PUES Chapter 4 (Part 3)

LONG CHAPTER AHEAD

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Even back then, Adam had been curious.

How would Hajin’s relationship with Benny change once he was grown?

Now, finally, the answer would come.

A slow smirk spread across Adam’s face.

This was going to be fun.

With that thought, he turned away, heading toward the smoking area, leaving Hajin to his frantic search.

—

Meanwhile.

Hajin was practically running, his chest rising and falling as he finally found the waiting room for the S-rank trainees.

He didn’t hesitate.

“Benny!”

The door opened, and Hajin called out his name immediately.

Inside, the graduating S-rank trainees were gathered, waiting to be assigned their transport home.

This was his chance to see Benny before they were separated again.

But—

Benny didn’t appear.

He wasn’t coming out.

Hajin’s impatience spiked, and he anxiously shifted from foot to foot.

“Esper, this area is restricted to non-authorized personnel.”

A voice interrupted his thoughts.

One of the senior Espers managing the trainee graduates stepped forward, eyeing him with clear disapproval.

Perfect.

Hajin immediately turned to the officer, ready to demand where Benny was.

But before he could even speak, the officer blocked his path.

Unlike Hajin, the man was huge, his muscular frame taking up the entire doorway.

“I need to see Benny Curtis. Just for a moment.”

“This area is off-limits. You need to leave.”

What the hell?

Hajin tried to step forward, but the officer didn’t budge.

Instead, he pushed back—

And Hajin, much smaller in size, stumbled slightly from the force.

“Ah!”

He almost fell backward.

The officer didn’t even flinch.

He had his own reasons for keeping Hajin out.

After all, Hajin’s presence had already caused enough of a stir in the Esper center.

The last thing they needed was a crowd swarming the waiting room just because Hajin was there.

And on top of that…

The officer wanted to keep him here a little longer.

Close enough to breathe in his scent.

Hajin was unaware, but his nervous shifting, his restless expression, the way he kept pressing forward—it all made him seem like he was desperate for attention.

Like he was inviting something.

The officer knew better than to act on it.

Still—

He didn’t want to let him through.

So, he did what he had to do.

He stepped forward again, his sheer size making Hajin feel even smaller as he forced him back.

Hajin’s thin frame was no match for the pressure.

He had no choice but to retreat.

Hajin stumbled backward, pushed by the force, and just as he was about to lose his balance, a firm embrace caught him, preventing him from falling. The sudden sensation of being pulled into someone’s arms startled him, and he let out a dazed sound.

“Teacher.”

The deep, resonant voice belonged to a man Hajin had never heard before. It was incredibly rich and sexy, carrying a languid undertone. Before he even had time to react, the presence that had steadied him moved slightly, tilting its head to meet his gaze.

“Teacher Hajin.”

The smile was breathtakingly beautiful. Golden hair peeked out from beneath a hat, shimmering under the light, and eyes as clear as the sky sparkled with warmth. The moment Hajin saw that face, he knew. No, there was no way he couldn’t know.

“…Benny?”

“Yes, Teacher.”

The swift reply was still unfamiliar. Had his voice deepened because of a late puberty, or had it simply never come at all? The last time they parted, his voice had been nothing but boyish, yet now, it had completely changed.

Before Hajin could even ask what was going on, Benny took a step forward and steadied him again as he wobbled. It was only then that Hajin realized Benny had properly stood up, his sunlit smile beaming as he clasped Hajin’s hand.

Hajin had been gripping the bouquet so tightly out of nervousness that the flowers had become slightly crushed. But now, a large hand gently covered his, pulling it toward him with slow, deliberate care.

It was then that Hajin realized—Benny had grown.

The last time they had seen each other, Hajin had looked down at him, even if just slightly. But now, Benny was so tall that Hajin had to tilt his head back to meet his gaze.

Benny, now standing a full head taller than Hajin, had not only grown in height but in size—his shoulders, chest, and build had filled out so much that he could easily shield Hajin with his body just by standing there.

“I knew it. I knew you’d recognize me right away, Teacher.”

“Ah…”

Th-this… This ridiculously handsome man… was Benny?

It was impossible to believe. There had been no warning—no sign—that the golden-haired little prince would grow up to become an insanely attractive, dangerously sexy man.

Not that anyone could have told him, but still…

As Hajin stared in disbelief, Benny, now mature and striking, watched his dumbfounded expression with an almost bashful smile.

“It’s been too long, Teacher. There’s so much I wanted to say when we met again… but now that we’re finally here, I don’t even know where to start. I just… Oh! Teacher, did you know? Right after I started training, I had such terrible growing pains that—”

“Trainees, move out! Everyone, get into formation!”

Just as Benny was about to continue, a commanding voice rang out beside them, startling Hajin. His head instinctively turned toward the source of the booming voice—a high-ranking Esper barking orders to the still-green recruits.

Benny flinched at the call but couldn’t ignore it. He turned slightly, his movements reluctant as if he didn’t want to leave. His bright blue eyes were tinged with disappointment as he gazed back at Hajin.

Hajin, too, looked at Benny with hesitation. He was sure it was Benny—yet at the same time, it felt like he wasn’t. Looking at him made something in Hajin’s chest stir, like an unfamiliar heat rising from within.

…Was this motion sickness?

While Hajin stood there, lost in his thoughts, Benny, who had just started to step away, suddenly stopped. Without warning, he dropped down on one knee, lifting his head to meet Hajin’s eyes.

His sky-blue eyes gleamed with a reverence so intense that Hajin could only stare, completely spellbound, as Benny took his hand and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it.

“Teacher, I’ll be back soon.”

The soft press of lips against his skin, fleeting and delicate, startled Hajin, leaving him speechless as he watched Benny’s back grow smaller in the distance.

Even before that, Benny had met his eyes and left him with a quiet, teasing smile. That image lingered in Hajin’s vision, leaving behind an odd illusion, as if the world around him had suddenly been flooded with light.

What’s wrong with me?

Ever since he laid eyes on twenty-year-old Benny, it felt like his brain had gone completely numb.

Still frozen in place, his hand still extended as if offering it to Benny, Hajin stood there stiffly, watching the young man disappear from sight before finally coming to his senses.

“…Good lord.”

That man was Benny? It was still hard to believe.

The sudden transformation—his dramatic increase in height and build—was shocking. But at the same time, the sight also put Hajin’s long-standing worries to rest. He had always been concerned about Benny getting pushed around by others, but that fear had completely vanished.

He had meant to greet Benny properly and give him the bouquet, but everything had happened so fast that he had just stood there, dumbfounded, hugging the flowers close to his chest without saying a single coherent word.

Realizing this only now, Hajin let out a small, belated gasp and tightened his grip around the bouquet.

The area had grown quiet, the other trainees having already left. Now, only the rustling sound of his flowers and the faint echo of approaching footsteps remained.

“Hajin?”

A faint scent of tobacco mixed with the sound of light, casual steps—Adam.

Recognizing him instantly, Hajin turned around without much surprise.

Though he wasn’t startled, his face still looked undeniably dazed, the same foolish expression he had been wearing ever since seeing Benny.

Adam had watched Hajin and Benny’s reunion from a distance, so he had a pretty good idea of why Hajin was standing there like a stunned idiot. But if he said that out loud, he might get another one of Hajin’s infamous punches, so he held his tongue.

“What’s with you? You look weird.”

“B-Benny…”

Adam had been about to ask, Benny what? but before he could, he caught the sound of Hajin’s unsteady voice.

And then—he heard something so ridiculous that he nearly burst out laughing.

“Benny must have suffered so much during training…”

“…What?”

“He’s handsome. He is handsome, but… doesn’t he look way too mature? What if people ask if he’s really twenty? What do I even say…?”

“What the hell are you talking about? Kids want to look older. They always say they can’t wait to grow up.”

“Still, this is too much. There’s no way he aged this much in just a few years unless he went through serious hardship…”

What in the…? What is this guy even saying?

Hajin’s ridiculous rambling completely wiped the expression off Adam’s face. He stared at him, visibly holding back a sigh, unable to comprehend whatever nonsense was coming out of Hajin’s mouth.

Hajin, on the other hand, continued mumbling to himself with a pale, stricken face as if this were some sort of crisis.

Then, out of nowhere, he suddenly bolted.

“Hajin!”

“I-I gotta go! I’ll see you at the center later!”

It hit him—this training group’s final destination was his house.

Or, to be more precise, the house he had once shared with Benny and his guardian. The home where Benny had grown up. That place was his nest, the place he was meant to return to.

Realizing in a panic that the house was still empty, Hajin took off running, heading straight for the parking lot where his car was parked.

Thank god he had gotten his license in his past life—otherwise, he would have been stuck flagging down a taxi in the middle of this mess, leaving Benny to return home to a completely vacant house.

Vroooom—!

As Hajin slammed down on the accelerator, his car roared to life with an engine sound louder than he had heard in a while. It shot forward, cutting through the streets at high speed. Even as he drove, he pressed a hand firmly against his chest, trying to calm his wildly pounding heart.

Ever since he had seen Benny again, he had felt strangely feverish, as if a heat had been simmering just beneath his skin. He even rolled down the window, letting the rush of cold air slap against his face in an attempt to cool himself down.

The once-small Benny, who had trailed after him like a shadow, had suddenly become a grown man—taller than him, acting like an adult. The thought alone made something in Hajin’s chest twist in an unfamiliar way.

“Faster… faster…”

The need to get home before Benny did burned inside him, pushing him to speed up. His car zipped through the streets, the urgency in his chest matching the pace of the wheels on the asphalt.

Finally, he arrived. He barely managed to park before jumping out of the car and dashing inside.

Thankfully, the house was still quiet—he had made it first.

“Thank god…”

If he hadn’t been there to greet him, Benny would have been disappointed for sure.

This time, Hajin would congratulate him properly. He would thank him for completing his training safely, without getting hurt, and he would finally give him the bouquet he had meant to hand over earlier. He would also make Benny his favorite pancakes—something sweet, something warm, something comforting after everything he had been through.

But why was his heart still racing so much?

The garage wasn’t that far from the house. Had just a short run really left him this breathless?

The sudden realization of his lack of physical stamina made Hajin sigh deeply. He found himself pacing in front of the entrance, unable to keep still.

The house he and Benny had shared had always been a quiet one, with few visitors. Maybe that was why the sound of heavy footsteps approaching from a distance suddenly seemed so loud.

Thud. Thud.

The measured steps echoed through the stillness, drawing closer.

Hajin hurriedly adjusted his clothes, straightening his posture. With the bouquet clutched tightly in his arms, he stood in place, waiting for the person on the other side of the door to ring the bell.

Earlier, he had been too overwhelmed to even ask if Benny had been doing well. This time, there was plenty of time. Hajin was determined to ask him properly.

And he wanted to tell Benny to rest well tonight.

Until the day Benny left again, Hajin would take care of him just like before. When the time came, he would send him off with the maturity of an adult.

It was only natural for a child to one day leave the arms of their guardian and spread their wings to explore the wider world. Hajin had known this, had accepted it, and had waited patiently all this time so he could support Benny. And finally, here they were, reunited.

Ding-dong.

Even though the doorbell was a familiar sound, Hajin, feeling unnecessarily tense, startled as if it were unexpected. Snapping out of it, he hurried to the front door and flung it open.

Bang!

The force with which he opened it was so strong that if someone had been standing too close, they could have been hit. Fortunately, the figure on the other side moved with ease, stepping back slightly and watching as Hajin practically lunged out of the doorway.

He had only meant to open the door, but he was so nervous that he forgot to let go of the handle. Instead, he got pulled forward with the momentum.

Noticing this, Benny quickly reached out, catching Hajin before he could stumble.

“Teacher,” he murmured in that low voice, a trace of concern in his tone.

“Are you alright?”

“A-ah…”

This wasn’t how this was supposed to go.

Awkwardly, Hajin straightened his bent posture and looked up at Benny.

If there had been even a fleeting hope that his earlier vision had been an illusion, it was shattered now. The man standing in front of him was unmistakably the same Benny—only now, he was a fully grown adult.

Broad shoulders, a well-defined chest, the clean cut of his short-cropped hair revealing the strong curve of his nape, the sharp, masculine features that had lost all traces of boyish softness, and golden hair that gleamed under the light—

Even with the sunlight at his back, casting him in silhouette, Benny’s sky-blue eyes shimmered as they fixated solely on Hajin. His gaze was unwavering, unshaken, filled with a singular devotion, as if he had no room in his eyes for anything else.

“Teacher…”

Hajin, lost in his own flustered thoughts, didn’t notice.

But for Benny, this moment was everything.

From the very second they had been separated, Benny had longed for his teacher. Every single night, he had dreamed of Hajin.

None of the other trainees understood him.

While they trained relentlessly, single-mindedly focused on advancing their Esper abilities, none of them ever spared a thought for the guardians who had raised them.

If the others had awakened their powers for their own sake, then Benny had done it for Hajin.

Every effort, every hardship, every moment of struggle—it had all been for this.

He had imagined this moment countless times.

And now, at last, he stood before his teacher again, the result of his unwavering dedication.

Hajin had no idea what Benny had held onto all these years, what he had wished for, or what dreams he had nurtured. But this moment—this was only the beginning.

Everything Benny had kept within himself, everything he had longed for, was meant only for Hajin.

Meeting his teacher in person, being able to touch him, to hear his voice—it was a happiness that Hajin could never begin to imagine. Benny had waited for this moment with an anticipation so deep it could hardly be put into words.

“Uh… Welcome home.”

Hajin forced a smile, his expression still awkward. The man standing before him felt like an illusion, his mind struggling to make sense of reality. It wasn’t just the shock of seeing Benny again—it was the fact that he had never in his life seen anyone this breathtakingly handsome.

People always said Espers with stronger abilities tended to grow into stunningly beautiful beings. Benny had been ranked S-Class—of course, it made sense.

Right. That’s why he looks like this. Because he’s an S-Class Esper…

The thought sent a rush of relief and pride through him, replacing his bewilderment with a bright, blooming smile.

“You really grew up well, Benny.”

“Teacher…”

Benny murmured, his voice tinged with emotion.

Hajin could hear the raw feeling behind it, and instinctively, he reached up to ruffle Benny’s hair.

The silky strands slid between his fingers, the touch so familiar that it sent a warm ache through Hajin’s chest. In that moment, it finally hit him—Benny had really, truly come home.

“…Congratulations.”

For growing up so well, for returning safely.

Hajin swallowed back the rest of his words, afraid that if he said them aloud, he might actually tear up. Instead, he simply extended the bouquet he had been holding.

Benny seemed to understand. He smiled softly, nodding instead of speaking, as he accepted the flowers with both hands.

He looked truly happy.

Hajin watched as Benny gazed at the bouquet with an expression of quiet joy before lifting his eyes once more.

His bag, slung over one broad shoulder, looked heavy, but Benny carried it effortlessly, shifting his gaze between Hajin and the flowers.

They were still standing at the entrance, right outside the door. Because of Hajin’s earlier near-stumble, he had stopped awkwardly on the steps, caught between moving forward and hesitating.

Finally noticing this, Hajin stepped inside and spoke.

“With how much you’ve grown, I guess I don’t have to worry about you living on your own anymore.”

He had always thought of Benny as a child, but now, seeing him like this, Hajin couldn’t help but acknowledge how much he had matured. That was why he had said those words.

But something felt off.

Benny should have followed him inside—but he hadn’t.

Hajin turned back. “Benny?”

Only then did Benny flash a warm, easy smile before stepping inside after him.

“I was so worried before you left,” Hajin murmured as they walked in together. “You were so small back then… And now you’re taller than me.”

“It’s common for kids with abilities,” Benny explained. “Some of us grow all at once. That’s when our voices change too.”

“…I see.”

“It hurt like hell, though. I got growing pains so bad that I couldn’t even move properly. I ended up causing an accident because I was too weak. I cried so much that day… I think the Esper in charge felt bad and sent you that notice.”

Hajin could easily picture it—Benny crying his heart out, completely inconsolable.

He had always been the type to whine and cling to Hajin when he was upset, and Hajin had never hesitated to comfort him.

Had he spoiled Benny too much?

Other kids had probably endured their growing pains without complaint, but Benny had been so dramatic about it that he had even gotten the administration involved.

…Then again, I only have myself to blame for raising him that way.

“At least you weren’t seriously hurt. That’s what matters.”

“Yes.”

Was this what parents felt when they saw their child all grown up?

Hajin found himself walking aimlessly, not even thinking about where he was going, simply moving forward.

Behind him, Benny trailed closely, his steps small and measured, watching Hajin’s back—which looked much smaller than he remembered.

And in that moment, he felt something similar.