Chapter 10

The convenience store was empty.

Lecture hours had long ended, and since it wasn’t exam season, there were no students lingering around. The only person inside was the cashier, sitting at the counter, scrolling through his phone. He didn’t seem to care whether his customer was an ordinary student or an Esper.

That was a relief.

…Wait, why am I even thinking about this?

Hee-beom frowned. His way of thinking had started shifting—because of I-young.

Scratching his brow, he made his way straight to the refrigerated section. Rows of ready-to-eat meals lined the shelves—triangular kimbap, regular kimbap, bento boxes, bibimbap, tteokbokki, desserts, hamburgers, and more.

But Hee-beom didn’t look at the food.

He only looked at the price tags.

Above each price tag, there were labels detailing promotions and discounts. He carefully scanned them before picking up a two-pack of triangular kimbap. It was a little more expensive than buying one but cheaper than buying two separately.

As he considered what else to get, I-young, who had been quietly observing him, finally spoke up.

“You like that?”

“No.”

“Then why are you getting it?”

“It’s cheap.”

With that, Hee-beom also grabbed a hamburger that came with a free can of cola. Then, without looking at anything else, he headed straight for the counter.

This wasn’t the most filling meal, but it was enough to get by.

“Hey, Hee-beom, want me to buy that for you?”

I-young, who had been following closely, asked.

“No.”

The answer came instantly.

“But I have a lot of money.”

“…….”

The corner of Hee-beom’s mouth twitched.

Yeah, no kidding.

The Korea Ability Association (KESPA) had offered to pay someone like him, an inexperienced Guide, a starting salary of 7 million won per month. That meant an S-Class Esper like I-young was probably making at least ten million won per mission.

On top of that, there were hazard pay bonuses.

And considering how often he traveled overseas for raids, he probably got even more compensation for that.

Money? He had more than he’d ever need.

Hee-beom placed his selected items on the counter. The cashier stood up and began scanning the barcodes as Hee-beom reached for his wallet—only for a sleek, black luxury brand wallet to suddenly appear in front of him.

It was I-young’s wallet.

“I told you to use my money. You can spend all of it if you want—I wouldn’t mind one bit. Hell, I’ll just give you my whole wallet.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because we’re—”

I-young started to say something but then glanced at the cashier and shut his mouth.

Oh.

So he actually has the sense to censor himself when others are around?

Was he finally growing up a little?

While the cashier continued scanning, Hee-beom absentmindedly stared at the cigarette display behind the counter.

“And…”

He instinctively started to order his usual brand but stopped himself.

How many did I have left?

He had smoked one earlier in the afternoon, so he probably had three or four left. Did he really need to buy more now?

“Would you like anything else?” the cashier asked.

After a moment’s hesitation, Hee-beom shook his head. “No. Just these, please.”

Without sparing I-young’s wallet a second glance, he pulled out his own card and handed it over.

The cashier processed the payment with a neutral expression, returned the card, and Hee-beom grabbed his food before heading toward the store’s seating area.

I-young watched him for a moment before suddenly muttering, “Then I’ll eat the same thing as Hee-beom.”

And with that, he scurried off toward the refrigerated section.

Hee-beom let out a quiet chuckle.

He settled at a counter-style table by the window, unwrapped his triangular kimbap, and took a bite. Tuna mayo.

Huh. He hadn’t even realized that’s what he’d grabbed.

It only took three bites to finish the first kimbap. As he opened his soda, I-young plopped down in the seat next to him. With the exact same food.

Of course.

Ignoring him, Hee-beom unwrapped his second kimbap, his gaze still fixed outside the window.

But then—

Rustle. Scrape. Fidget. Tap.

Irritating noises prickled at his ears.

He absentmindedly scratched his shoulder with his ear before finally turning to look.

I-young was hunched over, gripping his triangular kimbap with both hands, struggling miserably with the packaging. His pale fingers scratched at the plastic, then suddenly, he started peeling off the label that read “Tuna Mayo Triangular Kimbap.”

Naturally, it tore unevenly.

“…….”

Hee-beom stared at him, completely dumbfounded.

The packaging clearly had instructions printed on the corner, marked ‘Pull①’ in bold lettering. Did he not see it?

No way… He can read, right?

He was an S-Class Esper, one of the most famous people in the world—surely, he wasn’t illiterate?

Before he even realized it, Hee-beom had stopped chewing, watching in silence.

I-young, now holding a shredded mess of a kimbap, held it out with pleading eyes.

“Hee-beom, how do I open this?”

“Ha…”

“Can you open it for me?”

“…….”

With a sigh, Hee-beom put down his own kimbap and took the ruined one from I-young’s hands.

He didn’t want to help, but even he wasn’t heartless enough to ignore someone struggling to eat.

Effortlessly, he peeled the plastic off in one smooth motion, then turned the kimbap so it was easy to eat before handing it back.

“Whoa… Hee-beom, you’re like a magician.”

I-young gasped in genuine admiration.

Hee-beom scoffed. Says the guy who literally floats like a balloon.

Shaking his head, he went back to his meal.

As he took another bite, he noticed I-young lowering his mask.

Feeling uneasy, Hee-beom instinctively glanced outside.

What if someone recognized him?

The last thing he wanted was to end up in some viral photo next to Kwon I-young, plastered all over the news.

Thankfully, the street was still empty.

Letting out a subtle breath of relief, he returned to eating.

Through the window’s reflection, he caught sight of I-young taking a huge bite of his kimbap. His pale cheeks puffed out like a squirrel’s, and he chewed thoroughly.

The first thing he said?

“Hee-beom, the rice is cold.”

…Seriously?

Hee-beom had been unconsciously waiting for his reaction, and now he felt utterly ridiculous.

“It was in the fridge,” he muttered.

“Are you supposed to eat it cold? Like ice cream? But it’s not ice cream—it’s rice.”

“You can heat it up. There’s a microwave over there.”

He gestured with his chin toward the store’s microwave.

I-young glanced at it—then turned his gaze back to Hee-beom.

“Then why aren’t you heating yours?”

“Because it’s a hassle.”

“…Then I’ll just eat it like this too.”

And with that, I-young took another huge bite of his triangular kimbap. His cheeks looked like they might burst, but he somehow managed to chew through it just fine. He examined the kimbap curiously, peeking at the filling, occasionally smacking his lips as if savoring the taste.

Then, he called out again.

“Hee-beom.”

“What now?”

“This is delicious.”

“…….”

After that, I-young devoured both of his triangular kimbaps in no time.

Despite being small, thin, pale, and constantly smelling like shampoo, Hee-beom had assumed he’d have a small appetite. But watching him eat two whole kimbaps was unexpected.

For once, he was the one who asked the question.

“Doesn’t KESPA feed you?”

“They do.”

“…But you don’t eat there?”

“I mean, they do serve food… I just don’t really eat it.”

“…….”

Hee-beom raised an eyebrow before lowering it again.

KESPA must have been preparing extravagant meals for him every day. And yet, he wasn’t eating there—but here, of all places, he was happily wolfing down convenience store food?

Before he could dwell on it, I-young poked his hamburger with his index finger.

“Do I eat this now?”

“…That’s better if you heat it up.”

With a sigh, Hee-beom grabbed both his own hamburger and I-young’s, heading toward the microwave. He could feel I-young’s gaze following him the whole way.