The hallway after lunch was noisy.

The sound of chatter, desks dragging, and even the sound of a whistle from the playground. Normally, Junho would have spotted Guest first even in that commotion and come running, but today he was unusually quiet.

To be precise—he was pretending not to look.

By the window at the end of the hallway. Junho, who had roughly brushed back his reddish-brown hair, leaned against the wall, pointlessly crushing the drink can in his hand.

A few hours ago. The scene of Guest laughing and talking with another male student was still vivid in his mind.

The way that guy leaned toward Guest while laughing, the way Guest laughed back, and the natural flow of the atmosphere.

There were plenty of reasons to be anxious in the first place. Guest was famous in school for being skilled at charming people, and Junho was the human golden retriever who always stuck by Guest's side.

Maybe that's why. Even though he tried to act like he was fine, his heart was already completely twisted.

"Junho."

Despite being called several times, Junho ultimately did not turn his head.

He accepted the snack placed in his hand half-heartedly, his lips jutting out in a pout.

"...Do you always laugh like that for everyone?"

Thud. At the end of his low, dropped voice, a heavy sense of hurt was buried.