23 – TDG 23

I ​noticed ​some ​dust ​clinging to Ji-hyuk’s ​shoulder ​and ​reached ​out ​to brush it off. ​Ji-hyuk ​quickly snatched my ​hand and began ​to ​playfully ​tickle ​between ​my ​fingers.

“What are you ​doing, ​you ​brat?” As he ​giggled and played around, ​I suddenly ​locked eyes ​with a ​staff member ​looking ​our ​way.

“…….”

Before I knew ​it, the ​attention of everyone in ​the room was focused ​on us. Realizing there ​were dozens ​of ​eyes filled with intense curiosity and ​scrutiny, I unconsciously gulped.

Of ​course, ​the ​silence ​didn’t ​last long. Once ​they noticed ​I’d ​caught them, people ​went ​back to acting as if ​nothing had ​happened, ​but the sidelong ​glances ​remained.

S-rank ​Espers ​are ​like the ​idols ​of the ​Center.

Especially Han Ji-hyuk, a top-tier prospect who ​had appeared after ​a long time ​and was surrounded by ​everyone’s envy ​and expectation—it went ​without ​saying. Since we ​had just done ​something like ​that ​while under ​the ​gaze of ​everyone, ​it was ​no ​wonder ​we drew attention. ​It ​was largely ​because ​we ​had ​become so accustomed to skinship that we had lost our sense of public space. I should have kept in mind that we were outside the dorms. At this rate, the news will spread faster than if General Manager Park Sangjun had leaked it himself.

…Well, whatever. I intended for it to happen anyway, so it doesn’t matter. Let them misunderstand as much as they want.

So, just get the hint and don’t even dream of eyeing my Ji-hyuk-ssi.

“Is the shoot over?”

“Yeah. I’m just waiting for the word that we can leave.”

“Mr. Han Ji-hyuk, I’ll help you remove your makeup.”

Just then, a woman who seemed to be in charge of makeup approached. Even while sitting in the chair to get his cleansing done, Ji-hyuk refused to let go of my hand, as if afraid I might disappear.

“Now then—the photos came out great, and since the model is so wonderful, there’s no need for a reshoot.”

The person who entered the studio with a cheerful laugh was a middle-aged man with a stylishly groomed grey goatee. Seeing the surrounding staff step back politely, it seemed this man was the director.

The director, who had approached with a light step, tilted his head upon seeing me.

“And you are…?”

“I’m Seo Joo-won. I’m Esper Han Ji-hyuk’s Guide.”

“Ah, the Guide. So that’s why.”

His gaze fell on our tightly clasped hands. I tried to pull my hand away, but his grip only tightened. As I stood there awkwardly, the director scanned me with an even sharper gaze. What is it? Surely he’s not glaring at me just because we’re holding hands?

“Excuse me… would you mind standing over there for a moment?”

The director’s abrupt suggestion cut through my thoughts. He pointed toward the studio’s photo zone.

“…Huh? Me?”

“Yes. You, Mr. Seo Joo-won. Esper Han Ji-hyuk’s Guide.”

The director nodded, his slightly lowered eyes gleaming mischievously.

Why is he suddenly telling me to stand there? What does he want me to do? As I hesitated, the director made an impatient gesture.

“Come on, hurry.”

If I lingered any longer, it felt like he was about to come back and push me.

“Surely… you don’t mean to take a photo of me…?”

“Of course. Why else would I have you stand there?”

Seriously?

Why me, when such a magnificent subject is right next to me? This is just a waste of film.

“Actually, why don’t you two stand together while we’re at it? Your faces are harmonious, so a two-shot would come out well.”

The director, seemingly fired up by something, his eyes flashing, pulled Han Ji-hyuk up from his seat as well.

“But Director, Mr. Han Ji-hyuk’s makeup has already been removed….”

“It doesn’t matter. Ji-hyuk-ssi has deep facial lines to begin with, so we can just touch up the colors.”

Pushed by the director’s insistence, I stepped awkwardly into the studio, and he rushed toward the main camera in high spirits. At the sound of “standby,” the scattered staff gathered and quickly began adjusting the equipment.

Lights flickered on from all directions, and as the reflectors were aligned toward us, a light so bright I could barely open my eyes blasted onto my face.

“Don’t frown, open your eyes! Good. Just like that, look at each other naturally. We’re just doing a test shot.”

Despite the director’s words, my tension didn’t ease. It was because I didn’t usually like having my photo taken, and I could count the number of times I’d stood in front of a camera on one hand.

Natural? What is that? Is it something you eat? As I stood there fidgeting, my eyes wandering, Ji-hyuk wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me slightly toward him. In an instant, I found myself half-embraced.

“Guide-ssi, lift your chin more and look at your Esper! Okay. Just like that! It’ll be even better if you curl the corners of your mouth slightly!”

The director’s excited voice echoed loudly throughout the studio.

I really have no idea what he’s trying to achieve.

Good grief!

I thought he’d let me go after a few shots, but to my surprise, a relentless barrage of flashes poured down, stealing my soul. Look this way, stand that way, smile, look down, look up…. The demands were endless, my body was tense, and the lights were so strong I felt like my eyes were burning…. Eventually, my consciousness grew hazy to the point where I could barely hear what he was saying, but I poured my soul into meeting the requests until I slowly began to feel irritated.

I mean, you said it was a test shoot! Why are you still taking photos! Can’t you see I’m creaking like a broken tin robot?

When I finally escaped the director’s clutches and stepped down from the photo zone, the afterimages of the flashes made my head spin. With Ji-hyuk’s help, I sat down on a nearby chair.

Whew, that was no joke. How do actors and celebrities do this every day?

Having burned myself out, I was sitting shriveled like a deflated balloon in a corner of the studio when I snapped my eyes open at a cold sensation on my cheek.

“Drink some water, Hyung.”

I wondered where he’d gone; it seems he went to get water.

Seeing the water sloshing in the cup, I remembered the thirst I had forgotten. I quickly took it and downed it in one gulp; the chilling cold sliding down my esophagus woke me up and cleared my vision.

“You don’t look well.”

Ji-hyuk’s hand, as he touched my forehead, was moderately cool and soft, pleasantly cooling the heat of my flushed face.

“It’s nothing. I’m just a bit dizzy from the flashes….”

“…Then let’s rest until you feel better before we go.”

Though he spoke with concern, Ji-hyuk had a smile in his eyes. He lowered his body, resting both arms on my lap, and took a kneeling position while looking up at me.

“Don’t kneel on the floor, sit here on the chair.”

I patted the spot next to me, but he simply shook his head.

“I like this better. I’m touching Hyung.”

Since the face responding to me was smiling so happily, I didn’t bother mentioning the useless fact that he could still touch me while sitting in the chair.

Does this kid really not have puppy ears hidden somewhere in his head? It’s no wonder I occasionally rummage through Han Ji-hyuk’s hair. I’m certain they’d pop out at times like this, but strangely, they’re never there.

“Han Ji-hyuk, you’ve been beaming for a while now. What’s making you so happy?”

“Because Hyung came, and because I got to take photos with Hyung.”

A wave of emotion washed over me at his honest, unadorned answer.

I had felt nothing but discomfort and embarrassment during the shoot, but knowing that Ji-hyuk enjoyed it made the time feel meaningful and rewarding to me as well.

“You rascal. Let’s take photos together next time too.”

“Yeah.”

“Anyway, it’s been a really long time since I’ve had my photo taken, so I hope they turned out well, right?”

“They’ll turn out well. Because Hyung is pretty.”

At the unexpected comment from Ji-hyuk’s mouth, I froze like someone who had been blindsided, then immediately burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! Ji-hyuk-ssi, you’re really wearing rose-colored glasses. Well, thanks for seeing me as pretty.”

The space between his brows narrowed in dissatisfaction.

“I’m saying you’re really pretty.”

Receiving a compliment on my looks from a man with beauty that could shake the heavens and earth is a bit embarrassing, but not bad. Personal affection really is a powerful thing. ‘Yeah, yeah, I get it.’ I gave a vague [visit our site]agreement [stolen content]and playfully pinched and stretched his [unauthorized copy]cheek. Then, the dissatisfied Siberian Husky began to emerge again. I said you’re right, so why are you grumpy again, you brat?

Just as Ji-hyuk opened his mouth to say something more with a displeased look, the notification sound for a message rang from his watch.

“What is it?”

“They say my assigned team has been decided.”

“Really? Which one?”

“Team 1.”

Great! Team 1 is generally a team where skilled and well-mannered Espers gather. That’s a relief.

However, no sooner had I felt relieved than a realization hit me like a blow to the back of the head, and I sharply inhaled.

That’s Song Hyun-ho’s team…!

The reason the image of ‘well-mannered’ came to mind first was because the leader of that team is Song Hyun-ho.

I silently bit my lip and held my breath. Why would they put a kid who scowls at the mere mention of Song Hyun-ho’s name—because of what happened during the aptitude evaluation—into Song Hyun-ho’s team?

“Hyung?”

Ji-hyuk tilted his head as if wondering what was wrong. Right… he doesn’t know what kind of team Team 1 is.

“…Shall we talk while we head to Building B?”

After saying goodbye to the hardworking studio staff, we left.

Building B is where active Espers and Guides wait and work among the Center’s buildings, housing a total of 13 integrated Esper-Guide teams.

Just as I belong to Guide Team 2, Espers are also assigned to their own teams and deployed for missions.

At a place like the Center, the missions that come in are all significant. Since there are many cases where even the strongest Esper cannot handle it alone, team battles or pairing up with other Espers are essential. Therefore, which team one belongs to is ultimately important, and Team 1 is one of the most preferred teams among Espers.

Led by the S-rank Song Hyun-ho, it consists of A to B-rank Espers with various abilities; they have great cooperation and are generally quite social. It would be more accurate to say that Song Hyun-ho only kept such people by his side.

So, joining that team is a good thing for our Ji-hyuk-ssi… but this makes things very awkward.

How should I put it? It feels like I have to swallow food that has both my favorite flavor and a landmine attached to it.