Jung Dajun was facing the crisis of his Min Jiheon favorite stage play changing.
【You and I... made a promise.】
“Uuuwahhhhhh.”
In a grainy, low-quality video—who knew how he’d even gotten it—an inexperienced Min Jiheon was clinging to someone’s hand, his young face twisted in anguish.
【That we’d go see the stars together...】
Beside Dajun, who was sniffling and fully immersed, Kang Ichae sat with his arms crossed, silently staring without blinking once.
Since stage plays were a matter of taste anyway, it didn’t seem to be to Ichae’s liking, but Dajun didn’t have the energy to care about his reaction.
‘Perfect!’
The non-commercial DVD “The Rooftop Dog Who Lives Alone Is Sad,” apparently filmed for reference or as a gift, wasn’t exactly great.
A rough setup about “shaking youth,” a protagonist desperately clinging to those around him. The plot logic was wrecked, the props were cheap, and Min Jiheon’s acting was clumsy.
But the flashes of raw, desperate eyes and the quiet sincerity in his voice struck Dajun’s heart—and the new box of tissues was gone in an instant.
【......Let’s go. To our new home.】
Then—pop—the lights went out, applause broke through the darkness, and as tears streamed down his face, Dajun clapped wildly along—until the DVD abruptly cut off.
“...Huh?”
There should’ve been more, right? It couldn’t end emotionally there!
Panicking, Dajun looked at the DVD.
“It’s Part 1?!”
“Hm...”
To only show Part 1—what an evil crime!
Kang Ichae uncrossed his arms, stood up smoothly, and said calmly,
“Guess that’s the end. I’ll head out?”
With his navy blazer neatly folded over one arm, wearing only a black turtleneck, he smiled with his eyes.
He looked like he’d stepped out of a photo shoot, but Dajun couldn’t care less.
“Waaaait! The sequel?”
“Hm?”
“T-there has to be a sequel to this!”
“Sequel...? Ah.”
Ichae widened his eyes in feigned surprise.
“Oh, I got a bunch of these all together from someone, so I’m not sure.”
“......”
“I think it’s at my place though... want me to look for it later?”
“Right now! Together!! Let’s go!!!”
Dajun shot up from his seat.
The way Ichae smiled awkwardly looked suspiciously like crocodile tears—or that bewitching smile Seo Hoyun used when manipulating people—but Dajun ignored every warning sign.
He pestered Ichae until he gave in, jumped into his car barefoot, and followed him home—
“...Huh?”
His jaw dropped.
It was a floor space you’d hardly ever see in Seoul.
The last time he’d visited, the place had been a cold, empty white box. Ichae had said he’d left it alone because it was too much trouble to maintain and didn’t rent it out to anyone, and Dajun had believed him.
But now, everything was different.
From the entrance, there was a chandelier.
Walls and furniture finished in rich mahogany created a warm yet refined atmosphere.
Overwhelmed, Dajun stepped inside hesitantly.
A panoramic view of the Han River opened before him, and as he walked down the long corridor, he was dazed.
‘What... did Ichae-hyung have a secret dream of living alone like this?’
Though honestly, no dream of “living alone” could justify this level of luxury.
Following Ichae’s lead, he entered a cozy yet high-end home theater.
Subtle lighting installed along the ceiling and wall edges, speakers arranged with precision, a soundproof door blocking all outside noise, an enormous wall-filling screen, and premium recliner sofas—
“Oh, here it is.”
Calm as if it were nothing, Ichae walked over, picked up the DVD from the corner, and handed it to him.
“Good timing. You can watch it at home.”
“...Yeah.”
“...Or do you want to watch it now?”
His voice was soft as a devil’s whisper, and Dajun’s whole body tingled.
“C-can I... watch it here?”
“Ah.”
He smiled faintly.
“Of course.”
And so they sat down.
Dajun was speechless at the new world unfolding before him.
“Wowww! What is this?! It’s like the lines are being spoken right next to me...!”
Money-poured-in surround sound.
“What?! Hyung, what’s this chair?! It’s better than a movie theater...!”
Money-poured-in chairs.
“But isn’t the sound too loud? What if the neighbors—”
“It’s soundproof.”
“......!!”
Money-poured-in soundproofing.
Dajun completely melted into the three-part deluxe set of the ultra-luxury premium theater room, focusing on the play until dawn—and crying his eyes out by the end.
“Ah... I don’t want to go. I want to watch more.”
“No, it’s really late.”
“Ugh... fine...... I’ll go then.”
“Mm, be careful on your way!”
And Ichae let him go without resistance.
Smiling innocently like a “cool hyung,” he watched Dajun drag his feet toward the exit, then stepped out onto the terrace and inhaled the cold air.
“Phew...”
When he saw Dajun running off like an excited puppy far below, his lips curved upward.
‘You think I’d let you go that easily?’
Dajun had no idea—
—that Ichae had called an interior designer the very day he’d moved out of his empty house, paid them an obscene sum, and remodeled everything just to lure the maknae.
“Dajun-ah, you won’t forget this feeling.”
Because watching it on that old laptop at home could never compare.
Staring down like a predator at his prey, Ichae checked the clock—2 a.m.—and immediately picked up his phone to begin the next phase.
[Me: Sunghyun-hyung.]
[Me: ...Are you asleep?]
Step two: stir Kim Sunghyun’s sympathy.
***
This time, Kang Ichae arranged to meet Kim Sunghyun at a private café.
When meeting Dajun, he’d dressed to kill—navy jacket, slim-fit cashmere turtleneck, shiny patent shoes.
Today was different.
A thin, nondescript T-shirt of unknown origin, ripped blue jeans, a gray hoodie thrown on carelessly.
He wasn’t even touching his phone, just staring blankly out the window.
“Kang Ichae!”
Turning, he saw Kim Sunghyun, breathing hard from running.
The leader brushed back his hair and looked down at him.
“Why’d you run here?”
“I had a schedule. Came during a gap in between.”
“Really?”
Sunghyun dropped heavily into the seat across from him, scanning him from head to toe with furrowed brows.
“......?”
Normally, Ichae would’ve smirked slyly and said, “Aww, I missed you too, hyung~” in his foxy tone—but now he only gave a faint, weary smile.
Leaves fluttered down behind him, the atmosphere quietly somber.
In the end, it was Sunghyun who spoke first.
“Why’d you want to meet?”
But who was Kim Sunghyun?
Leader of The Dawn.
Even if Dajun had reached the state of diamond-hard endurance, what of the leader?
Soft, maybe—but never slow-witted.
When he asked sharply, Ichae scratched his head.
“Ah... first, you left this at the dorm.”
“......”
Suspicious.
Sunghyun eyed him while accepting it.
“Huh? ...These are the photos from our last trip?”
“I had them printed.”
Ichae smiled slightly.
Sunghyun relaxed, his shoulders dropping, and looked around.
“Come to think of it, we haven’t really gone on trips together that often.”
“What? You begged us every time you were free—we went on like five overnight trips just this year.”
“......”
“Even more if you count day trips.”
Oops.
Ichae quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, I stayed at the dorm to organize the photos. And...”
“...And?”
This was the key part.
He looked up at Sunghyun with a pained smile.
Sunghyun was...
‘Is this real or not?’
...trying to tell.
Worried that his expression might slip, Ichae covered his face with his hand, as if trying to hold back tears.
Sunghyun’s eyes widened, half-rising from his seat.
“Ah... no.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s really nothing, hyung.”
He dropped his head, lightly patted Sunghyun’s shoulder.
“You’ve got a ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) schedule—go on ahead. I should get back to work too.”
“......??”
Without saying anything else, Ichae turned and left.
The bell jingled as the door closed, leaving Sunghyun sitting there in confusion.
‘...What was that?’
Ichae had paid for his drink, but before heading out, Sunghyun lingered at the counter, thinking maybe he’d buy something.
Still, that look on Ichae’s face bothered him.
‘Is Ichae having a hard time?’
He knew Ichae hated being alone.
But they saw each other every day for practice and schedules.
And once they renewed contracts, wouldn’t they live together again anyway?
Would it really... make a difference?
‘...Would it?’
Now, hold on.
If Kim Sunghyun had a flaw, it was this—
He was quick-witted and suspicious—
—but too soft-hearted.
‘If he really is struggling, and I just brush it off, wouldn’t that make me a terrible person?’
The leader’s conscience kicked in.
Tapping the counter with his fingers, Sunghyun couldn’t resist any longer and called someone.
Ring, ring... click.
[Oh, Sunghyun-ah.]
A warm voice answered.
[What’s wrong?]
It was Sung Jiwon.
Hearing that calm, steady tone, Sunghyun felt his self-control snap and started talking fast, almost rapping.
“Sung Jiwon, have you seen Ichae recently? How’s he been? Did something happen?”
[Huh, uh?]
Jiwon sounded perplexed.
A pause—Sunghyun grew more anxious.
[...Sunghyun-ah, did you just meet Ichae?]
“...Yeah.”
[Ahh...]
That knowing tone.
[He hasn’t been quite himself lately.]
Sunghyun’s heart dropped.
[I haven’t heard anything specific, but... he’s been zoning out a lot, can’t seem to focus on work. I just hope nothing’s wrong.]
“...Since when did you notice that?”
He asked carefully.
[Hmm... about two weeks ago?]
Two weeks ago—that was right when everyone started living separately.
As Sunghyun blankly accepted his Americano, Jiwon hummed, clearly troubled, then spoke gently.
[Sunghyun-ah. We all know what Ichae needs, right?]
“......”
[...You haven’t looked for a new place yet, have you?]
Sunghyun dumbly nodded.
***
When Sunghyun returned to his schedule, clutching his coffee and reeling in shock,
Sung Jiwon hung up the phone and turned to his side.
“He called right away.”
In the shadows, Kang Ichae removed his sunglasses.
“The request?”
“Completed successfully.”
Jiwon smiled brightly.
After all—
[Me: Jiwon-hyung]
[Me: Let’s live together again right now]
[PracticeTerminator: Sure!! hahaha]
[Me: hahahahahahaha ><]
—Jiwon, obsessed with practice, had agreed immediately.
With arms crossed, fiddling with his sunglasses, Ichae surveyed the spot where Sunghyun had sat.
“You were a big help.”
“No, it’s better for practice if we live together!”
“Hahaha!”
With the perfect accomplice to cover his tracks, he spread his mouth wide like a carnivorous plant, waiting for Sunghyun to return.
‘Evoke sympathy—but make it look natural.’
“Sunghyun’s such a good guy.” “There’s no one else like him.” “That’s our leader.”
Laughing sweetly, they even agreed to send a fancy coffee truck for their hardworking leader.
That was how Kang Ichae spent his money.
If Sunghyun ever found out, he’d cough up blood.
‘Conscience?’
Sorry, but who’s got time for that right now?
Besides, it wasn’t even wrong—
In a few months, Ichae really would be depressed, zoning out and unable to focus.
He’d simply shown them a preview of the future.
‘Sunghyun’s taken care of. With that personality, he’ll start worrying about me soon enough.’
Then he’d come back.
Checking his phone, Ichae scrolled through his messages.
One person left.
At the top of the chat list, a single-letter reply: “ㅇ.”
After finishing the coffee-truck booking, Sung Jiwon looked at him and asked carefully,
“So, um... did you talk to him yet?”
“......Phew.”
“Hm~...”
The final stage of Kang Ichae’s “Live Together Forever with The Dawn” plan.
“Hoyun won’t be easy.”
It was none other than Seo Hoyun.
