29
Oh dear. Minjae couldn’t open his mouth hastily. Just as he thought he should say something, Hoyoung continued.
“I know I’m lacking.”
“No, what are you lacking?”
“If it doesn’t work out this time, I feel like I won’t have another chance.”
Hoyoung’s face twisted slightly. Minjae was at a loss for words.
“I’m a flight-type and A-class, right? More skilled people will keep appearing. I’m happy enough just to have joined Team 1 and to work with you, sunbae, but…”
“…Hey.”
“This feels like my last chance.”
Minjae squeezed his eyes shut. Hoyoung was right. The Center Director would only showcase Park Jihwan, the S-class, from now on.
He always walked around smiling and was diligent, so I didn’t know he had these kinds of worries. Minjae felt sorry for Hoyoung.
“I’ll really work hard without causing any trouble. So that you can complete the demonstration safely…”
“I’m sorry, Hoyoung.”
It was painful to hear more. Minjae cut off Hoyoung’s words and responded. Hoyoung’s eyes widened slightly before he lowered his gaze.
“Ah… I guess it’s too much to ask of me.”
Hoyoung’s eyes reddened. His tightly closed lips had turned so pale that it was visible.
“No, it’s really not like that. It’s just…”
In fact, Hoyoung had been internally designated as the flight demonstration partner. It had been decided before Jihwan joined the team, and as far as Minjae was concerned, he didn’t care who it was, so he figured they might as well go with Hoyoung, who was a team member.
However, now that Jihwan had entered the Center, even if Hoyoung had been confirmed as a partner, the Center Director would have assigned the flight demonstration to Jihwan.
Minjae hesitated for a moment. How should he explain this? To someone who brought up this conversation with such concern about the Center’s internal workings that he said if not now, there might not be another chance.
“This happened entirely because I, as the director, am incompetent. I should have taken better care of you, my team member, first. I’m sorry. It’s already been decided, so I can’t even tell you I’ll change it.”
Minjae apologized. He was sincere. Hoyoung roughly wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
“I expected it. I knew it, but…”
Tears poured from Hoyoung’s eyes. Minjae awkwardly patted Hoyoung’s shoulder.
“Still, it feels refreshing to be clearly rejected.”
Hoyoung said as he rubbed his eyes vigorously.
“…So I’ve rejected you?”
“Yes.”
Hmm, I’m sorry. Minjae felt a bit wronged, but he apologized once more for his junior who was in an even more unfair situation. Hoyoung let out a small laugh.
“You know you’re really exceptional, right?”
“…Thank you.”
Hoyoung’s voice was small. Minjae swallowed a sigh and smiled back.
***
Eunjeong opened the door to welcome Seoyeon. Seoyeon, dressed in pajamas, shook a box of dried persimmons with a Hahoetal mask drawn on it.
“If I give you dried persimmons, you won’t eat me~”
“Isn’t that a little different from the original?”
“Ah, is it that tigers are afraid of dried persimmons?”
“Well, who cares if it’s one way or the other.”
Eunjeong had entered the Center when she was quite young, so she didn’t know much about folk tales. That’s fine. Seoyeon, agreeing, took out a dried persimmon and placed it in Eunjeong’s mouth. Eunjeong chewed the sweet dried persimmon.
Seoyeon went on to detail her experiences at the place she had been. It was like a small ritual they always performed when Seoyeon returned from a dispatch.
Since espers have more restrictions on their actions, Eunjeong usually enjoyed listening to Seoyeon’s travel stories. However, today her mind was cluttered with various thoughts.
Why didn’t Seoyeon tell me about her brother? Eunjeong had always thought she was the closest person to Seoyeon. But after encountering Taehyun, she realized she didn’t know much about Seoyeon.
“You’re thinking about something else right now.”
Seoyeon glared at Eunjeong with a prim expression. Eunjeong quickly tried to deny it, but it was of no use.
“Is it because of Taehyun?”
“…No.”
“Come on.”
Seoyeon smiled as if she found it absurd. These dried persimmons are delicious. Eunjeong said, fiddling with the dried persimmons unnecessarily. Seoyeon lightly grabbed Eunjeong’s hand to stop her.
“As you might have noticed, Taehyun and I have different surnames.”
I didn’t notice. For Eunjeong, Taehyun’s existence itself was such a shock that she hadn’t properly registered his surname. However, Eunjeong silently nodded.
“I was adopted into Taehyun’s family when I was young. I said I wanted to keep my surname, and my current father respected that.”
“…I see.”
“When I first met you, I was younger than I am now, so I didn’t want to reveal that I was an adoptee. As time passed, I just missed the timing to tell you. I’m sorry.”
Were you upset? Seoyeon smiled apologetically.
“No. I’m sorry for acting like a stalker!”
Eunjeong felt somewhat embarrassed. Seoyeon must have had her own concerns, and Eunjeong worried that she might have been troublesome by acting childishly.
Seoyeon chuckled and hugged Eunjeong’s neck as she hung her head.
“Ah, I really think I have a good friend.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I’m so happy that Eunjeong is my friend!”
Eunjeong had more things she wanted to ask Seoyeon.
How she came to be separated from her birth parents. Why she didn’t change her surname. What her relationship with her brother was like—her brother seemed to care for his sister quite a bit, but Eunjeong’s first impression of him was that he was annoying. Whether there were other reasons she couldn’t tell Eunjeong, and so on.
“…I’m also so happy that you’re my friend.”
But all those questions Eunjeong had in mind were things that Seoyeon should be ready to talk about.
Since Seoyeon explained it to me. Since she said she wasn’t trying to hide it. I’ll wait until she’s ready to tell me more. Feeling both relief and unease simultaneously, Eunjeong silently accepted Seoyeon’s embrace.
***
Jihwan bought an iced americano. With Minjae’s card. It was the result of contemplating in front of the menu for a while. He figured if he didn’t use the card at all until their next meeting, Minjae would probably ask for the card back.
Taehyun asked for a drink too, but Jihwan firmly refused. Sunbae said only I could have one. At those words, Taehyun frowned intensely.
While Jihwan didn’t particularly like bitter things, smoothies were more expensive, and he didn’t want to use Minjae’s card for that. He didn’t want to appear as a junior who was taking advantage of his senior just because he had the opportunity.
Instead, Jihwan diligently added syrup to his americano. Once, twice, three times.
“Hyung, you know when we flew together that time.”
While repeatedly pressing the pump inserted in the syrup bottle, Jihwan spoke to Taehyun, who was standing beside him.
“When?”
“You know, when you cried.”
“Hey, why do you have no sense or manners!”
Taehyun made a disgusted face. Ah, sorry. Thinking about it, it might be embarrassing to have cried in front of a younger brother as an adult.
Jihwan apologized and pretended to zip his mouth shut.
“The day you helped me practice flying.”
“Yeah, what about it?”
“How was it? My flying skills.”
“Why are you asking? I threw up, remember.”
Taehyun looked Jihwan up and down with widened eyes, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“That was because you were too anxious and sad…”
“No, it was absolutely because your flying skills were shit.”
Taehyun was resolute. Jihwan pushed his lips out.
“Then can you just once tell me if I’ve improved now—”
“No, that’s never going to happen.”
Ah, why! When Jihwan shouted, Taehyun lightly slapped Jihwan’s protruding mouth.
“You have no conscience! What do you have?”
Taehyun quickly ran away from Jihwan. That’s because Jihwan had persistent tenacity and stubbornness.
I’ll find him later and ask again, and he’ll probably agree, whatever. Thinking it wasn’t a big deal, Jihwan headed to the training ground while drinking his americano, which was as sweet as sugar water.
And at the training ground, he discovered the best person to ask for flying practice.
“Sunbae! I thought you’d be here!”
“Oh? It’s Jihwan. Hello.”
Hoyoung waved at Jihwan’s greeting. Hoyoung was already wiping his sweat-soaked hair with a towel, suggesting he’d finished training.
“Are you done with training?”
“Hmm, I’m considering. Thinking of doing a bit more.”
“Oh? That’s perfect. Can I ask you for a favor then?”
Jihwan seized the opportunity to ask Hoyoung.
“Hm? What is it?”
“I’m supposed to do a flight demonstration with Sunbae Minjae, but my flying skills are still lacking, and I’m worried I might make him motion sick.”
“……”
“You’ve been on the same team with Sunbae Minjae for a long time… and since your flying skills are so good, I thought you might be able to teach me how to fly safely but impressively!”
“……”
Jihwan had made his request with a fair amount of flattery. Though it was also sincere.
Jihwan expected that by now, Hoyoung would either smile shyly or joke around while giving a positive response. So when Hoyoung remained silent without answering, Jihwan felt a bit confused.
Hoyoung stood still, even stopping the wiping of his hair with the towel.
Maybe he couldn’t hear me clearly because of the towel? Jihwan wondered if he should repeat what he had just said.
“Haha.”
Hoyoung laughed briefly. Unlike what Jihwan had expected, it was a sharp and cold laugh. Jihwan doubted his ears.
“You really have no sense, Jihwan.”
“…Pardon?”
From Hoyoung’s following words, Jihwan realized the laugh he had heard wasn’t a mistake.
I’m hearing a lot of comments about how I lack things today. Jihwan felt a bit down.
“Flight demonstrations are conducted by the Center when there’s a purpose. In other words, they’re done when there’s something to show.”
“…I see.”
Jihwan didn’t understand why Hoyoung was discussing the meaning of flight demonstrations with such a serious expression.
“When you came to this Center, Sunbae Minjae got a pair, and a flight demonstration was arranged. What do you think that means?”
“…Are you saying it’s because of me?”
Jihwan had made quite a few mistakes with Minjae. He became Minjae’s pair and joined Team 1, but as a result, he earned Minjae’s dislike and consistently received uncomfortable attention.
Jihwan was trying his best to endure life here. It just wasn’t going well.
But when Hoyoung, whom Jihwan thought was on his side, suddenly pointed out that all of this was happening because of Jihwan’s mistakes, Jihwan felt upset.
“Oh, you know? Are you making fun of me right now?”
“Sunbae, are you suddenly criticizing me?”
“What’s all this about? I, insignificant as I am, have never done a flight demonstration, so I can’t teach you. You, who are so great, figure it out yourself.”
Hoyoung threw his towel into his bag with a slam. It was more irritating that he was speaking in a sarcastic tone without explaining why he was angry. Jihwan stood in front of Hoyoung, blocking his way as he tried to leave.
“What did I do wrong?”
“Who said you did something wrong? I said you’re great!”
Bang! Hoyoung pushed Jihwan aside and slammed the training ground door shut as he left.
“Who said I’m great? I’m stupid and have no skills! I just cause accidents! I know I’m a burden!”
Jihwan screamed at the door at the top of his lungs, then regulated his breathing while panting.
“I’m just trying to make an effort…”
This is really too much. Jihwan kicked the air.
But then with another bang, the door opened loudly again.
Hoyoung, panting similarly to Jihwan, entered the training ground again and approached Jihwan. Jihwan glared at Hoyoung with all his might.
“I know it’s not your fault. No, it’s not your fault. It’s just how the Center works.”
Hoyoung spoke with a slightly calmer face. Ha. After letting out a deep sigh, he continued.
“I’m in Team 1 but never got to do a flight demonstration. So I was a bit upset about that. I’m sorry for speaking harshly.”
Hoyoung apologized. Only then could Jihwan understand Hoyoung’s attitude.
But why haven’t you been able to do a flight demonstration? Your skills are good, aren’t they? Jihwan blinked. Hoyoung held out his palm in front of Jihwan’s face.
“Please don’t ask me why I haven’t done a flight demonstration. I know you lack tact, but if I hear that question, I’ll really get annoyed.”
“…Okay.”
“…Your flying skills have improved a lot. But you haven’t practiced flying while carrying someone much. I’ll explain it simply, so listen carefully.”
Hoyoung began to explain. Jihwan listened attentively, not wanting to miss a single word.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
