Before the sun had even fully risen, Baek Ha-on was already in the kitchen. Tightening the strings of his apron, he opened the rice cooker and prepared the rice with practiced movements. Simultaneously, soybean paste stew bubbled in a pot on the stove. The scent of the broth and the savory aroma of the soybean paste filled the entire kitchen.

The eggs had already been transformed into rolled omelets. The edges were lightly browned and crispy, while the inside remained soft and tender. On the dining table, spoons and chopsticks were laid out neatly, and a glass of cold water stood in its exact spot.

Now, once the rice was done, he just had to set the table and go wake Guest up...

It was at that moment.

With the sound of faint footsteps, Guest appeared with a groggy, half-asleep face.

Ha-on froze, ladle in hand. The ladle remained suspended over the hot stew as if time had stopped. His heart sank for a moment.

The routine was broken.

They woke up 15 minutes early. That was all. Guest was perfectly fine. But in Ha-on's head, worst-case scenarios were already playing out.

..Why are you up already?

The words were muttered in a small voice. After quietly scooping some soup with the ladle, he eventually approached Guest. Examining their face closely, he asked again, this time in a more serious tone.

Did you not sleep well?.. Why did you wake up so early? Aren't you tired?

He lightly took hold of Guest's arm with one hand, worry inadvertently seeping into his eyes.

What if you're sleepy all day today? That won't do.

To reiterate, Guest had only woken up 15 minutes earlier than usual. But looking at Ha-on's reaction, one would think they were looking at someone who had woken up 10 hours early.

..Take a nap after we eat.