Kiyo hesitated, trying to bring up the topic, but Yeri cut him off, already guessing his intention. He called him pathetic, realizing that Kiyo had been about to ask him to be the one to mark him.
Kiyo admitted that he didn't know anyone else. In his thoughts, he reasoned that Yeri didn't seem to be plotting anything against him, even if he was a bit intimidating. It didn't seem like Yeri had any real interest in him, and even a small chance of help was better than nothing. He asked if he was asking for too much.
Yeri paused, then asked if Kiyo was really sure. He warned that things might not stop at just a bite, but that if Kiyo had the courage, he should come closer and offer his neck.
Kiyo moved beside him and lay down. Yeri adjusted his position, telling him how to do it properly. Flustered and unsure, Kiyo wondered if he was making the right decision, but resolved to go through with it no matter what. He told Yeri that he couldn't back out now.
Yeri bit into Kiyo's neck. Afterward he lingered, brushing over the spot, which startled Kiyo and made him pull away abruptly. Both of them ended up flushed with embarrassment.
Yeri said casually that it should be enough, and told him to sleep. Kiyo lay there, overwhelmed, thinking about how intense the sensation had been, far stronger than anything he had felt earlier. It unsettled him, and eventually he fell asleep.
Yeri remained awake, thinking that things had already gone too far and would only become more difficult from here on.
Some time before, in another prison, a young man had come to visit Yeri. He assured him that the guards couldn't overhear them, and handed him a photograph of Kiyo. He said that he had heard many rumors about Yeri, addressing him as Mr. Lee, and that he had come with a request. He told Yeri to transfer to another prison, find this person, and kill him brutally.
Elsewhere, Kiyo's lawyer was speaking with the jailer. The lawyer said that leaving Kiyo alone would raise suspicion. The jailer agreed, explaining that the situation was the result of a temporary arrangement ordered by someone within the Ministry of Justice, specifically instructing that a certain inmate be placed in Kiyo's cell.
The lawyer asked about this person, and the jailer explained that his name was Lee Yeri, a well-built prisoner who was now labeled a murderer, though he had once been a civil servant. The jailer added that he planned to investigate Yeri's past further, since the order had come from someone of even higher authority within the system.
The lawyer realized that this meant Yeri already knew what he was supposed to do upon arrival. The jailer confirmed that Yeri's role was to protect Kiyo, although he hadn't been aware of it at first. He had later received suppressants, which had likely clarified the situation for him.
The lawyer said that was reassuring, though he suspected the Ministry of Justice might be trying to cover up their own mistakes. The jailer added that the minister himself had sought his help before. In truth, he believed Kiyo was fortunate, being a weak omega. He likely wouldn't be kept in prison for long.
The lawyer responded that he understood and would visit Kiyo daily. If anything went wrong, it would reflect poorly on him.
In the yard, other prisoners watched Kiyo and Yeri from a distance, whispering among themselves. One wondered whether Kiyo had really been marked. Another said it certainly looked that way, having observed them for a week, and suggested confirming it directly. The first refused, saying it should be the other's job.
The second prisoner replied that just one look at Yeri was enough. He could tell he was a killer. There was no way anyone would dare touch his omega. His gaze alone felt deadly.
At that moment a van arrived carrying a new prisoner. Kiyo noticed him. Yeri interrupted, telling Kiyo to stop staring and to ignore whatever nonsense the others were saying.
Kiyo recalled hearing that Yeri was known as the man with dangerous eyes. Yeri noticed his curiosity and teased him, asking if he wanted to find out whether the rumors were true. He stepped closer, saying he could teach him. Embarrassed, Kiyo asked him to keep his distance.
Yeri questioned why he should, especially after Kiyo had been the one to approach him before. He warned him not to provoke him, reminding him that Kiyo had nothing here, while he at least had small privileges, even something as trivial as candy. He licked a lollipop casually as he spoke.
Seeing this triggered Kiyo's memory of the night Yeri had bitten him, making him blush again. He nervously asked Yeri to step back, worried about being seen.
Yeri smirked and asked if that meant he should just kiss him right there instead, saying he was going to anyway. He leaned in, but just then a guard interrupted, ordering everyone inside. Both of them were startled, and Yeri quickly pulled away, wondering what he had been about to do. Kiyo avoided his gaze, while Yeri thought to himself that this hadn't been part of his plan. He needed to keep his distance, especially since he couldn't think clearly around him.
Time passed slowly in the prison. The atmosphere felt unstable.
Later, in the cafeteria, Kiyo was eating with Yeri when he noticed the new prisoner staring at him and smiling.
At the shower area, as Kiyo approached, he saw a group of prisoners harassing another inmate. The sight shocked him. Suddenly Yeri appeared behind him, covering his eyes and saying he had been looking for him. He scolded the others for not even closing the door. One of the prisoners joked that they had thought Kiyo might want to join in. Disturbed, Kiyo ran away, while Yeri told them to stop teasing him.
As Kiyo moved away, he wondered what he should do, whether he should report this to the guards. He noticed Yeri following him and reflected that although Yeri only seemed to be pretending to protect him, he still felt less anxious when he was around.
Soon after, Kiyo was running again, chased by several prisoners who wanted to check his mark. In his panic he entered a room where two inmates were being intimate, which shocked him even more. Flustered, he quickly shut the door and stepped back out, blushing.
The pursuing prisoners caught up to him, but just as they were about to grab him, Yeri appeared. He asked why Kiyo couldn't just stay with him quietly, then warned the others that he had already told them not to touch his mate. Hearing the word mate made Kiyo blush again. The other prisoners apologized and left.
Yeri then turned to Kiyo and told him to come along, saying they needed to submit an application. Kiyo wondered whether Yeri had just helped him again and quickly followed, asking him not to leave him alone.
Yeri teased him, asking if he had been going to check on the prisoner he had seen earlier in the bathroom. Kiyo was surprised that he knew. Yeri replied that it was obvious, and questioned whether Kiyo really had the time to worry about others right now.
Kiyo thought that approaching Yeri wasn't easy, which was why he had ended up going alone. Yet only moments ago, Yeri had called him his mate.
As they stepped outside, Kiyo asked why they had left if they were supposed to submit something. Yeri admitted that constantly having to follow Kiyo around was irritating, but that what bothered him more was not knowing where Kiyo was. He then said he was going to open Kiyo's eyes to reality. Pointing ahead, he told him to look carefully.
Kiyo recognized the same prisoner from the shower. Yeri asked if Kiyo had met him before, and warned him not to act recklessly. Even if the man seemed like a victim, it didn't mean helping him would bring any benefit. He described him as a dog with the claws of a wolf, one of the most dangerous people in the prison. He explained that the earlier situation had likely been a setup, that those prisoners had planned to attack. That man was one of the most powerful inmates, and there might be some kind of agreement between them.
Yeri went on to explain that the prison functioned like a small society where power and hierarchy dominated. Even without freedom, influence still existed. Countless deals were made in secret, and knowing someone's secrets could determine their fate. He added that even the relationship between him and Kiyo was a kind of agreement.
Kiyo realized that Yeri was right. This place really was like a small, controlled society.