The days that followed Jin and Levi's encounter were...different. Levi, with his oddly persistent nature, had managed to wedge himself into Jin's life. At first, Jin resisted. He wasn't the type to let people in. But Levi wasn't the type to give up.
It started with the meals.
Every day after school, Levi would drag Jin to the cafeteria or some street vendor, insisting on treating him to something extravagant. "Consider it my thanks for what you did," Levi would say with his trademark grin, a grin that seemed to make everything he said sound both genuine and playful.
Jin, reluctant at first, couldn't deny that it helped. With Yumi's hospital bills draining what little he earned from his part-time job, free meals were a blessing. But it wasn't just about the food. For the first time in a long while, Jin felt...normal.
Levi had a way of making the world seem less heavy, cracking jokes and telling ridiculous stories about his day. Jin found himself laughing, something he hadn't done in years.
Still, Jin kept his guard up. "Friends" wasn't a word he used lightly.
The bond grew stronger when Levi started showing up at the café where Jin worked. One day, Jin was late for his shift because of Levi's endless chatter. Rather than letting Jin take the fall, Levi rolled up his sleeves and joined in.
"Do you even know how to make coffee?" Jin asked, raising an eyebrow as Levi donned an apron.
"Nope," Levi said, flashing that grin again. "But how hard can it be? Just push some buttons, right?"
It was a disaster. Levi spilled milk, overfilled cups, and even managed to short-circuit the espresso machine. But somehow, customers loved him. He had a way of making everyone laugh, even when their orders were wrong.
By the end of the night, Jin was exhausted but oddly grateful.
"Don't make this a habit," Jin said as they closed up.
"No promises," Levi replied, winking.
Weeks passed, and their friendship deepened. Then came exam season a time that Jin dreaded. He barely had time to study between school and work, and it showed.
"You're gonna fail if you keep this up," Levi said one day, leaning against Jin's locker.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Jin muttered.
"No, I mean it," Levi said, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Come to my place. We'll study together."
Jin hesitated. But he knew Levi was right. If he didn't start taking this seriously, he wouldn't pass.
"Fine," Jin said.
When Jin arrived at Levi's address, he froze.
The "house" wasn't a house. It was a mansion. Tall gates, a pristine lawn, and a driveway that seemed to stretch for miles.
"So this is why you can afford to treat me every day," Jin muttered under his breath.
Levi greeted him at the door, as casual as ever. "Come on in."
Inside, the mansion was even more extravagant. Chandeliers, marble floors, and furniture that probably cost more than Jin's entire apartment.
"I knew you were rich," Jin said, setting down his bag. "But this?"
Levi shrugged. "It's just a house."
"Just a house," Jin repeated, shaking his head.
They settled into Levi's massive library, he had a library to study. And for the next few days, it became their routine. School, cafe, study sessions at Levi's, then home.
The day of the exam came, and Jin felt...prepared. It was a strange feeling, walking into the classroom without the usual sense of dread. Levi gave him a thumbs-up as they took their seats.
By the time it was over, Jin was exhausted but relieved. He knew he hadn't aced it, but he also knew he hadn't failed.
"See? it was like what we practiced," Levi said as they walked out of the building.
"Yeah, yeah," Jin said, but he couldn't hide the small smile on his face.
A week later, Jin finally had enough money to pay off Yumi's hospital bills.
"You're getting discharged tomorrow," Jin told her as he sat by her bedside.
Yumi's eyes lit up. "Really? I can finally leave this place?"
"Yeah," Jin said, his voice soft. "We're going home."
The next day, Jin helped Yumi pack her things. It was a simple moment, but to Jin, it felt monumental. For the first time in a long time, there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
As they walked out of the hospital together, Yumi looked up at Jin and said, "Thank you, Jin."
"For what?"
"For everything."
Jin didn't reply. He just gave her a rare, genuine smile.
And for the first time in years, Jin felt like things might actually be okay.