Lee Han-seo had turned into a toothless tiger.
The shocking news spread like wildfire through the Center, passing from one mouth to another. Even those who had scoffed at it as just another baseless rumor found themselves speechless after seeing Lee Han-seo in person—staring off into space like something inside him had snapped.
Don’t even get me started. He’s like a totally different person now! That kind of whisper filled the halls.
Yet amidst all the noise, one person refused to believe it—insisting that there was no way it could be true.
“…Wait, seriously? It’s real? Hey, Hyung, snap out of it.”
That person was Choi Jae-won, the gutsy new Guide who had the nerve to lightly tap his cousin’s cheek with the back of his hand—as if he weren’t poking at someone practically revered like a god.
“Hey, Lee Han-seo. Hello?”
“……”
“Hyung!!”
“……”
He waved a hand in front of his cousin’s face, even yelled in his ear, but Lee Han-seo didn’t flinch. He just sat there, slumped over on a bench like melted butter soaking up the midday sun.
Eventually, Jae-won gave up trying to revive the dull, lifeless eyes that showed no sign of coming back. With an awkward tsk, he plopped down beside him.
“Hyung. Don’t you have mandatory group training today? That CPR seminar or whatever. Team Leader said everyone has to be there.”
If Hyung was ditching, then that meant he could too, right? Jae-won stretched lazily, already making up his mind.
“You’re supposed to attend at least once a year… I already finished mine earlier this year. You should go.”
Even dazed out of his mind, Han-seo still couldn’t bring himself to let his cousin slack off. After a long silence, he finally opened his mouth, speaking sluggishly.
“It’s less of a hassle if you just go on your scheduled day… If you skip, they’ll hit you with a makeup session and that’s even worse… I’m just saying this because I care. Go.”
“Ugh, what’s with the voice? You’re creeping me out.”
To Jae-won, it was jarring. His cousin—once so proud, so full of himself, always walking with his nose in the air—was now acting like this?
When Jae-won had been a five-year-old brat, Han-seo had already been a sharp-looking ten-year-old in a tailored private school uniform. When Jae-won was ten and missing two front teeth, Han-seo had been inducted into the Center as an official S-Class Guide.
And on top of all that, he’d been Ryu Ho-yeon’s future Bonded Pair—aka, the unrequited crush Jae-won had never quite gotten over.
To younger Jae-won, Lee Han-seo had been unreachable—frustratingly perfect, painfully distant, a high wall he could never climb.
But now? This lethargic, watered-down version of him? No way. Even Han-seo’s own aunt—the one who gave birth to him—would probably have trouble recognizing him like this. Jae-won sighed and gave a reluctant nod.
“Alright. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Mm. Take care. See you around.”
It was clear Han-seo wanted to be left alone, so Jae-won got up, brushing off his pants. Honestly, he just wanted to get training over with and head back to the dorms. He really would’ve, too—if his phone hadn’t started buzzing at that exact moment.
Bzzzt. Buzz. Bzzzt bzzzt bzzzzzzzt.
♡Ho-yeon Hyung♡
[Jaewon.]
[Don’t leave Han-seo alone.]
[Sit back down. Ask him what’s wrong.]
[If you don’t, you’re not getting any Guiding tonight.]
If anyone saw this, they’d think he was the Esper and Ho-yeon was the Guide. But in love, the one who falls first always loses. So Jae-won had no choice but to take a screenshot of the ridiculously bossy and shamelessly cute messages and sit right back down.
[Feed our Han-seo something delicious.]
[He likes soju mixed with tonic water.]
…Cute was cute, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t still salty. For an Esper, Ryu Ho-yeon had always acted like texting first might break his fingers—no matter how much Jae-won begged, he couldn’t even get a single period in response.
But now? The guy was blowing up his phone like it was life or death.
And what the hell was that—“our Han-seo”? Our Han-seo?! He’d never called Jae-won “ours” even once! What even were they to each other?!
No wonder Team Leader Park Woo-jun hated them so much. There was definitely a reason for it.
Grinding his teeth in frustration, Jae-won still obediently followed Ho-yeon’s orders.
“Hey. Lee Han-seo.”
“…You’re not gonna call me Hyung? Never mind… doesn’t matter…”
“Whatever. Let’s grab some food. I’m really not in the mood for training today.”
“Sorry. I haven’t had much of an appetite lately. Here, take my card. Buy whatever you want.”
“What the hell? I’ve got money too, y’know?”
Buzz. Another message.
[Our Han-seo likes spicy pork cartilage.]
[You buy it.]
“Spicy pork cartilage and rice balls.”
“……”
“My treat.”
“…Let’s go. Now.”
Han-seo’s head, which had been drooping lifelessly moments before, snapped up at those words. Right on cue, his stomach gave a loud growl. Jae-won grabbed his cousin’s arm and dragged him along without resistance.
Han-seo didn’t even complain. He just muttered under his breath—spicy pork cartilage and rice balls, spicy pork cartilage…—and quietly followed behind like an obedient puppy.
Even Jae-won had to admit, he looked pathetic. All this effort just to score points with his unrequited crush. Why is Ho-yeon hyung so hung up on Lee Han-seo anyway? I’m obviously the better choice. Is he into short and dainty types or something?
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he got. And right in the middle of that spiral—buzz. His phone vibrated again. He looked down.
[Good job.]
Holy shit. “Good job”? That’s too freaking cute…
Just like that, Jae-won’s mood lifted, and his steps turned light and bouncy, like he was walking on a bed of flowers.
Neither of the two Guides—heading to the famed spicy pork cartilage spot—had any idea they were being watched.
In fact, two sets of eyes were following them from the shadows.
Han-seo looks like he’s wasting away… what the hell do I do? That bastard Park Woo-jun… should I just kill him? No… If I do, Han-seo might hate me. I don’t want that…
Why the hell is Choi Jae-won acting like that? Cousin or not, he’s seriously getting on my nerves. And why the hell is he yanking on Han-seo’s arm like that? He’s out of his mind. I really hate that guy…
Yes. Two people were watching.
“Hyung, seriously though, where’s good around here? I only know the food court in that mall across the street.”
“…You dumbass. You think the Center’s some kind of gourmet food paradise? There’s only one place here that does spicy pork cartilage. We’re going there.”
“Ooh, there it is. You’re getting cranky again. I guess your energy’s coming back, huh? That temper of yours…”
“Says the guy who’s worse than me. Seriously, you’re my cousin for a reason…”
Whether it hurt the feelings of his only Bonded Pair Guide, whether it stirred jealousy, whether another S-Class Esper had already flagged him as a potential threat—none of it mattered to Ryu Ho-yeon and Park Woo-jun, who were tailing them without an ounce of shame.
“Welcome! Table for two?”
Early autumn dusk blanketed the city in soft gold. The only thing brighter than the fading sky was the cheerful voice of the restaurant owner.
***
Lee Han-seo had always been someone who stood out, no matter where he went. But today? He was a whole spectacle.
“Hic… hic…”
“Seriously, Hyung? Drunk out of your mind in front of your barely-trained baby cousin? What’s the point of drinking if you can’t handle your liquor?”
He was completely soaked in alcohol—an absolute mess. Jae-won shoved a glass of ice water across the table with a sigh.
He meant for Han-seo to drink it, wake up a bit. But Han-seo just downed it and giggled, claiming it tasted like soju.
“So? What’s going on with you? I heard you fought with Team Leader Park Woo-jun. That’s why you’re like this, right?”
“You… you rude little shit… hic… My Woo-jun is, hic, five years older than you, you know! Five!”
“Wow. Must be real nice being that old. Congrats, grandpa.”
Is being a nag some kind of disease they’re spreading to each other? Who caught it first? Jae-won grumbled inwardly, smacking away Han-seo’s hand as he waved five fingers in his face.
Couldn’t he at least explain why they fought? But the moment they sat down, Han-seo skipped ordering food and went straight for two bottles of soju, chugging them before Jae-won could even blink.
Sure, he’d inherited a solid tolerance from their aunt. But hard soju on an empty stomach? Jae-won didn’t drink, but even he could tell that was a fast-track to liver failure.
Han-seo was already red-faced and teetering before the food even arrived.
“Huuuh… rice baaaalls…”
Oh god. Now he was crying. Of course. Jae-won didn’t even have the energy to be surprised anymore. It was just… absurd.
Anyone watching might think he had some tragic, emotional history involving rice balls.
“What now? What is it? What’s wrong with the rice balls?”
“These rice balls… sniff… they’re not as good as the ones Woo-jun makes…”
And what the hell am I supposed to do with that?
“Jae-won, are you even listening? WAAAHH, THEY TASTE BAD!”
God, I hate drunks. Jae-won gave up. He poked at the pork cartilage halfheartedly and gulped down ice water.
Should I just leave him here?
The thought crossed his mind. After all, Han-seo had grown up being doted on like a chaebol heir. Watching him reduced to this was enough to spark a full-on existential crisis.
Right then, his phone lit up with a soft buzz.
♡Ho-yeon Hyung♡
[If you leave Han-seo, I’m breaking our Pair.]
“…I hear you, Hyung. I’m listening. Hey, look—food’s here. Let’s start with this, okay? Drinking on an empty stomach will mess you up.”
Goddamn this cursed one-sided love.
Jae-won really didn’t want to admit it—but the more he saw it, the clearer it became. His beloved Esper and Lee Han-seo… were terrifyingly alike in all the ways that mattered.
Maybe that’s why—even after not seeing each other for years—they picked up right where they left off.
