Episode 26.
Inside were various clothes. It wasn’t a huge amount, but having been given options, he didn’t know what to choose.
‘The most… plain one…’
At times like this, the most neutral-looking color was best. Seo Yul picked up a white hoodie from among the clothes inside.
It was still a bit hot, but it would soon get chilly, so it was a safe choice. But…
“Huh? The pants…”
There were only shorts.
He had thought they’d gifted him long clothes in preparation for the cold weather, but no matter how he looked, there were only shorts.
He tilted his head at the incomprehensible combination, but since he had no other choice, he picked the most neutral-looking color.
“Hmm. I’ve never worn this style before…”
He smelled the chemical scent unique to new clothes. Having never bought and worn separate clothes outside of his school uniform, it felt unfamiliar.
But it wasn’t a bad feeling. No, he rather liked it. To think he’d receive such a gift.
‘I have to repay them somehow.’
Embracing a pleasant flutter of excitement, Seo Yul quickly changed clothes. Would it… suit him? Too embarrassed to look in the mirror for no reason, he immediately slipped out of the bathroom.
But once he actually stepped inside, a sudden wave of embarrassment washed over him. Wondering what reaction he would get, he wanted to run away just like this.
But he couldn’t, since he had received a gift. Seo Yul carefully opened the door and poked his face in.
Creak.
“Um…”
Once he fully stepped inside, countless gazes poured down on him. Just moments ago it had been only Seonjeong, but now all the researchers had gathered in the lab.
And…
“Oooh!”
“Oooh!!”
Everyone who spotted Seo Yul let out loud exclamations. At that sound, Seo Yul’s face flared bright red.
But that wasn’t the end. The researchers quickly surrounded Seo Yul and began voicing their impressions.
“Guide Seo. It suits you, doesn’t it?”
“Your looks really pop.”
“I always thought you were cute, but seeing you dressed up like this, you’re really cute.”
“The Chief’s sense is no joke, right?”
“Right? My sense is on this level!”
Even Seonjeong puffed up her shoulders with a proud voice, as if telling everyone to praise her.
Unable to lift his head at everyone’s joke-filled banter, Seo Yul kept his head deeply bowed, covering his flushed face with both hands as he muttered softly.
“P-please stop…”
“…”
“…”
At that moment, a long silence hung in the lab. Seo Yul’s embarrassment doubled, but the others’ circumstances were entirely different.
‘Hup!’
‘Uh!’
‘C-cute!’
At his pure and lovely reaction, the hearts of the researchers, worn out from their work, melted away.
Having only seen fellows like Dowun, who were like ticking time bombs, seeing cute and pure Seo Yul felt like a ray of light.
The researchers were seized by the desire to mess up this cute creature’s hair, unable to resist.
And without hesitation, they put it into action.
“Oh my. This cute thing.”
“The young one is good. Nice.”
“We have to shower him with affection before Cha Dowun arrives!”
“Uwah!”
On top of that, Seonjeong wrapped her arm around his neck and started making his hair into a disaster. So he had no idea what was going on.
“W-wait. C-Chief. Aaah!”
While everyone was distracted by Seo Yul, the lab door opened and someone came in.
“I finished early, so I came to pick…”
It was Dowun, who had said he’d only be able to come late in the evening due to an important mission.
He found Seo Yul and seemed to have a brain freeze, standing blankly without a word. The flustered researchers quickly began to scatter.
“Ahem. Research data.”
“Ah, I should work. Work!”
But Seo Yul had just escaped from Seonjeong’s hands, so he didn’t know why everyone was doing that. Thus, barely composing himself and lifting his head, his eyes met with Dowun’s vacant ones.
“Huh…?”
“…”
Hmm.
Seeing that, Seonjeong seemed to realize something. Smiling slyly, she approached Dowun. She placed a hand on his sturdy shoulder and began to chatter.
“How is it? Doesn’t Yul look pretty? Doesn’t it suit him?”
“…”
“It’s my handiwork. He looks like a fresh college student, right? Right?”
“…”
“Sigh. What am I going to do with this sense…”
“…School…?”
Dowun, who had been listening quietly, reacted to the word “school.” Finding that odd, Seonjeong turned her head to see Dowun with an expression as if he were hearing this for the first time.
‘Huh?’
Could it be he was hearing this for the first time?
Seonjeong realized only then. She had wondered why he was so docile after hearing the news that Seo Yul was going to school, but it seemed he simply hadn’t known.
Thinking, ‘That’s just like you,’ she asked Seo Yul.
“Yul. Haven’t you told Dowun yet that you’re going to school?”
“Huh? Ah… I d-did…”
Seo Yul slowly traced his memory of that day.
‘Esper-nim. I think I’ll be returning to school.’
‘Mmhmm…’
‘The Chief said it would be good to attend since I also have to take the Association employment exam.’
‘Mmhmm…’
‘Um… so I even filled out the paperwork today… Is that… okay?’
‘Mmhmm. It’s fine.’
Right. The problem was that he had said it during Guiding, so it was uncertain whether Dowun had heard it properly. Of course, since he had given a proper answer, Seo Yul had assumed he heard and didn’t say anything more.
But seeing that expression…
“When!! I never heard that!!”
Dowun shouted. At that, Seonjeong clicked her tongue and spoke firmly.
“You just didn’t listen.”
“There’s no way…”
He tried to deny it, but something seemed to click. Dowun trailed off and fell into thought for a moment. And soon he slumped his shoulders and muttered in a resigned voice.
“You’re right. I did hear it…”
He recalled the memory of having been so out of it from Guiding that he mindlessly mumbled a response.
Seo Yul had been in a good mood that day, so the Guiding had been more lingering than usual.
‘So that was because of school.’
Dowun clicked his tongue briefly and sighed.
He had just returned from a mission, making it hard to see Seo Yul, and if Seo Yul went to school too, wouldn’t it become even more difficult!
A smart guy like Seo Yul could pass the exam without going to school; why was he doing such an inefficient thing?
And…
‘The guys who go there are all…’
Dowun had also attended the ability-user specialized school for the full course. He knew very well what kind of guys went there.
It was full of hot-blooded Guides and Espers with high grades who weren’t affiliated with anywhere.
If it were the Center, it would be within Dowun’s sphere of influence, so he could keep those good-for-nothings in check, but that place was entirely different.
A place from which people who would later enter guilds and rise to fairly high positions could appear at any time.
Dowun didn’t want to send Seo Yul to such a place.
‘Ugh!! Why there of all places!’
Irritation surged through Dowun. He wanted to immediately shout his opposition, saying it wasn’t allowed. But remembering how happy Seo Yul had been that day, he couldn’t bring himself to say no.
Moreover, his eyes were filled with Seo Yul, who was looking at him anxiously, trying to gauge his reaction. So he couldn’t open his mouth even more.
‘Sigh…’
Dowun let out another resigned sigh.
He had no right to stop Seo Yul from doing what he wanted. Rather, if he opposed it, he would only lose the points he had painstakingly saved up. So the right path here was to support him.
Having reached that conclusion, Dowun spat out words nonchalantly.
“I just forgot for a moment… The clothes… suit you.”
He added some unnecessary words out of embarrassment, but it was the truth. That’s why he had been staring blankly the moment he came in.
His face already looked young, but dressed like that, he was suddenly aware of his age.
‘Did he say he was twenty…’
He himself was twenty-six, so there was a six-year difference between them. It wasn’t a small gap, but the thought crossed his mind that it wasn’t too large, either.
‘Right! A six-year difference is safe, isn’t it?!’
While he was lost in thought alone, a reply to Dowun’s offhand remark was heard.
“Really…?”
Dowun casually lowered his gaze and ended up meeting eyes with Seo Yul, who was looking up at him with faint expectation.
His fingers fidgeting as if shy and his slightly flushed, soft cheeks stood out painfully in his eyes.
‘Uhk…’
Dowun’s heart prickled and began to squeeze tight. He had the sensation that something would burst forth.
He didn’t know what it was, but feeling that he shouldn’t let it out, he just clenched his fist tight and opened his mouth with difficulty.
“Yes.”
“Ah. What a relief.”
At Dowun’s short reply, Seo Yul seemed completely relieved, breaking into a comfortable, soft smile.
A warm breeze gusted around them, and Dowun couldn’t tear his eyes away from that sight, spacing out once more.
From Seo Yul, Guiding energy that proved his good mood began to bubble out. So Dowun felt the illusion that his body and mind were also melting away.
‘Ah… damn it…’
Dowun quickly covered his face, which was threatening to flush red, and reached his hand out to him.
“Let’s go. Home.”
Had he said it as if it were nothing?
Dowun pressed his pointlessly pounding heart and glanced down at him. Seo Yul quietly looked down at his hand. Then, carefully clasping their hands together, he raised his head, smiled prettily, and said,
“Yes. Let’s go home.”
Guiding began to bubble up through his fingertips again. At that ticklish sensation, Dowun cleared his throat with an “ahem” and turned his body away.
Then, Seo Yul quickly began to bow respectfully to Seonjeong and the researchers.
“Ah. Um. So… th-thank you.”
But Dowun seemed to dislike that very much. Just before completely leaving the lab, he threw a fierce, growling glare at everyone.
That glare seemed to say, “Just try making a move on my Guide!” so everyone held back their laughter, giggling silently.
They were an utterly adorable pair.