SWAP 84

Around the same time, in the kitchen.

Seoul, who had woken up as usual according to his routine to brew coffee, was looking inside the refrigerator with a serious expression. It was because of the apples that were nowhere to be seen no matter how much he looked. He was certain he had bought two bags when they went grocery shopping on the first day…. Apparently, the one he put in the sandwiches yesterday morning was the last of them.

“Hmm….”

Is it because there are more mouths to feed?

If I had known this would happen, I should have just gone to the mart yesterday.

He regretted it belatedly, but since it was a pointless exercise, he stopped. Would a convenience store have some? He knew they carried products like pre-washed fruit, but he didn’t know if they sold them around here. While he was pondering briefly, he heard the sound of boiling and hurried over to the induction stove.

Turning off the power and transferring the extracted coffee into a mug, Seoul glanced at the phone screen sitting on the table. It was well past 6 o’clock, but it wasn’t quite time for Ye Juyeol and Yun Hyeok to wake up yet. He remembered they had gone to buy beer and ended up placing an order for a mission, so he had intended to ask them when they came down, but at that moment, a push message popped up on the screen with a loud sound.

It was the first time a notification had arrived this early in the morning, so a startled Seoul put down the moka pot he was holding and clicked the screen.

Event <<

You, who are second only to Snow White!

Don’t you happen to need the apples that just ran out?

It’s possible if you exchange your best friend!

“Wow….”

His mouth fell open automatically at the phrase that popped up as it loaded. How did they know the apples had run out? He wondered if they had opened the fridge while everyone was out, but the reality was different.

A certain staff member, who had confirmed the fact that Lee Seoul—who lived according to a fixed daily routine—always ate an apple before drinking coffee, had compared the number of apples purchased on the first day with the number of apples he took out to eat every morning one by one. They noted that he finished them around yesterday, and as soon as they confirmed the message that he was returning straight home from the filming set without stopping at a mart, they hurriedly purchased apples first.

And at 6 o’clock, as they waited with racing hearts for Seoul to wake up.

The production team, confirming the scene where he made a flustered expression while looking at the fridge just as expected, clenched their fists in the control room.

Unlike other programs, the charm of <Best Friend X Exchange> was identifying the needs of the cast members by checking the situation in real-time. PD Jeon Jaeyeon, seeing the scene where Seoul looked around the nearby area where cameras were hidden with a surprised face after seeing the event notification window, laughed heartily and downed an iced Americano in one shot. I carried out this miracle morning just to see this scene….

And just like everyone’s expectation and desire, Lee Seoul did not hesitate to make a choice today either. In a way, these best friends were terribly alike.

Would you like to exchange Seo Saheon for [One Box of Apples]?

Reward: 5 Coins

⚠ Caution: Your best friend might [ ]…

Seoul, who pressed the [YES] button at the following sentence, sipped coffee from the mug he was holding without much thought. While he pulled his lips away with an “Oops” at the savory taste spreading through his mouth, the slot was spinning noisily. He had luckily just passed by yesterday, so he stared intently at the screen with the hope that it would be the same today.

However, a moment later, Seoul, seeing the notice that appeared on the screen, unknowingly narrowed his eyes and picked up the phone that was sitting on the table.

⚠ Caution: Your best friend might [become a puppy]…

“……?”

What does this mean?

It’s not even bringing a puppy over; it says he might become a puppy.

It was just like Seo Saheon yesterday, talking nonsense about how he was a dump truck. Seoul, wondering if there was a typo during the transmission process, clicked HELP at the bottom of the app.

HELP —Please inquire about anything!—

[Good morning.]

[It’s nothing else, but]

[I think the notification text came incorrectly.]

[Please check it.]

[Ah, Mr. Seoul!]

[It’s not a typo, so don’t worry~]

[Uh, it said a puppy…]

[Yes, yes, a puppy is correct!]

Seoul, with a dumbfounded expression, stared at the chat window for a long time.

He was certain they were communicating in Korean, but what was this feeling of the words not getting through?

Wondering if it was some kind of slang he didn’t know, he even typed [person is a puppy], [puppy slang], [might become a puppy] into the search bar, but since only photos of cute puppies popped up, he simply became a person who was healed by puppies since early morning.

Having no choice, Seoul entered the HELP window again and tapped the keyboard.

HELP —Please inquire about anything!—

[That]

[Is it perhaps some kind of slang?]

[No!]

[It’s a real puppy haha]

[…]

[Yes, I understand.]

Was it because of the “haha” that was so confident?

Seoul, defeated by the firm tone, unknowingly acquiesced and ended the inquiry.

He didn’t know what it meant, but he figured he would find out if he left it alone, and it was just as he put his phone down. With the sound of a door opening with a thump, footsteps were heard from the second-floor hallway. As soon as he thought he knew who it was without even looking, Saheon appeared, holding up his phone and asking in a hoarse voice.

“Lee Seoul. Now you’re going as far as turning your friend into a dog?”

“……”

When Seoul feigned ignorance because he had nothing to say, he heard a snorting laugh.

He thought Saheon might get irritated by the mysterious mission, but Saheon surprisingly didn’t seem to be in a bad mood. No, rather….

“What did you swap me for?”

“Apples…. But what does it mean to become a puppy? I asked the app, and they just said a puppy?”

It was then.

At the sound of the doorbell ringing with a ding-dong, Saheon, who pointed in that direction with the tip of his chin, answered in a playful voice.

“I guess you’ll know when you see it.”

Then he whipped around and disappeared toward the front door.

Seoul, who was left alone in the kitchen unexpectedly, snapped out of it a beat late. Since it was a house rented for two weeks, the only ones who would ring the doorbell were the production staff. Seoul, wondering if they had come to deliver the apples, moved his steps quickly but hit the brakes at the front door.

Saheon, holding the box of apples delivered in the meantime with one arm, was holding a suspicious headband and reading something.

“…What is that?”

When Seoul, feeling strangely anxious, asked, Saheon, who had read carefully down to the last period, lifted his head. It was an expression where his thoughts couldn’t be read at all. Seoul quickly approached and snatched the small card held in his hand, and a terrifying phrase from the very start caught his eye.

[Please Take Care of the Puppy]

If you just follow this, I’m a pro dog owner too :>

Providing guidance for your best friend who has become a puppy!

♣ The relevant cast member will live as a puppy for today. (Essential item: Must strictly wear the headband) ♣ As a genius dog who has mastered upright walking, he can walk on two feet, but unfortunately, he hasn’t learned to speak yet! (However, dog language like woof, whimper, bark is possible!) (Caution: Penalty if wallpaper or furniture is damaged) ♣ The paired best friend, please take care of the puppy with all your heart and soul for one day for a comfortable doggy life. Depending on the satisfaction of the partner, a special gift might be waiting.

If you have any other inquiries, please contact ‘HELP’ at the bottom of the app!

“No, what is this now….”

Seoul’s expression after reading all the way to the end was truly absurd.

It was because he didn’t know they would treat a person like an actual dog for a box of apples. He didn’t know whose idea it was, but it was certain they were not in their right mind at the very least. Or, are variety shows these days all like this? While Seoul was looking back on whether he had taken things too lightly, he suddenly lifted his head.

Right. This isn’t the problem right now.

Even if it were him, the one who suddenly became a puppy is Seo Saheon.

He was subtly watching Saheon’s reaction, thinking he should have exchanged more carefully, when Saheon, who had been guarding the space in front of Seoul with a crooked posture, suddenly thrust something forward. It was a headband. And one with a motif of Doberman ears that rose sharply toward the sky.

It was the moment he hesitantly received it as cold sweat flowed automatically.

Saheon, who gave a grin like a devil, leaned forward in front of Seoul and opened his mouth. The sound that rings when a bright red tongue hits the roof of the mouth with a flick.

“Woof.”

“……”

At that, Seoul’s shoulders slumped down.

It seemed that the one who was doomed was this side.

ㄨ

“Yawwwwn….”

Ye Juyeol, letting out a pouring yawn without holding back, stumbled out as he opened the door. Was it because of the schedule he ran yesterday? He felt a wave of sleepiness particularly strongly, feeling like he could dive onto the bed at any moment. However, instead of returning to his room, he began to walk down the stairs, and before long, he was already twitching the corners of his mouth into a grin. It was because he knew who would be down there.

You can sleep when you’re dead.

There was no way he was going to give up the time to be alone with Seoul without any interference for something like that.

Ye Juyeol, even humming a tune as he wondered if he could get a cup of self-brewed coffee today as well, looked around the kitchen and tilted his head. It was because Seoul was nowhere to be seen. Could it be he’s oversleeping today? Since it was a rare occurrence, he looked around, and a small head peeking up above the sofa was visible.

A sudden sense of playfulness rose in Ye Juyeol as he lifted his heels.

Having intended to give him a surprise, he crept up behind him and was about to tap both of Seoul’s shoulders lightly while delivering a bright greeting….

“Wah! Sunbae-nim, good morni—uaaaaaagh…!”

He had intended to, but when his eyes met with someone who was lying down with their head in Seoul’s lap, he had no choice but to instinctively burst out in a scream.