TDG Ch 22

I pretended to know what I was talking about and replied naturally.

“I’ve changed a lot since back then, haven’t I?”

“Of course. The first time I saw you, I thought you were a gloomy little kid. But the following year, you’d brightened up and become so cute that I was honestly shocked. I thought you were someone else.”

“……”

That was before I’d fully figured out my character.

“Anyway, you’re much better now.”

Seonsaeng-nim ended the conversation there and immersed herself back into her work.

That’s a relief. An awkward smile crossed my lips.

When my phone notification sounded, I rummaged through my inner pocket and saw a message from Jihyuk.

[Han Jihyuk: Did you arrive?]

[Image attached]

Image?

When I tapped the message, a full-body photo of Han Jihyuk appeared. He was dressed in a perfectly fitted black uniform, holding a matching hat in one hand.

“!”

With his hair slicked back neatly with pomade, revealing his forehead, Han Jihyuk was radiating a beauty that felt like it opened a whole new world. His features seemed even more refined than usual. Did he… put on makeup? His eyebrows were perfectly shaped, and his eyes looked deeper and sharper. But more than anything, that double-breasted blazer with silver buttons and braided epaulettes—come on, that’s just cheating. It’s too much.

I nearly dropped to my knees while holding my phone.

Scrolling down, there was even a version where he wore a dark navy swing coat over his blazer! Even with the collar fully turned up, his jawline was still sharp. Is this for real? It’s not even my birthday, so do I really deserve something this good?!

I’d always thought the Center uniforms, even the ones custom-made by famous designers, looked a bit awkward. Turns out it wasn’t the clothes; it was the hanger. The uniform had been the victim all along. Once someone tall and well-built wore it, its true beauty came alive. I’d never imagined that navy coat could look this sexy and radiate such overwhelming charisma.

Whoever dressed our boy like this, may you be forever blessed. In my heart, your year-end bonus is officially set at one thousand percent.

Jihyuk-ah, Hyung is really glad to be alive right now.

As I struggled to calm the warm rush of happiness in my chest, my phone started ringing. Probably because I hadn’t replied yet, Jihyuk was calling me directly.

“Yeah, Jihyuk-ah. Hyung just got here. I just saw your message.”

—”Did you see the picture?”

You little rascal, so that’s what you were curious about. How can someone with his cold, handsome face like eternal snow carved by a biting wind, asking in a subtly expectant voice if I saw his photo, sound so cute? It’s driving me crazy.

“Yeah. Is that the picture they’re using for the cover?”

Good thing it wasn’t a video call. Even if I kept my voice calm, there’s no way I could’ve hidden the huge grin on my face.

When I tried to change the subject on purpose, his voice grew urgent.

—”That’s what I heard. What do you think of my picture, Hyung?”

The way he deliberately emphasized the word “picture” said it all. He was impatient, desperate for me to say what I thought. Fine. Before my heart gives out, I should just say it.

“The moment I saw the picture, Hyung was honestly amazed. At this point, it’s not the clothes that are wings^[1], it’s our Jihyuk who’s the wings. When it comes out, Hyung’s definitely getting a copy.”

Who am I kidding? Three copies, minimum. One for keeping, one for showing off, one for admiring. No exceptions.

—”But since you’ve already seen the photo, Hyung doesn’t really need to buy it, right?”

This kid clearly doesn’t get it. Those are two entirely different things.

The “cover” he mentioned refers to the quarterly newsletter published by the Esper Department. The official title is “Esper 24.” It features news and events both inside and outside the department, introductions of newly recruited Espers and Guides, and stories from staff members affiliated with the Center.

And that upcoming third-quarter cover? It’s going to feature Han Jihyuk’s photo, front and center.

Since he’s a newly recognized, highly skilled S-rank, the higher-ups obviously have high expectations for him. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have put Jihyuk on the cover of Esper 24 right after he earned his national qualification certification. To put it bluntly, that magazine is basically the higher-ups’ version of YouTube.

But seriously… setting aside my feelings as a fan for a moment, is it really okay for a photo like this to be used on the cover of a government publication? Isn’t it a bit too dangerous?

In the photo, Jihyuk, dressed in uniform, wore a slightly furrowed brow and a cool, indifferent expression that exuded a languid, almost jaded air. He was, without question, a breathtakingly handsome man from every angle. But let’s be honest, he didn’t exactly fit the image of a model civil servant known for diligence and sincerity.

Normally, a photo like that would never get approved. What, is it just “as long as he’s good-looking, anything goes”?

—”When are you coming back?”

“Probably around four? I’ll be back by then at the latest. Do well on your shoot in the meantime.”

—”Come back quickly, Hyung.

Heh.

When my little puppy tells me to come quickly, what power do I have to resist? Even if I get a speeding ticket, Hyung will drive at full speed to get there.

After ending the call, I tried to wipe the lingering smile off my face and thought back to what happened in the hospital room.

“Hyung, I didn’t know you couldn’t see.”

Why didn’t I realize it sooner? When Jihyuk finally found out the truth, he looked completely shocked, stammering in guilt and self-blame.

“You didn’t notice because I’m used to it. Not just you, no one knows unless I tell them.”

“Still…”

“There’s no need to worry about it. It’s funny, but even I forget sometimes.”

He hesitated for a moment before reaching out and gently touching around my eye.

“…Is it just your right eye?”

“Yeah. The other one’s fine. I can see perfectly well with glasses.”

“What happened? How did it end up like this?”

“Just… an accident.”

He looked like he wanted to ask more, but when he saw that I wasn’t going to elaborate, he kept quiet.

Truthfully, even after I possessed this body, I didn’t know why one eye was blind. I looked into it quietly and only learned that it was something better left unknown to others.

If there was any unexpected benefit, it was that because of this, Jihyuk’s lingering attachment to being my exclusive partner had eased up a little.

The whirring sound of machinery suddenly stopped, and silence filled the room. Looks like the repair was done.

Seonsaeng-nim emerged from the workshop, handing me the glasses.

“Try them on.”

As soon as I put on the newly restored glasses, as if they’d never been broken, the Blessing of Remiclubis activated. The darkness in my right eye lifted, and the severed connection of sight was restored.

I pushed the bridge of the glasses up firmly on my nose and rolled my eyes around to test the focus. The open, clear vision was indescribably refreshing.

It struck me again how painful it was to live without one functioning eye. Losing half your field of vision meant your sense of distance was completely off, so walking or going down stairs always required extra caution. On top of that, reading long texts was difficult, and the dizziness made driving impossible.

If I hadn’t had those glasses, I probably would have tried to get used to living like that. I’d gotten complacent, thinking there was little risk of them breaking.

“Does the depth perception feel right? Not dizzy?”

“Yes. It feels comfortable.”

“Let’s see.”

Seonsaeng-nim cupped my face in both hands, turning it this way and that before nodding in satisfaction. I clung to her arm and spoke in a nasal, exaggerated tone.

“Seonsaeng-nim~ You must never go abroad, okay?”

“Are you kidding me? You want me to stay stuck in Korea for life just fixing your glasses?”

“Hehe, you got it exactly right.”

“You cheeky brat. Just try breaking them again! I won’t fix them next time!”

“I’ll come even if I don’t break them. How about that?”

When I joked around like that, her big hand came down and gave me a light flick on the forehead. Of course, it didn’t hurt at all.

On the way back, I drove myself. As I merged onto the highway, I flicked the turn signal of my beat-up car with gusto.

Let’s go, Asurada^[2]! Into the Zone of Zero^[3]!

* * *

After pushing myself to make it on time, I managed to reach the Center just before the end of the shoot. If I hurried, I might even catch Han Jihyuk in uniform live. My heart was racing, and naturally, my steps quickened.

Half-running, I finally arrived at the studio, which was already packed with people crowding outside the entrance. Thanks to that crowd, I was sure that Han Jihyuk was still inside. Seeing so many people gathered, and thinking that they were all drawn here by my boy’s looks, I couldn’t help but feel proud.

I edged my way through the people, awkwardly standing on tiptoe to peek inside. I wanted to go in, but a group of female staff members had formed a barricade near the entrance, making it impossible to approach.

“Look over there, he’s so handsome!”

“Oh my god. I never realized our uniform was such a classy, sophisticated outfit. How did we not notice before…?”

“Wait a second, did you just see that?”

The atmosphere was so heated that I felt too self-conscious to ask them to move. I tried to make my presence known subtly, but they were too focused on what was happening inside to even notice me. Guess I had no choice.

“Um… Excuse me. Pardon me, just for a moment.”

A woman who turned around irritably at first froze when she saw me.

“…Y-yes? Can I help you?”

“I’d like to go inside. I’m sorry, but I’d really appreciate it if you could step aside just a little.”

I smiled as politely as possible and asked with every bit of courtesy I could muster. The woman’s sharply arched eyebrows relaxed into a pleasant curve, and she smiled brightly.

“Oh my, of course! Ladies, make way, please. Let him through.”

At her command, the other women promptly stepped aside in perfect coordination. Thanks to them, I was able to walk in smoothly and comfortably. They all smiled at me as I passed. What kind, considerate people.

The studio was crowded, but finding Han Jihyuk didn’t take any effort. All I had to do was look for the tallest man with the best proportions in the room.

There he is.

I spotted that familiar back. Thankfully, he was still wearing that stunning swing coat. It was almost unfair how beautiful his figure looked—tall, broad shoulders tapering into a narrow waist, and long, straight legs that dropped like clean lines from his hips. The way he stood, one hand resting behind his waist, slightly turned to the side, was like something out of a painting.

I wanted to surprise him, so I tiptoed closer, moving quietly. But my grand plan failed before it even began. Jihyuk turned around first and spotted me.

“Hyung!”

Unlike me, who felt deflated from being caught, his face lit up as he strode toward me.

“When did you get here?”

“I just arrived. Hyung might’ve stepped on the gas a little to see you.”

When I joked, Jihyuk laughed happily.

Maybe it was the makeup adding color to his features, but it gave his face an endless depth. I’d thought it from the photo, but now it was even clearer; this makeup concept was all wrong. How could they possibly put such a dangerously hot face on the cover of a government publication?  

“Ugh.”

I covered my eyes dramatically and swayed, making Jihyuk startle and rush closer.

“What’s wrong? Are your eyes hurting?”

Through the cracks between my fingers, I peeked at him and teased, “Your face is too blinding, Han Jihyuk…”

As I burst into laughter, Jihyuk, realizing he’d been tricked, made a dumbfounded face, then immediately raised his eyebrows and glared at me fiercely. With his eyes darkened by the makeup, he looked just like a grumpy Siberian husky. I was laughing so hard I thought I might die.

“How did you even know I was here?”

But that irritation didn’t last even three seconds. Slipping one hand casually into his pocket, Jihyuk smirked and said, “I can hear Hyung’s heartbeat from a hundred meters away.”

Now that’s what I call an innovative confession.