# Chapter 48
“The hospital.”
Lately, whenever anyone saw Iyeon, that phrase would invariably follow.
“They said I really don’t need to go anymore.”
At Iyeon’s confident declaration, Sano smoothly approached him. His body came so close so suddenly that Iyeon flinched, and in that instant, a large hand lifted up his top. His bare skin was exposed to the cool air.
“Hey, what are you…!”
“It’s gotten a bit better.”
Sano let go after carefully checking the wounded area, regardless of the other’s shock.
“A bit? It’s completely healed!”
Iyeon was so flustered that he used two words with the same meaning and flopped down on the sofa as if burying himself in it. His forehead, which was suddenly busy touching his phone here and there as if to look occupied, had turned bright red.
“You’re not going out today, then.”
Sano asked teasingly. Iyeon, who had been intensely fiddling with his phone while avoiding eye contact, grumbled.
“Forget it. I’m just going to stay home now.”
“What about Mungchi’s walk?”
“Don’t even mention the ‘s’ in ‘stroll’.”
At his vehement refusal, Sano raised one eyebrow slightly. Iyeon seemed to behave quietly for a moment, but soon muttered as if whining.
“Do you have a hobby?”
To think he’d end up asking even Je Sano—the limitations of having a small social circle. Despite his confrontational tone, Sano was unusually docile.
“Why?”
“I want to create a hobby.”
He had explained this to so many people that he was tired of giving long explanations. Besides, Sano’s hobbies would likely be something an ordinary citizen couldn’t possibly imitate. What if it was something like extracting iron to make miniature Eiffel Towers? He couldn’t even begin to hope or dare.
“Have you found something you like?”
“…Huh?”
“That’s what a hobby is, right?”
Sano raised his body a little. The leather sofa depressed slightly as he sat up straight.
“What do you like?”
Facing that arrogant expression that seemed to ask if he didn’t have even one thing he liked, Iyeon could say anything carelessly. He could have given a casual answer to get through the situation, but…
“Nothing.”
What came out in the end was a dejected response.
“Everyone else seems to have things they like, but I don’t.”
Regardless of personality or circumstances, everyone had something they liked. It seemed like Iyeon was the only person in the world without a hobby.
“I guess there’s something wrong with me.”
When that feeling crept into the depths of his lungs, Iyeon would unnecessarily draw in his breath. But no matter how much he breathed in, nothing would rise up.
As if it were an empty space to begin with.
“How depressing.”
A low voice reached his gloomy crown. It was the same arrogant and unpleasant tone as always.
“There’s no one without something like that.”
But it was truly strange. Hearing that consistent voice…
“It’s not too late to start looking now.”
…was oddly comforting.
Energized, Iyeon asked spiritedly.
“Where should I start?”
“Drawing.”
Sano’s answer was decisive, as if he had predetermined it.
“With your drawing skills being what they are, your ability is hopeless.”
He had told him to find a hobby but ended up recommending self-improvement.
“…That’s not something I like.”
“You haven’t found what you like yet anyway.”
“…”
“You might find that it becomes your hobby as you do it.”
This bastard… Was this his goal all along? Iyeon’s eyes narrowed. While he was suspicious, Sano summoned Iyeon’s bag to the living room and ordered:
“Draw what you’re most confident in.”
Holding the pen, Iyeon said confidently.
“Actually, I don’t use it in combat, but there’s something I often doodle. It’s a mascot character from a candy I used to eat often when I was younger…”
Iyeon began drawing on an A4 paper. His movements were quite smooth, as if he had drawn it many times.
A round face with two round eyes, a wide smiling mouth, triangle shapes attached at the temples like ears, and something like a crown on top. His claim about drawing it often must have been true, as the lines definitely had more strength than Iyeon’s usual shaky ones… but he didn’t notice Sano’s face growing increasingly strange as he tapped his hand and put down the pen.
When he placed both hands on the paper, the pen lines glowed lightly, and a creature shaped exactly like what was drawn on the paper bulged out. The character, about the size of a head, showed off its presence by wandering around Iyeon, but its bright face looked so stupid that it had an aspect that provoked anger.
Mungchi, who had been lying under the dining table, discovered the balloon-like character and came running excitedly. It was quite adorable to see it jumping up and down trying to catch the mascot character that was floating around.
Iyeon, who had created some strange life form, turned to look at Sano with a confident expression as if he had done something great. Sano coldly responded to the eyes seeking a reaction.
“What is that?”
“…A cat?”
The Rating Committee’s judgment was accurate. There was a reason he was Tier 2.
Sano changed his approach. A free theme was too early for Iyeon.
“Try drawing a soccer ball.”
“Come on… Fine.”
Isn’t it cute? Iyeon pouted and started drawing hesitantly while looking at a soccer ball image he searched for on his phone. His hand movements were quite careful. After some time, the empty paper was filled.
“It’s done.”
Iyeon straightened his back with a satisfied murmur. Sano, who had been doing something else on his phone, turned his attention at Iyeon’s words. After checking Iyeon’s drawing, Sano tilted his head slightly.
“Are you making fun of me?”
His face showed remarkable surprise as he said this.
On the white paper that Iyeon had scribbled all over were crooked circles and shaky lines scattered messily, failing to connect. The drawing, which had no part that could be guessed to be a soccer ball, looked like a steel wool scrubber even with the most generous interpretation.
“Isn’t it good?”
Sano glared at Iyeon with an expression that asked where his eyes were located. At his stern face, Iyeon dejectedly checked his drawing. It had been a masterpiece to him.
“At least it rolls?”
Iyeon materialized the steel wool scrubber. It successfully popped out with messily tangled lines, but the wobbling steel wool scrubber soon went limp. Two pairs of eyes focused on the steel wool scrubber rolling on the floor.
“…”
“Well, I’ve never drawn a soccer ball before…”
Iyeon mumbled awkwardly. Sano stared at his roommate, who seemed to have no idea what a soccer ball was, then lightly raised his hand. Thanks to the mineral god’s mercy, the pitiful steel wool scrubber was able to return to nature.
However, unable to believe that his partner was such an incompetent person with rock-bottom aesthetic sense, Sano glared at the stupidly smiling face and pointed at the paper again.
“Helicopter.”
A teapot appeared.
“Paraglider.”
A square family appeared.
“Hot air balloon.”
An arrow with shells attached appeared.
There was nothing left to ask for. It was at a level that seemed impossible to draw like this even if one tried deliberately. Sano finally acknowledged Iyeon’s skill level and glared at the messy living room with a displeased look.
Around Iyeon, the mascot character that had not yet disappeared was still flying around, avoiding Mungchi, and on the floor, shoddy somethings were added and rolling around with each command. All the materialized objects were soft like cushions and completely useless.
Among them, what angered him the most was Iyeon’s face, proudly showing his failed creations after drawing.
Sano’s fist tightened.
Bang! Iron spikes that sprung from the living room floor instantly pierced the mascot. Iyeon and Mungchi watched with shocked eyes as what used to be the mascot shattered like a popping balloon and fell into pieces. To do that to something so cute… As expected of Je Sano. His methods were beyond cruel.
“I’m amazed you’ve survived with skills like these.”
“Well, um…”
Iyeon trailed off, avoiding Sano’s genuinely questioning gaze.
By now, the sun was setting. The sunset light shining through the living room windows made the crowded house glow red. Sano, sitting sullenly on the sofa with his legs crossed, was glaring at Iyeon’s creations as if having a staring contest.
As Iyeon, who had finally put down the pen, sat on the sofa, Sano’s gaze briefly attached to his cheek and then fell away. The fact that he was doing this with none other than Je Sano suddenly made him want to laugh. Actually, he still couldn’t believe it.
“Don’t you have a hobby?”
“I don’t need such things.”
Iyeon turned to look at him. His smiling face was abundantly reflected in Sano’s eyes, which glowed yellow in the sunset.
“Later, if I get a hobby.”
“…”
“Do it with me.”
Let’s help each other out, since neither of us has a hobby. The playfully whispered words had no logic, like most things Iyeon said, but it was the least bad proposal among them.
Lips that faintly curled up at the corners answered.
“Sure.”
