“Yeoul, put on your seatbelt.”
“Y-yes.”
“You don’t feel like throwing up, do you? If you’re dizzy, we can cancel the examination even now.”
“I’m really fine, I told you.”
The fifth day of awakening—finally, the long, drawn-out awakening pains had subsided to some degree. It was hard to say he’d completely recovered, but still, the weakness that had been crushing his entire body and the boiling heat had mostly improved. Kang Hyeseong had said that the first three days or so would be the critical period, and for the remaining three or four days, only mild cold-like symptoms would remain.
Actually, around lunchtime on the second day of awakening, he’d received contact from the Supernatural Ability Management and Security Bureau. It was a notification message asking him to visit the center for a full-body examination as soon as the awakening pains subsided.
Upon receiving the message, Yeoul was excited even while groaning from the high fever. It really hit him now that he’d become a Guide. If he had to get the examination anyway, it seemed better to get it done quickly.
Most of all, he’d get to enter the Supernatural Security Bureau building that he’d only ever seen from the outside! Unable to hide his excitement, Yeoul quickly clicked the link in the notification message and made an appointment for the very next day.
“You should have told me before making the appointment.”
…And as a result, he got thoroughly scolded by Kang Hyeseong.
“What’s the big deal? My fever’s gone down now… I’m frustrated just lying around.”
“Absolutely not. The day after tomorrow—no, postpone it to three days from now.”
“But I’m really fine now.”
“Ha, these diagnostic center people are ridiculous too. What are they doing sending a kid who’s only been awakened for two days to come in for an examination?”
With a fierce expression, Kang Hyeseong muttered while looking ready to call the diagnostic center right then and there to argue with them. In the end, Yeoul had no choice but to reluctantly postpone the examination. He didn’t want to be loudly branded as Kang Hyeseong’s acquaintance from the start.
So he had to wait several more days, and today was finally the day of the long-awaited examination. It was a secret from Kang Hyeseong, but… actually, Yeoul had tossed and turned all night like an elementary school student before a field trip to their dream job.
“Kim Yeoul. Just because you’re feeling a bit better now, you can’t get all excited and run around overexerting yourself. For at least another week, you need to be more careful and…”
“Yes, sir. I’ll keep that in mind. So let’s get going quickly, Driver Kang.”
To him, who was still nagging with a stern face, Yeoul playfully teased. Hyeseong let out a laugh as if he found it absurd.
Finally, the car began to move smoothly forward. It had been a while since he’d ridden in a car driven by Kang Hyeseong. His driving was as gentle as ever.
His heart pounded pleasantly with excitement. Yeoul turned his head slightly toward the car window, trying to hide his racing heart.
‘He said he took three days off… because of me.’
All the citizens knew how busy Kang Hyeseong was. His fan cafe (there was a fandom that liked Kang Hyeseong like an idol or actor. The size was even quite large. It was a secret from Kang Hyeseong until death, but… Yeoul was also a member there) periodically sent complaint emails to the Supernatural Security Bureau, worried about Kang Hyeseong’s health.
And he had taken three whole days off to take care of him during his awakening pains. On the first day, he’d thought maybe Hyeseong had gotten leave since it hadn’t been long since he’d returned from deployment, but seeing Kang Hyeseong not going to work the next day, and the day after that, sticking by his side, he’d thought something was strange.
After cornering Auntie as she tried to leave for work and interrogating her, he finally learned the truth. As far as Yeoul knew, this was the first time he’d taken such a long break from work since becoming the Team Leader of R1 Team.
His heart fluttered anew. At the fact that he was a special existence to Kang Hyeseong. And that this had been something so natural between them for a very long time.
“Kang Hyeseong… you’re such an idiot.”
With his gaze fixed outside the window, Yeoul pinched his slightly reddened earlobes with his fingers. At the random words that popped out, Kang Hyeseong let out a small laugh as if he found it absurd.
“Out of nowhere?”
“…Just talking to myself.”
“What kind of way is that to talk to your hyung?”
He lightly scolded him, but there was laughter mixed in his tone. Yeoul briefly took in the sight of him in his combat uniform, then quickly turned his trembling gaze away. Seriously, why does a military uniform fit him like that…
Yeoul decided to focus on looking at the scenery outside the car window. Soon his heart began to swell with excitement. He’d only ever visited the Supernatural Security Bureau by subway, so traveling by car felt different again.
To come this close, and now to be able to go inside…! Yeoul gazed at the magnificent building before his eyes in a daze.
The car stopped in front of the guard post. While Yeoul looked around with wide rabbit eyes, the driver’s side window rolled down smoothly.
“Peace. I will verify your identity.”
One baby-faced soldier shouted with a salute and a tense face. Kang Hyeseong held out his official ID and said,
“Supernatural Security Bureau 1st Division Rescue 1 Team Captain Kang Hyeseong.”
“Confirmed. May I ask how the person beside you came to be here?”
Kang Hyeseong received the examination appointment form from Yeoul and handed it over. The soldier looked over the appointment form, which came with a doctor’s diagnosis stating that he had awakened as a Guide and was requesting an examination, then returned the documents.
“Confirmed. Peace!”
Leaving behind the soldier who saluted crisply, the car set off again. Yeoul glanced at Hyeseong with a pounding heart. He was newly reminded of Kang Hyeseong’s position as a soldier. He felt a bit embarrassed remembering how he’d been fooling around calling him Driver Kang and an idiot just moments ago.
I absolutely can’t act familiar with him privately inside the Supernatural Security Bureau. That would damage Kang Hyeseong’s dignity. And I’m not an elementary school student on a field trip either, I’m someone who might become a soldier soon, so I should act as dignified as possible. Yeoul steeled his resolve inwardly.
As the first defense agency protecting the capital, the interior of the Supernatural Security Bureau was jaw-droppingly huge. Even after passing the guard post, they had to continue driving by car to reach the building where diagnostic examinations were conducted.
Finally, they parked in front of a building with the words “Diagnostic Examination Building” carved in large letters and got out. Yeoul followed behind Hyeseong with a pounding heart.
“Peace!”
“Peace.”
As soon as they entered the building, the soldiers guarding the entrance saluted Kang Hyeseong. Yeoul walked with quick steps, sticking close behind him as he nodded and returned their greetings.
The overall white-toned interior walls and the faint smell of alcohol wafting over inevitably reminded him of a hospital, making him a bit nervous.
When they went up to the second floor, a woman sitting at the desk greeted them warmly. “Examiner” was written on her white coat.
“Oh, hello! Captain Kang. Are you here for a wavelength check?”
“Hello. It’s not for me, my younger sibling awakened as a Guide this time. We’re here for a full-body examination.”
The examiner’s eyes widened at the word sibling. Yeoul, who had been standing behind him, quickly stepped forward. He must not have been visible because he was hidden.
“Hello… Good day. I’m Kim Yeoul.”
As Yeoul bowed with a nervous face, Hyeseong chuckled from the side. His face grew a bit hot.
“Ah, so you’re Kim Yeoul! Welcome. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Upon hearing Yeoul’s name, the examiner brightened even more. Then, after quickly typing something on the computer, she stood up abruptly from her seat.
“Welcome. The awakening pains must have been difficult?”
“Ah… I’m okay now. Thank you.”
“Yes, then I’ll guide you to the examination room.”
Was it her intention to ease his tension? The examiner spoke kindly to Yeoul with a smile. Yeoul bowed his head in gratitude.
So I’m really going to take the examination now. He’d boldly applied for it, but now that he was actually about to take the examination, he felt a bit nervous. The inside of his clenched fist was damp.
“Ah, Captain Kang, if you could wait in the waiting room…”
“I’ll accompany him to the examination room. Since it’s his first time, he might be nervous.”
It was a businesslike yet firm voice. Yeoul looked up at Hyeseong with slightly surprised eyes. This was the first time he’d heard him use this kind of voice.
“Ah…! Yes, then I’ll guide both of you inside.”
He definitely saw it. The examiner looking slightly flustered and hurried… Yeoul walked side by side with Hyeseong, tilting his head.
“…Are you normally allowed to go together?”
Because Hyeseong was walking at a leisurely pace, naturally some distance opened up with the examiner. Yeoul stood on tiptoes and whispered in his ear.
“What does it matter? It’s your first time, so you’re nervous.”
He squeezed Yeoul’s hand firmly with a faint smile. Then Yeoul startled and pulled his hand away. The examiner walking ahead had no interest at all, but he felt guilty for some reason.
“Just so you know, don’t be overprotective.”
Like you do outside, if you make a fuss and treat me like a baby, it’ll be worse for you, hyung, than for me… He was about to add that. But Kang Hyeseong spoke first.
“That’s hurtful. The baby’s already drawing lines with his hyung.”
Hyeseong’s face was calm as always. But with a somehow subtly ambiguous feeling, Yeoul’s eyes widened.
“That’s not what I…”
“Now, this is the examination room, and right next to it is the changing room.”
The moment Yeoul opened his mouth, the examiner who had been walking ahead turned around toward the two of them, pointing to a room at the end of the corridor. A kind explanation followed, saying to change clothes in the changing room and come out to enter the examination room located across from it.
“Yes, understood.”
Yeoul answered briskly, took the clothes, and quickly entered the changing room. To anyone watching, he looked like someone with strict military discipline drilled into them. Perhaps finding that amusing, he could hear Hyeseong laughing quietly behind him, but he deliberately ignored it.
He’d been worried that Hyeseong might follow him even into the changing room, but fortunately, Kang Hyeseong didn’t follow him that far. Yeoul quickly changed his clothes. Half excited, half nervous and trembling.
