TSCEIAB Ch.10

 

 

My prediction that the matching rate results would be good was spot on.

[The matching rate between Esper “Hugo Alexis” and Guide “Sophia Kang” is 71%.]

Considering that the preliminary test had yielded a 70% result, this was a 1% improvement.

The previous candidates had significantly lower results than the preliminary test.

It was amazing to think that ‘the’ Hugo Alexis has such a high matching rate.

“As I said before, the matching rate will be re-examined after a year…”

Richard, whose expression hardened after seeing the results, added a few words.

It seemed like he was worried that Hugo and I might be so satisfied with the results that we would skip over the candidate process and immediately start working as a pair.

If that happens, there will be no reason to keep my pair candidates, Philip and Daniel, in Ohio.

I glanced at Hugo; it seemed like Richard’s words weren’t even reaching his ears.

Hugo’s blue eyes were fixed on the number ‘71’ on the result sheet.

“Ahem. Then, let’s take some time to get to know each other.”

“…Yes. I will leave now.”

Finally, Richard finished speaking. Hugo’s gaze also shifted away from the result sheet.

His pale face signaled his intent to leave.

Before turning away, he looked at me, hesitated, and then spoke.

“…Thank you, Yi-seo.”

The blue eyes sparkled at me. They were the eyes of a child who had just found a toy he wanted.

I understood the possessiveness for a guide with a high-matching rate, but given how young the other party appeared, I didn’t think it would be a big deal.

“Yeah. If you’re having a hard time again, just let me know, Hugo.”

That’s what I said. I didn’t realize that even though Hugo was young, an Esper is still an Esper.

That was my mistake.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

That evening, I had boiled pork and kimchi with my parents.

It was thanks to my dad who had prepared these while my mom and I were at the center.

“Isn’t it spicy?”

“Yes, it’s delicious. Dad is the best.”

I gave a thumbs-up to my dad as if waiting for praise.

Dad smiled softly and glanced at me. I think he had something he wanted to ask.

“Um… well.”

“What’s wrong, Dad?”

“About the Esper you met today… I was wondering if everything went well.”

Ah. He was curious about Hugo.

Come to think of it, Dad liked Hugo the most among my pair candidates.

For the simple reason that there wasn’t much of an age difference between him and me.

It must have bothered him that his young daughter had become a guide, and possibly engaging in some skinship with an Esper under the guise of guiding.

Mom, who was busy with work at the research institute, was aware of Dad’s concerns, so she quietly stepped in and reassured him.

“He’s still young, but he was very mature and considerate.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Yi-seo offered to do the radial guiding, so she went into the public guiding room with him.”

While I was eating kimchi on moderately greasy boiled pork, my mom spilled out a story of what happened while I was asleep.

“Yi-seo must have been tired and fell asleep, but that kid covered her with his blanket.”

This was the first time I heard this.

“Hugo put his blanket over me?”

“Yes. Then he said no to wake you up and leave you alone. He said he’d wait in the reception room.”

Mom laughed. At the same time, I recalled what Hugo had said earlier, that he left the guiding room because he thought I might be overdoing it.

That… sly, soft little puppy.

I felt a warmth spread over my shoulders and ears. Noticing this, Dad nervously asked me.

“So, do you have a favorite Esper out of the candidates?”

It was obvious what kind of answer he was hoping for. I hesitated for a moment and then gave him the answer he wanted.

“No, I like you the most, Dad.”

Dad’s face relaxed. Mom shook her head as she looked at Dad wander off.

I couldn’t help but laugh. These little moments of happiness were so precious that a smile came naturally.

‘Come to think of it…’

I suddenly remembered Hugo, who had been alone in the reception room.

‘Hugo seemed to have come alone, without a guardian.’

Did that kid eat dinner? I should’ve asked for his contact info.

As my expression quickly faded, Mom looked at me with concern.

“Yi-seo, what’s on your mind?”

“Um… Did Hugo eat dinner?”

On my plate, there were small pieces of boiled pork my mom had cut up for me and some kimchi, that were made moderately spicy and sweet to suit a child’s taste.

What had once tasted delicious now felt like it was stuck in my throat.

“Hugo is still a seven-year-old baby. But it seemed like he came to Ohio alone. Philip and Daniel both came with their assistants.”

Mom wanted to say something about the “seven-year-old baby” part.

It must have seemed odd to her that I, a six-year-old, was calling a seven-year-old a “baby.”

But Dad stopped her by gently covering her hand with his. Then he asked in a soft voice.

“Are you worried about Hugo?”

“Yeah… he’s only seven. Do you think he ate by himself?”

“Oh my, our daughter… you’re so thoughtful.”

Dad stood up from his seat and hugged me. As I wrapped my arms around his neck, I could hear Mom’s voice next to me.

“Don’t worry. Hugo is an S-class Esper, so the center director must be taking care of him.”

Mom added that since Hugo is such a valuable talent, he will be treated well, so there was no need to worry about him missing meals.

Thinking like a researcher from the science department.

Despite her reassuring words, I hesitated. Mom gently stroked my cheek as I rested my head on Dad’s shoulder.

“If you’re still worried, let’s ask him to have a meal together next time.”

“…Okay.”

Right. The next time we meet, I’ll ask him to have a meal together and get his contact info.

As my parents comforted me, I returned to the table and continued my meal.

I finished all the pork and kimchi that had been served to me, but somehow, I still have a rough feeling in my mouth.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

After meeting all three of the pair candidates, my hectic daily life officially began.

I had to attend guiding lessons and take turns meeting with the three candidates.

The expression “I was so busy I couldn’t catch my breath” felt like the perfect fit.

I was attending a guiding class that day.

The day before, I had met Philip, and we awkwardly talked while eating the desserts he had bought. And yesterday, I met Daniel and played a board game he brought while listening to stories about his younger sister and the dog he kept back home.

And today, I was supposed to meet Hugo after the guiding class.

“Now, place your hand here and try pushing a little bit of guiding energy in.”

Camilla, who was explaining the guiding theory, pointed to the guiding measurement machine.

She is a B-class guide from Ohio Center’s Guide Team 1 and was in charge of my guiding training.

Having already trained in handling guiding energy in the same way several times, I familiarly placed my hand on the machine.

“Guiding requires precise control. While guiding shock is an issue, we need to be more efficient with our guiding …”

Camilla continued her explanation. It was something I heard so many times that it stuck in my ears.

In the original story, the heroine, Isabella, adapted to her powers and was able to guide within a day or two after awakening.

I don’t know whether it was due to a lack of talent or because my body was still too young. I still haven’t been able to properly handle my guiding energy.

“Ugh…”

“Good. Focus a little more and keep pushing.”

I looked at the graph displayed on the machine. The jagged numbers were stabilizing a little.

“Think of it as guiding a pair Esper. A little more gently. More, more gently.”

There are only candidates and no pair has been decided, but Camilla was asking me to think of guiding a pair Esper.

At her words, Hugo’s pale face flashed through my mind.

Hugo, whose sight had been impaired because of insufficient guiding. Hugo, sitting quietly with minimal movement, his pale face showing . Hugo, who had never smiled before and whose smile was awkward when he tried.

Beep—beep—beep—

A warning sound blared from the machine.

I snapped back to reality and looked at the screen. The graph was rapidly rising.

“Stop. Sophia, take your hand off,”

Camilla stopped the training. As I lowered my hand, she spoke gently but firmly.

“If this were an Esper instead of a machine, it would have caused guiding shock.”

She pointed at the graph with her finger.  A graph showing how it spiked from the time I started thinking about Hugo.

“I’m sorry, Guide Camilla…”

I failed again today.

I slumped my shoulders, and Camilla’s face showed a hint of sympathy. She patted me on the back and handed me the ring.

“Don’t be so intimidated, Guide Sophia. You’re practicing hard, you’ll get the hang of it soon .”

“… I hope so.”

“Shall we wrap up the training for today? Didn’t you say you were meeting a pair candidate later? What time was it again?”

Perhaps to appease me, she retracted my attention, and I looked helplessly at the digital clock on the wall.

It was 2:37 PM.

My meeting with Hugo was at 3:00 PM.

“Three o’clock.”

“Then, let’s call it a day. I’ll take care of the clean-up here, so you go ahead.”

“Yes. Guide Camilla. See you tomorrow.”

Camille waved at me. I waved back before heading out of the training room.

When I opened the door, I saw my escort Esper standing against the wall a few meters away. Once he noticed the ring on my finger, he approached me.