''~°.HIDE AND SEEK.°~'' | YEONGYU

THE INVESTIGATION #2

Yeonjun's dark eyes narrowed slightly. "You show up unannounced. No warrant. No lawyer. You expect him—"

"Jun..."

Beomgyu's small, wavering voice cut through the tension like a weak thread. It had been years since anyone had called Yeonjun that...

He glanced down. Beomgyu's wide eyes met his, a silent plea written across his face. His shoulders shook faintly, not from fear of Soobin, but from exhaustion. From everything...

Yeonjun's jaw tightened. He exhaled a long, controlled breath through his nose.

"For you," he murmured low, barely audible.

Then, reluctantly, he stepped forward.

The chairs scraped softly across the floor as they sat...Beomgyu first, perching on the edge of his seat like a bird ready to flee.

 Yeonjun followed, his movements smooth but tense, settling close beside Beomgyu with one arm draped loosely over the back of his chair protectively.

Soobin remained standing for a beat longer, his eyes flicking between them as if taking mental notes. Then he pulled out the chair opposite and lowered himself into it with deliberate calm.

"You've both certainly been through a lot these past twenty-four hours," he said evenly. "But I need your full attention for this. These are only preliminary questions for now."

Neither Yeonjun nor Beomgyu spoke. One tense, the other trembling.

Soobin's eyes softened slightly, not warm, not cold. Just professional.

"Let's begin."

Soobin's pen clicked softly as he opened a slim leather notebook, his movements smooth and deliberate.

"Let's start simple," he said evenly, his eyes shifting between them. "Where were you both yesterday during school hours?"

Beomgyu's breath hitched. His fingers curled tight in his lap as though bracing against invisible claws.

"I—I was in class," he stammered. "Then...then I went home."

"Straight home?" Soobin asked, jotting something down.

Beomgyu nodded too quickly. "Yes."

"Anyone who can confirm that?"

Beomgyu's throat bobbed as his gaze dropped to the table. His apartment was empty. No one had seen him come back except Yeonjun.

Yeonjun's hand brushed faintly against his under the table. Not obvious. Just enough for Beomgyu to feel the silent reminder: Breathe.

Soobin's gaze slid to Yeonjun.

"And you?"

"School. Home. Same as him."

"Can anyone verify that?"

"Does it matter?" Yeonjun's tone was even, almost bored.

Soobin's pen stilled briefly before continuing. "It's procedure."

"Mhm, Sure." Yeonjun leaned back slightly, his arm draping over the back of Beomgyu's chair. "We both went home. Together. Happy?"

The faintest flicker passed through Soobin's eyes, but it vanished too quickly to read.

"Alright." The word was quiet, measured.

Then his pen paused again.

"Did either of you notice anything unusual that day? Before or after the incident?"

Beomgyu's chest went tight. The words blood-smear, carving, masked figure screamed behind his eyes, but his voice barely rose above a whisper.

"No. Nothing."

Soobin's gaze sharpened...not aggressive, just faintly probing.

"Are you certain? Nothing strange at all?"

Beomgyu flinched.

It was slight...a tightening of his shoulders, a twitch at his jaw, but Yeonjun caught it instantly. His dark eyes narrowed.

"Hey."

The single word dropped like a warning. Low, cool, dangerous.

Soobin looked at him calmly, unfazed.

"This isn't an accusation. I'm trying to establish context."

Yeonjun's fingers flexed subtly against the chair's back. He didn't speak for a long moment, and Soobin didn't push.

Good, because Yeonjun could push back harder.

He could see exactly how to dismantle the detective's calm...how to ask one pointed question about Soobin's timeline or drop one cutting observation about his methodical little survey of the apartment.

But he didn't.

Not yet.

Not with Beomgyu sitting there, trembling.

Instead, Yeonjun exhaled slowly and settled deeper into his chair, his arm curling protectively behind Beomgyu.

"Then you should ask your questions without making him feel like a prime suspect."

Soobin's lips twitched...an almost imperceptible curve. Not a smile. Not quite approval either.

"Duly noted."

The detective clicked his pen shut and slipped it into his pocket, rising fluidly from his seat.

"For now, that's all. But I may have further questions once the investigation progresses."

Beomgyu nodded faintly, though his hands still trembled.

Yeonjun's eyes followed Soobin's every movement as he approached the door, standing tall again once the chair scraped back.

Soobin paused at the threshold, his tone still calm.

"Stay safe, both of you. Whoever did this...they may not be done yet."

Then he left, the principal trailing silently behind.

The door clicked shut.

Yeonjun locked it immediately, his shoulders tense as he turned back to Beomgyu.

"You okay?" he asked softly, though his eyes still burned with restrained fire.