Seo-eul’s eyes grew confused. No matter how hard he rummaged through his memories, he couldn’t recall a single moment when Seo Sa-heon had spoken to those two. Not at home, not while playing games with the production crew, not even when they had eaten together at a restaurant.Just now had been the same.Even the supposed “conversation” inside the car had only been each person talking to Seo-eul, not to each other. No wonder he hadn’t noticed until now. They were ping-ponging through him as the point of intersection—of course he wouldn’t realize what was happening.What is this?With a strange expression, Seo-eul quietly observed the three standing together from a short distance away.Was it discomfort? No, they didn’t look particularly tense. Sa-heon could be a little shy, but Yoon Hyuk and Ye Ju-yeol didn’t seem like that sort at all.Come to think of it, they hadn’t even switched to casual speech yet. They hadn’t sorted out what to call each other, either. Everything—every conversation, every small exchange—had gone through him. Seo Sa-heon had only listened indifferently. Seo-eul even recalled that neither Yoon Hyuk nor Ye Ju-yeol had suggested anything to Sa-heon. The thought made him tilt his head, drawing his brows together slightly. Yoon Hyuk he could maybe understand, but even Ye Ju-yeol—who looked like the embodiment of social energy—wasn’t trying?What on earth is the problem…?The three of them watching each other like cows and chickens now felt genuinely concerning. In a private setting whatever, but imagining this going on-air made him uneasy.Should he just ask outright? While he was debating, Sa-heon—who had been handed the cart by Yoon Hyuk—came over. So they were really splitting into two groups. Yoon Hyuk finally suspended Ye Ju-yeol from the cart like a keychain and, once again, turned to Seo-eul.“Hyung, then we’ll hit the snacks and chips. Do you want anything?”“We’re fine, so just get what you two like. Anything you can’t eat? Allergies or something.”“None at all. We eat everything except what we can’t eat, so buy whatever you want.”“Mm…, okay. Ah. If there’s Pocari, can you grab two bottles?”“Yes. Then we’ll see you in a bit.”Once they divided their shopping list, all that was left was picking things out. As he watched the fading figure of Yoon Hyuk walking away and then turned, Sa-heon was simply waiting for him. Eyes meeting, he finally spoke.“Where do you want to start.”“…Let’s get the ham first.”They already had a set menu in mind, so it wasn’t a hard choice. As they pushed between displays, Seo-eul thought briefly and decided to just ask. The cameras made him hesitate a little, but anything risky would be filtered by the editors.“Sa-heon.”“Yeah.”“Why aren’t you talking to the kids?”A straight fastball. No sugarcoating.The cart he was pushing gave a small jolt, then paused. Sa-heon looked back, slightly crooked, taken aback that Seo-eul would ask here, so bluntly. Like he’d been caught doing something mischievous, or like he hadn’t thought anything of it at all.“I just did.”“Other ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) than that. You shook hands once in the morning and that was it.”“Did I?”“Is it awkward for you?”Awkward? As though hearing something outrageous, Sa-heon raised the corner of an eyebrow. Then his eyes curved as he laughed quietly. So that’s what he thought. He must’ve been paying attention in that direction.Well, it wasn’t that strange. Lee Seo-eul had mistakenly believed for years that Seo Sa-heon was the type to get shy with strangers. He had expected to get a few more days of fooling him—too bad for him. One of Sa-heon’s worst habits was watching Seo-eul notice things nobody else did. He always acted sloppy only where Seo-eul was involved, though he was sharp to the point of cruelty with everyone else.So what should he do here? The wheels skimming across the smooth floor made an ugly scraping noise. Yeah, I’m awkward, Seo-eul, he almost said, intending to play his usual vacant act. But suddenly he changed his mind. In this atmosphere, that would only backfire.It was obvious. If Seo-eul believed he was awkward, he’d probably tiptoe around trying to mediate, eventually manufacturing situations to help them bond. The future drew itself too clearly for Sa-heon to ignore.“The opposite.”With that, he drew a clean line.Feeling Seo-eul’s gaze, he laid it out plainly.“You know my confirmation bias.”“…….”“They’re both so neutral toward me it’s a relief, actually. It’s way easier than someone pretending to be overly friendly.”You know, right? Anyone who likes me is never in their right mind.The cart turned the corner. His expression was bored, as if reminding him of something he’d said long ago. Seo-eul had always tried to turn on the ventilator fan of reason whenever Sa-heon muttered about confirmation bias, but nothing had changed. People like him always attracted broken types, from childhood onward. No matter how many traps you set or poison you lay down, insects kept crawling out from somewhere.Even now, a long scar ran across Sa-heon’s palm. He’d told Seo-eul he cut it while slicing fruit, which made no sense; the truth was that it had been a knife fight. Even thinking about it now heated the back of his neck, and he flexed his hand once.After a while he’d started treating it like an illness—one that dragged in the worst kinds of people even when he stayed still. A carnivorous plant in human form. Netizens calling him “Se-check” had been frighteningly accurate. Ninety-nine percent of the people who flirted with him had something wrong with them.Like that pathetic manager of Lee Seo-eul’s, for example.“Sa-heon.”Pulled from his thoughts, he lowered his gaze toward the gentle voice.Worry had gathered in those upturned eyes.Who was worrying about whom, exactly? His fingers almost reached out to smooth that clean forehead, but he held back. He knew these emotions meant nothing when they came from other people—worry, pity, or anything even worse. But if it was Seo-eul? That was fine. The thought amused him, curling his lips faintly.Leaving Ye Ju-yeol and Yoon Hyuk alone came from the same logic.If you put him and Seo-eul on the same line, of course that side deserved his attention more. He’d been mildly bothered when they’d hovered too close to Seo-eul, but they were just kids. He’d let it slide. If it were the other way around, though, his attitude would’ve been different.Looking at Seo-eul—who didn’t seem to realize this was the best possible outcome—Sa-heon spoke playfully. Internally, he was already certain they would never become close.“Yeah. Why do you keep calling me? Sara is neglecting her duties and not buying ham, Lee Seo-eul. What, are you planning to live here?”“…….”“Then I’ll live here too.”Obviously he should have joked about abandoning him, but instead he tapped the edge of the display. His attitude made it clear the commentary about the other two ended there. Seo-eul, who had been ready to listen further, blinked in confusion.That was it? He felt like there should be more to discuss, and hesitated. But Sa-heon, who never tolerated hesitation twice, reached out. His firm fingers pressed between Seo-eul’s lightly furrowed brows until he relaxed.“Buying ham is not a job. Are you trying to send me to court again?”“If you’re upset, I’ll go with you.”“A court isn’t a department store… And what would you be charged with.”“Neglect of best friend.”“…Just put the ham in. Two. The one with the brown lid.”Fine. No more talking. Seo-eul, enlightened in a single instant, pointed to the canned ham lined up by brand. At least he didn’t seem uncomfortable—that was a relief. For someone with such clear preferences, this level of reaction was practically a success.Since Sa-heon clearly didn’t care, maybe he should talk to the other two later? But Seo-eul quickly shelved the thought. It was only the first day… If he brought it up, things might get even more awkward. It would be better to watch the atmosphere and step in only if necessary.Back then, Seo-eul didn’t know.That in the broadcasted version of this scene, Ye Ju-yeol’s and Yoon Hyuk’s fans would clutch their chests and tremble.They prayed—desperately—that their idols would never, ever get close to Seo Sa-heon. Rumors of discord would be fine, anything would be fine, as long as they did not bond. Seeing the three ignore each other completely, those fans cried tears of relief. Yes yes, good job kids. Please finish the shoot without even exchanging phone numbers, please, please…

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