* * *

“Rex, this is a hospital!”

“Calm down. He might still be asleep.”

The sight of these detestable individuals showing up as a group was enough to sour anyone’s mood.

If they caused a commotion, it would be nice if the hospital security escorted them out.

He secretly wished for it, but things didn’t go his way.

They shamelessly barged into Ye Eunsoo’s hospital room.

As soon as they confirmed Ye Eunsoo was awake, the red-haired one stormed toward him like he was about to grab him by the collar.

He was quickly restrained by the other two.

“Why didn’t you follow the plan? Why did you change the route on your own?”

Why?

Because the plan was too flawless to execute.

Breaking through the airtight defense set up by three highly skilled S-Class Espers would’ve been impossible for the ragtag group of illegal Espers.

They were nothing more than sloppy, cowardly thugs.

Without creating a deliberate opening, it would’ve been difficult to even get close to their target, let alone land a hit.

“Well, you caught them, didn’t you?”

Already in pain and now dealing with uninvited guests, Ye Eunsoo could only wish for peace.

With an irritated turn of his head, he closed his eyes and waved them off as if to say, “Don’t bother the injured.”

“For now, let’s leave and let this kid get some rest. I know you have a lot to say, but airing grievances can wait,” someone suggested.

“Ah… damn it. Damn it! If Heewoon could see him like this…”

Yang Heewoon.

Ye Eunsoo opened his eyes.

If Yang Heewoon didn’t return even after learning Ye Eunsoo was injured, there was only one plan left in mind.

“…Which one of you has to die for Heewoon-hyung to feel grief?”

Grief so profound he’d run to them barefoot.

“What?”

“What kind of nonsense are you talking about now?”

The Espers were flabbergasted, but Ye Eunsoo wasn’t joking or speaking lightly.

The redhead, who had lusted after Yang Heewoon’s body the most; the white-haired one, who used a child as an excuse to win Yang Heewoon’s heart; and the black-haired one, who called himself their leader and consistently sabotaged Ye Eunsoo, causing him to lose Yang Heewoon — all of them were equally unbearable to Ye Eunsoo.

Yet Yang Heewoon cherished them, enough to risk his life for them.

Even knowing he’d be left alone if Heewoon died, he prioritized those fools.

So, of course, he’d grieve if any of them died.

“Ye Eunsoo.”

Lost in thought, Ye Eunsoo’s vision was suddenly blocked by the black-haired one.

Cha Junseong approached with large strides and grabbed Ye Eunsoo’s hand, pressing it against his forehead.

“What are you—!”

Ye Eunsoo tried to pull his hand back immediately, but Cha Junseong didn’t let go.

His grip was so strong his arm muscles bulged.

He glared at Ye Eunsoo with black eyes that seemed to burn.

“If your anger will only be satisfied by killing one of us, then kill me.”

“What?”

“It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t turned a blind eye, if I had been more vigilant about Yang Heewoon’s condition, maybe none of this would’ve happened. So kill me and forgive the others. I beg you.”

Ye Eunsoo, momentarily startled, let out a frustrated breath.

‘This goddamn sense of responsibility… Who are you to equate your life with Yang Heewoon’s?’

Besides, Yang Heewoon wasn’t dead.

Sure, Ye Eunsoo was infuriated that these idiots nearly caused his death, but what annoyed him more right now was that this guy was holding his hand.

A growl rumbled from deep in Ye Eunsoo’s throat.

“Let go. If you don’t actually want to die.”

“Kill me.”

“Oh, for the love of—Junseong, you’re spouting nonsense too? Are you all out of your minds?”

Just as frost was about to settle on Ye Eunsoo’s expression, Elliot intervened, forcibly pulling Cha Junseong away from him.

“Do you think life and death are a joke? Stop throwing those words around so lightly. And Junseong, acting so immaturely toward a kid…”

Before Elliot could finish his sentence, a strong wind swept through, ruffling everyone’s hair.

Thud!

The sound of something solid colliding echoed through the room.

“…Ugh.”

It wasn’t until he heard a stifled groan that Elliot realized Rex had stepped in to block a punch, his arms crossed defensively.

That punch, which seemed to generate the gust of wind, wasn’t meant for Rex.

Over Rex’s broad back, glowing blue eyes pierced straight toward Elliot.

Ye Eunsoo had tried to attack him. Swiftly, and with killing intent.

The force was so great that even Rex, with his formidable body, let out a brief groan.

“Ha.”

Assessing the situation, Elliot’s mouth fell open in disbelief.

He had just tried to mediate, and now Ye Eunsoo was trying to attack him?

What kind of absurdity was this?

As the room’s air grew icy under Elliot’s mounting anger, Ye Eunsoo spat out his words deliberately.

“I told you not to treat me like a kid.”

“And what’s with that glare? Acting like that makes you look even more like a child.”

“…”

“Ugh! Enough! Stop it already!”

As Ye Eunsoo’s fist, brimming with deadly intent, was caught mid-air, Rex yelled.

“This is a hospital! He’s a patient! If you’re going to keep this up, get out!”

“No. Let’s settle this now. There’s no point in delaying it further,” Elliot interjected.

“Seriously, just—”

“None of us ever wanted Heewoon to die.”

Elliot’s words silenced the room. Even the other two Espers held their breath.

“You think you’re the only one suffering? We’re in hell too. Every single day feels like hell.”

Elliot still remembered, clear as day, the devastation he felt when he rushed to the Esper Administration Bureau after seeing Yang Heewoon’s farewell video and reading his medical report.

‘How much pain must someone endure for their body to end up like that?’

He had asked himself this question hundreds of times.

Even while Yang Heewoon’s body was falling apart, he remained a dedicated guide for Special A Team.

In his state, he must have been in constant, excruciating pain — pain that was killing him slowly.

Looking back, even before introducing Hyisu to Elliot, Yang Heewoon had already been broken.

‘The fool. He must’ve worried about what would happen after his death, so he entrusted the child to me… Adoption was his only choice because he was a dying man.’

Elliot hadn’t known.

He hadn’t understood the magnitude of pain Yang Heewoon endured during their guide sessions.

Instead, Elliot had enjoyed every moment of those sessions — the way Yang Heewoon willingly accepted him, their shared breath, their shared heat.

Even Yang Heewoon’s tears and trembling body had been a source of satisfaction, feeding his sense of dominance.

It was despicable.

But not once, not even for a moment, had he felt any resentment from Yang Heewoon.

Yang Heewoon, even when suffering, had always been gentle, always giving.

Even during his most agonizing moments, he’d opened himself fully.

How could someone be so kind, even to the person who was killing him?

It hurt, but he thought it was bearable.

That’s why… even though Yang Heewoon kept fainting and falling asleep, he didn’t think it was anything serious.

Or rather, even if the thought crossed his mind, he tried to reassure himself.

It was too horrifying to consider, wasn’t it?

The idea that he was killing the person who loved him so unconditionally.

Worse yet, that it was a direct result of their intimacy—of the moments when they kissed, intertwined their bodies, and shared their emotions, baring their most vulnerable selves to one another.

But that horrifying thought wasn’t just imagination.

It was reality.

A brutal nightmare.

A living hell.

He couldn’t control the emotions surging within him.

Without the guidance of someone like Ye Eunsoo—an overwhelmingly dominant and forceful Guide—he might have spiraled completely out of control.

“But what can I do? It’s not like I can follow him in death. Heewoon wouldn’t want that, would he? He’s the one who saved my life, so I can’t just throw it away so easily…”

At least Elliot Hooper had been quick to regain his composure.

He had a reason to keep living—a fragile, tiny baby who needed him.

But the others didn’t even have that.

It was astonishing that Rex was managing to stay as composed as he was.

It had to be his personality: simple, yet firm and strong.

Compared to him, Cha Junseong was clearly a mess.

Though he acted fine on the outside, there was no doubt his insides were rotting away.

He was the type to suffer in silence, carrying a strong sense of responsibility as a leader.

For him to resort to self-destructive behavior—it was proof that he was at his mental limit.

Even now, he sat in a chair, apart from the chaos, covering his face as he tried to catch his breath.

Elliot let out a long sigh after glancing at him.

“I know you resent us. I know you can’t stand the sight of us and that the only reason you’re stuck with Special Team A is because of orders from above. But… we’re human too. Heewoon meant the world to us! We’re hurting just as much as you are. You don’t have to hate us this much…”

* * *