Chi-yu forced himself to stand, swallowing down the lump in his throat. He clenched his teeth to keep from crying, pretending he was just tossing out the half-eaten snacks as he walked toward the kitchen. He didn’t want his face to give anything away.
Of course—it was exactly as he’d feared. Between them, there was no way forward. This was the end.
Chi-yu squeezed his eyes shut, struggling to rein in the ache that threatened to break free.
But Tae-oh saw it differently. To him, romance was nothing more than a flare of useless emotions—fleeting and meaningless. What was there to hold on to?
Feelings like that always burned out, leaving nothing behind but exhaustion. The only thing one could truly keep for a lifetime, something solid enough to hold in your hand, was friendship.
He’d only realized recently that Chi-yu didn’t see it the same way. That was when the question of the Imprint had come up.
And the irony of it—Imprinting required those very same feelings that were destined to vanish. What kind of absurd, suffocating situation was this?
Unaware of what was in Hyun Tae-oh’s heart, Kang Chi-yu began to wonder if it wasn’t better to leave his side completely rather than remain stuck in the humiliating role of “just a friend” to someone who would never love him.
After all, it was obvious: to Kang Chi-yu, Hyun Tae-oh would only ever be an endless, unrequited love.
Tae-oh had gone to block Chi-yu from appearing on A Pair is Born, only to return home empty-handed, his efforts wasted.
“Yeah… what else could we have done?”
That strained smile Chi-yu had given him when he said those words flashed through Tae-oh’s mind, leaving him tight-chested and frustrated.
No matter how he turned it over, he couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong.
With a sharp, irritated sigh, Tae-oh collapsed onto the sofa, scrubbing his face with both hands.
His childhood friend had changed, and the more time passed, the further away he seemed to drift.
Even the broadcast appearance—something Tae-oh had initially agreed to just to lure Chi-yu back next door—had dissolved into nothing.
By the time their stint as regulars ended, it had already been too awkward to ask him to move back in. And now, the wall between them was so high he couldn’t even find the chance to mention it.
He groaned again, dragging a heavy breath through his teeth.
Losing.
The word cut straight through his chest like a knife.
The thought that he might actually lose the only person who had ever mattered in his life sent a chill racing down his spine.
The idea of Kang Chi-yu forming a Pair with another Esper—no. He couldn’t bear it.
Until now, he hadn’t been worried. There had never been any sign of Chi-yu choosing anyone else. He’d simply assumed Chi-yu would always stay by his side.
But now… everything felt different.
When the Bureau Chief had mentioned that Chi-yu’s popularity had skyrocketed after the 100th episode special, Tae-oh hadn’t felt this anxious.
Sure, he hated that strangers were gushing over Kang Chi-yu, but that was just an irritation he could live with.
What he couldn’t stand was the thought of Chi-yu running Gates, going on missions, Guiding Espers while he wasn’t there—meeting one that fit him better, choosing him, becoming his Pair. Just picturing it made Tae-oh’s throat tighten until he could hardly breathe.
The conclusion was crystal clear: whether it was a partner, a Pair, or an Imprint—if it wasn’t with him, it was unacceptable.
Hyun Tae-oh snatched up his phone.
He dialed the Bureau Chief’s direct line without hesitation.
—Oh, Esper Hyun Tae-oh.
“I’ll do it.”
—Hm? Do what…? Ah! A Pair is Born??
“Prepare the contract.”
Without waiting for a reply, Tae-oh hung up and pushed himself to his feet.
***
Chi-yu walked through the new house prepared for his regular appearance on A Pair is Born.
The place was enormous—a quiet, villa-like two-story home on the outskirts. Spacious enough to make him wonder if it wasn’t too much.
“Ah, you’re early. Guide Kang Chi-yu.”
A staff member approached, recognizing him, and Chi-yu dipped his head politely.
“Hello.”
“I’m PD Lee Kyung-soo, in charge of the Guide team. May I give you a quick rundown of how filming will go?”
“Yes.”
At his nod, PD Lee flipped through a sheet crowded with fluorescent highlights, reading off the details.
For the month they’d be living here, Guides would stay on the first floor and Espers on the second. Each room was labeled, and they were to stay in the one with their own name.
The format: over the course of four weeks, each Guide would rotate weekly with three Espers as partners. On the fourth week, both sides would choose the person they liked best, and if the choice was mutual, they’d become a fixed Pair on the show.
Chi-yu nodded, then asked if he could know who the other participants were.
“Originally, it was going to be Guide Min Yu-hyun, Guide Kang Chi-yu, and Guide Joo Baek-hoon. But Guide Joo was replaced with Guide Lee Jun-hyung.”
Chi-yu’s eyes went wide.
“What? Lee Jun-hyung??”
He hadn’t heard a thing.
Confused, he pulled out his phone. If Jun-hyung had agreed to a regular spot, he would’ve called him first. Why hadn’t he said anything? As he searched for Jun-hyung’s number, PD Lee dropped something that froze him mid-motion.
“Well, Esper Hyun Tae-oh also joined the cast. He wanted to swap out the entire lineup. The Executive Producer had to persuade him for nearly ten hours, so in the end only Guide Min Yu-hyun and Esper Yoon Do-jae stayed.”
It was shocking enough that Min Yu-hyun and Yoon Do-jae were on the show, but one name hit him like a blow.
“…Who did you say is appearing…?”
“Oh, the Espers are Esper Hyun Tae-oh, Esper Yoon Do-jae, and Esper Beom Do-il, who Hyun Tae-oh personally recommended.”
The blood drained from Chi-yu’s face.
…You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
“Oh! Kang Chi-yu, my comrade!”
Beom Do-il’s booming voice filled the living room.
Dragging in a massive suitcase, he waved enthusiastically, grinning from ear to ear.
Chi-yu never could get used to that slicked-back pomade hairstyle, but seeing a friend in a place where they’d be stuck living together for a month wasn’t entirely unwelcome.
Still… Comrade?
“What the hell? If you were filming A Pair is Born, you should’ve told me first.”
Chi-yu muttered irritably, but Do-il only gave an awkward smile, saying he had his reasons.
“So is it just you here so far?” he asked, looking around.
“What’s with the ‘comrade’ crap? It’s not funny. Cut it out.”
“I’m not joking. Our gracious Hyun Tae-oh hyung insisted I call you that.”
“…Gracious what?”
“He said from now on, you’re his comrade.”
“…We’re the same age.”
“He’s the one who landed me this spot, so even if he’s younger, he’s hyung to me.”
Do-il leaned closer, lowering his voice.
“…Don’t tell me Lee Jun-hyung too….”
“Yeah, I asked Hyun Tae-oh hyung to bring him in.”
So it really was that damn “hyung” again.
“I mean, no matter if it’s a show, it feels weird to get Guided by some random Guide, right? So—”
“You know that means you’ll have to get Guided by me too.”
“I’m not taking Guiding from you.”
“…What?”
“Oh, you didn’t hear? Hyun Tae-oh hyung changed the rules. Now you can refuse Guiding altogether while partnered.”
“……”
“I was there when he met with the Production Director. Hyung basically rewrote the whole rulebook. But since it’s a brand-new program, no one really objected….”
The front door opened again, and Min Yu-hyun stepped in.
He came in with a staffer, grumbling under his breath.
“I told the director I refuse to stay on the first floor. Why the hell am I on the first floor?”
“That was decided by Esper Hyun Tae-oh, so we couldn’t change it.”
“That bastard—”
Yu-hyun cut himself off when he spotted Kang Chi-yu with Beom Do-il. Lowering his sunglasses slightly, he locked eyes with Chi-yu.
Caught off guard, Chi-yu gave a polite nod. Yu-hyun tipped his chin in acknowledgment before sliding his sunglasses back on and turning to the staff.
“Anyway, I’m not staying on the first floor. Switch me.”
“I’m afraid that would be difficult. You’ll need to discuss it directly with Esper Hyun Tae-oh.”
“Unbelievable. Where is he?”
Yu-hyun turned to Chi-yu.
“I don’t really—”
“He’s out on Emergency Assembly,” Do-il cut in smoothly. “Heard a mutant popped up in the R-Zone. He probably joined that team. Why, you didn’t go with him?”
Yu-hyun’s eyes narrowed at Chi-yu. “Why not?”
“…Why would I?”
“You were his Temporary Pair. Doesn’t loyalty mean anything?”
“That’s over. And does loyalty even matter in an Emergency Assembly?”
Chi-yu tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. Yu-hyun let out a dry, hollow laugh.
“Figures. Guides just get in the way anyway.”
“……”
“Childhood friend or not, what difference does it make?”
Chi-yu had no idea why he was even saying this, but clearly Yu-hyun was just venting his irritation about the room situation. Since Tae-oh wasn’t there to take it out on, he’d chosen Chi-yu instead.
Beom Do-il caught on instantly, grabbing Chi-yu’s suitcase.
“Where’s your room? Let’s go check it out.”
“Hey, A-rank—carry mine too.”
Do-il’s attempt to separate them backfired as Yu-hyun tossed out the order, calling him A-rank while he was at it.
Do-il’s face twisted in disbelief.
“Why the hell would I???”
Yu-hyun’s response was absurd beyond belief.
“Shouldn’t you be honored? I’m giving you the privilege of carrying my luggage.”
“…Why would that be an honor? Why? In what way? Why??”
Do-il shot back like a rapid-fire gun of question marks, making Yu-hyun’s brow twitch in annoyance.
“…Don’t tell me you don’t know who I am?”
Muttering about whether Do-il was clueless because he was just a 2nd Division Esper, Yu-hyun slid his sunglasses down with one finger, dripping arrogance.
Unfortunately for him, Beom Do-il could be just as infuriating.
Known for being an angel only to Lee Jun-hyung, he was infamous for showing zero interest in any other Guide.
“And do you know who I am???”
