The pale gray eyes that reflected the light remained as unreadable as ever. It was always like that—distant and cold.
“Look, you told me not to bring up anything about guiding or skinship, not to compliment you, and not to make small talk. You basically told me not to say anything at all. So I have no idea what I’m even allowed to talk about.”
“Of course. But then you suddenly want to kiss in front of my parents like it’s nothing? Are you out of your mind?”
Kwon Jae-jin frowned slightly, his gaze locking onto Seo Eui-woo’s.
“You absolutely can’t do that on a first meeting. Mind your manners, keep your distance, and just sit there looking heavy and solemn.”
“No, but still—”
“I said no.”
Kwon Jae-jin cut him off firmly.
“Seriously, it’s suffocating. You’re treating me like… like I’m talking to Lieutenant Colonel Jang Tae-san or something.”
“…What? Lieutenant Colonel Jang?”
At the mention of Jang Tae-san, Seo Eui-woo’s handsome eyes narrowed in irritation. He tightly pressed his lips together, looking flustered, then responded with an expression that suggested he couldn’t comprehend what he had just heard.
“Jang Tae-san is different from your family. He has nothing to do with you. He didn’t raise you, he isn’t even remotely related to you. There’s no reason to be nervous around him.”
“I-I know that, but still…!”
“Besides, Lieutenant Colonel Jang is a ranked officer. Your parents are just civilians. Oh…? Wait, this… this is actually my first time having a normal, casual conversation with civilians.”
“No, hold on, wait a minute—”
“I’m saying that I’m going to visit the house where you grew up, meet your family, and introduce myself. That means I’ll see all the clothes you used to wear, the things you used, and your childhood photos. So tell me, how the hell am I supposed to talk to them like I talk to Lieutenant Colonel Jang? Hm?”
“…”
Kwon Jae-jin, for some reason, felt both dumbfounded and oddly reassured.
‘Is this guy really not up to something?’
Kwon Jae-jin let out a long, exhausted sigh and leaned forward, burying his face against Seo Eui-woo’s chest. Through the embrace, he could feel the steady beat of Eui-woo’s heart and the warmth of his breath.
‘Ha, shit. I really need to put up some boundaries…’
But unlike his conflicted mind, the sync between their cores only felt more stable. The sensation of their existence nestling against each other—it was a comforting connection he had always liked.
“…Fine. I get it, Eui-woo. But… let’s just tone it down a bit. Please, no excessive skinship.”
Including his accountant aunt, this was the first time in five years he was reuniting with his family. It was impossible not to feel emotional.
And considering how his family would perceive things, it made even more sense.
The mere fact that Kwon Jae-jin was alive was shocking enough. Naturally, the revelation that he had awakened as a guide was even more astonishing. And not just any guide—he was the first-ever S-Class guide.
On top of that, he was now the exclusive guide to the famous S-Class Esper, Seo Eui-woo. The weight of that news only intensified the public’s reaction, making it almost impossible to process.
‘I did expect them to blow this up with flashy media coverage, but still, it’s hard to adjust.’
The Intelligence Bureau used the success of its Espers in perfectly suppressing the Creature Wave as a major propaganda tool. It was the perfect opportunity to bolster the government’s image.
By showcasing the exceptional abilities of its Espers and making them national heroes, they could secure public trust and, ultimately, political support.
Naturally, Kwon Jae-jin, the S-Class guide, was no exception.
The government pushed an agenda that promoted Jae-jin as an elite resource, emphasizing his status as the first S-Class guide of civilian origin. The media glorified him with the title of “The First S-Class Guide” and broadcasted the news across all districts.
A guide who played a major role in stopping the Creature Wave. A civilian turned hero. The first-ever S-Class guide.
The sudden appearance of a rare talent was always sensational news.
Before long, Jae-jin’s name and face began flooding the media, causing an immediate uproar throughout society.
Even his background was fully exposed. Once it was revealed that Kwon Jae-jin came from District 6, the government doubled down on portraying his civilian upbringing. His old school photos and past records spread online like wildfire, as if he were a rising celebrity.
His family faced the same consequences. In District 6, people started referring to them as “Kwon Jae-jin’s family!” Everywhere from workplaces to schools, they were bombarded with attention and curiosity.
‘This whole situation must be driving Seo Eui-woo insane…’
But Seo Eui-woo wasn’t just some ordinary Esper. He was a household name.
Unlike Kwon Jae-jin, whose name was only just becoming known, Seo Eui-woo was a national figure—someone every citizen could instantly recognize.
A celebrity. A hero. An iconic Esper.
The problem was, nobody even knew they were dating yet.
‘If he pulls some stunt right from the start, it won’t just end with people being shocked…’
Everything had to be done step by step.
Slowly. Carefully.
Tomorrow was already too soon. The suddenness of it all made him nervous.
‘Meeting my family for the first time, huh.’
The surreal experience of coming back from the dead.
Right now, reuniting with his family and sharing that joy came first. After that, he could naturally introduce Seo Eui-woo and explain their relationship.
Of course, he understood that the very fact of Seo Eui-woo visiting District 6 was already enough to stir up massive attention. But that didn’t mean they could just go on acting like an ordinary couple in public.
Since it was their first time meeting, Jae-jin wanted to leave a good impression.
And at least for now, he had to keep Seo Eui-woo separate from his personal affairs.
It wasn’t that he was ashamed of their relationship—far from it. But behaving the way they normally did in front of his parents would be… well, inappropriate.
Seo Eui-woo’s casual teasing, touching, and possessiveness—none of that was something he could just freely indulge in while visiting his family.
“…Just for a day. Just hold back for one day.”
Jae-jin lowered his gaze quietly. He had no idea if Seo Eui-woo could understand the complicated emotions he was feeling.
“In the future, once I get permission for unrestricted movement, I’ll be able to visit District 6 whenever I want. Just for one day, let’s keep things in moderation.”
Seo Eui-woo furrowed his brows at that, his pale gray eyes narrowing in visible dissatisfaction. He didn’t say anything outright, but the tension in his jaw suggested he was struggling to hold back.
“…Just in moderation?”
“Yeah. If you’re unsure, just keep your mouth shut. I’ll handle things and adjust accordingly.”
“And I have to hold back even more?”
“Yeah… And don’t cling to me like you’re doing now either. Just—pretend I’m Lieutenant Colonel Jang Tae-san and keep your distance…”
“Can you stop comparing yourself to that insufferable bastard? I get that it makes you uncomfortable, okay?”
Seo Eui-woo suddenly wrapped both arms around Jae-jin and pulled him into a tight hug. It seemed like his way of soothing his frustration rather than fully suppressing it.
“Moderation. Distance. Restraint.”
He repeated the words, sounding like they physically pained him, but he didn’t resist any further.
“That’s right?”
“…Yeah. That’s good enough.”
“Fine, got it. I’ll try.”
A slow, deliberate hand ran down Jae-jin’s back.
Seo Eui-woo was carefully comforting him.
“Tomorrow is more for you than for me. You’re reuniting with your family after such a long time… You know better than anyone how much they’ve missed you.”
“…”
“So do everything you want to do tomorrow and come back happy.”
“…”
“I just hope you’ll enjoy it and be happy.”
…What the hell.
Jae-jin nearly lost his mind for a second.
‘What’s gotten into him?’
For a brief moment, the memory of the first timeline resurfaced—when Seo Eui-woo had been nothing but an unbearable, arrogant bastard who Jae-jin had fantasized about punching in the face at least a dozen times.
A fleeting, distant memory that would never return.
‘How… How did this happen?’
Feeling the warmth of Seo Eui-woo’s embrace, Jae-jin slowly answered.
“…Thanks.”
To his surprise, his throat tightened slightly.
It felt strange. Unfamiliar. And somehow… new.
“Let’s have a good day tomorrow. Together.”
“Yeah, Jae-jin.”
“Alright, Eui-woo…”
If he could just focus, he could keep moving forward.
But when he stopped and looked back, he realized just how far he had come, how much higher he had climbed.
Everything he had once resigned himself to losing—he now had all of it back.
It didn’t feel real. It was overwhelming. And yet…
After overcoming countless hardships and adversities, it felt almost wrong to be this happy. It was enough to make one anxious, fearing that the gates might explode again and send everything into chaos. But for now, he was simply grateful to be with him.
“Alright, don’t worry about anything now. Get some sleep. It’s late.”
Seo Eui-woo gently stroked his back in a steady, reassuring motion.
“Yeah, I should sleep.”
“Close your eyes.”
“Mm.”
Kwon Jae-jin closed his eyelids. But then, he felt a touch against his lips.
“Hm? You told me to sleep.”
Seo Eui-woo shamelessly rubbed his lips against his.
“Ah, I don’t know. Just because.”
“What? Go to sleep.”
“But since Jae-jin closed his eyes…”
“Mm, your lips. If you keep this up, you won’t sleep.”
“Ah, just for a little bit.”
“No… ah.”
Seo Eui-woo kept rubbing his lips against his. At some point, Kwon Jae-jin found himself responding to the kisses, trembling under the onslaught. Before he knew it, dawn had arrived.
At some point, his tension melted away, and a drowsy warmth took its place. The moonlight spilling down over them and the peaceful bedroom remained. He shut his eyes a couple more times, still unable to sleep, tossing and turning, but in the end, sleep overtook him naturally, almost as if he had been drugged.
The waves, the ocean, and the falling moonlight enveloped him.
Seo Eui-woo, who held Kwon Jae-jin completely in his arms, felt as warm and comforting as a heated stone. Letting go of his worries, he sank into that embrace and followed its languid warmth.
***
The next morning. From early dawn, Seo Eui-woo and Kwon Jae-jin picked out their outfits in the dress room. They had to pass through the gate checkpoint at a designated time, so they hurried through their routines.
Jae-jin smiled inwardly as he pulled down his light, fitted T-shirt and pants. ‘It’s been so long.’
Ever since the creature wave, he had been so busy at the center that he primarily wore battle uniforms. It had been a while since he last put on everyday clothes. At some point, even the dog tags hanging around his neck had become a part of him, something he always noticed.
There was a time when wearing combat gear had felt unfamiliar, but now, he found the act of dressing in casual clothes to go out even stranger.
‘I really have become a member of the first timeline’s military.’
The day would come when everyday clothes would feel foreign. This, too, was proof of how deeply he had been immersed in that cold, relentless battlefield.
