The next day, Si-Hun went shopping with Kuro.
He was just going to buy some kitchen crockery, food items, and some normal household items.
Si-Hun went outside in the evening.
He headed downtown for shopping and stopped by a small crockery store.
The store was small and simple, but it was very appealing.
The shopkeeper greeted him with a smile.
"Hey, young man!"
"Umm hey.."
"What makes you stop by?"
"I want to buy some kitchen items, and your shop sells exactly what I need."
"Cool. Come in, let me show you what you want."
He guided him in and showed him around.
Si-Hun picked the essentials, but Kuro was bugging him to buy "cute" crockery.
Si-Hun pulled a strand of hair from his head and signaled him to shut up.
He pulled his tongue at Si-Hun and stopped bugging him.
But Si-Hun still bought one of the items Kuro liked, which was a cute beige ramen bowl.
Kuro didn't know Si-Hun had bought that for him.
Si-Hun got to know the shopkeeper.
He was a kind elderly man named Bae-Kyoung.
"Come again, young man!"
"I will, thanks for having me!"
Si-Hun said, smiling.
Kuro was making a puffed-up face all this time.
Si-Hun couldn't help but chuckle at his puffed face.
"What are you laughing at!?"
"Nothing. I was just seeing the buildings!"
"Ahhhh!"
Si-Hun was holding his laugh in his throat.
They bought more items and returned home.
Si-Hun set everything down on the kitchen counter.
That was when Kuro noticed the ramen bowl he wanted to get.
His eyes lit up with excitement.
"Wahhh, master, you bought this for me?"
"No, a ghost did."
"Aww! You're so thoughtful, master even when you don't show it..''
Si-Hun sat on the couch, thinking about something.
"What are you thinking about, master?"
"I have more raids in the coming days. The days are going to be long and hectic.''
"I know master, but we can grind through it together."
"Hope so."
They watched TV together, and Si-Hun fell asleep right there on the couch.
Kuro was watching him sleep peacefully.
His sharp features were softer in this state.
He saw how his breath was steady and even, his lashes fell on his cheeks, resting.
"Master…you're handsome if I look at you right now…ughhh what am I saying!"
Kuro used his magic to pick Si-Hun up and led him to his bedroom.
He lay him down carefully before turning off the lights.
After that, he went outside on the rooftop.
He was a shadow, and he could move through solids.
He sat on the edge of the wall and looked up at the stars like Si-Hun did.
He observed them and still couldn't know why Si-Hun looked at them so earnestly.
He was thinking about things —why he felt that sting in his chest.
"Why was my chest heavy at times? I've never felt anything like that; it was like something hurt and burned at the same time. I can't name it."
Kuro was starting to develop feelings he wasn't supposed to feel.
Shadows are hollow and feelingless.
Eravus hadn't made him completely unknown to feelings; he needed to have feelings to connect to Si-Hun. But he was not supposed to feel this deeply, and especially not feel sadness or anger.
Si-Hun and he had connected so deeply that he was 'feeling' for Si-Hun.
He was feeling worried and happy for Si-Hun.
He was caring for him like no one ever did.
He couldn't see any pain or tension on him.
"Why do I have weird tinging in my chest?"
He was so confused about what he was experiencing.
After some time, he came back to the apartment.
Si-Hun had a good night's sleep, and he woke up feeling fresh.
"I don't remember sleeping here…"
"And where is Kuro?"
He got up only to find Kuro in the kitchen trying to make eggs, followed by a burning smell in the entire house.
"BRO WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
"Uhh…haha(nervous laugh) I-I was just making eggs!"
"Bro, why can't you be less troublesome?"
"What master! I was just thinking of helping you!"
"God."
Si-Hun sighed and sat down on the couch.
"Be quick, we have to go to a raid."
"I'm just done."
Kuro served Si-Hun breakfast, and surprisingly, it was good.
Kuro sat eagerly, waiting for his master's reply to whether he liked the breakfast he had made.
"So…how's the breakfast?"
"Edible."
"Huhh? What do you mean by EDIBLE?"
"Bro-chill. It's good. I like it.''
"I hate you!"
"I hate you too."
"Blah blah blah."
After eating breakfast, Si-Hun left for the raid.
He had two raids to go to today.
After reaching the portal site, which was a rank higher than before, he was met with unexpected attention.
His teammates were being extra nice to him.
They remembered their last raid with Si-Hun.
Shin-Rahee also confronted Si-Hun.
"Heard you beat the dungeon boss in the last raid by yourself."
"Uhh yeah. It just needed strategy and execution, and everyone was too scared to make a move."
"I'm keeping my eye on you, Han Si-Hin…"
"What did I do?"
"Nothing. You just caught my eye."
After she was gone, Si-Hun groaned.
"Ahh God! Why is everyone on me?"
"Master, you're a sensation."
"Whatever it is, bro, I don't want any of the attention."
"Deal with it." Kuro said, winking.
What they didn't know was that the two men were also watching Si-Hun talking with someone whom they couldn't see.
"He's definitely in on this."
"Yes. We will have to do it tonight."