Chapter 57

There was a communal shower in the training room, but Haon still went to his dorm to shower. He expected Cha Yugeon to complain about him being difficult for insisting on going back to the dorm, but contrary to his expectations, Yugeon didn’t say much. In fact, he seemed pleased when Haon said he’d go to the dorm to shower.

“The water isn’t coming out very well.”

Haon grumbled as he came out after his shower. For the past few days, the water hadn’t been coming out as refreshingly as it used to, whether it was because of the showerhead or the water pressure. He always thought about reporting it to the management office while showering, but he would forget once he was out.

Determined to report it today, Haon shook his wet hair dry. Just then, the doorbell rang. It was probably Cha Yugeon, since they had agreed to have lunch together.

When he checked the videophone, it was indeed Cha Yugeon. Haon quickly opened the door, annoyed by the loud ringing of the doorbell.

“Wait a moment, I’ll just finish drying my hair. I’m almost done.”

“Okay, take your time.”

“Sit over there.”

“Got it.”

Haon sat Cha Yugeon on the sofa and went back to the bathroom to finish drying his hair. Knowing that Cha Yugeon was waiting made him feel rushed. Haon hurriedly dried his hair without properly styling it and went out to the living room.

“What are you doing?”

“Can’t you see? I’m being eaten alive.”

“Yeah, I see.”

Sang-deok was enthusiastically biting Cha Yugeon’s hand. Haon was surprised by the sight because Sang-deok had never bitten him, even playfully. Yet, Cha Yugeon seemed unfazed by the biting.

“What did you do to make this gentle guy bite you? He has never bitten me, even as a joke.”

“I didn’t do anything. I just made a hand gesture, and he came over and bit me.”

Cha Yugeon spoke with a hint of indignance, but Haon didn’t believe him. Gentle Sang-deok wouldn’t do such a thing. Clearly, Cha Yugeon had done something to upset him.

“By the way, what’s his name?”

“Oh, didn’t I tell you?”

“No. There was a place for a name on the documents Manager Han gave me, so I filled it in myself.”

“His name is Sang-deok. Kim Sang-deok.”

“…Seriously?”

Haon’s answer made Yugeon’s expression turn peculiar.

He looked back and forth between Sang-deok and Haon before asking,

“Why?”

Haon acknowledged that Sang-deok’s name could be polarizing, given that Siyun and Jeongwon had already criticized him for naming the pet Sang-deok. But he didn’t want Cha Yugeon to criticize it too.

“It’s nothing, it suits him well.”

Fortunately, Cha Yugeon, though not entirely approving, didn’t say much. Haon, satisfied, nodded but grew curious about the name Cha Yugeon had written down.

“What did you name him?”

“Maximus.”

“Are you crazy?”

What kind of naming sense is that?

Haon was so shocked by the unexpected name that his mouth fell open. Cha Yugeon, on the other hand, looked dumbfounded.

“I don’t want to hear that from someone who named him Kim Sang-deok. Honestly, I think he’d prefer Maximus.”

“Stop talking nonsense. Now get away from Mr.Kim Sang-deok.”

“…Do you really call him Mr. Kim Sang-deok? What’s with the formality?”

“It’s a nickname.”

With a snort, Haon gestured to Sang-deok. Sang-deok, as if he had never been biting Yugeon, came over to Haon, wagging his tail and showing affection.

“He’s shy.”

“Or maybe he’s just hiding his face?”

When Haon responded in a snarky tone to Cha Yugeon’s comment, Cha Yugeon shook his head.

“Let’s stop talking.”

“Agreed.”

“Anyway, let’s go eat. I’m hungry.”

“Are you ever not hungry?”

“When are you hungry?”

Haon was at a loss for words at Cha Yugeon’s counter-question. It wasn’t that Haon was never hungry. He just had a small appetite. But he knew Cha Yugeon wouldn’t understand even if he explained, so he chose to remain silent.

The two headed to the restaurant, exchanging trivial conversations along the way. Really trivial conversations, like whether Sang-deok or Maximus was a better name.

They never reached an agreement.

“Oh, today’s special is short rib soup.”

“I’ll have that too.”

“You actually have preferences when it comes to food? Do you like short rib soup?”

“Is there anyone who doesn’t like short rib soup?”

“Well, there are, apparently.”

Cha Yugeon responded with interest. He muttered to himself as he tapped the short rib soup option three times on the kiosk and added extra rice. Haon couldn’t help but shake his head in disbelief at the sight.

Since it was lunchtime, the cafeteria was crowded. Haon grimaced at the long line. Normally, he would avoid eating when it was this busy.

Haon realized that he was unconsciously accommodating Cha Yugeon a lot. It didn’t make him feel resentful or cheated, which was even more surprising. It meant that he thought of Cha Yugeon as a close friend.

Despite the long line, it moved quickly because the cafeteria could accommodate a large number of people. They didn’t have to wait as long as they had feared.

“Wow, that’s like two servings in one bowl.”

Haon remarked lifelessly at Cha Yugeon’s meal. Cha Yugeon had three servings of rice, each piled high. It was amazing how he could eat so much and not gain weight.

“Yours is like no serving at all.”

In response to Yugeon’s comment, Haon shrugged. He had purposely taken less rice to avoid wasting any. To Cha Yugeon, who ate mountains of food, it must have looked like bird feed.

“Eat more. How can you train and go on missions eating so little? You’ll lose muscle mass.”

“Wow… A guy who worries about muscle loss… You must really like me.”

The fact that Cha Yugeon even worried about his muscle loss was both astonishing and unsettling. Haon shivered and picked up his spoon to eat the short rib soup broth.

Then it happened.

Bang!

A loud noise came from somewhere. Haon instinctively turned his head towards the sound. A fight had broken out at a table not far from where he and Yugeon were sitting.

A large table was overturned, and half a dozen trays were scattered, making a mess on the floor. The two people fighting seemed to be espers. Judging by their unfamiliar faces, they were likely recent recruits.

“You bastard!”

“What the hell, you asshole!”

Haon turned away, feeling like he had seen enough. He was irritated that he couldn’t even eat his small meal in peace. His already diminished appetite vanished as he stirred the short rib soup absentmindedly with his spoon.

Bang!

One of the fighters threw a table, and it flew towards Haon and Yugeon. The fact that they could throw such a large table effortlessly indicated they were physically enhanced espers. Haon reflexively stood up and moved out of the way.

But then he realized he had acted unnecessarily. The table was floating in mid-air. He saw that Cha Yugeon was holding it with telekinesis, his eyes glowing red. Cha Yugeon directed the table away from the people and sent it flying to a vacant spot.

With Cha Yugeon’s reflexes, it was no surprise that he could handle this. Although there was no real damage, Haon’s remaining appetite had long disappeared. He thought he might as well wait for Cha Yugeon to finish eating and was about to sit back down when Cha Yugeon looked at him.

“Lost your appetite?”

“Yeah, is it that obvious?”

“Very.”

Realizing it was pointless to deny, Haon nodded. Cha Yugeon’s brow furrowed in displeasure.

“Ugh!”

“What the hell!”

Hearing the sounds behind him, Haon turned around. The two fighters were now floating in mid-air. Haon realized it was Cha Yugeon’s doing and looked at him with wide eyes.

“If you’re here to eat, just eat quietly and don’t ruin everyone’s meal.”

Cha Yugeon didn’t even glance at the floating men. Haon was annoyed by their behavior too, but he didn’t want Cha Yugeon to go overboard in punishing them. Haon looked at Cha Yugeon with concern.

Sensing Haon’s feelings, Yugeon spoke in a low voice.

“I know, I’ll handle it appropriately.”