* * *
“What? Wait, why…”
Suspended activities?
I hadn’t expected that at all.
Why would Junseong suddenly say something like this?
Could it be that Special Team A somehow got on the bad side of the Bureau without me realizing?
They’re considering disbanding the team even before Eunsoo joins?
But I was the only one shocked by Junseong’s words.
Rex and Elliot both looked calm, as if they’d already known.
I’d expect Rex to react this way, but Elliot agreeing to something like this?
Uncharacteristic.
“Don’t look so worried. Nothing specific happened. You don’t need to be concerned.”
“Then why…?”
“We’ve been pushing too hard. Take a break for now.”
The moment Junseong said that, I felt like I’d been struck.
Of course.
The sudden halt to our activities—was because of me.
‘Right, I couldn’t even stay awake after guiding them… No wonder he’s worried.’
They’d obviously noticed.
A B-rank guide struggling to support three S-rank espers on his own… Anyone could tell I was overworking.
Although the decision was a relief, given how drained I’d felt, the timing couldn’t be worse.
With Jake Polwel, the leader of Special Team B, recently leaving, we’re not exactly in a relaxed situation.
For all his quirks, Jake was a skilled leader.
In this context, the fact that Special Team A was completely halting operations because of me… was painful.
My gaze drifted down to the floor.
I wanted to say that I was fine and that they should continue working, but I was far past pretending I was okay.
“I’m sorry. This is all because of me…”
“Heewoon.”
“Yes…”
“We should be the ones apologizing, so why are you looking like that?”
I shook my head.
Special Team A wasn’t even assigned that many missions, and none of the team members used their powers recklessly.
Yet I couldn’t handle it, and now this had happened.
I felt bitter.
“We’re not stopping for good. At most, it’ll be a two or three-month break.”
“But if only I were a bit more capable…”
“The fact that a B-rank guide was guiding three S-rank espers alone was the problem to begin with, and you know it.”
“…”
I was a bit taken aback.
I hadn’t expected Cha Junseong to admit the Bureau’s mistake in a formal setting.
He was so thorough about things like this, and it wasn’t just the two of us—Elliot and Rex were there as well.
It felt like he was going out on a limb to reassure me, saying something that might come back to bite him.
“While it’s hard to gauge the exact ability yet, the fact that we’ve found a guide who could match our level is promising. Once Eunsoo reaches adulthood and joins the team, we’ll be able to operate more fully. There’s no need to push you beyond your limits right now. And if there’s ever an urgent enough situation, both we and you would be called back. It’s more like standby than retirement.”
“Yes…”
“That’s why you, for our sake as well, should be a good guardian and protect Ye Eunsoo. Simply acting as a guardian is already a significant responsibility, so focus on that duty without getting distracted.”
I nodded.
He wasn’t wrong. It was better to raise Eunsoo well and eventually entrust him gently to these people than to stubbornly push myself to the point of death and risk breaking his already fragile mind.
I exhaled deeply, steadying myself.
Yes, this was right.
But one worry remained.
“By the way… Is Junseong really okay?”
This is Cha Junseong, who loves his work.
I wondered how he would endure this inactive period.
Wouldn’t his emotions become muddied without the work he loves?
When I asked worriedly, Cha Junseong smiled.
“I’m fine. I actually wanted to focus on something else aside from the Bureau for a while.”
“Something else?”
“Yes. There’s a personal matter I need to address, so I plan to focus on that.”
“I see…”
Damn.
I can’t help but think of the worst.
Could it be… romance?
Is he looking for a new guide to replace me now that we’re no longer bonded?
Suddenly, I regretted it.
I should have accepted his offer when he first proposed marking each other; it’s not like it would’ve done any harm…
“I’ll miss you, Yang Heewoon.”
“Oh…”
Just when I was getting caught up in my selfish thoughts, his gaze softened so warmly that it pricked my conscience.
“I’ll… miss you too…”
I bowed my head.
The words slipped out reflexively, but by the end, they held genuine feeling.
It was nice to focus on Eunsoo.
Eunsoo was my first priority, after all.
But… now I seemed to have a few more ‘first priorities’ than I’d planned.
And that left me feeling regretful—deeply.
I tried hard not to show the emotions I was feeling, but it seems I couldn’t hide it completely.
Before I realized it, Elliot, who had come closer, flicked my forehead.
“Heewoon, if you miss us, feel free to reach out sometimes, okay? I won’t ask you to guide me.”
“As often as you’d like. I can guide you too.”
“No, no, we were the ones who overworked you even though you had just gotten discharged.”
“Hmm, well, I wouldn’t mind a little guiding. How am I supposed to resist kissing you?”
“Rex, do you have to say things like that right now? Are you really a beast?”
“Should I kiss you then?”
“Are you serious?”
“Ah, no, stop! Heewoon, don’t just accept it!”
“Elliot, you’re showing your emotions.”
“Fine, fine. Just a peck, nothing more. Just a peck.”
“You’re going to end up kissing him, aren’t you?”
“I won’t, I swear! Seriously. Damn it. Why am I the one making excuses when Heewoon is the one giving the kisses?”
“You…!”
As Elliot opened his mouth in shock, Rex leaned in and planted a quick peck on my lips.
It didn’t turn into a full kiss, but as if unsatisfied, he kissed me again—this time lingering longer, with a hint of stubborn resolve.
He still seemed reluctant to let go.
Holding my face, he looked at me with a rare seriousness.
“Heewoon, I’ll be good, so think about what I mentioned before. I’ll wait, purifying myself body and soul every day for you. I’m a pure soul, after all.”
“…Huh? Wait, Heewoon, what exactly did Rex ask you?”
I wasn’t sure if I could fulfill what Rex wanted.
My body, getting weaker by the day, likely couldn’t withstand even a single night of indulgence anymore.
For me, dying in Rex’s arms would be fine, but that wouldn’t be what he wanted.
Instead of responding to Rex and Elliot’s words, I looked at each of their faces, committing their handsome features to memory.
So that I wouldn’t forget them even if I died.
“Let’s keep meeting during the break. Let’s meet often.”
After all, you’re also the reason I’m still holding on.
“Of course. This is perfect timing, actually. Take it easy for now. I heard you received a hefty compensation from Polwel.”
“I’ll come for a kiss too. I won’t ask for more, just a kiss.”
“Can we stop with the kiss talk already?”
“Like you’re one to talk. You’re not the only one who’s been doing frequent close-proximity guiding lately, you know.”
“Th-that’s…!”
“Hmm.”
“What’s with that look, Junseong? Do you have something to hide too?”
“Pfft.”
Listening to the banter between Elliot and Rex, and seeing Cha Junseong’s face getting flustered, I couldn’t help but laugh.
After laughing wholeheartedly, I felt a bittersweet ache. I realized that after today, we wouldn’t see each other for a while.
For those in good health, a few months’ separation might seem trivial, but to me, it could feel like an eternity—perhaps even a final goodbye.
I fidgeted with my hands out of a sense of loss.
If today really was my last day with them, what would be the best way to spend it?
We hadn’t managed to do anything at the amusement park, and I felt like I’d regret it if we just parted ways today.
“Heewoon, take this.”
“Huh?”
When I turned to look, Cha Junseong was holding something on the table.
A few Polaroid photos.
And a fluffy, sheep-shaped keychain—the kind only sold at the amusement park, with the logo stamped on it.
“This is…”
“A souvenir and some photos.”
“Oh…”
I remembered what I’d mumbled as I drifted off in his arms on the safari bus, half-asleep.
The things I had wanted to do at the amusement park, but hadn’t been able to, lost to the depths of a hazy dream.
Now, some of that had come true, brought to life by Junseong and the others who knew my wishes.
* * *
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Gracias