By Zephyria 
After Yeon Yu-jin closed the door and went into his room.
An unbearable silence hung in the dorm living room and kitchen.
Faces that had been stained with blame and anger toward Yeon Yu-jin were now filled with worry.
In the silence, heavier than a rock, it was Cha Si-yoon, the youngest of the group, who spoke first.
“…I think we were too harsh on Yujin Hyung. Hyung.”
The target of Cha Si-yoon’s words was the leader, Ra Ho-yeon.
Ra Ho-yeon had been the one who raised his voice the most at Yeon Yu-jin among the Secrety members.
At the youngest’s remark, Shin Tae-beom and Seo Yun-chae’s gazes naturally turned to Ra Ho-yeon as well.
Ra Ho-yeon, who had been sulking after arguing with Yeon Yu-jin, rested his chin on the kitchen table and muttered.
“…Are you saying it’s my fault?”
As a leader, Ra Ho-yeon always tried to act with a heavy sense of responsibility.
That’s why Yeon Yu-jin, who couldn’t blend well into the group and floated like oil on water, bothered him.
What was important to Ra Ho-yeon was their debut and the team’s survival.
Unlike his aristocratic appearance, Ra Ho-yeon was born into an ordinary family.
Even though he had awakened as an A-Class Esper, he had to prove himself with results in order to become the singer he dreamed of, rather than working as a Hunter utilizing that advantage.
That he hadn’t made the wrong choice.
Responsibility, duty, and proof weighed down on Ra Ho-yeon’s shoulders.
In that process, Ra Ho-yeon had given up on Yeon Yu-jin, who was falling behind.
No, he had given up.
After Yeon Yu-jin woke up and changed, he withdrew that decision and hoped to move forward together as members of the same group.
‘Maybe this time, the five of us can shine under the name of Secrety.’
Perhaps that’s why.
Ra Ho-yeon kept a close eye on him, hoping that Yeon Yu-jin wouldn’t do anything strange again.
That he wouldn’t go back to the old days when he was a disliked figure.
If only they could continue like this, just like this….
This incident also stemmed from that worry.
Yeon Yu-jin, who had changed like a different person, seemed to have something hidden inside.
This was especially true when he showed an overly familiar attitude toward battles with monsters. He glossed over it, but Ra Ho-yeon had a sense of unease that Yeon Yu-jin might end up living as a Guide affiliated with the Management Bureau or a private guild.
So he was secretly pleased when Yeon Yu-jin was judged to be a C-Class Guide. Because Yeon Yu-jin also seemed relieved by the result.
He began to hope that Yeon Yu-jin would feel the same way as the Secrety members, including Ra Ho-yeon.
But that hope was shattered when Yeon Yu-jin got out of the car without hesitation and ran madly toward something.
That look of joy, which he had never seen before.
For Yeon Yu-jin, Secrety was still not a priority.
That was what fueled Ra Ho-yeon’s anger.
“We’re idols who have to be careful about every expression and action. It’s right to scold Yeon Yu-jin for taking unauthorized solo actions, especially when his image hasn’t fully recovered yet.”
“…Ho-yeon Hyung.”
“I don’t think I was wrong. Rather, wasn’t Yeon Yu-jin the one who overreacted? It was a question I could have asked enough….”
Ra Ho-yeon’s voice grew louder.
Shin Tae-beom cut off the leader, who was showing a rare, intense reaction.
“No. Ho-yeon Hyung, you went too far this time.”
“What?”
“Yeon Yu-jin, he’s a lonely guy. He doesn’t have parents, and he came up alone from a distant province, so it seemed like he hardly had any friends.”
Seo Yun-chae, who had been listening quietly, joined the conversation.
“Come to think of it…. When Yeon Yu-jin was injured, we were the only ones who visited him. And company officials.”
“…….”
“No one else came. No one came to see him lying there, sleeping like he was dead.”
Everyone became somber again at Seo Yun-chae’s words.
Cha Si-yoon drooped his shoulders like a waterlogged cotton ball and said.
“Come to think of it, it’s funny to say this, but…. We’re in the same group, but we haven’t really paid any attention to Yujin Hyung. We didn’t even know that Yujin Hyung was completely falling apart.”
Yeon Yu-jin was isolated like an island in the vast ocean.
Before he collapsed, and after he collapsed.
Yeon Yu-jin’s panting voice echoed in Ra Ho-yeon’s ears.
‘If you were so worried about me, you should have paid attention to me before. You’re only changing your attitude now because I’m useful. Isn’t that right?’
‘What changed… was our attitude?’
Ra Ho-yeon’s dark eyes shook violently.
He couldn’t refute those words. Because it was the truth.
If Yeon Yu-jin hadn’t changed after waking up, the Secrety members, including Ra Ho-yeon, wouldn’t have paid any attention to him.
Eventually, Ra Ho-yeon lowered his head. He heard Seo Yun-chae muttering from behind.
“Maybe the reason he lost his memory is because he wanted to forget his miserable past.”
Shin Tae-beom agreed with Seo Yun-chae’s opinion.
“There’s a possibility.”
Cha Si-yoon looked worried.
“Does that mean… we just pressed Yujin Hyung’s trauma button?”
“…….”
At the youngest’s words, everyone closed their mouths like sinners and lowered their heads.
Ra Ho-yeon, who had made the worst remarks to Yeon Yu-jin, felt a prick in his heart.
After calming down and rationally organizing the situation, he realized that he had done something he shouldn’t have done to Yeon Yu-jin.
‘Dating, my ass….’
It could have simply been that he was happy to see a friend he hadn’t seen in a long time.
Ra Ho-yeon was swept away by anxiety and suspicion that Yeon Yu-jin might have gone down another strange path and spewed out harsh words. He didn’t have any solid evidence, yet he slandered someone based on mere speculation.
While pouring out cruel, knife-like words that inflicted terrible wounds that couldn’t be taken back.
“…I was wrong.”
He should have known better since he was an idol.
How painful and hurtful it is to have misunderstandings unilaterally poured out without knowing the situation.
“I, we… were too harsh on Yujin.”
A terrible regret washed over him.
Yeon Yu-jin was right. They weren’t qualified to say they were worried as members of the same team.
Ra Ho-yeon jumped up from his seat. The other three Espers looked at Ra Ho-yeon.
“I have to apologize before it’s too late.”
Seo Yun-chae looked up at Ra Ho-yeon and asked blankly.
“Uh… how? It seemed like Yeon Yu-jin had completely closed his heart.”
Shin Tae-beom mumbled in a dejected voice.
“His eyes were watery before he closed the door and went into his room. It might not be good to bother him. Hyung.”
Ra Ho-yeon shook his head at the suggestion that he needed time alone.
“It can’t be any later. I don’t think we should leave Yujin alone any longer. That’s… the best atonement we can make.”
“…….”
No one could stop Ra Ho-yeon from saying a word with a serious weight.
Rather, they even helped him.
Cha Si-yoon went to the kitchen and brought a metal chopstick.
He handed it to Ra Ho-yeon and the youngest said solemnly.
“Hyung. Use this to pick the lock. Yujin Hyung seems really angry, so he must have locked the door.”
The thin metal chopstick sparkled in the bright light.
“…Okay. Thanks. But let’s keep this as a last resort.”
Indeed. Ra Ho-yeon knocked on Yeon Yu-jin’s door and tried to turn the doorknob, but the door was locked and wouldn’t open.
“…Yeon Yu-jin. I’m sorry. I was too harsh earlier.”
“…….”
“I want to apologize, so can you come out to the living room for a moment?”
“…….”
Contrary to his earnest heart, no answer came from beyond the door.
All the Secrety members became anxious.
“You haven’t had dinner yet. You must be hungry…. I know it’s hard to see our faces, but please come out for a moment. We’ll decide on a dinner menu with what you want to eat. So… give us a chance to ask for forgiveness. Please.”
At Ra Ho-yeon’s plea, the other members joined in.
Seo Yun-chae, Shin Tae-beom, and Cha Si-yoon stood in front of the door in turn, as if begging.
“W, we were wrong. So… don’t skip meals.”
“As punishment, we’ll only eat chicken breast and vegetables today if you want.”
“No, tell us to starve. Yujin Hyung, don’t skip meals.”
Despite their earnest requests, Yeon Yu-jin’s room remained silent.
The members, who were pacing in front of the firmly locked door, subtly leaned their ears against the door.
“…It’s too quiet? Is he sleeping?”
That made sense. They would have retreated if they had heard even insults. Worried about Yeon Yu-jin, they resorted to the last resort.
“Pick the lock.”
Ra Ho-yeon finally took out the chopstick and matched it to the keyhole.
With a click, the locked door slid open.
What they saw in the darkened room was Yeon Yu-jin lying on the bed with his eyes closed.
“…Yeon Yu-jin?”
Is he sleeping?
Ra Ho-yeon carefully shook Yeon Yu-jin’s shoulder to wake him up.
“Ugh….”
Yeon Yu-jin only groaned and didn’t get up.
At that sight, Seo Yun-chae and Shin Tae-beom cautiously watched, wondering if they should leave him alone.
“He’s sleeping well, shouldn’t we just leave him alone, Hyung?”
“Would it be better to just leave him alone?”
“…Wait a minute.”
Ra Ho-yeon reached out and covered Yeon Yu-jin’s forehead. Seo Yun-chae was horrified next to him.
“Wh, what are you doing? Hyung?”
“I felt heat when I touched his shoulder just now.”
“What?”
“…He has a fever. A pretty high one, too.”
He lifted the hand that had just been on Yeon Yu-jin’s forehead and placed it on Seo Yun-chae’s cheek, who was horrified.
“Ah, it’s hot!”
A heat as hot as a fire was transmitted.
Shin Tae-beom and Cha Si-yoon, surprised by Ra Ho-yeon’s words, put their hands on Yeon Yu-jin’s forehead and felt a heat that seemed to be burning.
The members’ expressions hardened.
Ra Ho-yeon said.
“Do we have any antipyretics in the dorm? Let’s give him that first.”