Heartwarming / A Meaningful Sacrifice

• Seong-min learns of Joon-yeong being a hambie and accepts him with zero hesitation.
• Mi-jin, still upset over Joon-yeong getting bitten trying to protect her, is comforted by him. They agree to become friends and they quickly become Like Brother and Sister.
• Woo-jin and Joon-yeong's interactions are these every time:
  • Both Woo-jin and Cheongsan going back to help Joonyeong and Namra after realizing their plan is flawed.
  • Woojin hugging him after the explosion hurts his ears.
  • Joon-yeong saving Woo-jin from being killed. He's so desperate to save his friend (and crush) that he tears the zombie's head off. Though Woojin is stunned by this, he quickly gets over it and assures him he did the right thing.
  • The night they spend at the hotel. They joke around but it's clear that Joonyeong is already becoming infatuated by the other boy. And when things start to go wrong and Joon-yeong throws up the food, Woojin holds no judgement for him, comforting best he can and insisting it won't change anything for his family. And then there's their Almost Kiss.
  • Woojin is nothing less than ecstatic when Joonyeong asks him out. Their first kiss is really sweet and exciting for them, with Joonyeong at one point referring to solidifying their relationship as 'perhaps the best gift of his life'.
  • When Joonyeong comforts him when Woojin becomes emotional over thinking that his feelings weren't reciprocated and especially when Woojin comforts Joonyeong after they overhear Captain Ahn, promising that he still has a good heart and that he wasn't wrong for what he did to Gwinam. It's the affirmation from his boyfriend and best friend that convinces Joonyeong to accept his words for the time being.
  • Overshadowed by the nightmare, but Joonyeong and Woojin cuddling in the same bed as they sleep.
  • Joon-yeong and Woo-jin hugging each other after the latter learns that his parents died, followed by them saying 'I love you' for the first time.
  • Woojin crawling into bed with him after hearing about the altercation with Eun-ji, which caused his anxiety attack. He kisses him on the head and comforts him. That's when Joonyeong realizes for sure that their Love Confession was the real deal.
  • Subtle, but Woojin telling Joonyeong that he's his best friend. At this point, Joonyeong has already started to refer to Woojin as his alongside being boyfriends, but he questions Woojin doing the same. Woojin then assures him that he can be best friends with both him and Daesu.
• Tae-hyun hearing out Seongmin about her relationship with Soowi and realizes very quickly that they were more than just friends. He is very accepting of this and assures her that it doesn't change their friendship.
• Everyone's reaction to Woojin and Joonyeong's relationship:
  • Mijin is the first to be told, just like Joonyeong previously promised her, and she gives him a bear hug in response.
  • Onjo and Cheongsan realize they have feelings for each other before the confession and react accordingly to their friendships with the boys- By placing bets on who confesses first.
  • Namra didn't even realize that they weren't dating before. She just thought that they were together and didn't treat them any differently.
  • Dae-su is thrilled, immediately declaring Joonyeong his 'brother-in-law'. Hyoryung is also delighted for them.
  • Soowi is quick to accept Woojin into their family, but promises to hurt him if he hurts her brother.
  • Hari's discussion with Joonyeong is a lot more charged, but she makes him promise to be respectful of him and smiles at how much he cares for her brother.
  • In general, there are more than a few instances of their friends smiling when they see them being affectionate.
• Daesu's older brother Daewon is the only member of his family who doesn't fatshame him and it's very clear that the two brothers are very close, with Daewon outright calling him his favorite and comforting him over his horrible experiences, promising to get back at the military for abandoning the kids.
• Soowi and Joon-yeong's interactions:
  • The hug they share when they're reunited.
  • Joonyeong telling his sister about his hambie status. She doesn't love him any less for it despite his fears. She also offers herself up to be eaten if he needs to, which is... thoughtful. Joonyeong quickly assures her that he's not gonna eat anyone though.
  • Her soothing him when he has a meltdown over the sirens.
  • Sledding together against Woojin and Jeonghoon.
  • Joon-yeong's decision to send her to their grandfather's house while the rest of them quarantine. It means that they won't get to see each other for a while but he only wants what's best for her. She later calls him late at night because she misses him so much. In fact, his last thoughts in the original fic is about how he'll always protect her.
• Joonyeong's grandfather greeting him with a hug.
• Kang-dae telling the Oh siblings about his plans to adopt them, complete with a Group Hug.
• Joon-yeong going out of his way to make sure Hyoryung knows he considers her their friend, especially since she was the only one who wasn't close to the others and misses Jimin dearly.
• On-jo being the Team Mom and clearly grows close to Soowi and Jeonghoon in her own right. There are a few instances of her and Cheongsan standing protectively over the kids.
• It's revealed that after being given time to think over Cheong-san's confession, On-jo ultimately returns his feelings and the two begin a loving relationship while still retaining their teasing banter.
• Joon-yeong giving Soowi and Woo-jin their Christmas gifts privately. Soowi gets a copy of the Harry Potter books, Hufflepuff edition, to her absolute delight. Woo-jin gets materials for him to draw with, and he's so happy he draws Joonyeong into a deep kiss.
• Nam-ra and Joon-yeong's friendship. They both have to deal with being hambies and so find an understanding, to the point that he's bewildered that he ever hated her at all. On that note, Nam-ra's growing friendships with the rest of the kids, from organizing a get together with On-jo to telling them all more about her mother.
• Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree in general. It has its share of dark moments, but ultimately made up of the group being True Companions and Woojin and Joonyeong being adorable.
• Hyoryung reuniting with her family.
• Ha-ri and Woo-jin reconciling after not talking in the two months since he discovered she hid their parents' death, and talking out their differences.
• Woo-jin's letter to Joon-yeong asking him out on a date is just adorable.
• Soo-wi's joy at seeing Joon-yeong again.
• Lieutenant Song calling Joon-yeong after not being able to while he was in quarantine. It's implied that this might be breaking some rule but that doesn't matter. After the hectic aftermath of Lee Byeong-chan turning up, he just wants to talk to this kid he cares about so much.