TSCEIAB Ch. 16

 

“So…… You’re saying I should remain a candidate for the time being?”

 

“T-that’s it, a single candidate.”

 

It was just a question, but Richard wiped away the cold sweat from his brow as he looked at me.

No, it’s not me, he was looking at Hugo.

I glanced to the side and saw Hugo standing crooked, glaring at Richard. The words that came out of his mouth seemed displeased.

 

“Ahem. I’m sorry to say that but……. Please be considerate of my situation.”

 

Richard’s words were like this:

Ohio has a small number of espers.

So they’re trying to attract Espers, and now that Daniel is here, they need to give him room before they can coax him to move to Ohio.

 

“How long?”

 

“That’s……. It’s hard to guarantee.”

 

Richard spoke irresponsibly. Hugo’s gaze grew colder as he looked at him.

Unable to resist the glare, Richard finally curled up his tail and raised his fingers.

 

“Three months……. No, give me two months. I’ll try my best until then.”

 

Richard said that if he failed to secure Daniel after two months, he would give up.

I frowned and thought about it.

‘Surely it would be nice if Daniel moved to Ohio.’

If Hugo was the only S-class esper in Ohio, there was a high chance that something dangerous would happen to him.

But what if there was one more S-class Esper?

Daniel would have to carry more responsibility than the young Hugo.

‘Besides, even if I pair with Hugo right now……. I’m not in a condition to guide him.’

It was still a long way to master guiding energy.

Even if I signed a pair contract, I would only have to do radiation guidance for the time being, but I think that’s what I’m doing now as a pair candidate.

‘I should be able to master guiding control in two months.’

Recently, I have succeeded in feeling and moving the guiding energy. Now, if I just learn the details, contact guiding won’t be a problem.

Until then, this situation wouldn’t be so bad.

 

“Okay. We’ll do that.”

 

Hugo suddenly looked back at me, not expecting me to agree. I gently grabbed his hand and gave him an apologetic look.

<You can’t even handle guiding! >

What Philip said two days ago kept ringing in my head.

On the day we sign the pair contract, I’ll have to focus on training so that I can be able to do contact guiding right away.

 

“Well thought out, Guide Sophia.”

 

Ha ha ha! Richard’s laughter rang in my ears. Hugo’s small sigh coming from next to me was obscured by it.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Not long after the news of Philip and Daniel’s fight spread, the internet was turned upside down again.

This was because Philip posted on his social media regarding the elimination from the pair candidate list and criticized Richard, the director of the Ohio State Center, and me.

His fans were outraged and took screenshots of it, and Richard eventually posted a statement on his social media.

He stated that the reason the second matching test was brought forward was due to the accident between Philip and Daniel and that the decision to eliminate the candidates was made based on the results of the second round of matching rate test.

Additionally, the public opinion was overturned when someone “accidentally” released a CCTV footage of Philip causing a scene in the hallway after checking the second test results and an audio recording containing swear words.

 

 

[Title: It is said that Philip Esper bought gifts and forcedly gave them (Comments +32)]

[Title: Did he swear at Guide Sophia in that recording? (Comments +16)]

[Title: It is said that he also used his ability in the presence of Guide Sophia during the boulevard incident (comment +48)]

 

 

Public opinion against Philip intensified.

Eventually, Philip, whose temper had gotten the better of him, posted abusive language on social media, and his image, which he had been pretending to be well-behaved lately, began to be tarnished again.

And as one of the parties involved in that accident, I was leading a busy life, without even having the time to look into the internet world.

 

“Oh my! Your guiding control skills have improved a lot.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Look at this graph. Except for a few areas where it’s popping out, the numbers are pretty stable.”

 

Camilla said, pointing to the screen connected to the guiding measuring machine. I smiled brightly, my face reddened from holding my breath as I concentrate.

 

“I’m glad it paid off.”

 

“Yes. But why do you keep holding your breath?”

 

“Oh……. I was so focused; I found myself holding my breath without realizing it.”

 

“Ahahaha!”

 

Camilla burst out laughing finding my answer was funny.

She joked, “I guess you’ll have to practice guiding while breathing.”

 

“Guide Sophia. At this rate, I think it’s okay to try hand guiding soon. When did Hugo Esper say he’s coming back?”

 

“Five days later if nothing else comes up.”

 

“Okay. Until then, let’s practice harder.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Two days ago, a Grade A gate opened in a park in Ohio.

Richard sought the cooperation of Daniel and Hugo, but Daniel refused with the excuse of guiding, while Hugo set out to attack the gate under the pretext of being my “single pair candidate.”

‘I haven’t even given you radial guidance……. I’m worried.’

This gate was an abrupt one. It broke out so suddenly that Hugo was also dispatched without warning.

The last time I checked the guiding level was 41%.

‘I have to practice hard so that I can hand guide you when you get back.’

 

There is a limit to radial guiding, but Hugo’s guiding level did not exceed 45%.

The researcher said that contact guiding would be necessary to raise it beyond that.

‘Let’s try a little harder.’

I wiped the beads of sweat from my forehead and placed my hand back on the measuring instrument.

I couldn’t sit still because of the words Philip had said when he left.

My heart grew heavy as I thought of Hugo coming back pale and exhausted from the lack of guidance again.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

–“Your guiding control practice is going well? That’s great. Congratulations, Sophia.”

 

It was my first phone call with Daniel in a long time.

It just so happened that Hugo wasn’t around, and I could see the results of my training, so I answered his phone without hesitation.

 

“Thank you, Daniel.”

 

-“Ha ha. So, you’re going to give Esper Hugo contact guidance now?”

 

“That’s …….”

 

I was speechless for a moment at the sudden, unexpected question.

I remembered that Richard had asked me to give Daniel some leeway until he could tied him up.

When I couldn’t continue, Daniel grumbled.

 

— “Are you afraid that I’ll get jealous and annoyed like Anderson?”

 

I wondered why the story of Philip was suddenly brought up. I wonder if there was still some kind of rivalry between the two because of the incident that day.

 

“No, no.”

 

— “Then just speak comfortably. I won’t act like a brat for something like that.”

 

It may be a little disappointing.

There was a hint of laughter in the words that were added. The light tone made me feel more at ease.

 

“You’re right. You know that Hugo was dispatched to the A-grade gate this time, right?”

 

— “Yes. I know.”

 

“I’m sure he’s going to use his powers there. The last time I checked it was 41%, and I’m worried that he might overdo it and make a mistake.”

 

— “Oh. That’s why you’re so focused on training? Are you planning to do some contact guiding when he comes back after finishing the raid?”

 

The voice over the phone was low and soft. As if he would accept all my complaints.

In fact, my concerns about guiding were the kind of things I couldn’t share with my parents.

My dad was so weak-hearted that I didn’t know how he would react when he heard my worries, and my mom tends to find solutions rather than empathize, so I was reluctant to talk to her about it.

So I was so grateful to Daniel for listening to me over the phone.

 

“Yes, but I’m still immature……. Hugo will be back in a few days, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to master the guiding control in the meantime.”

 

— “What’s so complicated about it?”

 

“What?”

 

— “I’ve been watching you for a while, but you think too much. You worry about things you don’t need to worry about at your age.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

— “Ok. Isn’t “guiding shock” you worry now?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Guiding shock.

It was a reaction that would occur if more guidance was given to Esper than the total amount of guidance he could take.

Daniel reminded me of this and continued.

 

— “Aren’t you underestimating S-class espers?”

 

“Uh …….”

 

–“I’ve never heard of an S-class esper experiencing guiding shock in my life. It’s S-class. The total amount of guidance one can receive must be unfathomable, so what are you worried about?”

 

“But…….”

 

— “Trust me, Sophia. S-class espers are fine. Seriously, just hold his hand. The kid didn’t even say anything either. He must be dissatisfied with radial guiding.”

 

I was tempted when he said to just hold Hugo’s hand. But it was a bit of a sting when he said that he must be dissatisfied with radial guiding.

 

“Umm…….”

 

— “After the gate is close, give it a try. They say that the guiding value doesn’t go above 45% with radial guiding. If you do contact guiding, the speed at which the numbers go up will be different, right?”

 

For some reason, he recommended trying contact guiding. He said he wasn’t a petty kid like Philip, but he was quite a gentleman.

 

–“Once you get used to contact guiding, I’ll hold your hand sometime. Okay?”

 

Was this the purpose?

Somehow, all my worries felt useless.

Yes, I’m not a higher class than Hugo as a guide. We’re both S-class guide and S-class esper, so how could a guiding shock occur?

‘My control skills have improved a lot lately.’

Once I made up my mind, I felt better. I nodded and said through the phone.

 

“Okay. I’ll give it a try when Hugo comes back, and once I get used to it, I’ll guide you too, Daniel.”

 

–“Oh really? Is it true?”

 

I could hear his voice on the other end of the phone, excited. I let out a small laugh, checked the time, and ended the call.

 

“I have to stop now. I’m tired.”

 

–“Ok. If you want to grow tall, you have to go to bed early. Good night, Sophia. I’ll contact you again next time!”

 

“Sleep well, Daniel.”

 

Beep.

The rather long call ended. As I fell on the bed, my eyelids grew heavy as if they had been waiting for it.

Oh, I need to wash and sleep…….

Even with that thought, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of exhaustion.

It took only a moment for me to fall into a deep sleep.