. His mind went blank. His muscles locked up. No one had ever hugged him before—not even his mother. Not even once. His body didn't know how to respond.
Behind them, Hana had followed, and she stopped dead at the sight. Her mouth opened slightly, then closed, then opened again. Her brain was working in overdrive.
Wait… wait wait wait. Isn't that… isn't that the guy from my dream? The one who protected Jisoo but died with him? Then… what the hell is this relationship??
Saeyoung buried his face against Jisoo's shoulder, his tears dampening the fabric of his shirt. He whispered again, "You're alive… I didn't lose you this time…"
Jisoo's face burned with a heat he didn't recognize—flustered, confused, and awkward all at once. His voice caught in his throat, but before he could choke out a single word, his knees buckled.
Because Saeyoung was heavy. Very heavy.
And the man had just fainted right on top of him.
"—Oof!" Jisoo hit the floor hard, flat on his back, with Saeyoung sprawled across him like a fallen log.
Silence. Then Hana's slow, horrified gasp.
She stared at the scene for three full seconds. Then her lips curled into a mischievous smirk."…Uh. Shouldn't you two… do that in a room instead of the entrance hall?"
Jisoo's face went red. "WHAT?!"
But it didn't stop there. Because the System hopped down from the counter, padding over with his calm little steps. His green eyes blinked innocently as he spoke in his childlike voice."Humans should remember to use protection. Otherwise you will tire yourselves out and risk unintended consequences."
"WHAT?!" Jisoo's shout echoed through the entire lab.
Hana burst out laughing, doubling over, her arms wrapped around her stomach. "Oh my God—System, you—hahaha—oh, Jisoo, your face!"
"It's not like that!" Jisoo snapped, struggling under Saeyoung's unconscious weight. "He fainted! Do you idiots not see he fainted?!"
But Hana only leaned against the wall, wiping tears from her eyes, her grin wide. "Yeah, sure. That's what they all say."
"Lee Hana!" Jisoo barked, trying to shove Saeyoung off him, but the man was dead weight. "Help me, dammit!"
Instead, Hana pulled out her phone and aimed the camera. "This is way better."
"Delete that!"
"Make me."
Meanwhile, the System crouched down, tilting his golden head at Saeyoung's unconscious face. "His vitals are unstable. He forced his body beyond its limits crossing worlds. But he should recover with care. Perhaps cuddling will speed the process."
"System!" Jisoo's eye twitched violently. "Stop talking!"
But Hana was grinning ear to ear, completely ignoring his misery. "You know, Jisoo, this explains a lot. Your cold, distant personality? It's just a front. Deep down, you're all about passionate, desperate romance, huh?"
Jisoo wanted to bury himself in the floor. Or better—burn the entire lab down and walk away.
"Lee Hana," he said slowly, in a voice low enough to terrify, "if you don't shut up right now, I will lock you in the freezer."
She just smirked wider, clearly enjoying herself.
And then, to make things worse, Saeyoung groaned faintly against Jisoo's shoulder, shifting in his unconscious state—snuggling closer.
Hana lost it. She collapsed to the floor, clutching her stomach, laughing so hard she could barely breathe. "Oh, oh God, this is priceless. This is the best day of my life."
The System nodded sagely. "Indeed. Emotional connections between chosen individuals often strengthen the probability of survival."
"STOP HELPING HER!" Jisoo shouted at him.
But it was useless. Between Hana's endless teasing and the System's unhelpful commentary, Jisoo realized he had lost all control of the situation.
He slumped back against the floor with a long, defeated sigh, glaring up at the ceiling."…I don't understand humans anymore."
And as Hana's laughter echoed through the lab, and the System calmly recommended "romantic room allocation," Kim Jisoo wondered if surviving monsters had been easier than surviving these idiots.