In essence, traveling is an activity that alleviates the fatigue of a weary life by enjoying different scenery and situations from the usual. Considering that it also serves to refresh those who live in the monotony of daily life, traveling is truly wonderful.
Although traveling does bring its own fatigue, it leaves people with something more valuable and significant.
For the HunterKiller members, this trip was just that. Members who had not opened their hearts to each other for years and maintained a distance began to grow closer, providing a time to learn about things they had been neglectful or ignorant of.
Of course, knowing something you didn’t before doesn’t change the other person. Learning something new about someone means realizing the misconceptions and gaps in your understanding of them.
Until now, Red had been seen as a mature person beyond her age, shouldering tasks alone and trying to lead an uncooperative team. However, through the trip, it became clear that she was just a typical 20-year-old girl and the youngest in the team. But as mentioned earlier, knowing this didn’t change the thoughts or evaluations of Red.
Red was still the leader who carried many responsibilities, and that remained unchanged. However, by discovering aspects of Red they hadn’t known before, the members became more open and closer to her.
This wasn’t just about Red but applied to all members. Through this trip, they filled in some of the gaps of the past years they hadn’t known about each other.
“They’re completely knocked out.”
Inside the returning bus, Red and Pink were asleep, borrowing Green’s shoulder as a pillow, exhausted from their lively play.
“Those two were especially cheerful.”
Yellow and Blue looked at the sleeping pair, reminiscing about the fun times while soothing the lingering regrets of the trip.
Meanwhile, Yellow, despite the seemingly endless love talk that could easily tire anyone, continued to listen intently to the conversations. She anticipated that speaking recklessly might lead to trouble, so she listened and learned from the discussions.
Blue, sensing Yellow’s thoughts, subtly guided her to join the conversation even while engaging in love talk. Yellow, who had no romantic interests but one male friend, naturally brought him up in conversation.
Thus, as conversations interlocked one by one, Yellow realized she could communicate smoothly.
“Right after we return, it’s back to competition.”
“Yeah. It’s going to be chaotic again.”
Returning from a trip and resuming normal life is a universal experience. No one was dissatisfied. As they talked, Yellow and Blue harbored a strange anticipation for the routine they were returning to.
“What will you do first when we get back?”
At Blue’s question about upcoming plans, Yellow paused to think. She hadn’t thought of anything specific to do after the trip. However, thinking of the fatigue relieved and the fun had during the trip, she felt like playing a game she hadn’t been able to.
“I’ll start by playing a game with my friend.”
“With your boyfriend?”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
When it comes to close relationships with the opposite sex, listeners tend to enjoy weaving imaginary connections. Especially Red, Pink, and Blue, who had recently been bursting with romantic cells, reacted excessively to love talk involving Yellow and Green, who seemed least likely to have romantic interests.
It was not teasing but enjoying the scenario, driven by a wish that Yellow and Green would also engage in romance talk. Of course, at such times, Green wore an awkward smile, embarrassed, while Yellow made unreadable, meaningful expressions.
“But you don’t dislike it, right?”
“Of course not. However, I’d say it’s subtle?”
For Yellow, her relationship with A was very subtle. Starting as something hard to explain to others, they became friends, and she felt the distance had considerably decreased.
After a recent twist was resolved, coming on this trip and hearing so much about romance, she naturally became conscious of him, yet she couldn’t shake off the feeling of ‘subtlety.’
She absolutely didn’t dislike him. Romantic feelings toward the opposite sex could easily evolve into deeper emotions. But when Yellow thought about her relationship with A, she wondered if that was appropriate.
What primarily came to mind was whether, if she and A became lovers, their current gaming friendship could continue. A was still more of a friend than a romantic interest to Yellow.
Yet, on the other hand, she wondered how long this friendship could last.
For her, who had extreme human relations, A was an important friend and a precious connection. Even trying not to think about it, the romantic talk from the members inevitably made her ponder.
“Originally, you keep calling them, but eventually, you become one.”
Pink, waking up, interjected. Having met A as a work colleague and becoming friends, now lovers, she didn’t see Yellow’s concerns as significant. From Pink’s viewpoint, it seemed like Yellow would soon become lovers with that friend.
“Yellow is also big-chested and pretty. If she sets her mind to it, she could become a lover in no time.”
“Saying that makes it sound like seducing with the body.”
“Why not? If you have a weapon, you should use it.”
Pink’s words made sense. Human beings naturally feel attracted to beautiful and charming opposites. This point remains unchanged, and there’s no man who would dislike such an opposite making sexual advances.
Of course, a stranger making such advances would cause discomfort, or one would try to understand the intentions. Nonetheless, barriers to attractive opposites are naturally low. Especially if it’s someone you know, the heart is moved.
That’s what friendships between men and women are like. Although a solid relationship may seem unlikely to change, with the right trigger, it can flip like turning a hand.
“Since it’s Yellow’s affair, if she doesn’t feel like it, there’s no need…”
Pink trailed off, her gaze naturally drifting to Yellow’s body. At this lecherous glance, Yellow’s body stiffened momentarily.
“Well? How irresistible is it?”
Yellow was unaware. Unaware of how enticing the act of luring a man into her home just to play games together was.
Pink knew. She understood that Yellow’s actions, though unconsciously, were self-appealing gestures, and few men wouldn’t waver.
Not all relationships in the world are like this. However, based on the circumstances, Pink had a feeling that the development between the two was imminent.
‘Work hard, Yellow’s friend.’
Unaware that the friend was her own boyfriend, Pink silently cheered for the development of Yellow and her friend’s relationship.
Meanwhile, stuck in the middle, Green was in a tormented state. It wasn’t strenuous or tiresome. Yet, every time romance was discussed, a particular person’s image emerged in her mind, which she couldn’t shake off, and she found herself repeatedly imagining a more advanced relationship before snapping back to reality.
“What about you, Green? Are you still seeing the person who helped you?”
After wrapping up her thoughts on Yellow, Pink’s next target was Green. Especially since Blue was very interested in Green’s situation, all eyes naturally turned to Green.
At the momentary gaze on her, Green didn’t know what to do but eventually nodded.
“Yeah. We meet occasionally.”
“How is it?”
“What do you mean?!”
Green, not catching the underlying meaning of Pink’s intention, asked back. Seeing Green’s reaction alone, Pink could gauge her current state and the general mood.
“Like getting more affectionate or closer?”
Blue was very interested in the man who had helped Green in her tough situation. Although their circumstances were different, there were oddly common factors that intrigued him.
“N-no, not like that. We just eat and talk when we meet. He’s really nice, though…”
Watching Green’s flushed face trail off, Pink’s lips curved into a smile. She thought it was possible Green was experiencing the first flutters of romance, which she had never felt herself.
Blue also smiled at Green’s reaction, almost tickling the viewer’s heart. Unlike Yellow, Green’s feelings seemed certain. However, it looked like she hadn’t yet fully decided, so Pink concluded with a single brief remark.
“If it doesn’t seem like it will work, just go for it.”
“?!”
Naturally, Green was the most startled. Watching her react, Pink and Blue couldn’t help but smile. As the voices grew louder, Red woke up, joining the conversation, and the chatter among the members became even noisier.
“Are the results out?”
The next Thursday morning. Before heading to the competition, I approached a colleague handling administrative work to check the training results.
“They’ll be sent directly to the Team Leader.”
Hearing that the colleague hadn’t seen the results yet, I nodded in acknowledgment and headed to the changing room to switch outfits. My earlier arrivals had already changed, and I began changing at my cabinet.
For our team, which performed well in training, the results of the training were of great importance. Of course, good training results don’t necessarily lead to more support. But they do significantly shift our mood.
“Aye. I heard from team one earlier; our Team Leader praises you a lot.”
One of my colleagues, Kruger, who arrived earlier, approached me as I was changing. Wearing his black suit without a helmet, he looked at me with a somewhat proud expression.
“Praise? From Esmeralda? Why?”
“She must have reviewed your report from this training. It was well-written and well-delivered, greatly benefiting the overall training coordination.”
I didn’t think it was something to praise, but communicating during field control was a joint effort with our team and field control members from other teams. It seemed that field control members from other teams who reviewed my report over the open channel were influenced somewhat, contributing to raising our overall training performance.
“Really? That’s good to hear.”
“What? Is receiving praise from our Team Leader not considered a big deal?”
Detecting a hint of sarcasm in Ban’s tone as he changed his shoes, I chuckled.
“Receiving praise from Esmeralda is no small thing, right? Especially, considering how hard she was on us when she was directly above us.”
Receiving praise from Esmeralda, my former direct supervisor, is an absolute big deal. But the seemingly nonchalant reaction comes from the sheer unreality of the situation that makes it hard to feel directly.
“Let’s assemble.”
At that moment, the changing room door opened, and Daniel, our driver, signaled for assembly. Finishing our outfit change, my colleagues and I left the changing room and headed down to the car parked underground, setting off for the competition as usual.
The scenario of the competition was similar to usual, almost making one forget that we had just played together at the beach a few days ago. As usual, the victory went to the HunterKiller team, and Spacystro retreated into their car as always.
Arriving at the underground headquarters of the Earth Defense Union Seoul Headquarters on bikes, the HunterKiller members took off their helmets, euphoric from the victory, and boarded the elevator with soaring spirits. On the way up to the third floor where the HunterKiller office was, the elevator stopped at the first floor, and the doors opened.
“Oh, HunterKillers? Did you enjoy your vacation?”
“Yes.”
A woman from another team entered the elevator. She seemed affable, but the HunterKiller members, who had just grown closer to each other, still responded to this team member with whom they had no closeness yet, in a formal manner.
Of course, there was no issue here. The attitude of team superhumans towards other teams largely stayed this way. To draw a comparison, it’s akin to the distance maintained with an employee from another department whom one is familiar with in a typical company.
There’s another aspect; although attendance was poor due to looking after a nephew, Blue, who had been a superhuman for a long time, had somewhat of a friendly relationship with the woman.
“Does the SpecialForce team not go on vacations?”
“We go separately. There’s no reason for us all to go together.”
She was a member of the SpecialForce team, like the HunterKiller and Guerilla teams, stationed at the Seoul branch.
They weren’t as close as the HunterKiller members, but neither were they close enough to vacation together.
In fact, it’s rather unusual for the HunterKiller team to have gone on a trip all together.
Soon, the elevator reached the third floor, and as the members stepped out one by one, just as Blue was about to exit, the woman grabbed her by the arm.
“Blue.”
“Yes? Why?”
Surprised by the calling voice, Blue turned around, and the woman locked eyes with her, stepping closer to whisper quietly.
“By any chance, are you getting married?”
“What?!”
Unbeknownst to the members, a non-member had knowledge about Blue’s love life, not just about a relationship but an advanced stage like marriage.
“Who told you?”
“White mentioned he had seen something.”
Blue realized that a strange rumor was circulating when it had already grown much larger than expected.
