By Zephyria 
Side Story Episode 9.
======
A Summer Day’s Roleplay
The Defense Force issued summer formal uniforms. They consisted of a white short-sleeved shirt paired with a dark navy long-sleeved jacket.
The tiger embroidered in gold thread was the same design as before, but because the color and fabric had changed, it felt surprisingly lighter.
Of course, it didn’t look cool. Since it was a formal uniform even for summer, the buttons fastened all the way to the collar of the shirt felt stifling.
It didn’t matter. It wasn’t something he’d wear every day; it was just something to throw on when attending official events.
Above all, the summer temperatures in Goryeo City fluctuated between 24 and 29 degrees. It didn’t reach the point where the body felt scorched, unlike the sweltering heat outside the Comfort zone, so he just had to swagger around in convention rooms or halls equipped with cooling systems that were cold enough to freeze, and then come home.
“Wow. Waaaah.”
Thus, the one who was surprisingly focused on the design of the uniform was Joo-oh, rather than Jin Mu-hae, who was actually wearing it.
For a while now, he had been stamping his feet and breathing heavily in a frenzy. After trying it on as a test, he had taken photos from a dozen different angles.
Even when Mu-hae waved his hand for him to stop, he showed no sign of listening. Like a guy who didn’t even know he was cold in the middle of a winter forest, he had been fluttering around with a lean face until just a moment ago…
‘Is that sweat?’
If the moisture beading at the edge of his forehead wasn’t saliva, it had to be sweat. Mu-hae didn’t know whether to be surprised that he actually sweated, or whether to be appalled that the reason was specifically because of his fitting.
“Jin Mu-hae, are you hot?”
“I’m fine.”
“Still, you look a bit hotter than before. If you’re hot, we can just go to the Jaegang District.”
Although the Comfort zone’s management system blocked the scorching sun and heat, the outskirts like Starlight Road were inevitably hotter in summer and colder in winter.
In the first place, it wasn’t an area developed for residential use. It was simply a village formed by people who couldn’t blend into the city and were pushed out, piling up like sediment.
Therefore, it would be much more pleasant to go into the Jaegang District, look around a park in the fresher air, and lower the temperature control device behind the warning sign that read ‘Whoever f*cks with this dies. Do not touch’ in the underground hideout as much as possible.
Jin Mu-hae had been stubbornly staying at Starlight Road for several days. He had even stopped the habit of moving to the Jaegang District the day before reporting to the Defense Force to make the commute easier.
It wasn’t because he had important business at Starlight Road; rather, he had a reason to avoid the Jaegang District.
“As long as people don’t stare. Right.”
“Even if people stare, there’s no problem as long as you act normally.”
“No. I have to brag about Jin Mu-hae.”
Jin Mu-hae had become a celebrity once again in that damn residential area. Fortunately, it wasn’t because he was caught trying to squeeze into a sewer tunnel or discovered performing some strange eccentricity; it was something good enough to make the news.
‘Though it’s ambiguous whether the latter would have been welcomed.’
He had caught a child falling from a building. It was pure luck. While he had looked away for a second, Joo-oh had been getting bread from a passerby, and Mu-hae had been getting into position to stop him, as Joo-oh—though much improved—still licked his lips first when faced with food.
Right on cue, someone screamed. Just like a certain someone, a child who had climbed a window and was touching the wall while the parents looked away for a split second got startled, tripped, and fell straight down.
No matter how much he didn’t care about other people’s business, he couldn’t just stand by with his hands behind his back while a child fell in front of him.
Jin Mu-hae threw his body—which had been lunging toward Joo-oh—toward the child, barely catching the kid who was falling headfirst and plucking him from the entrance of the river Styx.
No one was hurt. To be precise, Mu-hae, who had rolled several times on the ground to absorb the impact, ended up looking pained with sprains and abrasions, but since no bones or ligaments were damaged, he was very lucky.
People flocked around, and the child’s parents rushed out with pale faces, weeping and pouring out their gratitude.
In that situation, which felt strangely like déjà vu, Joo-oh, who had previously been watching quietly, strode over to his side.
And then…
‘Jin Mu-hae.’
‘Move.’
‘Jin Mu-hae did it!’
‘Get out of the wa—’
‘A sturdy young man!’
‘Let go, you crazy bastard.’
He suddenly grabbed Jin Mu-hae’s arm and started bragging! Right there in the crowd that was like a cloud. In the very spot where everyone was staring at him!
Mu-hae was someone who had experienced all sorts of slander and whispers, being called rude for becoming a mercenary at an age that was less than young and more like a greenhorn.
As if he had become immune, he had lived his life without caring about the gaze of others. But in that moment, he couldn’t lift his head.
He simply grabbed the unyielding Joo-oh and bolted. Later, someone came visiting, mentioning a plaque of appreciation from the Jaegang District and an article, but after seeing the sparkling look in Joo-oh’s eyes, he politely declined.
Those were eyes that looked like they were about to cause trouble. He had a feeling that the moment he stepped foot in the Jaegang District, he would strut around drawing everyone’s attention.
Moreover, since only a few days had passed since the incident, Joo-oh would inevitably attract attention even if he stayed still.
Anyway, there were places to stay other than the Jaegang District. After stopping by briefly to pick up some things and being asked for a photo by someone while dressed shabbily, Jin Mu-hae immediately left the formal residential area behind and crossed the gate.
“I’ll live just fine even if you don’t brag about me. Everyone is already on high alert, so don’t do anything useless and just stay quiet.”
He spoke quite coldly to Joo-oh. At times like this, Joo-oh would usually grumble with a huff or a pout, or stick his lip out.
It was fine. He was a guy who, until a moment ago, had been restless and taking photos, captivated by someone else’s formal uniform. If Mu-hae granted his request not to change clothes immediately as if doing him a favor, he would soften up as if he had never been upset.
Having spent this much time together, one naturally masters how to handle the other, even if they dislike them. Mu-hae let out a hollow laugh and waved his hand, feeling as if he had become some kind of beast tamer.
“Okay.”
Unexpectedly, a clean answer came back. Wondering what was going on, he looked back to find Joo-oh nodding with a surprisingly obedient and kind face.
However, the eyes—the eyes were not normal. He was still staring at the outfit as if he wanted to devour it.
“Don’t keep rubbing your head against my arm even when we go to the electronic store. It looks weird.”
“It’s because I like Jin Mu-hae…”
Even to a scolding that would normally elicit a “I hate it,” he only licked his lips regretfully. Mu-hae tried to touch his forehead to see if he had a fever, only to realize a shocking fact.
“Turn off the TV and lie down when you sleep later.”
“But Kim Dae-dan’s Great Talk Show is on today.”
“And?”
“…Fine.”
Was it an illusion? When he wore these clothes, he listened well.
It wasn’t a joke. After staring at the uniform as if possessed, if Mu-hae put his hand on his waist and pressed him, he would nod his head instantly.
It was absurd that such a guy existed, but seeing him become as docile as a doll made Mu-hae feel mischievous.
Jin Mu-hae looked down at his roommate, who was fiddling with the tag attached to the shirt.
“Sit there.”
“Yeah. Why?”
“What did you talk about at the electronic store yesterday?”
“…”
The day before, while Mu-hae was laying out some unused equipment at the electronic store, Joo-oh and Director Gil, who had gone inside the house, had a conversation.
That could happen. He hadn’t paid much attention. Until the moment he asked what they had talked about and Joo-oh turned his head, saying, “Secret.”
It probably wasn’t a big deal. Yet, he was curious for no reason. The more Joo-oh kept his mouth shut, the more stubborn Mu-hae became.
While he himself tried desperately to hear everything the other talked about with other people, since Joo-oh had played dirty first, Mu-hae decided to be dirty too now that he had the chance.
“Why. Did they tell you to keep it a secret?”
“Not that, but it seemed like it was a secret from Jin Mu-hae for now.”
“That’s just your thought. Aren’t you going to tell me the truth?”
He leaned over the guy sitting on the sofa. He placed his hand on his waist, just as Joo-oh loved.
Once he did that, the heat that had been bearable suddenly seemed to surge, so he unbuttoned the jacket. When he placed the jacket, which still smelled of a new suit, on top of Joo-oh’s head and looked down in just the white short-sleeved shirt, the red pupils seemed to spin wildly.
“I’m getting hotter because of someone. I should change.”
“No.”
“Give me the jacket. I’ll go hang it up.”
“Hng, haha! No.”
The guy, who had been sniffing the clothes for a long time, began to giggle. While rubbing the tip of his nose against the tiger embroidery, Joo-oh suddenly put on an innocent face.
“Instructor, can’t you change your clothes later?”
He uttered such a thing with an expression that looked like he wouldn’t even know a prank. All while still pressing his cheek firmly against the other’s clothes.
It was a trivial sentence, but for a moment, Jin Mu-hae felt a twitch in his lower abdomen.
“I don’t know. The payment is insufficient.”
“Payment?”
“A trainee shouldn’t be this disobedient.”
“Then I’ll do exactly as the instructor tells me.”
“As if.”
“I mean it,” Joo-oh whispered in his ear, standing up awkwardly. The ticklish feeling almost made the corners of Mu-hae’s mouth curl up.
When he pinched and kneaded Joo-oh’s ear, a small groan escaped.
“Exactly as I tell you?”
He didn’t know why the guy spoke so recklessly without knowing what he would be told to do. Mu-hae bit the inside of his cheek slightly and popped open the top button of his shirt.
At the same time, Joo-oh’s eyebrows, as he looked up, moved slightly. Ha, this time he couldn’t help but laugh.
As if he didn’t know what he’d do. He knew exactly why he was doing this. He knew that if he did this, Mu-hae would be shaken instantly like an untrained dog.
“You’re a funny guy, aren’t you.”
“Mmm. Don’t take it off. You can’t take it off.”
When he undid one more button, Joo-oh shook his head with a determined expression. Then, he shifted his hips forward and lightly bumped his head against the lower body.
Fuck… he’s damn cute. I wonder if he’s doing this because he can see right through these thoughts.
Bump. The guy, who bumped and rubbed his head again, this time lowered the zipper of the pants. Mu-hae hesitated whether to stop him or not, but decided to just see what he was doing.
Clink, zip—
A white hand hesitated around the entrance before slinking inside. He audaciously pulled the underwear down and gently pulled out the other’s member.
Mu-hae sighed, wondering what kind of ridiculous thing he was trying to do as he slid down from the sofa.
Leaving the member, which had already begun to rise from just a moment of contact, Joo-oh swallowed hard.