Kang Taejun had clearly heard Park Shinui gasping as if he’d tear apart, yet he stood upright just looking down at his watch. And only heartlessly announced the sentence that six laps remained.
Merciless bastard.
Park Shinui cursed inwardly and gritted his teeth. He couldn’t believe the reality that even though it felt like he’d been running himself to death for ages, more than half still remained.
Beads of sweat that had formed on his forehead rolled down his cheeks to his chin. His vision shook dizzily, and finally sweat began pouring from his entire body like rain.
“Ka, Kang Taejun-ssi… Kang Tae, Kang Taejun!”
“Five laps remaining.”
“……”
Had Kang Taejun forgotten the fact that this body’s physical ability was F-grade? Could he not hear the breathing sounds as if about to give out at any moment? He wanted to ask if he really couldn’t see how his face was turning red as if about to burst and he was on the verge of collapse, drenched in sweat. No matter how much he disliked Park Shinui, wasn’t he his one and only pair guide? They’d even kissed not long ago, and now they were in a relationship where they held hands and hugged every day!
I can’t do it. This is my limit. If I run any more from here, I’ll really die……
“Three laps.”
“Huff, huff……”
His legs, about to collapse, swayed greatly. His speed had decreased to the point where it was impossible to tell if he was running or walking, and his upper body was bent down toward the floor as much as possible. Nevertheless, the staggering movements continued without breaking off, though they seemed about to.
Before long, Kang Taejun was quietly staring at Park Shinui instead of his watch. It had already been long since he’d passed the time limit of ‘1 minute.’ Seven minutes had elapsed, but Kang Taejun didn’t send a signal to stop.
He looked at Park Shinui with peculiar eyes as he gasped for breath and stubbornly forced his feet forward step by step. If it was the Park Shinui he knew, he would have already stormed off or thrown a fit, so he couldn’t understand why he was showing such foolishly tenacious will.
Of course, it was a form closer to ‘walking’ that was far from the concept of running, but the very fact that he wasn’t giving up was what mattered.
“One lap remaining.”
Kang Taejun spoke indifferently while slowly moving his fingers. Though there was no sign of exertion or effort, the air around him twisted softly and created a gentle breeze.
The indoor temperature was appropriate, but for someone running to their limit, it was only suffocating heat. Park Shinui’s hair was already soaked with sweat, clinging like seaweed to his pale forehead.
“Huff, huff……”
Did he even hear that one lap remained? His eyes, with their blurred focus, looked thoughtless, and he seemed precarious as if he’d collapse with a single tap.
Kang Taejun lightly sent the breeze he’d created in the air toward Park Shinui. The strands of hair stuck to his wet nape swayed gently in the wind before settling down. That trivial movement particularly caught his gaze.
Kang Taejun moved his steps to close the distance with Park Shinui. Park Shinui, who didn’t even notice someone approaching nearby, staggered as if drunk but stubbornly completed the last lap. Even then, he tried to move his steps again like a machine, so Kang Taejun unconsciously grabbed Park Shinui’s shoulder to stop him.
“Haa, haa……”
As Kang Taejun’s hand made contact, Park Shinui’s shoulder flinched, then he collapsed forward as he was. Kang Taejun, who reflexively pulled that body into an embrace, stood still while receiving the weight that fell into his arms. It was a wait he’d chosen knowing that Park Shinui, who used to have fits just from his body touching, would adapt after a certain amount of time passed.
Meanwhile, hot breaths tickled his nape, and the sound of the other’s heart racing ceaselessly was transmitted directly through his entire body. Since this too wasn’t an unfamiliar strangeness he was experiencing for the first time, Kang Taejun endured that stimulation silently.
“I won’t be substituting today’s guiding with something like this.”
“Haa, haa……”
“If you’re upset, come to your senses quickly.”
“Haa, haa……”
“I said to do ten laps in 1 minute, but do you know it took 8 minutes?”
“Haa, haa……”
“Tomorrow will have to be faster than today.”
Thud, a fist flew to his chest along with the sound. Kang Taejun lowered his gaze. Park Shinui, who had launched the attack that wasn’t even ticklish, was gasping for breath with his mouth open while cursing with his eyes. It looked like the one who hit would hurt more. His face was flushed red and his brow was deeply furrowed, unable to even breathe properly, yet his eyes alone were fierce beyond measure.
Kang Taejun, feeling an inexplicable amusement, created a breeze again with his fingertips and blew it onto Park Shinui’s face. Startled by the sudden wind, Park Shinui turned his head following his hand as if seeing something fascinating.
That sight was trivial and amusing, so when he gathered wind with his fingertips again, Park Shinui’s eyes widened as if they’d pop out. Really, he was so good at being surprised by even the smallest things.
Kang Taejun blew wind again as if responding to the innocent reaction uncharacteristic of Park Shinui. Thanks to that, the pale energy gradually faded from his face where the sweat had dried.
“Are you coming to your senses a bit?”
Instead of answering, Park Shinui nodded. As if the situation of being held in his arms became awkward anew, he even squirmed. Kang Taejun pretended not to notice and put strength into the hand wrapped around his waist to press him closer. Pleasant guiding permeated through his entire body as if enveloping it.
Kang Taejun’s contamination level had dropped to 80% with the kiss from a few days ago. After that, it was decreasing very little by little, tantalizingly, through minor contact with Park Shinui. Certainly, guiding through mucous membranes was far more effective than simple contact.
Nevertheless, Kang Taejun hadn’t refused Park Shinui’s proposal to only hold hands and embrace. It was bearable, and more than that, other aspects concerned him more.
Anyway, even without pushing a contract, if he put his mind to it, going all the way to sex with Park Shinui wasn’t difficult. Originally, an Esper and Guide, moreover with a matching rate close to 100%, meant the easiest relationship in the world for seducing each other.
However, lately Kang Taejun was extremely bothered by Park Shinui’s absurd words of unknown scheming.
The satisfaction that was filled just by holding his body like this wasn’t solely due to the matching rate. Guiding had a greater effect when the Guide empathized with the Esper’s emotions. Then that meant Park Shinui was currently empathizing with him……
Empathy? Was it possible for that arrogant and self-centered Park Shinui to empathize with another person’s emotions? Was that ridiculous and unbelievable thing something that could actually happen?
Kang Taejun looked down at Park Shinui, whose rapid breathing was gradually stabilizing, with dubious eyes. Perhaps because they’d embraced every day at set times for several days, Park Shinui’s body was no longer uncomfortable or repulsive. Far from it……
“Hey. Park Shinui-ssi.”
“Huff, haa. Yes……”
“I said I wouldn’t let today’s guiding slide with this, did you hear me?”
“Haa, yes. I heard you.”
“And what I said about having to run better tomorrow?”
“Ha, shit… yes.”
Though Park Shinui couldn’t hide his extremely reluctant expression, he obediently nodded. That docile appearance was quite pleasing. Come to think of it, Park Shinui lately wasn’t uncomfortable to Kang Taejun at all.
“That’s good. Then since it’s come to this, how about we continue from now and properly receive today’s guiding?”
Kang Taejun raised the corners of his mouth in a cool smile. Then he pulled Park Shinui’s body even more strongly toward him.
“How about wrapping your arms around my back just like this?”
***
“Is this right?”
Training with Kang Taejun continued without missing a single day. He worked Park Shinui in all directions under the pretext of raising his insufficient stamina.
Park Shinui ran and ran every day. Was it only running? Under the claim of building muscle strength, it was a continuous repetition of push-ups, sit-ups, squats, planks, and even burpee tests without a moment’s rest.
Of course, he could endure it for a day or two. He thought Kang Taejun must have his own plan, and after doing this for a few days, they’d move on to technical training or practical training.
But when the same basic stamina training was only repeated until today, the fourth day, Park Shinui gradually began to feel doubtful.
“Kang Taejun-ssi.”
“Yes.”
“We…… we’re not just going to keep doing things like this, right?”
“Your arms are coming down. Spread your knees more. ‘Things like this’? What are you talking about?”
“Well… I did gate wavelength training with Lee Suchan-seonsaengnim. But Kang Taejun-ssi has been making me do only this kind of cardio for days……”
He could do muscle training on his own anytime. Since they were things he’d consistently maintained even after quitting taekwondo in reality, they were nothing to Park Shinui.
But having the busiest and most capable EX-grade Esper in this world beside him while doing only home training level exercise, he couldn’t help but think it was a waste of talent and time.
Park Shinui grumbled in a voice full of complaints while extending his arms straight and bending his knees.
“Seonsaengnim?”
“Yes? Ah, Lee Suchan-seonsaengnim started with wavelength training……”
“Why is Esper Lee Suchan Park Shinui-ssi’s teacher?”
“What?”
“Your arms are coming down. Keep your head facing forward.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Just answer my question properly.”
“I mean……”
Properly? What was Kang Taejun’s question? Park Shinui blinked stupidly.
