The tease had come as an instinct, a facet to his personality Jin hadn’t even known existed. It was as natural as breathing air however, this innate desire to prod at Moon-ssi with a friendly ribbing. It was all in good nature and likely wouldn’t happen again any time soon, but Jin was feeling a little giddy about the prospect of a new found friend. (Because that’s what they were hedging towards now right? Friendship? They had to be if Moon-ssi was calling Jin by his first name and sharing his broom…) He at least liked the idea of this… association~ with Moon-ssi and rolled his eyes playfully at the other’s retort. “I never should have told you that,” he regretted, scrunching his nose.

The sun was beginning to fall lower in the sky around them and Jin made his way back over to his abandoned books. They were only a few yards away but he didn’t miss the way Moon-ssi’s stomach growled, loudly. The question that the growl prompted did, however, stop him in his tracks.

“Jeonyeog?” Jin heard himself ask, smile faltering on his face. As in… inside the academy? Around other people? Wouldn’t that cause issue for Moon-ssi? Jin felt all bluster and happiness deflate in his chest as he considered. He didn’t want a sudden association with him to cause Moon-ssi’s friends to turn on him or start asking questions. Jin didn’t know if he could bear for the friendly yangban to be humiliated the way he had been so many times. Deciding to spare him the truth and awkwardness of it, Jin lied. “Ani… I’m not very hun—gry…” His stomach ratted him out mid-sentence before Jin could even deny it with a loud growl of its own. Cheeks heating, he turned his gaze down in embarrassment. “Jinjja,” he assured quietly, hoping Moon-ssi might have missed it.

---

---