TSCEIAB Ch. 47

 

 

“Oh! Welcome, Director. Is this the one you mentioned…….”

“Yes, it’s the new guide. We’re in a bit of a hurry; can we test the matching rate right away?”

 

The researcher glanced at me curiously, and Anna quickly interjected.

Hugo also stepped forward as if to cover me, showing his suppressed stature.

 

“Oh, yes! Absolutely.”

 

Only then did the researcher seem to realize that Hugo was present.

He glanced at him, adjusting his glasses, and pointed to the door in the room.

 

“You can go in there and follow the instructions.”

“Yes.”

 

I left Hugo and Anna behind and entered the room where the measuring machine was placed.

It was a very small room, but one wall was made of glass, so it didn’t feel stuffy.

 

– “Then let’s get started. Would you please hold the handle in front of you?”

 

The researcher’s voice boomed. Startled, I looked around and saw a speaker hanging from the ceiling.

 

‘So that’s where it’s coming from.’

 

I reached out as instructed and paused.

The silver ring on my left index finger caught my eye.

 

‘I have to take this off, right?’

 

It was a ring I’d been wearing since ‘that day’.

As I was staring at it and pondered, I heard the researcher’s voice again.

 

– “Guide? Is there a problem?”

“Oh……. No. It’s nothing.”

 

In the end, after much thought, I took the ring off and put it in my pocket.

A brief examination was conducted after that.

Maybe about ten minutes had passed.

The machine that took the guiding energy from my hand made a beeping sound.

 

– “Huh……? I don’t think we’ve already finished harvesting energy…….”

 

A bewildered researcher muttered from the speaker. I took my hand off the machine, feeling a little stung.

 

– “Uh, C-center director?”

 

Beyond the glass, Anna whispered something to the researcher.

The researcher’s expression brightened, and he spoke loudly into the microphone again.

 

– “Well, thank you for your hard work. You can come out this way and wait for a while.”

 

‘Phew……. I’m tired.’

 

It hadn’t been long since I entered the test room, but I felt an overwhelming sense of fatigue.

I assumed it was the guiding energy I hadn’t used in a long time, so I took the ring out of my pocket and put it on.

And a moment later.

 

“Huh……! C-c-center Director! I-it’s……!”

 

The matching rate test of Hugo and I had come out.

Naturally, I expected it to be lower than it was 11 years ago, but…….

 

“It’s 91%……!”

 

It was even higher than I had remembered.

 

‘Why on earth…?’

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

“Right now! We need to report to the higher-ups right away!”

“Higher-ups? You know I’m the center director, right? Calm down.”

 

The researcher jumped up and down with a flushed face. Anna calmed him down.

 

“Remember what I told you? The new guide is top secret. So be careful.”

“B-but the match rate with Esper Hugo……!”

“I mean it. Be careful.”

“……!”

“With such a valuable guide, if a careless word slips out and someone takes her away. Can you take responsibility for that?”

 

Anna, who gave a soft rebuke with a smiling face, patted the researcher’s stiff shoulder.

 

“Okay, so let’s get out of here. It’s time to clock out.”

“Yes, yes…….”

 

The researcher looked at me with a hint of regret in his eyes and obediently left the test room.

 

Click.

As soon as the door closed, Anna’s eyes lit up and clung to me.

 

“Oh my! I can see why the researcher is making such a fuss. Ninety-one percent!”

 

Saying she didn’t expect the match rate to be this good, Anna stomped her feet like a girl.

 

“You should sign a pair contract right away. With the matching rate this great, what’s stopping you?”

 

Then she pulled an envelope from her bosom. It was an envelope with the pair contract.

 

‘Good or bad, but I guess this was the plan all along.’

 

I stepped back, not hiding my discomfort.

Noticing my unease, Anna tilted her head and spoke.

 

“Are you no okay with the pair contract? Ah, could it be that you don’t like Esper Hugo?”

 

What?

I was dumbfounded, but Anna continued slyly, as if her guess was right.

 

“Well, that’s possible, after what happened. So how about other Espers? There are a lot of candidates. Should we run a matching rate test?”

“What are you trying to do now?”

 

The response came from Hugo’s mouth.

Ever since Anna clung to me, he looked uncomfortable, and now he even glared at her with an annoyed expression.

 

‘Ah, wait. It feels a little ……. strange……?’

 

At that moment.

The atmosphere around Hugo turned chilly. It’s not the vibe, but the actual temperature has dropped.

Frost was forming on the marble floor he stood on.

Seeing this, Anna raised her eyebrows.

 

“Calm down! I was joking!”

“…….”

“Don’t forget that your guide is here. If you go on a rampage, do you think it’ll only end with me getting hurt?”

“…… Hah.”

 

Rampage?

Unlike me, who was surprised, Hugo didn’t refute her words but only let out a nervous laugh.

I belatedly understood Hugo’s condition.

 

‘Is this a precursor to a rampage or something?’

 

As I froze in surprise, Hugo took a deep breath and tried to suppress his power.

Anna sighed mischievously but didn’t wipe the smile from her lips.

Her way of manipulating Hugo was no joke.

 

“…… I need to get that face out of my sight.”

“Uh, huh?”

 

When Hugo finally calmed down, he glared at Anna as if he was going to kill her, then turned away.

 

“Let’s go, Haley.”

“Huh? O-okay……?”

 

Is it okay to leave like this?

Hugo grabbed me by the shoulder. I could feel the chilling warmth through my clothes.

 

“Are you just leaving like this? You need to sign the pair contract!”

 

Seeing that he was really going to take me away, Anna scrambled to catch up.

But Hugo shook her hand off easily.

 

“We’ll discuss it among ourselves, so don’t butt in.”

 

I’ve never seen Hugo show so much emotion.

True to his word to get Anna’s face out from his sight, he quickly returned to his usual self as he walked through the hallway and into the elevator.

 

“Sigh…….”

“Are you okay?”

“…… Sorry, Haley.”

 

Hugo’s complexion was pale, as if he might collapse at any moment. Perhaps his guiding numbers had been affected by what happened just now.

I looked at Hugo with concern, then spoke impulsively.

 

“…… Do you want me to do it? The radial guiding?”

“…… Huh?”

 

He looked at me with wide eyes, as if he hadn’t expected it.

I, too, was a little surprised by what I said, but I didn’t show it.

 

“What if you go berserk? It’s dangerous.”

“…… Are you worried about me?”

 

How can I not worry? After hearing all the stories of him needed to be shot down.

My lips pouted involuntarily. I glanced at him and jerked my head away.

Just then, the elevator doors opened.

 

“From the looks of it, I guess you’re doing better than I thought.”

 

Muttering as if to get his attention, I stepped out into the lobby and Hugo immediately clung to my side.

 

“No, I’m not okay at all. It hurts so much right now. 10 minutes……. No, even five minutes is fine, can you help me?”

 

The beast that had been baring its teeth and growling fiercely just a moment ago was now wagging its tail.

 

“…… I don’t know. Let’s head to the car first. We can talk more there. About the contract, I mean.”

 

The strength of my voice faded. Even as I spoke, my head was spinning.

Wasn’t I fighting with Hugo just a moment ago?

 

‘Really……. I don’t know what I want to do.’

 

It was a chaotic night.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

To cut to the chase, Hugo did not take my radial guiding.

Whenever you cry for help.

He stopped me when I tried to remove the ring in the car.

 

<Wait. >

<What, why?>

<…… It would be better to wait until we sign a pair contract; when things are clear between us. >

<What? >

<It’s okay. It’s not like I’m going berserk right now. >

 

I don’t know what he was thinking. It was like that even with the pair contract alone.

 

<The contract…….>

 

When I brought it up first, he shook his head.

 

<It’s okay if you don’t sign the contract right away. >

<……? >

<Haley, your feelings are important. I don’t want you to make a choice that you’ll regret because of the situation. >

 

I wished he would just decide on one thing, especially since I was having my own internal struggle.

Sensing my puzzled gaze, Hugo shrugged and said:

 

<Actually, I’m worried that you’ll regret it later and run away from me. It’s okay to think about it slowly and for a long time…….>

 

In other words, he was begging me not to run away from him.

 

“…… Haley? Haley.”

“Oh, yes.”

“Are you okay? You’ve been in a daze since earlier.”

“Hmm……. I’m just a little tired. I’m fine.”

 

The weak mumbling in my voice sounded weary even to me.

Hugo, who was driving beside me, glanced at my complexion.

 

“I’ll wake you up when you get home, so get some sleep.”

 

For the record, my car……. No, my dad’s car, which I stole, was being driven by Hugo.

 

Even though I said it was okay, he insisted on driving and took the car keys away.

 

‘I’m sure I would have had an accident if I had driven.’

 

It wasn’t just talk; fatigue had really set in.

I swallowed a yawn and rubbed my face.

 

“No. How can I sleep when you’re driving…….”

“It’s okay, just close your eyes a bit. They’re red.”

“I said I’m fine.”

“…… Alright then. But if you’re sleepy, feel free to doze off whenever.”

 

With that, Hugo started humming softly.

It was a quiet lullaby, the kind he’d once hummed on the phone.

 

‘I shouldn’t sleep…….’

 

After rubbing my eyes a few times, I finally surrendered to the tide of drowsiness.

 

“…… Good night, Haley.”

 

His playful goodnight greeting echoed in the silence of the car.