Beep beep beep beep.

The sound of someone entering the code outside instantly cleared the drowsiness lingering on his face.

Clunk.

The lights in the entryway came on with the sound of the door opening. Ju-eon quickly ran toward the entrance. He had worried about managing his expression when he returned, but it was needless concern.

“Welcome home.”

Just seeing him made him happy.

“You’re still up?”

Myung-hwon paused briefly, looking at Ju-eon as if he hadn’t expected him to be waiting. A faint weariness hung over Myung-hwon’s face.

Ju-eon tightly hugged the well-built body with its dense, not-at-all-clumsy muscles, and towering height that seemed to fill the entire entryway. Myung-hwon naturally wrapped his arms around Ju-eon’s waist. Though Ju-eon wasn’t particularly small, when embraced like this, his face ended up buried in Myung-hwon’s chest.

“Yeah. I waited for you.”

“There was a lot of work today.”

Myung-hwon carried Ju-eon lightly as he walked into the house. Myung-hwon smelled like the sun. Though it was just the lingering scent similar to when explosives went off while using his abilities, to Ju-eon, Myung-hwon’s scent felt like the sun. Ju-eon buried his face in Myung-hwon’s shoulder.

“Which district did you go to?”

“District 5.”

District 5 was the slum area. Where unsettling rumors had been frequently circulating lately.

“The director cherishes you so much, yet sends you alone? When there might be an S-class esper there…?”

“That’s exactly why I should go.”

“How can you go without a guide?”

“I have the medicine, so it’s fine.”

“What about the other team members?”

“Since it was urgent, I took Ji-woo with me.”

He thought he’d gone alone. Noticing Ju-eon’s momentary hesitation, Myung-hwon added:

“It was just for reconnaissance.”

As soon as they entered the house, Myung-hwon set Ju-eon down. Their eyes met.

“You…”

Ju-eon’s lips trembled. What’s wrong with you lately? Did I do something wrong? Or if not that… why are you different from before?

He wanted to say something, but what came out was just meaningless words.

“Ji-woo is good at guiding…”

Without confirming or denying, Myung-hwon headed straight for the bathroom. Even if S-class were monsters, it didn’t mean they didn’t get tired.

Ju-eon followed behind Myung-hwon, asking:

“Did you eat?”

“Yeah. I ate before coming.”

“……”

Myung-hwon belatedly turned around to look at the silent Ju-eon.

“…What?”

“Nothing. I was waiting to eat together.”

Myung-hwon checked the clock on the wall as if suddenly remembering. It was past 1 AM.

“You should have just eaten.”

Myung-hwon looked at Ju-eon with a troubled expression. It looked more like burden than appreciation. Ju-eon smiled awkwardly.

“I had something to eat in between, so I’m not hungry anyway.”

“Really?”

Ju-eon’s gaze fell on Myung-hwon’s seemingly flawless back muscles.

“I should put away the food for tomorrow.”

Bang.

The door closed. Ju-eon stared at the door for a moment. Not that Myung-hwon would suddenly open it and come out.

“Hah.”

He let out a sigh like morning mist.

Ju-eon headed to the kitchen, turning his back on the sound of running water coming from behind the closed door.

**

The agency in the center of District 1 was particularly busy in the morning. Myung-hwon said he had somewhere to stop by and they parted ways midway, leaving Ju-eon to head to Attack Team 1’s office alone.

“Good morning.”

Ju-eon greeted the person sitting at the next desk as he sat down naturally.

“Oh right. Ju-eon, you weren’t here yesterday?”

“Yes. Because of the regular checkup.”

“Then you haven’t heard the news?”

“Is it related to all the internal commotion right now?”

Yun-jin nodded vigorously at Ju-eon’s question. Seeing how her eyes sparkled, eager to tell the news as quickly as possible, it must have been something big.

‘Myung-hwon didn’t say anything yesterday…’

“You know L Corporation, right?”

“Yes, I do.”

L Corporation was one of the major companies sponsoring the agency. Even all the electronics in their dormitory were from L Corporation, so everyone knew about the close relationship between the agency and L Corporation.

“They say an S-class guide appeared from that family.”

“What?”

Ju-eon asked back in a dumb voice.

Officially, there were three S-class guides in Korea. One of them had changed nationality to the United States, another was approaching retirement age, and the third ran a private company.

The agency only had one S-class guide, who was close to retirement.

“Then…”

“I heard they’re starting work with Attack Team 1 tomorrow?”

Seo Yun-jin looked excited. It was good news. Guides were essential for S-class espers. The fact that Team 1 only had A-class guides, preventing S-class espers from reaching their full potential, had been a constant topic of discussion.

But good news was only good news when it didn’t concern oneself. A strange anxiety swept through him. The S-class espers would have been informed first. Then surely Myung-hwon must have known, so why hadn’t he told him?

“Then they’ll have to form new teams, right?”

“I suppose so?”

Not catching Ju-eon’s darkened expression, Yun-jin laughed, saying it was amazing to know such nation-shaking news first.

“Good morning.”

When Myung-hwon entered the office, all eyes shifted to him at once.

The agency had a principle against imprinting. He and Yeo Myung-hwon had always been together and even shared quarters. But the two were only matched, not imprinted on each other.

He had never felt anxious about that before.

“Are we getting new team assignments starting tomorrow?”

Someone couldn’t hold back and asked Myung-hwon. There seemed to be a ringing in his ears. Attack Team 1 was a team composed of only the most elite espers and guides. Efficiency was the top priority. Perhaps this was the natural course of events.

Myung-hwon glanced briefly at Ju-eon and gave a small nod.

Thump.

Feeling his heart drop to his stomach, Ju-eon clenched both fists.

**

Even with just one new member, given who it was, they needed to completely reorganize the teams. Attack Team 1 was divided into Teams A and B, with Team A being the most elite. Team A had two guides. Not both were on the front lines – one was kept in reserve for contingencies.

Originally, Ju-eon had taken the guide role, and Lee Ji-woo, who had gone with Myung-hwon recently when Ju-eon wasn’t there, was in Team A as the reserve.

As several summoned team members entered the conference room, Kang No-hun, standing at the front, placed both arms on the desk and began speaking.

“Though we’re having the team briefing the day before the new member joins because it’s classified information, this has already been decided.”

“Team leader, weren’t you going to tell us tomorrow?”

“Something came up tomorrow.”

“Looks like we’re heading out again tomorrow.”

Seeming relieved at the team members’ responses, No-hun flipped to the next presentation slide. Familiar faces appeared on the page labeled Attack Team 1.

“There won’t be major changes. However, Ju-eon will be moved to Team 2 separately. And since Team 2 will be strengthened with Ju-eon’s addition, Attack Team 2 will also be subdivided, and I’ll try to get you placed on their main team.”

“…What?”

He thought he would stay in Team 1 even if he was pushed aside. But at No-hun’s completely unexpected words, Ju-eon’s body flinched.

“It’s because Ji-woo doesn’t match well with Team 2’s espers. Adding you to Team 2 would be more efficient. Is that okay?”

“……”

He had said earlier that it was already decided. There could be no room for discussion. Yet the answer wouldn’t come easily. He could barely manage guiding Myung-hwon alone, and found it difficult to guide other espers as their compatibility wasn’t good.

“Not right away – you’ll need to hand over your duties. About a month. The newcomer doesn’t have much experience, after all.”

“Ah.”

His eyelashes trembled. He had never thought they would be separated. Ju-eon turned his head to check Myung-hwon’s expression.

Unlike himself, Myung-hwon’s face was calm. No-hun spoke to Ju-eon as if delivering a finishing blow.

“I’ve already discussed this with Myung-hwon. Sorry for telling you so late.”

“…Yes.”

Only then did he understand why Myung-hwon had received Ji-woo’s guiding without calling him. Because he would no longer be in Team 1.

“I won’t let personal feelings interfere with team matters.”

Fortunately, his voice didn’t shake. At Ju-eon’s response, No-hun patted his shoulder and said in an almost excessively bright voice:

“Right. I knew you’d say that. Good. Then let’s move on to the next topic.”

As the team leader spoke about other changes, it was hard to properly understand what he was saying. He glanced at Myung-hwon sitting in front. Though he must have felt his gaze, Myung-hwon never once looked in Ju-eon’s direction. He had said he wouldn’t let personal feelings interfere, but that was only when thinking rationally – emotionally, it made no sense at all.

He remembered the day they first learned they’d be assigned to the same department.

‘It’s amazing we’ll even be working together.’

‘What if you get sick of me?’

Myung-hwon had wrapped his large arms around his waist and buried his face in Ju-eon’s shoulder.

‘Why would you say that?’

It was funny how cute Myung-hwon looked, worrying about something so unlikely. It was amazing how Myung-hwon, who was 20cm taller than him, could look so cute.

‘Give me a proper answer.’

‘That would never happen.’

He had said that would never happen while hugging him back with all his might. Every moment felt like a miracle, a sensation he’d never felt before. The feeling of being pickled in happiness.

“Alright, everyone back to your positions. I’ll send detailed changes in individual emails, so check those.”

“Yes.”

Only after the team members stood up did he snap back to his senses.