Fandom: Solo Leveling
Rating: T
Length: 300 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: The title is from THE FINAL FUTURE by Kim Yideum, translator uncredited.
Summary: Cha Haein considers Yoo Jinho.



He's not the kind of person Haein would notice, is the thing. Just another regular guy, a little smiley, a little clumsy, a cheerful enthusiasm that's a little overwhelming but thankfully doesn't tip over into fawning.

Haein is an S-Rank, she’s the best of the best, and she knows the fairy tales. The media play. She’s supposed to end up with someone like Sung Jinwoo. Not Yoo Jinho, who’s firmly in side-kick territory, if that. Frankly, Haein shouldn’t make assumptions but she’s not sure how any of the other people in the guild can even keep up with Sung Jinwoo.



Maybe she’s supposed to end up with someone like Sung Jinwoo, but Sung Jinwoo doesn’t need anybody.

Sure, he loves his family, would do anything for his family, and there’s still something mysterious about his mother miraculously waking… Well, that’s Sung Jinwoo. He’s a respectful coworker and he’s friendly enough but she’s never seen him let anyone in. Haein’s pretty sure that, if he could, he would do everything alone, and now that he carries his shadows with him all the time, he basically can.

Haein doesn’t want to end up as a permanent guest in a long term relationship.



Yoo Jinho’s firmly a lower-level ranker, and she’s not the fondest of the smell of mana. But, while circling in the orbit of Sung Jinwoo, she’s seen more of him than she would have, otherwise, and…

There’s something about him that’s very real.

He’s not an aspiration, or an expectation. Sure, he’s a little in awe but the shine is already wearing off, and underneath that is someone genuinely good. Someone who’s ready to work for it, if she gives him the chance.

He might not “deserve” her, but Haein doesn’t want to be deserved. She wants to be loved.