----
Inhyuk stood in Jiyoung's office with his arms crossed, brows drawn together in thought.
The spar had ended two days ago.
Jiwoo had been taken to Shinhwa's treatment center immediately after, unconscious from exhaustion and the damage he had endured. Jisuk had been taken for treatment too, though his injuries were far lighter.
His pride, however, had been damaged severely.
Inhyuk could still picture the final moment.
Jiwoo disappearing.
Jisuk being struck before he could react.
The wall cracking from the force of the impact.
Honestly, even now, Inhyuk was not fully sure what he had seen.
Or rather, what he had failed to see.
"Honestly," Inhyuk said, "I had no clue Jiwoo could move that fast."
Jiyoung stood near her desk, silent.
Inhyuk continued, "His last move especially. He was so fast even I couldn't follow him."
That bothered him.
Not in a bad way.
In a professional way.
Jiwoo was still young, still inexperienced, still barely introduced to the awakened world. He should not have been able to surprise him to that degree.
"You can't say he overpowered Jisuk," Inhyuk added. "Jisuk still had the advantage overall."
Jiyoung did not answer.
"But considering Jiwoo has only just come to terms with his awakened ability…"
Inhyuk's voice softened.
"I think he's genuinely gifted."
Still, Jiyoung remained quiet.
She was thinking back to the moment Jiwoo attacked Jisuk.
Not the impact.
Before that.
The instant right before he moved.
Something had shifted.
The air.
No.
Not air.
The rhythm of the room.
For less than a blink, there had been a strange blankness, a gap so brief that most would dismiss it as imagination.
Then Jiwoo had already struck.
Jiyoung's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Chairwoman?"
She turned her gaze toward him.
"How is Jiwoo's condition?"
Inhyuk straightened.
"He should be awake about now."
Jiyoung moved from the desk.
"Then let's go."
Jiwoo was awake.
Barely.
He lay in the treatment room, body wrapped in bandages, ribs supported, arms dotted with treated cuts and bruises. The bed was comfortable. The room was clean. The medical equipment was far better than anything he would have expected to be used on someone like him.
He still could not move.
That part was unfortunate.
Kayden sat near his feet, leaning against the bed frame while eating a treat from a small tube with the grim dignity of someone who had decided this was strategic nourishment.
Asuka sat by Jiwoo's side.
She had barely left.
Her eyes were covered again, white bandages neat and clean, cream hair falling over one shoulder. She held a cup of tea she had not touched in several minutes.
Jiwoo stared at the ceiling.
He remembered the fight.
The pain.
The fear.
The final attack.
Jisuk's body hitting the wall.
Then nothing.
He had lost.
Probably.
Technically.
Maybe.
But somehow, he was not angry.
Not frustrated.
Not the way he expected to be.
He turned his head slightly.
"Mr. Kayden."
Kayden glanced up.
"Huh?"
Jiwoo smiled faintly.
"I feel like I'm finally a real awakened one."
Kayden clicked his tongue.
"You were always an awakened one."
Jiwoo's eyes softened.
"Yes, sir…"
His voice turned almost playful despite the exhaustion.
But then his thoughts shifted.
It hurt so much he could not move.
If he could not move, then he could not train.
If he could not train his body, he could at least train his force control.
Slowly, carefully, Jiwoo began circulating energy through his core.
Kayden noticed immediately.
Asuka noticed before him.
Kayden's eyes gleamed.
"Oh-ho."
Jiwoo blinked.
"Training without me having to nag you?"
Jiwoo smiled sheepishly.
"I can't move, so…"
Kayden looked openly pleased.
For about two seconds.
Then Asuka said, "Stop."
Jiwoo stopped instantly.
Kayden looked toward her.
"What?"
Asuka turned her bandaged face slightly toward the door.
Footsteps approached.
Heels.
Clean, measured, composed.
Kayden's ears twitched.
Someone was coming.
He immediately went silent.
A heartbeat later, the door opened.
Inhyuk stepped inside first.
"I knew you'd be awake."
Jiwoo brightened.
"Mr. Inhyuk!"
Jiyoung entered behind him.
Jiwoo tried to sit up, failed immediately, and made a small pained sound.
Asuka's hand hovered near his shoulder.
"Do not move."
Jiwoo froze.
"Yes."
Inhyuk smiled lightly.
"You were asleep for two whole days."
Jiwoo stared.
"Huh? Two whole days?"
Asuka hummed softly in confirmation.
Jiwoo slowly turned his head toward her.
"Asuka… have you been here the entire time?"
She shook her head.
"I went home to eat and sleep."
Jiwoo relaxed.
"Most of the time, I stayed here watching over you."
Jiwoo's eyes immediately went watery.
"Asuka…"
Inhyuk's expression softened.
He had offered many times to pick Asuka up and drop her off. Sometimes she accepted. Sometimes she simply appeared to have already arranged everything before he could offer. But either way, she had spent most of the past two days by Jiwoo's side.
The Seo siblings really were lovely.
They cared for one another in a way that was quiet, obvious, and impossible to ignore.
Inhyuk stepped closer.
"How are you feeling?"
Jiwoo answered honestly.
"It hurts a lot. I can't even move."
"Yes," Inhyuk said. "That's right."
Jiwoo blinked at the confirmation.
Inhyuk glanced at the chart.
"You fractured five ribs, and four more have cracks in them."
Jiwoo's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"On top of that, you have bruises and abrasions all over your body."
Jiwoo looked genuinely surprised by his own condition.
Kayden sighed internally as if saying that's nothing.
Asuka's head tilted faintly.
She wanted to disagree with Kayden.
She really did.
But she was not exactly in a position to talk.
Haruka had once twisted her leg mid-battle against Sukuna and used the momentum to shoot a Purple at point-blank second, healing the damage with RCT before she landed. She had fought through broken ribs. A severed arm she healed back within seconds. Worse. Much worse.
A massive wound through her lower body.
The final depletion of cursed energy.
Death.
She had been neglectful with her injuries because she could heal them until she decided otherwise.
Because if she could still stand, then it was not important enough to stop.
So no.
Asuka was not one to talk.
Besides, Jiwoo was an awakener. His recovery would already be faster than an ordinary person's.
And if it truly became necessary, she could speed up his recovery with time.
Or use reversal.
Carefully.
Secretly.
As much as needed.
Inhyuk continued, "That doesn't mean you need to worry too much, Jiwoo. It would be a serious condition for an average person, but since you're awakened, you'll recover in no time."
Jiwoo listened quietly.
"We're doing our best to bring you back to health. You'll be back to your usual self soon."
Jiwoo's expression softened.
"Yes. Thank you."
Inhyuk smiled.
"So you can put your mind at ease and focus on getting…"
He trailed off.
His gaze had drifted.
To Kayden.
The orange cat sat by Jiwoo's feet, expression stern and round body far too tempting for Inhyuk's stability.
Inhyuk's thoughts derailed instantly.
I want to touch it.
The round and chubby wobbly body…
Kayden slowly turned his head.
His stare became sharp.
Inhyuk flushed.
But I have to hold it in.
Kayden's eyes narrowed.
What is it with that bastard again?
Asuka knew exactly what was happening.
She lowered her head slightly.
Not enough to laugh.
Almost.
Jiyoung, either unaware or merciful enough to ignore Inhyuk's temporary cat-induced collapse, spoke.
"Have you heard of the name Kayden?"
The room froze.
Jiwoo's eyes widened.
"What?!"
Kayden's gaze snapped to Jiyoung.
Asuka gave nothing away.
Inhyuk blinked.
Why is the chairwoman asking about Kayden all of a sudden?
Kayden's mind sharpened.
Had she sensed it?
The energy Jiwoo used at the end.
It had been only a trace of Kayden's force control. Such a small amount that he thought only he and Asuka would notice.
Jiyoung Yoo was more sensitive than expected.
Asuka answered first.
"We do not know anyone named Kayden."
Her voice was calm.
Smooth.
Completely unbothered.
Jiyoung studied her.
"You really don't know who Kayden is?"
Jiwoo swallowed.
"Yes," he said quickly. "It's a name we've never heard before…"
Jiyoung's gaze moved between them.
Then she nodded slowly.
"I see."
Kayden did not relax.
Then Jiyoung looked at him.
"What is that cat's name?"
Kayden's soul briefly tried to leave his body.
Does she suspect me?
Jiwoo stiffened.
"N-name?"
Jiyoung waited.
Jiwoo smiled with the expression of someone whose brain had emptied at the worst possible moment.
"His name is Ka—"
"Casein Nitrate," Asuka said.
Silence.
Kayden turned his head very slowly toward her.
Jiwoo's mouth remained open.
Inhyuk blinked.
Oh.
Very original.
Asuka sat beside Jiwoo looking perfectly innocent.
Too innocent.
Kayden's glare became catastrophic.
She had known Jiwoo was about to say Mr. Kayden.
She had saved the secret.
And also betrayed Kayden's dignity in the process.
Again.
Asuka's shoulders were painfully still.
She was fighting laughter.
Hard.
Jiwoo glanced at his little sister with desperate gratitude and equal concern.
Because Kayden was glaring at her like she had personally declared war.
Asuka looked unaffected.
Worse.
She looked amused.
Because she was.
Jiyoung looked at the cat again.
"Casein Nitrate."
Kayden's eye twitched.
"That is a very unique name."
Jiwoo sweated internally.
"Y-yes."
Jiyoung's gaze remained thoughtful.
"And it always stays by you. Not like other cats."
Jiwoo's soul began sliding out of his body again.
"R… really?"
Asuka internally placed her face in her palm.
Her oppa truly could not lie.
At all.
But his innocent face helped.
A lot.
Before Jiyoung could press further, Inhyuk suddenly spoke with surprising passion.
"Chairwoman."
Jiyoung glanced at him.
"Why do you say such things?" Inhyuk asked, almost offended. "Is there something wrong with a cat staying by its owner's side?"
Jiyoung stared.
Her expression said, It can, if it wants.
Inhyuk continued, visibly warming to the topic.
"Of course, many cats are not like that. But there are some that follow their owners. It is a hopeful dream for cat lovers."
Asuka turned her bandaged face slightly toward him.
Ah.
She had already suspected it.
But this confirmed it.
Inhyuk Gu was not simply fond of cats.
He was a crazy cat lover.
His face was flushed.
His eyes had gone bright.
His voice carried the conviction of a man defending a sacred truth.
Jiyoung made a small sound.
"Hmm."
Inhyuk was not done.
"Even the ones that are cold to their owners are extremely adorable. For your information, there are cats who want to approach their owners but only stare from afar. Cats have many different personalities, and words are not sufficient to describe them all."
He smiled.
Brightly.
"That is what attracts me to them. Hahaha!"
The room went silent.
Jiyoung stared at him.
Jiwoo stared at him.
Asuka sat by Jiwoo's side, shoulders shaking ever so slightly.
Kayden, meanwhile, had moved.
At some point during Inhyuk's speech, he had left the foot of the bed and settled directly into Asuka's arms.
Not because he needed protection.
He did not.
He was Kayden Break.
But as Inhyuk's cat-loving aura intensified, Kayden had made a strategic decision.
Against his pride.
Against his dignity.
Against every instinct that demanded he sit wherever he wanted.
The safest place in this room was Asuka's arms.
Asuka lowered one hand over his back.
Her mouth curved.
"You are safe," she murmured, barely audible.
Kayden's glare snapped up toward her.
Do not.
She patted him once.
Very gently.
Kayden closed his eyes.
This house.
This organization.
This entire awakened world.
Ridiculous.
And yet, as Inhyuk continued explaining cat personalities with far too much enthusiasm, Kayden remained exactly where he was.
Because even he knew better than to risk the round, chubby, wobbly body.
Jiyoung returned to her office with Inhyuk close behind.
The door closed softly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Jiyoung walked to her desk and sat, arms crossed, expression calm but thoughtful.
Inhyuk stood across from her, still trying to organize everything that had happened.
Jiwoo's speed.
The final movement.
The strange gap in perception.
The cat.
Asuka.
Casein Nitrate.
That last one still lingered unpleasantly in his mind for reasons he could not explain.
Jiyoung finally spoke.
"Jiwoo's last attack had traces of an electrical ability."
Inhyuk's head snapped up.
"What?"
His eyes widened.
"Are you sure about that?"
Jiyoung's gaze remained steady.
"I suspect so."
Inhyuk went silent.
Jiyoung leaned back slightly.
"That is why I asked whether Jiwoo and Asuka knew Kayden."
The name settled between them with weight.
Kayden.
The independent monster of the awakened world.
The destroyer.
The one whose electricity was famous enough that even a trace of it could make high-ranking awakeners uneasy.
Inhyuk frowned deeply.
"If it's like you say, Chairwoman…"
He crossed his arms, thinking fast.
"That means Jiwoo has two types of abilities. Speed and electricity. Not just one."
His expression sharpened.
"The same could be said about Asuka."
Jiyoung did not answer immediately.
Inhyuk continued, voice lower now.
"But that is basically impossible. Without proper training, how could that be possible for Jiwoo, who only recently realized he is an awakened one?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Even if he had multiple capabilities, controlling them like that after only a few days…"
He trailed off.
No.
It did not make sense.
Jiwoo was gifted.
That much was clear.
But gifts had limits.
Jiyoung's eyes lowered slightly as she remembered the final strike again.
The flicker.
Not quite visible.
Not quite invisible.
The smallest trace of something sharp and electric wrapped around Jiwoo's fist before impact.
"I am not mistaken," she said. "Though it was only for a brief time, I saw it with my own eyes."
Inhyuk breathed in.
"That is…"
His thoughts rushed toward Kayden.
Toward Jiwoo.
Toward the cat.
Toward Asuka's too-calm presence.
Then, suddenly, something else occurred to him.
"Ah!"
Jiyoung looked up.
"What is it?"
Inhyuk turned halfway toward the door.
Then paused and bowed his head quickly.
"I'm sorry, Chairwoman. I will report to you as soon as I return."
Before Jiyoung could ask what he meant, he was already moving.
Fast.
The door opened and closed behind him.
Jiyoung remained seated.
Silent.
Then she stared at the closed door.
"…Inhyuk."
No answer.
She sighed quietly.
Whatever had taken his attention had better be important.
In the treatment room, Kayden was glaring at Asuka.
Menacingly.
Unblinkingly.
With the full force of his wounded dignity.
Asuka did not react.
She sat beside Jiwoo's bed, calmly adjusting the blanket near his arm while asking him whether his ribs hurt more when he breathed in or when he tried to shift his shoulders.
Jiwoo answered obediently.
"It hurts more when I move."
"Then do not move."
"Yes."
"And when you breathe?"
"A little."
"Then breathe carefully."
"Okay."
Kayden continued staring.
Jiwoo noticed.
Of course he noticed.
Kayden's stare was not subtle.
It had weight.
Pressure.
A promise of future complaints.
Jiwoo sweat-dropped on Asuka's behalf.
Asuka, however, remained completely unaffected.
Eventually, Kayden lifted one paw and rested it under his chin.
"Yo, Asuka."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Yes?"
"What's with the name?"
Jiwoo stiffened.
Kayden's eyes narrowed.
"Casein Nitrate?"
Asuka paused.
Then shrugged.
"I was covering for Oppa. He was about to say your name."
Jiwoo immediately jumped in despite being unable to move.
"She's right. I almost said Mr. Kayden. Asuka saved us."
Kayden's stare shifted to him.
Jiwoo went quiet.
Then Kayden looked back at Asuka.
"What does it mean?"
Asuka was silent for one second.
Then said, "I do not know."
Kayden stared.
Jiwoo stared too.
Asuka continued calmly, "I heard it somewhere."
Kayden's mouth opened slightly.
Then closed.
"Oh?"
His voice turned dangerously soft.
"So you named me after a word you did not know the meaning of?"
Asuka folded her hands in her lap.
"I could not help it."
Kayden's eye twitched.
"The situation was dire."
Jiwoo blinked.
Dire?
Asuka's face remained serene.
Kayden stared at her.
Jiwoo quickly bowed his head as much as he could from the bed.
"I'm sorry on Asuka's behalf."
Asuka looked at him.
"You do not need to apologize."
Kayden clicked his tongue.
"You two are unbelievable."
Jiwoo smiled weakly.
Then his expression shifted.
"Mr. Kayden."
"What?"
"Why would the chairwoman ask what our relationship was to you?"
Kayden's posture changed slightly.
His annoyance did not disappear.
But beneath it, something sharper settled.
He lifted one paw and pressed it lightly over his mouth, thinking.
"It's probably because of the attack you used at the end to knock down your opponent."
Jiwoo listened closely.
"It was very weak," Kayden said. "But it had traces of electricity in it."
Jiwoo's eyes widened.
"Wow… She was able to guess a connection to you based on that?"
Kayden lifted his paw and began licking it absently.
"I don't think she can prove it. The amount you used was too weak to tell clearly. But it shows how capable Jiyoung Yoo really is that she made the connection to me."
Then he froze.
His tongue stopped halfway over his paw.
Silence.
Jiwoo blinked.
Asuka's mouth curved.
Kayden slowly lowered his paw.
"Darn it."
Jiwoo stared.
"Why am I doing this?!"
Asuka chuckled softly.
Kayden pointed the paw he had been licking at her like a weapon.
She looked amused.
Completely, shamelessly amused.
Kayden's eyes narrowed.
"Not a word."
"I said nothing."
"You are thinking loudly."
"Yes."
Jiwoo's shoulders shook.
Then he immediately winced because laughing hurt.
Asuka's hand hovered near his ribs.
"Careful."
"Sorry."
Kayden snapped, "Stop apologizing."
Before Jiwoo could apologize again, Kayden's ears twitched.
He went still.
Then he stood, lowering himself from the bed railing and landing beside Jiwoo's pillow.
Jiwoo noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
Kayden's eyes sharpened toward the door.
"Someone is approaching us at great speed."
Jiwoo's eyes widened.
"Huh?!"
Asuka remained seated.
Perfectly calm.
Expectant.
Kayden's tail lowered.
"They're not running. They're using their ability to approach at extreme speed."
Jiwoo tensed despite the pain.
Kayden prepared himself.
The door slid open.
The tense atmosphere collapsed instantly.
Inhyuk stepped inside.
Jiwoo blinked.
"Mr. Inhyuk? Why did you come back?"
Inhyuk walked closer, breathing only slightly faster than usual.
"I came back to check something."
Jiwoo's heart jumped.
Check something?
Kayden?
Did he find out?
Kayden stared at Inhyuk.
Inhyuk stared back.
For one dreadful second, the room became silent.
Then Inhyuk reached into his coat.
Jiwoo braced.
Kayden's eyes narrowed.
Asuka's head lowered very slightly.
Inhyuk pulled out—
Cat treats.
Several of them.
Then toys.
A feather wand.
Small balls.
A soft mouse.
A packet of snacks.
More treats.
Another packet.
A small container of high-quality food.
He placed them all carefully on the side table.
The atmosphere died.
Completely.
Inhyuk looked faintly embarrassed.
"I forgot to leave these with you before I left."
Jiwoo stared at the pile.
Then brightened.
"Aren't these snacks and toys for cats?"
Inhyuk flushed.
"Yes."
He glanced toward Kayden.
"They are gifts for Casein Nitrate."
Kayden's face went blank.
Asuka lowered her head.
Her shoulders started shaking.
Inhyuk continued, entirely sincere.
"I bought several things since I did not know what he would like."
Kayden's expression became indescribable.
The name.
The gifts.
The sincerity.
The fact that he could not say anything.
The fact that Inhyuk's face was glowing with cat-lover joy.
Hee hee…
Kayden stared.
Ugh.
What's with that face?
It was too bright.
It hurt his eyes.
Asuka was losing the battle against her smile.
Badly.
Jiwoo looked delighted.
"Thank you, Mr. Inhyuk. That's very kind."
Inhyuk waved a hand quickly.
"No, no. It's nothing."
Kayden's eyes said it was absolutely something.
Inhyuk straightened.
"Then I'll be on my way now. I was in the middle of an important conversation with the chairwoman."
Asuka's mouth twitched.
An important conversation.
He had left an important conversation with Jiyoung Yoo to deliver cat snacks.
For Kayden.
For Casein Nitrate.
This was perhaps the funniest thing that had happened all week.
And that included Kayden being denied belly rubs.
Asuka nodded politely.
"Thank you for the cat items."
Inhyuk's expression softened.
"You're welcome."
He began sliding the door closed.
Then paused with only part of his face visible through the gap.
His eyes were on Kayden.
"Bye."
Kayden stared.
Inhyuk lifted one hand.
"See you soon."
Kayden's glare intensified.
The door slid farther closed.
Inhyuk, still blushing faintly, gave one last tiny wave.
"Bubbye. See you."
Kayden remained frozen.
Sweat-dropping internally so hard it felt physical.
Get lost.
Then the door closed.
Silence.
Asuka lasted three seconds.
Then she laughed.
Not loudly.
Not wildly.
But enough that Jiwoo immediately started smiling too.
Kayden turned toward her with the slow, terrible patience of a man who had endured one humiliation too many.
Asuka covered her mouth.
"I apologize."
"No, you don't."
"No," she admitted.
Jiwoo, still bandaged and unable to move, looked at the pile of cat treats.
"He really likes cats."
Kayden's stare snapped toward him.
Jiwoo quickly added, "That's nice."
Kayden looked at the treats.
Then at the door.
Then at Asuka.
"He left a meeting with Jiyoung Yoo."
Asuka's shoulders shook again.
"To give me cat snacks."
Jiwoo's lips trembled.
Kayden's eye twitched.
"And toys."
Asuka made a small sound.
Kayden pointed one paw at both siblings.
"Do not laugh."
Jiwoo pressed his mouth shut.
Asuka looked down.
Kayden's glare sharpened.
"You are both laughing internally."
"Yes," Asuka said softly.
Jiwoo made a faint wheezing sound.
Kayden closed his eyes.
This organization was ridiculous.
This family was ridiculous.
His life was ridiculous.
Then, unfortunately, the smell from one of the treat packets reached him.
His eyes opened.
Slowly.
Jiwoo noticed.
Asuka noticed too.
Kayden looked away.
"No."
Asuka picked up the packet.
Kayden's ears twitched.
"I said no."
"I have not offered."
"You are thinking about it."
"Yes."
Jiwoo whispered, "Do you want one?"
Kayden's dignity screamed.
His stomach betrayed him.
Asuka's smile became luminous.
Kayden stared at the ceiling.
"…Only for strategic evaluation."
Jiwoo smiled so brightly it hurt.
Asuka opened the packet.
And somewhere down the hall, Inhyuk returned to Jiyoung's office with absolutely no idea that he had just won and lost a battle against Kayden Break at the same time.
----