After dinner and the full retelling of Laddu's tragic saga—being punished by the chairman,being punished by the chairman's wife,being overworked,and finally being hunted like prey by Ben—
Laddu rubbed his eyes like an exhausted toddler whose battery had reached zero.
He glanced up at Mochi's parents, posture small, voice tired.
"Um… can I sleep here tonight…?"
Father raised one eyebrow.
"Why?"
Laddu leaned closer and whispered like a criminal hiding from the underworld.
"Ben… and his crow friend… are outside."
The room froze.
Everyone rushed to the window.
And there they were.
Ben stood on the boundary wall, unmoving.Beside him, a crow perched calmly.
Both stared at the house.
Silent. Focused. Patient.
Like two loan sharks waiting for interest.
Candy screamed, "THE DEMON GANG!!"
Maya rubbed her face. "He has natural enemies everywhere…"
Mother sighed.
"Alright. Stay."
Father grunted.
"Fine. As long as he doesn't eat my fish."
Laddu saluted weakly.
"No promises."
Mochi buried her face in her scarf.
The Next Morning — Swimsuit Shopping Mission
The next day, Mochi, Jin, and Maya went to the mall to buy swimsuits for pool day.
Mochi walked stiffly between them.Jin looked tired as usual.Maya bounced with way too much energy.
Inside the store, Mochi finally gathered courage.
"Um… Jin… where is Laddu today…?"
Jin sighed.
"He's in the office. Working."
Mochi's shoulders sank.
"…Please tell him sorry from me. He went through too much yesterday…"
Jin stopped walking.
She looked at Mochi carefully.
Then she said something unexpected.
"…I wish I had a mind like him."
Mochi froze.
"H-Huh?"
Jin repeated calmly.
"I wish I could think like Laddu."
Maya nearly dropped the swimsuit.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
Jin nodded.
"Yes."
Maya Tells the Truth — The Legend of Laddu
Maya crossed her arms.
"You know… people think he's stupid."
"I—I don't think he's stupid," Mochi said quietly.
jin smiled.
"Good. Because he's not."
She raised two fingers.
"Do you know how long he's been in the company?"
Mochi shook her head.
"Two years."
Jin added softly,
"And in those two years, he became the third most important person in the company."
Mochi's mouth opened.
"W-What… how…?"
jin nodded.
"First year? He worked harder than anyone I know. Even I can't compete."
Jin continued,
"He sees patterns others miss. Predicts problems before they happen. Every project he touches succeeds. Every team improves."
Mochi whispered,
"…He really is… special…"
Jin nodded.
"Everything he said yesterday—annoying, embarrassing—but true."
jin shrugged.
"And no one hates him. He just… irritates everyone."
Jin sighed.
"That's his talent."
The Knock-Knock Incident
Mochi tilted her head.
"What kind of irritating…?"
Jin's expression darkened instantly.
Maya started laughing before the story even began.
"One night," Jin said, rubbing her temples,"I was working late. Exhausted. And suddenly he stood outside my office."
Mochi smiled.
"W-What did he do…?"
"He said, 'Boss. Knock knock.'"
"I ignored him."
Maya was already laughing.
"He said it again. I ignored him again."
Jin's jaw tightened.
"For ten straight minutes—'Boss? Knock knock.''Boss? Knock knock.''Boss? Hellooo?'"
Maya was on the floor now.
"I finally yelled, 'WHAT?!'"
Jin paused.
"And he said— 'White hair.'Then ran away."
Mochi gasped.
Maya screamed with laughter.
"I was nineteen," Jin said flatly."He gave me stress-white hair."
Mochi smiled softly.
"…He's… really something…"
Both Jin and Maya softened.
"Annoying," Maya said."Chaotic," Jin added."Impossible," Maya finished.
Then Jin looked at Mochi.
"But one of the best people we have."
Maya smirked.
"And someone who clearly cares about you."
Mochi turned bright red instantly.
And this time—she didn't deny it.