FETCH 53

The public training session led by the Center ended as a massive success, generating a huge sensation. The scene where Han Kang detonated his ability and destroyed every single target the moment Jaechan performed mucous membrane Guiding was turned into a clip that drifted across the entirety of the internet.

Whether they were trying to strike while the iron was hot or were simply desperate to extract viewership, the broadcasters and media outlets scrambled to cover it provocatively to induce clicks.

[EKR Public Training Ends Successfully! The Guide who Guided Han Kang is Dedicated Guide Jeon Jaechan]

[Han Kang’s Guide, Turns Out to Be a Childhood Friend?]

[HOT★ Han Kang, Beyond Contact Guiding to Mucous Membrane Guiding]

[[Today’s Clip] Han Kang and Jeon Jaechan, Steamy Mucous Membrane Guiding]

[‘Han Kang and Jeon Jaechan’ Their Pet Name for Each Other is ‘Honey’]

[Rookie Guide Jeon Jaechan, Who is He?]

Jaechan sat blankly in his dark living room without a single light on, looking at those provocative articles and clips.

By capturing people’s attention with highly skilled Guiding rather than a clumsy performance, the public sent cheers for the chemistry between Han Kang and Jeon Jaechan.

It was the moment when Jeon Jaechan’s Guiding, which he had so desperately wanted to be acknowledged for, was recognized by the entire world.

The clips, which had been so blatantly enlarged and edited, were enough to make even the people inside the Center click their tongues in embarrassment. Jaechan’s impression as he re-watched them was no different.

“This is really too much…”

Even as he muttered to himself while shaking his head, Jaechan unconsciously pressed the ‘like’ button once.

The heated reaction from the public was fully understandable. After all, it was Han Kang. The moment when Han Kang—who had never shown anything beyond contact Guiding in front of a camera before—looked into the lens and kissed Jeon Jaechan caused a shock great enough to be talked about for a long time.

At first, he worried about what his parents would think if they saw it, but the moment he became a Guide, exposure to the media was unavoidable.

For a second, he felt like he could hear his father’s voice sighing, saying, ‘You finally became a Guide in the end.’ After a brief chuckle, Jaechan soon let out a sigh, “Ah,” and buried himself completely into the sofa.

He had certainly been recognized, and he had successfully finished the training as Han Kang’s Guide, but he didn’t feel entirely good.

It felt as though he had only achieved a half-measure of success.

In the distance, the sound of water gushing into the bathtub could be heard. Knowing that soaking his body in a bathtub full of water was effective when he felt down, he intended to do just that today.

As he waited for the tub to fill, the conversation Ji Sangtaek and a researcher had shared at the Center lingered in Jaechan’s ears.

‘Here is the analysis of the data from the last training.’

Ji Sangtaek, Choi Seokyoung, and Jeon Jaechan, who had arrived at the laboratory, received the documents handed over by the researcher. Since Jaechan wasn’t yet at the level where he could analyze documents, he waited quietly for them to decode it.

The Center conducted an extensive study on the two, who had shown coordination beyond expectations. And the result seemed to far exceed even what Jaechan had hoped for.

‘It means Esper Han Kang produced higher stats than his existing baseline.’

At Ji Sangtaek’s words, Jaechan looked at him with wide eyes. He scanned the document again, but as expected, there was nothing he could read, so he looked at the researcher this time. The researcher, meeting his eyes, gave Jaechan a disapproving look, yet still replied as if admitting it.

‘It seems the wavelength harmony with Guide Jeon Jaechan is exceptionally good. I had expectations because of the matching rate between the two, but I didn’t know it would produce an effect of this magnitude.’

The researcher also seemed impressed. Jaechan, who had gone to hear the results with Ji Sangtaek, let out a low chuckle, “Hehe.” Even though he was the one who did well, he felt sheepish and rubbed under his nose.

At any rate, he felt so relieved that his wavelength had a good influence on Han Kang and that, ultimately, the things he feared didn’t happen.

It was nothing short of a relief.

‘Good job, Jaechan. You worked hard.’

Jaechan broke into a bashful smile at Ji Sangtaek’s hand roughly ruffling his hair and replied shyly, “It was nothing.”

He didn’t know how intimidated he had been living lately. He had been shrunken because he wasn’t a Guide who manifested normally. However, through this training, he was truly recognized.

Both Han Kang, who was surprisingly obedient as if trying to grant Jaechan’s small request to be recognized, and the creation of the perfect timing for mucous membrane Guiding were all good.

Jaechan looked at the research report and smiled happily.

That was certainly the case, yet even as he smiled like that, a lingering discomfort remained, weighing down his heart.

He had certainly done well. But why did he feel this nagging sense of unease?

The reaction of the cheering public was overwhelming, and the feeling of being completely acknowledged was more than just proud—it was breathtaking.

It was definitely breathtaking and enjoyable.

And yet, his mind was complicated.

Suddenly, he remembered how he had been flatly rejected when he tried to confess not long ago. Jaechan’s expression grew even gloomier.

Even if he was recognized as a Guide, it felt like it would end there.

He should just be happy about the one thing he did well, and he should just have hope while looking at the pleasant things, but because it involved Han Kang, that didn’t work out easily.

It felt like things would be going smoothly until he hit a snag whenever Han Kang was involved. Not in a bad way, but when Han Kang was there, he would surge forward as if he had found a power source, but then he would hit a speed bump precisely because Han Kang was there.

How could he explain this feeling?

With that, Jaechan turned his steps away from where he was going to see Han Kang and decided to head home for the day. Fortunately, the effects of the mucous membrane Guiding were still there, and since Han Kang had received contact Guiding during lunch, it seemed okay to skip the afternoon session.

「 I’m going home first lol You worked hard today too See you tomorrow 」

He lightly ignored the ‘read’ receipt that popped up as soon as he left the message. He also ignored the phone call that came in immediately afterward for the time being.

His chest felt tight. Since Han Kang had been pushing him away as his Guide all along, he had wanted his recognition. He had successfully performed the Guiding and received that recognition so blatantly, yet instead, a frustration as if he had lost everything in his hands rushed in, making him sigh repeatedly.

Worst-case scenarios were being simulated in his head. Thoughts like what if a day comes when this struggle continues and he simply cannot endure it anymore.

Even though he knew such thoughts were of no help, the accumulated mental and physical fatigue was enough to make him slump.

“Ah, let’s wash up.”

Right, think about how I became a Guide.

Think about the determination I had when I said I’d stay by Han Kang’s side.

Recalling his resolve once again, Jaechan stood up abruptly by pushing off his knees.

Jaechan headed straight to the bathroom. He dissolved a bath bomb in the steaming hot water to create colorful patterns. Just as he was about to slide his foot in…

Vibrate, vibrate, vibrate.

The phone rang noisily. it was the call from Han Kang that he had been ignoring all this time. He felt like if he ignored it again, Han Kang wouldn’t just leave the Center without permission but would chase him all the way home and break the door down.

Jaechan pretended to give in, barely pulling his toe out of the tub and grabbing the phone. Before he could even finish saying “Hello,” he heard the voice over the receiver say, ‘Did honey go home?’ He expected him to be angry right off the bat, but he was a bit calmer than that.

“Yeah, I just filled the tub to take a bath.”

─ What? Let’s video call.

“Are you crazy?”

He let out a hollow laugh because it was so absurd. It was then that the heart that had been slightly heavy cleared up a bit. Since Han Kang influenced him whether he was alone or with him, Jaechan laughed with a bit of resignation.

However, Han Kang seemed to be serious, as a notification saying ‘The caller is requesting to switch to a video call’ was appearing on the phone.

“Hey, don’t hang up!”

─ Too bad.

“Darn it. Why did you call?”

─ Oh, right. Honey, then you haven’t gone into the water yet, right? You can reheat that later, can’t you?

Jaechan glanced at the bathtub. The tub was structured so that the water could be reheated later, so he could take a bath even if it wasn’t right now.

“Yeah, I can, but why? Are you telling me to come out? I’m already fully undressed. It’s a pain to get dressed.”

─ …Honey, just take this video call. Huh? It’s urgent. It’s really urgent for me.

“Hey. Ah, if you have nothing to say, hang up. Why are you dragging this out?”

Being truly baffled was one thing, but this was too much.

Jaechan burst into an incredulous laugh and slid his foot back in. Since the water was filled almost to the edge of the tub, as soon as the sound of splashing water was heard, the voice over the receiver shouted, ‘No!’ to stop him.

Startled, Jaechan slowly pulled his foot out again. He was planning to hang up and go in if he said more nonsense this time, but…

─ Seriously, just come out for a second. I have something to show you.

“What kind of thing?”

─ There’s no way honey won’t like it.

“I’m asking what it is.”

─ Just come out. I’m in front of your house!

“No, what about your permit?”

He hurriedly added the question, but there was no answer. Looking at the already disconnected call, Jaechan let out a groan and looked back and forth between the phone and the bathwater with the bath bomb dissolved in it.

But that only lasted a moment.

If Han Kang says come out, what choice do I have?

Tsking with his tongue, Jaechan eventually grabbed his underwear, came out, and got dressed. He thought that whatever it was, if it wasn’t something special, he really wouldn’t let it slide.