Pure Imagination (Solo Leveling)

Orange Marmalade

Jin Woo stared at the pop-up in front of him. Glowing gold for the too dark of a room. He had just finished implementing the new neighborhood patrol and was just about to go to sleep for the night when the System dinged.

[ Quest: The Will to Grow ]

[Feelings are reciprocated!]

[Stats increase by 30%]

'Feelings are reciprocated.'

'Feelings are reciprocated.'

'Reciprocated.'

'Recipro-' Jin Woo was out of the room and into the night. Racing towards a familiar complex. He didn't bother going through the front and instead raced up the side of the building towards the balcony. Slamming the balcony door open and ignoring how Cujo barked at him. Racing towards the kitchen where he could see Yuki making tea. His eyes rimmed red and his white fluffy robe hugged his frame.

"Ji-Jin Woo! Are-are you ok-okay?" Those red eyes stared at him with something more than just worry. Now that the System said it. Acknowledged it. Jin Woo no longer felt like he was crazy. Like he was hallucinating or overthinking everything.

Yuki likes him.

Likes him. Likes him! Him of all people. Yuki liked Jin Woo. That was all the taller man could think about as Yuki panicked over him. Staring at him and looking him up and down, trying to find an injury or source of stress that would make Jin Woo race over and scale a building. Something he has never done before.

"Jin Woo?" Gray eyes met red, and dear God Jin Woo was in love. Those red eyes, glowing in the night and looking like the only source of color on a blank white canvas, stared at him. Kindly. Worriedly.

"You like me." He watched how Yuki's eyes widened and those pale cheeks flushed crimson. Matching his eyes. Grey watched how the eyes became worried, flashing with fear and denial as he shook his head.

"N-no! Wh-where the hell did that co-come from? Jin Woo, are you okay?" Yuki was a terrible liar. An absolutely atrocious liar. Jin Woo gripped Yuki's biceps and brought him close. Enveloping Yuki's body with his own and staring into embarrassed red eyes. He watched how Yuki's mouth opened and closed in shock. Trying to weasel something out as Jin Woo continued to stare at him.

"You like me."

"I-I-I do n-no–"

"I like you." Yuki's eyes widened. Eyebrows shot towards his hairline and his body froze. Jin Woo held him closer, "I like you. I like you so much it's driving me crazy." He leaned down, pressing his forehead into Yuki's. Just how they usually do. Only this time, there was more meaning behind it. More emotions. More feelings. Mutual feelings.

Determined grey stared into bashful red. Jin Woo sighed, moving one of his hands to cup Yuki's cheek, "I like you so much, Yuki. I don't know what to do when you aren't next to me." 'I can't feel anything without you next to me,' Jin Woo thought. It was weird. A feeling he was growing accustomed to every second of the day.

Yuki was his proof that he was still human. Able to still feel emotions. Even though the System tried taking them, Yuki always brought them back. Cupping his heart with warm hands and reminding him that Jin Woo was still Jin Woo. He was still human. Even if the System and others said otherwise.

Yuki's opinion was all that mattered.

Yuki was all that mattered.

Ellowyn was all that mat– Jin Woo paused on that thought. For a brief moment, it wasn't Yuki's face in front of him. Those red eyes were replaced by orange, and his hair was longer. Flowing around them like rivers of freshly melted snow. They weren't Yuki, but at the same time, they were. Yuki's face came back, showcasing concern and astonishment. Jin Woo doesn't know what there was to be astonished about, nevertheless, it was on Yuki's face.