Chapter 24: A Brief Warmth Beneath the Winter Lights

Even Ahn I-jeong, who had been quietly watching the two of us from the side together with Choi Siram, looked greatly flustered and started fumbling around.

Choi Siram hurriedly pulled out an expensive-looking handkerchief from inside the pocket of his coat and wiped away the bloodstains.

His expression looked as though he was about to cry.

“Jae-yoon, are you okay? Does anything else hurt?”

“No. I’m fine. I think there’s just been a lot on my mind lately. Please don’t worry too much.”

“…Jae-yoon, I told you before, didn’t I? Don’t say things like ‘don’t worry.’ It’s natural to worry when a teammate is hurting. More than anything, everyone knows how much you sacrifice for the team, so how could I….”

Ahn I-jeong’s pitch-black eyes, devoid of even a trace of light, stared intently at the side of Choi Siram’s face.

For some reason, it reminded me very much of the team members when they had first welcomed Choi Siram.

Ah, it happened. Completely happened.

My gaze naturally dropped to the ground.

I had clearly been the one talking with him first, and yet somehow it felt like I was intruding between the two of them.

Choi Siram was someone who deserved to be loved simply for existing, so Ahn I-jeong’s reaction wasn’t particularly surprising.

Still, the thought that I might lose one of the few people I could comfortably talk to left me feeling slightly disappointed.

“Jae-yoon.”

“Yes, Ahn I-jeong.”

“I guess it’d be better to postpone lunch until another time, right?”

“…Pardon?”

“You don’t seem well, and it also looks like your teammate guide has something to discuss with you, so I thought it’d be better if I gave you some space.”

Ahn I-jeong took the handkerchief from Choi Siram and carefully wiped my face clean of the blood that had made a complete mess of it.

Watching him do that, I came to the tentative conclusion that he really was interested in Choi Siram.

An esper’s obsession toward a guide was far heavier and clingier than most people could imagine.

And if the person you liked was worrying over someone else, anyone would feel uncomfortable.

The only difference was whether they expressed it openly or hid it.

At the very least, Ahn I-jeong’s emotions were definitely affecting him.

To the point where even a third party like me could clearly feel it.

“Jae-yoon, this is my number. Don’t lose it this time, okay? I’ll contact you later once I finish work and get back to the dorm.”

“I’m sorry. I ended up wasting your time because of me….”

“Wasting time? Not at all. I’m just really, really happy I got to see you again like this.”

“…If that’s the case, then I’m relieved.”

“Yes!” he answered brightly, his gaze once again returning to its usual clear and cheerful look as though nothing had happened.

“Excuse me, Jae-yoon’s teammate? Would it be okay if I called you Choi Siram?”

“…Ah? Ah, yes.”

“Please take good care of our Jae-yoon. I’m sure you already do since you’re teammates, but I still can’t help worrying.”

Our Jae-yoon.

Hearing such a cringe-inducing title for the first time in my life, I failed to manage my expression and immediately frowned.

Perhaps displeased by the way Ahn I-jeong acted more familiar with me than even he, my own teammate and colleague, Choi Siram revealed a rare, unfiltered hostility.

“…I hope we can meet again next time too. Definitely.”

“…Pardon?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Then I’ll get going now, Jae-yoon. Take care of yourself!”

“Yes. Please get home safely.”

The bleeding finally stopped.

I still felt dizzy from having lost so much blood, but considering everything, it was fortunate enough.

After seeing Ahn I-jeong off with Choi Siram supporting me, I sat down on a bench near the center plaza.

“Jae-yoon.”

“Yes.”

“Who exactly was that person?”

“Ah, well….”

I had felt it earlier too, but Choi Siram didn’t seem very pleased about my encounter with Ahn I-jeong.

Normally, Choi Siram tried to maintain good relationships with the people around him, even if it meant taking losses himself.

But this time was an exception.

“He’s an esper I once helped before. He was recently transferred here from the eastern center, and coincidentally, he was assigned to an assault team too, so we decided to stay in touch from time to time.”

“I see….”

“But why do you ask?”

“It’s just… you never know with people. I was worried he might try to trick our innocent Jae-yoon into something strange, or maybe he’s some kind of scammer… things like that.”

I laughed while looking at Choi Siram, thinking he really worried over the strangest things.

But unlike me, he seemed completely serious.

I mean, unless you were a high-ranking guide like Choi Siram himself, or at least someone from a wealthy family, what possible merit could there be in targeting someone dull and shabby-looking like me?

Still, we had become acquainted, and I didn’t like the thought of Ahn I-jeong being painted as some shameless scoundrel, so I tried to defend him.

“He’s not that kind of person. He said he’s actually pretty wealthy too.”

“Oh, please. Jae-yoon, you believe that? Truly rich people don’t go around openly saying, ‘I’m rich.’”

“Please don’t worry too much. If something really feels suspicious, I’ll handle it myself.”

“…If that person ever tries anything weird with you, call me immediately. I’ll beat him half to death.”

Choi Siram cracked his fingers together with both fists clenched.

Until now, I’d only thought of him as elegant and delicate, but his hands were just as solid and sturdy as any other man’s.

To change the atmosphere for the still-uncomfortable Choi Siram, I decided to ask why he had personally come looking for me.

“Choi Siram.”

“Yes, Jae-yoon.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask since earlier, but why exactly did you come looking for me? Did you have something work-related to discuss?”

Apparently having completely forgotten the reason he came, Choi Siram let out a small groan and abruptly stood up.

“Right, I forgot to tell you that.”

“It’s okay. You can tell me now.”

“Jae-yoon… since I joined the team, I realized we’ve never really spent time together alone, and we’ve never properly shared a meal either. So if you have time today, would you like to go to the department store with me…?”

Choi Siram was thinking about me.

Maybe that’s why people always say moderation is important.

Even though it was obvious he was pushing himself beyond his limits, he still tried desperately to improve the relationship between me and the team—or perhaps between me and himself.

His efforts felt both pitiful and burdensome.

“It’s completely okay if you refuse. Earlier, you didn’t seem to be feeling well today anyway. If you have time later, I can ask again then.”

“…The center schedule is over, and it’s the holidays. Wouldn’t it be better to spend time with your family instead? Why bother spending it with me…?”

“…My parents and the elders back home are always very busy during the holidays. Besides, I’ve wanted to buy you a nice set of clothes for a while now. I never properly thanked you after you got hurt in my place, and if I keep putting it off because I’m busy, I feel like I’ll never get another chance.”

It felt unsettling.

I couldn’t fully understand his intentions, but refusing the request of someone who continued to show kindness toward someone like me felt difficult.

Maybe I was simply vulnerable to the kindness others offered me.

Thinking about Choi Siram spending the holidays alone in this bleak center, separated from his family and relatives, softened my heart helplessly.

At some point, I even found myself overlapping his situation with mine.

The distance between Choi Siram and me was as far as the distance between the sun and the moon.

And yet, I still dared to think such thoughts.

“…Then shall we go out for a little while?”

“…Really?”

“The bleeding’s mostly stopped, and I’ve been stuck inside buildings for too long. It’d be nice to get some fresh air for once.”

“R-Really?”

“Yes, really. Ah, but I think I should at least change clothes first. If I go to a department store looking like this, someone might report me.”

When I joked like that, Choi Siram’s widened eyes sparkled brightly with joy and excitement.

There couldn’t possibly be anyone more boring than me, so what exactly made him so happy just because he got to spend time with me?

I could already tell today would be exhausting, but somehow this kind of noisy chaos didn’t feel too bad.

Once my transfer request was approved and I left the center, Choi Siram and I would become people who could never meet again even if we tried.

Not just him, but the rest of the team too.

‘Right… just for today….’

If the process of going outside had still been as complicated as before, I never would’ve even considered it.

I was grateful that today happened to be one of the center’s rare holidays.

Of course, if we were called in, we’d have to return immediately, but simply being able to leave the center freely without complicated procedures already made things much easier.

I told Choi Siram I’d quickly go change clothes and asked him to wait here for a moment.

“Okay, hurry back. I’ll wait here like a stone statue!”

His expression, waving energetically like an excited child, looked especially bright.

As expected, the department store on Christmas Eve was unbelievably crowded.

There was no way anyone could call it peaceful.

To the point where it honestly felt even more packed than Line 4 of the subway during rush hour.

I rarely ever went to crowded places, and I almost never had the chance to wander around somewhere like this with another person.

Because of that, I couldn’t properly adapt to the atmosphere of the department store, decorated with dazzling lights and extravagant ornaments everywhere.

Maybe that was why I kept unconsciously relying on Choi Siram.

“Jae-yoon, you don’t have to be so nervous. If the noise is bothering you, there are quieter places deeper inside where we can shop more comfortably, so tell me if you feel uncomfortable.”

“Yes.”