When I came out of the restroom, I saw Joo Seunghyuk standing alone across the way.

He hadn’t gone to the restroom, nor had he bought any food—so why had he come out?

As I looked at the slightly lonely-looking figure of Seunghyuk, I realized my mistake.

Now that I thought about it, even though Seunghyuk had helped me, I hadn’t even said thank you. No matter how much of a lunatic who might kill me he was, it wasn’t right to treat someone who helped me like that.

I checked the time and rushed into the convenience store inside the rest stop.

What would Seunghyuk like?

In the original story, he only drank Americanos. But he was still a third-year middle schooler. Somehow, it felt wrong to give a kid an Americano.

Canned drinks were out too—they were too cheap. He might think I was giving him some beggar-tier drink because I was a beggar myself.

I scanned the drink fridge quickly and spotted a premium line of fresh fruit juices. The label read “100% Cold-Pressed Fresh Fruit Juice.”

That must be why the palm-sized bottle cost more than a one-liter bottle of juice.

If it were for me, I’d never pay for something like that. But for Seunghyuk, it seemed suitable as a gift.

But what flavor?

Orange—definitely out. Tomato—also no. People either love it or hate it. Pineapple felt too sweet. Seunghyuk probably wouldn’t like it.

Everything had its flaw. And time was ticking. I had to decide fast. That’s when I saw the grapefruit juice.

This is it!

Grapefruit had a classy vibe, and it wasn’t overly sweet. I quickly paid for the juice and stepped outside.

Seunghyuk glanced at his wristwatch, turned toward the bus, and began walking.

It was already 51 minutes past the hour. I rushed after him and arrived at exactly 52 minutes. But many people still hadn’t boarded.

“Is everyone here? Who’s missing? How many are still outside? If the person next to or behind you isn’t back, please speak up!”

The supervisor kept shouting. In the midst of the commotion, I fidgeted with the grapefruit juice in my hands. Somehow, now didn’t feel like the right time to give it.

Eventually, the bus departed on the dot. I could hear people eating snacks they bought at the rest stop, but it was much quieter than before.

If I don’t give it to him now, I won’t get another chance until we go home.

I looked over at Seunghyuk.

Since the day I rejected the exclusive contract, this was the first time I’d spoken to him directly. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.

“Um...”

Seunghyuk turned his head away from his phone.

“Thank you for helping me.”

I used formal speech. Back when I didn’t know the original story, I used casual speech with him. But now I couldn’t.

I had no desire to be murdered by the yandere for pretending to be friendly.

“This is just a small token—please accept it.”

Seunghyuk stared at the grapefruit juice. His neat eyebrows twitched.

Was he disgusted just because a minor villainous sub-uke dared speak to him? Then why did you sit next to me in the first place!

It felt unfair, but I couldn’t dare say that to a lunatic.

“Ah... you don’t like it, do you? Then you don’t have to take it if you don’t want to.”

I spoke politely and began putting the juice back into my bag—but Seunghyuk snatched it away.

Still, he didn’t drink it. He just kept glaring at the juice.

Did he hate juice?

A memory flashed—Seunghyuk getting drenched in orange juice. Maybe it wasn’t just oranges; maybe he hated all juice.

I should’ve gone with the Americano. Middle school or not, he was old enough for coffee. He was only a year younger than me, and even taller.

Besides, I knew he only drank Americanos. But in a panic over time, I made a dumb decision.

I debated asking for the juice back, but in the end, I couldn’t work up the courage and remained silent until we arrived at the gate.

***

That day, thanks to Joo Seunghyuk’s efforts, the gate raid wrapped up smoothly.

To be honest, I didn’t know the details. Not long after we arrived in Buan, high-ranking officials from the Center came rushing in.

They came to apologize for the disgraceful incident on the bus.

“Our Center always prioritizes the safety of Guides. We’re not like corporate guilds that put profit first. This sort of thing never happens. I promise you, Lee Yeonsu—on the name of the Korean Ability User Center—it will never happen again.”

It didn’t feel like they were truly worried about me or sincerely sorry. More like they were trying to protect their image. They had been hoping I’d choose the Center, after all.

They said it would be unreasonable to expect me to guide anyone after the shock, and sent me home. I said I was fine, but they’d already sent a limousine, so I had no choice.

Later I heard that the Esper who had harassed me lost his license permanently.

He’d already had a reputation for causing trouble, but because he was A-rank and had connections, he’d been protected. This incident got him banned for good.

Since that day, national gate raids always included a separate Guide-only bus. Naturally, I never rode a bus with Seunghyuk again.

***

I’d assumed Seunghyuk had forgotten about that day. But apparently, he hadn’t.

I looked at him again. He was so much taller now than in middle school, with a solid build. The boyish face was gone, replaced with the aura of a man.

Seunghyuk, do you remember that day? You didn’t hate me back then, did you?

Since our first time together, we’d been stuck like glue. But we’d rarely ever brought up anything from before that.

It was a taboo. Nothing good could come from dredging it up. Especially from my side.

But for some reason, I wanted to ask. About his memories, about his thoughts at the time, about how he felt toward me....

“Seunghyuk.”

I called out without thinking—only to be cut off by a sharp voice.

“Aren’t Espers and Guides supposed to sit separately?”

Aaron stood with his arms crossed, glaring at us.

What the hell is he doing here? I hadn’t seen him since the first day—thought he’d left entirely.

Is he really participating # Nоvеlight # in live training? Even if he’s naturalizing, he’s still technically an outsider. How is this allowed?

Then again, this must be another thing Professor Oh approved.

I tried to explain, to clear the misunderstanding.

“We were just about to—”

“Isn’t that the rule in Korea? Just because you’re S-rank, you think you can do whatever you want?”

Before I could finish, Aaron snapped coldly.

Hey, I said we were going to sit separately! Can you listen for once?!

And if you're doing this out of jealousy over me and Seunghyuk, please stop! You’re making a huge mistake!

I still hadn’t given up on my plan to pair the villainous sub-uke #2 with the yandere and escape the original plot. As annoying as Aaron was, I genuinely hoped things would work out between him and Seunghyuk. That way, I could finally be free of the lunatic. I was even willing to help push them together.

But Aaron wasn’t just targeting me—he was also provoking the yandere.

If you want to attack someone, just go after me! Why are you poking the lunatic too?!

As expected, Seunghyuk’s eyes had gone cold. At this rate, Aaron wasn’t getting a boyfriend—he was going to get a body bag.

I tried to intervene, but Jihee noona cut in first.

“Well, normally yes, but if they’re bonded or dating, it’s an exception. That rule was made to keep clingy creeps away, but if you’re dating, it doesn’t apply.”

“It’s not like it’s a law. Let the couple have their moment. Don’t be such a killjoy.”

“Jealous! I wish I had a boyfriend to sit with too!”

“Shut up, would you?”

Upperclassmen chimed in one by one. Every single one of them was talking under the assumption that Seunghyuk and I were dating.

They’d always kind of assumed we were, but at least they kept quiet about it before.

But after the article came out about our “public date” at the department store, people had started treating us like the Academy’s official couple.

God, I have to escape soon...

Aaron’s passive-aggressive jab annoyed me, but what really terrified me were the congratulatory and jealous remarks from the upperclassmen.

Somehow, we’d ended up an official couple. If this keeps up, I might find myself at the altar before I even realize it....

“Aaron Guide, there’s a seat here. Have a seat.”

Amid the buzz about me and Seunghyuk, Kang Inho calmly pointed to the seat beside him.

Aaron bit his lips hard, glared at me, and stormed off the bus.

***

I had been planning to sit separately from Seunghyuk, but Aaron’s interruption completely ruined the timing.

In the end, we ended up sitting together.

Four years ago, silence had filled the space between us. But this time was different. Seunghyuk leaned his head on my shoulder. I let him.

He gently played with the ring on my finger.

“You wear it often.”

“It’s important. If I lost it, it’d be a disaster.”

That ring was worth the price of two buildings. One for the ring, and another for the Holaritron handgun hidden inside it.

Wearing it was nerve-wracking, but I was scared to leave it in the dorm too. If someone stole it, it’d be a huge problem.

“If I’d known you’d wear it so well, I’d have made it a couple ring.”

A couple ring with a yandere? Please don’t say such terrifying things.

“This ring just feels comfortable.”

“Comfortable?”

“Yeah. I usually can’t wear rings—they always bother me—but this one doesn’t. It’s really comfortable.”

“You like it?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I’m glad.”

Seunghyuk took my hand and interlaced our fingers. After that, neither of us spoke. I quietly turned to look out the window.

It was quiet, but not like before. Back then, I was too scared to even move my head, afraid our eyes might meet. My whole body used to ache from the tension.

But now, even in silence, there was comfort. I was starting to get used to the lunatic’s presence. And that comfort—was terrifying.