* * *
Lately, every time I open my eyes, I think the same thing.
What if I open them and the world’s black again?
What if I can’t see anything anymore?
What if everything that’s happened in the past few days was just a dream?
Ever since I got caught up in the Gate incident, my life flipped upside down in an instant—but I like to think I’ve held my own.
Whether it was three months or three years, even with no idea when it would end, I counted each day with hope, kept smiling as much as I could, kept studying, tried to live as a decent young man.
But once was enough.
If I get filled with hope again only to end up back in the hospital… this time, I don’t think I can take it.
“Ah… I can see.”
Thankfully, today too, my eyes clearly received the bright sunlight.
The room, with its soft and gentle decor, looked even brighter.
I couldn’t help but smile.
It felt like today would be another perfect day.
“Taehwan, I… huh?”
Yesterday, my body had felt so heavy and limp, but not today.
Sure, I still felt weighed down more than I would without the restraints, but it didn’t feel like my health was deteriorating like before.
I really have gotten stronger!
The fact that I awakened really hit home again.
I wanted to share the good news with the friend who had anxiously held my wrist all night while we showered, but… that friend wasn’t here.
Where’d he go?
As I habitually bent and stretched my leg, pressing down on my thigh to loosen it up, I glanced toward the door.
The hospital was noisy again.
Was it because of me—again?
It seemed worse than yesterday…
“Oh, Jehee. You’re up early.”
What’s going on?
Should I go check?
Or should I wait quietly like usual until Taehwan gets here?
I was still debating when the door suddenly burst open and Taehwan came in.
“Good. Let’s go.”
“Huh?”
But for some reason, his expression was terrifying.
After meeting my eyes, he seemed to try to soften his expression, but it clearly wasn’t working.
Frustration and anger still stained his face.
“What’s wrong? Where are we going?”
“I’ll explain later. Is there anything you absolutely need? If not, just change clothes and let’s head out.”
He rummaged through a bag and pulled out a simple cotton shirt.
Swept up in his urgency and force of will, I reflexively began unbuttoning my hospital gown—but then a thought occurred to me.
“Wait. Aren’t I not allowed to leave the hospital?”
“The situation’s changed. I’ve got permission.”
“Oh. Got it.”
“I’ll help you change your pants.”
There must be a reason.
He seemed genuinely in a rush.
I’d better just cooperate.
As I slid my arms into the shirt he handed me and lay down so he could help with the pants, it suddenly hit me:
I could see.
I could feel my legs.
Shouldn’t I be dressing myself now?
“W-Wait, I can do my pants—”
“No time.”
“Ah. Okay.”
…Now’s probably not the time to argue.
I’ll bring it up later.
So in the end, I got dressed while lying down, just like always.
Thankfully, my diaper wasn’t wet.
Not sure if he changed it while I was sleeping…
“Is there anything you absolutely need? Say it now.”
“Not really… What’s the rush? You’re acting like we’re being chased.”
“We are. If not, let’s go.”
He stuck a calorie bar into my mouth, shoved a boxed soy milk with a straw into my hand, then finally popped a hat onto my head.
And then he lifted me into his arms with practiced ease—smooth and fluid.
“Being chased?”
Wait… are we talking about me?
Why?
It made no sense.
I’d done exactly what the Bureau told me to.
Worn my restraints, stayed in the hospital…
So why would anyone be after me?
Wait… Is it because of what happened yesterday?
They’d said I’d engaged in “threatening behavior.”
That’s why they made me wear the restraints.
So someone clearly felt threatened by something I’d done.
Come to think of it, I never apologized.
Even if I don’t remember doing it, if I hurt someone, I should at least say sorry…
My thoughts trailed off as Taehwan pinched my nose.
“Why are you making that guilty face again? This isn’t your fault. Relax.”
“It’s not?”
“Nope. It’s some idiot’s fault. I’ll tell you later.”
Without waiting for a reply, Taehwan pressed my head to his shoulder—like he did yesterday when walking through the reporters—and stepped out of the room.
Apparently, the Hunter Bureau really had given permission.
As soon as we exited, several hunters who’d been stationed nearby to guard—or monitor—me, approached and began offering advice.
“The main entrance is a problem, but the rear one is worse. Looks like they expected us to try that way. It’s swarming.”
“Any chance we can forcibly disperse them? What about the police?”
“They’re doing what they can, but it’s not helping. Even foreign press somehow found out and showed up.”
“There’s an emergency exit reserved for VIPs. That might be our best option right now.”
“…Alright. Let’s go that way.”
They were clearly having a serious conversation about me, but I had no idea what was going on.
Sadly, in situations like this, the best thing to do is… stay quiet and not get in the way.
So I just decided to nibble on the calorie bar Taehwan gave me.
It was made with dried fruit and granola—sweet, tangy, and nutty.
Sipping my soy milk and chewing slowly, I clung to Taehwan like a baby koala, thinking things through.
At least… judging by the conversation, it sounded like we were being chased by reporters.
But that didn’t explain everything.
There were plenty of reporters yesterday too, but Taehwan hadn’t made a fuss.
He even brought me back to the hospital without much issue.
So what changed between yesterday and today?
I barely slept and it feels like the world turned upside down.
Striding forward without pause, Taehwan finally came to a stop after passing a heavy metal door.
“But this is where we part ways. Even I—no, especially I—should stop here. This is the limit. You all make it look like you’re escorting someone out through the main and rear exits. I’ll take him and slip out through the VIP emergency exit in the meantime.”
“Huh? But…”
“Will you be all right without us?”
“Your friend doesn’t have a combat-type ability, does he? It’d be safer if we escorted you both.”
“No. I’ll be fine on my own.”
At Taehwan’s firm words, the hunters let out dissatisfied sighs.
I was used to his arrogant personality, but clearly they weren’t—he must have come off completely obnoxious to them.
It probably felt insulting to be turned away by a non-combat-type ability user, especially after making the effort to come all this way to help.
“You’ll be fine…?”
“Aren’t you even going to tell us where you’re headed?”
“I believe that’s already been discussed. No need to delay things. You should get going.”
Even though the hunters looked reluctant, they eventually started turning away, one by one.
Once it seemed like no one else was around, I quietly lifted my head and looked up at Taehwan.
“Wouldn’t it have been better to go with them? It’s safer than being alone, right?”
“And risk someone else pulling another stunt? Who’d trust that?”
His voice was tight with fury—he was practically grinding his teeth.
I blinked, surprised. I hadn’t expected him to be this angry.
Wait… were we being chased because someone pulled a stunt like that?
I wasn’t sure, but judging by the look on his face, it was better not to prod.
I decided to change the subject.
“A VIP emergency exit, huh? Didn’t know that was a thing. Kinda exciting.”
“Exciting? …We’re not actually using it.”
“Huh? Why not? You just said we were going that way.”
“I don’t know where it is. I know the VIP passage in your old hospital, but I’ve never used the one here.”
“Huh?”
I went blank for a second.
Just like in the cafeteria at the Hunter Bureau earlier—this guy.
‘Has Taehwan always been this good at lying?’
Back at the academy, it was already surprising when he changed the tone of his voice just to trick one of our classmates, but this time?
He was so confident that I didn’t even suspect it was a lie.
Sure, he’s always been self-willed and full of confidence, but he wasn’t a liar before.
If anything, he used to be so honest it got him in trouble all the time.
I knew my friend had grown up, but… he suddenly feels like someone I don’t quite recognize.
“…So where are we going, then?”
“Just the parking lot. Hold on tight.”
After sending the elevator down one floor, Taehwan opened the steel door that led to the emergency stairwell.
* * *
