Thinking he wanted to stay with Guide Team 6 now felt ridiculous in hindsight—because the thunderbolt of a reassignment notice that landed in front of Hye-seong was anything but ordinary.
“What are you talking about? Isn’t there still a lot of time left in his training period?”
“Exactly! Has it even been a month since Hye-seong joined our team?”
“No! Don’t go, Hye-seong!”
Normally, the probation period assigned to rookie Guides lasted for three months. Hye-seong still had over two months to go, and it was only after that that team preferences would be submitted.
He had joined as the top recruit, and as long as he got a decent performance review, he was guaranteed placement on his team of choice. Hye-seong had been waiting for that day. That made this sudden development nothing short of a lightning strike.
Why now, of all times?
“They said it’s just a one-month temporary reassignment…”
“…What?”
A wave of despair washed over Hye-seong’s dazed face. Choi Yoon-sol gave his back a reassuring pat and asked,
“Let’s hear the whole thing first. What kind of situation is this? Where are they sending you?”
“I don’t really get it either. I only just got the call on the way over… What the hell is this?”
Even Team Leader Kim Han-young looked stunned. Hye-seong’s expression, now staring down at the floor, grew visibly darker.
“Oh no, Hye-seong… You’ll be okay once you settle in. I’ll find out what kind of place it is for you.”
“……”
Hye-seong lowered his head and bit his lip hard.
I hate temp assignments. Why is it me again? I like this team. I thought I could stay here like the seniors did. Why me?
Is it because I’m not good enough? But I’ve been working so hard every single day… I can work even harder…
“They said… Yoo Ji-ho picked you as his Pair Guide.”
“…What?”
“What?”
What? Everyone in the room echoed the same question in perfect unison. All eyes widened as they stared at Kim Han-young, waiting for an explanation. But she looked just as confused as they were.
“Don’t look at me like that… I don’t know the details either. Ji-ho said he wanted to pair with Hye-seong, and they’re done looking at other candidates. You must’ve done really well yesterday, huh?”
“…I… don’t think so…?”
“What did you do? Did you two talk a lot? Like an interview?”
How was he supposed to explain this? No matter how much he thought about it, there was nothing he’d done particularly well. He’d just been careful not to make a mistake in front of Yoo Ji-ho…
“We didn’t talk… I just did Contact Guiding for 58 minutes and 30 seconds, finished exactly 20 seconds before the cutoff, and left. That’s it.”
“Hmm, you kept time well.”
“You followed the schedule that precisely? Then that’s the reason.”
“Ugh, I couldn’t do that. My stamina’s shot.”
“But weirdly, once I get to the next session, I’m fine again? What’s up with that?”
“Whoa, same here.”
“It’s just your body trying to dodge work. Classic.”
“Ugh, yeah, that checks out.”
So that was it. Punctuality. I did better than I thought.
As he listened to the team banter, Hye-seong’s expression brightened ever so slightly—only to freeze over like ice when the reality sank in.
So I’m… Yoo Ji-ho’s Pair Guide?
“Wait, what are we doing just standing around?! Congratulations, Hye-seong!”
“This is huge! Congrats!”
“Can I go around bragging that you’re from our team now? Hehe.”
“Have some shame, Yoon-sol.”
“What? I taught Hye-seong everything I know!”
“We’ll miss him, sure, but this is great for Hye-seong! Shouldn’t we at least have a team dinner or something?”
“Ooh, should we?”
As the team began discussing where to go and what to drink, Hye-seong’s eyes darted from one person to another, taking it all in. The corners of his lips might have twitched a little.
But his mind was far from the celebration.
“Ji-ho said he wanted to pair with Hye-seong, and they’re done looking at other candidates.”
I’m Yoo Ji-ho’s Pair Guide. And he personally chose me…
“……”
His teeth pressed even harder into his lower lip. His chest felt tight, his heart starting to pound—overwhelmed, unsure, even afraid.
What must it feel like to see Yoo Ji-ho up close…?
Could I ever be someone worthy of standing beside him?
“Beef? Team Leader, what do you think?”
“Didn’t you all already make the decision without me? What about you, Hye-seong? You okay with that?”
“…I’m fine with anything.”
At the question from his seniors, Hye-seong gave a faint smile and nodded.
More than the nerves, a fresh kind of excitement had begun to bloom—for the future that lay ahead.
***
On his first day after moving into the Guide dormitory, the first person Hye-seong met was Dr. Na Hye-yoon, the lead researcher in charge of Yoo Ji-ho’s Wave Pattern analysis.
Seeing the legendary alumnus he’d only ever heard of, Hye-seong had been standing stiff as a board from the moment he walked in.
“For now, it’ll be a one-month trial period, but as long as there are no major issues, you’ll be made the official Pair Guide. The Center’s main priority is to help Ji-ho settle in as quickly as possible, so there shouldn’t be much for you to worry about. Just hang in there.”
“Got it! I’ll keep that in mind!”
Hye-seong’s eyes burned with determination as he answered.
Hang in there, huh? He thought he understood what those words meant. A position with that much responsibility had to be grueling in its own right…
“You can use this office space however you like.”
“Yes, sir.”
With that, Hye-seong was officially transferred out of the regular Guide team and assigned to S Team, under Yoo Ji-ho.
After bidding farewell to the teammates he’d grown fond of, he’d packed his things and arrived at the S Team office with a fluttering heart. As befitted a team of elite Espers, the office was located at the very top of the Yeouido Center—on the same floor as the Director’s office.
“Um… Does Yoo Ji-ho also work out of this office?”
But the reality was a little different from what he’d imagined.
The wall opposite the entrance was made entirely of glass, offering a sweeping view of the massive Yeouido Center—practically the size of a small town. A breeze drifted in through the gap left by the open window, which Dr. Na had cracked for ventilation.
It was a beautiful space… but oddly, it felt empty. The room was undeniably impressive in size and design, but it lacked any warmth, any sign that someone actually worked or lived here.
“Ji-ho usually stays in his private quarters inside the Center.”
“Ah, I see…”
So it was true. Hye-seong nodded.
Most Espers, when not in combat or training, spent time in the gym, the lounge, or the Center’s indoor park. He’d heard that Yoo Ji-ho had a large, private unit deep within the Center. It seemed he preferred that kind of privacy.
Hye-seong set his bag down on a long desk that looked like it had been hastily assembled just for him.
“Besides you, our team will also continue to monitor Ji-ho’s wave pattern. Just report to me directly at the end of each day regarding anything related to Ji-ho. The rest of the time is yours.”
“What about when Yoo Ji-ho isn’t around?”
“Do whatever you want.”
“…Sorry?”
“I mean, you should get at least that much of a perk…”
Huh? What does that mean? Dr. Na’s offhand comment made no sense. But Hye-seong didn’t dare ask.
Anyway, having that much free time sounded like a perk in itself. It made sense that Yoo Ji-ho’s Guide would be treated well. Still, having it happen to him felt strangely undeserved.
He still wasn’t confident. The self-assurance he’d worked so hard to build was already starting to crack again.
Afterward, Dr. Na led him to the Director’s Office on the same floor.
I can’t believe I’m stepping foot in here… As a rookie only one month in, this was all way too much. Hye-seong shrank into himself even further.
“The Director is currently… very busy, so let’s just wait here for now. Ji-ho will be coming by.”
“Ah, yes.”
So there they were—just the two of them, sitting awkwardly in the Director’s office, waiting.
Hye-seong sat with his hands clasped neatly in his lap, but eventually, he couldn’t take the silence anymore.
“Um, do you remember coming to give a special lecture at our school last year? I listened so attentively back then…”
Choi Yoon-sol had drilled it into him before he came: when you don’t know someone well, lean on school ties, hometowns, or family connections to break the ice.
Among alumni from his school, Dr. Na Hye-yoon was one of the most famous names. Before awakening as a Guide, Hye-seong had even dreamed of becoming a researcher like him. Meeting face-to-face like this was surreal.
“Did I? That must’ve been in the winter.”
“Yes, I still have the notes I took on my desk! It really made a big impression on me!”
“Did it? Thanks.”
“…Yup.”
Still, small talk with someone you barely knew wasn’t easy. Hye-seong smiled awkwardly and nodded.
“Oh—he’s here.”
Just then, Dr. Na stood up while looking toward the door. Hye-seong’s eyes widened as he scrambled to his feet as well.
Turning his head slowly toward the entrance, he saw Yoo Ji-ho.
From the moment he entered the room, Yoo Ji-ho had his eyes fixed squarely on Hye-seong. And he was the first to speak.
“Hello.”
At his greeting, Hye-seong bowed and replied.
“Hello, I’m Baek Hye-seong.”
“Yeah.”
His voice trembled a little when he said his name, but his eyes never left Ji-ho.
He’d never imagined they’d meet again. And now, every little movement Ji-ho made drew his gaze.
Yoo Ji-ho was perfectly composed. After the brief greeting, he strolled in slowly, glancing around the office as if looking for something, frowned slightly at his pager, and then dropped into the seat next to Hye-seong.
Following Dr. Na’s lead, Hye-seong sat back down—but every breath in and out was conscious, deliberate. Because Yoo Ji-ho was sitting right beside him.
“I’ve already gone over all the basics with Hye-seong.”
“Okay, thanks.”
The two exchanged dry, businesslike words, and in that moment, Hye-seong risked a glance to the side—and flinched.
“…!”
His gaze snapped straight ahead again.
Even while talking to Dr. Na, Yoo Ji-ho had turned his body toward him and was watching him closely.
Hye-seong thought he might’ve heard a soft chuckle.
