TSCEIAB Ch. 21

 

Another researcher continued the explanation.

 

“The rampage stabilized unusually quickly. The way the wavelength bounced was different than usual, the guiding efficiency seen with drug and mechanical guiding was lower, and there was even a rejection to the guiding of other guides.”

 

Various changes in Hugo’s wavelength were detected while he was unconscious. There was only one reason for such a change.

It was Imprint.

 

“However, tests results from Guide Sophia show that it was not a mutual imprint. Such a case is extremely rare……. it seems to be a one-sided imprint of an Esper.”

 

One-sided imprint.

He had heard of mutual imprinting, but this was the first time he had heard of one-sided imprint. The researcher explained as he set down the papers, full of complex words, on the table beside Hugo’s bed.

 

“From now on, Esper Hugo will have rejections to any guiding other than from Guide Sophia, the target of the imprint. Machines and drug guidance will still work but they won’t be even half as efficient.”

 

“You mean …….”

 

“The only person who can guide you is Guide Sophia. Even if it’s a one-sided imprint, an imprint is still an imprint, so the guiding matching rate with Guide Sophia must have risen to over 90%. Efficiency would have been maximized as well…….”

 

Hugo’s only way to live is through Yi-seo’s guiding. When he first learned of this, he was delighted.

A soft-hearted person like Yi-seo wouldn’t abandon him.

It was a pity that it wasn’t mutual, but an imprint is an imprint.

Isn’t it more valuable to have an imprint that binds wavelength than a contract that ties a pair together?

However, that excitement was soon shattered by the researcher’s words.

 

“The problem is……. with Guide Sophia.”

 

“The problem?”

 

“Well……. Actually, Guide Sophia is a little …….”

 

“A little, what?”

 

“Whether because of trauma from that time or some other shock……. She’s refusing to guide. She moved back to her original house, and I heard she hasn’t taken a single step out of her room.”

 

“…… What?”

 

“It seems you should speak to Guide Sophia directly.”

 

Hugo had just woken up; his mind was filled with confusion. Seeing his pale complexion, the doctor suggested everyone to leave and clear the room.

 

“Esper Hugo is still a patient. He needs to rest, so we’ll talk about the rest another time.”

 

Eventually, the researchers and Richard’s group left, unable to resist the doctor’s insistence.

The doctor, after checking the IV line containing Hugo’s guiding drug, quietly left the room as well.

 

“Ha…….”

 

Hugo, who was left alone, let out a heavy sigh. Grimacing at his throbbing head, he hurriedly fumbled with his hand.

Thunk. His fingertips bumped against his phone. Grabbing it, he pressed speed dial number 1.

 

 

[Yi-seo]

 

 

The first shortcut number he ever saved belonged to his one and only guide, Yi-seo.

 

Brrrrr– Brrrrr–

The dial tone was long. The news that he had woken up must have spread everywhere, yet Yi-seo didn’t answer his calls.

 

— “Hello, this is Sophia. I can’t answer the phone right now, so if it’s urgent, please leave me a voice message.”

 

In the end, he only heard her recorded voice, and the call was disconnected. He made a few more phone calls, but the result was the same.

 

‘Yi-seo …….’

 

Ugh. Something bitter rose up his throat.

The thought of her made his wavelength destabilize, triggering internal injuries.

Hugo pulled out a tissue next to him and spat out the blood, then picked up a pad and browsed the internet.

 

 

[Subject: Esper Hugo is Awake!! (Comments+49)]

[Subject: Esper Hugo is rumored to have lost his abilities, is it true? (Comments+82)]

[Subject: Will Guide Sophia Be Punished? (Comments+115)]

[Subject: Rumor has it that Guide Sophia will be exiled, what do you think? (Comment+287)]

 

 

The articles and the community posts were all about him and Yi-seo. Hugo gritted his teeth at the occasional insulting comments to Yi-seo.

Their argument was this:

That Yi-seo deliberately forced the guiding to kill him.

 

“Hah.”

 

It was ridiculous. It was entirely his fault that he had caused the guiding shock.

Had he been receiving guidance regularly, it might have been different. But for Hugo, who couldn’t find a guide with the right wavelength, struggled constantly with the lack of guidance.

On top of that, the excessive use of his ability caused him to overload.

The reason for the guiding shock was that his body, desperate for guidance, hastily swallowed the opportunity that came its way.

However, those who did not know this fact pointed fingers at Yi-seo, making her the culprit of his rampage.

Maybe the reason she locked herself in her room and didn’t answer her phone was because of these posts.

 

‘Please……. Pick up the phone, Yi-seo……. .”

 

Hugo bit his bottom lip nervously.

He picked up his phone again and dialed her number. But in the end, she didn’t answer.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Bzzz- bzzz- bzzz-

The phone calls continued for five days.

One might have expected the caller to give up after so many unanswered calls, but the person who kept leaving missed calls was persistent.

 

Knock knock-

There was a knock on the locked door. It was followed by my father’s voice, low and hoarse, as if he had been crying.

 

“Yi-seo. Are you not going to show your face to Dad today?”

 

“…….”

 

“My daughter, it’s alright. Come out for a minute, okay?”

 

“…….”

 

I hesitated, and my dad brought up something else, as if he had noticed it.

 

“Hugo has been discharged. He said he misses you so much and came all the way to our doorstep. Aren’t you going to meet him?”

 

…… Hugo is here?

 

Where I am now is not the center’s dormitory but in a small house in rural Ohio.

Originally, the house I lived in was quite far from the center, so it was difficult to come and go at will.

Yet Hugo, of all people, brought his frail body all the way here?

I scrambled up on the bed and looked at my reflection in the heart-shaped mirror on the wall.

Sunken cheeks because of skipping meals and eyes that have become darkened from lack of sleep. I could see my lips, all cracked and scabbed.

 

“…….”

 

“Yi-seo. It’s me, Hugo.”

 

As I buried my face in my hands and washed my face dry, I heard a gentle voice from outside the door.

The Esper who was my pair candidate, the one I almost killed.

It was Hugo Alexis.

 

“Yi-seo. If you don’t want to see my face, you don’t have to come out. Can you at least answer the phone instead?”

 

We could have just talked through the door, but he was begging me to answer the phone.

Before he could finish speaking, my phone vibrated again.

 

 

[Hugo]

 

 

I felt like I was going to cry when I saw his name on my phone screen. My vision blurred.

Don’t cry, what right do you have to cry?

Chastising myself, I swallowed dry and pressed the call button for the first time.

 

— “Yi-seo. It’s me.”

 

Hugo’s voice came from both outside the door and through the phone.

I replied with a short “Yes” in a voice thick with tears.

 

— “You’re having a hard time, aren’t you? I’m sorry. Because of me…….”

 

Kind-heartedly, he blamed himself. Who should be sorry now?

Hearing more of his apology would lead to self-loathing. I stammered, choking back tears.

 

“I…… I was wrong, Hugo……. I nearly……. ”

 

— “Yi-seo. It wasn’t your fault. I’m really okay. So don’t say that.”

 

“…….”

 

–“What happened that day was my fault. I instinctively took your guiding energy. So……. There will be corrections soon. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

 

No, it’s not. It was my fault. It wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t reached out to you.

If I had just done radial guiding like I usually do.

Even if the guiding speed was slow, it was steadily rising. A 30-minute wait would have been enough.

But I screwed up. I reached out in impatience, and a guiding shock caused him to go on a rampage. It was my fault.

 

— “And that day, I…….”

 

“I’m sorry, Hugo.”

 

Hugo’s voice, as he was about to say something, overlapped with my apology. He stopped and waited for me to speak.

Maybe it’s because Hugo said it wasn’t my fault. Misery set in.

I was immersed in a deep depression that I could not control myself.

 

“I……. It’s true……. I almost killed you.”

 

The tears I had been holding back fell silently. Without even thinking of wiping it off, I blurted out rambling words.

 

“I can’t touch anyone anymore. I’m afraid that if I touch them, they’ll end up like you……. I can’t even leave my room. I can’t do anything, I can’t…….”

 

–“…… Yi-seo.”

 

“I can’t do guiding……. So…….”

 

I choked up and couldn’t speak. I managed to whisper, panting for breath as tears welled up in my eyes.

 

“I want to stop now. I can’t do it anymore…….”

 

–“…….”

 

Hugo made no further reply. I could hear my dad sobbing outside the door.

After a long, long silence, the call ended.

I lost contact with Hugo after making a weak declaration that I couldn’t do it anymore.

After a glorious spring, a bitter winter came to my life.