Han Seoha, who woke to his morning alarm, tensed up when he realized he was in an unfamiliar place. After taking in the feel of the new bedding and the unfamiliar furniture arrangement, he let out a sigh of relief only when he realized it was the temporary quarters he’d moved into yesterday.
It was a misunderstanding that occurred because a place he’d stayed in for only a day couldn’t possibly be familiar yet.
“Mm… I feel strangely refreshed though.”
Though he’d gone to bed late after making even a late-night snack for Jeong Iro yesterday, his condition was strangely good. He checked the time with an anxious heart, but it was already time to go to work. The sound Han Seoha had heard wasn’t the morning alarm but the matching alarm.
S Baek Uihyeon
A Ryu Jaegeon
“Wow, where’s the business ethics?”
No matter how temporary it was, he’d gotten a partner and had just moved in the day before. Complaints automatically burst out at the familiar names that had submitted matching requests as if they’d been waiting, but he firmly shut his mouth.
Espers with good hearing could hear Han Seoha’s grumbling, and since he didn’t know what kind of surveillance devices might be in the temporary quarters, he quickly pulled himself together.
Even though he had a partner named Jeong Iro, since it was temporary, Han Seoha had to continue his guiding duties. The one fortunate thing was that since he was staying in the quarters with an Esper, he didn’t have to commute to the Guide Center.
Was it really fortunate though?
Having another Esper come in to guide in a situation where there was a partner Esper in the same space, even if temporary, was never a pleasant thing.
‘Well, that’s the general theory.’
For Han Seoha, who needed to reach out in all directions, it was what he wanted. It was even good for blocking the S-rank’s reckless courtship.
However, the unexpected name in the matching request section bothered him.
‘Baek Uihyeon is almost fixed, so that’s fine… but why Ryu Jaegeon?’
He had Yu Haneul. There was no reason to guide with Han Seoha, who had a difference in rank. Ryu Jaegeon’s behavior seemed to mean that emotional residue remained.
‘I did keep showing signs for this to happen.’
If it were the old Han Seoha, he would have swallowed his feelings toward Ryu Jaegeon. When he changed to expressing emotions he’d only kept inside, Ryu Jaegeon kept approaching Han Seoha.
‘Even though I intended it, it’s too fast. It’s still disadvantageous.’
Ryu Jaegeon had nothing to lose, and Han Seoha was still lacking.
At minimum, he needed to rise to B-rank for the surrounding evaluations and treatment to change. Fortunately, he was learning the ropes quite well while guiding a cooperative S-rank Esper. If things continued like this, he could look forward to a rank reassessment.
Han Seoha, who organized his thoughts while showering, headed to the kitchen as soon as he checked Baek Uihyeon’s message saying he’d be late. It was to prepare breakfast for Jeong Iro, who still hadn’t come out of his room.
“Let’s see. Yesterday he easily finished about 4 servings in one go, so… should I make about 10 servings?”
After checking the completely empty rice cooker that had been cleaned out, he started with the rice. He dumped the kimchi and tuna cans he’d seen yesterday into a pot and mixed in water and seasonings appropriately. He also cut up tofu and green onions, rummaged through the refrigerator, and took out eggs and ham.
At the bubbling sound and the appetizing smell of food, Han Seoha paused while taking out a frying pan. It was because he was suddenly struck by the fact that he could cook.
“I wonder if Iro will eat a lot from the morning.”
Remembering yesterday’s Iro, it seemed it would still be far from enough. Thinking he should suggest going to the Association cafeteria for lunch, Han Seoha’s hands became busy.
The table became abundant with just tuna kimchi stew, grilled ham, and fried eggs. Han Seoha, who had been going to call Jeong Iro who was probably awake, turned his steps at the sound of the doorbell.
Baek Uihyeon said he’d be late, and it wasn’t time for Ryu Jaegeon yet. When he opened the door wondering, a familiar scent rushed in. As if the other person felt the same, he frowned at the smell of food filling the house.
“You’ve really set up house, haven’t you?”
“Wait, it’s not time for you to come yet.”
“S-rank schedules can be checked from this side too.”
Ryu Jaegeon, who had confirmed that Baek Uihyeon would be late, didn’t miss the opportunity. At Ryu Jaegeon’s unhesitating actions as he strode inside, Han Seoha followed with a troubled face.
“Jaegeon, wait a bit. I haven’t eaten breakfast yet.”
“You don’t eat breakfast.”
Ryu Jaegeon made a disgusted expression at the large stew pot set on the table and what looked like ten fried eggs.
“What is this? Are you planning to feed every Esper you guide now? How many people are you guiding today?”
“It’s not like that.”
At Han Seoha’s restless reaction, Ryu Jaegeon clicked his tongue and grabbed his wrist.
“Where’s your room?”
“Huh? Over there… You want to do it in the room?”
“What, should we fuck in front of the dining table instead?”
“Why do you keep talking like that?”
He couldn’t understand Ryu Jaegeon, who deliberately used vulgar language when even if they did it, it would only be secondary guiding anyway. When Han Seoha obediently followed, Ryu Jaegeon also didn’t say anything forced.
Instead, as soon as he entered the room, he pulled Han Seoha into a full-body embrace. Since at most a lap pillow was usually the best contact, Han Seoha stiffened in confusion, but since the kiss during the last operation, Ryu Jaegeon had lost all hesitation about contact. He rubbed his cheeks against Han Seoha’s nape and earlobes while holding him, checking.
“Do you know how fucking terrible I felt when I received the defense item you personally put on him from an S-rank?”
“I’m sorry…”
“And what’s with the next Esper you chose being B-rank? You picked a dangerous element who was a villain?”
“Iro isn’t a villain.”
“You’re doing this on purpose, right? To get my attention.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Well, whatever. Do as you like. Your efforts aren’t bad in their own way.”
“What do you… ngh, Jaegeon!”
At Ryu Jaegeon’s action of suddenly pulling his waist and pressing their bodies together, Han Seoha pushed in surprise but he didn’t budge. Because they were pressed close enough to feel each other’s body curves and firmness, Han Seoha’s embarrassment showed clearly on his reddened face.
“Why, why are you doing this? You came to guide.”
“I’m doing this because I came to guide, like you said.”
“Then just hold hands.”
“Ha, do you think I submitted a matching request to play house with you?”
At Ryu Jaegeon’s deliberate actions of moving even his hips languidly, Han Seoha squeezed his eyes shut.
“Really, why are you doing this to me? My rank hasn’t changed either, so what meaning does this kind of contact have…”
“Who knows. You’re a C-rank who guides even S-ranks, after all.”
“Jaegeon, please.”
“Let’s try it once. Then it’ll become clear, won’t it?”
At the momentum that seemed impossible to block with just one layer of clothing, Han Seoha resisted desperately. Though he didn’t budge even at that, the pitiful Guide’s voice reached Jeong Iro in the room right next door.
At the waves vividly felt beyond the wall, Ryu Jaegeon clicked his tongue and whispered in Han Seoha’s ear.
“See that? I told you that bastard’s a villain.”
As Ryu Jaegeon grumbled that he was about to break through the wall, his momentum died down and Han Seoha felt relieved.
In reality, Jeong Iro only stared at the control device while aware of the large energy mass harassing his Guide beyond the wall.
All Jeong Iro, who couldn’t use any power right now, could do was check the Espers that Han Seoha eventually accepted.
That one needs to be eliminated too.
The heat from this side was more unpleasant than the larger energy.
The opportunity would come anytime.
Jeong Iro unknowingly unclenched his fist and released his strength. Even if he used his power, he wouldn’t be able to obtain Han Seoha. Right now, the most effective thing was to wait for Han Seoha, who would come to check on the weakened Jeong Iro.
* * *
Jeong Iro’s daily life was unexpectedly peaceful.
His mornings started with the smell of delicious food. The meals prepared by his temporary partner Han Seoha were in quantities that could feed several grown men, soothing Jeong Iro’s hunger. The starving times disappeared and abundance filled his daily life.
On top of that, even though it was inside the Center, he gained freedom. Not only the watch but also a special control device was added to his wrist, so everyone he encountered showed an uncomfortable expression, but even if he was treated like a potential criminal, Jeong Iro didn’t care.
Jeong Iro’s entire daily life centered on Han Seoha. Whatever the surrounding gazes, if Han Seoha didn’t care, Jeong Iro didn’t either.
Han Seoha had given him a name. He smiled even though his food was taken. Even when injured by Jeong Iro’s panicked flailing hand, he first checked if Jeong Iro’s hand was hurt.
Receiving Han Seoha’s endless affection reminded him of stories seen in magazines or books that villains would throw away.
Does Han Seoha love me?
Is that why he tries to do everything for me like this?
If I act like a child, can I be loved forever?
But he knew that was a delusion.
Han Seoha had formed a partnership only to protect Jeong Iro, and while he worried about him, it was the large energy mass who kissed him.
S-rank and A-rank. High-rank Espers came almost every day to devour Han Seoha’s lips and suck on his neck, but all Jeong Iro could do was hold hands and hug. Sometimes they touched foreheads or rubbed cheeks, but he didn’t give up his lips.
Why? Am I still not enough?
He, who had become Jeong Iro, thought.
What should I do to make this person love me?
I need to become stronger. I need to become more useful and then he’ll kiss me. He realized he couldn’t obtain it just by waiting.
“Sorry, Iro. You must be bored waiting. At least watch TV.”
“Not bored.”
As soon as his guiding with Baek Uihyeon ended, Han Seoha ran to Jeong Iro, who was sitting obediently on the sofa waiting, and apologized. Han Seoha’s clothes were neat, but his cheeks were flushed. Baek Uihyeon, who came out of the room afterward, calmly took in the living room, unlike when he’d entered urgently.
Though he’d rushed to the quarters Han Seoha told him about because guiding was urgent, he’d pushed him into the room without any time to take in the place. As his condition improved after spending a long time, he saw a living room with a homely atmosphere different from the guiding room or Esper quarters.
From the Esper textbooks and toy-like test items messily laid out on the table to the large blanket draped over the sofa and the smell of food remaining in the house. It felt like only this place didn’t belong to the Association.
“Want to open the window.”
“Okay. Cover yourself well with the blanket since it’s cold.”
Han Seoha, who wrapped the blanket tightly around the shoulders of an Esper who didn’t even feel light cold and even prepared a basket full of colorful snacks, looked more like a guardian than a partner.
Jeong Iro’s official rank was B-rank psychokinesis-type Esper. He hid not only his spatial movement ability but even his maximum output, acting like a docile sheep in front of Han Seoha.
He was a dangerous person if anything, but while he induced Han Seoha’s attention, he didn’t attempt any interference while other Espers came to guide. If Jeong Iro knew nothing but judged instinctively, it wasn’t bad for Baek Uihyeon.
‘Perhaps being with Jeong Iro might be better.’
If the reason Han Seoha didn’t waver even when Ryu Jaegeon came was because of Jeong Iro, he planned to watch for the time being.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“Ah, Mr. Baek Uihyeon. You worked hard today too.”
Who should be saying that to whom? At Han Seoha’s sincere greeting, Baek Uihyeon also tilted his head.
“You worked hard too, Mr. Seoha.”
After Baek Uihyeon left and Han Seoha opened the window and returned, he shared Jeong Iro’s blanket.
Jeong Iro stared at the colorful marks on Han Seoha’s neck. Traces that would be cleanly erased soon when the healer came. It was a situation that had already repeated for several days.
The person himself, Han Seoha, concentrated while pushing the little remaining guiding energy into Jeong Iro. For not a short time, Jeong Iro fully took in Han Seoha’s indecent appearance.
“As expected, your waves stabilized. Iro, how about participating in Center training starting today?”
“Will Seoha hyung go too?”
“Of course, if it’s a place our Iro is going, hyung has to go.”
“Then I want to go in the morning.”
“Huh? Morning?”
Knowing that Baek Uihyeon came in the morning, Jeong Iro deliberately chose that time and added an excuse.
“If I run after eating lunch, my stomach hurts.”
“Ah, I guess so. Okay, got it. Then let’s go to morning training together starting tomorrow.”
See? This is liking me.
He prioritizes me over the S-rank.
He needs to like me more. I’ll make him love me.
At Han Seoha’s joy as he smiled brightly, a faint smile also crossed Jeong Iro’s lips.
‘It’s not like I’m actually raising a child, but this is tough.’
Han Seoha, who guessed all of Jeong Iro’s thoughts, resolved to let it slide only until this year when his birthday was ambiguous. More than anything, his head hurt thinking of ways to appease Baek Uihyeon starting from tomorrow.
