The Thirty-Third Assignment — Even a Brush of Sleeves ②

"Didn't you say you were busy? This is a far cry from what you told me."

Yeoni set down his book and grumbled. Annoyance and irritation toward the uninvited guest in front of him leaked straight into his eyes. It was a blessing no one else was home; otherwise, he'd have had a miserable time explaining this not-quite-soliloquy. The uninvited guest, however, had grievances of his own.

"That's cold, Seo Yeon-ui. Your senior went out of his way to make time for you. At least keep me company for a chat. Don't be so heartless."

The uninvited guest — Changmo — twitched his lips right in Yeoni's face. With his eyes narrowed like that, he made a fine delinquent. If Dayeong had seen him, she might have charged in and thrown him on the spot. Yeoni met the look with a thoroughly unimpressed stare.

"You said you were playing hooky. As the youngest, I'm just trying to send you back to the other seniors as quickly as possible. It's the least I can do for the Post Office."

"I told you it's not hooky! I got about an hour of leave from the Director. I'll head back soon. Just hang out with me until then. I can't work right now."

Changmo rolled around on the bed, whining. It was hard to tell whether he was a senior or a child, given how childish he was being. Yeoni clutched his throbbing head and sighed at how things had come to this.

Opening the door in the first place had been a mistake. Who would have thought he'd show up skipping work? If Yeoni had known in advance, he might have chased him off from the window. Should he just kick him out now? Even though the other party was technically his senior, the impudent thought crossed his mind.

"I'm studying, so please rest quietly. I can't play with you either."

"So studying is more important than your senior. How sad."

"Appealing to me like that won't work."

Pleading eyes stabbed at his face. Those clear blue irises were moist with unshed tears. Being able to switch expressions that fast was a talent in its own right. Yeoni steeled his wavering heart and refused him coldly.

Geez. What's going on with him?

But at the same time, he found himself wondering why Changmo was acting this way. Yeoni knew Changmo's sense of responsibility and his capabilities well. He was absolutely not the type to suddenly abandon his work like this. What could have happened? Yeoni carefully broached the subject.

"Changmo-hyung."

"What. I thought you were studying."

"Don't sulk. Did something happen today? This is the first time I've seen you like this. I don't know for sure, but the others must have been pretty surprised too."

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Changmo's body, which had been turned away, flinched. So there was something after all. Yeoni was about to dig deeper when Changmo suddenly denied the speculation. His tone was extraordinarily urgent.

"There was something, but it was nothing much. I just came here because I wanted to rest. I can take a day off too, you know. It's no big deal, so just get back to your studying."

Oho.

A strong denial is a strong affirmation.

Yeoni instinctively knew something special had happened. He set down his pen and sent Changmo a sly smile. Where did this senior think he was going to hide it?

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"No matter how I look at it, it seems like a big deal. Should I go find out myself, or would you rather tell me?"

"Hey, wait. I told you it was really nothing!"

"Tomorrow… no, I'll ask Simyeong-hyung or Yuhwa-noona today. If that doesn't work, I could even ask the Director. If I ask, I'll get an answer, right?"

To Changmo, this was the ultimate threat. Yeoni could freely come and go from the Underworld, and converse without reservation with the Director and the other Grim Reapers. How much good would hiding it from someone like that do? He seriously considered whether he should just tell the truth.

Ah, damn. It's kind of embarrassing to say.

But saying it was embarrassing. The thoughts he was holding now. The feelings he was holding now. If he said them out loud, he'd be looking for a hole to crawl into. It was a blessing that his face hadn't already turned bright red. Changmo barely managed to clamp his mouth shut before he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could confess, barely shaking off the temptation. Sweating profusely, he answered.

"F-fine, go ahead. It wasn't a big deal. Really."

This response, in turn, threw Yeoni off. Not because of any naive thought that maybe it really wasn't a big deal. He wondered just how big a deal it had to be for Changmo to dodge the question like that. At least he was a Grim Reaper who couldn't lie; if he'd been a living person like Yeoni, he would have denied it to the bitter end.

Look at this hyung.

Yeoni's curiosity sensor detected something enormously entertaining.

"Really?"

"Just believe me, will you?"

"Hmmm."

A staring contest began between Yeoni and Changmo. Unlike usual, this time Yeoni was on the attack and Changmo was on the defense. A Grim Reaper being interrogated by a kid from the Living World. If the vanished Gangnim had seen this, he'd have been hopping mad and it still wouldn't have been enough.

"Alright. I'll believe you."

After a long staring contest, Yeoni took a step back. A senior was still a senior, after all. It was difficult to force the issue or pry it out of him. The way he smacked his lips carried a thick sense of regret.

"Want something to drink? You'll get bored just lying on the bed."

"I'd appreciate it. I'm not picky, so anything's fine."

"Yes, yes. Understood."

They said the best strategy when you're at a disadvantage is not to rush in. Yeoni gave up asking any more questions and decided to just help Changmo rest. Digging into it would have to wait. As he went to get juice, he pondered.

If I ask him outright he'll get mad, so I'll have to ask in secret, right?

To find out, he'd have to do it without Changmo knowing. Going to the Underworld openly was out of the question. He thought about how he could ask quietly.

I hope it's something interesting.

He found himself looking forward to it, just a little.

"Whew… I almost got caught."

While Yeoni was out, Changmo clutched his chest and sighed. Yeoni himself didn't know it, but if he'd pressed just a little more, Changmo would have confessed on his own. That's how chaotic Changmo's heart was.

Maybe I shouldn't have come here.

The belated regret stirred up embarrassment. Originally, he hadn't planned to hide it from Yeoni. He'd wanted Yeoni's help regarding this sudden attraction that had bloomed. Wouldn't asking someone with experience be useful? But… when he actually faced him, it was too embarrassing to say.

I'll just drink whatever he brings and go.

He'd come for no reason and only aroused suspicion. Rest was rest, so he'd just drink the beverage, sit quietly, and leave. Right now, he desperately needed a chance to cool his head.

Her eyes… they were so clear.

But how could that be easy? Sitting still, thoughts of that woman rose again. Oh no! he thought, but it was already too late. Her face, blooming softly, filled his mind completely. Changmo's cheeks flushed without mercy. His expression went dreamy, as if he were in a trance.

Ah… my face is hot.

No, saying it was like dreaming wasn't quite right. He was already dreaming. Falling for someone was no different from a dream, after all.

"Changmo-hyung, I brought juice."

Ack!

Just as he was deep in his daydream, Yeoni walked into the room carrying a glass of juice. Startled, Changmo hurriedly pulled the blanket over his head. The sound of the blanket flapping was loud. Yeoni looked at him, incredulous.

"What are you doing. I'm not your mom."

"I was just going to lie down for a bit because I'm tired. I'll drink it when I leave."

Even to himself, it was a pathetic excuse. A child wouldn't believe it, so why would Yeoni? But Yeoni didn't particularly pick at it. Since he'd postponed the investigation, he had no desire to dig in right now.

"Alright. I'll leave the juice on the desk."

He's suspicious even when he doesn't try to hide it. Hehe!

Like a predator watching its prey? Changmo would never know of this slyness.

"Hmm, hmm, hmm."

He pulled a notebook from the bookshelf. He'd said he was studying, but studying had long since fallen out of his interest. In the blank space, notes about this new curiosity piled up, one after another. It was a moment when his long-dormant curiosity addiction shone.

This should be enough, right?

The points Yeoni was focusing on were as follows.

He left number one blank for now. He didn't know enough to even guess. After thinking about number four for a moment, he quietly marked it with an X. If Changmo was keeping it secret even from his junior, the likelihood of him telling his seniors was low.

Numbers two and three are the key.

Two remaining. The first to be resolved was number two. Changmo was a Grim Reaper who thoroughly separated the official from the personal, to the point of filing reports on time even in unexpected situations like this. Yeoni judged he wouldn't wander around like that over an official problem. Naturally, it had to be personal. Next was number three.

…It's not the Underworld, surely.

This one, too, leaned toward the Living World by feel. Personal matters in the Underworld were rare. The Post Office wasn't as leisurely as one might think. For him to show such a unique reaction, it had to be something he'd experienced in the Living World. With that, the rough sorting was done.

"The others don't know, it's something he experienced in the Living World, and it's personal…"

Yeoni propped his chin and pondered. He'd reached a conclusion of sorts, but nothing came to mind. The harvest he'd gained was merely organizing his imagination. The information ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠given in the first place was scarce. He frowned and looked toward the bed. Changmo remained still, hidden under the blanket.

I just barely chased off that weird old man, and now Changmo-hyung is causing a fuss.

Coincidentally, Simyeong's complaints and Yeoni's complaints were exquisitely identical. That's how strange Changmo's behavior was.

"Changmo-hyung. The hour's almost up. Time to get up."

Before he knew it, the promised time had arrived. Yeoni patted the blanket to wake Changmo. Whether he'd fallen asleep in the meantime, Changmo got up with a groggy voice. He even yawned widely.

"Uaaah~ Time's up already? I felt like I slept well."

"Yeah. You fell asleep pretty fast. You've been tired lately, huh?"

Now that he looked, there were shadows under Changmo's eyes. If even a Grim Reaper looked like that, he must have been incredibly busy. Yeoni set aside his bubbling curiosity and worried. It reminded him of what had happened with Simyeong and Yuhwa last time.

"The times being what they are. It's not just me — everyone's busy. You've been getting a lot of letters lately too."

"I'm just an assistant, though. It's nothing compared to you Grim Reapers. Take care of yourself while you work."

"Never thought I'd live to be worried about by my junior."

"Simyeong-hyung and Yuhwa-noona both ended up collapsing that way. There's no harm in being prepared."

At Yeoni's wry smile, Changmo responded with a cheerful one. The heavy fatigue and the shadows under his eyes vanished temporarily. It was the heart of a senior who couldn't let his junior worry. He spoke with a confident tone.

"Simyeong-hyung overdid it, and Yuhwa-noona had those rebel bastards mixed in. I prepare thoroughly. Don't you worry!"

"If that's the case, that's good."

"You be careful not to overdo it yourself. School's started again, hasn't it? Studying's going to get plenty tough soon. If it gets hard, tell me. I'll adjust your workload. I'm heading out."

Changmo stretched and got up from his spot. He didn't forget to down the glass of juice before leaving. The suspicious demeanor he'd shown at first had long since vanished. Yeoni was relieved by his confidence, yet disappointed that he still hadn't figured out what was going on.

"Yes, take care."

It seemed he'd have to put in some effort to find out.

"I'm back!"

"So you're back."

Changmo greeted them as cheerfully as usual, and Simyeong looked at his junior with a sour expression. Had it not been a big deal after all? He set down the documents he'd been writing and looked at Changmo. A suspicious gaze swept him up and down.

"You look fine for someone who suddenly requested rest. I was worried something had happened."

"Fatigue had built up a bit. I figured it wasn't going to work, so I went to the Living World to see Yeoni."

"Well, it's rest the Director permitted, so I suppose it doesn't matter. Go on, then. Work's probably piled up."

Simyeong withdrew his gaze and waved him off. He was too busy with work right now to have the leisure to ask even if he wanted to. Changmo replied with a playful smile.

"Understood. You work hard too, hyungnim."

And with that, Changmo headed out on deliveries. Simyeong's sidelong glance remained fixed on the back of his head. He'd returned to normal, but the unease clung stubbornly, like summer sweat that wouldn't dry. Then he recalled what had just been said.

Wait. Did he just say he went to see Yeoni?

And a moment later, Simyeong smoothed out his furrowed brow.

He had a sense of how to extract the information.