# Chapter 22
“They only accept couples.”
“Let’s be a temporary couple then. Let’s date from now on. Good enough?”
“Are you insane?”
The adult pig’s determination was more adamant than ever before. Genuinely afraid that he would actually participate, Iyeon was whispering and bickering, trying to somehow quiet him down, but their behavior must have caught attention because the host approached them.
[Wow! We have two men applying here, but this is a couple’s event—is that okay?]
“No, I’m…”
“Yes. We’re definitely a couple. We’ve been together for a very long time, and this is our child. We adopted her.”
Because Sano was standing next to Iyeon, who was brazenly lying, with a face that anyone could see had been victimized, the host jeered.
[Oh come on, I don’t believe you!]
“I can prove it.”
…What?
Before Sano could even ask such a question, Iyeon twisted his body and grabbed Sano’s shoulders. Taking advantage of Sano’s momentary flinch at the sudden contact, the pale face came infinitely closer. What are you doing… Before he could say anything like that, their noses touched.
Stopping precariously close, close enough to feel each other’s breath, Iyeon met Sano’s eyes. His quivering lips uttered nonsense that was anything but romantic.
“You said you’d repay the favor. I’ll give you a big discount.”
Favor my ass…
[Ohhh! That’s very bold!]
The host, completely fooled by the scam, cheered and allowed the two to participate. Iyeon grabbed Sano’s hand and stood up abruptly.
“Let’s go. Mirae, cheer for us.”
“Okay!”
The tightly gripped hand pulled strongly. Sano, dragged along in the confusion, glared at the small back of Iyeon’s head. He couldn’t understand what kind of person he was dealing with.
The game was nothing special. You could call it a pasta version of the Pepero game.
“I’m supposed to bite this?”
When Sano asked with a face that said ‘don’t talk nonsense,’ Iyeon replied confidently.
“You just stay still. I’ll take care of everything.”
[Ready, set, go!]
As soon as the game started, boisterous cheers filled the surroundings. The goal was obviously to win. The rapidly advancing head crunched and swallowed the pasta with large bites. I should get as close as possible, right? As Iyeon chewed the noodle, gauging the distance, he noticed Sano’s face right in front of him.
Unlike his sullen expression that clearly showed his displeasure with the situation, his docile posture was unexpectedly cooperative. Iyeon had no way of knowing what Sano was thinking, but he figured that Sano must be in a good mood from playing and was going along with this too. When their eyes met, those deep green eyes stared at him indifferently, but thanks to the sight of him with white pasta noodles in his mouth, it wasn’t very intimidating.
Instead, thoughts like ‘he really is handsome, isn’t he?’ crossed his mind.
The cool eyes, smooth bridge of the nose, and plump lips were in perfect harmony. Iyeon’s gaze unconsciously fixed on the lips holding the pasta. The lower lip, draped with the noodle, looked particularly soft.
“…”
This is a bit strange. His reason, which had been consumed by the half-price event, finally managed to come to its senses. Iyeon’s approaching speed slowed dramatically as he blinked a couple of times. As he hit the brakes when there was still about a finger’s width of distance left, the audience’s murmurs grew louder.
As the standoff prolonged, Sano’s gaze swept over Iyeon. Though he understood it was a sign to end it quickly, his hesitant heart couldn’t easily charge forward again.
‘Should I just end it here?’
It’s a game where all you have to do is break the noodle. At this length, winning was probably out of the question, but that wasn’t the issue. Belatedly facing reality, Iyeon slightly opened his mouth and put pressure on his teeth. Watching this scene intently, Sano’s eyes narrowed.
The face that had been sitting still suddenly drew closer.
The store was filled with cheers, but Iyeon could barely hear them. It felt slow, as if time had stopped. Iyeon stared blankly at Sano in front of him. They were close enough to count each individual eyelash.
The warmth disappeared in an instant. A tiny piece of pasta landed on Sano’s palm that had been supporting below. It looked almost like a tetrahedron. Glancing at it, Sano muttered.
“Your debt is as vast as the ocean, it simply won’t diminish.”
Iyeon’s unfocused gaze turned to the mischievously moving lips. It was just a game, he knew that intellectually… he knew, but the sensation.
…Did they touch? Did they really touch? Did they?
The result was obvious. Nothing could beat a fragment so small it should be called pasta dust rather than pasta.
Iyeon clutched the half-price coupon he wanted, but his mind was elsewhere during the entire ordering process. Unable to bear it, Sano ordered for him instead. The food arrived soon, and Iyeon, still in a daze, took a bite.
“…”
This is delicious? Having quickly regained his senses, Iyeon began inhaling food as usual. Thanks to that, by the time they were placing a second order, he had completely recovered and was full of his usual vitality.
After finishing a satisfying meal and leaving the restaurant, darkness had already fallen completely. They’d lost some time due to the event. We should take her home quickly. Iyeon smiled as he picked Mirae up.
“Mirae, now let’s really go to your mom.”
“Okay!”
It was then.
“Jung Iyeon, Je Sano.”
Both of them stopped simultaneously at the sudden call.
The calmly spoken voice created an eerie atmosphere while also sounding somewhat familiar. Who could it be? It might make sense for someone to know Iyeon, but Sano, who had almost no media exposure?
Wariness filled the eyes of the two as they entered combat mode, ready to use their abilities at any moment. Iyeon tightened his grip on Mirae. His plan was to evacuate Mirae while Sano responded if necessary.
Step. Amidst the tense atmosphere, slow footsteps were heard from the darkness. Soon, a man appeared before them.
The moment Iyeon confirmed the smooth face revealed in the streetlight, he hesitated. There wasn’t a person in this city who didn’t know that face. It was similar to Je Sano in meaning, yet different.
“I’m arresting you both on charges of child abduction and kidnapping.”
Jin Heesu, Director of the Mutant Response Department at the Superpower Management Office. The representative superhuman of Chohosi. Ranked 4th in the country.
And a dissolution ability user of the Mugunghwa 5th tier, just like Sano.
His cold face was exactly the same as seen on TV. It was definitely him.
Even though they were both in the 5th tier, Jin Heesu was more famous among the general public because he frequently appeared in the media. The grandson of Choi Heewon, the first Director of the Superpower Management Office and the ice ability user who sealed the first portal, he was born with a silver spoon in the superhuman world and followed an elite path, likely to be the next Director of the Superpower Management Office. That was Jin Heesu’s most representative evaluation.
Why would Jin Heesu, known to be extremely busy, suddenly be at an amusement park, and more importantly, what did he just say to me… While Iyeon was blinking slowly, unable to comprehend the situation, Mirae, who had been in his arms, suddenly exclaimed.
“Uncle!”
…Uncle? Real uncle?
“How dare you take our child.”
Iyeon, coming to his senses, hastily explained.
“Um… This isn’t kidnapping. It’s closer to babysitting.”
“Tell that to the police station. Hand over the child.”
Iyeon could instinctively tell. The moment he put Mirae down, Jin Heesu would attack him.
“No, really, it’s not like that.”
“You’re going to spout such nonsense even when there are witnesses?”
Witnesses too? How could there be witnesses when it’s not true? As Iyeon looked at Jin Heesu with a puzzled expression, he gave a small eye signal toward the back. Soon, a pair of a man and woman appeared. They were familiar faces.
The store clerk from where they had bought drinks earlier and…
“That’s right. This person said he’d never seen this child before!”
The host of the restaurant event.
“He told me they were a married couple, and this was their adopted child!”
No! That’s true, but it’s not like that!
“Are you planning to take the child hostage?”
Jin Heesu muttered ominously. Looking closely, his eyes were half-rolled back. Cold sweat ran down Iyeon’s back as he was hit with the karmic bomb of his careless words.
There was plenty he wanted to say, but in the current situation, it didn’t seem like anything he said would be understood. As Iyeon gaped like an aggrieved goldfish, the arrow pointed elsewhere.
“Je Sano. I heard you were keeping to yourself, but it seems you’ve changed your path to that of a criminal.”
It wasn’t strange that Jin Heesu, a high-ranking official of the Superpower Management Office, knew Sano’s face, but it seemed they had also met in person. Yes, he might not believe Iyeon’s words, but if it’s Sano’s words… Iyeon watched the conversation between Sano and Heesu with hope. Sano gave a sarcastic look. Then, a leisurely voice flowed out.
“If protection is the goal… you shouldn’t talk to me like that.”
The one who shouldn’t talk like that is you!
