“Click.” Muhae shut off the Link Watch’s screen and pressed at the corner of his eye.The newly registered data contained more information than he’d hoped. It recorded a surprisingly wide range.A group of conspirators from various strata, called “Return Flight.”Their ultimate goal: a humanity unbound by the Comfort Zone. Their first objective: the extermination of the Anomalies.It all sprang from one widely known fact and one classified hypothesis.“The emergence of Anomalies is linked to Crystal Blue.”“After Crystal Blue appeared, decades of research sought to control it—until one lab finally found a lead.”That half-urban-legend, half-conspiracy theory captured the attention of Muhae’s father, Jin Seongjo.Even before entering academia, he’d delved into fringe theories. Convinced by knowledge from many fields, he boldly used Central City’s funding under the guise of researching Blue Energy efficiency to pursue that hypothesis.By contacting intellectuals across disciplines, what began as a simple study group rapidly grew and took on real expertise.At some point, “Return Flight” became a cell network. Safety measures multiplied. Security protocols meant no one met without an established link. Even Seongjo himself didn’t know every detail of certain designs.Still, some records survived in the crystal—among them the specifications for the precise component they needed now.“I think I can do it.”Muhae couldn’t bring himself to tell Boss Gil how he’d obtained the data. It was remarkably useful, given its illicit source.“Muhae. This is worn out.”While Muhae pondered what lay ahead, Joo-o—lounging on Muhae’s bed—called him over. He held up Muhae’s leather jacket, fully spread out. The back panel was shredded from frequent donning and removal of gear.“Why do you have that?”It should’ve been hung on a hook. Joo-o’s sheepish glance spoke volumes.“I was going to fix it.”“You know how to sew?”“…Want me to learn?”He’d just taken it out to look at. Even after living here a while, everything still fascinated him.“Leave it. You’ll just use it and trash it.”It had certainly seen better days. Beyond patching the back, it wouldn’t last much longer.“Throw it away?”At that, Joo-o brightened and hugged the jacket.“I said throw it away, not give it to you.”“I found it in the trash.”“I haven’t thrown it yet.”Muhae felt childish, but when he persisted, Joo-o looked disappointed. He regretted it immediately.“Then again, it is time for an upgrade.”Fortunately, Joo-o recovered quickly, murmuring cheerfully. He still struggled with appropriate vocabulary, but at least he was positive.Come to think of it, he seemed less dazed than before, more thoughtful somehow.“Hmm…”Having lived full and warm for a while, had any memories returned? Could he be recalling something important and pretending not to know?Muhae raised an eyebrow and studied him carefully.“You. Don’t you have anything to tell me?”At the random question, Joo-o’s smile vanished.“No.”He shook his head reflexively, then, as if dissatisfied, glanced around hesitantly.What was that? Muhae had spoken without expectation, yet clearly something remained unsaid. Muhae narrowed his eyes; Joo-o’s round gaze dropped to his toes.“I thought you might say something.”His timid voice served as bait. With a click of his tongue, Muhae pressed.“Actually…”Joo-o’s next words tumbled out in a low voice that somehow suited him. Muhae’s heart pounded oddly—he rarely felt this except in battle. Yet before Joo-o, it happened often.Clenching his jaw, Muhae braced himself as Joo-o confessed.“Actually…”“…”“I’ve collected all the Tinkler Friends.”“Tinkler what?”The tension drained away.Muhae gave Joo-o a puzzled look, then tilted his head.“You said you had lots of duplicates and it was far off, but I actually finished them last week. I got Kukochi. I just—kept eating them because they were tasty.”“You…”“But I already ordered more, so you can have them too, right?”“Get off my bed.”With a curse, Muhae kicked him hard. Joo-o writhed and clung to the mattress. His grip was absurdly strong—Muhae couldn’t shake him off.When Joo-o’s face pressed into the covers, Muhae felt an unbearable tightness in his chest—like a wire tightening inside him.“If you get down, I won’t let you back up.”“I wasn’t even allowed up here.”“Fine. Let me hit you since you messed up.”“Can you not be such an asshole?”Joo-o grabbed Muhae’s arm. The soft, unscarred skin brushing against Muhae’s own made him flinch, then he shook Joo-o off and struck his crown.“Ugh! You actually hit me!”“Take that box—Tingle or Tangle or whatever—and get out. Go swap it for something else.”“Hmph. Something else… cereal?”“Anything. As long as it’s not candied.”Muhae’s fierce glare made Joo-o nod, then he bounded off—past “damn,” “hell,” “shit,” mimicking Muhae’s own curses—lugging a box nearly as big as the house.“Aren’t you wearing your hat?”“I was going to!”It was the first time Muhae had sent Joo-o out alone, but he felt none of the usual worry. Joo-o knew the way to the grocery now—surely he could swap an item.“Hmph.”Pouting like he felt slighted, Joo-o copied Muhae’s habitual profanity as he left.Then… silence.Alone for the first time since Joo-o’s arrival, Muhae let the tension drain from his chest—and the knot in his stomach eased.“Damn.”He smoothed out the rumpled sheets and felt a dull ache in his lower back. Looking down at his legs, he realized how long it’d been—over a month.“Whew.”Muhae had always been a dry, taciturn man—hardened by an early plunge into a cruel world. Yet his body’s responses didn’t heed his mind. After a grueling contract, he needed release. Combat—dodging Anomalies, ramming bullets into beasts’ skulls, cracking someone’s jaw in a brawl—lit his veins with heat. Back home, he could solve everything with a glance, a touch.He’d postponed it for weeks—too busy, he’d told himself. Now he felt the pressure tighten.He glanced toward the doorway—no sign of anyone in the quiet house. The stillness stoked a familiar urge.It’d been a long time alone.Click. He unbuckled his pants, letting them fall. His substantial flesh pressed into his hand. Muhae slid down his underwear and padded into the bathroom.With the door closed and leaned back, a sensual calm washed over him. Half-exposed beneath the gray cloth, his shaft sprang to attention.“Ugh, ahh.”He brushed the head and a shiver of pleasure shot through him. It felt different—he’d been so pent up.As always, he stroked the shaft and gently rocked it. Veins thickened, the bulb grew slick.“Fuck…”His pulsating cock burned hotter than ever. He barely touched it when moisture gleamed at the /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ tip.Thud! Muhae’s head hit the door and he stifled a groan. The intense sensation pinched his shaft.The more he aroused himself, the more impatient he grew. He gripped it firmly and pumped until orgasm loomed.Then, with a strangled gasp, his cock erupted, spraying thick cum. Too much to catch in his hand, it trickled onto his pants.“Haah, shit.”He drew a deep breath, his ribs expanding. With one leg forward, breathing eased, but not enough.Grinding himself against the door, he tried to dissipate the remaining need. Even as the aftershocks lingered, he resumed touching himself—painfully thrilling.Clenching his shaft at the base with trembling fingers… suddenly, he remembered a pale hand. Delicate fingers clutching his crimson cock. How had it held him, stroked him?Snap. His mind shattered. His unfocused eyes rolled up under half-lowered lids as a distant memory took hold.

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