Side Story 6
“Would you like to keep a cat?”
Seojun approached a group resting during gate patrol and abruptly held out his phone. He was showing photos of the kitten, carefully selecting only people who looked gentle or diligent.
Many showed interest, but no one volunteered to keep it. After hearing the additional conditions Seojun mentioned, everyone backed away saying it would be difficult.
When asked if they could care for it like family with the mindset of raising it for life, and not leave home for long periods, no one could readily agree.
Seojun rejected those who casually said they would try keeping it without much thought. Cats required as much attention as dogs. They absolutely shouldn’t be raised with a casual attitude.
“Seojun, there’s no point looking for someone in the field. Unless it’s a guide group.”
Jihan approached Seojun and patted the shoulder of the struggling maknae. Most Espers worked in the field, meaning they were all people who stayed away from home for long periods.
Seojun was well aware of that fact. At first, he had approached guide groups too, but they showed more interest in Seojun than in the cat. Fearing it might become troublesome, he had no choice but to ask only Espers.
“What if Guide-nim doesn’t come out of his room today either?”
Seojun, sitting against a rock, looked up at Jihan who had a candy in his mouth instead of a cigarette. Jihan made a “hmm” sound and shrugged. Since they couldn’t force him out, there was no clear solution.
“His mood might have improved a bit since the leader visited.”
Jihan absentmindedly muttered as he crunched the candy. Seojun lowered his gaze and nudged a stone embedded in the ground with his foot.
An imprinted Esper and guide share each other’s emotions. Being able to understand each other’s feelings well, they naturally become skilled at comforting one another.
Honestly, he was envious. The fact that they were most intimately connected with Siwoo.
“Hyung.”
Seojun called out but hesitated. Jihan rolled the broken candy pieces with his tongue and stretched lazily. He seemed to anticipate what the maknae was about to say.
“When you imprint… how does it feel?”
“Well, I don’t know since I haven’t done it either.”
How would he know? The only one who had imprinted was the leader.
Seojun and Jihan quietly closed their mouths and gazed at the relaxed atmosphere of the field. The guides who had come out as the danger decreased also looked comfortable.
Especially those with their partners were blooming with laughter as if they were out for a stroll. Like they were on some date. Irritatingly so.
Just then, they both received a text message simultaneously.
Similar smiles appeared on their lips as they checked their phone screens. It was a message from Siwoo.
“Buy baby dragon snacks. And toys”
The moment they read his warm message, warmth filled their hearts that had momentarily felt empty.
“He says to buy snacks for the baby dragon. I think he wants to eat them himself.”
Jihan even kissed his phone screen, saying it was too cute to bear. Feeling deeply relieved that Siwoo had opened his heart to the kitten.
Seojun also grinned while covering his lower face. Is he really that happy?
With just one message, their dampened moods soared to the sky. It was almost regrettable that they couldn’t convey this happy feeling to Siwoo.
* * *
When had he been so shy that he locked himself in his room? Siwoo had completely forgotten his memory of avoiding the kitten due to the shock of the hiss.
After overcoming his shyness, he personally fed the kitten and meticulously groomed it. He even shared his treasured plushies and personally taught it how to hunt.
Meow~
After a week, the kitten now followed only Siwoo around. Even when Siwoo went to the bathroom, it cried pitifully, throwing tantrums to be taken along.
Siwoo sighed deeply as if annoyed, but couldn’t hide the corners of his mouth turning up.
Meow, meow, meeeeow!
It was nothing but lovable, this much smaller and cuter creature being clingy to him. Always living with large Espers, having someone he could hold in his arms created a strange feeling.
He constantly wanted to take care of it more, and felt anxious when it wasn’t in sight. Eventually, Siwoo reached the point of carrying it in his mouth every day.
“That’s a bit much.”
Geonho, sitting on the living room floor, shook his wet hair and made a serious face. His expression was full of complaints.
Seojun, preparing a late dinner in the kitchen, nodded in agreement. He also thought it was excessive.
Meeeoow! Meeeooow!
The cotton ball standing in front of the living room bathroom where Siwoo had entered screamed as if about to burst the sensitive eardrums of the Espers. Though it had been less than 3 minutes since Siwoo went in to wash, it was crying its throat out.
“What’s wrong with it? Is it possessed?”
“Even a ghost would come in and out.”
Geonho and Seojun rubbed their ears as they looked at the loudly crying cat. They had to keep their distance since it would cry until Siwoo came out, even if they held it.
Meeeeooow!
The piercing cry was enough to cause nausea. The sound penetrated through even if they covered their ears.
“I’m almost done washing! Just wait a bit longer.”
When Siwoo’s voice was heard from inside the bathroom, the kitten raised its voice even louder. Thinking Siwoo was in danger while showering, it even started scratching the door.
In the end, Siwoo rushed out without even getting dressed.
“You’ll hurt your throat, you fool. Stop crying.”
Siwoo tried to pick up the kitten immediately, but Geonho intervened.
“Put on clothes before holding it.”
Despite running around naked himself after showering, he always made sure Siwoo was dressed.
Siwoo, wearing a large T-shirt that covered his thighs, held the kitten and glanced up at Geonho. The head of Geonho, who had finished showering first, was still wet.
“Are you upset?”
Siwoo examined Geonho’s expression with round eyes. Geonho tapped the kitten’s nose in Siwoo’s arms and shook his head.
“Yeah.”
But his answer contradicted his head shake. Exaggeratedly pulling down the corners of his mouth.
For the past week, the timing between Siwoo and Geonho had been particularly bad. Whenever Siwoo tried to even kiss Geonho, the intruder would quickly rush over and jump into Siwoo’s arms.
Jihan and Seojun, who were more tactful, managed to share body heat with Siwoo occasionally, but Geonho failed every time. It was because his presence was too strong.
The kitten always easily found where Siwoo and Geonho were. Jihan and the maknae knew this but never told them.
Today again, they were interrupted. The kitten, waking from a nap, scratched at Siwoo’s closed door, forcing them to finish quickly.
For Geonho, who felt insufficient even doing it with Siwoo every day, this was hellish. He’d rather undergo water torture.
“Let’s do it longer next time.”
Siwoo tiptoed up to Geonho and whispered softly with his lips against his ear. He also planted a quick kiss on Geonho’s cheek before running to the kitchen as if escaping.
“Guide-nim, sit down. Dinner will be ready soon.”
Seojun pulled out a chair at the table for Siwoo who had rushed into the kitchen. The head of the table was always reserved for Siwoo. Even when the leader came, everyone seated Siwoo at the head.
Siwoo sniffed at the delicious smell and laid the kitten on the table. The kitten, clinging to Siwoo, made a pretty face and purred.
“Why do you scream like that? What if you damage your vocal cords?”
He buried his face in the protruding belly of the sprawled kitten and stroked its body vigorously. The kitten seemed to enjoy Siwoo’s touch, kneading the air while deliciously chewing on Siwoo’s wet hair.
“Were you scared because you couldn’t see daddy?”
Seojun, who had been transferring food into bowls, paused and turned his head toward Siwoo. Daddy?
“Don’t worry. Daddy likes water.”
Wouldn’t “mommy” be more fitting? Since he’s the one being penetrated.
Seojun approached the table while thinking thoughts that would earn him a beating if Siwoo knew. Siwoo was completely absorbed in the kitten’s scent, regardless of whether Seojun came or not.
Seeing it up close, it really looked like Siwoo’s child. With more white than black fur, and distinct features, anyone would believe it was Siwoo’s daughter. Seojun was insisting that the pretty kitten was female.
Siwoo was always with the kitten as if it were truly his child. Whether in his original form or human form, he always kept the kitten by his side.
Seojun extended his arm to Siwoo, who was habitually licking the kitten’s fur.
“Lick me too.”
Another absurd request.
Siwoo glared at Seojun, whose nonsense had increased. This wasn’t the first time he’d offered his body asking to be licked too. He did it quite often.
“Ah, do it to me too. Why discriminate?”
A large palm struck the back of Seojun’s head as he was openly whining.
“Stop messing around and get lost.”
Geonho, who had hit his head, chased him away, telling him to set the table. This time, even Siwoo didn’t complain about hitting the kid. He was about to strike him too.
Geonho plopped down on a chair and placed a towel on Siwoo’s wet hair. He looked very pleased.
“So.”
After briefly stroking the kitten’s back like Siwoo, he said something even worse than Seojun.
“Who’s the mom?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
