“Ah. Then can I ask you something this time, Yeoul?”
Picking up his chopsticks again, he looked at Yeoul and tilted his head slightly. His tone was still cheerful, but the atmosphere seemed subtly different from just moments ago when he’d been purely playful.
“Yes, please ask me anything!”
“Sorry for asking this again, but last time there were so many people rushing in that it probably wasn’t easy to speak comfortably.”
What kind of question is he building up to like this…? Yeoul blinked, waiting for his words to continue.
“Are you and the team leader really… in that kind of relationship?”
“Ah… no.”
Oh, that. Yeoul smiled with effort and shook his head.
“The team leader is just, um… like family to me. We’ve lived next door to each other since we were young.”
Kang Hyeseong probably thinks of me that way. He said I’m more like a real younger brother than his actual younger brother. His feelings of caring for me specially are definitely precious and appreciated, but… for some reason, saying it out loud myself felt a bit bitter and upsetting.
“Really? So that’s how it is.”
Seo Giwon slowly nodded. His large clasped hands twitched. A new gleam was circling in his eyes that had briefly deepened.
“If that’s the case, then I’m a bit happy.”
“…Pardon?”
Yeoul blinked as if he didn’t understand. What does he mean by saying that? Then he grinned at Yeoul.
“If you’re not in that kind of relationship, then there’s no possibility of you imprinting with the team leader, right?”
“I… don’t think so.”
“Then I thought maybe I have a chance. Exclusive contracts are usually done once every 2 years.”
“Ah…”
A dumbfounded voice came out. Yeoul nodded with a flabbergasted face. A chance…? Could Esper Seo Giwon be asking me to become his guide right now?
Yeoul looked at him with eyes filled with quiet shock. When their eyes met as Seo Giwon gazed at him, he tilted his head slightly and smiled. It was a confident yet heated gaze.
Come to think of it… When he first introduced himself and greeted the R1 team members, Esper Seo Giwon had said something like that. That he was currently looking for an exclusive guide.
“I’m absolutely not saying you should decide now, and there’s still 2 years left so consider it without pressure. After receiving guiding from you earlier, I think we match pretty well. If we test it, our matching rate will probably come out quite high, right? The burden on you was probably less than when you guide the team leader too.”
It was true. Since there was inevitably a grade difference with S-rank Kang Hyeseong, he always felt burdened even while being careful, but guiding with Seo Giwon who was the same rank was much easier in comparison. The burden on his heart would be much less too. Just a moment ago, hadn’t he drastically lowered the wave reading just with basic guiding done while wearing gloves?
‘But I… want to continue working as Kang Hyeseong’s guide even after the contract period ends.’
Yeoul fidgeted with his hands placed on his knees.
He didn’t know what Kang Hyeseong would think, but that’s how he felt. If possible, he wanted to continue being his exclusive guide. He couldn’t even dream of something like imprinting, but still, since their matching rate was high, wouldn’t he be able to guide him to a level that wouldn’t burden him?
However, if a guide with a higher rank and better matching rate than him appeared… then he would have to give up his position without a word.
It would be much more comfortable for Kang Hyeseong to receive guiding from that guide rather than receiving guiding that barely registers while soothing and caring for my weak body.
“Yeoul.”
“……”
“…Yeoul?”
“Ah… I’m sorry, hyung.”
Lost in various thoughts, he seemed to have zoned out for a moment. When he snapped back to attention, Seo Giwon was smiling with an awkward face.
“Oh my, I must have given you too much pressure. To someone who just finished their contract.”
“N-no, sir.”
“Just keep it in mind. Come on, let’s hurry and eat. The meat’s going to burn.”
“Yes! Pass me the tongs.”
As if he hadn’t just made such an important proposal, Seo Giwon laughed and chattered playfully as usual. As he lit a small flame on his fingertip and shot it at the meat calling it direct fire grilling, Yeoul enjoyed himself immensely and filmed another video.
In doing so, the content of the conversation they’d just had soon disappeared from his mind. After all, it wasn’t something he had to decide right away, and to Yeoul who was busy adapting to his dynamic daily life, 2 years later felt like only a distant future.
Throughout the ride back to the Ability Security Bureau after finishing their meal, Yeoul had endless small talk with Esper Seo Giwon. A warm and lively person. That was Yeoul’s impression of him. Above all, he could feel that he cherished and cared for him greatly as a junior, and he was nothing but grateful.
***
They say you have to write a report after clearing a gate. Yeoul, who returned to the Ability Security Bureau with Seo Giwon, learned how to write reports from him.
What method was used to handle the gate, how much time it took, how much ability the Esper used, and how the increased wave readings were handled. After meticulously recording everything and finishing the report, then inspecting their respective equipment, time had flown by.
Fortunately, no more calls came in the afternoon so they could all leave work on time for once. Returning to the dormitory early for the first time in a while, Yeoul did his backed-up laundry and cleaned the living room and bedroom.
“Let’s see… when is Kang Hyeseong coming?”
Having moved around diligently doing housework, he was really tired now. Yeoul, who flopped down on the sofa, took out his phone thinking he should try contacting him.
What should we eat for dinner? He’s not working overtime again doing some extra work by himself, is he? Just as he was about to call him while thinking these thoughts, the sound of the door lock opening came and Kang Hyeseong entered through the front door.
“Hyung! Welcome back.”
“Yeah, Yeoul.”
Yeoul, who jumped up at once, ran to Hyeseong in a single bound. Patting his round head gently, he asked in an affectionate voice.
“Did you do well on today’s mission? How was it with Esper Seo Giwon?”
“It was good! We finished safely, and the guiding went well too. Giwon hyung bought me meat.”
Kang Hyeseong, who had been about to take off his shoes and enter, hesitated and turned his head.
“…What?”
“Hm? After finishing the mission safely, hyung bought me meat. It was totally a famous restaurant?”
“Not that. Giwon hyung? …Seo Giwon told you to call him that?”
“Yeah. Why?”
Is it my imagination? The fact that displeasure seemed to settle on Kang Hyeseong’s face, which had been peaceful until just moments ago. Yeoul looked at him with a puzzled face.
Did I refer to my senior too casually…? Is that why he’s displeased? But Giwon hyung said everyone calls him comfortably, so I could call him hyung too…
“Yeoul.”
“Yeah?”
“How far did you guide?”
However, the words Kang Hyeseong brought up were of an entirely different kind.
“What are you talking about? All of a sudden.”
“What kind of guiding did you do. With Seo Giwon.”
“Uh… of course I did basic guiding? The kind you do with gloves on.”
I wrote it like that in the report submitted to team leader Kang Hyeseong too… Maybe he hasn’t checked it yet? As Yeoul just blinked his eyes, he asked again.
“He didn’t request anything beyond that?”
“Huh? Of course not. He was extremely gentle.”
“What did Seo Giwon say while receiving guiding?”
“He said it was good… That it felt like his whole body was melting, that this was the first time he felt like this. So…”
He was about to carelessly mention the fact that Esper Seo Giwon had asked him to consider a contract with him after the exclusive contract period ended, but closed his mouth. No matter what, right now Kang Hyeseong was his exclusive Esper, so if he told him this straight out, he might feel bad.
“So? You have to finish what you’re saying, Yeoul.”
The smile had already disappeared from his face as he asked in a quiet tone. Kang Hyeseong, who had suddenly changed, was a little scary. Why is he being so persistent today…
Sometimes he tries to control me to a degree that seems a bit excessive, and right now Kang Hyeseong had exactly that kind of face.
“Nothing… It’s nothing. Anyway hyung, what should we eat for dinner?”
“……”
He tried to change the subject because the stiff atmosphere was awkward, but Kang Hyeseong, standing firm like a rock, didn’t budge. Just as he felt that his gaze seemed sharper than usual—
“Let me check for a moment, Yeoul.”
“…Huh?”
The hand of Kang Hyeseong, who strode closer, suddenly grabbed the hem of his t-shirt. And lifted it up without hesitation.
“Hyung…?!”
His stomach and chest were exposed in an instant. The skin suddenly exposed to the air clung tightly with tension. Startled by his defenseless bare body being revealed, Yeoul didn’t know what to do and floundered.
“W-wait. Why are you doing this? Suddenly.”
“Stay still.”
A hawk-like fierce gaze examined his body. Thoroughly, as if searching for something. It was a tenaciously persistent stare.
‘Wh-what is this…’
It was the first time. That Kang Hyeseong tried to forcibly see his body like this and treated him in this manner. Because he was so flustered, his body stiffened rigidly. Yeoul didn’t know what to do at the fact that his sharp eyes were scanning his body like prey.
But Kang Hyeseong didn’t stop there.
“Turn around.”
Commanding in a chillingly low voice, he practically forced Yeoul to turn around. He could feel Kang Hyeseong’s gaze scanning thoroughly from the back of his neck to his shoulder blades and down his spine without any gaps. As if confirming something.
Every time his large hands touched his stomach and chest, his waist jerked up, and everywhere tingled as if electricity was flowing through his whole body. To swallow the breath rising urgently, Yeoul unconsciously raised his hand to cover his mouth.
This… isn’t good. A clear danger signal rang in his head. His heart, pounding violently, felt like it would burst out of his mouth.
