"Princess, if you're awake, come eat."
A bright, lively face smiled right in front of him. Huiyeong let out a long sigh and rubbed his eyelids.
That guy's fucking insane.
As Huiyeong roughly scrubbed at his face, Shinyul's large hand settled over his. The moment they touched, Huiyeong felt Guiding flow gently between them like a quiet stream.
They'd said that once the Guiding sense awakened, even the slightest contact would be obvious.
They were right.
But the feel of that large hand and the Guiding flowing into it instantly reminded Huiyeong of what had happened the night before. Goosebumps crawled over his skin, and he smacked Shinyul's hand away.
Especially the last part...
Huiyeong frowned deeply.
No wonder it had felt uncomfortable.
Wait... just how damn big is that thing? Even through clothes, I could still—
He violently shook his head, forcing the thought away.
"Hey. Don't touch me whenever you feel like it."
"In a bad mood? Still sleepy?"
"Wouldn't you be? Try using your brain for once."
"But I'm always thinking about the princess."
Despite Huiyeong's icy response, Shinyul only smiled happily.
Huiyeong had been ready to explode, but Shinyul's utterly deflating answer robbed him of all fighting spirit. He buried his face into the pillow.
"Agh!"
His muffled yell disappeared into the bedding.
At least shouting made him feel a little better.
Yeah...
What's the point getting angry over something that's already happened?
"So what'd you make?"
"Spicy stir-fried pork. The princess only eats spicy pork, pork cutlets, or gukbap anyway."
"A man's gotta eat proper food. If you make that weird tomba... whatever pasta again, I'll kill you."
"Yes, Mister."
Listening to the obedient reply, Huiyeong slowly staggered to his feet.
Passing out this often definitely wasn't normal.
As Shinyul scooped him up and personally carried him all the way to the dining table, Huiyeong stared blankly into space.
Only after sitting him down and placing chopsticks into his small hand did Shinyul return to his own seat.
Slowly chewing his rice, Huiyeong mumbled,
"...Maybe I should go back to the hospital."
"Why? Does something hurt?"
"Does someone randomly passing out every other minute sound normal to you?"
"Oh. Guides and Espers are usually physically weak for about a month after Awakening. Think of it as an aftereffect of Awakening. Most people don't collapse as often as the princess does, but your body's weak, so it can happen. You'll be fine soon."
"You know my body better than I do now?"
Huiyeong smiled crookedly.
He made no effort to hide his sour mood, speaking with obvious irritation.
Shinyul didn't seem affected in the slightest.
He simply piled more spicy pork onto Huiyeong's rice.
"Of course I know."
"You're my princess."
"Eat some vegetables too."
"Want me to wrap you a lettuce wrap?"
"Quit talking nonsense."
"If there's anything else you haven't told me, spit it out."
"Hmm..."
"I don't think so."
"But don't worry, Princess."
"You really think I'd leave something bad to happen to you?"
Shinyul added it with a playful smile.
Without realizing it, Huiyeong found himself agreeing.
Yeah... that's true.
From what he'd heard, he was apparently the only person capable of Guiding Shinyul.
The guy probably wouldn't just let him keel over and die.
Quietly watching Shinyul, Huiyeong sighed.
What the hell is gonna happen to him... after I go back?
Well...
Hopefully the original Yu Huiyeong—or whoever the hell he is—stays this body's Guide...
But...
What if this Guiding thing depends on the person's mind or soul?
What if I return to my original world, and this body ends up empty... and dies?
Huiyeong tended to grow attached to people who treated him well.
Watching Shinyul devote himself to him, he couldn't help feeling a bit of pity.
But he had enough problems of his own.
Soon he pushed thoughts about Shinyul aside and returned to wondering how he could get back to his original world.
After all...
There was no way he intended to spend the rest of his life in a world full of monsters and loose morals, stuck to another man day and night.
And judging from how casually the bastard kissed him...
There was no chance his lips would remain untouched from now on.
...Speaking of kissing.
"Hey, about yesterday—"
"Here. Open wide."
"I wrapped this one small enough for the baby's mouth."
"The princess's mouth really is tiny."
"So cute."
A small lettuce wrap floated through the air and popped neatly into Huiyeong's mouth before he even realized what had happened.
While chewing, he grimaced at Shinyul's teasing.
His damn mouth really was tiny.
It took forever just to chew one bite.
Only after swallowing did Huiyeong, trembling with indignation, growl,
"You little shit, listen when people are talking."
"Hm?"
"I always listen to Huiyeong."
"If you're such a good listener, then what the hell was that savage attack yesterday?"
"Honestly?"
"The princess seduced me."
"You looked up at me with those sexy eyes, sucked on my fingers, and poured Guiding into me."
"I worked really hard holding back."
"You should praise me."
"You didn't hold back!"
"I did."
Was this really breakfast conversation?
Huiyeong wondered.
But his sense of injustice refused to fade.
He'd mentally prepared himself before Shinyul came home.
Just...
Not for kissing.
On top of that, despite everything he'd experienced in life, he'd completely lost control to some green kid, gotten swept away by unfamiliar sensations, panted helplessly...
...and then fainted.
It was humiliating.
He'd underestimated Shinyul because the guy reacted like an inexperienced virgin.
Instead, he'd been completely overwhelmed.
His pride was wounded.
Still...
I'm the adult here.
Reminding himself of that, Huiyeong slowly steadied his breathing.
"Listen, Shinyul."
"As the adult here, let Mister tell you something."
"Want another lettuce wrap?"
"Leave out the garlic."
"And stop interrupting when an adult's talking."
"Yes, Mister."
Watching Shinyul diligently prepare another wrap, Huiyeong continued calmly.
"I get it now."
"I understand your situation."
"I understand this crazy world."
"And I want to help you."
"Since I'm your Guide and all."
"You listening?"
"Mm."
"Good."
"But kissing..."
"Or..."
"Touching people's bodies..."
"Or any other crazy shit like that..."
"Didn't anyone teach you you're supposed to get the other person's consent first?"
"Or is that just something only Mister knows?"
"No."
"But I asked you yesterday."
"You ask and then shove your lips onto someone immediately?"
"That's what you call asking?"
Without using Telekinesis this time, Shinyul simply stretched out his long arm and held the lettuce wrap toward Huiyeong.
"Then from now on..."
"I'll wait until the princess answers before kissing you."
"Why are you already assuming you're going to kiss me again?!"
"But..."
"You said you'd help me."
"If you hadn't kissed me yesterday..."
"I would've been in serious trouble."
Drooping his eyes pitifully, Shinyul lightly tapped the small lettuce wrap against Huiyeong's lips.
Huiyeong absentmindedly accepted it and chewed while thinking.
...Really?
Was it actually that serious?
Well...
He had looked pretty miserable yesterday.
But then what?
Every time he needed Guiding, he'd ask, "Can I kiss you?"
And I'd just say, "Yeah, go ahead?"
No...
Wait...
It's not kissing.
It's Guiding.
...But it is kissing.
The more Huiyeong thought about it, the dumber he felt.
Actually performing Guiding had felt less like kissing and more like transferring the energy inside his body into someone else.
More like a medical procedure than a kiss.
...Is that why everyone in this world has completely broken common sense?
Lost in thought, Huiyeong failed to notice something.
His resistance to kissing had already disappeared.
He was now worrying under the assumption that he'd naturally continue kissing Shinyul from now on.
Scratching his head, he finally snapped.
"Ah, fuck it."
"Whatever."
"My lips are already gone."
"One time or ten times, what's the difference?"
"I'll just pretend they're a lost cause."
"Sorry to whoever originally owned this body."
"But come on."
"Nobody gets to spend life doing only what they want."
"You've kissed before, right?"
"You've got a pretty face."
"If not..."
"Then I'm really sorry."
"Hmm..."
"We only kiss when we're Guiding."
"Kissing already is Guiding, Princess."
"No."
"When you need Guiding, you ask me."
"And only if I give permission."
"I need it right now..."
"Can we do it now?"
At Shinyul's question, Huiyeong quietly looked at his watch.
Guiding value: 82%.
"You think that's happening?"
"I'll make it feel good."
"The princess loved it yesterday too."
"...Are you out of your damn mind?"
***
The Shinyul who had been glued to Huiyeong's side like an unemployed freeloader until now seemed to have decided, after what happened yesterday, to return fully to work.
The moment breakfast was over, he busily changed into his official Esper uniform.
Huiyeong listened as Shinyul explained that anyone absent for more than three weeks was automatically placed on leave, so returning required putting on the uniform again and officially reporting back.
"...What is this? The military?"
Huiyeong mocked.
Shinyul, who usually wandered around in a plain T-shirt with messy hair, now wore a perfectly tailored uniform with his hair neatly combed back.
Rolling around on the bed while patting his full stomach, Huiyeong unconsciously stared.
"...Damn."
"The bastard really is handsome."
He immediately got off the bed and walked over.
Standing on tiptoe, he straightened the collar that had flipped up behind Shinyul's neck.
Then he adjusted the line of the jacket from his shoulders down across his back to his waist before firmly patting and smoothing it several times.
"Turn around."
"Isn't this uniform too small?"
"Hmm... maybe."
"I did have it tailored years ago."
"If you can, get a new one."
"One that fits properly."
"If you dress sloppily, people start thinking you're sloppy too."
"Once they underestimate you, crossing the line becomes easy."
"And once someone's crossed that line once, the boundary disappears."
"People act nice enough..."
"But everyone's calculating."
"They instinctively size up whoever's standing in front of them."
Though...
From what I'd heard, there probably wasn't anyone who'd dare look down on you.
Like people his own age often did, Huiyeong chattered away, sincerely believing his nagging counted as advice.
Listening quietly, Shinyul narrowed his eyes.
Even the careless things Huiyeong said carried the wisdom of someone who'd lived a long life.
Could someone suffering from delusions really say things like that?
They were far too profound to come from an ordinary twenty-one-year-old.
"Really?"
"Yeah, idiot."
"Don't brush it off as old-man nagging."
"Remember it."
"People who say you have to fall flat on your face to learn are full of shit."
"If someone who's already tripped tells you there's a rock up ahead..."
"Wouldn't it be better if you listened and walked past safely?"
"And even if you avoid everything people warn you about..."
"Life still leaves you battered by wounds you never saw coming."
"So don't stubbornly throw yourself into things you could've avoided."
"Try living a little smarter."
"Seriously."
He couldn't help smiling.
Who was he to give advice like this?
But the memories rising to the surface wouldn't stay buried.
The instant Shinyul heard Huiyeong's quiet laugh, he slowly lowered his head.
His expression gradually turned cold.
The young face smiling as it lightly patted his broad back suddenly felt impossibly distant.
Those round, gentle eyes.
That small nose.
Those faintly flushed cheeks.
He still looked too young to seem like a proper adult.
Yet...
The distant gaze looking back on a difficult past.
The lonely smile.
The regret hidden behind the pats on his back.
The calm voice weighed down by memories...
It felt as though Huiyeong were sinking into a world Shinyul would never be able to reach.
Without realizing it, Shinyul urgently grabbed Huiyeong's hand.
Still patting his back, Huiyeong clicked his tongue inwardly.
Shit.
Did he catch me sneaking those hits?
Sharp-eyed bastard.
"Huh?"
"Did that hurt?"
"Hey, Mister was just..."
"...cheering you on."
"Come with me."
"Huh?"
"Come to the Center with me."
"What?"
"You said I could rest today."
"You said it'd be fine if you went by yourself."
Huiyeong frowned.
He'd planned to spend the day relaxing at home and figuring out how to return to his original world.
Now Shinyul suddenly insisted he come along.
What the hell?
Why's he acting like this all of a sudden?
Was my advice really that moving?
It was kind of admirable.
But today, more than anything, Huiyeong wanted to be alone.
No Guiding lessons.
No endless disasters.
No crazy people insisting insanity was common sense.
Surely he deserved one peaceful day.
Especially if it meant finally getting some distance from the clingy kid who refused to leave his side.
"I don't want to."
Huiyeong firmly turned his head away.
But Shinyul tightly gripped the hand Huiyeong tried to pull free, refusing to let go.
And just like that, another hopeless contest of strength began.