# Chapter 34
Dohyuk eventually rubbed his forehead against Junseo’s shoulder without properly facing his vaguely excited expression. A gentle hand patted Dohyuk’s back.
“Are you afraid I might get hurt?”
His gaping lips, lacking even the presence of mind to respond, only let out continuous moans. Junseo, whispering softly into Dohyuk’s ear, ran his fingers through the back of Dohyuk’s hair. His messy hair, like a wild animal’s fur, escaped between Junseo’s long fingers like flames.
“…You’re out of your mind again. If you enjoy guiding this much, how have you endured until now? Hmm?”
And how much longer will you endure? His whisper was like a slender willow leaf floating on water. Junseo, easily supporting the limp body, brushed his lips against Dohyuk’s ear. The afternoon sunlight danced upon their overlapping shadows.
***
Though Dohyuk had occasionally heard that he wasn’t much fun to talk to due to his unexceptional conversational skills, this was the first time he’d been told he was shy, which made him seriously ponder. Had the world changed without his knowledge? How debauched a lifestyle must Espers and Guides have been leading for Junseo to maintain such a nonchalant expression?
When Dohyuk glanced at him, Junseo, sensing his gaze, smiled thinly as if teasing him. The tip of his neat-looking hand scratched the back of Dohyuk’s hand resting on the table. Though he couldn’t properly feel the sensation due to his gloves, judging by the pressure, Junseo seemed to be applying considerable force. Just as his finger gently rose to poke at Dohyuk’s exposed wrist, Dohyuk unconsciously pulled his hand away and hid it.
Their eyes met again. Junseo asked like a mischievous house cat.
“Are you still embarrassed?”
“…Please. And rather than embarrassed, I’d say mortified.”
How could he not be mortified when he’d been melting like a cat rolling in catnip? Unlike Espers, Guides remained fully conscious during guiding. To put it in metaphorical terms, it felt like making a drunken scene before a sober friend.
“It’s fine, I’m telling you. The more satisfied you are with the guiding, the happier I am.”
“I’m still a bit awkward with this kind of guiding…”
Dohyuk, who had been living almost like a religious ascetic, receiving only minimal guiding from Guides with low matching rates, wore a troubled expression. To this Dohyuk, Junseo tilted his head like an innocent child. Every time he moved, his moderately long hair scattered in black disarray.
“Then you should use me as much as you want, too. Until you get used to it.”
After being so focused on Junseo that the surrounding lunch-hour chatter momentarily faded into haziness, Dohyuk was startled. He hastily shook his head.
“I think I prefer moderation. Though I’m glad you seem to be gaining confidence in your guiding.”
Despite Dohyuk’s earnest attempt to change the subject, Junseo merely smiled brightly.
“It’s thanks to you. You enjoy it so much that I naturally gain confidence.”
His horizontally long eyes were still smiling gently. Dohyuk put down his spoon with a quiet sigh. Unlike Dohyuk’s plate, which was nearly empty after eating his fill, Junseo’s was almost untouched.
Junseo had a small appetite despite not overtly avoiding any foods. It was remarkable how he maintained his not-so-small physique. Dohyuk, with concerned eyes, pushed a few side dishes toward Junseo and spoke.
“Are you doing this on purpose right now?”
“Of course not. But isn’t it usually the Esper who enjoys and requests guiding more?”
“That’s generally true. For Espers, guiding is directly linked to survival.”
No Esper could endure without guiding. All Espers gradually wore down while handling their abilities, powers so immense they were wondrous. It wasn’t a power humans were meant to properly control in the first place. With each use of their abilities, they were mentally consumed. Intense depression, headaches, insomnia, and chronic fatigue—various occupational diseases and chronic ailments were the reality of Espers whom ordinary people idolized. It wasn’t uncommon for Espers who couldn’t receive proper guiding to commit suicide due to overwhelming depression before they could go berserk.
“But you seem rather reluctant about guiding. You clearly enjoy it, yet you don’t prefer to do it frequently.”
He strangely emphasized “clearly enjoy it.” Dohyuk pressed down on his stiffening eyelids and responded slowly.
“I’ve never had a Guide with as high a matching rate as others. Maybe I’m used to that, but right now it feels a bit excessive.”
“Isn’t it natural to become greedy when something lacking gets filled? You don’t want to go back to lacking again.”
Only then did Dohyuk realize. Junseo was subtly protesting.
After being overwhelmed by Junseo’s sudden guiding today, Dohyuk, once he regained his senses, had seriously told Junseo: that from now on, unless in emergencies, guiding should only take place in the guiding room with prior notice, and that he preferred the gentler style they had practiced initially.
The moment Junseo became even slightly excited, Dohyuk was helplessly swept away by the guiding. Even today, throughout the guiding, fireworks had exploded in his head to the point where he could barely remember what had happened. It wasn’t a matter of ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ Honestly, Dohyuk was afraid of losing consciousness because he couldn’t trust what he might do in that state.
“True, but I still need to restrain myself. Plus, I have a serious dependency on guiding, so I need to be careful. Originally, I should file a report every time I receive guiding, but in your case, I haven’t been doing that.”
“You have a serious dependency on guiding?”
“Yes, I’m receiving special care from a research lab at headquarters.”
Just as Dohyuk was trying not to look at Junseo’s drooping eye corners, his phone, which he’d left on the table, vibrated. Judging by the single vibration, it was a message. As Dohyuk reached for it, Junseo must have seen the screen first, as his eyebrow twitched once.
“Super Esper Jung Seah? With two hearts, no less.”
♥Super Esper Jung Seah♥
Have you eaten lunch yet?
Dohyuk didn’t even have time to respond. His phone vibrated again, and the screen, which he hadn’t locked, publicly flashed.
♥Super Esper Jung Seah♥
I don’t wanna eat alone today ㅠㅠㅠ
“What should we do? Looks like she’ll have to eat alone. You’re already eating with me, right? That’s what you’ll tell her?”
He didn’t understand why Junseo was answering messages meant for him.
“Well, I’ll have to tell her I’ve already eaten.”
“Who is Jung Seah?”
“A younger friend I know.”
“You give a younger friend you know two solid hearts? I thought you weren’t keen on Guides, but are Espers actually your preference?”
That was a dangerous insinuation. Dohyuk quickly refuted.
“What on earth are you saying! Seah is a minor.”
It was around the time Dohyuk, feeling sorry for Seah, sent a slow reply saying he was eating lunch. His phone vibrated again.
S-class Guide Yu Junseo
How am I saved in your phone?
Their eyes met. Junseo, who had been looking at Dohyuk’s phone screen, showed his palm with a lovely smile, and Dohyuk quietly handed over his phone. He didn’t even have the energy to ask what business Junseo had with how someone else’s contacts were saved. It felt like he was under some kind of spell.
“Happy now?”
“Yes. But I’ll attach four hearts for you, so I’m getting the worse end of the deal. Don’t worry.”
“…Okay. Thank you.”
Dohyuk’s phone vibrated.
♥Junseo♥
You’re welcome♥
***
“Esper Choi Dohyuk. Your condition seems pretty good these days. Your brainwave test results are also good.”
Befitting his background as a former B-class Esper, the man with a large, solid build for a regular researcher had an appropriately wrinkled face matching his age over 50. His abundant hair mixed with white strands. The graying sideburns somehow looked elegant and authoritative. His shirt, buttoned up to the very first button, also seemed to represent his pedantic personality.
In response to Dr. Jeong Byeongseok’s words, Dohyuk responded languidly.
“Is that so?”
Dohyuk was just thinking to himself that guiding with Junseo must really be effective after all.
“By the way, I heard the news. Guide Yu Junseo has taken an interest in you, they say?”
“It’s not a significant interest. I just received emergency guiding from him once.”
“Didn’t you also take a matching test? I heard it was very high at 88%.”
“He’s an S-class Guide, isn’t he? It’s not that surprising. For an S-class Guide to have a high matching rate with an A-class Esper.”
Having finished a simple examination, Dohyuk put on his leather gloves with a hardened expression, almost appearing sensitive. Watching the rough hands being covered by smooth gloves, Dr. Jeong overlaid a benevolent expression on his face.
“Have you forgotten? Has there ever been an S-class with a high matching rate with you until now? And I also heard that he tried to establish a partnership. That sounds like a close relationship, doesn’t it?”
“How long has it been since I declined as Dr. Choi advised?”
“What? You met Dr. Choi? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I haven’t seen him directly since returning to headquarters. I only heard his message.”
