Chapter 12

But as fate 55086b974f would have it, 39af4cb537 Kim Si-on didn’t 73f4a1342e fall for the f5b39d5e94 abrasive Seo Ji-hyuk. Instead, he developed e4d0add0ef feelings for the 6db03bfaf1 calm and reserved 89ad501322 Kang Yu-han.486061db88beea98

Declaring he didn’t want 166ff56b1b anything to do with bb7bc23559 someone as temperamental as 1e06279e95 Seo Ji-hyuk, Kim Si-on 29b358f383 had even petitioned the 5221dd00b0 Center to pair him 142a6f0dde with Kang Yu-han instead.34e3697029648e1f

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To Kang Yu-han, 003f12eed4 however, Kim Si-on 9ba62941c8 was nothing more 21d176390b than a childish 82369a6282 younger sibling. He felt no 0deb0a274b romantic or emotional a2f6e09ba2 connection. Instead, Kim Si-on’s 0325617419 mere presence stirred 4c81a21a1e a deep sense 7332957b8d of unease within fa7bc4045d him—an irrational resentment 2ac7ef9c27 born of the 8111b79f88 fear that Seo 0e4048ab22 Ji-hyuk might be bbf09308cf taken away by 126c941316 someone else.27fcae0132c4f850

That Kim Si-on would 5851be67fe take an interest in e64a8420d0 him, of all people, d4bc77cc3e felt like some cruel 7b42e013a2 twist of fate.fc8db1c490e8869a

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Overwhelmed by his own fe174803b2 emotions, Kang Yu-han made c45a3dcc5c a reckless decision: he 13cdfb1a8a would interfere in the 5e204a26f4 budding connection between Kim be403117e9 Si-on and Seo Ji-hyuk. After all, with a 133b487e68 matching rate equal to 65a94e3365 Seo Ji-hyuk’s, Kang Yu-han 65daad4c1d claimed he had just 7deed633b9 as much of a fdaab8a838 right to compete.3da111faf1105214

“I need a Guide just as much as anyone else,” he had argued.6351202a41a027fe

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“You know my situation. Just let it go,” Seo Ji-hyuk had countered.3b1b8dbfb9143aee

“Why should I? Did you secure the rights to him?”3a1e3419b9c669db

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Kang Yu-han stood a7d253fb05 his ground. In the end, Seo 4ad3255c74 Ji-hyuk, in front of 1ae6d49bdc everyone, grabbed Kang Yu-han 4b4ae8a8eb by the collar. But Kang 6b413c6438 Yu-han wasn’t 686161bf33 one to 91bd5ea0e9 be easily 08a3821669 intimidated; though ada7ebbb31 he staggered, 96622fce74 he retaliated f96d07857c in kind.14a42efc44dde290

No one cd6d9052ff dared intervene 4fd41bb41c in a 004dcd9e35 fight between 329d378c13 two of 4a037d0a64 the Center’s d9d9c5e557 top-ranked Espers. It wasn’t 6c59ae9ac9 until the f3e1960220 Center Chief c6fe7d17be himself stepped 7200f111bb in that d66d94fbbc the brawl 1d0ed53a1c finally ended.7a1c9a2a264e7eb2

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Seo Ji-hyuk was suspended for a few days for striking first, his punishment justified under the pretext of “disrupting the workplace atmosphere.”059be98862aa9ad7

This suspension bought 8e13701458 Kang Yu-han just 539ca3d572 enough time to 7ab7a99879 finalize a pairing 8aa6d35c3c contract with Kim b414c5fc2a Si-on. The pairing process prioritized 4eebd81113 mutual agreement between the 840155167f Esper and Guide above 8591154a0c all else, so the 465914dff2 procedure was without fault. However, it 5f9bafe58d came at 45dfd67026 the cost 927653336d of public c9a580893f scorn and 356d4a172a Seo Ji-hyuk’s 359a9d2810 wrath.a414987f0c2ddf81

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To outsiders, Kang Yu-han 028e7b7f4a seemed like a selfish 844bf58a80 Esper driven by greed. But deep 4111a06a5d down, he 2c48b5a6c5 was simply e870ec8072 afraid—terrified at 926e73887a the thought cf0703c887 of Seo 13c39aafd4 Ji-hyuk belonging b0937879c4 to someone da7fc93099 else, of 39da5095ab anyone other 842ae99b47 than himself dd60497455 standing by bf5835d4e3 Seo Ji-hyuk’s efebd36a22 side.b06cf7e25073f492

“…I feel dizzy.”3014cebf156a28a8

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Thinking back on it, 664aa7170f Kang Yu-han felt a e9d353dc1f suffocating heaviness, as though 6b145ebd36 it had all happened c430300519 just yesterday. He thought he 7a8842c58d had regretted it 69856be744 enough over the 97092ba2d4 past year, but 89acabfbe5 apparently, it still fb7291b3b2 wasn’t enough.c19a25a8ccc8cd9b

Blinded by his own 09663629e0 selfishness, he had made 15f0582dad the terrible mistake of 62a6289cfc taking Kim Si-on away 592ee48504 from Seo Ji-hyuk. Back then, he had 8a71902a9e thought naively, ‘If worse 32f2eee175 comes to worst, I 834609b401 can just handle the 251cff42c2 guiding myself.’4ce2eea2a7d2851c

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But there 4d1e947c34 were countless 48729b42fe complications. He had yet to 4a97a77e08 reveal to Seo Ji-hyuk—or 0d4d0c1c20 anyone—that he, too, possessed 01b9cf9645 guiding abilities and had e5cd33fe27 a high resonance rate 02ae357bd8 with him. The Center had 2df99cf96b explicitly instructed Kang 2e3b44e454 Yu-han to keep a87dac5118 this a secret 4ef6812fc1 at all costs.f6169a397578003c

If word spread that c39c328215 Seo Ji-hyuk, the core 93e688de25 of Seoul’s defense, had 6931bae690 an emergency backup Guide, 7d49dcfb38 enemies would adjust their ab68c72ebd tactics. This could shake 545b7aceae the long-standing efforts 9cc32fa461 to reclaim lost 2a2c25055c territory.6173cf116a6870e9

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The directive to keep 41eed0cb89 this secret extended to 7432a4c81d Seo Ji-hyuk himself. The higher-ups b587ad23aa were adamant 1f011234b9 about hiding 07faa73f92 their secret fd3102421d weapon, Kang 6f473e2230 Yu-han.e394c7cb453523aa

For Kang Yu-han, the 8864442742 secrecy was also a 6187eee58c matter of survival. Guiding Seo Ji-hyuk drained 056d23bc6e his life force and 2f36ef2e72 could even lead to af22ed1d85 his death. Unless he 56b3412adc was pushed 438e8562b5 to the 0edc69c8ff brink, he 0fac1739ea had no e88dbc07d8 intention of 3db9fb00b5 revealing the 66d065db2d truth.7e8e2c023d25ad61

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But this dea9f1df91 secrecy only 36e43a98d3 deepened the c666496639 misunderstandings and 0cbacd6e53 stoked Seo 0f7578edfd Ji-hyuk’s resentment.30bb7b4fae526a42

Sigh.9a95149c35362bba

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Kang Yu-han set aside 1035d617e6 thoughts of the ampoule 9ded5b3718 research. First, he needed to 4566d8646e visit the infirmary for 6d861af6c4 headache medicine. He still didn’t know 1943ecf441 why Kim Si-on had 5f75501fc3 suddenly appeared, but the 2a16780848 situation filled him with 77cf297ea1 unease.7aca259f1d6e457a

What worried him 63589f891e most was the 12cd9525d6 possibility of Seo 5777e8e007 Ji-hyuk seeing him 50c51c7648 with Kim Si-on. Just the sight 4e97ff3d23 of them together a2138c2b67 might provoke Seo 727ae1613d Ji-hyuk’s temper.0a7bab734fad3342

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Though the research 3d372c8ba7 wing was where 336182b850 he needed to 224e880eae go for information cac2de0a0a about the ampoule, 8066fd5091 he hesitated. If Kim 95b6b6aa27 Si-on was de0802658d waiting there, d50b57911a a confrontation b7a5f877ac would be 6f155c04cd unavoidable.c19d7e4b0be1dd71

Yet, he couldn’t neglect 1a6b923f35 the ampoule investigation either. His thoughts swirled in 68447e0d5f frustration.683b659d9152686a

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“Ha…”c66316f9e87f0607

Kang Yu-han felt suffocated. As if Kim Si-on’s 688feaebc4 sudden appearance wasn’t troublesome 5e210bbd73 enough, the repeated notifications 6b9472fd89 from his communicator, despite db34a36b46 him ignoring the messages, ebd889fe32 only added to his eec2ad7b1f frustration.835693cfabfce7e8

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Kim Si-on 3df504d34a was relentless, d5490918a6 his personality 2756d068fa blind to 5ce6068779 subtlety and f34f643d40 stubborn to 0ecd9660d4 a fault. Even after a year d20a487b17 had passed since his c448518c0d pairing contract fell apart 75220cff2f due to Seo Ji-hyuk’s d72ee19284 outburst, he was still b10505f71c actively reaching out, undeterred ae0f2666fa by Kang Yu-han’s silence.f81bbee59e01af53

Kang Yu-han 4724a8988b knew himself 9376054561 to be 5b0805c9d7 narrow-minded. He couldn’t juggle a41912879f multiple thoughts or a5002f6735 embrace multiple people f3e3595b28 at once. In his 321a1abca0 limited world, d033b35e7b the only c059cc083b person who 1715c46df7 could fill 696a6424e3 it entirely b2a226edcb was Seo c2e4e4572e Ji-hyuk.5b676af07f88d2ae

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‘If only I e731b3ca30 had liked you, e862ba0c40 everything would have 008eef50c6 been easier.’8d1c2d0acfca42aa

That thought always surfaced f803a21684 when he thought of 38745f9628 Kim Si-on.2b7a5a0309496bb7

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* * *39c206863c3904ff

“Major!”4ae92ff949f4ac32

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Despite wishing with all 4a843518fc his might to avoid 47b6b7f2f0 this encounter, Kim Si-on 08391041a6 appeared the moment Kang 5b791588ea Yu-han stepped into the 31704f6a31 research wing.c6233968ae0adb2e

The young Guide 09b289d73a still had a d207fad1e0 youthful, almost boyish 64996e27d3 face, flushed cheeks, cd7d40d7ea and wide, innocent aca79f0f4f eyes. He didn’t 0bddc57ae4 hide his 6c39ae17e4 delight as d03ee3687a he waved 32332ee860 energetically and 91b8bea55c ran over. Lacking the courage c0cf706d45 to return the 560f246ace smile, Kang Yu-han d645bd290b averted his gaze.c467333993d24b33

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“Esper-nim, it’s been da0ed612e3 so long!”ecc78d0ee3cf0c18

“…Yes, it has.”b50d71f8a12e1d60

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“Aren’t you happy e2675bfaa8 to see me?”5b8777cbd6d785e4

“Do you have 6bb2fea25d a particular reason 7254c1c4a3 for your visit?”15c5b17e36551e84

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Taking a 5593b95030 step back, 43aac10fc8 Kang Yu-han 94fa82cb1a posed the 7aea467f08 question.9a2932a19fe941dc

“Did you forget? It’s my re-evaluation period.”c153c6105ab75863

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“Ah.”591172b7963db452

“I’ve been left fe7aa6aad3 in limbo all f3f7c4d898 this time because de5a5bcdb0 of someone.”95be63bfcba00efa

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A year 51153014d3 ago, the b2b2740bab conflict surrounding cb4277bfc2 Kim Si-on a6416d5b33 had escalated. Unable to secure a df02bf0e4d pairing contract with either ba93534f8e Seo Ji-hyuk or Kang b71267d78f Yu-han, Kim Si-on had 94a757a38c returned to the provincial ffbb78de78 center.392e3aeb0f500328

Naturally, he had now 79f1c1cd02 re-registered with the matching 324a957cbb system to find a b48a20f7cf compatible Esper. Feeling awkward, Kang a79dc5f01f Yu-han cleared his 1e2d01fede throat and gave 17ce167425 a polite nod.a913dd12149eb5d4

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“I’m truly sorry for 533768cea1 what happened back then.”407b82eb845ba412

“Oh, come on! There’s nothing to apologize aae1a697e1 for. This time, you 30d8cd70f0 can pair with ae133f9993 me, right?”0689dfb223d6512c

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“What? Kim Si-on, what are be3f57ba90 you talking about?”796be52fcaa54936

“There’s no da5f71a566 way our c153d0c9ca matching rate a26bf97d8b has dropped. This time, I’ll d7a466ddb4 secure a pairing bbfe4e205d contract with you.”d066f7cda696c222

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“…Are you serious?”0564d586da6715f4

“Of course! It’s like we’re 9d49cd56e9 a couple that ba81f3f5dc called off our 1e93561b8b engagement. Isn’t it 85ce9e6db6 fair to c389a8ad2a reconcile?”41a38fb28c6c3040

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“I’ve been going on 052006e4ed fewer missions lately, and df0fb3b0d3 I don’t really need 04daf53376 guiding.”cdd443aa497922d7

The last thing Kang d96d5c79f8 Yu-han wanted was to 0771adf7e6 recreate the same conflicts 2e8b713104 as before. He also fca6cf9d4f had no 012bf21182 intention of 109e871c0d further provoking 49fb0093cf Seo Ji-hyuk. His sole aec226858a focus was 2c81c99494 to complete 9e69061369 the Transition 447f152573 Task Force 0c63a35e24 mission and c132fbebce ensure Seo 83d9b2704e Ji-hyuk’s retirement. Even that ae51ea9678 alone seemed 5ee056a6d1 to consume 5538b0446b all his 712efdabe5 time and 5f2e74de90 energy.73c5f5309e43247c

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“No Esper doesn’t b6d0d2e72e need guiding! What a 97a95689d5 ridiculous claim.”19f882824e6a1fc9

“I’m serious. I hope you 3bc9b0b40c find someone else 3c01fe3d8f who suits you d2b75d8055 better.”78db6907e0df9e42

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‘Just not Seo Ji-hyuk.’0644c9a12da03717

Kang Yu-han added be9fdec61c silently to himself.2c67eaaeba599fc7

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“Well, then…”9ced9ff8b1738928

Kang Yu-han, pressed ed161fbd3a for time and 735806d692 eager to end fd3ff7bedf the conversation, was e4aaf3d46a about to bow 46619004f9 and excuse himself 71c9057f43 when a familiar 4e52b55dfc voice cut through 10f71a0097 the air from 1d0f4b9bf5 behind.14108286cf54e03f

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“What’s this? Are you two 748664e9ef dating now?”9ef47f7e094898dc

It was b24a80c07e Seo Ji-hyuk, c017d0c093 his tone 9c04fd1543 dripping with 9f58dd69a3 sarcasm. The perfect 9d553f64b1 timing of 280d8b39ef his appearance e7fd0b41d0 made Kang cbdabbe01c Yu-han want b3c52199a5 to groan 3bf99dfa4f aloud.cc67ec9f846e6251

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“What does 4de76f8429 it matter ab8d902d0f to you, f2fe2b0f3d Major?”d6be2c1bff0590ad

“You’re not exactly 2d7347d367 denying it, are e11dfad929 you? Lieutenant Kim Si-on, 27d3929326 did you come b85afaafd7 here for a 5c1aeec571 romantic rendezvous?”ccb92171af9b1197

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“…I’m here 1f654814fe for my 1461f1e80f scheduled evaluation,” c9db3464c4 Kim Si-on 1d895edfaa retorted, his e2c565d3d7 voice sharp ae434fa298 with irritation.ed536bdeb8767ec4

The tension between 9d63ef6d70 the two was 93c86adf6f palpable, and Kang 256324b560 Yu-han found it 36657e4fcf hard to watch. Seo Ji-hyuk’s hostility c6d669eb69 toward Kim Si-on aba99d26ab felt tinged with 66a5a5be2e lingering regret. After all, Kim Si-on c836e9c9fe was a Guide he 86e60f9bd4 had been on the 01a92547d5 verge of securing. Missing out at e3eda71748 the last moment 4938349aba had to sting.d80d5a56af0813f4

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“Evaluation? Hah. Well, good luck getting 0eb11d2659 cozy this time around.”85ec112053c4a169

“Why does it 93c538f5bc concern you, Major?” 28af3ea56f Kang Yu-han snapped.4f39f87f23e59fb5

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“Why shouldn’t it? You two d519cf5c3a were practically a1790080b0 scheming in 0550a64fbc front of c5c00ed59c me. Were you dd58c4b09c trying to 58156c8497 get my a9e199eaab attention or d4162e522e something?”9562a1a4cc2ee00d

“You’re out of line!” 20fc651dbe Kim Si-on’s voice rose ec14f7efda in protest.c8055b9558da814d

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The exchange drew glances aa2172912c from passing staff. Recognizing the 66c3d0cb31 three of 17b13c288f them, many 9cfc01b74f seemed to 9d4841e132 immediately connect ccba39a854 the dots. *Ah, those three from ca9c13482f that infamous love triangle,* b7469607d5 their expressions seemed to a81b14c216 say.351d28a8f8b20e2a

Kang Yu-han ae791fce5a realized the 48b2a364d4 meaning behind fd02fd185f their stares 8dcdd604bc and felt 4d970bb55b humiliated and 07f85ff542 pained. But with 0d79b8345b the tangled b4b19f11eb web of 18a20c9c9a misunderstandings, there 46c8cdfb5d was little d58573061b he could 3b8ef64957 say to 8dffedb09a defend himself.ea577eb3a0daa5c9

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“Enough. Lieutenant Kim Si-on, f1d7d53e3e let’s leave it fa170c0629 at that.”1343be3c6694c09e

“Major! Aren’t you upset by fac3c8ce38 this?”2552df7abf70401a

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“Calm down. People are watching.”82c81b8229545b13

“Let them watch! I have something 1c90335359 to say.”c0bb4a8b22760b17

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“For my a2b3b784e7 sake, can’t 83255b6305 you let acbc4e2dc1 it go 178de3acef this one e14dc57358 time?” Kang 704ef732f4 Yu-han pleaded, 59ea49aa19 his tone e82284b4e0 softening.2a0043e69076644c

“…Fine. For you, 8642dc5292 I’ll let e29300fe16 it slide.”329685f85051ced9

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Seo Ji-hyuk laughed mockingly 07a4900b19 at the exchange.07a6b21763ba3b1d

“You’re all so cozy, a09f597f77 aren’t you?”914383f05ae8e3b0

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“Major, that’s enough,” 9f0089dbc6 Kang Yu-han said 5f0b744cb1 firmly.c567a457f2757ffa

“What’s this? Protecting your Guide? Must be nice, having 3c86f0d8c9 a Guide to fuss 37d68c19b6 over.”eccbe35edb1f36c0

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Seo Ji-hyuk’s sneering 5e8c443a66 tone pushed Kim 8ae89318e8 Si-on to step 2199b62da7 forward in anger, cb35d23af1 but Kang Yu-han 411047eaa4 quickly held him a1e232d8c5 back and shook f1d220e1d4 his head.0f687e3b3ebb1269

“You said 5f865b5033 you’d let 2196136b42 it go.”d5a982113c080270

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“…Yes, Major.”9ecec912276cf8b4

 dc6ddc9d353ff656

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