Esmeralda and Angelique locked eyes, and the room fell silent. They didn’t exchange words, simply gazing at each other. Esmeralda was the first to let out a soft laugh, and Angelique also smiled slightly.
Their attention then shifted back to Luche. Luche’s questions about A weren’t to encourage or support them. Siera, who was desperately denying her feelings, was already obvious. Luche, who had been at odds with Siera for a long time, could quickly grasp her thoughts. She didn’t know everything, but she could sense enough about Siera.
But Esmeralda and Angelique were different. Luche, unaware of their past hierarchical relationship with A, thought they might also harbor romantic feelings for A, which made her uneasy. Thus, Luche’s questions were a way to gauge their emotions.
Though Esmeralda and Angelique didn’t speak, they understood Luche’s intent the moment she asked. They couldn’t know each other’s thoughts, but by looking into each other’s eyes, they sensed they weren’t far apart.
“Don’t worry, Luche. Nothing like what you’re thinking will happen,” Esmeralda said plainly. Luche, who had been intently focused, finally realized her intentions were laid bare.
“I understand why Luche asked, but I think what Esmeralda and I think of A might be a bit different from what you’re imagining,” Angelique added, clarifying that she didn’t have any ulterior motives in her relationship with A.
“But you both agreed when I suggested bringing A in, didn’t you?” Luche’s doubts weren’t easily dispelled. Ten years ago, Luche had nominated A as a new member of Team 3 during the reorganization, and Esmeralda and Angelique, then in the Seoul Branch, had agreed.
One could think they agreed simply because they acknowledged A’s abilities, but the way they often interacted with A suggested more than just professional respect.
“I’ve known A since he first joined. I’ve grown fond of him over time. From the start, A wasn’t someone you could just leave alone, so I agreed. Right?” Angelique, who had been A’s direct superior long ago, explained her reasons for agreeing to bring him into Team 3, then looked at Siera as if seeking her agreement.
Siera, who knew A better than anyone, answered with a tired voice, “Yes.” Luche, unaware of A’s distant past, alternated her gaze between the two who had just exchanged a cryptic conversation.
“So, how does Angelique feel about A?” Luche wanted a clear answer. She knew human relationships couldn’t be neatly defined, but sometimes a single word could dispel psychological unease.
Angelique, who had never defined her feelings for A, gazed into the void for a moment before answering.
“A foolish younger brother?”
“I feel the same way,” Esmeralda nodded, agreeing with Angelique’s assessment.
“Luche, I can guess what you’re thinking, but it’s not like that,” Esmeralda said calmly, her words carrying a strange weight. Luche listened without moving.
“Maybe it’s a matter of perspective? I do have positive feelings for A. I think Angelique feels the same.”
“Yes, I also think A is a good man.”
“Then why?” Luche couldn’t understand why their feelings were different from hers and Siera’s.
Luche’s feelings for A hadn’t changed in over 20 years. So, even if they had positive feelings, she couldn’t comprehend how theirs differed from hers.
“Positive feelings aren’t always romantic. If what you feel is love, then what we feel is closer to affection.”
Though Luche had various experiences, her limited environment hadn’t allowed her to fully process many thoughts. Faced with unfamiliar situations, she often assumed they were common in the universe and tried to understand. Thus, she accepted Esmeralda’s explanation and didn’t ask further.
“Anyway, Angelique and I are cheering for you and Siera. Give it your all. I wish I could, but I can’t.”
As the conversation lightened, Esmeralda, who wasn’t one for jokes, threw in a casual remark. Siera frowned at this.
“Captain.”
“Hmm?”
Esmeralda met Siera’s gaze and realized her topic choice was off. Angelique’s expression also soured as Siera stared at Esmeralda intently.
“If you say that to A, he’ll definitely get angry.”
“…You’re right.”
With a hollow smile, Esmeralda sipped water from her glass, feeling a phantom pain in her right eye, and stayed silent.
Though it sounded like they were discussing some past event, Luche, unaware of that past, sensed the heavy atmosphere and stayed cautious.
“The food’s here.”
Just as the heavy mood seemed to persist, the ordered dishes arrived. Angelique deliberately raised her voice, lightening the mood.
Realizing Esmeralda and Angelique’s feelings for A were different, Luche wondered if Siera was her only rival. But then she remembered the HunterKiller members who had made the first move.
‘Those thieving cats.’
After a long wait, Luche was finally closer to A. If Siera had become A’s partner first, Luche might have felt upset but not wronged. However, the HunterKiller members’ actions left her feeling unfairly disadvantaged. Luche vowed to reclaim A no matter what.
Two days ago, the living room, where all members had been, was now empty once more. Yellow, lying on the sofa, silently played a game.
The spacious house felt unusually hollow since everyone, including A, had left. Yellow, who usually didn’t mind being alone, felt particularly aware of the emptiness after the intense time spent with them. The house felt even larger than usual.
Her emptiness soon turned into a desire for A to return quickly. He had said he’d come in the evening, so all she could do was wait for sunset.
“Damn it.”
Even though she won the game, Yellow wasn’t satisfied. She cursed, gulped down her drink, and slammed it back on the table.
The sun was still high, and waiting for A made time feel excruciatingly slow.
She wanted to ask where he was and what he was doing, but the thought of embarrassing herself stopped her from pressing him to come sooner.
“I’m starving.”
Meal time had passed, and having skipped breakfast, her stomach was signaling for food. She glanced at the fridge in the kitchen.
Some ingredients Blue had bought were still there. Ordering takeout felt wasteful, but cooking herself was out of the question given her lack of skill.
“Why didn’t he come sooner?!”
If A weren’t coming, she’d have ordered food. But since he was, she wanted to save her appetite for the evening meal.
Suddenly, she felt like a woman too hung up on A and shook her head, but denying it didn’t erase the truth of her obsession.
If only he had finished work early and come to eat together. She mentally vented her frustration at A for saying he’d come in the evening, but her irritation soon faded into a sense of emptiness.
Clicking her tongue, Yellow gave up on venting and was about to start another game when she heard the door lock’s beep.
Thinking A had come earlier than expected, she pretended not to care, keeping her eyes on the monitor.
Footsteps echoed down the hallway. Yellow tilted her head slightly as they stopped at the entrance to the living room.
“What?”
“Hi.”
It wasn’t A. But it wasn’t a stranger either.
“Have you eaten?”
“Not yet.”
“Good.”
It was Blue, arms full of something. She smiled at Yellow, who lay on the sofa, and walked toward the kitchen.
Yellow, stunned by Blue’s sudden appearance, sat up and watched Blue organize the items in the kitchen.
“How’d you get in?”
“Huh? I used the password.”
Only A knew the password to Yellow’s front door.
But Blue answered as if she’d known it all along.
“Did A tell you?”
“No. You did.”
“Huh?”
Yellow tilted her head, trying to recall. She was sure she hadn’t told any members the password.
Was Blue lying? No. To Yellow’s knowledge, Blue wasn’t one to lie or enter others’ homes without permission.
“I told you? When?”
“Last Saturday, in the group chat.”
Yellow then remembered. A few days ago, when all members and A were at her house, she had yelled in the group chat, “From now on, just use the password and let yourselves in!” She had been annoyed at constantly opening the door.
It had happened so quickly, and the ensuing events were so overwhelming that she’d completely forgotten about it just three days later.
“You could’ve called.”
“I did. Called several times.”
Yellow looked around and realized her phone wasn’t within reach.
She had woken up just before afternoon, heard A was coming in the evening, and left her phone in the bedroom. Engrossed in gaming, she hadn’t realized it was still there.
“Why’d you come?”
“To eat together.”
“Where are the others?”
“Green and Pink are on their own, having a good time. Red’s busy with assignments.”
Blue, who had fully grasped Yellow’s love for gaming during their group encounter, thought she’d still be sleeping after a gaming session. Since she’d already given permission to enter, Blue had come straight over.
“What if I weren’t here?”
“Then I’d have to figure something out. Still better than cooking alone.”
As they talked, Blue finished organizing the fridge, washed her hands, and came to the living room, sitting next to Yellow on the sofa.
Though Blue usually didn’t make her uncomfortable, Yellow felt a strange unease, perhaps because of their group encounter. She studied Blue, who smiled at her.
“Why are you uncomfortable? This is your house.”
“We were all naked two days ago. It’d be weird if you acted like nothing happened.”
“You’re right.”
An awkward atmosphere filled the room. Blue glanced at Yellow.
“Sorry if I barged in without notice.”
Yellow had told them to use the password, but Blue still felt it might have been rude to enter without a word. Yellow shook her head.
“It’s fine. Come in anytime. I don’t mind.”
A had been entering on his own already, and Yellow was used to it.
Not having to answer the door was much more convenient for her. Though her relationship with the members was complicated, her trust in them remained intact. Yellow trusted the members enough to let them enter her home anytime.
Moreover, feeling slightly bored alone, Yellow was secretly glad Blue had come.
“But did you really just come to eat?”
“To eat and talk a bit…”
Blue trailed off. Yellow, certain Blue had more to say, paused and looked at her. Their eyes met, and Blue spoke directly.
“Do you still oppose the harem?”
“Yes. Why?”
After the group encounter, Yellow hadn’t given much thought to A’s harem. Not because she wasn’t opposed, but because she knew strongly expressing her stance wouldn’t change anything. So, she had deliberately avoided the topic.
Still, her opposition to the harem remained unchanged. She wondered if Blue had come to persuade her. As she waited for Blue to speak, Blue got up from the sofa, pulled out the game controller—the one A usually used—and returned.
Holding the controller awkwardly, Blue looked at Yellow.
“Can I play too?”
“……Sure.”
As boredom and emptiness crept in, Blue’s arrival and the invitation to play instantly cleared Yellow’s cluttered thoughts.
