# Chapter 88
“Now what remains is…”
Boss murmured in a small voice, not leaving Kay’s side.
To return to his original body, they needed that researcher, but for now, he had left that task to Fenil. So all he could do now was wonder what Kay had been doing all this time. But since Kay still hadn’t opened his eyes, he couldn’t know.
“So all I need is for him to wake up…”
He carefully examined Kay as he slept. It was strange. Though it was clearly the appearance of that researcher, not Kay, he felt no aversion. Rather, as soon as he knew it was Kay, he felt a desire to touch him.
Moreover, despite the pale skin, full eyelashes, and thin lips—features that bore no resemblance to Kay…
Boss hesitated briefly before raising his hand. His touch, light as the wind, settled on Kay’s skin. The hand that carefully traced his eyes now moved to the ears protruding from between his hair. The brown fur-covered ears were soft and smooth. Feeling that texture, Boss couldn’t withdraw his hand.
Doing this reminded him of when Kay had become a wolf pup and came to him. Although he couldn’t speak then, Kay had shown his most honest self. There was so much affection in him that Boss had been unconsciously drawn to it.
A faint smile formed at the corner of his mouth at the nostalgic memory. Boss slowly lifted his hand, afraid that Kay might wake up if he touched him more.
But at that moment, as if waking from sleep, their eyes met. Their gazes intertwined in mid-air. Boss, who had frozen momentarily, came to his senses and hurriedly withdrew his hand.
“Are you feeling all right?”
“Where is this place?”
Kay smoothly ignored his question. But Boss didn’t even frown, instead responding with a gentle smile.
“My home.”
At the word “home,” Kane’s body stiffened as he briefly looked around. He showed such shock that one could almost imagine a creaking sound, then quickly moved.
Kay hastily hid his body under the blanket. Only a tail with bristling fur stuck out from beneath the covers.
Boss tried to touch his body after this sudden movement, but Kay spoke first.
“Don’t touch my body!”
He peeked his face out to shout, then went back under the blanket after saying what he needed to say.
“But Kay, we need to check your physical condition first…”
There were numerous concerns. His digestive system would have weakened from not eating properly, and his mental state was greatly weakened from his time in the underground prison. Moreover, he showed no intention of returning from his werewolf form.
Boss tried anxiously to persuade Kay, but in the end, Kay never came out from under the blanket.
* * *
Thanks to Alex’s diligent guidance, Kane was beginning to get a feel for using his superpower. Alex, who had been demonstrating how to lift a book with telekinesis, stopped his ability and asked him:
“Do you understand now?”
“I think I’m starting to grasp it vaguely.”
As if to prove that he had been working hard in the rigorous training, beads of sweat had formed on Kane’s forehead. But he seemed proud of his progress, as a smile never left his lips. Seeing this, Alex nodded with a pleased smile.
“At this rate, you’ll be able to use your ability soon.”
Though there was no visible change on the outside, operating a superpower was something that happened internally. So Kane’s statement that he was getting the hang of it meant he only needed to take one more step forward.
Alex raised his hand and patted Kane’s head. It was a habitual action he often did with Kay. Alex realized this belatedly and withdrew his hand with a start. Fortunately, Kane’s reaction didn’t seem too negative.
Kane touched his hair where Alex’s hand had been, then opened his mouth while fidgeting with his fingers. Alex’s gaze immediately went to the bandages wrapped around Kane’s hand. The bandages had been necessary because his self-harm had become serious.
“Um… thank you.”
But by the time Kane finally mustered the courage to look at Alex, his gaze had shifted. Alex smiled brightly as if nothing had happened.
“It’s beneficial for us too if you can use your ability, Kane-ssi.”
In a way, they might be more desperate than Kane. Boss had changed Kane’s handler to himself and had been contacting them almost daily. With such direct pressure, Alex couldn’t help feeling increasingly anxious.
Still, it was fortunate that Kane was cooperating well. Usually, when powers first manifest, people get a rough sense of their abilities. Then they gradually refine and hone their superpowers through training. But although Kane’s power had manifested, he had immediately fallen unconscious. There was no way he could have had time to sense his ability.
Because of this, Alex had expected the training to be difficult. But the result was unexpected. Kane seemed to have good comprehension from the start. He immediately understood even complex explanations and absorbed them. On top of that, Alex had often seen him practicing until dawn, so the training couldn’t help but progress well.
The more Alex got to know him, the more he was convinced that Kane was a good person. At first, he had suspected it might be an act, but it was almost impossible to fake such a natural attitude.
“Is there anything else you need?”
Kane currently couldn’t go outside. So Alex would bring him whatever he needed. At his look that said just ask for anything, Kane began to think. Usually, although he would hesitate, he would speak right away, but this time was different.
That must mean it was a difficult request. After several minutes had passed, his closed mouth finally began to open slowly.
“Could I possibly apologize to Kay-ssi?”
“Kay?”
“It seems he’s suffered a lot because of me…”
Alex had expected him to ask for some hard-to-find snack, not to make an apology. Kane must be in a sufficiently confused state as well. Yet even in this situation, he was thinking of others… Surprise spread across Alex’s face.
“Kay isn’t here right now… I’ll try to arrange a meeting later.”
It would probably be difficult until he returned to normal. When Alex had tried to visit Kay out of concern, Boss had flatly refused. For some reason, Boss seemed determined not to let anyone into his home.
At Alex’s words, Kane smiled with disappointment.
“I see…”
“I’ll definitely make sure you can meet him later.”
“Thank you. And… has my identity been completely erased?”
Worried that it might be a question that would upset Alex, Kane glanced at him furtively. Only after confirming that there was no reaction in Alex’s expression could he let out a small sigh of relief.
“Yes, but Fenil said she’ll provide a new identity, so there shouldn’t be any problems if you live abroad.”
“Abroad…”
“You don’t need to worry. We plan to provide everything you need.”
Alex hurriedly continued speaking as Kane’s mood rapidly sank, but Kane’s atmosphere didn’t change. It probably wasn’t about money. Then…
“Umm… is there someone you need to meet?”
Unlike them, Kane was virtually a normal person. So it was natural that he would have someone precious to him. Parents? Or perhaps friends? Alex could arrange a meeting at least once.
Since Alex currently considered Kane a victim too, he was willing to grant such a request.
Kane flinched at Alex’s words, as if they had hit the mark, then fell into deep thought. His brown eyes, which had shone with purity, began to cloud over.
“I want to meet… that child.”
After maintaining a long silence, Kane spoke while staring at Alex. Faced with those desperate eyes, Alex found himself opening his mouth without realizing it.
“Where are they now?”
Kane, who had been scratching above his bandages, hurriedly averted his gaze as if something was bothering him. His parted lips opened gently.
“…at Peace.”
His voice, buried in guilt, trembled weakly as if it might disappear at any moment.
* * *
Though Kay had awakened, he showed no intention of coming out from under the blanket.
“Kay, you need to eat.”
Boss spoke carefully, but Kay only curled up more without even pretending to listen. His already ball-like form transformed into a perfect sphere. Kay showed no intention of coming out, as if he wasn’t even hungry. Boss placed the bowl of porridge on the bedside table, at a loss for what to do.
After becoming a werewolf, Kay’s personality had completely changed. He had been in the form of a wolf pup before and was now in human form, so it was unclear if that was the difference. Because of this, Boss had begun to learn more about werewolf characteristics.
And Boss discovered that a werewolf’s appearance changes according to their inner state at that time. This was something he had vaguely recognized. That’s why he could tell that Kay had been bound to his childhood in the past.
What he hadn’t known, however, was that personality also changes according to appearance.
In the past, he had thought it was just about being more honest. But it wasn’t about becoming honest during the full moon. It was about maximizing the emotions one held during the full moon.
Until now, Kay’s affection for him had been strongest when the full moon came, so that affection became his personality and appearance. That’s why he had showered Boss with limitless affection.
Then was the emotion Kay harbored now hatred? Actually, it was ambiguous to consider it hatred, as he didn’t charge at Boss as if to kill him. But even if it wasn’t hatred, he clearly held antipathy. Especially now, as he maintained his werewolf state, it would be even more severe.
Come to think of it, Kay had shown this kind of behavior when they first met. Like a stray cat, he had been wary of everything, trusting no one. He had been so suspicious that he wouldn’t even eat, so his wariness was no small matter.
But later, he had completely let down his guard… What had Boss done back then? He slowly recalled those memories.
