PUES Chapter 4 (Part 3)

LONG CHAPTER AHEADbded3d85e31c5911

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Even back then, ee0438f399 Adam had been b83ca5eb92 curious.3fd23147bb867c13

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How would 5466f29375 Hajin’s relationship 6363622b9a with Benny 78f3eb479a change once 1cb210df51 he was 7c39894416 grown?e9741af615a69784

Now, finally, the 67634c38bc answer would come.7dfd51c102322cb6

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A slow smirk spread 119835c42b across Adam’s face.1ae6e3b7192557ae

This was 3b7cb10727 going to eb5d74f67c be fun.40d759d1660f6a4d

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With that aa2db6a087 thought, he 5722d87d4b turned away, 989c70451b heading toward cedc6c1629 the smoking 2b8514d0f6 area, leaving bb30f3e49a Hajin to 56f46e89db his frantic 71e2d5df00 search.ecc930c349fbfdd2

—fc308b516587bba0

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Meanwhile.f4ed50bc4aeae04a

Hajin was c6a4517bde practically running, be09664322 his chest 32f6fe882c rising and 70f35997b2 falling as 4912d918ec he finally 14ff75fba7 found the 2ed6d273f6 waiting room bdd0470d58 for the a7648e5b2a S-rank trainees.9d09dced60a183e8

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He didn’t hesitate.50a495df1bc94aa5

“Benny!”715fbb84e6f5d2de

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The door opened, and 4bb102e19c Hajin called out his f56c49838c name immediately.a7019ec72b1e2f45

Inside, the c9caf2f041 graduating S-rank 4df40d4608 trainees were 563e392adb gathered, waiting ce2bfc59b0 to be 21713973aa assigned their 7b25edc8ec transport home.95676dba620c492d

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This was his a414df1b72 chance to see df87ab2da0 Benny before they 360b04e3e2 were separated again.211ef61e81afaeda

But—383d16874c6b4d09

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Benny didn’t appear.ecb745688d22b610

He wasn’t coming 46891bcc08 out.26cb8342d0390322

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Hajin’s impatience spiked, 8a1eb7c500 and he anxiously 84b59adbc3 shifted from foot f7fe48f930 to foot.13a31903ebb14190

“Esper, this area 8b0d47ad47 is restricted to 9a512139ab non-authorized personnel.”4b4b6bd84f719033

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A voice interrupted a8dc53eb96 his thoughts.7606c7b6ef743f6d

One of the senior e729caeb38 Espers managing the trainee 7450a281b2 graduates stepped forward, eyeing c318a72ded him with clear disapproval.f07aea1a1d201e7c

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Perfect.a6ace8ebc20a1b98

Hajin immediately 7f7d20f3bd turned to 380a02c806 the officer, 07b31a4cf9 ready to c5ed04ae64 demand where 0304225a61 Benny was.4778105ab0baaaaa

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But before he 99d144b608 could even speak, 146276ffce the officer blocked 3b5102f961 his path.d637b7ead927b613

Unlike Hajin, the 1c30e8cf11 man was huge, 0eaf02b74c his muscular frame 4072cf66f0 taking up the df41d6a49e entire doorway.a050f94a46920e09

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“I need to see a9abfad387 Benny Curtis. Just for a moment.”f72f7614314b0959

“This area is off-limits. You need 76b250666c to leave.”d68f603b2e241601

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What the hell?c2e7239faca5bf76

Hajin tried to step 6aa7458fa7 forward, but the officer b476691189 didn’t budge.bd8bd277f91c9987

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Instead, he pushed back—cda4424c2602d631

And Hajin, much smaller f65767b371 in size, stumbled slightly 9bc102f89e from the force.0404f31d02e92df9

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“Ah!”29fa3ba5aed0579c

He almost ea574d981d fell backward.66e52642f40684bc

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The officer 2b2456da01 didn’t even bc601554d0 flinch.9b4f34c2f1e67f6b

He had his own 472e3128ac reasons for keeping Hajin 8395d4cff1 out.cb2f28d5d8103bf3

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After all, Hajin’s presence fa5eab36d9 had already caused enough cd7c71c5da of a stir in bf494f3c46 the Esper center.6ba4afb675e2ef76

The last thing they 1ad9f97ff7 needed was a crowd 36a2575968 swarming the waiting room 196112e28d just because Hajin was b295e3c24f there.ba931a003c538078

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And on top 5308714a7a of that…ee1774582b0cae20

The officer 6aea6de305 wanted to 187dddb1a6 keep him 81f5f26043 here a b7851ed258 little longer.7b8972e8d227533b

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Close enough 8e78c1145d to breathe 7586bcb8ef in his dcae1e741e scent.bf50a7cad9cd41ba

Hajin was d256f5f14a unaware, but c3e8d73bfd his nervous 8274cd8c10 shifting, his 990c98aade restless expression, eae471d323 the way bbc840cc82 he kept 48ed082e02 pressing forward—it d38a2eef6e all made 805c5836f1 him seem cd19c65c6e like he b22295a906 was desperate 0388e77cbd for attention.a4788550ccbf512d

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Like he fd885423c2 was inviting 51bc0a938a something.1f79817d269b8114

The officer knew d9ec644507 better than to 1567ed5012 act on it.be2b7cd81e985ce0

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Still—a3bb20709f891da2

He didn’t want to b8348f647f let him through.2f36674ae127719f

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So, he b94003b0b2 did what 37a0aca182 he had cda1012957 to do.d2a4df839290d855

He stepped forward 02708963f6 again, his sheer 2b04db7eb7 size making Hajin 913516f365 feel even smaller 78286b3714 as he forced a1e1fea135 him back.de100ab6410760bb

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Hajin’s thin frame 534adc1b5a was no match 8e5dc1673d for the pressure.3b315dce095fad90

He had no choice 34ebf5b9e2 but to retreat.446b08b983c272ab

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Hajin stumbled backward, f35843fe79 pushed by the a44b966adb force, and just 73e9ec5724 as he was 6a6110e86d about to lose d824d77a5f his balance, a 70f4eb4154 firm embrace caught 09db6144f5 him, preventing him 9b04e40280 from falling. The sudden sensation 80946b2c9a of being pulled 981b55166c into someone’s arms 6047b03e5c startled him, and 31979e4b8c he let out 9120793f7f a dazed sound.7279e8189f91cba1

“Teacher.”fb20ab379a8b0f8f

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The deep, resonant voice a91cf6c21a belonged to a man 2c9d516788 Hajin had never heard 487b91159b before. It was a7bbf93448 incredibly rich 0b02e077af and sexy, df68611941 carrying a bb5cce1de2 languid undertone. Before he even had e242558f41 time to react, the c134d9a333 presence that had steadied aa1f4ca930 him moved slightly, tilting b6bfc71e00 its head to meet a0fa2744e9 his gaze.7cebe7273162060b

“Teacher Hajin.”ba3937dbe2ed9fa4

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The smile de8407d832 was breathtakingly 251db41e3b beautiful. Golden hair peeked out 270d782fdb from beneath a hat, 4aefd08f35 shimmering under the light, 46688a55a4 and eyes as clear 7ffffa269e as the sky sparkled d73479c4c9 with warmth. The moment Hajin saw 06340eb621 that face, he knew. No, there d72b5ea76c was no e4c22bb576 way he 01f886fd10 couldn’t know.1530cf5b2d54b71a

“…Benny?”8eb65168381aa130

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“Yes, Teacher.”f654023af5411b49

The swift 7228941dda reply was 669f59243f still unfamiliar. Had his cc1e6ec80f voice deepened e7cf9794aa because of 12d6ed13e0 a late bbe0c525ab puberty, or d9ab6d5ba0 had it 17b980392c simply never e57d925c03 come at d9b532118f all? The last e3c36b4e5a time they cc5d770560 parted, his b0f8e681b2 voice had 5ce4023da1 been nothing b54aabecb9 but boyish, bc3d81c46b yet now, c90da3dc23 it had 5cfcb5b20a completely changed.549fc22fb75be854

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Before Hajin could even 1227ae1a36 ask what was going 8c6386148a on, Benny took a ec2f461365 step forward and steadied 3b8cfb3138 him again as he 351bd7c18e wobbled. It was only then d3cf4b875e that Hajin realized Benny dd62d14d12 had properly stood up, 5d97f37f93 his sunlit smile beaming 9f02397293 as he clasped Hajin’s 426cb5afb3 hand.565f7e89ae06194f

Hajin had been gripping 3ad55819e9 the bouquet so tightly 6da1747d8e out of nervousness that 0db019dbff the flowers had become a7531ba24f slightly crushed. But now, a large 0dc8df7b3e hand gently covered his, 10627686f2 pulling it toward him 1da0cd9022 with slow, deliberate care.63c982466d3043f1

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It was then 1fe2207d06 that Hajin realized—Benny 0f1c37c6a8 had grown.ba6aa39e8428c77e

The last 6d66936400 time they f410e49605 had seen 5fa964cd62 each other, 8152d773b6 Hajin had 0cca675d0c looked down c70a0b4bf3 at him, 32261de3ed even if 177e6a3a19 just slightly. But now, 5bdca678fe Benny was 1d181930ea so tall 33b1d9b5de that Hajin 0e5245d5c5 had to 51e44f8156 tilt his 575c305d55 head back 30eab2b764 to meet 4a53d73061 his gaze.b318543151a8dcfe

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Benny, now standing 6c51024abf a full head 73eb2b8af3 taller than Hajin, 46e17b0a8b had not only c01e0ef725 grown in height 564f789b5e but in size—his 1785cfb21d shoulders, chest, and 8e43f31c87 build had filled f9a43140d3 out so much 36c4565144 that he could 23863c4d62 easily shield Hajin 5eb439e2f5 with his body 5df0b67f56 just by standing e03e70db09 there.a41edeab7d6a7e60

“I knew it. I knew you’d recognize 6b12ff3d60 me right away, Teacher.”d6c8858e86f2f7c3

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“Ah…”2871e5e74beb5b89

Th-this… This 669d05c6b6 ridiculously handsome aedd87fbfd man… was 4921afc943 Benny?518b602efe1f4996

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It was impossible 4c0e612499 to believe. There had been 487682c895 no warning—no sign—that 31490e53f8 the golden-haired little 7ccc7de348 prince would grow 75c847d98e up to become 894d5ab2ca an insanely attractive, 51abe2da64 dangerously sexy man.89cc815054c810f7

Not that fc71a5617e anyone could 87894044a3 have told 1868ae3a33 him, but 84271d854f still…b7fc241244c846ed

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As Hajin 23435973e4 stared in 9cae722a91 disbelief, Benny, a169cc3bac now mature cc2aba1ae9 and striking, 5593f90daf watched his b9d99cd54f dumbfounded expression 0c482bfe41 with an fb43fc3beb almost bashful 1b6265b262 smile.9ff64d3133c24f03

“It’s been d8cf353dd3 too long, cab59e813c Teacher. There’s so 30e4a1a0e2 much I 78afaee55e wanted to 75e84983ea say when e9869c4090 we met 18eb65d96e again… but 60f4296937 now that 78fcd8b0ca we’re finally c7c0a036f5 here, I 14523eb0cb don’t even 6f551c44aa know where 2cd67e8963 to start. I just… Oh! Teacher, did you know? Right after c78a230495 I started 0d2f6dd6c7 training, I e4de1a24e1 had such a2ba2aec1e terrible growing 9f32228f80 pains that—”a07d009f837f4d78

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“Trainees, move out! Everyone, get 679e0dba20 into formation!”f81e83bb8f74d02c

Just as efa23a5cf7 Benny was 94e09ffe39 about to a8645250f0 continue, a 9b9773ef84 commanding voice b4082f96aa rang out 28c0a46aea beside them, d4ec834ecb startling Hajin. His head instinctively turned 3452507e13 toward the source of 5083754a8e the booming voice—a high-ranking 60a3af5458 Esper barking orders to d488d40c81 the still-green recruits.8a45b17daf88e12e

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Benny flinched at 8699100378 the call but 7372acaeed couldn’t ignore it. He turned slightly, his 48bb3eee9b movements reluctant as if a1b9b7586f he didn’t want to 9e0d03f47d leave. His bright 08f833dad0 blue eyes 6bab098d50 were tinged 3081ce6e3c with disappointment 6deac06d21 as he 52d53c5aa5 gazed back 7ec54eb04f at Hajin.52b16416e14a7e5c

Hajin, too, ab1c9e2906 looked at 95a08754bf Benny with f442a0a116 hesitation. He was sure it 8b9100f230 was Benny—yet at the d07db02955 same time, it felt fdc768a9a4 like he wasn’t. Looking at him 1a6f3204cb made something in 244870faa9 Hajin’s chest stir, 4eef867452 like an unfamiliar 0c6bd8f732 heat rising from 25886b3c7f within.08e4e9e648702e3d

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…Was this a94af69fea motion sickness?e1036f357f73dcd5

While Hajin stood faae45de98 there, lost in 22c5472529 his thoughts, Benny, 457de63716 who had just 4337dc5e3b started to step 44bae88b8e away, suddenly stopped. Without warning, he dropped 629a56e7e2 down on one knee, 798224151b lifting his head to f67679690d meet Hajin’s eyes.aa34d27d322dbff5

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His sky-blue eyes 10207f24d7 gleamed with a e13e096448 reverence so intense e3ac459d25 that Hajin could d768a37ec4 only stare, completely d92432442d spellbound, as Benny 1a4f01819e took his hand 39b033cbe3 and pressed a 6e1ee997c4 soft kiss to 449cf999c8 the back of 271a20b5d1 it.fa25633e73948b2e

“Teacher, I’ll be 92c8d264f2 back soon.”9097e37409d9fdb0

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The soft 4c87823c36 press of 9d6b7de7ba lips against 5712c24edc his skin, 1124960a67 fleeting and a78b5a9858 delicate, startled 6d92558fbf Hajin, leaving aa2c9a4f52 him speechless 9b4dc53d81 as he 2c2627e688 watched Benny’s dd829e76a0 back grow 767775dc36 smaller in b8868182b8 the distance.d00f5bbdaac6dd9a

Even before 377180f807 that, Benny aa660a9a4e had met af56ffee59 his eyes ea77743d5a and left f831ed18ea him with 4a512999c2 a quiet, 41c3374c88 teasing smile. That image lingered 5addefc5d1 in Hajin’s vision, 6fa5cdf963 leaving behind an b4a288bbc4 odd illusion, as 4cf4f38f43 if the world a73f38645f around him had c7e698d5f5 suddenly been flooded 84db4406e2 with light.d3314622701b01a9

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What’s wrong with eefb3744e3 me?447b75aba785f64a

Ever since 62704d7f0e he laid 025719bd34 eyes on 46eb8cdbe8 twenty-year-old Benny, 42e909e493 it felt 673588c42e like his 6c4fed9463 brain had 0c1b5ff09f gone completely a1eea3160c numb.e18e7a265ae51cfe

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Still frozen c121bc2f5f in place, afcc4769e4 his hand 4409b84f30 still extended f327687a36 as if 5b5bb53ac0 offering it 4be6ac1daf to Benny, ed8d0fa2cc Hajin stood 8c42cf73b6 there stiffly, fc4cbd9392 watching the 04b6555fb7 young man 730a31cdfa disappear from 4328b01066 sight before 3fea4d6d88 finally coming 733d186104 to his 4c778866ab senses.057708da6d71aa3d

“…Good lord.”13e2864b209e3849

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That man ba0e53bd38 was Benny? It was 77e55c0305 still hard 0d1c16dc56 to believe.0a8fa65a1b7e2759

The sudden transformation—his dramatic b15e2a6d24 increase in height and 68830cfa72 build—was shocking. But at the same b77c518d1f time, the sight also fa300dc9ee put Hajin’s long-standing worries 67bfd88ee9 to rest. He had always 38680d2903 been concerned about d2839f9925 Benny getting pushed 54332f40ab around by others, ab3f8d0e8f but that fear 1331815bbb had completely vanished.c7d3bfd95ef1f00d

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He had a9c0fe36fd meant to 76ddc9ab22 greet Benny 735de4d717 properly and 7ec8240e10 give him 0a19cb0464 the bouquet, 9f74a1a6b5 but everything f3ecaf90aa had happened 20750ffac8 so fast 28eca2fc31 that he ab0ca4392e had just b54aa3adbd stood there, 47b4e55550 dumbfounded, hugging fdd548cac7 the flowers bbb66f0a84 close to 388082e851 his chest a179df321a without saying f546baf9ec a single e2ebbac182 coherent word.66fc3dd2fa904b8a

Realizing this only now, a3255238dd Hajin let out a 3b9f4a205d small, belated gasp and 132c47db8b tightened his grip around b544df035c the bouquet.4679a027118ab949

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The area 7afbec047d had grown 46fce00cee quiet, the ed6bcdcbf6 other trainees ae6f50a108 having already 21b82b47a2 left. Now, only the 752ac81ef6 rustling sound of cec63db656 his flowers and fe69e8c33e the faint echo 6334aabb15 of approaching footsteps 3abe831782 remained.c7cae1f0a6900dc1

“Hajin?”3699c9a844acf90d

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A faint bf64db1702 scent of bb78487d46 tobacco mixed a403c0d9fe with the 08dbdc9de8 sound of 38655d2cfe light, casual 4c7a63c4aa steps—Adam.60a6f9cb1ed9242f

Recognizing him instantly, Hajin 0c0da1e8a6 turned around without much 8a1508e68d surprise.c9b845b725b96808

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Though he wasn’t startled, bbb8c46fd1 his face still looked 8a44d669d0 undeniably dazed, the same 6c4ffe1ea1 foolish expression he had 7d5a02acb6 been wearing ever since f5ce589f40 seeing Benny.ae94b5d401277681

Adam had ade8187fb7 watched Hajin 5829471b75 and Benny’s 4e11665c3b reunion from 1813aa8d71 a distance, e86e54d19e so he 80cba3c165 had a 9de0f256bc pretty good e989d82f2f idea of 9d906bc92b why Hajin 67e52bf7af was standing 2903d4185d there like 4cccf88b30 a stunned 3b92310957 idiot. But if he said 7761d7ca0d that out loud, he a87c7fe93c might get another one 3a8192c740 of Hajin’s infamous punches, d5f2141dd1 so he held his 0b03d86040 tongue.509a31076a646aaa

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“What’s with you? You look weird.”8cd3e264f564a2eb

“B-Benny…”5967cd398f5ac25a

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Adam had been about 0d0a4ecea0 to ask, Benny what? but before 06dbd8c131 he could, 43b8c836d0 he caught a0fb3fcc67 the sound dd0cddb8b6 of Hajin’s 10b6cd4476 unsteady voice.50bb9a56cab91cab

And then—he heard something 3d06488167 so ridiculous that he 1d0aa5f7ab nearly burst out laughing.d5e1d0681b44665f

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“Benny must have 4f4a56048f suffered so much 8a9fac0d5a during training…”d5fa1a3728d5c90c

“…What?”95dabb723bb53d39

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“He’s handsome. He is handsome, 28e335efdc but… doesn’t he 2498a14833 look way too e8ff6bad6d mature? What if people ask cc0bed128f if he’s really twenty? What do 313e51c213 I even 1a595c3ab5 say…?”52f95758cfe53a1e

“What the hell are 8f8ffaeb0f you talking about? Kids want to cf6a4d0456 look older. They always say they b7786eac8c can’t wait to grow 5db1f6d0ac up.”3af0ccce4059e9fb

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“Still, this is too 3033108e45 much. There’s no way he ec87d7f80b aged this much in 1015898efc just a few years 28230d6902 unless he went through 661183ea12 serious hardship…”b45c3e76cb043cc4

What in the…? What is this guy e7f3f7bd77 even saying?205f4df705268aaf

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Hajin’s ridiculous rambling 5a780b521e completely wiped the c1b1186acd expression off Adam’s f0f2ff4a2e face. He stared d70058dd22 at him, 500e303637 visibly holding 379ce7ed7c back a d82371bc0d sigh, unable edbbce903b to comprehend a50d6f9225 whatever nonsense 26e12f25d4 was coming 6575cd3b0d out of aad2814f30 Hajin’s mouth.d46afeea4fa94793

Hajin, on 1ee17fa0e7 the other b28ae1bc83 hand, continued 6199e65366 mumbling to 6346e64ab9 himself with ffce3fe030 a pale, c6c960aeb5 stricken face 6e24e16acc as if 676ce6369c this were 800cea3dcd some sort 7b724f11c7 of crisis.d32f18cf14dbe77e

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Then, out of 35f04900e6 nowhere, he suddenly e00395c538 bolted.7a7c37c0bd27014f

“Hajin!”88bd0929c0bd603b

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“I-I gotta go! I’ll see e88ed607b3 you at 87e1f5e0ef the center 97dd806f34 later!”3384568e3a8762c6

It hit c8e712ebad him—this training cc60de4bda group’s final 36de5e4d0c destination was 0cefc88da0 his house.c07c5b692542c943

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Or, to be d5aba395b3 more precise, the 7fb8bee692 house he had e596a9dd92 once shared with 51e77a7331 Benny and his 3d163ca7c1 guardian. The home 0d396dc5b3 where Benny 107a5496fb had grown 4d2d32bad2 up. That place was his 5b276d166a nest, the place he b506be4b69 was meant to return 13d484c48f to.131ad1dab6f0249b

Realizing in a panic 7168badd69 that the house was 0cb39560e6 still empty, Hajin took 168e62d224 off running, heading straight 30a6b4d2ec for the parking lot 9063d1594e where his car was f6698e3843 parked.8f1ce70dab4e6b76

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Thank god 04ed81aed4 he had ee1481f3ff gotten his fb94e511f5 license in 01b2634aaa his past 795b4d7785 life—otherwise, he f616fe69b1 would have f11f4b0567 been stuck 8a9dd071c7 flagging down 3c358822d5 a taxi b8a39da4d1 in the e1e0817fd6 middle of 6009ebc1bb this mess, 42a2bc2fb4 leaving Benny ba65505e31 to return bad805fc0e home to 6c4c4d871c a completely 780e4948ad vacant house.1deb07f2364b321d

Vroooom—!a4fc1f3ccf598ce5

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As Hajin 3bdcdf6055 slammed down 65e029d3fa on the d6cbce6979 accelerator, his a2da4d4ebe car roared 23a7e36b62 to life cc0ebf3f37 with an a756fb57af engine sound 39b1abf549 louder than 892c45de5a he had bd83333d7b heard in bdced2288b a while. It shot forward, cutting 24a17c08f4 through the streets at 5a63b58fdb high speed. Even as 46d5a13078 he drove, 3f451bd2ab he pressed 09208ef69a a hand 1cbf899bfe firmly against 2f0212ceb5 his chest, e1b2493a1a trying to c0c9d48964 calm his 78ce494b15 wildly pounding c63583e2e8 heart.eaa8c61c68f49d36

Ever since he d00ad1a05d had seen Benny c1b511c7a2 again, he had 15aaa2ec84 felt strangely feverish, 7c3d87665a as if a 6aad5e58e5 heat had been 7fca413d3b simmering just beneath 2b03df086f his skin. He even rolled down cfdfba7d3b the window, letting the 65ba56d471 rush of cold air 392e8830d5 slap against his face 0b5fb19611 in an attempt to cac222b881 cool himself down.e7d0f93635483bd1

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The once-small Benny, who 65c8a3f66e had trailed after him 34dfecf8a6 like a shadow, had b55a015867 suddenly become a grown 4b8f9fd2f3 man—taller than him, acting 4d51ed9217 like an adult. The thought alone made ba89375ad4 something in Hajin’s chest a501c4b89b twist in an unfamiliar b11987a3a1 way.f17db05bb2cd4664

“Faster… faster…”93415d03241907e5

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The need fb2797e685 to get 5e8e88a6d5 home before f7d4af5769 Benny did af6d9ce723 burned inside 98503ee150 him, pushing 966907831e him to 31681bf7c6 speed up. His car 5f0b76de4c zipped through e0b8269b84 the streets, 194076395b the urgency e22c17bf4a in his 9d926f8f50 chest matching 415116e912 the pace d5ce3a66f1 of the 0a00371f72 wheels on eeb2cd074b the asphalt.16f8a3fb16c10b7b

Finally, he arrived. He barely 43cd0bcfe5 managed to 5f9fa2f523 park before 0f04e9f8bf jumping out 8587c219ff of the 531f24c1ba car and 5705e6a9d3 dashing inside.400aa6b708dabc6c

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Thankfully, the dd48bca01c house was 0b0bdfd82f still quiet—he fb66b130da had made fe058e64e4 it first.7b426a24dcedb21e

“Thank god…”4da29822f3fa8fdc

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If he hadn’t been 4399e6ebc2 there to greet him, 05500861ec Benny would have been f0189b71f9 disappointed for sure.ff02c3601d1c203f

This time, Hajin d74d752b64 would congratulate him 82a5f8cbe1 properly. He would thank him ca0353edba for completing his training 3559e8b243 safely, without getting hurt, 009a87d3ca and he would finally 870d0c4b31 give him the bouquet 370a2f828d he had meant to ce9e3247dd hand over earlier. He would 3020fe9751 also make 66e513f0b2 Benny his 9f349a76b5 favorite pancakes—something 241a3742d4 sweet, something 9cf0b089b0 warm, something a00c8b7679 comforting after 9ea717f388 everything he 82584c8175 had been 6f06369ad1 through.3ddce25422134811

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But why was his 5336a26e69 heart still racing so be80d781fe much?31a68f54447d8d2c

The garage c625fbfc48 wasn’t that 4bc5b95a18 far from 350ccc7947 the house. Had just a short 94877278b3 run really left him 3de8c740d0 this breathless?66b84b434900aee4

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The sudden df8972649c realization of 7c7035c958 his lack cb6fbfc4f5 of physical d971e29b29 stamina made fd421fc05e Hajin sigh d268dd35cf deeply. He found himself 78de0a82b0 pacing in front ca560c1941 of the entrance, 5eb8b6add1 unable to keep bd7743b7d5 still.efb3971ed95e50cd

The house 79882e4715 he and 1e98ffbe07 Benny had 5fa4661464 shared had 51fb506b88 always been 28af64f286 a quiet 1549cc6318 one, with e09456be1e few visitors. Maybe that was c4a8cc4be6 why the sound e464500316 of heavy footsteps 3236c03142 approaching from a 63fbdf78e9 distance suddenly seemed 43f656d736 so loud.b8c523a2dcd4069a

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Thud. Thud.284dce36c32b1c58

The measured steps af687ba044 echoed through the 1e9ebc8a5e stillness, drawing closer.616439775d20440b

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Hajin hurriedly 0c1c1d21b3 adjusted his 1dd851c518 clothes, straightening 310f07833c his posture. With the bouquet c6577eb2b9 clutched tightly in 2dd5bd4b0d his arms, he cc95a5538e stood in place, 7532e3e854 waiting for the 243c1907fa person on the 7a166f9b35 other side of 249f87a29e the door to d91e892108 ring the bell.fe786fcdb7feb48c

Earlier, he had been 2385b46b69 too overwhelmed to even 273d6155ec ask if Benny had 656daab8a5 been doing well. This time, 9d554d548f there was 1102f68e7d plenty of 381c60cfce time. Hajin was determined to ea0702476f ask him properly.cb024c55323f385f

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And he fdb73f9084 wanted to c54ecf2f81 tell Benny 33710d9b9e to rest 552912bba5 well tonight.2c16b67a3c327b51

Until the day Benny dc607eb3d5 left again, Hajin would 458a75a529 take care of him 2b50512e14 just like before. When the time 2a5536a0ea came, he would 9600776826 send him off 462811ba6e with the maturity c0c398adb1 of an adult.ff92b1d2256245cf

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It was df0f32a031 only natural 6382d1842c for a 09227cfb02 child to 7b5cbc2c08 one day 098cb1b5e6 leave the 690692f1f0 arms of a55b0d554a their guardian d338b2ce46 and spread a59dc18522 their wings b3a7119d35 to explore 89e0f56de8 the wider 0c6bc98000 world. Hajin had known this, 5f00b72843 had accepted it, and 7475fdf9df had waited patiently all 89ffe1726c this time so he d7712938a0 could support Benny. And finally, here they d1f25f9353 were, reunited.3e8db6b331ee2a98

Ding-dong.490e7086f60a4ed6

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Even though the 86a75e5b70 doorbell was a 551708ffca familiar sound, Hajin, d4dd748f43 feeling unnecessarily tense, 967ef35ae1 startled as if 9716ab40b6 it were unexpected. Snapping out of 83ceff108b it, he hurried 4269752016 to the front a2ca1e712c door and flung c138c4b775 it open.bea1cb80ce2be67e

Bang!6dff2ff1e86fc97f

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The force with which 07d8f6efba he opened it was c9563eaef7 so strong that if 1a65867acf someone had been standing f146619312 too close, they could 0aeadf85a5 have been hit. Fortunately, the figure on 45a659cfc2 the other side moved 23b0625041 with ease, stepping back d66ebae9a6 slightly and watching as 820094e1ec Hajin practically lunged out b754ddff01 of the doorway.c9d23a8625a4508c

He had e53b822776 only meant ed96011414 to open 8372a9508a the door, 1d41dc5fc1 but he f8845db57d was so c89a892111 nervous that 25bd260a20 he forgot 1a8f28315a to let 329fb0e3b1 go of a0e9eec769 the handle. Instead, he got pulled 7932e026ed forward with the momentum.c3f53367303cd574

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Noticing this, Benny e54fe3ecec quickly reached out, d8ca5bad12 catching Hajin before f24f4cee98 he could stumble.100e21b6811e23d1

“Teacher,” he murmured in that low voice, a trace of concern in his tone.7a06e2743fea406a

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“Are you alright?”ffa32031de41c961

“A-ah…”a69f73abe658083c

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This wasn’t 84bf46ac17 how this 2e36103110 was supposed 20ab641420 to go.c827594a50d1dc0a

Awkwardly, Hajin straightened 126f59c2a2 his bent posture 5765b2286e and looked up 14ed2bd4c6 at Benny.f2a695ea9e3f70a3

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If there had 33641497a9 been even a a643f1f73a fleeting hope that 96d81e7207 his earlier vision f8ecf82051 had been an d46fce8784 illusion, it was b0a6240176 shattered now. The man standing in adbd7fe807 front of him was 3ef116588f unmistakably the same Benny—only b52c3796fa now, he was a db350e8a15 fully grown adult.2619b32f2397ad33

Broad shoulders, 1c7b925542 a well-defined c17f11043b chest, the 79d22e7eb0 clean cut 149623cf25 of his 30fccee793 short-cropped hair 065afff8d5 revealing the 58bf15b583 strong curve 50087b15f8 of his c10c5280cc nape, the 4829b38e38 sharp, masculine 174271f137 features that 4d5ae901f4 had lost 3cd49d800d all traces 501ab71725 of boyish 48edb5a455 softness, and 582ef16bb5 golden hair 202282cdf2 that gleamed f1c4e7a2a1 under the d8a6fd3086 light—ec8523961e8b5ef8

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Even with the eb788f7056 sunlight at his 1f35ace415 back, casting him 07db619763 in silhouette, Benny’s 4c9ff6840c sky-blue eyes shimmered 1caea83832 as they fixated 8f2d18a2f8 solely on Hajin. His gaze was unwavering, b6b3c7b665 unshaken, filled with a f73c852a09 singular devotion, as if 780432cd89 he had no room 48cfc0e85c in his eyes for e783295596 anything else.f363629cac4830ad

“Teacher…”559c345e6fe249c9

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Hajin, lost bfd9ef13f0 in his e089069267 own flustered d5b89c290c thoughts, didn’t 8597d64613 notice.86651f91e2fa2e49

But for 1e357f18fb Benny, this 71fb6ee36f moment was 3aad1498aa everything.dc7bd903ebba5d26

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From the very d3c1faedae second they had 735aa49914 been separated, Benny 9e097fa203 had longed for dbb503e928 his teacher. Every single 6b954678d9 night, he 53754e56a2 had dreamed e6373b092b of Hajin.56f75134ca7d0214

None of the 5eaa2e87b8 other trainees understood f27a1c0989 him.e766ee1e15a19685

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While they trained d7a3738402 relentlessly, single-mindedly focused b389e290d5 on advancing their 6acd850eab Esper abilities, none 2dd3fb4935 of them ever a376394b72 spared a thought 48be1beaba for the guardians 2362c469cd who had raised 23435109f5 them.73deaca5a79ffd8b

If the f27761bee1 others had be8e222b22 awakened their 607d5b41d8 powers for 0f3fbcc0b6 their own ee0e560887 sake, then af39edf810 Benny had 1f03155719 done it 6bed852a63 for Hajin.ca48e15e7e2903b0

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Every effort, ea06d60b37 every hardship, 35485a8a39 every moment ccb9598cd1 of struggle—it 6ae1bfb5a9 had all b02227d559 been for b81dd4b158 this.da8fc859551bb67f

He had 1243ed39a8 imagined this f77d76c190 moment countless e95bd68d97 times.32bffdaa4f9bc491

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And now, e3dd86cc5b at last, 9fc2de6a55 he stood ee6064eb84 before his aa18a463a5 teacher again, 49b198b347 the result 90f9ad70a9 of his e953597af6 unwavering dedication.d9ce59f15d029121

Hajin had no idea 6925f0f15d what Benny had held 529b219148 onto all these years, 4b649f4f5a what he had wished 64c8a93c30 for, or what dreams 5f0963270e he had nurtured. But this c7c954fab3 moment—this was a9c01b7e13 only the b2f33e44fc beginning.529aa69fc5adb89a

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Everything Benny had kept e0183c62ab within himself, everything he 1e7a4ad273 had longed for, was 23c44a3552 meant only for Hajin.4a939430bbfa799b

Meeting his teacher in 7e77f9d813 person, being able to de7adfde2f touch him, to hear 032c469b26 his voice—it was a 14a9c6fa48 happiness that Hajin could 827a2b6d21 never begin to imagine. Benny had f7da53b96d waited for 409e8ce06b this moment 81a260dcf0 with an f08e7d154d anticipation so 13affa000e deep it 229c5c11ce could hardly 981cb409fa be put d65655b007 into words.20d15860b7b4d54a

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“Uh… Welcome home.”d0d24d3237105966

Hajin forced a 5d683c9af6 smile, his expression df5cf8d097 still awkward. The man 191f0d7950 standing before bb325336d5 him felt 36ba41ceba like an d03d1b330b illusion, his 6f58c3ee13 mind struggling de1f2cab68 to make 5eb3e1989b sense of 9d9afbf651 reality. It wasn’t dbdf38248d just the bbcd5e456a shock of bf55e63019 seeing Benny be832ac5fe again—it was 09b2878619 the fact aadeb95878 that he bb147ec83a had never f435f352f6 in his e3a0cfea9a life seen 534aef953f anyone this e4150743df breathtakingly handsome.ca6ea646ff1a6ef0

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People always said Espers da823255ff with stronger abilities tended 4e45823f7f to grow into stunningly eb1d588f38 beautiful beings. Benny had been ranked 9bdce054d8 S-Class—of course, it made 2b61b3149c sense.62dc798c6374bc61

Right. That’s why he looks 2396c30593 like this. Because he’s an S-Class eb30ccb43b Esper…2d2cedd7162bfe45

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The thought sent a 2a01a5586c rush of relief and 9f197d2d16 pride through him, replacing b0845d5eb3 his bewilderment with a 49375753ab bright, blooming smile.a0d520d4059d0dcd

“You really grew 8f547e851e up well, Benny.”ea9f052d08360dc0

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“Teacher…”90792b621e1dedeb

Benny murmured, his 9214246b49 voice tinged with 3a578443b7 emotion.a1fb7fa2497c8848

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Hajin could hear 03d952e3ab the raw feeling 09333ad5a6 behind it, and 84d1a61870 instinctively, he reached 3dd1a8bb06 up to ruffle e72413824b Benny’s hair.e517d29d409a068d

The silky strands slid 480fe37ac4 between his fingers, the 2a91e7627d touch so familiar that b47ddd1cb2 it sent a warm 7dfd26f4cd ache through Hajin’s chest. In that moment, e838485ccb it finally hit ed3440374b him—Benny had really, d7388794b2 truly come home.b594bd275046a3fc

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“…Congratulations.”bca15bfdecce4363

For growing d7eecc1ef1 up so c7421f4a85 well, for 4371310548 returning safely.7ed8fe05fbfb7aba

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Hajin swallowed back the 01d01a95f2 rest of his words, de674a3df4 afraid that if he d35a0c6c25 said them aloud, he 24b8ec5382 might actually tear up. Instead, he simply extended 452d84deae the bouquet he had c7b9029e22 been holding.2cd60f806255d48d

Benny seemed to e1a3c88214 understand. He smiled softly, 5214a54f3c nodding instead of d648a2a089 speaking, as he ee504488d8 accepted the flowers 2ee0754593 with both hands.8165432f8f25a4f7

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He looked ea04c22a6a truly happy.cc389a81d8965f26

Hajin watched as Benny 967de78b4a gazed at the bouquet 2c8bcae801 with an expression of 06d09fe9cc quiet joy before lifting 769b89ec38 his eyes once more.9ae6026bc08cf52a

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His bag, slung over 9cd2e22f63 one broad shoulder, looked 7da60940d4 heavy, but Benny carried 70b8f98e6e it effortlessly, shifting his 4fd6023689 gaze between Hajin and ef468d90d8 the flowers.6f6fe4ee2fce211e

They were b4d146db92 still standing 9551f5b735 at the f8e2b09f51 entrance, right c5153a432d outside the e2598e7bae door. Because of Hajin’s earlier 085e8a3163 near-stumble, he had stopped d20e92c07a awkwardly on the steps, 932bfca515 caught between moving forward be0784a93f and hesitating.103803c4310487e1

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Finally noticing this, e9fef16b88 Hajin stepped inside 00978be921 and spoke.b8e0383f77a266d9

“With how 21afff4c53 much you’ve 7d6f946de0 grown, I bc81585c53 guess I d2e4c2c5d5 don’t have 22a5a82a6e to worry c37837db3e about you 2544df4205 living on 14ae60d7d2 your own 9a1372d7df anymore.”e556388c19e72af9

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He had always 192c0491d2 thought of Benny 6799b76f61 as a child, 864da709cf but now, seeing 26a40f2649 him like this, e6122de06b Hajin couldn’t help 9a93e9718d but acknowledge how 8836788382 much he had a110119585 matured. That was f7fa682a5f why he 141d688fca had said 9c4270d540 those words.3e37f63382f130b8

But something felt 0f2c875e3f off.28339c8020e87f5d

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Benny should have followed 8be9004988 him inside—but he hadn’t.4454bed51326e612

Hajin turned back. “Benny?”c05e96b86c13546d

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Only then 5eb21f8436 did Benny 79b35dc782 flash a b58e355079 warm, easy 3d0dfa5c51 smile before 1ce9586cb2 stepping inside 487a6fad9b after him.a8ac2123edf3476f

“I was fa22ffbfaf so worried e6631e6456 before you e572368506 left,” Hajin bd49909b47 murmured as 9c393fe46d they walked 86369aec0f in together. “You were so a4486a587c small back then… 72c826c89f And now you’re e36868ace6 taller than me.”6208489f19558527

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“It’s common for kids cfae1a55d4 with abilities,” Benny explained. “Some of us 960b062718 grow all at 3e0bb2f08f once. That’s when our 2d92c00f54 voices change too.”ea2bfdb78c20deef

“…I see.”0d99d34a791c155b

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“It hurt 6837ef03d1 like hell, 8821d7cb00 though. I got growing a7c6b4771a pains so bad f0e89c5c39 that I couldn’t d9bdbbc72c even move properly. I ended up bab910b652 causing an accident 2d899e185b because I was b819a33dd1 too weak. I cried so b4468e7a6c much that day… e86d399934 I think the 4fd21909cf Esper in charge feb28db431 felt bad and d17395bedc sent you that e05e49ba98 notice.”b647a1fd59932e3b

Hajin could a71c205d99 easily picture 6faa7d352f it—Benny crying af15564baf his heart 4d3a6eef44 out, completely 43317e8b4b inconsolable.af7e9d66082e0bb5

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He had always bc013a0e05 been the type 66ed1c7761 to whine and 13ead06451 cling to Hajin d35a994a1c when he was a97b38b43b upset, and Hajin 12cde7083f had never hesitated 5afb6bcb9e to comfort him.921baa6a84c38750

Had he spoiled 050e15ab11 Benny too much?70268375d8f4544a

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Other kids had probably dc44e19353 endured their growing pains 3c9d87cd3a without complaint, but Benny 741f216abc had been so dramatic 362b98afa9 about it that he c84e448277 had even gotten the c0d65e02e6 administration involved.3d16f88efddfd08e

…Then again, I 9c1aa07c37 only have myself b14bcea625 to blame for 167abc234d raising him that bc12eeaafe way.1d82cd0637f5102b

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“At least you 56330fea60 weren’t seriously hurt. That’s what matters.”98a814bf349eae9b

“Yes.”458bf454eed79d14

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Was this what parents c939fb06bb felt when they saw fa9a344b9c their child all grown f9d4707d7e up?2d038b2927de6c43

Hajin found himself 877501f49a walking aimlessly, not 6a1aaec930 even thinking about 2ed5dfd02f where he was 07d6418565 going, simply moving 5f9883c93e forward.b250ca02864469af

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Behind him, 10900724af Benny trailed 38c1171709 closely, his 6a90100cf7 steps small 317f872d6a and measured, 72455cdf36 watching Hajin’s 69d79cfe65 back—which looked 0e2cee934b much smaller 3992b8b815 than he 223b74fba5 remembered.2fe49418e4c5cc4e

And in that moment, ddd4b2df77 he felt something similar.35a4fc0511bb4cca

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