They had barely stepped out of the kitchen when the front door opened.
Voices.
Laughter.
Nisa and Do-Hyun were just returning.
"Hey," Nisa greeted warmly, slipping off her shoes.
Do-Hyun grinned the moment he saw them.
"Perfect timing." Then, like it was the most natural thing in the world, he clapped his hands together. "Let's play a game."
Nisa nodded instantly. "Yes!"
Do-Hyun turned to Ji-Ah. "You in?"
Ji-Ah smiled, already sensing chaos. "Sure."
Ha-Joon, however, had already begun walking toward the hallway, clearly intending to disappear.
"Come on, brother," Do-Hyun called after him. "Play with us."
Nisa leaned forward, smiling sweetly. "Yes, Oppa-Joon."
That stopped him.
Ha-Joon paused mid-step. His gaze shifted—slow, deliberate—landing on Ji-Ah.
"Should I?" he asked calmly.
Ji-Ah blinked, caught off guard. "Ah… sure. If you want. I mean—"
"Great," he said, turning back immediately. "Let's do it."
She stared. Wait. That worked??
"I'll get snacks!" Nisa said cheerfully, already heading off.
She returned moments later with popcorn, chips, and three cans of soda, setting everything neatly on the center table in the living room.
Everyone gathered around, settling onto couches and the floor.
Do-Hyun looked at the spread, then blinked. "Okay… which game should we play now?"
Ji-Ah glanced between them, a mischievous spark lighting up her eyes.
Uh-oh.
Game night had officially begun.
Ji-Ah's face lit up, the kind of smile that came straight from childhood.
"I know a game," she said brightly. "My dad, my brother, my sister, and I used to play it all the time."
That alone made everyone sit down on the floor.
She popped up, rummaged through a cupboard, and came back with a pen and paper, Yuki and Earth trailing behind her like loyal guards.
She dropped down between Do-Hyun and Ha-Joon, legs folded neatly.
Carefully, she tore the paper into four pieces… then cut those into smaller halves until she had nine tiny slips.
She scribbled quickly, tongue peeking out in concentration.
"This game is called—" she paused, then grinned, "Fruit Frenzy."
Do-Hyun snorted. "That already sounds dangerous."
Ji-Ah ignored him and continued explaining, hands moving fast.
"Okay, rules. I'll fold all nine papers and roll them like dice." She demonstrated, cupping them together.
"Each of us picks three."
She glanced at Nisa. "If you get orange, apple, or banana—keep it a secret."
Nisa nodded seriously, like this was top-level espionage.
"Then we start exchanging papers," Ji-Ah continued. "In your head, you're collecting one fruit only. When you finally get all three of the same fruit—"
She slammed her palm lightly against the floor.
"—you hit the ground like this. Everyone else then tries to hit your hand. First gets first place, second gets second, third—third."
Do-Hyun leaned forward. "And the loser?"
"The loser," Ji-Ah said sweetly, "buys everyone ice cream."
Ha-Joon immediately shook his head. "Don't eat sweets."
All eyes turned to him.
"The loser," he added calmly, "will buy everyone a full set of clothes."
Silence.
Ji-Ah gulped.
A… a set of clothes?? For everyone??
Her soul briefly left her body—but she forced a smile. "Sure. Fine."
She straightened, chin lifting a little.
"I'm actually not very good at this game back home," she added casually, then smirked.
"But since it's your first time… I might win."
Do-Hyun's eyes sharpened. "Not happening."
Nisa smiled, quietly competitive. "We'll see."
Ha-Joon sighed, folding his arms. "Let's just get this over with."
Ji-Ah shook the folded papers between her hands like dice, eyes sparkling.
"Alright," she said. "Fruit Frenzy—round one."
And just like that, the living room turned into a battlefield.
Ji-Ah shook the folded papers one last time and dropped them into the middle.
"Pick," she said.
They reached in.
Ha-Joon picked first, expression unreadable.
Do-Hyun grabbed his dramatically, like fate depended on it.
Nisa carefully chose hers, already smiling.Ji-Ah took the last three, eyes bright.
They unfolded quietly.
The game began.
Popcorn started disappearing almost immediately. Do-Hyun chewed loudly on purpose, soda can fizzing as he popped it open.
"You're thinking too hard," he said to Ha-Joon, stealing one of his papers. "Relax your face before it cracks."
Ha-Joon didn't even look at him. "Worry about yourself."
Nisa laughed, sipping her drink, secretly swapping slips with Ji-Ah when Do-Hyun wasn't looking.
Ji-Ah, meanwhile, was fully in her element—pretending to be confused, swapping fast, acting like she didn't know what she was doing.
First slam—
BAM.
Ha-Joon's hand hit the floor.
"I knew it," Do-Hyun shouted. "Hyung is fast!"
They all tried to hit his hand, but Ha-Joon had already pulled it back, calm as ever.
"First," he said simply.
Ji-Ah blinked. "Already? Sir, are you sure you didn't cheat?"
"I don't cheat," he replied coolly, reaching for more popcorn.
The game continued.
Do-Hyun got louder, more reckless, exchanging slips too quickly.
Then—
BAM.
Do-Hyun slammed his hand down hard.
"Yes! Second!" he yelled.
Nisa laughed, clapping. "You scared Chak!"
Chak MEOWED once in protest.
Now it was between Nisa and Ji-Ah.
They stared at each other like rivals.
Ji-Ah slowed down on purpose, swapping carefully, sipping her soda innocently.
Nisa frowned. "Why are you smiling like that?"
Too late.
SMACK.
Ji-Ah's hand hit the floor clean and sharp.
Everyone froze.
Then chaos.
Hands flew everywhere, missing her by a second.
Ji-Ah pulled back, laughing breathlessly. "Winner!"
Do-Hyun groaned. "No way. You said you were bad at this!"
"I said back home," she teased. "Different rules here."
Nisa sighed dramatically. "So I'm third…"
All eyes slowly turned to Ha-Joon.
Ji-Ah blinked. "Wait—sir, you came first with Do-Hyun."
Ha-Joon nodded once.
"Which means," Do-Hyun said slowly, turning to Nisa, "one of us is the loser."
Ha-Joon's gaze shifted between them, cold and thoughtful.
"…Do-Hyun," he said finally.
"What?!" Do-Hyun shouted. "Why me?!"
"You're louder," Ha-Joon replied.
Ji-Ah burst out laughing, nearly spilling her soda.
"So," she said brightly, clapping her hands, "winner is me with more marks. Second—sir. Third—Nisa."
Do-Hyun collapsed back dramatically. "I regret everything."
Ha-Joon stood, brushing popcorn crumbs off his shirt.
"Tomorrow," he said calmly, "we go shopping."
Ji-Ah's smile widened.
"Best game ever."