By Zephyria 
Taking a short breath, I stepped inside with the Espers. The floor was already frozen enough to be slippery, and the frigid air pierced my lungs with every breath.
Vasily was lying on a frozen bed with his eyes closed. Like Sleeping Beauty.
If I held his hand now, my own hand would freeze instantly, so holding hands was impossible… I lightly placed my hand over his clothes. Fortunately, it seemed fine when I made contact with his body.
Should I increase the contact? But right now, I was wearing winter gear over an Esper combat suit. With a matching rate of only 4 percent, it was impossible to provide guiding through such thick clothing.
Nor was it feasible to take them off. Not if I didn’t want to freeze to death in this murderous cold.
In the end, I reached the conclusion that there was only one way.
‘I didn’t think I’d end up doing this…’
I looked down at Vasily with a sour expression. His deeply furrowed brow caught my eye. But if I looked in a mirror right now, my face would probably be just as distorted. I truly hadn’t imagined I’d be conducting guiding this way.
“I will proceed with mucosal guiding.”
I gave a brief report and lowered my head. Someone beside me gasped in surprise, but ignoring them, I pressed my lips against his.
He was cold. A chilly temperature, as if I were touching ice, and a slightly rough texture. Was he always like this?
Even before the regression, I had rarely performed mucosal guiding, so it felt unfamiliar. Since Vasily had always received only high-intensity guiding, it was so vague that I couldn’t even remember the last time our lips had touched.
Due to the low matching rate, simply pressing lips wouldn’t be very effective. I gripped his jaw to open his mouth and pushed my tongue inside.
Even for me, this was the first time performing mucosal guiding on an unconscious Vasily. I touched his still tongue here and there, trying to find the area where guiding worked best.
“Hmm…”
Perhaps it’s because the matching rate is low, but finding it isn’t easy.
After several attempts, I pulled my lips away for a moment. The speed at which the suppression chip was heating up was alarming. I had only mixed tongues for a short while, but my head was already starting to ache.
It would be better to take medicine before proceeding with the guiding. I secretly pulled out the pills I had brought just in case. Then, I glanced at the Esper, but he seemed to be so shocked that I had kissed Vasily that he wasn’t noticing anything else.
At this rate, he wouldn’t even remember what color the pill I took was.
Relieved, I swallowed the medicine. A fishy taste rose in my throat, but I endured it and kissed him again.
Scanning the cold interior of his mouth, I continued the guiding. My lips and tongue, touching him, also gradually lost their warmth. If I looked in a mirror now, my lips would surely be pale blue.
Closing my eyes, I focused on the wavelength flowing in, but in the end, I couldn’t find the area where guiding worked best. It was because the low matching rate limited the range I could perceive.
I didn’t want to go this far, but I continued the guiding, tirelessly stirring and mixing my tongue inside his mouth. Since I was the only one moving my tongue, I soon ran out of breath and found myself panting.
I opened my eyes slightly. Seeing Vasily, whose brow had relaxed and who was now peacefully closing his eyes, felt a bit irritating.
“Guide, you may stop now.”
An Esper spoke, cautiously placing a hand on my shoulder. I pulled my lips away and wiped the corner of my mouth with the back of my hand.
“Has the Guide arrived?”
“Yes.”
The Esper nodded.
Then I can relax. I stood up and looked around.
I thought it was thanks to the barrier created by a fire-type Esper’s ability, but the cold had subsided significantly. It seemed the mucosal guiding had been effective.
As I was thinking that, the Esper asked cautiously.
“Is your matching rate really 4 percent…?”
“Yes…”
“It was far more effective than the Guides who came before.”
I just gave an awkward smile and avoided his gaze. It was probably because the guiding time was longer. Plus, since I had performed mucosal guiding, it couldn’t have been entirely without effect.
Leaving the isolation room, I grit my teeth slightly. My head was throbbing terribly. Thinking that I should leave early as soon as I returned, take medicine, and rest, I walked outside.
However, as I walked down the hallway, the opposite side began to get noisy. A moment later, a Guide was dragged past me, wailing that she didn’t want to go in.
I watched the scene with pity and continued walking. I felt sorry, but Vasily’s condition would only improve if he received guiding from a Guide with a high matching rate.
I still… hadn’t made up my mind to remove the suppression chip.
Since his condition seemed to have improved a bit after my guiding, my role ended here. Vasily’s wavelength would have calmed down to some extent, so the next Guide would be able to hold out a bit longer.
Returning to the entrance of the isolation room, I took off the combat suit and changed back into my original clothes.
“Guide, thank you for your cooperation.”
“Um… please keep it a secret from Esper Vasily that I provided the guiding. As I mentioned earlier, we had a conflict a few days ago. He won’t be very pleased if he finds out I guided him.”
“Understood.”
The Esper nodded. Since the association would also want to settle this quietly without causing problems, they would likely grant this request.
After exchanging greetings with the Espers guarding the isolation room, I stepped outside alone.
Ah, I didn’t realize the hot heat of the sunlight felt this good. I stood still under the blazing sun after coming outside. Then, feeling sweat soon begin to flow, I continued walking.
As soon as I returned to the Guide Association, I left early. Since everyone was in the middle of guiding and the seats were empty, I slipped out of the association in the silence.
As soon as I arrived home, I took my medicine and collapsed onto the bed.
Today, forget exercise or anything else, I just need to rest…
* * *
The next day, I went to work at the association as if nothing had happened.
As soon as I showed my face in the office, people asked worriedly what had happened yesterday and if I was feeling okay. I forced a smile and brushed it off, saying it was nothing.
When I woke up this morning, I searched for articles related to Vasily, but there was no recent news. So, it would be best for me to keep my mouth shut as well. Seeing that they hadn’t called me since yesterday, Vasily must have calmed down safely.
If I just hold on for one more week, I’ll be heading down to the countryside. I’m finally starting to feel at ease. My teammates were quite sad that I was leaving. I felt a bit sorry too. I was transferring my workplace less than a year after joining.
I finished my work today as usual.
I had a simple dinner at the cafeteria and went up to the gym within the association to work out. By the time I snapped out of it, I was the only one left in the gym. Checking the clock, I realized the closing time had long since passed.
The employee sitting at the counter was looking at me with pleading eyes. I quickly packed my things and left the gym.
Perhaps because it was long past quitting time, there were no people or cars on the street. It was a hot and quiet night.
Tomorrow is the weekend. For some reason, I didn’t want to go straight home, so I walked. The road was deserted and perfect for a stroll.
I had many memories in this neighborhood in various ways. I thought they were all just terrible memories, but now that it was time to leave, I felt like I might miss it a little.
I briefly considered having a meal at the restaurant I often visited with Vasily before leaving, but I quickly gave up on the idea. It would be truly awkward if I happened to run into him.
Thinking that I should start preparing for the move tomorrow, I arrived home.
“…?”
But the house… is strangely chilly…
Cold air greeted me, brushing against my skin. Why is the house so chilly?
“Did I leave the air conditioner on…?”
Muttering to myself, I started to take off my shoes, but I froze when I discovered a pair of familiar shoes placed neatly.
High-end, shiny black shoes. They were several sizes larger than my shoes placed right next to them. I knew exactly who the owner of those shoes was.
‘Vasily?’
Damn, come to think of it, I didn’t change the door lock password. I need to change it immediately after kicking Vasily out. No… rather than that, since it’s completely over with Vasily, I have to move…
I finally realized why the house was so chilly. Judging by the cold air, it didn’t seem like Vasily had just arrived.
Why did he come without contacting me? I don’t think he came for guiding; did he come to kick me out of the house?
Could he have noticed that I guided him yesterday…? But there was no reason for him to come even if he knew. Then, because of the mucosal guiding… No… I definitely told the Esper not to say anything, and Vasily was unconscious. He wouldn’t know unless I told him first.
“Vasily…”
Carefully calling his name, I stepped inside the house.