[No matter what happens today, I’m leaving work at six sharp. Let’s go out for a nice dinner. Wait for me.]
Lee Haru stared down at the text message from Yu Je-hyun, absentmindedly rubbing the screen of his phone. Most Ability Users used watches instead of phones.
After all, watches were equipped with all the same functions as smartphones.
Still, Haru preferred the comfort of holding a phone in his hand—perhaps because he retained memories of the old world. This particular phone had belonged to the original owner of his body, who was now gone, which made it strangely sentimental.
Yu Je-hyun had even gone so far as to buy himself a new phone of the exact same model, just to match Haru’s. With a tender look in his eyes, Haru fiddled with the surface of the phone before rising from his seat.
Ji Yeon-woo still hasn’t contacted me today.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Haru headed toward the en suite bathroom. As much as he missed Yu Je-hyun, he couldn’t help but worry about Ji Yeon-woo.
Ever since the day the leader of Black took his own life, Ji Yeon-woo had also ended up hospitalized—just like Haru.
Haru had only been admitted for rest and a battery of precautionary tests. But Ji Yeon-woo hadn’t regained consciousness for three whole days.
When Haru heard that Ji Yeon-woo had finally woken up, he rushed to the hospital to see him.
“Guide Ji Yeon-woo doesn’t want to see anyone right now. He’s even refusing visits from you, Guide Lee Haru.”
That was what Jin Sung-joon told him outside the hospital room, and Haru had no choice but to turn back.
Even after Ji Yeon-woo was discharged, Haru kept in touch with the hospital. He asked them to contact him immediately if Ji Yeon-woo ever expressed a desire to meet.
Even as the warm water rained down from the showerhead, Haru remained lost in thought.
Should he keep waiting for Ji Yeon-woo to reach out? Or should he go and check on him himself?
Months had passed since that day, yet Ji Yeon-woo remained stuck in the same place.
After showering, Haru checked the time—it was 2 p.m. Thankfully, there was still plenty of time before Yu Je-hyun got off work.
Just as he was getting dressed and ready to go out, the doorbell rang. Haru flinched in surprise, freezing mid-motion. No one ever came to this house.
Ever since he and Yu Je-hyun moved into the new mansion, they hadn’t even held a basic housewarming party.
He hadn’t ordered any deliveries either. Who could it be?
Running a hand through his damp hair, Haru walked to the front door and checked the wall pad. A familiar face appeared on the screen.
“Esper Kang Min?”
It had been a long time. Yu Je-hyun had been busy lately, but Kang Min’s schedule had been even more packed—understandable, considering he had just succeeded the former Association President and taken over the role himself.
The Association’s top brass had even asked Yu Je-hyun to serve as the new Esper Center Director, but he had flatly refused.
He’d made it clear that spending any less time with Haru might increase his risk of going on a Rampage.
After confirming Kang Min’s face, Haru pressed the unlock button. The screen went black, and moments later, the doorbell rang again.
When he pressed the button a second time, Kang Min entered. His bangs were a bit longer than the last time Haru had seen him.
“It’s been a while.”
“Have you been well?”
“Yes.”
A stiff awkwardness settled between them. Haru had confessed everything to Yu Je-hyun about the secret he’d been keeping, but he hadn’t had a single one-on-one conversation with Kang Min since that day.
Haru had never reached out, and Kang Min hadn’t either.
Today, Yu Je-hyun had been dispatched to assist with an A-rank dungeon that had appeared in Gyeonggi Province.
Haru had been spending a quiet day at home. Never in his wildest dreams had he expected an uninvited guest—let alone Kang Min.
Despite the few people he had gotten close to since moving here, Kang Min had never visited before.
After exchanging a few formal pleasantries, they both fell silent, unsure of what to say next. Just then, Kang Min held out a package.
“What’s this?”
“A housewarming gift. Sorry it’s so late.”
The logo on the shopping bag was familiar—it was a well-known perfume brand from the old world.
He doubted it was actual perfume. More likely, it was a diffuser. The bag had some weight to it.
“Thank you. Would you like something to drink?”
“Sure, I’d appreciate that.”
Haru hadn’t really meant it as an invitation. It just felt rude to turn someone away after they’d brought a gift. But Kang Min didn’t hesitate to remove his shoes.
Haru handed him a pair of indoor slippers, still a bit dazed by the unexpected visit.
“Please, have a seat. What would you like to drink?”
“Anything’s fine.”
“Uh… how about coffee? A hot Americano?”
“Sounds good.”
Both Yu Je-hyun and Haru enjoyed coffee, so they kept a high-end coffee machine at home.
It only required inserting a capsule—perfect for serving guests.
Haru returned to the living room holding two steaming mugs. Kang Min sat neatly at the edge of the three-seater sofa.
Seeing someone other than Yu Je-hyun in this space—one that had always just been theirs—felt strangely surreal.
“Thank you.”
Kang Min picked up the mug in front of him and offered a quiet thank-you. Haru nodded in response and took a seat on the sofa across from him.
As he watched Kang Min take a sip of coffee, Haru brought his own mug to his lips.
…Too hot.
Tense and distracted, he’d forgotten to blow on it. The heat seared down his throat, making him flinch. He quickly set the mug back down on the table.
Lately, Kang Min had been receiving Guiding from other Guides—anyone but Haru.
Yu Je-hyun had always been adamantly against the idea of Haru Guiding other Espers. Because of that, Haru had been Guiding only Yu Je-hyun for months now.
And yet, they hadn’t even signed a Pair Contract. Haru suspected Yu Je-hyun had made arrangements behind the scenes with the Association. Was that what Kang Min had come to talk about? With Yu Je-hyun not around, Haru didn’t know how to navigate the conversation.
“So… what brings you here?”
The silence had grown heavy, and Haru finally forced the words out. At that, Kang Min lifted his eyes from the table.
As always, he was strikingly handsome—but his eyes were unreadable as they met Haru’s. Feeling the dampness on his palms, Haru rubbed them against his pants.
“I came because I wanted to see you.”
“…”
Haru’s eyes widened at the completely unexpected response. His dark lashes trembled.
He’d only spoken to ease the tension, but now the atmosphere felt even heavier.
“I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. I already know you and Yu Je-hyun… are together.”
At the faint, bitter smile that tugged at Kang Min’s lips, the coffee in Haru’s mouth suddenly tasted far more bitter than usual.
Haru glanced at him, lightly scratching the soft flesh beside his thumb with his index finger. He couldn’t tell whether Kang Min’s lingering attachment was to the body’s former owner—or to him.
Either way, it made things uncomfortable.
“There’s something I’d like to ask of you.”
“…What is it?”
Haru’s voice came out low and tight. He had a feeling this moment would come. He lifted the mug and took another sip.
This time, the coffee went down smoothly. His tongue still stung faintly from earlier, but not enough to show.
“I’d like you to visit Guide Ji Yeon-woo. I know he’s refused to see anyone, including you, but the Association needs him right now.”
But the request caught Haru off guard—it wasn’t what he’d been expecting.
Right now, the only active S-rank Guides were Haru and Ji Yeon-woo.
The third S-rank Guide had been in a Pair Contract with the former Association President, and when he was arrested, she’d been imprisoned too.
Her involvement in his illegal activities had come to light.
“Actually, I was planning to visit him today. I’ve been worried about him, too.”
Kang Min’s request aligned exactly with what Haru had already intended to do. The tension in his chest eased.
He’d worried—if only for a moment—that Kang Min might ask for something unreasonable. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
“Perfect. Then let’s head out together.”
Kang Min stood. Haru had already finished getting ready before his arrival, so he simply set his mug in the sink and followed him out.
As they drove together, the silence between them stretched. With Yu Je-hyun, silence felt natural—comforting even. But with Kang Min, it felt like sitting on a bed of nails.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
Haru had been shifting in his seat, and Kang Min took the opportunity to speak while they waited at a red light.
“Ah—no, I’m fine.”
At his words, Haru gripped the seatbelt tightly with both hands.
