By Zephyria 
“…….”
The two of them sat in the car in silence for a long while. It was Kwon Mi-eon who broke the silence first.
“I’ll head out once you’re feeling better, Hyung.”
Mo Yeon-hu reflexively rubbed the back of his neck.
At the low voice, he almost looked toward Kwon Mi-eon by instinct, but instead, he kept his gaze fixed on the car window. The reflection of Kwon Mi-eon, sitting beside him, was visible in the glass. He wasn’t looking at Mo Yeon-hu. He, too, was staring out the window, his head tilted almost at a right angle.
A situation where both were merely staring at the window inside the car. However, it was certain that they were acutely aware of each other’s presence.
‘I guess he went out to buy these….’
He stole a glance at the hangover cure. Kwon Mi-eon had personally bought the medicine for Mo Yeon-hu, who must have been feeling nauseous and headachy, and had stayed by his side.
‘What is this……’
There were plenty of affectionate guys among his friends. This was well within the realm of things friends did for one another, but……
‘Why is he turning red?’
One thing was certain: no one had ever blushed like that while looking at him. Remembering that image, he flinched violently.
“Hyung? Does it hurt a lot?”
As if he hadn’t been stubbornly staring at the window, Kwon Mi-eon’s gaze turned toward Mo Yeon-hu, but he didn’t look back. He shook his head, pressing himself so close to the window it felt as if he might punch a hole right through it.
“Uh, yeah. My stomach feels a bit off. Sorry, but can I just stay like this for five more minutes before we go?”
“I understand.”
Kwon Mi-eon continued, sounding worried.
“Why did you drink so much?”
“I just met up with some friends for the first time in a while….”
“Do you always drink this much when you meet people after a long time?”
Was he imagining it, or did that sound like an interrogation?
“And why have you lost so much weight? Did something happen while we weren’t in contact?”
It seemed he wasn’t imagining it. At the voice asking questions as if he had been waiting to do so, Mo Yeon-hu pressed his fingernails into his palm before opening his eyes.
“What does my weight loss have to do with you?”
Of course, as soon as the words left his mouth, Mo Yeon-hu flinched.
‘Ah, not this.’
Was he too harsh? He hadn’t intended to snap at someone who had gone out of their way to take care of him, so Mo Yeon-hu turned toward Kwon Mi-eon to explain.
“No, I mean.”
“It does have something to do with me.”
However, Kwon Mi-eon spoke calmly first.
“Because you’re my only friend, Hyung.”
…That damn “friend” thing.
“…Whatever.”
He really was obsessed with being friends.
‘Is he obsessed with this relationship because he has no other friends?’
Even so, why was it so important whether a friend gained or lost weight? Mo Yeon-hu couldn’t hide his absurdity, and it showed plainly on his face. Seeing this, Kwon Mi-eon let out a small chuckle.
“Didn’t you miss me, Hyung?”
“Why would I miss you?”
“Usually, when one person misses the other, the other person is drawn in too.”
“Hey, if you put it like that, it sounds like you—”
Mo Yeon-hu was about to retort that it sounded like he was the one who had missed him, but he gasped when his eyes met the gaze that had been watching him intently.
It was as if Kwon Mi-eon had been waiting for that answer.
“……Where’s my phone?”
When Mo Yeon-hu changed the subject, Kwon Mi-eon shrugged.
“Here. Is your head still hurting?”
“…A little, but it’s better than before.”
“That’s a relief. Oh, right. I have your hat too, so I’ll give it back to you later.”
It seemed Kwon Mi-eon had taken care of his belongings as well. Mo Yeon-hu reached out his hand to take the phone with a word of thanks, but Kwon Mi-eon held it out as if to give it, then suddenly pulled it back.
“Why aren’t you giving it to me?”
“Your phone is perfectly fine.”
“Of course it is….”
“If it’s fine, why didn’t you contact me?”
Mo Yeon-hu paused. Kwon Mi-eon, who was lightly shaking the phone, looked grumpy.
“Not a single reply until today.”
“No, that’s.”
He had never been great at replying, but since he hadn’t been able to do it at all lately, it seemed Kwon Mi-eon felt quite aggrieved.
“I was really busy. Stop playing around and give me the phone.”
It was the truth. He had barely managed to check the messages, but he simply didn’t have the strength left to reply.
‘I almost died playing the game, how was I supposed to send a DM?’
Even today’s appointment had been set weeks ago; if two people hadn’t taken turns calling him and threatening him to show up, he definitely would have forgotten while doing the tasks Miu assigned.
“Alright.”
When Mo Yeon-hu shook his outstretched hand, Kwon Mi-eon finally gave him the phone. Of course, he didn’t just hand it over.
Their hands brushed. A large, fair, and smooth hand swept across Mo Yeon-hu’s fingers for a fleeting moment, causing Mo Yeon-hu to startle and snap his head up. He wondered if the guy was playing a prank again.
“What is it, Hyung?”
Was it my imagination?
Kwon Mi-eon was simply looking at Mo Yeon-hu blankly, tilting his head with an innocent expression.
“Nothing.”
Looking at that bright, beaming face, Mo Yeon-hu felt like a terrible person for misunderstanding. He lowered his head quickly, his face flushing slightly. Because of that, he didn’t see it.
He didn’t see Kwon Mi-eon fiddling with the finger that had brushed against Mo Yeon-hu’s.
‘Ah, the guys messaged me.’
When he woke the screen, the first things he saw were messages from Kim Seong-jae and Park Taek-yoon. As he was replying to their questions about whether he got home safe, he saw another notification pushed down below.
‘Huh? Wait a second.’
The game logo was clearly visible: Zombie Village. It wasn’t a system notification, but a message notification, and there was only one person who would send such a thing.
‘Is it Miu?’
Sure enough, as soon as he tapped the notification, the app launched and took him to the private channel with Miu.
‘I told them I was logging off before I shut down, so what’s going on?’
Assuming it was just Miu reporting the day’s schedule as usual, Mo Yeon-hu checked the message, and his expression gradually froze.
(CH03) Miu: Something urgent came up and I have to leave (CH03) Miu: Log in as soon as you see this (CH03) Miu: (Coordinate Link) (Coordinate Link) (CH03) Miu: We’re in the middle of Siege Warfare, so please check here too Looking at the login time from earlier, Miu had logged in late today, so he thought they would be playing all day, but it seemed they had to log off suddenly due to an emergency.
(CH03) Miu: As soon as possible
Miu’s status was logged out, and the last message was from 30 minutes ago.
Mo Yeon-hu’s face turned pale.
“I… I think I need to go home quickly.”
I’m screwed. It wasn’t five minutes; thirty minutes had already passed!
If I don’t log in when called, I’ll get stripped bare. As Mo Yeon-hu stared at his phone with a ghostly pale face and said he had to go home, Kwon Mi-eon looked surprised.
“Hyung, what’s wrong?”
“I have to go. I’m getting out.”
There was no time to explain. He wasn’t fully sober, but regardless of his physical condition, getting home was the priority.
“You’re getting out?”
“I’ll get out and take a taxi. Yeah, a taxi.”
“I can just drop you off.”
“Ah… really?”
“Yes. It’s not like it’s a difficult task.”
After the initial surprise, Kwon Mi-eon spoke calmly. Only then did Mo Yeon-hu snap back to his senses and nod.
Indeed, taking Kwon Mi-eon’s car would be faster than getting out and hailing a taxi.
“What’s the address?”
“I’ll put it in.”
However, contrary to his will, his fingers, still affected by the alcohol, slipped a few times, but he successfully entered the address.
“I’m sorry, but can you go fast?”
Mo Yeon-hu pleaded with a tearful face.
“I really need to get home quickly.”
Kwon Mi-eon was clearly puzzled by his inability to hide his anxiety. He had been fine a moment ago, and now he suddenly had to rush home. But Mo Yeon-hu didn’t answer the question, only tapping away at his phone, typing a chat.
“I understand.”
Kwon Mi-eon started the car. Even as they smoothly exited the parking lot, Mo Yeon-hu continued to type incessantly.
“But Hyung… why the sudden rush home?”
“Someone called me.”
“What? At this hour?”
“Yeah.”
Mo Yeon-hu nodded while continuing to tap the screen.
“Who at this hour? Family?”
“Not family.”
“Then who?”
“…….”
“Hyung?”
But Mo Yeon-hu had no time to answer Kwon Mi-eon. He was sure he had told Miu in advance that he had an appointment today, but……
(CH03) 0momo0: I might not be able to log in today ㅠㅠ I have an appointment, sorry!] (Delivery Failed) ‘I can’t believe the message didn’t go through!’
Occasionally, Zombie Village had communication errors, and he had happened to send the message exactly then.
Consequently, Mo Yeon-hu was frantically typing.
(CH03) 0momo0: I just saw this
(CH03) 0momo0: I had something today so I didn’t see it (CH03) 0momo0: I’m on my way now
(CH03) 0momo0: ㅠㅠㅠ are you logged off??
(CH03) 0momo0: ㅠㅠ
(CH03) 0momo0: It really wasn’t on purpose..
(CH03) 0momo0: It says the chat didn’t go through because of a bug ㅠㅠㅠ
(CH03) 0momo0: Miu..
(CH03) 0momo0: Miu??
(CH03) 0momo0: ㅠㅠㅠ..Miu-nim??
As he waited for a response from the silent Miu, one clause of the slave contract flashed vividly in Mo Yeon-hu’s mind.
[Behavioral Clauses for Tool Momo]
Momo must respond unconditionally within 5 minutes of Miu’s call, regardless of the reason. If response is impossible, the detailed reason must be reported in advance; post-notification is not recognized.
‘I’m, I’m doomed. Has my connection already been severed?’
A warning light blared in his mind, telling him that his position as a shuttle was under threat. At this rate, it was certain that 47, hanging over his head, would be removed.