Suddenly, Yu Je-hyun’s words came back to him—how Lee Haru had appeared in his room out of nowhere and then vanished just as abruptly.
Back then, he had thought Yu Je-hyun had gone mad. That was how deranged he had seemed after Lee Haru disappeared.
But now, seeing Lee Haru appear right before his eyes, he couldn’t help but believe that what Yu Je-hyun had experienced might actually have been real.
There was no other way to explain Lee Haru’s presence here.
“He… He’s not breathing?”
Even as Kang Min asked the question, all of Lee Haru’s attention was fixated on Yu Je-hyun. His precarious condition made it impossible for Kang Min to stand in Lee Haru’s way.
Lee Haru dropped to his knees in front of Yu Je-hyun as if collapsing. Even the silver hair he had long wanted to touch since the moment he first saw it was now soaked in blood, its luster dulled.
“…Esper Yu Je-hyun.”
Even when called by name, Yu Je-hyun’s lips remained stiff and unmoving. The eyes that usually met Haru’s gaze whenever his name was called were now hidden beneath motionless lids.
His breathing was slowing, nearing stillness. Trembling fingertips brushed the sharp bridge of his nose.
Only when he felt the faintest whisper of breath against his fingers did Lee Haru finally gasp for air.
“Why won’t you open your eyes…?”
Unable to bring himself to touch Yu Je-hyun, Lee Haru only traced the empty air with his fingertips in frustration.
Perhaps his desperate wish had reached the heavens—Yu Je-hyun appeared before him.
Though he was breathing, the life within him was so feeble it filled Haru with dread.
It felt like his breathing might stop at any moment, without warning. Each blink briefly cleared his vision before it blurred again.
What can I do?
No matter how he racked his brain for a way to wake Yu Je-hyun, no answer came.
Then his gaze fell on the shattered watch screen.
It had stopped working, cracks running through it like it had been damaged during battle.
Only then did Lee Haru begin to understand what he could do for Yu Je-hyun.
He grasped Yu Je-hyun’s hand, which had been lying limply on the floor.
Even after confirming that he was breathing, Haru had felt anxious, but as his Guiding energy slowly began to flow into Yu Je-hyun, he could finally feel that he was still alive.
Why is it so slow…?
He must have fought until his body was wrecked like this. Even without checking the watch, the Rampage Risk Index had to be dangerously high.
The higher the risk, the more abnormal signs an Esper’s body would show.
Yu Je-hyun’s failure to regain consciousness even after treating his wounds with recovery potions might be due to that very risk.
Lee Haru was growing frantic. He still wasn’t used to Guiding.
When Yu Je-hyun was conscious, just holding his hand had been enough.
But now that he was unconscious, the Guiding itself wasn’t working properly.
The moment his gaze landed on those well-shaped lips, Haru hesitated for just a breath before leaning in, still holding Yu Je-hyun’s hands tightly.
The texture was rough, yet soft.
Haru held his breath in that position.
Far more of his Guiding energy was being transferred than when he was just holding hands.
But it still wasn’t enough.
After a brief pause, his lips parted, wavering with indecision, and then he cautiously extended his tongue.
His face flushed as he pressed his lips to the unconscious man’s, but he reassured himself—this was only to increase the efficiency of the Guiding.
Even when the tip of his tongue brushed the inner lining of Yu Je-hyun’s lips, gently moving against the moist membrane, there was no reaction.
What did I do next…?
Lee Haru tried to recall the kiss they had shared before.
That brief but intense moment had left a deep impression.
The wet sound of their saliva mixing had echoed between them.
But now, with Yu Je-hyun unconscious, all he could feel was the smooth inner membrane.
With no choice, Lee Haru lifted his head slightly and softly enveloped Yu Je-hyun’s lips again.
Each movement of his head made a faint, sticky smack sound that felt unbearably embarrassing.
This time, the kiss tasted faintly of iron.
Realizing just how close Yu Je-hyun had come to death brought tears to his eyes.
The tears seeped into their joined lips. Once they started falling, they wouldn’t stop.
As Haru quietly sobbed with their mouths still pressed together—
“Is that a peck or a kiss?”
Lee Haru’s eyes flew open in shock.
The teardrop that had been trembling at the corner of his eye slid down his flushed cheek.
He had wanted Yu Je-hyun to open his eyes while they kissed.
That desire had driven him to steal a kiss from the unconscious man.
But now, meeting those slate-gray eyes faintly laced with amusement, all thoughts screeched to a halt.
Yu Je-hyun’s smirk curled up mischievously, far too lively for someone who had just brushed death.
Lee Haru barely regained his senses.
His face burned, reddening like a beet, and he bowed his head in an attempt to hide it, but the warmth in his cheeks lingered.
When Hong Seong-jun had briefly stroked his cheek, it had made his skin crawl.
But now, his heart was racing uncontrollably.
As soon as he dared lift his eyes again, their gazes locked.
A ticklish sensation bloomed near his heart.
His fingers lost strength, and the hand that had been holding Haru’s cheek was now idly caressing the nape of his neck.
“I guess I’ll have to teach you how to kiss again. This is how you do it.”
As Yu Je-hyun pulled him closer, Haru let himself be drawn in.
His gaze was caught by the lashes the same color as his hair—and then their lips met.
The emotions in his eyes, which had been trembling with conflicting feelings, finally melted into darkness.
The moment their mouths touched, a hot tongue slipped into Haru’s mouth.
Unlike before, the tips of their tongues rubbed together, making wet sounds.
It was as if no one else existed in the world—just the two of them, entirely consumed by each other.
As Lee Haru struggled to breathe properly, Yu Je-hyun slightly drew back his lips.
Even as he paused to catch his breath, his saliva-slick lips brushed against Haru’s before greedily swallowing them again.
This time, Haru turned his head and was the first to slip his tongue in. Unlike when Yu Je-hyun had been unconscious, his tongue responded immediately—and with that reaction, the tears Haru had held back began to fall once more.
Yu Je-hyun, stroking Haru’s damp cheek, hungrily sought out his breath.
He had been certain he was going to die. And in those final moments, only one thought had consumed him—
He wanted to see Lee Haru. The idea of dying without seeing him again was so unbearable it drove him mad.
He had lost consciousness and wandered endlessly through darkness. It became impossible to tell whether he was truly dead and in the afterlife or simply trapped in a dream, time dragging on endlessly.
Then, a sudden shift broke the monotony of the space that felt like it would stretch on forever. A white light in the distance beckoned him, as if waving for him to come closer.
Drawn by instinct, he walked toward it. At first, the light had been faint, but as time passed, it grew brighter and brighter.
The moment his toes touched the light, the darkness shattered.
What he saw then was a tear-streaked, pale face.
If he really had died, then this must be heaven—because the one he had longed to see was right there beside him, kissing him.
The Guiding energy that poured in with their entangled tongues tasted sweet—like the scent of Haru’s skin teasing the tip of his nose.
Even as Haru panted harder with each breath, Yu Je-hyun’s thirst only deepened.
As Haru tried to pull away, Yu Je-hyun cupped the back of his head, mindlessly biting, licking, and sucking on those swelling lips.
Eventually, Haru could no longer hold on and lost consciousness.
Yu Je-hyun, pulling Haru’s limp body into his arms, finally took a steadying breath.
He had come back from the brink of death, and it felt like he owned the whole world.
If he could experience this again, he would be willing to face life and death however many times it took. But if Haru knew what he was thinking, wouldn’t he glare at him with that adorable, unafraid face?
A soft chuckle escaped him.
Then, his eyes met Kang Min’s, who was staring back at him with an expressionless face.
Reflexively, his arms tensed.
When Haru let out a faint groan, Yu Je-hyun quickly relaxed and sat upright, shielding Haru’s flushed face in his embrace so no one else could see it.
The way Haru’s cheeks burned with a telltale blush made it unthinkable to let anyone else see him like that.
Looking around, Yu Je-hyun saw Espers staring at him in horror, their faces frozen in disbelief, as if they had just witnessed something they never should have.
“Why are you all looking at me like that? Did you see a ghost or something?”
One of the Espers unconsciously nodded. Honestly, seeing a ghost would have been easier to accept. Their lips just moved wordlessly, too shocked to speak.
Yu Je-hyun, now feeling much lighter, sprang to his feet.
Bro unintentionally gave Kang Min and the other espers a show💀🧍♂️