Approximal Guide

Kim Moohyuk clicked his tongue in irritation, slicing through the tall grass with a serrated military knife as he approached. After catching his breath, he slipped the blade between his forearm and bicep, wiping off the sap as if unsheathing it from a scabbard.I watched him intently before standing up, weighing my options. Should I fire a warning shot into the sky, or…? Before I could hesitate further, I aimed my gun directly at Kim Moohyuk.“Sorry, but I know my partner’s Esper wavelength well enough to memorize it.”Then, I pulled the trigger without delay. Learning his intentions could be useful, but in this situation, I’d be lucky not to slow Kim Moohyuk down. If I got caught by this imposter, it might crush Kim Moohyuk’s morale. Despite his strength, he was still mentally fragile. He could withstand most personal stresses, but seeing me, his partner and guide, in danger was something he couldn’t handle. Maybe it was his youth, or maybe he just had a soft spot for me, though I hadn’t officially bonded with him yet. Every time he became overwhelmed, I’d had to calm him down more times than I could count.If I ended up captured and facing a mortal threat from this stranger, there was a chance Kim Moohyuk might lose control. As I entertained that thought, the fake Moohyuk grinned.“Ah, you’re quick to catch on.”“What the hell are you doing, wearing someone else’s face?”The imposter merely smiled in response, clearly unwilling to explain himself. I wasn’t interested in hearing his side of things anyway. Whatever he wanted, alerting Kim Moohyuk to my predicament was the priority. Just as I angled my gun upwards to fire a signal shot, the imposter shoved my shoulder, slamming me into a tree trunk. The abrupt movement twisted my knee painfully, and the impact on my injured shoulder was excruciating. The imposter then pinned both my wrists above my head with one hand, forcing me into an awkward position.“What the hell are you doing? Let go!”“Your Esper must be treating you well, huh? Running to him at the first sign of trouble.”“What?”I scowled at his nonsensical words, and he just grinned. Wearing Kim Moohyuk’s face, he had an unsettlingly sneering expression I’d never seen from him before. That he could wear Moohyuk’s face and make such an expression was unsettling.“Have you two already hooked up? Bonded, maybe? You two look so attached.”The imposter sneered with an entitled look, as if he had every right to judge. To anyone else, he’d sound like a scorned lover accusing me of abandoning him for someone else. I scowled in irritation.“What business is that of yours? Don’t tell me you’re interested in him? What’s wrong with you, pervert?”“What? Ha…”He looked confused, then burst into laughter. As if he’d heard something ridiculous. Well, whatever it was, I wasn’t waiting around to find out. I smashed my forehead into his nose.“Ugh!”As he recoiled, clutching his nose, I fired a warning shot right by his ear. Being an Esper, his heightened hearing should make it especially painful. A bullet to the chest might have been an option, but I didn’t have time to aim carefully. This was a miracle shot considering my physical state.If only they’d let me retire already! If a veteran from the Korean War could see me now, they’d say, “Ah, your joints look rough—must’ve served with me.” My shoulder was throbbing painfully even though I tried to keep it hidden from Moohyuk.But I couldn’t stay put forever. I dashed away in the opposite direction, using the imposter’s momentary distraction to gain distance. Hiding behind a tree, I aimed my gun in his direction and fired a couple of shots. My bullets landed just short, feeling like they veered off course.I had never missed like this; something was wrong. I reloaded and was about to fire again when—“Like I said—”With that familiar voice, every rock and stone in the area rose into the air, then plummeted towards the spot where the imposter stood, as if burying him. Dust rose thickly into the air, making me feel like a child being scolded. I turned around to see the real Kim Moohyuk standing there, breath slightly heavy from running, looking down at me with a disappointed expression.“I told you to stay home.”Annoyed and taken aback by his casual scolding, I was momentarily speechless. Moohyuk’s stern gaze lingered as he surveyed my injuries. My combat suit, black as it was, hid the blood well, but somehow he knew. How? He was as perceptive as a ghost. Still breathing heavily, he finally spoke, voice tinged with a raw, unfiltered emotion.“What happened?”“I don’t know. Someone appeared looking exactly like you… Did you catch yours?”Seeing his scowl, I guessed he hadn’t. Figures. He must be embarrassed, too. In my presence, he was reluctant to admit mistakes, always trying to act grown-up around me. Despite having been in the military for three years, he wasn’t exactly a senior by age. While other Espers went through academies, military training, and Esper management courses, Moohyuk had received all his training directly from me. He’d become an irreplaceable asset to the Center in record time.There was no reason for him to feel so pressured, but he always seemed like he was running from something. Despite all my grumbling, I’d raised him, after all. I reached out to ruffle his hair, startling him.“What do you think you’re doing?”“My pup just seemed a little down, that’s all.”“I get treated like a child or a pet, nothing in between.”Though he retorted sullenly, I could feel the tension leave him through our Esper bond. You’re so transparent.Still, what on earth were these people doing here? They were good at unsettling people. Their purpose was unclear. They separated Moohyuk and approached me alone, and then… The Esper wavelength I sensed while briefly clashing with the imposter was unfamiliar but certainly high-ranked, at least Class A or above. If that’s true, we should have some intelligence on them, Accent or not. As the dust settled, Kim Moohyuk walked toward the spot where the Esper had collapsed, surveying the area. Just then, a sharp gust stirred, sending dust and debris flying, obscuring our view.“Damn it! That guy’s getting away!”The faint Esper wavelength I was tracking suddenly vanished entirely. Kim Moohyuk dashed off before I even finished speaking, stirring up a cloud of dust with his swift movements. I tried running as fast as I could, but I couldn’t keep up.“Ah, I can’t run anymore.”It was clear my stamina had taken a hit over the past few years due to a knee injury. Back when I was paired with Seonghan, I could dart around even in rough terrain like this. Trying to chase them felt like a pony chasing a racehorse. Keeping up with two Espers was impossible. On top of that, Kim Moohyuk returned to my side sooner than I expected.“What? You lost him?”“……”“You brat, you came back because you were worried about me, didn’t you! You’re ignoring the mission to worry about your superior!”“If only Colonel hadn’t shown up here, I could’ve handled it myself.”I looked at Kim Moohyuk in disbelief, but his jaw, clenched tightly, looked both stubborn and uneasy. He began speaking as if today’s frustration wasn’t just a one-time thing.“You don’t think of me as your Esper, Instructor. I’m strong enough to protect Colonel on my own.”His jaw tightened as he stared into the distance, his cheek muscles bulging. His eyes blazed as he looked back at me, perhaps overwhelmed by his own words. When I sighed while looking at him intently, his shoulders flinched.“When have I ever once called you weak?”“……”He didn’t answer. Even though he was someone I wanted to keep close and protect, there are times when you have to be firm to set them on the right path. In that spirit, I kept my tone hard as I spoke.“But you’re acting as if you’re weak.”“……”I narrowed my eyes, arms crossed, and stared at Moohyuk. He looked down at me with an indignant expression. Since when did he grow so tall? I’d raised him from the time he’d just become an adult. Now he needed to stand on his own, but instead, he was clinging to a support that was meant to lift him up. It drove me crazy.“A partner Esper must trust their partner Guide. That’s part of the battle doctrine.”“……”“Would you have lost that runaway if you’d trusted me and pursued him?”At that, Kim Moohyuk ground his teeth in frustration, his bloodshot eyes still anxious. From the first time I saw him, his eyes had always looked like they were holding something back, refusing to explain anything to me. But Moohyuk, if you don’t speak, some things will forever remain unknown. Wanting you to realize that yourself isn’t asking too much, is it? As I stopped my bitter lecture, a glimmer of resentment flashed in his eyes.“Wasn’t it you who shot the signal for me to come quickly? You need me, Colonel, so—”“Right. I shot it because I needed you. But what about just now?”“……”“That guy was injured, and you could’ve caught him, but you came back because you were worried about me. What should I report up the chain? That my Esper lost the target because he was so worried about me?”At the very least, I could guide Kim Moohyuk to realize this as quickly as possible. I warned him in a precise tone.“Get it together, Kim Moohyuk. The report initially had 16 people, but it was updated to 17. What does that suggest to you?”Moohyuk quickly calmed his reddened eyes and looked back at me with a cold expression. He seemed to have regained his composure.“…Where did this mission come from?”“The central command.”At my response, Moohyuk bit his lip. He sensed something was wrong too. The call for him before the mission, the modified report, the source of the report, and the department that issued the operation.Kim Moohyuk and I exchanged a knowing look.The central command oversees all Esper and Guide Centers nationwide. In military terms, a center is like a division, and the central command is like an army group. Multiple centers form an Esper-Guide brigade. A division typically forms a corps, but the reason we consider the central command larger than a corps is that its head is a Four Star General. The head of the central command is effectively the Esper-Guide military’s chief of staff.Each center has the authority to decide its missions, but the central command’s orders hold higher authority, so even the Seoul-Gyeonggi Center, the largest nationwide, must comply. So, it’s unclear at what level this report was modified and sent down.“I’ve crossed the central command too many times. Too many loose ends.”“…No surprise there.”I was sitting on Kim Moohyuk’s back. His back was always mine while he did push-ups. I was deep in thought, sitting comfortably as if on a sofa, when Moohyuk clicked his tongue and said,“You’ve lost more weight.”“No, I haven’t. I’m the same.”“I’m telling you, you’ve lost weight.”Since he sounded so sure as he extended his arms, I decided to step onto the scale in a corner of the training room.“How uncanny. I’m down two kilograms.”“It’s because you’re not eating properly.”Moohyuk lightly rose, unbuckling a heavy belt at his waist. Thud! The belt hit the ground with a solid weight. It was a 100-pound sandbag. Even after losing two kilograms, he was doing push-ups with an adult male over 180 cm tall on his back and a 100-pound sandbag. His push-up speed was astonishing, and halfway through, I’d given up counting how many he was doing.Even in the training programs for Espers, Kim Moohyuk consistently ranked first in the Seoul-Gyeonggi Center, excelling even in physical training. Shooting, endurance training, and Esper ability training—Kim Moohyuk didn’t slack off in any area. Even as his instructor, I sometimes found myself perched on his back, digging my elbows in playfully.Feeling a bit motivated, I sat down on the mat, placed a towel under my knees, and started some isometric rehab exercises for my aching knees. Unlike him, I wasn’t wearing sandbags or anything; my exercise was simply to keep tension in the front of my knees, which left room for me to think about other things. With my knees extended and steady, I blankly watched Kim Moohyuk doing leg presses. Noticing my gaze, he chided me with a disapproving look.“Focus, Colonel. I heard the lieutenant’s been keeping tabs on your lack of rehab exercises.”“I’ll handle it myself. Life’s hard enough with two naggers…”“Don’t say useless things.”Look at him talk back. Sometimes I can’t tell who’s in charge here. But, unfazed by his constant criticism, I continued to talk to him like the last-place student sitting beside the school’s top scorer.“You’ve grown a bit taller.”“…”Maybe he was embarrassed by the comment; his ears turned a faint red. It was a bit endearing to see how shy he got whenever someone mentioned his growth.“Wow, how are you still growing at twenty-three? That’s amazing. I wish I could’ve done that too.”“Colonel, you’ve grown enough already. I couldn’t catch up if I tried.”“Hey, why are you deciding that for me? Maybe I could still grow. You know, ballet and stuff helps posture, right?”Kim Moohyuk chuckled, as if he’d heard something absurd. He handed me a tumbler of water, which I took a sip from as he tidied up around us. He put away the towel I’d used for my knee rehab, straightened up the rubber band, and generally busied himself with things that I’d mostly left scattered around. It was oddly amusing and endearing how he was so quick to clean up the mess around me before I even had a chance.“You know, I can clean up myself, but you always insist on doing it.”“It’s part of my job.”Kim Moohyuk answered bluntly, but it didn’t feel like the usual flattery an assistant might give their superior. It seemed more like he genuinely felt that way, and even showed a hint of wariness, as if he thought I’d interfere with his responsibilities. I wasn’t sure why he was so determined to take the lead on organizing things.Since we became partners, we’d been assigned our own quarters and lived together, and Kim Moohyuk did most of the tidying up, even my own room. Somehow, he was also good at cooking, so I didn’t have to go to the dorm cafeteria or the canteen at Leaf Hall. He had turned our quarters into a place where I could comfortably take my meals. He’s a real homemaker, I thought, smiling to myself.Except for the mornings when I woke up to find him already there in my room, our cohabitation was quite comfortable. Despite the long distance from the dorms and the gym, it didn’t feel right to just leave. I’d been sweating after all that exercise.“Hey, let’s take a shower before we go.”“What did you say?”He sounded irritable, though I wasn’t sure why. I ignored it and grabbed my toiletries. As he moved to put away the sandbags in the corner, he glanced at me, seemingly puzzled. I spoke up again.“Let’s shower before we go. It’s sticky from the sweat, you know?”“…Seriously?”“Huh? What’s wrong? Did you see a spider in the corner?”I looked around in surprise, thinking I’d have him get rid of the unpleasant creature with his powers if there was one. But he just stood there, one hand on his waist and the other covering his face. What’s with him? Without looking at me, Kim Moohyuk replied in a disgruntled tone.“Colonel, why don’t you go ahead on your own?”“Why are you getting all cranky?”I blinked in confusion as he irritably tossed the sandbags into a pile. They weighed around 100 pounds, but he threw them as if they were light beanbags at a school sports day.This guy’s a real monster. Better not cross him. If he’s upset, I’ll just call him “big brother” and keep my head down. One punch from him would be a serious problem, so it’s safer to play it cool.“If you don’t want to, fine. I’ll just go alone.”“…You know this is a shower room for Espers, right?”“Yeah, that’s why I brought you along.”Thinking it was odd, I glanced back to see a vein bulging on his forehead.“This is a shower room for Espers.”The tone sounded polite, but it was more like scolding a clueless subordinate. What’s with this guy? I scratched my head and asked,“So, why is that a problem?”“Colonel, are you not aware that you’re a Guide?”“What do you mean? Of course I am. I enrolled in the Guide Academy when you were just a toddler.”Knowing I was a Guide was as fundamental as knowing I was a man. I’d been a Guide my whole life. What kind of question was that? It would’ve made more sense if he’d asked if I had any awareness of being a descendant of the Andong Kang family or the 37th-generation descendent of General Gang Gam-chan from the Inheon faction in Jinju. But I was from the Jinju branch, so that’s not even relevant!I became a Guide in elementary school, so if I had married young, I could’ve already had a kid by now. So what’s this nonsense about awareness? I looked at him, taken aback. Kim Moohyuk, with a frustrated expression, sighed and explained.“A Guide doesn’t use the Esper shower room. You know there’s a designated shower room for Guides.”“What? What does that have to do with me?”I’m well aware that Espers can be overprotective about Guides. It’d be strange not to know, given how long I’ve lived as a Guide. But come on, who would get possessive over someone like me? Plus, I’d never been approached by an Esper in a personal way.Maybe it’s only natural. My appearance doesn’t exactly fit Esper preferences. People say that Guides, aside from their ability to guide, aren’t any different from regular people. But in reality, Guides—whether male or female—often have a delicate build. Male Guides are generally thinner and more lightly built than the average man. Not all, of course, but it’s common. This doesn’t mean they lack masculinity entirely; it’s just a statistical average.However, I’m quite far from that average build. I’m 180 cm tall, and while I’ve lost muscle now due to my injury, I used to weigh around 80 kg with a body fat percentage of 15%, carrying a fair amount of muscle. My build wasn’t as impressive as that of my previous partner Seonghan or my current partner, Kim Moohyuk, but it was the muscle of someone honed by combat and training.When Seonghan and I were paired, we’d even gone to baths and saunas together. So, does it really matter where I shower? Kim Moohyuk is just being overly cautious. If I suggested going to a sauna, he’d probably report me for harassment. Scholars from the Joseon Dynasty were probably less uptight than Kim Moohyuk.“Do you want to treat your superior this way? It’s flattering, but a bit annoying.”“I don’t even want to discuss it. You’re showering at your quarters, Colonel.”“What? No, I said I’d clean up here! Hey, let go of me!”At that, he finally used his power to lift me. It was obvious I’d be carted back to Garamdong like a parcel. I flailed like an astronaut in zero gravity. Does this guy even realize I’m his superior? I was dumbfounded.“Hey, you punk! Put me down!”“…”I floated like a helium balloon at a theme park, shouting, but his jaw remained firmly clenched in silence. What a stubborn mule. Maybe he’s just that protective of his mentor, but his fussing over a simple shower is ridiculous. Still, it wasn’t impossible to humor him, knowing it was partly for my sake.“Alright, fine, I’ll shower at the quarters. Just put me down.”“…”He finally set me down. Luckily, the corridor outside the fitness center was empty; otherwise, it’d be mortifying. I have some standing in this place, and to be seen struggling like that would be embarrassing.As annoying as he can be with his over-the-top behavior, I can’t help but feel sympathy when I think about Kim Moohyuk and his first, intense experience of guiding. Like a duckling imprinting on its mother, he’d latched onto me. His abilities emerged suddenly, and thinking of the confusion he must have faced as a young Esper makes me soften. Though I’d like to tell him I’ve done just fine for over thirty years without him and don’t need anyone’s protection, I hold back. I know he’s protecting himself by protecting me.Still, I can’t entirely shake off the irritation. Kim Moohyuk walked beside me in silence, sensing my mood, and I pressed down my frustration.“Hurry up and find someone to marry already.”“There it is again…”“Why aren’t you taking the matching tests with the Guides? What will you do when I retire?”“…”In the end, I had to bring up what he least wanted to hear, though I didn’t enjoy it either. His expression blanked, and the air grew heavy.I was thirty-two when I met Kim Moohyuk, just before I was set to discharge, and three years have passed since then. Now, I’m thirty-five, and he’s a fresh twenty-three. There’s no age limit on being a Guide, but it’s a far cry from the newly trained officers fresh out of the Guide-Esper academy.Moreover, my injury is now chronic; every time it rains, my knee acts up, and I can barely move. Ever since Ha Seonghan’s funeral, which took place in pouring rain, I’ve suffered from depression whenever it rains. Imagine my presence dragging Kim Moohyuk down on an important mission just because of rain. My mere existence would be a hindrance.For three years, I’ve stayed out of missions whenever it rains. But this is only because the missions have been manageable for Espers of lower levels than Kim Moohyuk’s. On the day he’s truly needed by the military, who can guarantee there won’t be rain? I can’t keep clinging to his side.Surely, Kim Moohyuk is aware of this too.“You know I can’t be by your side forever.”“…Please, stop.”Kim Moohyuk’s voice was strained as he came to a halt, avoiding eye contact. I hated seeing him upset, even if he’s only my second Esper after Ha Seonghan. I was Kim Moohyuk’s first Guide, and I was there during the mental chaos of his first Esper awakening. It’s not strange that I feel both affection and responsibility toward him, but my condition is simply not good enough to stay in the military just for that reason.“I’m useless as soon as it rains. I don’t want to be a burden to my allies.”“Colonel, that would never happen…”“You can’t predict everything. I’m not talking about retiring tomorrow. It’s just a shame you aren’t preparing for it.”I spoke firmly, watching his face harden. Though his frame was youthful, his masculine features highlighted his stubbornness.I let out a short hum, realizing I didn’t enjoy watching him struggle.“If you hate the idea that much, then start praying to Buddha to fix my knee and rid me of depression.”I gave him a pat on the back and began walking again. From behind, I heard him muttering.“I already pray for that every second of every day.”As the hallway neared its end and we stepped outside, the noise caught my attention, and I missed his words. “What did you say?” I asked, but he walked ahead without replying. I shrugged and followed him.That night, rain fell.“…There’s a fever.”I couldn’t muster a response because my voice was hoarse. Rain pattered on the window. Groaning, I turned to see Kim Moohyuk had already sat up, the warmth where he’d lain beside me now gone, leaving me shivering. The chill reminded me that I had a fever.…When did he sneak into my room again? I wanted to scold him, but only raspy breaths came out. Kim Moohyuk was sitting by the bed, his broad, bare back solid like the statue of a warrior revered by some ancient civilization. In my fevered state, I felt an impulse to reach out and touch it. He’d trained so hard, and his body seemed to have transformed into a weapon.I blinked, dazed. Sensing my gaze, Kim Moohyuk turned, placing his forehead against mine to check my temperature. I could see the slow blink of his eyes at such a close distance that it seemed his lashes might stick together.“I’ll get some ice. Rest for now.”Closing his eyes obediently, he seemed to understand. Every time it rained, his condition was a mess. I squinted at the digital clock on the side table. It was nearly dawn, yet the outside world remained dark due to the downpour. Sighing, I closed my eyes again.Today would be a complete shutdown. I felt sorry for Kim Moohyuk, who’d have to hold back his potential and act like a caged dragon because of a guide’s frailty. But, tangled in sleep as thick as tar, I couldn’t keep myself alert. Allowing myself to be drawn into the swamp of sleep without resistance, I drifted off. When I opened my eyes again, rain was still falling outside.“…”I found myself enveloped in a blanket, held close by someone. With a hoarse voice, I called out to the one embracing me.“…Hey.”“You’re awake?”He responded instantly, without a trace of sleepiness. If he was awake, why wasn’t he off doing his own thing instead of holding onto me… but the thought drifted away quickly. Normally, I would have snapped at him, but I didn’t have the energy. All I could do was blink slowly.“I canceled everything today. I made some porridge, so just have a little and go back to sleep.”“…”I didn’t respond. I wanted to say something like, “Leave me alone and go,” but couldn’t muster the strength. Rainy days left me feeling helpless. It was better to keep quiet than to let my irritation slip out at the person beside me.It had rained heavily on Ha Seonghan’s funeral day. His coffin, draped in the national flag, was a small box. He had been such a towering presence that it felt unbelievable his end had come down to that tiny coffin. Yet, despite my disbelief, it was a harsh reality. I was still grappling with the gap between what I could believe and what was real, a battle that always left me feeling like a defeated soldier. Rainy days amplified these feelings, making me even more vulnerable than usual.When I didn’t respond, Kim Moohyuk stood up and left the room without a word. Alone again, I gratefully pulled the blanket over my head. Lying still under the covers, I felt as though only a faint light and I existed. I struggled to push thoughts out of my hazy mind, fighting the desire to fall into prolonged silence.“…”After a while, he returned, the clinking sounds indicating he’d brought an ice pack. “Your fever’s down, but your knee is still warm.”Like an elder complaining about aching joints, my knee acted up whenever the weather was bad. Without disturbing the blanket I’d wrapped around myself, Moohyuk gently lifted it off my legs and applied the ice pack to my knee. The chill was almost painful, but I didn’t have the energy to brush it off. It wasn’t just physical fatigue—it was the complete inability to react to any stimulus. I was a broken toy on rainy days, too lifeless to respond to anything.Kim Moohyuk, for some reason, didn’t seem frustrated with me and always took care of the things I couldn’t manage myself. I found his kindness both endearing and a little bothersome, wishing he would simply leave me alone. Yet, he spoke up again.“Just have a bit of porridge and then go back to sleep.”“…”Normally, I’d at least take a spoonful out of courtesy, but today I was truly out of sorts. Even though I knew I’d need to eat to take my medicine, I didn’t feel like doing anything, not even breathing.“You’re thinking dark thoughts, aren’t you?”I couldn’t believe he’d figured that out, both impressed and slightly annoyed.“Get up. Just one bite, and I’ll leave you alone.”But instead of waiting for me to lift myself up, Moohyuk simply lifted me, blanket and all, wrapping me in it like a cocoon.“Ugh, seriously…”It was dizzying to be lifted in such a pathetic state, wrapped up like a larvae by a much younger esper. As I gave a weak groan, I felt him chuckle softly against me.…Laughing? Sighing, I sat wrapped up at the table like an oversized bundle. At some point, he had already set down a bowl of steaming porridge. Though I wanted to show some appreciation and take a spoonful, my appetite was nonexistent.“I’m sorry, but I really don’t think I can eat…”“Just one bite, I won’t push.”With a calm tone, he scooped up a spoonful of porridge, blew on it, and brought it to my lips. He knew I wouldn’t eat on my own, so he went through the trouble. I reluctantly opened my mouth, touched by his effort.The living room’s windows were covered with thick curtains, not quite fitting for this weather. He must have drawn them to soften the sound of the rain. His consideration was touching, so, trying to show some respect, I chewed the porridge like gravel, mechanically moving my jaw.“Taste good?”“Yeah.”Everything you make is good. Unlike me, who can’t cook, you’re always making things perfectly. Even now, it tastes good. I wanted to say all that, but all I could manage was a short response. It pained me to see him care so much for a guide as worn out as I was.Even so, I knew telling him to abandon me and leave wouldn’t do either of us any good. So, to stop those words from spilling out, I forced a change of topic as I chewed on the porridge.“Did you tell Kim Inhak about the altered report?”“Yes.”He answered immediately. The initial report had stated there were sixteen people, but it was seventeen by the time we arrived on site. Asking, “Why are you tampering with the numbers?” directly would be foolish; even if they admitted to it, it wouldn’t lead to a military trial. It would just reveal our suspicion of Central Command, dragging us into political conflicts.Kim Inhak, though young, was politically skilled enough to be the head of the Center. He’d been handpicked by his grandfather, a powerful figure in the military, who was wary of Central Command’s irregularities. Reporting to him first, instead of a mere Colonel like me or an officer like Moohyuk, made more sense.“The Director said he’ll look into it first and told me to tell you to stay put till then.”Moohyuk took advantage of my open mouth to push another spoonful of porridge in as he spoke. Knowing I wouldn’t eat of my own accord, he didn’t miss a beat.Even Kim Inhak had the nerve to nag me. Do they really think I’m that easygoing? I’d love to line them all up for a bit of disciplinary training, but given how I feel today—both my mood and my knee—it’s just not happening.At any rate, I’d have to take some medicine to feel any better. I reached out and stopped Kim Moohyuk’s hand just as he was about to scoop up another spoonful of porridge. He looked at me with wide eyes, clearly surprised.“It’s delicious. Thank you. I’ll feel better if I get some rest after taking the meds.”“…”The porridge really was good. Any thought that it might taste like chewing on rubber was just in my head; objectively, the porridge Kim Moohyuk had made was delicious. I tried to force a smile, but my face wouldn’t cooperate, so I complimented him without expression, which made him sigh a little. He’s been around me long enough to know my state. He got up, grabbed the medication from the kitchen drawer, and handed it to me with a glass of water. I accepted it without protest.The center finally prescribed me antidepressants when I became Kim Moohyuk’s guide, worried sick about what might happen to their prized S++ Esper. Quite a change from their old stance of telling me to just fight depression with mental strength.Although the dosage was far lower than what typical depression patients would take, it was still medication. And on rainy days, I took it gratefully and let myself sleep deeply, waiting for the rain to pass. And that day was no different. After taking the meds, I slept deeply, and whenever I woke up slightly, I could feel Kim Moohyuk swapping the ice packs on my knees. It seemed he replaced them as soon as the ice melted.I mouthed a “thank you,” and he nodded silently in response. There was something about the quiet in those moments that was almost addictively peaceful. Maybe, even if he did find another guide, I wouldn’t be able to leave him. I buried that cowardly thought, kept it hidden, and closed my eyes.“What are you doing?”The next morning, I woke up feeling fine, thanks to the clear weather. Unless it’s monsoon season, it rarely rains two days in a row, so it was bearable. The rain had stopped, and I woke to the chirping of busy birds outside, only to find Kim Moohyuk doing push-ups next to my bed. I’m starting to understand him less and less.“Hey, if you need to work out, go to the training room. Why are you doing push-ups in my room? And, don’t tell me you slept in my bed again. It’s cramped enough; why do you keep crawling in?”“That’s harsh.”He replied casually and started doing push-ups on just his right thumb. Is he insane? What’s his deal in my room? It’s baffling.He’s always crawling into my cramped bed, only for me to wake up and find him either doing push-ups or performing some deceptively simple but strength-intensive floor exercises right by my bed. Does he have too much energy?Well, he does cling to me in the mornings, and while I’m just trying to sleep, he’ll sometimes press something heavy against my waist or hip. As a man, I get it’s just a natural morning occurrence, but it’s still embarrassing. After a few annoyed complaints about how uncomfortable it made me, he took to either working out next to the bed when I woke up or coming back from a sweaty run around Garam-dong. It seemed he’d chosen exercise as an outlet for all that energy.And if it bothered him that much to have me notice, he could avoid climbing into my bed at night altogether, but every day he’s back at it. It’s honestly pathetic.“Don’t most kids your age prefer being alone?”“Kids?”Kim Moohyuk stood up from the floor, repeating my words with a smirk. The look he gave me as he wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel was smug, like he couldn’t believe I was calling him a “kid.” He’s nearly my height now, and his frame has grown sturdy; it’s probably annoying to be lumped in with “kids.” Since I first met him, he’s shot up like bamboo after rain, and his features have grown more masculine. There’s a big difference between twenty and twenty-three.But I still remember him as the guy who, despite being an Esper who had no choice but to rely on a guide, offered to let me go if I really wanted to be discharged. To someone like me, set in his ways, that earnestness left a lasting impression.Of course, Kim Moohyuk probably hates being treated like a kid. I can tell that he’s living like an old man at his age when I think about what I was doing at twenty-three. On my off days, I would drink, sleep like the dead, down a whole bottle of sports drink, and then go for a hangover run. Compared to me, Kim Moohyuk lives a life of restraint. He goes to bed by 11, wakes up to do an hour of exercise, and has breakfast ready before I even wake up. He’s been following this routine for the past three years.For someone like me who struggles just to eat regular meals, it’s baffling to see someone caring for my meals, inflammation meds, depression meds, and knee rehab. He’s like a loyal dog, taking slow steps so his aging owner can keep up.“Stop staring off into space and go eat.”“Always nagging…”Realizing I was zoning out, he frowned as he tidied up and nagged me again. There he goes; he’s already made breakfast. What twenty-three-year-old lives like this? With a slightly exasperated look, I asked.“Don’t you ever get tired?”“You’re the strange one, Colonel, for sleeping nine hours a night.”