It was a day no different from usual. Except for the fact that Won had been dragged away by the professor and, unlike his usual routine, couldn’t log into the game.

Even without Won, Dohwa logged into the game and stared at the monitor with a blank face.

On the monitor, the guild members were bickering over topics with absolutely zero substance.

“A new guild member is joining? Ah, Chaei noona asked them to join.”

Dohwa, who had been watching the chat with an indifferent face, paused at the mention that the user joining was a ‘woman.’

Because he knew someone who would go absolutely crazy, truly super crazy, for a woman.

Dohwa looked at the monitor with a serious face.

“Won hyung will probably act incredibly sweet if he knows she’s a woman.”

I don’t want to see that.

The last part was something he added unconsciously.

Although they couldn’t possibly have heard his mumbling, the guild members were teasing him on the monitor exactly as if they knew all of Dohwa’s worries.

[Guild] Cherry Coke: But when she comes, Won is totally gonna fall for her.

[Guild] Cherry Coke: Isn’t Peach gonna get dumped?

[Guild] FastAndPissedOff: He waited until he was discharged from the army… only to be dumped like this, oh dear…

[Guild] Cherry Coke: Hey FastAndPissedOff, lower the hand covering your mouth, you brat.

[Guild] FastAndPissedOff: (Toothiest smile)(Huge toothiest smile)(Fu♡♡ing huge toothiest smile)

[Guild] 21st Century No Yeah: Lmao

As if it were the most natural thing in the world, the guild members surrounding Dohwa in a circle used laughing expressions.

Among them, Non-Tanking Tank, who had been quiet, cautiously typed in the chat.

[Guild] Non-Tanking Tank: Come on… our guild master isn’t that much of a jerk, so it’ll be fine, Peach… T_T

[Guild] Cherry Coke: Oppa, be honest.

As soon as Non-Tanking Tank finished speaking, Cherry Coke typed.

A brief silence followed, and Non-Tanking Tank spoke in his usual, extremely calm manner.

[Guild] Non-Tanking Tank: Instead of the guild master… how about looking for someone else, Peach?

[Guild] Non-Tanking Tank: If you look, there are plenty of people better than the guild master. Why specifically him…

[Guild] Professor Execution: F♡♡king Hilarious.

[Guild] Cherry Coke: See, I told you Tank-oppa is surprisingly blunt.

Everyone was having fun except for Dohwa.

Dohwa pouted while looking at the monitor, then eventually let his shoulders slump.

“Seriously, what if I get dumped? If a new female user joins, Hyung will definitely be busy taking care of her. What about me?”

Already feeling hurt, Dohwa sniffled his reddened nose and looked down.

No matter how he thought about it, he could only envision a future where Won treated him carelessly while doting on a woman, and a newbie at that.

While Dohwa was looking gloomy, Won logged into the game.

[‘Won’ has logged into the guild.]

As soon as that sentence appeared, Dohwa greeted him first. Even then, there was absolutely no change in his sulky face.

[Guild] Peach: Hyung, you’re here…

[Guild] Won: Huh? Peach, what’s wrong? Did the guild members bully you again?

[Guild] Peach: No…

When Won asked, puzzled by the obviously lifeless chat, the guild members pounced on him like hungry beasts and poured out a flood of messages.

[Guild] FastAndPissedOff: Chaei noona’s friend might join the guild.

[Guild] Professor Execution: She’s! A! Woman!

[Guild] Non-Tanking Tank: Peach is currently worried that he’ll be pushed to the side because you’ll be busy taking care of a woman T_T

[Guild] Cherry Coke: It’s so pitiful, why does he like such a woman obsessed guy…

[Guild] 21st Century No Yeah: Exactlyyo.

Having grasped the situation from the haphazardly pouring messages, Won let out a hollow laugh behind his monitor.

Then, he fumbled across the desk, picked up his phone, and immediately called Dohwa.

Lost in all sorts of thoughts, Dohwa didn’t even realize the phone was ringing and didn’t answer for a long time.

“He’s digging a hole for himself again.”

Noticing Dohwa’s state, Won wrinkled his nose and sent a chat.

[Guild] Won: Dohwa. Answer the phone.

[Guild] Cherry Coke: Dohwa. Answer the phone.

[Guild] FastAndPissedOff: Dohwa. Answer the phone.

[Guild] 21st Century No Yeah: Dohwa. Answer the phone.

Just as he was about to curse at the messages appearing in rapid succession as if they had been waiting for this exact moment, Dohwa answered the phone.

Won quickly took his hands off the keyboard.

Turning his chair around to face away from the monitor, Won called Dohwa in a sweet voice.

“Dohwa. My Peach.”

At the incredibly sweet call, Dohwa mumbled in a lifeless voice.

—Yess…

The peach had gone far beyond being soft; it was so overripe that it was practically melting.

Right now, his face, which had been pale from overthinking to the point of feeling feverish, must be bright red.

Sensing Dohwa’s state, Won chuckled like someone who had just seen something incredibly cute.

“Is it because you think Hyung will lose his mind and be completely obsessed with her if a female user joins?”

—…

“And not even pay attention to Dohwa? Hmm? Is that it?”

At the sweet voice, which sounded exactly like someone soothing a child, Dohwa spoke whiningly.

—You can’t help yourself when it comes to women, Hyung.

“Me? When?”

When he asked back innocently as if he knew absolutely nothing, an angry voice shot back through the receiver.

—I saw you on campus, and you’re completely different when you deal with women versus men! How! Could I! Not worry! You love women so much, Hyung! You’re so desperately thirsty for women!

“Women are beautiful.”

—Seriously! How can you say that in this situation! The fact that you can even say that is the actual problem! Hyung, really… you’re not normally like this, but whenever women are involved, I honestly think your intelligence drops.

“Isn’t that a bit much?”

—What am I supposed to do when it’s the truth!

Dohwa chattered on, asking hadn’t it always been exactly like that. Without seeming tired in the slightest, he chattered and chattered without pause. It was surprising that he had so much to say.

Won leaned back deeply into his chair and quietly listened to the words Dohwa laid out.

With his elbow propped on the armrest and his chin resting on his hand, he patiently listened to his whining.

There were moments of crisis because he was so incredibly sleepy, but he endured it by yawning quietly so the sound wouldn’t be heard over the line.

And whether he knew of Won’s effort or not, Dohwa only seemed to finally calm down after pouring out everything he wanted to say, speaking in a much more composed voice.

—I don’t care if you play with a woman. It’s perfectly okay if you’re sweeter to her. But just don’t ignore me. Just don’t dump me. If you do, if you really do, I think I’ll be way too upset.

Although he had spoken at great length, that was the main point.

The part about being upset. He just wanted to say those exact words, but because he lacked the courage, he had kept aimlessly circling around them.

Drawing a conclusion based on the Dohwa he had seen so far, Won moved the hand that had been resting on his chin and pressed his lips.

A laugh escaped him naturally at an attitude that made it entirely impossible not to see him as a child.

Laughing softly, Won tilted his head a bit more and spoke sweetly, exactly as if soothing a child.

“My Peach, I’m a slightly sweeter person than you think.”

—Can I be honest?

“Mm-hmm.”

—I want to believe you. But I can’t.

At the firm voice, which made it seem as if the earlier whining had been a complete lie, Won blinked and then burst into laughter.

Laughing until he practically gasped for air, Won whispered while wiping away the tears gathered at the corners of his eyes.

“You don’t have to believe me. But it is the truth. It’s true that I like women. But I genuinely like you too. You’re cute, kind, and completely harmless.”

His laughter faded slightly when he said the word ‘harmless.’

Recalling that strangely harmless face, Won straightened his head and added calmly.

“Dohwa, I don’t dump people. I’ve always been the one who gets dumped.”

—Didn’t you try to dump them first, Hyung?

“Well, maybe. But what’s certain is that right now, you’re the most special, Peach.”

Won said in a voice beautifully tinged with laughter that every day is fun when he has him by his side.