Chapter 30
“Hey. Is it true you have a matching rate of over 70% with all Espers?”
“…Pardon…?”
Seoyul’s eyes widened at the sudden question. But the person continued excitedly, regardless of Seoyul’s reaction.
“Would you have over 70% with me too? Since 70% is your baseline, would it be even higher? I’m C-class, you know? You’re C-class too, right? Can you Guide me just once?”
The person fired off questions so quickly that Seoyul didn’t have time to correct the misinformation.
He didn’t know where to start answering. Should he first correct the wrong information, or should he first say that Guiding wasn’t possible…?
“It’s… not quite like that. Not everyone gets those rates…”
“Ah, but you still get high rates anyway. Just Guide me once. I’ve never been Guided by a Guide with high matching rates.”
“Ah… well…”
Seoyul was at a loss, his eyes rolling around. He realized he’d somehow gotten caught up in this person’s high-paced energy when he had been feeling down just moments ago.
“Oh, right. You’re Cha Dowoon Esper’s Guide, aren’t you? A C-class wouldn’t have enough energy to Guide an S-class and then me too. Tsk. That’s too bad.”
The person came to his own conclusion, saying “I guess it can’t be helped” while patting Seoyul’s back.
“I’m Yu Minjun. Twenty-three years old. You?”
“Twenty… years old.”
“Oh! I’m older than you. Call me hyung.”
He proudly told Seoyul to call him hyung while patting his back again. Then he started spitting out personal information that hadn’t even been asked for.
“You’re aiming for the Association, right? Me too. I’ve failed twice, so I’m still stuck in school, but I’ll definitely pass this time. You’re taking the exam this time too, right? If we both pass, we’ll be in the same class, so let’s get friendly now. I’m really going to pass this time.”
Failed twice…
Seoyul felt nervous, wondering if the Association exam was that difficult. But at the same time, he found it admirable that Minjun remained enthusiastic and kept trying despite failing twice.
‘Even if I fail, I’ll keep trying again resolutely.’
Thinking this, Seoyul continued the conversation a bit more. It seemed like Minjun either didn’t know that Yeon Jiwoo disliked Seoyul or didn’t care about it.
If it was the former, this probably wouldn’t be a long-lasting relationship, but for now, Seoyul found it comfortable to talk with him.
“Damn. Time’s up already. Hey, come here again tomorrow. Talking with you is really fun. Got it? Gotta go? See you tomorrow?!”
He disappeared quickly before Seoyul could even answer. Seoyul felt dazed. Mostly Minjun had done the talking while he just responded, so he wasn’t sure what had been so fun.
Yet somehow, it made him want to keep returning to that place. What started as “maybe I’ll go once more” became twice, then three times, and before he knew it, he was meeting Minjun during lunch breaks to talk.
Minjun was an incredible chatterbox and especially interested in sports. Soccer, baseball, basketball, volleyball, even martial arts – having mastered all sports, he would excitedly talk to Seoyul about his favorite athletes.
“Isn’t it amazing that these people don’t have special abilities like us but still excel?! They reach the top with pure strength alone!”
While Seoyul wasn’t interested in sports, he enjoyed conversing with Minjun, so he listened attentively.
Minjun was fun and a good person with his own beliefs. And perhaps because of the “hyung” title, he somehow gave off a reliable feeling.
‘Should I… ask him?’
Seoyul was already quite satisfied. Though some teasing and bullying remained, it was okay since he had a good friend like this during lunch breaks and could focus on studying.
But seeing Minjun living earnestly with such a bright attitude, Seoyul somehow felt like he should be doing something more too.
‘Yes. I’ll ask.’
It was okay if there wasn’t an answer. Just expressing it might make him feel better somehow. He had a strange confidence that even if he told Minjun, their relationship wouldn’t change.
“Um, hyung. Can I ask you something?”
“Oh?! What is it? Ask me anything! Your Minjun hyung will answer everything!”
He shrugged his shoulders playfully. Seoyul opened his mouth, slightly nervous.
“What should I do… when someone dislikes me?”
“Ah, you’re talking about Yeon Jiwoo?”
“Huh? Oh, you knew?”
Seoyul exclaimed in surprise.
“Of course I know. I’ve been talking with you here for days.”
He grinned and continued explaining.
“I tend to only remember things I’m interested in. I didn’t know at first, but I started hearing about it from all over.”
“Ah…”
Seoyul lowered his eyes, not knowing how to respond. Whatever Minjun made of this reaction, he cheerfully exclaimed while ruffling his hair.
“Don’t worry. I don’t care about such childish guys. He’s not that scary either. Or rather, there’s no need to be afraid?”
“Pardon?”
No need to be afraid?
Seoyul tilted his head in confusion.
“I’m not a Guide, and my rank isn’t high, so I won’t get tangled up with him. Of course, there seem to be some who are wary of him, but I, the great Yu Minjun, am not that petty!”
He thumped his chest and continued.
“Maybe it’s because everyone’s been here since elementary school. Kids are excessively careful around Yeon Jiwoo. We’ll all go our separate ways after graduation anyway, so I don’t know why they act like that.”
Minjun shrugged, genuinely perplexed. His confidence somehow stirred Seoyul’s heart.
“So don’t worry. We’re already friends.”
He grinned while reciting a line that could have come straight from a teen sports manga. At this, Seoyul couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“That’s a line from the comic book you were reading yesterday, isn’t it?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
He was genuinely shocked and amazed. Minjun was probably the only person who would actually say such cringe-worthy lines out loud.
“Who actually says things like that in real life?”
“What? Hey! Are you disrespecting our Hwi-kyung right now?”
It seemed the protagonist who said that line in yesterday’s comic was named Hwi-kyung. He playfully threatened that he wouldn’t let it slide if Seoyul disrespected Hwi-kyung again, then continued with a serious face.
“Anyway, don’t worry too much. There are plenty of kids like me. Everyone just doesn’t have the opportunity to approach you. You wouldn’t believe how many people ask me how I became friends with you.”
“Really…?”
Seoyul asked with round eyes. Thanks to his unique sociability and long school life, Minjun had many friends. Even if they weren’t in the same department, he was close with them, and that’s probably who he was referring to.
“I’m telling you! If I’d known you were still worrying about this, I would have told you sooner. Want me to introduce you to my friends? They’re a bit… weird, but just say the word if you want to meet them!”
He slightly furrowed his brow recalling his friends, then smiled refreshingly and emphasized again.
That there were many people like him.
Hearing that made Seoyul feel somehow lighter. It seemed like he had been needlessly struggling alone within the narrow lecture hall.
If he just lifted his head and looked around a little, there were many people like Minjun.
“It’s okay. Now that you’ve said that, I feel better. Thank you.”
Seoyul bowed slightly with sincere gratitude. In response, Minjun waved his hands saying not to be so formal because it was embarrassing.
It was quite a funny reaction from someone who had just said all those cringe-worthy things himself.
“But seeing that you brought this up, is it worse than the rumors suggest?”
He asked while stuffing bread into his mouth and chewing. While Seoyul wasn’t sure how the rumors had spread, he answered honestly.
“Ah, it’s not that serious. It’s just… frustrating because I don’t know why he’s doing it. I sometimes wonder if there’s an easy solution that I’m not trying…”
Even though he said he felt better, he still wanted to know why Yeon Jiwoo disliked him so much and why he would go to such lengths.
In the past, he would have continued running away, but now he didn’t want to do that. It felt like if he kept trying, he himself would become a better person.
“Would it be okay… to ask him why he dislikes me?”
Seoyul asked cautiously. What would Minjun answer? He swallowed hard, his throat dry with anticipation.
However, Minjun gave a very simple answer in a casual tone.
“Huh? If you want to ask, just ask.”
“Pardon…?”
Seoyul opened his eyes wide and asked again.
“But, but, asking might be… impolite. And what if the reason is something I can’t handle…”
He had been hesitating because of that fear. What if he heard something and got hurt again? What if it sent him back into that dark cave? He didn’t want that, so should he just close his eyes, cover his ears, and ignore it?
Such thoughts had made it difficult to act. But Minjun laughed refreshingly, as if blowing away those concerns.
“Hahaha! Is that what you’re worried about? Then go ahead and ask, and if you get hurt, come to me! Your Minjun hyung will comfort you with this broad chest!”
He thumped his chest and spread his arms wide. It was a playful gesture suggesting Seoyul should come for a hug, but Seoyul just stared blankly.
Somehow, he felt foolish. So he couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Haha. What’s that supposed to be?”
“See, it’s faster to just act and deal with the consequences later than to agonize over it!”
It was a very Minjun-like solution. But Seoyul somehow liked it.
Because he knew well what happened to someone who only thought but never acted.
Seoyul wanted to change, but he acknowledged that fear still remained in a corner of his heart.
‘Alright. Let’s try it.’
He felt like he had grown a step further. It felt like time, which had been standing still, was flowing again with each change he made.
With a relieved heart, Seoyul stood up and said to Minjun:
“Thank you, hyung. That helped a lot.”
Seoyul smiled brightly in gratitude. He wanted to put his new resolution into action as soon as possible.
“I have class now, so I’ll be going.”
After bowing politely, he quickly went down the stairs. But Minjun remained in his seat for a while even after Seoyul had left.
Finally, when Seoyul’s back was completely gone, he blushed furiously and muttered in a flustered voice:
“Didn’t they say he was… C-class?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
