Episode 20.
"Well, if it isn't Cha Do-un and Seo Yul!"
"......."
Damn it.
Do-un's already unwelcoming face scrunched up entirely into a frown. Right in front of him was Seonghun.
"Where are you going? To get lunch? Can I come too?"
"No..."
Do-un had been about to spit out an immediate refusal, but he saw something before that. The expectant look in his Guide's eyes.
Though he didn't know the exact reason, the truth was that Seonghun was someone Seo Yul wanted to emulate.
'How can he talk so comfortably with the Esper?'
Because he had always thought that, he had grown psychologically very close to him. Moreover, the two of them looked very friendly, so he had occasionally wanted to have a conversation with him as well.
Thus, this proposal sounded welcome to him.
"It's fine, right?"
The quick-witted bastard smirked as he looked at Do-un. At the same time, a round gaze fixed on him as well.
Do-un, with no way of knowing Seo Yul's feelings, threw a sharp glare at the bastard trying to lure his Guide away. But he also knew that doing so wouldn't change the situation. Wasn't Seo Yul hoping for this?
Do-un let out a small sigh and nodded.
"Fine."
"Wow."
"Great! Then I'll guide you to a restaurant I know!"
Seo Yul couldn't hide his emotions and let out a small exclamation of admiration, and Seonghun happily led them toward the restaurant.
Fortunately, the place he chose was a restaurant with private rooms rather than a crowded one. Do-un felt a small sense of relief that he would be able to eat without worrying about other people's gazes.
It wasn't just the gazes—if there were a lot of people around, the Guiding...
"Ah...."
Do-un suddenly realized something and covered his mouth in shock.
'The fact that Seo Yul is a Hidden Guide is still a secret.'
Since his range of activity was narrow and he had had no chances to encounter other Espers up close, he hadn't been careful about it until now.
But now, wasn't one sitting right in front of him?
"Hm? What? Are you staring because Seonghun is so handsome?"
"...Shut up."
Do-un replied coldly to his nonsense while racking his brain over how to get through this situation.
'Should I just suggest leaving now?'
Even if Seonghun found out, he wasn't the type to spread rumors immediately. He just didn't like him.
He wished as few people as possible would know his true worth, and even if they did, he wanted them to find out as late as possible.
"Esper-nim... are you feeling unwell?"
His expression must have shown plainly, for Seo Yul asked carefully.
"No. What do you want to eat?"
"Uh, um...."
Unable to shake his worried expression, Seo Yul glanced around cautiously. So Do-un raised his head and glared sharply at the one in front of him, and the man chuckled and opened his mouth.
"It seems Do-un wanted to eat with Guide Seo here alone."
"Pardon?"
"What...!"
The problem was that he had complacently thought he'd only be turning Seo Yul's attention away at best.
As if having found an interesting subject, Seonghun began to chatter on and on to Seo Yul.
"Ugh. Decades of friendship really mean nothing, you know? Espers are all like that. When they like someone, they don't care about anything else... ack!"
In the end, Seonghun, kicked in the shin by Do-un, let out a small scream and bowed his head. Seo Yul seemed startled by the sight and widened his eyes, but since shutting Seonghun's mouth was the priority, he immediately changed the subject.
"Have you chosen what to eat?"
"Y-yeah. W-well, that's...."
At a loss, Seo Yul floundered between Seonghun, Do-un, and the menu. But Seonghun recovered as if nothing had happened and opened the menu.
"You're paying, right?"
"......."
"Seo Yul-ssi. If it's okay, may I recommend something? This is the most delicious thing here."
"...Really?"
"Yes. Give it a try, trust me!"
"Then... I'll have this."
The two chatted away as they pleased, and Seonghun ended up ordering for Do-un as well.
'Sigh...'
Do-un felt frustrated by a situation that wasn't going his way. Especially seeing Seonghun sweet-talk Seo Yul with a tender tone so different from his own, his insides twisted.
Of course, Seonghun probably had no intention of trying anything with Seo Yul. He already had a Pair Guide, and he wasn't someone with enough interest to do such a thing.
But the anxiety did not disappear.
Do-un continued his meal while watching the two anxiously.
If energy leaked out, maybe he could absorb it from beside him immediately so no one would even notice?
Well, that's what he was thinking.
"Seo Yul-ssi. Shall I tell you about the day we first met?"
"The first time?"
"Yes. We first met at an academy for ability users...."
Seonghun skillfully led the atmosphere and brought up a topic that would interest Seo Yul. Normally, Do-un would have stopped him, telling him not to talk nonsense, but right now he didn't have the luxury to care.
'So far it's fine....'
By his expression, he seemed to be quite enjoying himself. But that usual S-rank Guiding energy wasn't coming out.
Though he found it puzzling, on the other hand, he was pleased by it.
'Right. I guess it's not good enough for energy to leak out?'
He wondered if he had been anxious and restless for nothing. But objectively speaking, the mood between the two looked good.
Seonghun talked without hesitation and earned favor. Before anyone knew it, Seo Yul had been colored by the atmosphere he created and was smiling gently.
"Haha. Really?"
...Watching that sight, Do-un realized an important fact.
The very obvious fact that the true enemies he should be wary of weren't the lab people, but Espers.
'Why did I forget that...?'
Ordinary people had a certain limit to how much he needed to guard against them. But Espers were different. If they truly set their sights on Seo Yul, there was a high possibility of forming a deep relationship with him.
He couldn't force that. Because everything was Seo Yul's choice. The opportunity was open to all Espers at any time, not just himself.
'But I can't live my whole life on guard, can I?'
It wouldn't be good for Seo Yul or himself. Realizing that, Do-un fell into thought.
—Beep!
—Beep!
—Beep!
Then, an emergency alarm rang from Seonghun's watch.
"Huh? A mission came up. Seo Yul-ssi, I'll tell you more next time. Sorry."
"Ah, no. Please go quickly."
Seonghun immediately got up from his seat and disappeared without a trace. Do-un continued staring at his empty seat, thinking.
What should he do? How could he keep Seo Yul by his side?
"He'll be alright, won't he?"
Seo Yul turned to Do-un, worried about someone else. Do-un didn't like that.
'Right.'
He made up his mind. Do-un suddenly reached a conclusion and grabbed Seo Yul's hand.
And brazenly conveyed his conclusion to him.
"Let's live together?"
* * *
"...Huh...?"
For a moment, Seo Yul thought he had misheard. But it seemed he had heard correctly.
"There are plenty of people who've formed a Pair and live together. It's easier to Guide when you live together, and you can live somewhere much better than a Center dorm. Besides, you know the most important things for a person are clothing, food, and shelter, right? I've got the food handled now, so let's take care of clothing and shelter too. That'll help even more when Guiding."
"......."
Seo Yul listened blankly to the torrent of words, so unlike him. He didn't know why such a thought had suddenly come up, but it was persuasive.
Especially the words that it would help with Guiding sounded quite plausible. But....
"I don't have the means to live in such a nice place yet...."
And that was true. Although he was Guiding Do-un, Seo Yul was not affiliated with the Center.
To be exact, he was a Guide under the Center's protection, temporarily registered because of the uniqueness that allowed him to Guide Do-un.
To join the Center, he had to take an exam and go through a certain internship period. So for now, he was getting by on a special settlement subsidy.
Still, his basic necessities—clothing, food, and shelter—were all provided, so there was no discomfort. Compared to where he had lived in the past, this place was practically luxurious.
Because of that, there was no reason to get a separate house. But Do-un's thoughts seemed to be a little different.
"Why would you have no money? When you form a Pair, my money is basically your money, isn't it?"
"Huh...?"
"Pair Guides are normally paid a portion of the Esper's earnings. Otherwise the math doesn't work out."
Do-un explained confidently. He remembered hearing such an explanation from Seonjeong, but that was in the case of ordinary Espers and Guides.
"...Since the Esper-nim hasn't gone on missions yet... then I too...."
"......."
Do-un was at a loss for words. He had been trying to gloss over it and get away, but the crucial point had been mercilessly struck.
But he wasn't one to back down here.
"It's something I'm going to receive in the future, so what? Besides, I need to regain my senses quickly so I can return too. So this is... that's right! An investment! I'm investing!"
"An investment...?"
"That's right! And if you can Guide quickly, my recovery will be faster too, so won't the return on investment be quicker?"
"Mmm...."
Seo Yul was gradually being persuaded. Then it might be okay. The more time they spent together, the faster the Guiding would be, after all.
It was a thought born from a state of not knowing when and where S-rank Guiding might pop out.
"And I've wanted to move out and live on my own for a while too. I couldn't because my wavelength was unstable, but now that I have you...."
"Ah...."
Having heard the pitiful circumstances, he was completely convinced. Seo Yul hadn't really felt the necessity, but if it was for Do-un, the story was different.
'If I'm with him, people will feel relieved.'
Do-un had suffered from Guiding side effects for a long time. So it seemed he had wanted to move out but couldn't.
Once his thoughts reached that point, Seo Yul nodded slightly.
'Alright.'
Do-un looked at him and smiled in satisfaction. It was all an excuse, but he thought it was fine as long as Seo Yul didn't know.
'I don't care where I live, but....'
The thought of living with Seo Yul was starting to create an interest where there had been none. As one thought led to another, it even led to the rationalization that perhaps he had wanted this for a long time.
'Right. I should take this opportunity to live somewhere nice.'
Though he belonged to the Center, Do-un was an S-rank Esper and had never worried about money.
So he planned to pay all the expenses himself. The talk about investment and such was something he had said because he thought Seo Yul would be uncomfortable otherwise.
It was a good thing Do-un had said the lunch he was treating him to now would be processed as an expense; otherwise, Seo Yul was someone who would have insisted on paying half.
"Then we're living together?"
"Huh? Ah. Yes! I-I look forward to it."
To think he would say he looked forward to it....
'Ah. Cute.'
Do-un suppressed the smile that was about to slip out unconsciously and fell into thought about where would be good for a new home.