"Sorry. Did you wait long?"

"No. Actually, while I was waiting for you, I ran into Park Geonwoo-sunbae."

"That bastard?"

Joo Seunghyuk’s eyes suddenly flashed cold.

I used to wonder why he hated Park Geonwoo so much, but now I understood. It’d be strange not to hate someone who tried to steal credit for your accomplishments.

"Yeah. He asked me to become his exclusive Guide—"

"Where are you going?!"

I urgently grabbed Seunghyuk as he suddenly took off running.

"I’m going to kill that bastard."

Seeing Seunghyuk quiver with rage didn’t scare me—if anything, it reassured me.

He hadn’t changed.

Nothing had happened between him and Kim Jun.

I was sure of it all over again.

"Don’t. I already turned him down."

"You turned him down?"

"Of course I did. I’m your Guide, aren’t I?"

Seunghyuk gave me a beaming smile and squeezed my hand tightly.

"That’s right. You’re my Guide."

"Yeah. Let’s go home—"

I tried to get into the car, but Seunghyuk stayed rooted to the spot.

"Seunghyuk...?"

"Then I’ll just gouge out his eyeballs and come back."

...This lunatic.

"Seunghyuk, don’t."

"Why are you taking that bastard’s side, hyung?"

"I’m not taking his side. I just don’t want you doing something bad because of me."

"Would you hate it if I did something bad?"

"Yeah. So don’t. Not because of me."

I held his hand firmly.

Before, I used to think I didn’t care what Seunghyuk did, as long as I wasn’t involved.

But not anymore.

Now I hated the thought of people talking about him behind ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) his back because of something bad he did.

"Okay. If you don’t like it, I won’t do it."

He unexpectedly listened to me without a fight.

"Should we go home?"

"Yeah."

I got in the car quickly before his anger could flare up again.

He buckled my seatbelt for me and started the engine.

Maybe it was because I didn’t have to lift a finger.

Maybe it was because of the way he took care of me.

But even though we were heading to Seunghyuk’s house—something I used to fear so much—I felt oddly at ease.

"Seunghyuk."

"Yeah?"

"That time at the Horaitron Gate... You saved me, didn’t you?"

"Oh, back then..."

His expression stiffened slightly as he drove.

He looked like he didn’t want to remember it.

"Why didn’t you say anything?"

"Because I didn’t save you. I hurt you."

His voice dropped heavy with guilt.

Wait, was he... blaming himself for that?

I reached out and laid my hand over his on the gear shift.

"No. You saved me. If it weren’t for you, I might’ve died back then."

He pulled over and held my hand tightly.

"Don’t say that. That could never happen. I’d never let that happen."

"Okay. I won’t say it again."

Seeing his pale face—like he couldn’t even imagine me getting hurt—made me smile without realizing it.

How could I have ever thought someone like this might kill me?

What was I so afraid of all this time?

"But... how did you know?"

"When we entered the Linked Gate, I caught a glimpse of you that brought back the memory. And today, I asked Park Geonwoo-sunbae about it."

"So I made you remember something painful for no reason."

He didn’t gloat or act proud that he’d saved me.

He just looked worried.

"I’m fine. All I remember is that you saved me. So why didn’t you tell me? You were the one suffering all this time from those rumors. If I’d known, I could’ve cleared it up right away..."

While I was resting in bed, I’d searched up everything I could about the Horaitron Gate.

I wanted to verify the theory that Seunghyuk had saved me.

And in the process, I’d found a rumor going around online.

That I had been severely injured because of his attack.

They say the person involved is always the last to find out, huh.

It wasn’t even an article, just online whispers, so I had no idea.

But I bet Seunghyuk had known all along.

"I don’t care what anyone else says. As long as Lee Yeonsu likes me, that’s enough."

"Seunghyuk..."

"And it’s only natural for an Esper to protect his Guide. You’re my Guide, so of course I have to protect you."

...Back then, I wasn’t his Guide.

Even when we were assigned to the same mission, we were always in separate squads.

We hadn’t even shared a single guiding session.

But Seunghyuk had thought of me as his Guide.

From way back then—seven years ago.

"Yeah. I’m your Guide. Yours."

I lowered my head to hide my tears, but Seunghyuk cupped my face and gently lifted it.

"Hyung is my Guide."

"Yeah. I’m your Guide. Thank you. Really, thank you for saving me back then."

"What’s there to thank me for? I’m the one who put you in danger. I’m sorry."

"No. I’m the one who’s sorry—for not remembering."

"Don’t remember it. Why would you want to remember something like that?"

Seunghyuk wiped the tears from my eyes.

"And don’t cry. I hate it when you cry, hyung."

"Okay. I won’t. I won’t cry."

I forced my lips into a smile.

I didn’t want him to see me cry.

"Seunghyuk, let’s eat something good."

"Yeah. What do you want to eat? Tell me anything. I’ll make it for you."

"No. Today, I’ll cook."

"You will?"

"Yeah. I’ll make you something delicious."

"Won’t it be too much for you?"

"I’m all better thanks to you, so don’t worry."

I wanted to cook for the person who had saved my life.

To repay the one who’d taken care of me every day.

To give a warm meal to the lonely little boy who had always been alone.

I wanted to make him something delicious.

"Okay. Then I’ll look forward to it."

"Yeah. Leave it to me!"

*** 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

We went to the supermarket together.

Even though we’d been practically glued together since the first semester, it was our first time coming to a store like this.

"Seunghyuk, have you ever been to a supermarket before?"

"Yeah."

"Really?"

"Why are you so surprised? Do I look like someone who’s never been to a supermarket?"

"...Yeah."

I nodded honestly, and Seunghyuk chuckled softly as he tousled my hair.

"What do you even think I am... Hyung, I’m normal, you know."

No way. Not even close.

Even if we ignored everything else, his looks alone were already way too much to be considered “normal.”

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. I’ll believe you."

But honestly, right now—I wanted to believe him.

And when I said that, Seunghyuk’s eyes crinkled into a bright smile.

Did he really have to look that happy?

"What do you want to eat? If there’s anything you’re craving, just say so."

"Cunnyo."

"Huh?"

"Cunnyo chicken nuggets..."

He mumbled it shyly, almost whispering.

"You want chicken nuggets?"

"Yeah. I want to know what kind of things you liked to eat, hyung."

"Sure. Let’s get that. And what else should we eat?"

"Anything’s fine if you’re the one making it."

He smiled brightly and held my hand tight.

If I’d known he’d be this happy, I would’ve done it for him way earlier.

"Okay. Then I’m choosing everything."

"Yep."

The way he answered so obediently—it reminded me of little Woong.

I had the sudden urge to pat his head as we walked into the store together.

"Seunghyuk, do you have onions at home?"

"Yeah, I do."

"What about zucchini?"

"Don’t have that."

"Meat?"

"I’ve got beef tenderloin."

"For steak, right?"

"Yep."

"Okay, then we’ll need to buy meat."

We chatted while going over what ingredients we needed.

It was surprising how well he knew what was in his fridge.

But I guess this was just the kind of person Seunghyuk had always been.

I’d been so stuck on the original novel that I hadn’t been seeing the real Joo Seunghyuk at all.

"Do you have eggs?"

"Three left."

He even knew how many eggs he had left?

Seriously, he was meticulous to a fault.

"Then we should buy a carton."

"Okay."

"What kind of eggs do you usually buy?"

Normally, I wouldn’t have thought twice—I’d just grab whatever was on sale.

But thinking about eating it together with Seunghyuk made me hesitate.

Large, extra-large, nutrient-enriched, antibiotic-free, eco-friendly, organic, free-range, laid by chickens from Jirisan...

Were there always this many kinds of eggs?

"I don’t care."

"Still..."

I hesitated in front of the display, unable to decide.

Then he picked one up.

"Let’s get this one."

"Okay."

By the time we finished gathering everything we needed, the cart was pretty full.

I had been the one pushing the cart at first.

Today, I’d meant to do everything myself.

But when I came to my senses, the cart was already in Seunghyuk’s hands.

"Should we grab some snacks too?"

"Is that okay?"

"Of course it is."

"Then... maybe a few chips and some ice cream?"

"You can get a lot, you know."

Seunghyuk pinched my cheek lightly.

Was my cheek his favorite toy or something?

He kept touching it every chance he got.

"Seunghyuk, do you like touching my cheek?"

"Yeah. I like it."

"Okay, then... go ahead."

Well, it’s not like touching it wears it out.

And if it makes him that happy, I might as well let him.

"Okay."

He smiled shyly and started kneading my cheek.

Wait—just because I gave you permission doesn’t mean you should start pawing at me like you were waiting for it!

This kid seriously doesn’t know the meaning of self-restraint.

...But why did that side of him seem so cute?

After we finished shopping, we headed back home.

"It’s really late. You must be hungry, right? I’ll cook right away, so just wait a sec."

Between the general meeting and grocery shopping, it had gotten way too late.

I headed straight to the kitchen—only to have Seunghyuk follow me.

"Are you super hungry? Want a snack while you wait?"

"No, I want to help."

"It’s okay! I said I’d cook for you today. Go rest."

"I want to cook with you. Can’t I...?"

The look on his face, like he was scared I’d reject him, made my chest ache.

He looked like a puppy caught in the rain.

"No, of course not. I’d love to. Let’s cook together."

"Yeah!"

The second I gave him permission, his lips curled into a huge grin.

Wait... Did he know I was weak to this kind of thing?

Was he pretending to look pitiful on purpose?

No—no way.

He probably just smiled because he was happy.

I’m overthinking things.