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The rhythmic sound of sneakers hitting the wooden floor marked the end of training. Yushi stopped in the center of the studio, chest rising and falling heavily, his white shirt clinging to his torso with a fine layer of sweat.
"Five hours without stopping…" he thought, arms dropping to his sides, exhausted. "Sion’s going to scold me."
The mirror reflected his slim figure, toned through discipline and relentless effort. Every move had been practiced over and over again. Because he dreamed of debuting — debuting alongside his Sion-hyung — and he wanted to be good enough for everyone… but especially for Sion.
Not just as a teammate, but as someone Sion could truly admire.
Night had already fallen by the time he returned to the room they shared. As he entered, the soft scent of incense welcomed him. A warm light filled the living area, and faint laughter came from the bedroom.
“Yushi? You’re back?” Sion’s voice called from inside, relaxed.
“Yeah,” he replied, peeling off his damp jacket. “I’m dead…”
When he pushed the door of their room open, Sion was lying on their bed, with his cell phone im his hands and a distracted smile on his lips. He wore only a sleeveless shirt and loose pants.
Yushi tried not to stare too long — but his eyes always betrayed him. Sion was one of those people… effortlessly handsome, truly handsome. It was impossible not to admire him.
“Come on, rest with me for a bit,” Sion said, raising an eyebrow.
Yushi dropped down beside him, immediately enveloped by his warmth. Something felt different tonight. Maybe it was the exhaustion — or maybe it was the way Sion looked at him, like he was seeing more than he said.
“Did you go crazy training again? Ushi, don’t push yourself so hard,” Sion said, serious now, eyes still on the screen.
“I had to… I want our debut to be perfect. I don’t want to be a burden fort you”
Sion chuckled softly, lowering his phone to look at him.
“You’re a lot of things, Yushi. But a burden? That’s not one of them. If anything, I’m the one who doesn’t want to drag you down. You’ve been training way longer than me…”
“Shut up… You know I could never think of you as a burden.”
Their eyes met for a second too long.
Yushi looked down, his cheeks lighting up. Being vulnerable with Sion always left him like this…
He decided it was time to change clothes, so he sat on the edge of their bed.
Sion kept glancing at him, there was something different tonight—something in the way Yushi moved, more freely, more relaxed.
"I'm gonna change," Yushi said casually, like it was no big deal.
Sion nodded, half-distracted—until Yushi stood, turned his back to him… and for the first time, took off his pants right in front of him.
He didn’t hide. It wasn’t accidental. It was a choice.
Left only in boxers—dark fabric that showed off the soft shape of his legs and the line of his hips—Yushi then let his shirt fall to the floor, exposing his back.
The air shifted between them. Tense. Unspoken.
Sion said nothing at first. He watched, heart beating a little faster.
And then he saw it.
When Yushi bent down slightly to fold his clothes, his boxers moved just enough to reveal a patch of skin near his inner thigh… and above it, a scar.
A small, round mark—like someone had carved a tiny strawberry into his pale skin.
Sion swallowed hard.
"Yushi…" he said softly.
Yushi turned slowly, calm, without shame.
He looked at him with that quiet gaze he only used when he felt safe.
“What?”
Sion hesitated, then nodded toward it.
“That scar… have you had it long?”
Yushi looked down. A shadow crossed his face, but he didn’t shut down.
“Since I was a kid. I never liked it. I always hid it.”
“And now?”
“Now I don’t mind as much,” he replied, with a shy smile. “Not with you.”
A flutter bloomed in Sion’s chest. He sat up, moving closer, like something was pulling him in.
“Can I… see it better?”
Yushi hesitated, but didn’t pull away. He simply sat beside him on the bed, letting his boxers shift just enough.
“Promise you won’t laugh.”
“Why would I laugh?”
Sion looked down. The scar was so strange, so intimate… and somehow beautiful, in a weird way.
He didn’t laugh. He just raised an eyebrow, smiling softly.
“It really does look like a strawberry.”
“Told you.”
“What if I touch it—will you turn into fruit?” he teased.
“Only if you turn with me.”
“Hmm… guess we should test that,” Sion said suddenly, and before Yushi could react, he pounced with a mischievous grin. “Let’s see if strawberries are ticklish.”
“Sion, wait—!”
But it was too late. Sion’s fingers found Yushi’s waist, then his sides, making him burst out laughing. Yushi squirmed beneath him, tears forming in his eyes as he laughed, trying to escape—but not really wanting to. Sion was on top of him now, knees on either side, hair falling into his face, expression playful and intense.
“Stop! Stop, I’m gonna die!” Yushi cried, flushed and breathless.
“Never! I need to find out if strawberries melt.”
Sion paused for a moment. The room fell silent. Only the faint hum of the night came through the cracked window—and the sound of their unsteady breaths.
Sion was still on top of Yushi, hands braced on either side of his body. He didn’t move, but he didn’t pull away either. Their faces were so close that Yushi could see the light in his eyes, could count his eyelashes. His heart was pounding like it wanted to break free from his chest.
Yushi swallowed hard. His body felt hot—not just from the tickling… but from something else entirely.
“Sion…” Yushi whispered, almost voiceless.
“Yeah?”
“You’re… really close.”
“I know.”
He didn’t move. He didn’t touch him again. It was like he was waiting for something—a sign, permission, or maybe just an excuse to stay like that a little longer.
Yushi realized his legs were still tangled with Sion’s. That his shirt was still off. That his whole body was exposed, trembling, right under the gaze of the person who mattered most.
But he didn’t feel ashamed. He felt something else.
“You never took off your clothes in front of me before,” Sion said, his voice deeper than usual.
“I didn’t dare,” Yushi admitted. “But I’m not scared anymore… with you.”
Sion glanced down. His eyes lingered for a second on the mark—that tiny scar still visible just under Yushi’s boxers.
Sion swallowed hard.
He moved his hand slowly, carefully, as if he were touching something fragile. He slid it down to Yushi’s waist, letting his fingers rest on his bare, warm skin. The touch was so light Yushi barely noticed… until he felt them circle gently around the mark.
“It’s so…” Sion whispered, leaning in a little closer, “So beautiful.” Yushi clenched his fingers against the covers."
Sion lowered himself more. Very slowly. His face flushed, lips slightly parted. As if he didn’t fully understand what he was doing—but needed to do it anyway.
One hand held Yushi’s hip steady, while the other traced the scar with the tip of his finger. Learning every millimeter of that different, delicate skin.
Yushi gritted his teeth. The breath left his chest. His stomach tightened.
“As beautiful as you…” Sion murmured. “You’re my little strawberry now.”
A shiver ran up Yushi’s spine. He didn’t understand why those soft words made him tremble—why they stole the air from his lungs.
And then, without another word, Sion lowered his face completely… Yushi could barely process what was happening…
Sion kissed his scar.
It was a soft kiss. Silent. Filled with something neither of them could quite name— but it felt like a shared secret, like an invisible promise.
Sion didn’t move after that. He just rested his forehead against Yushi’s skin, eyes closed, breathing deep.
“Don’t hide it,” Sion said quietly, not looking up. “Not from me. Never.”
And in the stillness of the room, they stayed like that. Nowhere near breaking the tension— and not willing to move away.
This moment… It was theirs.
Just theirs.
Their little secret.