Episode 22.
"Oh! What? Why are you here?"
It seemed surprising to find Seoyul in the Research Building rather than the Guide Building. Having regretted their awkward goodbye the last time, Seoyul welcomed him gladly and explained.
"I haven't had much to do, so I was helping out with some work."
"Aha. So that's why I hadn't seen you around."
"What?"
"It's nothing."
Seonghun realized the reason he had rarely seen Seoyul inside the Center and smiled brightly. On top of that, he had just heard an interesting rumor, so he thought himself quite lucky and opened his mouth.
"I heard you moved, Seoyul?"
"Huh? How did you know?"
Seoyul was startled. He had just moved yesterday, so it was surprising that Seonghun already knew. Had Doun told him?
"I have my ways. Where did you move?"
By the look of him asking, it seemed Doun hadn't told him. But was it okay to tell him first?
"Well, it's…."
Seoyul trailed off, hesitating. Reading his thoughts first, Seonghun opened his mouth.
"I live in the building right in front of the Center. The tallest one there."
He revealed where he lived, conveying that he had no particular ulterior motive.
That small consideration made Seoyul feel sorry for having hesitated.
'Uh... but...'
If it's the tallest building, isn't that the one he just moved to? Surprised, Seoyul conveyed this fact.
Then Seonghun shouted, greatly pleased.
"Huh? Really? Then we're neighbors from now on?"
Seonghun lived there too. He somehow felt happy about it. Before he knew it, Seoyul was influenced by the cheerful atmosphere and began chatting happily. Before long, having left work together wasn't enough, and he ended up inviting Seonghun to his home. He couldn't refuse the question of whether he could come over to hang out.
Seoyul wondered if it was okay to invite him so arbitrarily, but at Seonghun's confident appearance, telling him to trust him, he ended up letting a smile slip.
And besides...
"When you move, you usually have a housewarming party."
"A housewarming party?"
"Yes. The guest brings a gift, and the host treats them to food."
"Wow."
It sounded rather nice. That was because Seonghun had added that Doun would be happy too if he made a surprise visit with a gift.
"Would he really?"
"Of course! Just trust me!"
Seoyul was completely taken in by those words.
So instead of going home, he chose a gift with Seonghun at a nearby place.
"For a housewarming, it's definitely toilet paper."
"Toilet paper?"
"Yes. You give it with the meaning that things will go smoothly."
"Wow."
Seoyul exclaimed and liked it, even over something so trivial. And since toilet paper wasn't expensive, it didn't burden him, so he liked it even more.
It was perfect for Seoyul, who felt like his sense of money was going numb from securing a house.
The two quickly purchased the item and stood in front of the new home, ringing the bell.
"...."
"...."
The bell rang, but no sound came from inside.
"Could he not be home?"
As Seonghun muttered, Seoyul tilted his head too. He had thought he'd be home; had he gone out?
Then he couldn't know whether to wait inside for him or postpone the surprise visit. Seoyul felt somewhat disappointed. It was because he had been secretly looking forward to seeing Doun surprised.
But contrary to their expectations, Doun was standing inside the door in shock.
'...What am I looking at right now?'
Why is that guy here?!
Doun had been preparing all day to throw a housewarming party with Seoyul.
It was now time for him to arrive, and he had been waiting anxiously when he saw a hallucination through the intercom.
"...."
Doun blinked, but it didn't disappear. It meant this situation was real.
'Damn. I wasn't gone even a day and this happens?!'
He should have revealed it beforehand and celebrated together rather than holding a surprise party. Doun cursed his foolish self and opened the door with a trembling hand.
Click.
"Oh! You were inside. Surprise!"
"...."
Doun realized the situation in an instant. That quick-witted guy had heard the news of his move and lured the naive Seoyul.
He was curious that Doun had moved, but since Doun wouldn't tell him, he had taken a detour.
'Damn it.'
It was his own mistake. Doun wanted to kick Seonghun out right away, but seeing Seoyul speak with sparkling eyes, that thought vanished entirely.
"W-were you surprised? I heard you normally have a housewarming party when you move. And he said you'd like a surprise visit like this, Esper-nim..."
Hearing that much, he could clearly understand how the situation had come about. Doun immediately shot Seonghun a sharp glare, but Seonghun passed over the pile of toilet paper shamelessly and said,
"Surprised? Happy? Delighted? Here, a gift. Oh! It's way bigger than our place?"
Seonghun barged right in and made a fuss looking around every corner of the house.
Then Seoyul carefully added,
"Seonghun-nim lives here too. Did you know?"
"What?! That guy lives here too?!"
"Huh? You didn't know?"
Seoyul had assumed he naturally knew, so he was rather surprised to hear he didn't. When Seoyul had heard they lived in the same building, he had wondered if perhaps that's why Seoyul chose this place.
"...Come in for now."
"Yes."
Entering carefully, Seoyul stole a glance at Doun's complexion.
Seonghun had definitely said that a surprise visit like this would be welcome, but Doun did not seem to like it very much.
'Ah. Did I make a mistake? I guess you're really not supposed to invite people over without a word to the person you live with?'
To be exact, Seonghun had barged in on his own, but Seoyul, believing that he himself had invited him, lost confidence and drooped his shoulders.
Then Doun added, startled.
"I was actually thinking about who else to call right now. See over there?"
Where Doun pointed, a table was filled with food. Since they were dishes from restaurants Seoyul had said were delicious, the amount was considerable.
"Wow."
Seoyul exclaimed with round eyes. Then Seonghun also said in surprise,
"Ooh. What's this? This is incredible?"
And he shamelessly sat down.
It was fortunate because Doun could make an excuse to Seoyul since the tableware hadn't been set out yet. But seeing that sight, his mood twisted needlessly.
"Is this why you didn't go out today?"
However, seeing Seoyul send him a touched gaze again, his heart melted completely. It was written in those round eyes, 'I'm so moved right now,' and he was too cute.
'Yeah. I just need to ignore the uninvited guest. He's so happy like this.'
Doun nodded slightly and opened his mouth.
"I prepared it to surprise you, but it got to be too much."
"Thank you, Esper-nim. You're so wonderful."
Seoyul smiled beautifully, his eyes sparkling continuously. Although an uninvited guest had intruded, Doun decided to let it go for today since he could see the face he had wanted to see.
After all, he had no way of knowing whether Seonghun's interference would continue after this too.
"This is...."
The next day. A different gift arrived, said to be in return for the delicious food.
"What could he have sent?"
It was a rather suspicious box, but since Seoyul showed curiosity, Doun had no choice but to take out the contents.
"Huh?"
Inside was a game console.
"Wow. I've wanted to try this once."
...With that one sentence, it became something he couldn't even throw away.
And that gift had also completely robbed him of every bit of cozy time with Seoyul.
A small hobby called 'gaming' had entered Seoyul's daily life.
And this devilish thing called a game was incredibly addictive.
"...Is it that fun?"
"Yes! I think I've always liked games! It's so fun!"
As if proving those words, happy Guide energy bubbled up and popped from Seoyul. Among the things that made Seoyul happy, gaming had perfectly secured its place.
"...."
With the situation like this, Doun had no choice but to stay by his side without a word.
Seoyul, completely immersed and absorbed in the game, was cute enough that it wasn't particularly boring.
But his plan to spend harmonious time together, living in the same house and building intimacy, was growing more distant.
'There's still plenty of time.'
That was how Doun thought complacently. But no matter how much time passed, Seoyul wouldn't put down the game console.
What kind of game was this long? He fretted that Seoyul might ruin his health, spending entire weekends saying he had to see the ending. But every game had to end.
"Wow! The ending! It's the ending, Esper-nim!"
Seoyul cheered joyfully watching the ending scene. The energy rising from him scattered everywhere with pops.
Doun absorbed the energy with a very satisfied face and shared in liking the ending.
"You cleared it quickly. So the game is over now?"
With the game over, Seoyul's gaze would turn back to him. Then it would be time to spend cozy time with him as planned.
"Yes! Now I can try other games too."
...What...?!
Doun stared at Seoyul in bewilderment.
"Seonghun-nim recommended a new game to me. He happened to lend it to me today."
Saying so, Seoyul scurried to his room and showed him the game cartridge. Truly, a different game was in his hands.
"This one is a masterpiece too!"
"...."
Doun quietly sharpened his knife toward the damned Esper.
* * *
Seonghun had recently become completely immersed in the fun of teasing Doun. It was because Doun, who had ignored everything anyone said without batting an eye, showed emotions abundantly when it came to the Guide he had gained for the first time.
'I can't miss such a fun development.'
Having always watched him suffer because of Guides, he had considered leaving him be, but seeing him tremble helplessly at the slightest poke, he couldn't sit still.
'Besides, the Guide is cute too.'
He was a cute Guide with curly auburn hair and round eyes. The way he warily guarded himself against strangers was like a herbivorous animal, making one smile just by looking.
'The day I barged into the moving-in house was fun too.'
Doun had been so flustered. It was the first time Seonghun had seen such an expression on Doun's face. The sight of him displeased at having his precious time with his Guide interrupted, yet unable to say anything because the person himself was happy.
Who would have thought they would see that from Cha Doun of all people?
'I wonder how the game turned out?'
While he had gifted it to win Seoyul's favor, it was also to torment Doun, so he looked forward to the result.
Seonghun wandered around wondering where he could run into Doun when he spotted a familiar back of a head in the distance.
'Oh! Lucky!'
Surely, if he spotted him, he would wrinkle his face and show another amusing sight.
"Cha Doun!!"
Seonghun called out to Doun in a loud voice and quickly approached. As always, he walked straight ahead without looking back. But that sight felt even more amusing, so Seonghun giggled and turned him around.
"Honey. How have you... Huh?"
What is this?
In front of him was a man smiling brightly.