“Adaptation period starts tomorrow. I’m counting on you. I can just call you Yu-won, right?”
“Yes. Call me whatever’s comfortable.”
After submitting their pair registration form, the two headed to the cafeteria with the card given by the Center Director.
“I mean, it’s not like I don’t have money myself.”
“Hey, I’ve got money too. But come on, on a day like this, we should treat ourselves on someone else’s dime. It’s not every day you get to use the Center Director’s card, you know?”
Unlike Rion, who was grinning as he waved the director’s card like it was a prize, Yu-won kept the same expressionless face he’d had since they first met.
Whether they liked it or not, they’d be glued at the hip now that they were officially registered as a pair—but with Yu-won being this stone-faced, it’d be tough to get close.
Rion clicked his tongue at the thought.
“You must’ve just graduated high school, huh?”
“Yes. I got tested right after graduation. My birthday’s earlier than most.”
“You didn’t wanna go to college? Not many people come straight into this right away.”
Still, it seemed like he was talking a bit more than when they first met. That was progress. Rion took it as a good sign.
“I got into college, but once I got my results, I withdrew.”
“Why? Just because you got your results doesn’t mean you had to enlist right away.”
When Espers and Guides first began to emerge, individual freedoms were practically nonexistent. Age restrictions were more like wishful thinking than actual rules.
But when unhinged parents started shoving their awakened kids—Esper or Guide—into gates for a quick buck, regulations began to form.
It varied by country, but in Korea, those under 19 couldn’t legally work as Espers or Guides. They couldn’t even take the ability test before reaching that age.
And as society slowly accepted the idea that awakened people were still individuals—human beings deserving of a normal life—forced enlistment rules began to disappear.
Even after getting your awakening results, you could still attend college and enter the Center afterward. Or, you could train just enough to act as a backup and live like a normal person.
“Where’d you get in? What major?”
“Law at H University.”
“…Pfft! What?”
Rion nearly spit out his water and wiped his mouth, caught off guard. Even someone like him, who didn’t give a damn about college rankings, knew how prestigious H University’s law department was.
“Uh… So you weren’t interested in law? Did your parents force you into it even though it didn’t suit you, or…?”
“No. I’ve had my eye on law school since my first year of high school.”
Then why the hell did you get tested the moment you turned nineteen and give up college altogether to come here?
Rion stared at him, baffled.
“Then why? Isn’t it super hard to get into a place like that?”
“I didn’t know I was a Guide back then.”
Yu-won answered plainly.
He’d never dreamed of law school for money or power.
It had simply been his best option when the path he really wanted seemed out of reach.
“If there’s something I can do, then I should do it.”
“So, you really wanted to be a Guide? That’s why you got tested right away and came straight here?”
“Yes.”
Rion’s eyes shimmered with emotion at Yu-won’s reply.
He joined this path to save people—to put his abilities to use as soon as possible. Cold on the outside, sure, but maybe he was actually a decent guy.
Rion nodded, a warm feeling blooming in his chest.
“For the first month, it’s basically a trial period. Once the real work starts, it’s tough. You might even want to quit. Still okay with it?”
“I’m okay. I didn’t jump into this blindly. I know it’ll be hard, but there’s something to be gained from that hardship.”
“Y-Yeah, that’s true. It’s exhausting, but helping people—it’s fulfilling. Even cool, in a way. Not that anyone else gets that.”
Everyone else moaned about just scraping by, but Rion genuinely liked the job. The ability to save people—that he had that kind of power—gave him pride.
Finally, someone who understood where he was coming from. Maybe they’d actually get along better than he thought?
Rion smiled at the realization.
“I’m glad you think that way. Feels like we’ll be a great match, right?”
“…Maybe.”
Yu-won still answered in that flat tone of his, but it didn’t matter anymore.
Rion beamed and said:
“You’re twenty now, right? That means you can drink. I’ll treat you to a drink. Well, not me technically—it’s on the Center Director.”
He waved the director’s card between his fingers.
“Let’s get something really expensive.”
“…Are you drinking too?”
“Nah. Because of the whole guiding issue… and other reasons, I’ve never actually had a drink.”
That meant he had no idea how much he could handle—or if he’d turn into a mess. If he ended up hungover the next day and couldn’t use his ability properly, that could put lives at risk.
He didn’t want to be the reason a gate-related disaster spiraled out of control. Even more so when he was already chronically under-guided. His body needed all the care it could get. Alcohol was a luxury he couldn’t afford.
“If it’s a guiding issue, isn’t that not a problem anymore?”
“…Huh?”
Rion froze mid-headshake at Yu-won’s comment.
Wait… that’s right. This guy’s my match. An S-rank Guide with a 99% matching rate.
He’d totally forgotten.
The moment the Guide showed up, the first thing he should’ve done was receive guiding. But he’d been so shocked to learn that someone with a 99% match had appeared that he completely blanked on the most basic thing.
“Oh, right. You’re my match.”
Rion let out an awkward laugh. How could he forget something that important? No wonder everyone at the Center had been so stunned.
“Should we… hold hands or something?”
Unable to handle the awkward silence, Rion extended his hand. They’d finished basic training already, so surely Yu-won knew how to guide.
“……”
Yu-won silently stared at Rion’s outstretched hand. What? Why is he just staring? Just when Rion was about to pull his hand back in embarrassment, Yu-won slowly reached out.
“…!”
A large, warm hand gently wrapped around Rion’s.
His demeanor might’ve been cold, but his hand was surprisingly warm—and then, it hit him.
A sensation unlike anything he’d ever felt before surged through him.
Guiding had always felt like a gentle stream of water trickling in. But this—this was a waterfall crashing through his veins.
The fog that always clouded his mind suddenly lifted, his head crystal-clear. The exhaustion that lingered no matter how much he slept vanished like it was never there.
He’d thought of guiding as a temporary patch-up job until now, but this… this was something else entirely.
Now he understood why other Espers leaned so heavily on their Guides, why those with a matched Guide clung to their pair like lifelines.
“…How long are you planning to hold on?”
“…Oh. Right.”
Rion snapped out of it, realizing how long they’d been holding hands. Their palms were damp with sweat.
He let go, embarrassed, completely dazed from the sheer intensity of the guiding.
“Wow… I’ve never had guiding like that before.”
“Never?”
“Yeah, like you’ve probably heard… I’ve never had a Guide with a decent matching rate. The highest I ever got was 34%. So this—it’s a first.”
With his head finally clear, Rion naturally felt lighter, happier. He looked at Yu-won with a grin.
“No wonder everyone’s obsessed with finding their Guide.”
He felt a little bad for Kang-woo, who’d gone out of his way to guide him despite their poor compatibility, but this—this felt like his life was finally clicking into place.
“I’m your first, huh?”
“Yeah. My very first. It feels amazing.”
Rion answered without hesitation. At that, Yu-won fidgeted with the hand he’d left resting on the table, then said:
“I’m glad. That I could help.”
“Guess miracles do happen. Anyway, I’m really counting on you. Excuse me—!”
Rion flagged down a passing server.
“Could we get two glasses of your most expensive drink, please?”
“The most expensive…?”
“Price doesn’t matter. Just bring it, please.”
He didn’t want to hear the cost and feel guilty swiping the card. Rion chuckled to himself, playful.
“I know we’ve got work tomorrow, so we shouldn’t overdo it, but… maybe I’ll try just one drink. You okay with that?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
He might be a bit stiff, but talking to him was kind of… cute. Honestly, even if he had a terrible personality, if this was how good guiding felt every day, Rion figured he could overlook just about anything.
A moment later, Rion lifted the glass he’d received from the server.
“Let’s toast to mark the occasion?”
“Sure.”
“To our new life as a pair!”
Clink—! A crisp chime echoed across the table as their glasses met.
“Looking forward to working with you, Yu-won.”
“…Likewise.”
The two continued their meal in a calm, peaceful atmosphere.
Even when they parted ways after dinner, promising to meet again the next day, Rion still didn’t know.
That Lee Yu-won wasn’t just shy or reserved.
He was, in fact, a total, irredeemable asshole.
