Chapter 41: The Hero of the Dorm

It was a message asking whether he would be attending.

He had already replied that he would after receiving the group text about the wrap-up party.

– Hyung, you’re coming that day too, right?

– Yeah, of course. You’re coming too, right?

– Then I’ll see you there.

Exchanging messages with Kim Hyuin, Shim Eunchan smiled faintly.

Filming had ended a while ago, but coordinating everyone’s schedules wasn’t easy. The wrap-up party was scheduled for early next month.

Fortunately, it was before B the 1’s comeback, so adjusting his schedule wasn’t too difficult.

Just thinking about seeing everyone again already made him happy. They talked in the group chat, but that was nothing compared to meeting in person. He had even missed the final filming day because of a schedule conflict, which had been disappointing.

After chatting for a while, Eunchan ended the conversation with a promise to meet at the wrap-up party and stood up.

Today was the day the members were doing a group Face App live broadcast.

I should get ready and head out.

As he was thinking that, Eunchan suddenly froze.

Something had caught the edge of his vision.

Slowly, he turned his head.

The creature whose name he didn’t even want to say was standing on the floor, waving its antennae as if saying, Peekaboo.

“Aaaahhh…!”

Eunchan screamed and leaped onto his bed.

He moved so violently that he smashed the back of his head against the upper bunk. Even while clutching the throbbing spot and groaning in pain, his eyes remained locked on the creature.

Thankfully, it hadn’t disappeared somewhere.

If it had crawled under a piece of furniture, there was no way he would be entering his room again today.

“Eunchan-ah, what’s wrong?”

“Eunchan hyung!”

The two people who came running after hearing his scream were Do Junseo and Hyun Wooyoung.

Still holding the back of his head, Eunchan pointed at the floor.

“…Aaaah!”

Junseo shrieked and jumped backward.

That was right.

Junseo hated bugs too.

If there was one person least capable of helping in this situation, it was definitely Do Junseo.

“Where are the others? What about Minyu hyung?”

“The hyungs, uh, they went to the convenience store and— Aaaah!”

This was hopeless.

The dorm’s official bug exterminator was Jung Minyu.

Ryu Seo-oh simply didn’t like getting involved, and the other members all disliked bugs to varying degrees.

Among them, Eunchan was the worst.

Junseo came second.

While the two bug-phobes stood there helplessly, the creature began to move.

As if it knew exactly who feared it the most, it started heading straight toward Eunchan.

It moved like it had a radar locked onto him.

Seeing that, Eunchan’s eyes widened.

He froze completely.

What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?

His lips were sealed shut.

He couldn’t even scream.

Then—

Smack.

“Are you okay?”

A hero.

A hero named Hyun Wooyoung stood there.

Still curled up on the bed with his legs pulled against his chest, Eunchan stared at Wooyoung, who had already dealt with the situation.

“I-I’m f-fine. Thank…”

His gaze locked onto the tissue in Wooyoung’s hand.

“I caught it.”

At those words, Eunchan nodded slightly, but countless terrifying stories raced through his head.

Stories about how they could survive without oxygen.

How they could live even after losing their heads.

That thing might be trapped in the tissue now, but who knew when it would escape?

Maybe it was only pretending to be dead.

“Y-Yeah, thanks… but first, please get rid of that.”

Despite Eunchan’s stammering, Wooyoung somehow understood perfectly.

He left the room carrying the tissue containing the now-dead insect.

A moment later, the sound of a toilet flushing echoed through the dorm.

Only then did Eunchan let out a sigh of relief.

“Are you okay now?”

“Yeah. Seriously, if Wooyoung hadn’t been here, we would’ve been in trouble.”

Junseo, looking much brighter now, thanked him enthusiastically.

Wooyoung brushed it off and turned toward Eunchan.

After carefully checking that Wooyoung’s hands were empty and confirming the threat was truly gone, Eunchan finally spoke.

“You threw it away completely?”

“Yes. Are you okay, Eunchan hyung?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Wow. Wooyoung’s amazing. Seriously, perfect timing.”

Deeply moved, Eunchan threw his arms around Wooyoung and patted him repeatedly on the back.

Wooyoung instinctively took half a step backward.

Eunchan immediately wondered if he’d accidentally hit him too hard.

“Oh, sorry. Did that hurt?”

“No. That’s not it.”

Wooyoung hesitated.

“…Are you really that scared of cockroaches?”

“Are there actually people who like them?”

Eunchan looked at Junseo as if seeking support.

Junseo nodded vigorously.

“It’s just a cockroach.”

“Aaaah! I hate even hearing the word.”

“…”

Goosebumps rose all over Eunchan’s skin.

He shuddered and clamped his mouth shut.

“You hate them that much?”

“Anything with that many legs is a bit…”

Of course, insects were an important part of the ecosystem.

But that thing?

That creature?

There was absolutely no way he could ever feel affection toward it.

Of all things to like, why would anyone choose a cockroach?

He genuinely hated them.

“I won’t ask anymore, so please stop making that face.”

Apparently, he had unconsciously been grimacing.

At Wooyoung’s comment, Eunchan relaxed his expression.

At that exact moment, the front door opened.

It seemed Jung Minyu and Moon Saebyeol had returned from the convenience store.

“Hyung! Where were you? A cockroach showed up in the dorm!”

“Huh? Where?”

“Wooyoung caught it. Seriously. I almost died from shock. It was this big!”

“Junseo, it wasn’t that big.”

“Hey, you were frozen solid yourself.”

“That’s true.”

Eunchan nodded without hesitation.

Minyu burst out laughing.

Changing the subject, Junseo rushed over to ask what they had bought.

As he eagerly took the plastic bag from Minyu’s hand, Eunchan could almost imagine a wagging puppy tail behind him.

Junseo had always had a particularly healthy appetite.

That was why dieting during comeback periods was especially difficult for him.

Cheat days were precious occasions he never wanted to miss.

Meanwhile, Minyu answered a phone call and headed into his room.

“Eunchan hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“If it ever shows up again, call me.”

Wooyoung finished speaking and looked at him.

“Again? What do you mean again? Don’t tell me that thing? Th-that thing? Seriously? Are you serious?”

Unable to bring himself to say its name, Eunchan repeatedly referred to it as that thing.

The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it sounded.

Apparently, every bit of that disbelief showed on his face because Wooyoung looked flustered.

“Wow. I didn’t think you were like this. You actually want it to show up again?”

His tone sounded almost betrayed.

Wooyoung hurriedly responded.

“No, I just…”

“…Sorry.”

“Exactly. What do you mean, ‘if it shows up again’? Who says things like that?”

Just imagining it was horrible.

Such a thing should never happen.

Still…

Just in case.

“If it does happen, come help me.”

“…Huh?”

“If that situation ever happens.”

Eunchan spoke grumpily while looking at him.

Wooyoung immediately nodded.

“Of course.”

“Guys.”

Minyu’s voice interrupted the conversation.

It seemed he’d finished his call.

“It was our manager hyung.”

Everyone turned toward him.

“The Face App broadcast wants us to introduce Wooyoung.”

It was exactly one week before their comeback.

* * *

The members immediately became busy after the sudden proposal to introduce their new member.

Since nobody had mentioned anything before, they had assumed Wooyoung’s addition would be revealed during their comeback stage.

They never expected the company to decide on a pre-announcement so suddenly.

Especially not on the very same day.

Still, the decision had already been made.

Complaining wouldn’t change anything.

Thinking about how to do it well was far more productive.

After finishing the setup with the equipment their manager brought, the members sat down side by side.

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