They didn’t teleport on purpose, choosing instead to walk together through the quiet night streets.
Even without a drop of alcohol in him, Chi-yu found himself speaking with unusual ease, sharing the heavy secrets he’d kept locked away for so long as if they were nothing.
Maybe it was the unfamiliar weight on his left ring finger, the stillness of the dark streets, or Tae-oh’s gaze—warm and tender—looking down at him while holding his hand so tightly.
“Wait… that long?”
Tae-oh’s eyes widened in surprise.
It was shocking enough to realize that the person Chi-yu once mentioned he had loved was actually him. But to hear that Chi-yu had been harboring feelings since before entering the Esper Academy left him completely at a loss.
Tae-oh remembered how, back in the Academy, he’d sometimes felt the urge to kiss Chi-yu. Clearly, even then, he’d already liked him.
They had always been in love. But afraid of losing everything, they clung to the safety of friendship. Tae-oh cursed himself again for being so oblivious and foolish.
“Yeah. That’s why when you said you were trying to seduce me, I honestly thought I was dreaming.”
“…God, I really made a fool of myself, didn’t I?”
“Hm?”
“I’ve liked you for a long time too.”
Chi-yu stopped walking. Naturally, Tae-oh, whose hand was still clasped with his, stopped as well. The two faced each other without letting go.
“For real?”
“Yeah. Since the Academy.”
“…Seriously??”
“Mm. Ever since our first Marking.”
“Right.”
“When you kept fidgeting with your lips, saying it felt weird when your ability leaked out…”
“…..”
“I thought I’d die from wanting to kiss you.”
Chi-yu’s face went up in flames, his pale skin turning crimson in an instant. Tae-oh’s lips curled into a long smile.
“I really wasted years making a fool of myself.”
He murmured it softly, then turned and started walking again. Chi-yu, still holding his hand, followed.
The warmth of their joined hands, the cool breeze brushing their cheeks—it was such a perfect moment that Chi-yu felt like he could walk like this forever.
“Well, maybe all that wasted time actually helped in the end.”
Chi-yu smiled faintly as he said it.
If they had dated back then, maybe they wouldn’t have lasted this long as each other’s one and only true friend.
Tae-oh had always been awkward with emotions, especially when it came to relationships. That was why he never let anyone close.
And because he kept people away, he became isolated—so much so that in the Academy, where every Guide seemed to have a crush on Hyun Tae-oh, not one of them could ever actually reach him.
If Tae-oh had started dating back then, especially with Chi-yu, their clumsy emotions could have quickly led to misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and a breakup.
Even now, Tae-oh wasn’t great at handling emotions. Back then, he’d been worse—immature and careless. And if they had broken up, Tae-oh would’ve ended up dating someone else. The thought alone chilled Chi-yu to the bone.
Of course, he also imagined the opposite—that maybe they would’ve stayed together until now.
But looking at himself, even at this age, still jealous over Min Yu-hyun, still misunderstanding, still moving houses to give up on his hopeless crush—it was obvious he’d been even worse back then.
So maybe this—finally confessing to each other now—was actually the best possible outcome.
Yes, the thought of breaking up someday was frightening. But he also knew, without doubt, that no matter what, he wouldn’t let that happen.
Even the way his self-esteem dipped whenever he was with Tae-oh didn’t matter anymore—because Hyun Tae-oh’s feelings for him were clear as day.
Hyun Tae-oh loved Kang Chi-yu. And Kang Chi-yu loved Hyun Tae-oh.
Someday, one of their hearts might change. But what mattered most was that right now, they felt the same.
Chi-yu, overwhelmed by the warmth in his chest, unconsciously tightened his grip on Tae-oh’s hand.
“Since we’ve both liked each other for so long…”
At those words, Tae-oh toyed with the ring on Chi-yu’s finger and murmured,
“Yeah. And now I know I lose all reason whenever I see you.”
“You don’t have to admit things like that, you know.”
Chi-yu shot him a glare.
“Should I teleport us home?”
Tae-oh smiled as he asked.
He didn’t say the rest aloud, but his eyes made it clear.
Let’s hurry home.
***
“Wow… I never thought Hyun Tae-oh was like this. Damn.”
Beom Do-il gawked at the ring on Chi-yu’s hand.
It was midday when Tae-oh said he had to meet the Central Bureau Chief, summoning Do-il and Yoon Do-jae to the house in his place.
Even though the intruder had already been dealt with, Tae-oh clearly wasn’t reassured.
Chi-yu, unaware that Tae-oh knew about the flood of threatening texts on his phone, quietly felt relieved he hadn’t told Tae-oh.
After buying the couple rings the night before, they’d gone home—and Chi-yu had been tormented all night long. His waist still felt like it was going to break.
Absentmindedly rubbing his lower back, he asked Do-il,
“What do you mean?”
“That bastard with a couple ring? Nobody in the world would believe it.”
Chi-yu laughed at Do-il’s words and turned his head—only to meet Do-jae’s eyes.
The laughter froze on his lips, replaced by sudden awkwardness.
After all, Do-jae was the one who had once confessed to him. Talking about couple rings and relationships in front of him was uncomfortable. A little guilty. But more than that—just uncomfortably complicated.
But Yoon Do-jae was, as always, Yoon Do-jae.
Sensing Chi-yu’s unease, he spoke first.
“The ring looks good on you. It suits you well.”
“…Ah.”
“Congratulations on your relationship.”
“…Thank you.”
“Make sure it’s a happy one. And if Esper Hyun Tae-oh ever makes things hard for you, just call me. I’ll set him straight.”
“Ah… haha.”
Chi-yu gave him a sheepish smile.
The offer was half-joke, half-serious.
He couldn’t bring himself to say something selfish like I’ll wait until you break up, so instead he’d chosen those words.
Chi-yu understood—and couldn’t bring himself to respond.
“Man, I want couple rings with Jun-hyung too…”
Do-il sighed, propping his chin in his hand.
“Oh, where’s Jun-hyung?”
“He said he still had Guiding work left.”
“Ah, I see.”
“By the way, nothing else happened after that, right?” Do-il asked.
Chi-yu’s face stiffened for a moment, but he quickly smoothed it over and nodded.
“No, nothing. Tae-oh already took care of the Esper who attacked the house.”
“Still, you never know. There could be others like him.”
“Come on, what are the odds?”
“The fact Tae-oh even has us standing guard while he’s gone means it’s worth being careful. You should be careful too.”
Chi-yu nodded wordlessly, mumbling that nothing more would happen.
Do-jae, however, fixed his gaze on him.
He already knew about the threatening messages from Tae-oh.
Though Tae-oh had told him not to let it show, seeing the flicker of shadow cross Chi-yu’s face made his chest tighten.
He wanted to hunt down those bastards and make them pay—but that wasn’t his place. His only role was to protect Kang Chi-yu when Hyun Tae-oh wasn’t there.
“I’ll check the perimeter until Esper Hyun Tae-oh returns. If anything happens, call immediately.”
Do-jae tapped the earpiece at his ear and told Do-il.
Do-il scowled.
“Look, I know you’re S-rank and I’m just A-rank, but I am a Central Bureau Esper, okay? I might not be top 1%, but as an A-rank I can handle myself.”
Do-il had worked his ass off to make it into the Central Bureau. Sure, Lee Jun-hyung was a big part of his motivation, but still—he was one of the strongest of the A-rank Espers. Being treated like deadweight stung.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Yeah, but you looked it!”
“You’re not unreliable. That’s the truth.”
Do-jae’s sincerity made Do-il pause. His face was so serious, so honest, that Do-il had no choice but to believe him.
A moment of silence passed. Then Do-il grinned, nodding once.
“Alright. Trust me then. I’ll protect Kang Chi-yu.”
Simple-minded as he was, his mood lifted instantly. Thumping his chest proudly, he made his declaration.
Chi-yu chuckled at his sudden change, while Do-jae only shook his head as he adjusted his earpiece.
“No, not really. Kang Chi-yu is Hyun Tae-oh’s to protect. We’re just on watch until he gets back.”
With that, he teleported away. Do-il scowled at the empty space he’d left.
“Goddamn tight-ass.”
Since dropping formal speech, their relationship had gotten surprisingly close.
***
“It was just a confirmation. Of course, I was going to step in before Guide Kang Chi-yu got hurt. You saw the Esper officers waiting above, didn’t you?”
“What the hell kind of confirmation is that? You made him take the hit!”
“These mutant beasts are getting more suspicious by the day. The lab’s been working nonstop, sleepless, studying their samples.”
“And that’s enough reason to use him?”
“Guide Kang Chi-yu has a recovery ability.”
At those words, Tae-oh’s face turned to ice.
“When he first joined the Bureau, that ability is what put him straight into the First Division. You know that.”
Because he’s your friend, the Bureau Chief muttered, laughing that the word “friend” sounded so out of place when applied to Hyun Tae-oh.
Tae-oh’s brows furrowed.
“Don’t talk about him like he’s some object you just ‘placed there.’ You’re the Bureau Chief—watch your words.”
“Jesus, what’s gotten into you? Did someone smack you upside the head before you came in here?”
“Just get to the point. I’m busy.”
