This S-Class Esper is Not an Obsessive Maniac

11.

At that moment, the vibrating bell rang with perfect timing. Lee Han-seo stood up first, saying they should go, completely forgetting that Choi Jae-won hadn’t answered his question.

When they returned to the small conference room, as expected, Ryu Ho-yeon lowered his gaze, seeming deflated upon seeing the watermelon juice in Lee Han-seo’s hand. Park Woo-jun looked at Ryu Ho-yeon triumphantly, while Lee Han-seo himself still seemed oblivious. Watching this, Choi Jae-won felt increasingly anxious.

“Of course, I know my boyfriend best. Right?”

While I can be excused for being childish due to my youth, why is this person, who’s also twenty-five, acting like this? Choi Jae-won watched incomprehensibly as Park Woo-jun clung to Lee Han-seo’s shoulder with a grinning expression, then spoke sharply in his characteristically cynical voice.

“Excuse me. You’re blocking the entrance. Would you mind separating? Or just move aside.”

Though overshadowed by the huge barrier that was Ryu Ho-yeon, Choi Jae-won was no pushover when it came to being ill-mannered.

“Ah. We’re about to leave anyway, so you can just go in.”

“We’re leaving? Did you set up the training schedule with Ho-yeon?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

When Lee Han-seo shot Park Woo-jun a suspicious look, he startled and began rambling an explanation.

“Next week, we’ll first go through three B-grade dungeons, and if that goes well, we’ll start entering A-grade ones. We’ll probably explore A-grade dungeons together for about a month… After that, it depends on how fast you two progress. By lunchtime tomorrow, please select three B-grade dungeons forecasted to generate next week and contact me. You know how to use the work messenger, right? You’ll see the Esper General Team in the organization chart. My name is at the very top, so you can send it there.”

“Ah, I understand.”

Choi Jae-won had assumed Park Woo-jun was all rank and no substance, but that seemed to be wrong. When discussing official matters, Park Woo-jun appeared quite sensible. Lee Han-seo, forgetting his dignity, patted his boyfriend’s bottom, praising him. Park Woo-jun, who had been calmly giving instructions as the training supervisor just moments ago, blushed bright red and squirmed, saying he was embarrassed. Choi Jae-won immediately frowned, feeling he had witnessed something unsightly.

“You heard? We’re leaving.”

“Damn. Then who’s going to eat all this?”

Lee Han-seo had brought at least five or six slice cakes of various kinds, saying both Espers upstairs ate well. For Choi Jae-won, who had a small appetite and could only eat a few bites of cake, it seemed impossible for Ryu Ho-yeon to finish all this alone, even if he was good with desserts.

“Jae-won. Zero, zero.”

“… I’m worried that leaving food waste might hurt the Earth, hyung.”

“Don’t worry. It’s an amount Ho-yeon can finish by himself.”

As soon as his name was mentioned by Lee Han-seo, Ryu Ho-yeon lifted his head as if on cue. The two’s gazes met comfortably for the first time in a long while.

“I bought cake. You like it, right? Isn’t that right?”

“… Yeah. You still remember that?”

“Of course. How could I forget anything about you? You’re my most precious friend, Ryu Ho-yeon.”

Ryu Ho-yeon’s eyes glimmered as if touched. Choi Jae-won wanted to immediately intervene between the two, wondering what this subtle atmosphere was about. But he knew he absolutely couldn’t, as it would surely make Ryu Ho-yeon dislike him.

“I’m sorry, Ho-yeon. After I turned my back first… I’m so sorry for even avoiding you all this time. I won’t avoid you anymore from now on. Even if it takes time, it’s okay. When you think you might be able to forgive me, when that time comes, let me know.”

“…”

Ryu Ho-yeon had never once resented or hated Lee Han-seo. So there was nothing to forgive, but he listened silently anyway. Because doing so would put Lee Han-seo’s mind at ease.

“I was really happy to hear you got a Guide. Congratulations.”

Seeing Lee Han-seo’s bright smile, Ryu Ho-yeon seemed considerably relieved. Choi Jae-won once again firmly etched in his heart the resolution he had been repeating to himself. For now, yes. For now.