Chapter 86: Morning Training and Unspoken Care

“Are you leaving now?”

Seong Jiwoo’s presence made Yoo Heero blink his sleepy eyes. Lately, Jiwoo had been waking up in the early hours more often.

Normally, he’d rise with the opening hours of the general store, but that had changed due to training.

“Yes. You should sleep more.”

Yoo Heero wasn’t about to fall back asleep despite losing his quiet morning time with Jiwoo. Sitting with a slightly sulky face, he watched Jiwoo prepare.

Jiwoo’s arms were covered with bruises from carrying his sports bag, and his palms bore calluses and blisters from holding the sword.

Seeing that made Yoo Heero’s chest tighten, and he quickly looked away.

“…It’s the weekend today.”

Weekends were days off for the store. Most customers used delivery services, which didn’t operate on weekends, so the store adjusted accordingly.

Weekends were supposed to be solely for Jiwoo and him—but for the second consecutive weekend, even sharing a meal together became difficult.

“Since it’s the weekend, we should go earlier.”

“…I want to go too.”

Yoo Heero rose. Jiwoo, who was just about to leave, put his bag down again.

“Really? I’ll contact Son Jihwan then.”

As requested earlier, Jiwoo addressed his guild members with their full names plus “Mr.” Yoo Heero quickly got dressed.

His hair was still messy, but after roughly changing, Jiwoo laughed and pressed his fingers into Yoo Heero’s hair.

“You don’t have to rush.”

“I didn’t wake up early to rush. Let’s go.”

Jiwoo seemed determined not to affect Yoo Heero’s schedule. He grabbed a cap and pressed it onto Yoo Heero’s head.

“There, done.”

“Why? Do I look terrible?”

“Uh? No.”

“….”

Seeing Yoo Heero suspiciously staring at him, Jiwoo admitted,

“You kind of look like a pilgrim.”

“…That’s an insult, right?”

“What? No. Why would I use pilgrim as an insult?”

The innocent pilgrim looked between the two of them with wide eyes. Yoo Heero frowned in disapproval.

After a pointless staring contest, Jiwoo waved his arm.

“Enough staring, let’s go.”

“…Okay.”

He greeted Sunrye before leaving the store, and Yoo Heero quickly followed, unwilling to lose sight of him.

“Today the guild master came too.”

Even with the sudden company, Son Jihwan welcomed Yoo Heero without surprise, wearing a wrist guard and giving a rough rundown of today’s plan.

“We’ll do light running, step training, then thrust and slash practice.”

“Okay.”

Jiwoo, familiar with the routine, set down his bag and changed into training clothes. Due to the heat, he wore short sleeves and shorts, rolling the pants above his knees for extra comfort.

“Ah, you’re already changed… Hyung?”

Seeing Jiwoo, Yoo Heero froze in front of the changing room.

“What’s wrong?”

As Jiwoo tried to pass him, Yoo Heero blocked the way like a restless puppy.

“…What is it?”

Jiwoo’s eyebrows lifted. Every time he tried to dodge, Yoo Heero intercepted him, making him increasingly uncomfortable.

“You okay?”

Seeing Yoo Heero fidget, Jiwoo’s initial annoyance softened into concern.

“Do you usually… train like that?”

“Like what?”

“I mean… in those clothes.”

“…Right? Why?”

Jiwoo looked down at his own training clothes—they were normal.

“Oh, Son Jihwan said a dobok would be better, but I don’t like that loose feeling. So I’m wearing this.”

Misinterpreting Yoo Heero’s concern, Jiwoo explained why he chose training clothes over a dobok.

Yoo Heero, noticing Jiwoo’s exposed pale thighs as he moved, tightly shut his eyes.

“Even if it’s my clothes… No, that’s too much. Well, at least this…”

Yoo Heero hurriedly adjusted the rolled-up pant legs, barely covering half of Jiwoo’s knees.

“Do I look bad?”

Jiwoo, considering that showing thighs to another male might be inappropriate, cautiously asked.

“Uh?”

“I didn’t think of that. It might’ve been uncomfortable to see.”

“No, that’s…! Haah…”

Yoo Heero pressed his forehead and exhaled a massive sigh.

“Not exactly, but don’t roll them up too much.”

“Okay, got it.”

Jiwoo nodded and rolled up his sleeves to his shoulders.

“Now what’s wrong with that…?”

“No problem with arms, right? Just the legs?”

Jiwoo considered and lowered his sleeves, acknowledging he wasn’t particularly fit or muscular.

“Alright, done.”

“Ready?”

Son Jihwan, who had been waiting through their little squabble, finally spoke.

“Yes.”

Jiwoo passed Yoo Heero and joined Son Jihwan. While they talked, Yoo Heero wandered around.

“Then we’ll do it this way. Shall we run together?”

“Sure.”

Son Jihwan tapped the floor with his toes and began stretching. Jiwoo followed, and Yoo Heero eventually mirrored Jiwoo’s movements.

“Stand there for a bit.”

Jiwoo twisted his body, unsatisfied, giving Yoo Heero an unspoken order. Yoo Heero paused awkwardly.

Jiwoo placed his arms on Yoo Heero’s shoulders, stretching his own. Yoo Heero froze.

After some stretches, Jiwoo lifted his upper body; his flushed cheeks betrayed the blood rushing from the stretch.

“Want me to help? My shoulders are stiff from swinging the sword so much, doing it alone isn’t enough.”

Yoo Heero, face bright red despite no blood rush, shook his head frantically.

“Once you’re done, we’ll run.”

Hearing that, Son Jihwan darted off immediately.

“Can’t even think of keeping up.”

Jiwoo clicked his tongue. The scene was familiar but still overwhelming.

“Let’s go.”

Previously, Jiwoo tried to match Son Jihwan’s pace, nearly collapsing from breathlessness in the middle of the training ground.

Now, accustomed to training, he ran just enough for a proper warm-up. After a few laps, his heart raced and muscles tensed, signaling readiness.

Son Jihwan tossed a sword sheath to Jiwoo, who drew his blade smoothly. The glint of steel caught the light sharply.

Exhaling, Jiwoo’s eyes hardened, and Son Jihwan tossed the training targets into the air. Three at first.

The blades sliced cleanly through.

“Wow!”

All three targets were cut—one perfectly, two partially. A huge improvement considering it had taken a week just to touch the edge of the targets.

Jiwoo slapped palms with Son Jihwan. Yoo Heero stood behind, exasperated, but the two were too absorbed in discussing blade movement, arm strength, and speed.

Training continued for three or four more hours. Yoo Heero stayed silent, keeping a distance to avoid disturbing Jiwoo.

Not a single motion escaped his gaze, yet Jiwoo never once looked back.

Eventually, Jiwoo sheathed his sword and collapsed to the floor, sweat roughly wiped with a towel from Son Jihwan. Training that was once exhausting now felt refreshing and satisfying.

“You can feel your body following, right?”

“Yes, I can.”

Being able to move exactly as imagined brought unexpected joy.

Jiwoo rose, smiling, and finally looked at Yoo Heero.

“…What’s with your face?”

Yoo Heero’s expression clearly said, I’m sulking. Jiwoo hesitated.

“No, let’s go home now.”

“Wait, I want to shower first…”

“Do it at home.”

Yoo Heero packed his things and slung Jiwoo’s bag over his shoulder, heading toward the exit.

“Go ahead inside.”

“Yes, see you later!”

Son Jihwan waved goodbye, and Jiwoo hurried after Yoo Heero.

Only then did Jiwoo realize he had been so focused on training that he hadn’t paid attention to Yoo Heero. Naturally, Yoo Heero might have been upset.

“Hey, Heero! Yoo Heero! You mad?”

“I’m not mad. I’m not a child.”

Clearly childlike, though. Jiwoo restrained himself from saying more. Yoo Heero sighed deeply and began walking again. Jiwoo followed closely.

“Shall we have something delicious for dinner tonight?”

At that, Yoo Heero froze in place.