“What do you want to eat?”

“Huh?”

“You said you were hungry.”

“Y-you’re actually going? But you’ve got training, don’t you?”

Despite how he acted, Joo Seunghyuk always gave his all as an Esper. He had never once made a mistake during a Gate raid.

Sure, he’d attacked other Espers in the middle of raids... but the raids themselves always got cleared without issue.

And this was his favorite training session of the week. He was already dressed in full gear. I figured there was no way he’d skip class for something like lunch. That’s why I came now on purpose.

But—

“Lee Yeonsu says he’s hungry. And you think training’s more important than that?”

“...What?”

“Come on. What do you want to eat?”

You’re... really not going to your training?

His answer was so immediate I couldn’t hide my shock.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go... But I couldn’t back down here.

“Ramber at the Shinjeong Hotel.”

‘Ramber’ at Shinjeong Hotel was the original Yeonsu’s favorite French restaurant. It had opened five years ago and was so expensive it reset the price standard for hotel restaurants in Korea.

Yeonsu loved it so much he used to drag Seunghyuk there by force. But Seunghyuk always loathed it. He hated it every single time. I figured he’d do the same now.

As I waited for a reaction, Seunghyuk stared quietly at me and then said—

“Alright. Let’s go.”

He’s actually going?! No, wait, that’s not good...

This was the exact opposite of what I’d expected.

“A-actually, never mind. Now that I think about it, it’s fine. You’re already suited up for training and everything. Skipping just for lunch seems a bit much...”

“It’s fine. I’m hungry now too.”

“No, really! I can wait a little longer.”

I hadn’t seriously meant to make him skip training. The goal was to act like a pain so he’d get sick of me—not to actually cross a line and end up getting dealt with.

But now...

“Don’t worry about it. Come here.”

While my brain panicked from this unexpected development, Seunghyuk took my hand and led ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) me somewhere.

It was the bathroom next to the classroom.

“Wash your hands.”

“Huh?”

“Wash them. That bastard touched them, didn’t he?”

Touched...? We just shook hands, not even a guide session. He’s seriously reacting this sensitively?

But if Seunghyuk didn’t like it, I’d have to do it. Guess I’m not even allowed to shake hands now...

Muttering inwardly, I reached for the sink—only for my mind to jolt wide awake.

No, this is exactly the same as before! I won’t get dumped at this rate!

I turned and looked straight at him, eyes defiant.

“Then you do it.”

“...What?”

“If you don’t like it, then you wash them.”

“Lee Yeonsu, did you eat something weird?”

He was starting to suspect something was off. Good. That meant he might finally start to lose interest. But his stare was so scary.

“Forget it then. I’m leaving.”

I turned away, pretending to be annoyed.

If I pushed too far here, he might rip my wrist off or something.

I should stop while I still can.

I was about to walk off when he grabbed my hand.

He turned the water on and wet my hands. Then he started rubbing liquid soap between my fingers.

“Our baby needs his hands washed now, huh.”

“......”

“You can still wash everything else by yourself?”

This wasn’t right. Something felt sinister all of a sudden. I nodded quickly.

“Y-yeah. I can do that myself.”

“If you can’t even wash your own hands, how’re you gonna clean your body? I’ll take care of it from now on.”

“N-no! That’s fine!”

I tried to pull my hands away, but he held them tightly.

“You’ve got to wash thoroughly. If you want to get rid of filth.”

“......”

Seunghyuk’s fingers slid over each of mine, working the soap into every knuckle, making thick lather.

“You really came because you missed me?”

“...Yeah.”

“I’ll have to write this in my journal.”

“You keep a journal?”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t think you’d be the type...”

It was honestly hard to imagine Seunghyuk writing in a diary.

“I do. When good things happen.”

After rinsing the bubbles off, he dried my hands meticulously with a black handkerchief.

“It’s okay. I can do it.”

“No. The baby should sit still.”

“......”

Something was seriously off. After drying every drop of water from my hands, he reached up and gently rubbed my earlobe.

“Let’s go eat.”

“N-no, wait!”

I quickly shook my head. I really didn’t want to make him miss his training.

“You said you were hungry.”

“I can wait a little. I’ll just watch your training.”

If you were a student or faculty member, observing training sessions was allowed. A lot of Guides even did it for fun. No one would think it weird if I just sat and watched.

“Why would you do that?”

“What, am I not allowed?”

“If you come to the training ground, other bastards will look at you.”

What kind of territorial squid-guard comment is that...?

No one cares what I do or where I go.

Okay, maybe because I’m an S-rank Guide, some might pay attention—but that’s it. It’s not like anyone’s interested in me as a person.

I was about to say that when he spoke again.

“If I see other bastards looking at you, I’ll want to gouge their eyes out.”

“I-I won’t! I won’t watch!”

Knowing Seunghyuk, he’d actually do it. I quickly shook my head. I didn’t want anyone getting hurt because of me.

“Then I’ll just get a triangle kimbap.”

I pictured the convenience store on the first floor of the East Building. I’d just eat something cheap and fast nearby.

“Didn’t you say you wanted Ramber?”

“I changed my mind. Now I want triangle kimbap. Tuna mayo.”

“You think that’ll be enough if you’re hungry?”

“I’ll get the big tuna mayo. And a cup ramen too!”

“Come on.”

Seunghyuk took my hand and strode away. But we weren’t heading for the convenience store. We were going to the parking lot outside the East Building.

***

I was now sitting inside Ramber, the French restaurant at Shinjeong Hotel.

I seriously hadn’t expected Seunghyuk to skip his training and bring me here...

“What do you want to eat?”

I looked at the menu.

Should I go all out and order the most expensive Ramber course to make myself seem even more annoying? But no—this wasn’t anything special. If he ate here regularly, it wouldn’t even count as being a nuisance. Sure, the prices were high, but not overwhelmingly so. This wouldn’t make me look like a pain. Maybe if I ordered some 1-million-won champagne?

As I scanned the specialty drinks with ridiculous price tags, Seunghyuk spoke.

“Shall we get the Ramber course with Lascargo?”

Lascargo—that was a specialty wine made for ability users. My eyes bulged when I saw the wine price on the menu.

T-twenty million won?! This man drinks stuff like that?!

Even if I’d ordered a 1-million-won bottle, he probably wouldn’t have batted an eye. It’s not even a national treasure—just a sip of wine in a restaurant, and it costs twenty million...

“Uh, it’s a bit early for alcohol... I think I’d rather have cola...”

“Alright. Want to add any other dishes if you’re still hungry?”

“No, that’s enough.”

“Then I’ll place the order.”

So much for splitting the bill. I just racked up more debt with Seunghyuk.

***

A moment later, the course dishes started arriving one by one.

“How is it?”

“...It’s... unique.”

Now I understood why Seunghyuk hated this place in the novel. The chef clearly had some kind of eccentric philosophy. Every dish had this weird blend of neon green and radioactive red—it looked like alien food.

It wasn’t just the appearance. The taste was off too. The original Yeonsu wasn’t taste-blind, so why did he drag Seunghyuk here all the time? No wonder Seunghyuk despised it.

“The chef majored in fashion.”

“Really? That explains the... artistic plating.”

“If you ever want to come again, just say so.”

“Mm.”

Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. This place isn’t my style. Probably not Seunghyuk’s either.

Was that why he ordered such expensive wine? Because he knew the food sucked and wanted something to mask it?

“And anytime—if you miss me, just call. Or if you need something. Just don’t come to the East Building again. If you ever show up there looking that good again, I’ll lock you up.”

Lock me up?!

You’re not losing interest—you’re threatening imprisonment again?!

Why?!

All I did today was act like a nuisance. I even dragged you to a restaurant with awful food—why would that increase your obsession?

“It’s just the school uniform.”

“Exactly. It’s cute. It’s got all the buttons you like.”

“....”

Don’t tell me he still thinks I’m some kind of button fetishist...

“...Y-yeah. I won’t go again.”

“Good.”

Failure. This entire plan was a complete failure.

Trying not to sigh, I stuffed the snail dish into my mouth.

“Chew carefully. Don’t choke.”

I asked him to wash my hands once and now he’s treating me like a child. Great. I feel even worse.

“Yeah. You chew properly too.”

“Okay.”

He couldn’t afford to miss his next class. I wanted to eat fast and get back to school—but this was French fine dining, so everything took ages.

“If you’re done, let’s hurry. If we leave now, you won’t be late for your next class.”

“You memorized my schedule?”

“Yeah. Just like how you know mine.”

We were together all the time and in the same team for practical training. It would’ve been weird not to know.

“That’s true.”

Seunghyuk smiled and gently took my hand.

***

After the meal, we got into the elevator. Naturally, I assumed we were heading down to the lobby—but Seunghyuk suddenly pressed the button for the 20th floor.

“The 20th floor?”

“You think we’re just leaving after coming all the way here?”

A slow, gleaming curve spread across Seunghyuk’s lips.

“W-wait, but your class—”

“Don’t worry about it.”

I want to worry about it!

Why aren’t we going back to school—why are we going up to a hotel room?!

But before I could even ask, the elevator arrived at the 20th floor.