Chapter 25: That’s Not Your Place

The one who was startled first was Su-ha.

The person approaching with a friendly wave was unmistakably Min I-hyeon.

But, hadn’t he just called Chaewon’s name?

Before Su-ha’s question could fully settle, I-hyeon spoke again.

“Isn’t there training scheduled today?”

The direction of I-hyeon’s gaze was clearly fixed on Chaewon. Still wearing a look that said he didn’t quite understand the situation, Su-ha dipped his head slightly toward I-hyeon.

“Hello.”

“Hello, Su-ha-ssi. Why are you out here instead of inside?”

This time, I-hyeon directed the same question at Su-ha. His gaze lingered briefly on Su-ha’s face before returning to Chaewon as soon as the question ended. Without waiting for Su-ha’s answer, I-hyeon continued.

“Chaewon-ssi, aren’t you going to say hello to me? We agreed last time we’d acknowledge each other.”

“Ah…! O-oh, yes. Hello, Team Leader.”

“You remember me, right?”

“Of course. How could I not, Team Leader.”

Chaewon, who had been slightly flustered by I-hyeon’s sudden appearance just like Su-ha, bowed belatedly as he greeted him. I-hyeon smiled gently and spoke in a teasing tone.

After answering right away, Chaewon reflexively turned his head slightly to check Su-ha’s expression beside him.

Talking with I-hyeon in front of Su-ha made him feel inexplicably uneasy and self-conscious. Chaewon’s earlier suspicion, that the esper Su-ha had set his sights on was Min I-hyeon, had been confirmed by something Joo Giyoon had said to Su-ha.

The subtly stiffened look on Su-ha’s face weighed heavily on Chaewon’s shoulders.

Growing tense for no reason, Chaewon lowered his gaze to the floor, signaling that he didn’t particularly want to continue the conversation with I-hyeon.

Even if things weren’t this complicated between them, this felt like a situation where Su-ha should be the one talking with I-hyeon.

Whether fortunately or not, I-hyeon seemed to pick up on Chaewon’s intent. After briefly checking Chaewon’s complexion, I-hyeon turned his head toward Su-ha. Su-ha, who had been intently watching the atmosphere flowing between the two, opened his mouth at the same time.

“What brings you here, Team Leader?”

The training room Su-ha and Chaewon had just exited was designed for espers who had only recently awakened. Fully assigned espers with established teams trained elsewhere. I-hyeon was someone who rarely had reason to come here.

I-hyeon shrugged lightly as he answered.

“I came here because of Chaewon-ssi.”

“…Because of Chaewon-ssi?”

Caught off guard by the answer, Su-ha asked again. Chaewon, who had been looking down until then, also lifted his head with widened eyes to look at I-hyeon. I-hyeon spoke while habitually narrowing one eye.

“Ah, you didn’t hear from Team Leader Woo? I was supposed to help out with Chaewon-ssi’s training this time.”

“And why would Team Leader Min be doing that…?”

“I’ve taken a bit of an interest in Esper Lee Chaewon. It’s not every day an S-class junior shows up, so I thought I’d see if there was anything I could help with.”

Chaewon blinked his large eyes repeatedly. The only time he’d met I-hyeon was by chance in the pantry at the Center hospital. I-hyeon had said something about him being famous back then, but Chaewon had assumed it was nothing more than polite small talk.

Normally quick on his feet in unexpected situations, Chaewon found himself at a loss for how to react now. Fortunately, Su-ha was the first to regain his composure. Taking a step toward I-hyeon, he spoke.

“…Chaewon-ssi’s training scheduled for today has been postponed until tomorrow.”

“Really? Why? Are you not feeling well?”

At Su-ha’s reply, I-hyeon’s face crumpled with concern as he leaned closer to Chaewon, bending slightly to examine his face. Chaewon took half a step back and shook his head.

“No, it’s not that I’m unwell. It’s just that my condition is a bit… unstable, and today’s training was high-intensity, so they adjusted the schedule.”

“Hmm, I see. Today’s session might’ve been a bit much.”

As I-hyeon and Chaewon exchanged words, Su-ha’s gaze fixed on the ambiguous distance between them. Chaewon shouldn’t have had many chances to run into I-hyeon, so how did they already know each other?

Given how famous Min I-hyeon was, it wasn’t strange that Chaewon knew his name and face. What bothered Su-ha was how naturally I-hyeon called Chaewon by name.

Watching Chaewon look unusually unsure of himself in front of I-hyeon, Su-ha’s eyes sank low. The feelings that had unintentionally softened earlier in the day stirred again, this time into discomfort.

Suppressing the urge to step in between them immediately, Su-ha spoke.

“Team Leader Woo is inside, so I think it would be best to hear the details directly from him.”

“Ah, I will. Chaewon-ssi, you don’t look so good. Go get some rest.”

Chaewon glanced once at Su-ha instead of I-hyeon, then nodded and answered softly, “Yes.”

Unbothered by that passive response, I-hyeon continued.

“If you ever have questions as an esper or need help during training, come find me anytime. Got it?”

Su-ha clenched his fist without realizing it. As one of the few S-class espers and a capable team leader, I-hyeon’s consideration toward a newly awakened S-class wasn’t inappropriate. And yet, with every word I-hyeon spoke, Su-ha felt himself shaken.

Confusion, surprise, and an unmistakably sharp sense of discomfort began to churn inside him. The sight of Min I-hyeon and Lee Chaewon talking, I-hyeon speaking as though he genuinely cared for Chaewon, it all felt strangely unpleasant.

“Then I’ll go see Team Leader Woo. Su-ha-ssi, take good care of Chaewon-ssi.”

‘That’s not something you need to ask for.’

Su-ha wanted to say that.

Lee Chaewon had nothing to do with Min I-hyeon. How Chaewon was guided and cared for was Su-ha’s responsibility, not I-hyeon’s concern.

Swallowing the petty words that had risen to his throat with great effort, Su-ha gave a slight nod instead and spoke.

“I’ll be on my way.”

“I’ll be going too, Team Leader.”

“Mm. See you again.”

At Su-ha’s somewhat hurried farewell, Chaewon bowed again as well. I-hyeon patted Chaewon’s shoulder in a familiar manner, then waved with his usual courteous smile as he passed them by.

Normally, Su-ha would have stood there watching I-hyeon’s retreating figure for quite some time. Instead, he turned immediately and started walking. A frustration he couldn’t easily control began to surge up.

Was he feeling jealous?

Jealous that I-hyeon, someone Su-ha admired, was being so kind to Chaewon, someone he hadn’t even known I-hyeon was acquainted with?

What was truly strange was the fact that Su-ha was feeling hostility toward Min I-hyeon. Even if it were jealousy, shouldn’t that resentment be directed at Chaewon instead?

Su-ha’s thoughts tangled rapidly.

Chaewon hurried to follow behind him and spoke toward Su-ha’s back in a slightly urgent voice.

“We met once before… at the hospital. Completely by chance.”

“…”

“We just exchanged brief greetings then. That was all.”

Chaewon was explaining himself. He knew he hadn’t done anything wrong, but it felt like he had to say it anyway. Chasing after Su-ha without receiving any response, Chaewon’s face filled with quiet dismay.

Su-ha’s sudden coldness didn’t confuse him as much as it made sense.

Su-ha had been prevented from becoming I-hyeon’s guide because of Chaewon. And now, the very person who’d gotten in the way was receiving I-hyeon’s help instead, how could Su-ha not feel uncomfortable?

Chaewon didn’t want to provoke Su-ha’s feelings any further, but as always, nothing ever went the way he intended. No matter how miraculous awakening might be, some things seemed beyond what a mere human could change.

So Chaewon walked on in silence. He’d said everything that needed explaining; rambling on would only backfire. Instead, he let his thoughts drift to what lay ahead.

Would he grow even more distant from Su-ha like this?

Would Su-ha’s patience eventually reach its limit?

Even if that happened, there was nothing Chaewon could do about it. Still, the heaviness settling in his chest was unavoidable.

Then, suddenly, Su-ha stopped and turned around. Chaewon halted reflexively as Su-ha spoke.

“Let’s go to your quarters, Chaewon-ssi.”

“…Pardon?”

“If your condition is bad enough that you can’t train, it would be better to receive the guiding we couldn’t properly finish earlier.”

Su-ha’s lowered gaze clearly carried displeasure toward Chaewon. Even so, the suggestion of guiding felt driven purely by responsibility, as though he were forcing himself. Shaking his head, Chaewon replied.

“It’s fine. I can manage on my own. We’re not training today anyway… If you could just redo the preliminary guiding tomorrow, that should be enough.”

Chaewon meant it as consideration for Su-ha, but the moment Su-ha heard that answer, his mood worsened even further.