---
The next morning, Kai yawned as he padded to the kitchen. The smell of scrambled eggs and buttered toast filled the air—but he hadn't started cooking.
He blinked.
Lys was standing by the stove, sleeves rolled up, tail flicking in concentration as he flipped an omelet with sharp reflexes. His expression was neutral as always, but the domesticity of the scene made Kai pause mid-step.
"…Are you cooking?" Kai asked cautiously.
"I'm not useless," Lys said without looking back. "Don't act surprised."
Kai grinned. "Well, breakfast from a mysterious grumpy hybrid? I'll take it."
Lys placed a plate on the table. "Don't talk while chewing. It's annoying."
Kai raised both hands in surrender and sat down. "Yes, sir."
They ate in silence for a bit. The morning sun filtered in, casting long shadows across the wooden floor.
Then — a knock.
Kai frowned and got up. "Probably Wooyoung. She said she'd drop off something today."
At the mention of that name, Lys's pupils narrowed slightly. He stood up but remained silent, ears alert.
Kai opened the door.
Wooyoung, dressed in a sleek burgundy coat and sunglasses, stood holding a bag of canned soup and painkillers. "I figured the kitten might still be limping," she said lightly, brushing past him.
Lys froze as she stepped inside.
Her gaze drifted lazily around the room—until it landed on him.
For a moment, her smile faltered.
Lys kept his face calm, tail still, ears tilted in a nonchalant pose.
Kai noticed. "Oh! Right, this is the stray I found. I've been calling him—"
"Lynx?" Wooyoung said suddenly, lips curving into a sly grin.
Lys didn't flinch. "Wrong person."
Wooyoung's smile grew. "Interesting. Very interesting."
Kai looked between them, confused. "Wait… you two know each other?"
Wooyoung didn't answer right away. She turned to Kai and said lightly, "I've seen hybrids like him before. The attitude, the eyes, the silence. Elite class."
Lys said nothing.
Wooyoung placed the soup on the table and leaned close to Kai. "Be careful," she whispered in his ear. "He's not what he seems."
Then, just as quickly, she stepped back with her usual smirk. "Well, I've done my good deed. You boys enjoy your morning."
She left, heels clicking against the hallway.
The moment the door shut, Kai turned to Lys. "What was that about?"
"She's suspicious," Lys replied, looking away.
"No kidding," Kai muttered. "Lys—are you in danger?"
Lys didn't answer. But the subtle tightening of his jaw told Kai enough.
"…I don't care who you were," Kai said eventually, his voice softer. "Just tell me if someone's after you."
Lys looked at him for a long time.
Finally, he muttered, "They already are."
---
Meanwhile…
In a high-rise office overlooking the city, a man flipped through a tablet showing surveillance stills from the hybrid gala.
In the corner of one image, Lys stood, partially cloaked in shadow.
The man's lips curled into a cold smile. "Found you."
---