Chapter 37: The Following Gaze (13)

“It’s nice to be back here after a long time~”

Jisung dived into his bed in his room at the Center. Contrary to his worries, the new Center Director’s impression wasn’t bad. He was upset that his vacation was postponed by three days, but since it was just a short interview, he decided to let it go.

As he was rolling around in bed, Hyunwoo naturally lay down next to him. The bed instantly became cramped due to his tall height and broad shoulders, but Jisung, who had gotten used to sharing, actually felt more comfortable this way.

“I have nothing to do until the day after tomorrow… Should I go home for a while?”

“Home?”

Hyunwoo’s eyes widened as he looked at Jisung. There was a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

“Yeah. Dust must have piled up since I haven’t been there for a while… and I need to air it out.”

Unlike Espers, Guides didn’t have to live at the Center, but he was living here, leaving his own home, because of Hyunwoo who didn’t want to be away from him.

“It’s the first time since I went to get my necessary belongings right after becoming a Guide.”

“I was planning to stop by from time to time to air it out… I didn’t think I wouldn’t be able to go for this long.”

“Because of the missions, and you got hurt, Hyung.”

Jisung nodded in agreement. It really seemed like a good idea to go home at this point.

“Your house, Hyung…”

“Hmm? Why? Do you want to go?”

Hyunwoo’s head shot up at Jisung’s words. His sparkling eyes were fixed on him. Hyunwoo, who was about to open his mouth to answer, then seemed to remember something and his expression darkened as he closed his mouth.

“What’s wrong?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

“Hmm?”

Jisung narrowed his eyes at the suddenly dejected Hyunwoo. ‘What’s wrong? Why did his mood suddenly turn bad?’ After pondering the reason for a moment, he let out a short sigh, “Ah.”

“Is it because you can’t go with me because you can’t act freely?”

Hyunwoo’s eyes widened. That was it. S-Rank Espers like Hyunwoo and Yuaan couldn’t wander around as they pleased unless they got permission from the Center.

“We’re going on vacation in three days anyway, do you think they’ll stop us from going just around the corner?”

“Still…”

Of course, they were more than capable of doing so. They were quiet for now because of the former Center Director’s incident and Yejun’s attack, but they had suppressed Espers and even conducted inhumane experiments.

“It’s okay, it’s okay~”

Jisung smiled and stroked Hyunwoo’s head.

“If they don’t allow it~ I’ll just push them until they do!”

Jisung smiled brightly and clenched his fist. Since he already had a track record, they knew very well that his words were not empty threats. If it doesn’t work, make it work. The person who best suited that saying was none other than Lee Jisung.

“Then shall we go and ask nicely? You both are coming with me, right?”

Sunwoo and Yuaan nodded at his question.

“Wait a moment.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Hyunwoo scurried after Jisung who was going out. And a little later, the two of them returned to the room, smiling brightly.

‘They won.’

Sunwoo, thinking that, offered the jelly he was eating to Jisung and Hyunwoo as well. As Jisung picked a red gummy bear, Hyunwoo followed him and picked a gummy bear of the same color.

“They said we can go!”

“Really?”

Yuaan asked back, his cheeks flushed with excitement. Jisung nodded and put the jelly in his mouth. He chewed the slightly hard jelly with his jaw moving diligently and checked the time on his phone. 5 PM, it wasn’t too late to go home now.

“Should we go now since we should strike while the iron is hot?”

“I like it.”

“I agree too!”

Hyunwoo and Yuaan answered in order to Jisung’s question. Jisung glanced at Sunwoo.

“I’m fine with it too.”

“Okay, let’s pack our necessary belongings and go~”

Jisung could just go as he was, but the three of them needed pillows and blankets. He watched the three of them pack their belongings with a fond expression.

‘Cute.’

He helped Hyunwoo pack, contemplating whether to buy pillows and blankets for the three of them on this occasion.

When they arrived at the lobby on the first floor of the Center, Minseong was standing at the door. Next to him was a young man with a face he had never seen before. ‘Early twenties?’ The young man, who seemed to be around Sunwoo’s age, bowed his head and greeted Jisung. He greeted him back and looked at Minseong with a puzzled expression, and Minseong smiled and opened his mouth.

“He’s your bodyguard for the day, Hyung.”

“…Pardon?”

As Jisung answered with a look of disbelief, Minseong laughed and explained the situation.

“Since you’re being targeted by a terrorist group, it’s an order to protect you.”

“…I have the best Espers on either side of me?”

Minseong smiled awkwardly at Hyunwoo and Yuaan.

“There’s no harm in being careful.”

“Hmm…”

“Am I… making you uncomfortable?”

“Huh…?”

Minseong looked at Jisung with a dejected expression. The already haggard face, now with a lack of energy, stimulated his conscience beyond words.

“Ah, no… that’s not it… I’m just saying you don’t have to follow me since you’re already tired. You need to get some rest.”

“I’m fine. Espers have plenty of stamina.”

Jisung, with a blurry gaze, said at his appearance of grabbing his own bicep.

“You, who looks the most tired among us, saying that is not convincing.”

“Hahaha.”

No matter how much he tried to persuade him, he showed no signs of backing down. As he was wondering what to do, Hyunwoo came forward.

“You’ll just be a hindrance if you come with us, so why do you insist on following us?”

Jisung squeezed his eyes shut. He knew it, but he was really relentless towards people other than S-Team members. Especially towards Minseong. ‘Why?’ He couldn’t understand the reason, only questions arose.

Despite the cold voice, Minseong smiled with a friendly face.

“I may not be as good as S-Team, but I’m still the leader of A-Team. I won’t be a hindrance. But if that happens, you can just abandon me right away.”

“What are you saying…”

Minseong smiled brightly at Jisung’s words.

“I don’t want to be a hindrance to my allies. But I’ll definitely protect you, Hyung.”

Jisung glanced sideways at him, who was winking and smiling. He had never seen them together, but he looked just like Minseong’s Guide.

‘…Is it okay to say you’ll definitely protect me, leaving your own Guide behind?’

But contrary to Jisung’s worries, the Guide’s expression was as blank as it was at the beginning. Jisung let out a small sigh as he looked at him, who was just blinking his eyes.

“I’ll protect you, Hyung.”

Hyunwoo’s arm wrapped around Jisung’s neck. As he slightly looked up at Hyunwoo, he saw his furrowed brow. It seemed that he really disliked Minseong. ‘Even if he dislikes him this much, should we take him with us…’ As he was thinking of a way to persuade Minseong, Sunwoo, who had been watching the situation, opened his mouth.

“You said it was an order, was the mission directly assigned to you, Minseong-hyung?”

“Hmm? Ah, that’s…”

“He wasn’t specifically designated. He just volunteered to go since he had free time.”

The first time he had heard Minseong’s Guide’s voice, it was a voice that was on the border between a young boy and a young man. Minseong, who was flustered for a moment at his explanation, then continued.

“Everyone looked tired, so I said I’d do it since I had some free time.”

“How about you look at your own face in the mirror?”

“Hahaha…”

“Hah… are you still holding onto it? I said I was fine. What can you do about something that Bae Yejun prepared to deceive you? Don’t worry about it. I’m perfectly fine like this!”

“I’m not worried~”

“Then go get some rest.”

“I have to do the mission.”

‘This bastard…’

His determination to go with them was clear. The mission could be dealt with by persuading the Center Director, but it seemed that nothing could be done without dealing with Minseong. In the meantime, Hyunwoo’s mood was also turning sour. It was clear that he was thinking of just blowing him away to another place.

As he ruffled his side hair and frowned,

Rumble.

A very loud sound came from Minseong’s Guide’s stomach. Everyone’s gaze turned to him. A slight blush appeared on his blank face, and his eyes slightly looked down.

“…I’m sorry. I had a mission since this morning, so I missed my mealtime…”

RUMBLE.

An even louder sound than before was heard.

“…”
“…I’m sorry.”

The tips of his ears turned red. At the somewhat shy voice, Jisung, who had taken a deep breath, then opened his mouth.

“…Let’s go. Let’s go order something to eat.”

Jisung, who had judged that it would be much better than just standing here like this, sighed as he stroked the back of the unhappy-looking Hyunwoo.

‘It’s the first time so many people are coming to my house.’