It was the day of Catdog and Hayang’s regular checkup. Since Tae-oh was busy with work at the Central Bureau, Chi-yu welcomed Myung Jun-su alone. Because Catdog still refused to set foot outside, their checkups were always done this way—Jun-su coming to their home.
As Jun-su’s familiar hands examined him, Catdog blinked sleepily, eyes drooping as though ready to doze off. Beside them, Chi-yu stroked Hayang’s neck while the creature playfully chewed on his hair, his gaze drifting back to Catdog.
“Hm. No problems. He’s eating well?”
“Yes.”
“Still doesn’t like going outside?”
“Yes…”
“Mm. And you said he’s stopped making a fuss whenever you leave?”
“Oh, yes.”
Chi-yu nodded. At first, Catdog couldn’t even stand the idea of him leaving. Terrified was the better word. The moment Chi-yu approached the front door, Catdog would block his way, whining anxiously, desperate to keep him inside. For a while, Chi-yu avoided the entryway altogether and relied on Tae-oh’s teleportation from the middle of the living room whenever he had to go out. At first, Catdog panicked whenever Chi-yu vanished without warning, but thanks to Hayang’s help, he gradually improved. Now, at least, Catdog no longer grew frantic simply because Chi-yu stepped outside.
“He still seems to believe that if you go out, something out there might hurt you.”
“……”
“It’s a trauma for him. Understandable, really.”
“Then… what should I do?”
“Well, cats are like that by nature. They’re not like dogs, eager for walks. When they do go outside, it’s usually to slip away quietly on their own. So don’t force it. Just crack a window. When he’s ready, he’ll go out by himself.”
“Ah…”
“And if you’re worried he might get lost or someone might take him, I can implant a tracking chip. That way Hyun Tae-oh can teleport to him immediately.”
“Oh, thank you.”
The moment Jun-su picked up on his worry and reassured him, Chi-yu’s face brightened.
While examining Hayang, Jun-su shifted the subject.
“You know you can use both Wave Stabilization and Rampage Recovery at the same time, right?”
“Yes.”
“I realized it’s because you can freely separate and absorb energy however you want.”
“Yes.”
“And I want to study that. Honestly, it’s been keeping me awake at night.”
“…Ah.”
“This isn’t just about curiosity. If I succeed, Espers might no longer need medication at all.”
Chi-yu’s eyes widened. Tae-oh only took his pills once a week, but he hated the hassle. He never complained, but after taking them, he always looked drowsy for a couple of hours, like he just wanted to sleep. It wasn’t exactly a side effect—just a natural drowsiness that came with the medication’s stabilizing effect.
“For an SS-rank like Hyun Tae-oh, it would be huge. No more pills, no more gloves every time he fights.”
“Really?”
At Chi-yu’s question, Jun-su nodded.
“If it works, a single injection would be enough. No more constant anxiety about Rampage. And this wouldn’t just be for Hyun Tae-oh, but for every Esper.”
“Oh. Then… that means they wouldn’t need Guiding anymore?”
“No. Guiding is still essential. Continuous wave stability is what maintains an Esper’s condition. Guiding isn’t only about preventing Rampage. Every time they use their powers, their waves tangle. Guiding is what untangles them.”
Chi-yu nodded again.
“So, I want to test this.”
“I’ll do it.”
Jun-su blinked in surprise at his immediate answer.
“You will?”
“Yes, I’ll do it.”
“Th-this isn’t as simple as it sounds. I’d have to forcibly extract your energy. Not just in one lump, but separating absorbed energy from divided energy and pulling them out individually. That process could be extremely painful. I’m not a Guide, so I can’t even gauge how much.”
“It won’t kill me, right?”
Chi-yu smiled lightly, half-joking.
“Absolutely not. That much I can swear on my name and honor. Your health won’t be harmed. But the pain—I can’t make promises about that.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You could end up bedridden for a day.”
“That’s fine. I can endure pain.”
“Hyun Tae-oh’s going to kill me.”
“Ah, I think it’s better not to tell Tae-oh.”
“What?”
“If he finds out, he’ll never let me. Absolutely not.”
Jun-su frowned, nodding gravely. Clearly, the idea of hiding this from Hyun Tae-oh hadn’t even occurred to him. And no wonder— The former director and bureau chief had once tried to do exactly this: extract Kang Chi-yu’s energy. Even if the purpose and result were different now, the act itself was the same. And if they were caught… Hyun Tae-oh might very well tear the entire lab apart.
Knowing Hyun Tae-oh better than anyone, Jun-su couldn’t ignore the risk.
“If he catches us, it’ll be chaos.”
“Then we just won’t get caught.”
“No. He’s your lover, isn’t he? You know better than anyone. That foxlike bastard notices the slightest oddity and digs until he finds the truth. You can’t fool Hyun Tae-oh. Better to tell him, and if he refuses, take the time to persuade him—”
“That won’t work, Professor.”
Chi-yu shook his head firmly.
“You know Tae-oh’s personality better than anyone. The more time he has, the more he’ll dig. And once he finds out it involves extracting my energy—finds out it’ll hurt—even if he doesn’t know how much… just hearing the word ‘pain’ will be enough. He’ll shut it down on the spot.”
And it was true. Hyun Tae-oh might not even allow a syringe needle to pierce Kang Chi-yu’s arm.
The irony wasn’t lost on him. In bed, Tae-oh bit him all over and drove into him without mercy. But outside of it, he treated him like fragile glass, as though Chi-yu might shatter at the slightest touch.
So if Tae-oh ever learned of this research, he wouldn’t even let the explanation finish before refusing outright. And afterward, he’d keep watch over him with those sharp, reddened eyes, making sure Chi-yu never tried it anyway.
Chi-yu gave the faintest shake of his head, as though pushing away that possibility before it could even happen.
