Kang Chi-yu had no idea that Hyun Tae-oh knew the passcode to his phone. But Tae-oh had known most of Chi-yu’s passwords since they were kids. The reason was simple—most of them were Tae-oh’s own birthday.
Chi-yu had never once told him, nor would he ever imagine Tae-oh knew. But Tae-oh had been by his side so long that he couldn’t help but notice. Especially since Chi-yu’s phone lock used numbers instead of a pattern—sitting next to him, it was impossible not to see it eventually.
The question of why Chi-yu used his birthday had been answered years ago back at Esper Academy. Kang Chi-yu was just that straightforward. He’d always been terrible with numbers. So his passwords had first been his own birthday—until Lee Jun-hyung warned him it was unsafe. From then on, Chi-yu had switched to his friend’s birthday. Tae-oh’s.
Tae-oh never once considered the possibility that Chi-yu had liked him all along. He simply assumed it was because of Chi-yu’s weakness with numbers.
Unlocking the phone, Tae-oh’s thumb flew across the screen. As he scrolled, his expression hardened at the flood of threatening messages. Rage flared so hot his vision went dark, but he clenched his teeth, forcing himself to stay quiet.
The muscles in his jaw stood out, his sharp features twisted with menace. He swallowed the curses clawing their way out of his mouth, forcing them back down.
Jaw tight, he pulled out his own phone, forwarded every threatening message, and copied down the numbers. He knew they wouldn’t be real. But that didn’t mean the senders couldn’t be tracked.
If they were Ability Users, tracing them would take time, but it would still narrow the suspects. That was fine. In fact, he hoped they weren’t civilians. Because no ordinary person could possibly survive the punishment for threatening his lover so recklessly.
Placing Chi-yu’s phone back exactly where it had been, Tae-oh walked away.
Tomorrow, he had to meet the Bureau Chief about the mutant beast that had appeared in the Guide Safety Zone, which meant leaving Chi-yu alone for half a day. He decided he’d entrust Chi-yu once again to Beom Do-il and Yoon Do-jae.
Pulling a cold bottle of water from the fridge, he tried to shake off the unease he felt about leaving Chi-yu with Yoon Do-jae.
Kang Chi-yu had confessed he liked him. Tae-oh had thought Chi-yu would hesitate—like he had—doubting whether it was worth dating again after everything between them. But unexpectedly, Chi-yu had agreed without much resistance.
Now they weren’t friends anymore—they were lovers. There was no going back.
Of course he feared losing him. But if they were only going to break up easily like other couples, they never would’ve taken this step at all.
Tae-oh fully intended to Imprint with Kang Chi-yu. He had no intention of ever letting him choose another Esper.
As he finished the water, he told himself that since Chi-yu liked him, Yoon Do-jae’s feelings didn’t matter. Still uneasy, though, he resolved to ask Beom Do-il to keep close watch over him.
***
It was late, and Chi-yu, with too many thoughts swirling in his head, had suggested they just stay home. But Tae-oh wouldn’t hear of it. Fresh from his shower, Chi-yu found himself hurried out the door.
Tae-oh wanted to wipe away his lover’s needless fears. But more than anything—this was their first date. And that deserved to be special.
Chi-yu eyed him curiously. Hyun Tae-oh, who was never the type to be thoughtful or sentimental, was oddly fixated on something like a first date.
Still, it was Chi-yu’s first lover, first romance, first date. Since they were doing this, he figured it should be done right.
So after refusing a couple of times, he gave in and followed silently.
They had a late dinner at a restaurant popular with Ability Users, then dessert and tea at a rooftop lounge. Though the hour was late, the place was bustling with Espers and Guides. It wasn’t even a bar—the draw was clearly the view.
And the view was stunning. The city stretched out below them in a dazzling sea of lights.
The threatening texts that had felt so heavy now seemed feather-light. Sipping tea he liked, looking down at streets he liked, Chi-yu felt his heart ease.
Tae-oh, meanwhile, couldn’t stop staring at him. Now and then, whispers drifted around them, curious eyes glancing their way. But he didn’t care.
From friends to lovers, the bond between them was far more tender than he’d imagined—and his heart raced more than he’d expected.
“Having fun?”
Tae-oh couldn’t resist asking when he saw Chi-yu’s softened, glowing expression.
Chi-yu turned his head to meet his eyes.
“Yeah. You?”
“Me too.”
In truth, Tae-oh would’ve said: If you’re happy, I’m happy. But he held back, knowing Chi-yu would immediately furrow those pretty brows at him.
And when Kang Chi-yu frowned, he only became twice as cute. Tae-oh’s heart would pound so wildly it might ruin the rest of the night.
“Are we just going home now?”
Chi-yu asked, finishing his tea.
Tae-oh checked his watch.
“No. Let’s stay about ten more minutes.”
“…We’re going somewhere else?”
“Yeah. To get rings.”
“Rings?”
Chi-yu blinked, startled. Tae-oh smiled softly as he explained,
“Yeah. Couple rings. To celebrate us.”
Chi-yu’s eyes widened. He looked as if the thought had never even crossed his mind.
“…People really do that?”
“Of course. We’ll do everything other couples do.”
“…Didn’t you always say you hated doing what everyone else does?” Chi-yu teased with a crooked smile.
“Dating’s different,” Tae-oh said simply.
“Heh—”
Chi-yu chuckled, still smiling wryly. A soft, ticklish warmth spread through him.
Suddenly, he realized: I’m happy right now. The Anti who had broken into his home, the threats spamming his phone—right now, they felt like someone else’s problems, distant and light.
It amazed him that those terrifying, unsettling things couldn’t touch this first date at all.
At his laugh, Tae-oh bent forward, shoulders shaking. He was laughing too.
“What?” Chi-yu asked.
Lifting his head, Tae-oh smiled at him, eyes gleaming.
“Why do you keep doing this, Chi-yu? It’s dangerous.”
Flustered, Chi-yu glanced around.
“Stop it.”
“My heart hurts here.”
“Hey—people can see.”
“Fuck, should we just get the rings tomorrow instead?”
Propping his chin on his hand, Tae-oh looked up at him. Playful words, but his eyes—serious, burning—showed no trace of a joke.
Caught off guard, Chi-yu could only glance around helplessly. Tae-oh leaned closer again, exhaling roughly.
“…No, that won’t do. Calm down, idiot.” Then, raising his head, Tae-oh met his eyes again. “Five more minutes. Then we’ll go get the rings.”
“What’s the rush? Tomorrow or tonight, it’s the same…”
He hadn’t meant they should rush home to tangle together. He simply meant—it was late. Why buy rings at this hour?
But Tae-oh seemed to take it differently. His breath hitched, and he dragged a hand across his face.
“Ha… Chi-yu. Don’t make my heart race like this.”
His gaze burned with a dangerous intensity. Heat rushed to Chi-yu’s face instantly. He remembered—before dinner, Tae-oh had pounced on him like a beast the moment he said something similar.
Swallowing, Chi-yu stammered,
“L-Let’s just pick something nice, okay?”
He said it, hoping to calm Tae-oh’s smoldering eyes.
Tae-oh gave a faint smile and checked the time again.
“Five more minutes. Then we’ll go.”
The timing mattered. These weren’t ordinary couple rings—they were specialized. Infused with condensed Esper power, they had to be reserved, and precision was important for both seller and buyer.
Such rings had long been popular among Esper–Guide couples. When a Guide wore one infused with their Esper’s condensed ability, the Esper’s power would flow into them, linking their energies.
The effect was similar to Marking, though temporary. Still, many chose them. One reason was the intense pain an Esper endured while condensing their power, which gave the rings extraordinary meaning.
It was why most Ability User couples still preferred them over ordinary rings.
Of course, Tae-oh didn’t need them—he already Marked Chi-yu regularly. But he believed in having every safeguard possible. If the Marking ever failed or faltered, the rings would give him another way to Chi-yu’s side.
He had even added a Light-attribute tracking function—but he decided not to mention that. It was his selfish desire to always know where Kang Chi-yu was, but he knew Chi-yu wouldn’t like it. And there was no need to tell him anyway.
As for the design, he let Chi-yu choose what he liked best.
While Tae-oh entered the condensation chamber to infuse the rings, Chi-yu channeled Radiant Guiding into him, easing the strain as much as possible.
Through the glass, Tae-oh’s lips curved into a smile under the flow of his Guiding. It was strange.
They had met eyes like this countless times over twenty years. But now, with just one change in their relationship, his heart thundered so violently.
Chi-yu guided until sweat beaded across his forehead, while Tae-oh mouthed stop already again and again.
In the end, they slipped matching rings onto their left hands and walked home together, talking about everything under the stars.
