Chapter 86

Just then, the locker room door opened, and the other protagonist of the issue appeared. The moment everyone saw Greyson Miller, they suddenly closed their mouths and said nothing. They turned their heads, pretending to be doing their own business, but the chilling silence was proving more than anything that they were conscious of him.

"Hello, Miller."

Ezra was the only one who spoke to Greyson. True to his reputation for being kind and good-natured to everyone, he greeted him with a smile, and Greyson responded with a smile just like Ezra.

"Hello, Ezra. Good morning."

While listening to the voices exchanging everyday greetings, Dane continued changing his clothes. He suddenly wondered what reaction Greyson would show if he knew what commotion had just occurred, but he had no intention of checking.

The day before, Dane had gotten into his car after raging at him like a madman and immediately left the parking lot. He knew that Greyson Miller had stood in the same spot without moving until he was no longer visible through the rearview mirror.

Even in the midst of his anger, he had felt a chill at the sight of him standing there without the slightest movement as he drove away. He had been wary that Greyson might follow him in a car, but fortunately, that didn't happen.

Just as he had barely managed to salvage the situation, he hoped Greyson wouldn't mess things up again.

With the gloomy premonition that such a self-willed guy was more than capable of doing so, his mood soured, and at that moment, Greyson came around the cabinet and faced Dane.

For a moment, the two looked at each other without saying anything. It was a short time of just 2 or 3 seconds, but Dane was fully prepared to respond immediately to whatever nonsense Greyson might utter. Whether it was shouting or slapping his face.

Just as he recalled the image of him standing there staring at his car and felt a chill, something unexpected happened. Greyson Miller smiled at Dane. And it was with an exceptionally bright face, showing his even teeth widely.

"Hello, Striker."

Huh?

Dane hesitated at the sudden situation. Everyone was equally bewildered. The guys who had been inwardly harboring doubts and waiting for the next situation blinked and focused their attention on them.

But nothing more happened. Greyson whistled as he opened his cabinet and began changing his clothes, and without anyone saying a word, he finished preparing alone and left the locker room.

Only after the "thud" sound of the door was heard did they finally come to their senses one by one, as if awakening from a spell.

"Uh, well..."

As someone stammered and spoke up, another guy finally opened his mouth.

"Did Dane and Miller really act...?"

Starting with his dumbfounded words, commotion broke out everywhere.

"No, was that really acting?"

"Could Dane act that well?"

"Ah, actually, I thought it was a bit awkward. As expected, Dane can't act."

"The awkward one was Miller. Dane's acting wasn't bad. I was fooled because of Dane."

"Anyway, it was really nothing?"

"Ah, how disappointing..."

As sighs and words of relief went back and forth from everywhere, Dane was dumbfounded, but one thing was certain. Because of that bastard's unexpected behavior, this incident had really ended as just a trivial happening.

Just that he couldn't understand why Greyson Miller was acting that way...

Do I need to know? Dane changed his mind. Anyway, if it was resolved, that was fine, and maybe he also thought this wasn't right after thinking about it later. Even if he doesn't have emotions, he would know what social face is.

After arbitrarily drawing a conclusion, he finished changing his clothes and closed the cabinet door. If everything just ends like this, that's fine. Of course, that was only Dane's thought.

Not a chance.

Greyson, who had come outside, stood in front of the door and thought with an expressionless face as he listened to the noise from inside. He had sufficiently confirmed Dane's intense reaction the day before. The reason he had stood there blankly watching him leave alone was because he had realized his approach was wrong. And from then on, Greyson completely revised his plan. Along with the reflection that acting in this way was absolutely not good.

What was that yesterday?

He continued his analysis with a cooled head. He couldn't understand himself at all. Had there ever been a time when he couldn't control himself to that extent? What had made him so angry?

There was only one reason. Because the other person was Dane Striker.

He always lost his usual self when it came to that man. That shouldn't happen, Greyson thought as he left. Taking leisurely steps with his large stride, he recalled.

To have that man, I need to think more coldly than usual.

If he acts as if nothing happened, Dane would let his guard down. There was still plenty of time left. He put his hands in his pockets and whistled as he walked.

When that time comes...

Just imagining Dane's surprised face made Virginia harden. Greyson continued whistling as he walked down the quiet corridor.

* * *

On a morning like any other with a clear blue sky and bright sunshine pouring down, firefighters bustled about beneath a man hanging from the window of a tall building.

"Hey, hey, don't let people come this way. Don't let people gather."

"Is the air mattress ready? Everyone stay alert in case he falls!"

"Where are those police guys? They're always so slow."

Dane moved busily, listening to the pouring words. Above, the hanging man continued to shout something. They just continued doing their job as his cries, whether asking for help or to be left alone, were completely indistinguishable. Amidst the busyness, the person idling on one side was naturally predetermined.

"Miller, Miller!"

Wilkins shouted his name roughly. With even one more person needed, it was frustrating to see such reliable manpower just watching.

"Come here, help with this!"

He waved one hand and kept nodding, but Greyson's response was lukewarm. Unable to bear it anymore, Ezra shouted.

"Miller, what are you doing! Hurry!"

Even as everyone called for him, Greyson's reaction remained indifferent. DeAndre, who was struggling to spread the air mattress together, shouted.

"What are you doing, you fucking bastard. What if he falls!"

It meant to move quickly, but disconcertingly, Greyson did not comply. At the sight of him just pretending to be busy as if it were bothersome, everyone soon gave up.

"Damn bastard, why does he even come along if he's going to be like that?"

Everyone agreed with DeAndre's curse. Dane, who had been silently installing the air mattress, glanced at Greyson with a frowning face but said nothing. At that time.

* * *

"You, if you have this little motivation, wouldn't it be better to just quit?"

After safely rescuing the man and returning to the station, one of the men in the group spoke up. Greyson, who was taking out a drink and drinking it, looked at him, and everyone's attention focused. As if they had been waiting, they began pouring out words from everywhere.

"You're just in the way, standing there like that."

"What's your reason for becoming a firefighter? You should do something, shouldn't you?"

"If you just wanted to watch, you didn't need to play the role of a firefighter, right?"

Greyson, who had been blinking and listening to the outpouring of complaints, opened his mouth.

"Why are you saying these things to me?"

At his words, which were unclear whether he genuinely didn't know or was just pretending, everyone burst out in anger.

"It's too much to be so indifferent when someone might die right in front of you!"

"Don't you even think about what would happen if something went wrong with that person?"

Listening to the pouring criticism, Greyson said.

"Maybe he wanted to die."

At that moment, Dane, who had been observing, raised his head, and everyone looked at Greyson in surprise. Then Greyson added with a smile.

"You should let people do what they want to do."

The guys who had been noisily chattering until just now all stopped talking at once. In the chilling silence, everyone had similar thoughts.

What did I just hear?

"...Come with me."

Suddenly, Dane stepped forward and grabbed Greyson's arm. The rest of the personnel just blankly watched as they headed toward the empty space behind where they were standing.