[ it's now or never. ]

[regression]

[ Joonghyuk started the scenario waking up in someone's bed, someone's room, and someone's house without his sword. Not only that, his body... Seemed to revert a bit over a decade back despite having all his stats and attributes intact. The strange situation highly upset him, but he was quick to check the scenario screen which fortunately manifested in front of his eyes. It, however, didn't bring any comfort. His eyes narrowed, not at all happy with what he read.

[Sub Scenario – High School Reverie]
Category: Sub
Difficulty: ???
Clear Conditions: To be added.
Time Limit: None
Compensation: To be added.
Failure: ―

And so he waited, living a high schooler's life with his name stamped on it. Not that he's attending actual school yet with it being summer... Only some cram courses that he begrudgingly attended because he suffered a penalty when he pushed the limits by telling his "parents" that this is merely a scenario. The only blessing was that he had plenty of time to search for clues, maybe find his allies. All to no avail. Seoul was as he remembered it before the scenarios...

Throughout his last weeks of summer, he used Midday Tryst in hopes for something.

Kim Dokja.

This never happened in the past regression.

It seems similar to that island. These strangers are playing the role of my family.

She isn't my sister.

Have you gone far?

The scenario window still hasn't updated.

The others haven't shown up yet.

If you do anything reckless, I'll kill you.

Kim Dokja, are you asleep?

The stars are harder to see here.

I don't hear the indirect messages anymore.

Where are you?

If Joonghyuk seemed panicked, then maybe he is. If he couldn't see the stars in the sky, especially one that seemed to shine the brightest despite its dark shade, then what does that mean? Even when he received no response, he kept sending messages... Almost documenting his small, mundane findings as he settled into normalcy. It was his way of remembering who he is and what this all actually is. But then the illusion of youthful routine all shattered when he recognized someone in his high school. However, the reunion didn't play out like he imagined.

It has been a whole week that Joonghyuk has been watching Dokja live blissfully like a regular student, waiting for him to notice and approach him. Of course, it comes with more messages ignored, adding to Joonghyuk's frustrations. Once he observed enough to deduce the reason why Dokja is keeping his distance, he decides to take initiative and approach him first at the cafeteria with his hands in his pockets. ]

Kim Dokja.

[ I finally found you. Based on his glare, he is very angry despite the relief that washes over him. He does nothing else, says nothing else, after. Instead, he continues to loom and waits for his companion's answer which... Makes a scene. Students were starting to whisper instead of eat, wondering why would the handsome Joonghyuk approach the weird bookworm. It all sounds like buzzing—annoying, but he doesn't care about them.

He cares about the one in front of him. ]

Comments

[regression]

[ To be honest, Joonghyuk is thinking about moving in despite the small space. There's enough room for two to sleep and eat, then there's a bathroom. What more would they need? Though he can't say he's keen on sharing, but it's fine if it's Dokja. It lets him keep a closer eye on him, too. All he needs is to get a futon and he would be set since it's not like he has a lot of belongings he cares for. He can pack light in terms of clothing.

When Dokja is close enough to loiter on the counter, he moves the noodles to him—yes, he's making him re-hydrate these without a single word. He should be smart enough to know what Joonghyuk wants. ]

It's vague. [ Basically absurd. Joonghyuk already assumes that it's rooted in their youth since they both share the same vision of a "happy ending" for the future. A peaceful world where the company would own a large home. ] Kim Dokja... What would make you happy here?

[ He asks while prepping the ingredients, finely chopping everything into even pieces. It's something he's noticed earlier, but... Seeing his hands without scars and callouses is so foreign. He doesn't remember the last time they were like this.

It emphasizes that Joonghyuk doesn't know what being happy in this time would be like, but Dokja must. He's lived through this. ]

[ugliestking]

[ Dokja knew that if he attempted to adjust how he was leaning against the counter that he would have slid off it onto the floor. He is just a little shocked at the question. Ah, wait, don't go reading into anything -- he's just asking how to clear the scenario.

But he also agrees that it's vague as to what the conditions mean. How does one have a happy childhood? Can he count them being in their teenage years as childhood? Well, not really. Wrong terminology. What would have made me happy? He decides that he won't say reading a certain novel would give him a great amount of joy.

True as that may be, it's not right to say his happiness would come from Joonghyuk's misery. He frowns a little more as he grows quiet and still. As a fictional character, you've never had a chance like this... I did like the one time you were all able to rest... that you all had a moment to be happy. But that, uh, that was... that's a regression you don't yet know, and you won't know.

It's a strange feeling to know that he has "memories" that Joonghyuk does not have. Before, he never thought of it as such, but he is now seeing that he's stolen some of those happy moments away. So he pauses and thinks: ]

I guess spending time with my family. Going out on some camping trip and eating by the river. Watching the trees bloom. Those sort of things... I think it would make me happy. [ In short, he lists things that Joonghyuk could do. Take a fucking hint, why don't you?

He adds: ] I think it's enjoying the time that you have with people that you care about. We won't get a chance like this, again, right? [ Dokja knows he's presented this question to Joonghyuk more than once.

So... what would make him happiest? Seeing Joonghyuk happy. ]

[regression]

[ That moment when Dokja overthinks the simplest things. Yes, Joonghyuk is still thinking about the scenario, but he never got the chance to listen to his comrades' dreams and aspirations after the scenarios ended. He can make his guesses, but... It's always different to hear it from the person themselves.

When Dokja answers him, he's left dissatisfied with what he hears. While it isn't too quick of an answer, it seems so sure... Listed off like items to pick up from the grocery store. It's one of Dokja's tactics—he may not ever say it, but he does know that Dokja is looking out for him in his own way. Joonghyuk's eyes stay on the diced vegetables, then gathers them into a pot of boiling water. Watch him dump a bunch of other things, too. ]

Let's do that. [ In the end, they perceive happiness similarly. Joonghyuk doesn't quite remember how it felt to do such mundane things, but he does dream of it. ] Picnic by the river on the weekend.

[ Unlike someone, Joonghyuk actually knows how to relax. Maybe showing Dokja how engaged he is in the scenario, even one so trivial, will help his friend somehow. What's more motivating than seeing someone else make the first step? On top of eating his delicious food? ]

I want to barbecue.

[ugliestking]

Let's?

[ He repeats the word back to Joonghyuk. That means you and me? His hand points to the wall as though he's going to bring up the idiot's fake family. Ah, right, it probably feels kind of weird for him to be around those people. Dokja can understand. Even if there is some warmth there, it feels like there isn't a place to belong within that house. ]

You're gonna have to make it. [ He finally says as he puffs out a sigh. Tilting his head back, he looks up at the ceiling of his apartment. It isn't overly dirty or clean; yet it somehow feels suffocating for a second. The reason for that is -- ]

Hey, want to move in here? [ -- Dokja decided to say something risky. ]

[regression]

[ It comes as a surprise to hear Dokja ask... He was going to assert himself into his space later, anyway. Good. If the other man ever complains about their living arrangements, Joonghyuk can hold this over him.

Eyebrows knit together as he goes over logistics again, stirring the pot every now and then. The delicious aroma is starting to fill this little space. ]

I wouldn't be able to help you pay rent and bills.

[ The scenario has damned him into cram school, so getting a part-time would be particularly difficult... The free time spent after studies would be better used for figuring out their situation, anyway. What allowance he has will go to groceries, allowing him to live life as a housewife (outside of school) who dreams of wielding a sword again.

In the end, Dokja should know that his answer doesn't mean "no." For once, he's being outright considerate. ]

[ugliestking]

That's fine. [ He clears his throat. ] You'll pay me back when we get out of this scenario.

[ His tone remains quite flippant about it. ] I'll expect interest, too, since I'm going to be working my ass off making sure that we can live comfortably here. [ How many times did he think that his life would be better if he were Joonghyuk?

Too many to name. Any time he would feel weak or powerless, he would say his mantra and be able to live. Being back here... it's made me feel a little weak. I can't use the usual sentence. Not with this guy actually being here... so, really, help me out, won't you? ]

Maybe, I'll also ask you to pick up a few treasures for me, too. [ His tone turns cocky as he smiles; he feels a little more at ease. Thank you. No matter what, Joonghyuk is the person that saves him. But he would rather die -- bite through his tongue and DIE -- than admit that to him. ]

[regression]

[ Joonghyuk is pleased that they'll be close, even if he would prefer to at least have his own room. It's better than living in that suffocating house where strangers call him their son... Dokja is the only piece of "home" he has here, a thing he didn't always have through the scenarios.

Yet sometimes "home" is annoying. When Dokja starts talking about interest and owing him, Joonghyuk's expression darkens as he grips onto the ladle in his hand. Eyebrow twitching, he bores into the pot, trying to focus on how delicious this will be. Unfortunately, he has one thing on the mind. This cooking tool could be used as a sword, right? ]

I'll find a job.

[ He! Doesn't want to owe Dokja anything! The sly man may be rather small and fragile now, but he knows better than to make unnecessary deals with him. Somehow, someway, Dokja will twist it... To tell him that he owes him on his dying breath and to just let him do this. Joonghyuk bites the inside of his cheek as emotions weigh heavy in his chest. The truth is he owes Dokja so much already. ]

Set up the table.

[ Dinner is ready. ]

[ugliestking]

You'll end up tiring yourself out.

[ Dokja is already waving off the idea that Joonghyuk has to get himself a job. He walks over to the cupboards to start to take out the dishes as soon as he's "instructed" to do so. He uses the word "instructed" since that's better than "being ordered about by a psychopath in his own kitchen." ]

Your body is not the same one as before, you know. You could really end up hurting it if you aren't careful. [ His tone is not quite scolding. He supposes that Joonghyuk wouldn't really know what he is capable of given that he never had a past. Dokja has to pause for a second as he's setting down one of the plates.

His head turns to look towards the protagonist. I wonder how strange this all feels for you. I guess I've been hoping that you could enjoy it, but maybe it actually just feels... wrong. To cover up his staring, he adds: ]

If you end up passing out, I'll add that to your tab of what you owe me.

[regression]

[ ... Him? Tiring himself out? Him?! Passing out?! When it isn't a battle?!?! He has lived more lives than Dokja already, so something like working part-time after school and cram school would be nothing. Joonghyuk frowns even more as he pours the stew into bowls, then snaps the stove to a low simmer. The noodles are quickly stir-fried with an ensemble of ingredients, taking exponentially less time to cook than what's in the pot. ]

Then if you pass out, we would be cornered.

[ It's best if they both work together, which is funny considering humble and violent beginnings. Even if Joonghyuk has the safety net of a fake family, he... Doesn't want to be there. It's suffocating to the point it dulls his mind. It makes him start forgetting who he is. With rice in smaller bowls, then japchae on a share platter, he starts ferrying all the food to the table. If it can fit. He's trying his best? To fit everything on the table, but decides to leave the noodles for them to serve themselves on a nearby counter. This is so sad.

They make do and he takes a seat with eyes on Dokja to digest his new/old appearance appearance again. It's... Still weird to him, but at least Dokja's personality is intact. It comforts him as he leans back into his seat, now gaze downcast. ]

... I'll move in after the camping trip. [ He begins eating, silent for quite some time with his eyes on his bowl of rice. ] Have you gone camping before?

[ What they did in the scenarios doesn't count. They were literally homeless. ]