Chapter 53: A Day Off, Haircuts, and… New Shoes?

“Okay, got it.”

Sung Ji-woo nodded. If taking a day off from work could ease Yoo Hee-ro’s sulky mood, then it didn’t seem like a bad trade.

“Really?”

His brightened tone made Ji-woo let out a small laugh. The two filled their stomachs with warm toast. While Hee-ro cleaned up the table, Ji-woo fed Sun-rye.

“He eats too?”

“Mm… According to Goomin-ah, he absorbs some kind of invisible energy? So technically he doesn’t need food… but he eats it well when I give it. So I just give it.”

It was a ridiculously simple reason, but feeding Sun-rye had become part of Ji-woo’s routine. The dog wagged his tail and buried his nose in the bowl.

“You’re really kind, hyung.”

“Yeah? Thanks.”

Hee-ro narrowed his eyes. Ji-woo wasn’t even looking at him. That wasn’t a compliment!

After petting Sun-rye for a while, Ji-woo finally lifted his head. Hee-ro wore a soft smile, expression completely smooth as if it had never stiffened.

“Now that you’re back, don’t you have something you want to do?”

“Something I want to do?”

“Yeah. Like eating a chocolate bar or something.”

A chocolate bar? What kind of random, trivial idea was that? Hee-ro looked at him in disbelief—then suddenly remembered something.

“…I do.”

“Really? What is it?”

“First… can we go shopping?”

Ji-woo said there was something they needed to do before shopping and dragged Hee-ro along. Wearing Ji-woo’s cap pulled low, Hee-ro was practically being hauled. They arrived at a hair salon.

“How would you like it done?”

“Just… nicely. Something that looks good.”

Ji-woo always said the same thing, never caring much about style. Even if the customer changed from himself to Hee-ro, his answer did not.

The stylist led Hee-ro to a chair. His confused expression reflected in the mirror.

“First, let’s take off your cap…”

Hee-ro removed it carefully—revealing pineapple-sprout bangs that popped straight up.

Pffft.

Ji-woo couldn’t hold back his laughter. The stylist tried to stay professional, pressing her lips together as her hand trembled around the scissors. When she wet his hair with spray, she suddenly slapped her hand over her mouth.

“Oh my god. HERO…! Isn’t… isn’t he Yoo Hee-ro?!”

The shout echoed loud enough for everyone to hear—luckily, the shop was empty. Ji-woo quickly put a finger to his lips.

“Shh. Yes. So please don’t tell anyone. I trust you, that’s why I brought him here.”

The stylist shut her mouth again, coughed awkwardly, and looked around anxiously. The salon had glass walls; people could notice if they walked by.

She rushed to pull down thick blackout curtains. Dust flew everywhere, but she seemed proud of herself.

“A-all right… I’ll start cutting now…”

Despite all her experience, her hands shook as she reached toward the hair of a world-famous hero.

Five minutes passed.

“Um…”

Unable to stand the wait, Hee-ro finally spoke, his voice low. The stylist gulped.

“You can just cut it normally…”

If Ji-woo had chosen her, he had no complaints—even if she butchered his hair. He’d never cared much about these things anyway.

“It’s just… I’ve never cut a celebrity’s hair before…”

She took a deep breath, eyes squeezed shut. She kept trying to hype herself up—this was her chance! When would she ever touch the hair of a national hero again?!

At that moment, Ji-woo approached.

“If you’re too nervous, should I try?”

“Eh?”

Before she could protest, he continued:

“If I mess it up a little, it’ll trigger your professional pride. You always say that line, right? ‘Which salon butchered you like this?’”

He meant to provoke her into doing it properly.

Before she could stop him, Ji-woo took a handful of Hee-ro’s hair and snipped.

Every snip was agony—the stylist groaned as if her own flesh were being carved away.

“O-okay! Enough! I’ll do it! I’ll do it!”

Just when Ji-woo reached the sideburns, she snatched the scissors from him on the verge of fainting. Then—

“…I like it. Since hyung did it.”

Hee-ro said, looking ridiculous with the uneven cuts.

Ji-woo scolded sharply, like reprimanding Sun-rye.

“Shh. Don’t talk nonsense. If you walk around like this, I’ll pretend I don’t know you.”

“…I’ll cut it.”

Only after Ji-woo’s approving nod did she begin the real haircut.

Snip… snip… Slowly at first, then more confidently.

The more she cut, the more Hee-ro’s good looks shone. Ji-woo crossed his arms, watching the transformation.

“But Hee-ro.”

“…Yes?”

His eyes were closed as she trimmed his bangs.

“Wasn’t your hair originally light brown? Almost golden?”

Now it was nearly black—dark brown.

“…It changed as I grew. Was the old color better?”

“No, not really. This suits your vibe.”

“Really? What vibe do I have?”

Hee-ro’s eyes twinkled in the mirror. Their gazes met through the reflection.

“Handsome… and impressive?”

Ji-woo had zero talent for flowery language, so the words came out plain. But Hee-ro was delighted.

“I’m handsome?”

“You’re literally looking in the mirror.”

Hee-ro’s smile deepened.

When the stylist finally removed the gown, she nearly collapsed from the stress. But the result looked great—thanks to his naturally good features.

“D-do you like it…?”

“What do you think?”

“Much better.”

“Then I like it too.”

The stylist sighed in relief. As the two left, she slumped onto the sofa, completely drained.

Within minutes, the shop closed for the day.

***************

Hee-ro’s chosen shopping destination: a shoe store.

“Wait here a moment,” he said—and darted around the giant store, searching enthusiastically.

Ji-woo browsed the display near the seating area.

“Maybe I should replace my shoes too…”

He always wore shoes for years until they fell apart. His current pair dated back to when he was twenty.

Then Hee-ro returned with a pair of sneakers.

“What do you think?”

Simple white sneakers.

“Looks good.”

If Hee-ro spent almost an hour choosing them, they were good for sure.

“I think they’ll suit you.”

“Yeah. They’ll match with anything.”

“I picked them hoping you’d wear them every day.”

He beamed proudly. Despite being taller and broader now, he still looked strangely cute—maybe because traces of his teenage softness remained.

“You did well.”

Something so small… yet he looked so happy.

“Is that all? You’re done?”

“Yes!”

After speaking with a clerk, he placed the shoes in front of Ji-woo—

Then knelt on one knee.

Gasps echoed throughout the store.

Hee-ro began undoing Ji-woo’s laces.

“W-what are you doing?!”

“I really wanted to gift my hyung flower shoes. They say you give them to someone who waited for you.”

“….”

Ji-woo hadn’t been waiting for him at all. His conscience pricked.

“They also say they’re for someone you love… but hyung is that special to me.”

Hee-ro smiled shyly.

“That’s everything I wanted to do. Let’s go home now.”

So the one thing he wanted after returning… was to buy Ji-woo shoes.

Ji-woo didn’t know how to react—so he just nodded.

*****************

Outside the shop, Hee-ro looked up at the building.

“Hyung.”

He held the bag with Ji-woo’s old shoes.

“What?”

“Can you put my name up there too?”

He pointed to the sign: Sung Ji-sun-rye General Store.

“My name?”

“Yes. Hee-ro-Sung-Ji-Sun-rye General Store.”

“That makes no sense. And the spacing is weird.”

Rejected immediately, Hee-ro drooped.

“I thought it was cute…”

“If your name were on the sign… my shop would get insanely famous, right?”

“Yes! It would be—!”

“Then no. Hee-ro, I don’t want fame. I want no one to know me while I quietly get rich. Understand?”

“…Yes.”

He clearly didn’t understand, but at least he answered.

They entered the store—

And an unexpected face was waiting.

“Ji-woo! Oh—!”

It was Gam Joo-an. He had entered using the spare key Ji-woo had given him for work purposes. He held documents and artifacts.

“Do you know him?”

Hee-ro stepped protectively in front of Ji-woo.

Ji-woo soothed him and stepped ahead.

“Yes, Joo-an. We were out for a bit.”
Then introduced him:

“This is Gam Joo-an—my main client and mentor. A Nocker guild member.”

Joo-an leaned close and whispered loudly—too loudly:

“H-he’s THAT guy, right?! The hunter—! Hee-ro!!”

“Yes. My junior, Yoo Hee-ro.”

Joo-an’s eyes sparkled.

“I’ve always wanted to meet you. It’s an honor!”

“…Me?”

Hee-ro looked unimpressed. But Joo-an, excited beyond control, babbled on:

“Yes! You’re the junior Ji-woo cherishes so much! You got that pendant before, right? The first artifact he ever made! I actually helped! I infused the ability!”

Hee-ro’s expression softened… then turned gracious.

“Ah, I see. Nice to meet you.”

He even offered a handshake first.

“I’m Gam Joo-an, creator for the Nocker Guild!”

“Yes, and I’m Yoo Hee-ro—the junior hyung cherishes very, very much.”

He intentionally added “very, very.”