Chapter 5

　　In an instant, the tables had turned. Just as I had grabbed the back of his neck, Yoon Geonwoo now had me by the collar. His grip tightened, pressing against my windpipe and making it hard to breathe.

　　"Ugh!"

　　I was so shocked that I could only struggle feebly beneath him. Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming difference in our physiques, my struggles probably looked like nothing more than a petty tantrum.

　　This bastard, his strength is…

　　Despite his poor condition, Yoon Geonwoo was naturally built like a tank. The weight pressing down on me was substantial, and the thick forearm crushing my neck was corded with bulging veins. It made sense, I supposed, since he had awakened as an S-Class esper before he even hit his growth spurt.

　　"Yoon… Geonwoo…" I managed to gasp out his name, trying to free myself from his grip. I had squeezed out the words with all my might, but he just scowled and ignored me. In fact, he started to tighten his hold.

　　Merciless bastard… Did I guide him for my own benefit?

　　Logically, I knew he had every right to be angry. But I had taken a risk to guide him, so I couldn’t help but feel wronged. No matter that I was an intruder who had forced guiding on him; he was the one who had been on the verge of a rampage in the first place.

　　"Wait… let… stop…"

　　Before I could say anything else, I had to let him know I was suffocating. I put on my most desperate expression and clawed at his wrist. My short fingernails had little effect, but thankfully, it caught his attention. Understanding my meaning, he shifted his grip from my neck to my hair with a look of displeasure. Breathing became easier, but his brutish handling felt like it was going to rip all my hair out.

　　"Agh…" A pained groan escaped me.

　　"Who the hell are you?" he demanded, his voice a low growl, completely ignoring my discomfort. It was only then that I remembered we hadn’t even properly introduced ourselves.

　　"Guide Class 9-3, So Geumi…" I stammered, trying to nurse my scalp, which felt like it was about to be torn off.

　　His expression hardened, as if I’d said something completely nonsensical. It seemed he was interpreting my name in a different way. The pathetic, tear-streaked figure from moments ago was gone. Freed from the drug’s haze, Yoon Geonwoo was like a vicious wildcat.

　　"My name is So Geumi…" I began, but my voice trailed off.

　　Seeing him back to his usual self made me nervous, but I kindly added, "My last name is So, and my first name is Geumi." I wanted to say more, but his expression remained hostile, so I clamped my mouth shut. As I fell silent like a chastened mute and avoided his gaze, he continued his interrogation.

　　"Did the Director send you?"

　　"…The Director?" I repeated, confused by the unfamiliar term. He clicked his tongue in annoyance.

　　"How did you get into my room?"

　　"That’s… because I’m your roommate."

　　"Roommate?"

　　"Agh… I’m… your temporary… pair guide…" I tried my best to explain as clearly as possible this time. But before I could finish, he yanked my hair again, more violently this time. My neck snapped back, and the sharp pain in my scalp brought tears to my eyes. You bastard. You’re not going to take responsibility if I go bald.

　　"Let go. It… it hurts…" I pleaded, but he just sneered as if to say, "Not a chance." His gaze, now just inches from mine, was icy.

　　"Who decided you were my temporary pair?"

　　"Who do you think… the school did… Hey, our match rate is 94%, you know? That’s a really rare…"

　　"Shut up."

　　I tried to seize the opportunity to babble about the specialness of our pairing, but a raw anger seeped through his clenched teeth.

　　He’s the one who asked… so why is he getting mad again?

　　Something had set him off again. The sharp, upward tilt of his eyes was twice as fierce as before, and his expression was glacial. A heat haze shimmered behind him, a sign he was about to use his ability again.

　　Yoon Geonwoo, you crazy bastard! I worked so hard to lower that contamination level!

　　Was he still not in his right mind? Or was he just genuinely insane? He had been whimpering under a blanket by himself just moments ago… Was he so embarrassed about me seeing him like that that he’d erased it from his memory?

　　I cursed him internally and rechecked his contamination level.

　　[Contamination Level: 68%]

　　He had just barely escaped the high-risk zone, but his condition was still far from good. If he used his ability again, all my effort would be for nothing.

　　I have to stop his levels from rising any further.

　　If Yoon Geonwoo were the type to obediently accept guiding after using his ability, I wouldn’t be this worried. He must have his reasons, unknown to the public, but the fact that he was willing to take a forbidden drug with horrific side effects was proof enough. Besides, his body, which he was sustaining only with drugs, couldn’t possibly be fine. Pumping Helper Killer into a battered body was a temporary fix at best; relying on it was dangerous. All drugs eventually lead to tolerance.

　　If he kept abusing his body like this, a rampage at the upcoming graduation was a foregone conclusion. At this rate, he might not even make it to graduation before something terrible happened. And the SAA students and I would be caught in the crossfire.

　　As I was weighing my options, the hot air in the room began to swirl again. I couldn’t just stand by and watch.

　　"Don’t! Don’t do it!" I yelled desperately.

　　At my frantic plea, his eyes wavered for a split second. I didn’t miss the opening. I thrust my cheek toward him.

　　"If you’re going to use your ability because of me, then… then just hit me instead."

　　I had made up my mind the moment I decided to guide him. I squeezed my eyes shut and stuck my head out, as if to say, "Go on, do it." The hand in my hair tightened. Yoon Geonwoo had a strong grip and big hands; if he hit me wrong, it could leave a nasty scar, couldn’t it? The thought made my heart pound. I don’t want to get hurt… Please go easy on me… I chanted to myself, clenching my jaw.

　　But contrary to my expectations, nothing happened even after several moments. A strange sense of unease crept over me. I peeked one eye open and looked up at him.

　　What’s with that expression?

　　He was staring at me as if I were the craziest person he’d ever seen, his already pale face turning even whiter. His deep-sea blue eyes were filled with utter confusion. What on earth was he thinking? I stared back, even more curious than he was, but then a horrifying thought struck me, and my heart dropped.

　　This… this bastard, don’t tell me…

　　Sure, I had barged into his room and forced contact guiding on him when he didn’t want it… and I was the one who told him to hit me! But I didn’t have a single ounce of desire to actually get hit. A strange misunderstanding was the last thing I wanted.

　　"…If your contamination level rises, you’ll just be in pain again," I said, my voice softer now.

　　"What’s it to you?" he shot back.

　　What’s it to me? If you rampage, you die, and I die. So please, just stay healthy and become a strong, official esper without any trouble! I prayed silently as I looked up at him.

　　"I’m worried. I’m your pair guide, after all, even if it’s temporary."

　　Did my desperation get through to him? His expression was still like walking on thin ice, but the grip on my hair had loosened slightly. Seizing the moment, I tried to slowly pry his hand from my hair while he was still confused. As I fumbled blindly behind my head, my fingertips brushed against his hand. I felt the back of his hot hand, the prominent veins, and then the tips of his fingers, rough with hangnails. Did he have a habit of biting his nails? They were covered in hard calluses and scabs, and his brow furrowed as if the contact caused a stinging pain.

　　"From now on, call me when this happens. I’ll help you without it hurting." Our match rate is high… It’ll be much better than taking drugs. I gently removed his hand from my hair and patted it reassuringly. I gave him a bright smile, as if asking for a truce. He just stared down at me with a somewhat dazed expression.

　　His blue gaze remained locked with mine for a long moment. But soon, as if snapping back to reality, his eyes sharpened.

　　"Stop talking nonsense and get out," he growled, grinding his teeth as if he couldn’t stand to hear another word of my bullshit.

　　"Ugh… Hey, where am I supposed to go? We’re roommates now," I protested, desperately clinging to his clothes. But with a merciless hand, he grabbed my collar, dragged me to the door, and threw me out.

　　"I don’t need guiding," he snarled.

　　The door slammed shut with a sound like the world was ending, and a groan escaped my lips. I had been tossed out like a useless piece of luggage, and my face had smashed directly onto the marble floor.

　　Did I break a tooth?

　　But before I could even protest, Yoon Geonwoo was already back in his room. From the looks of it, things were even worse now than in my past life when we had no connection at all.

　　Damn it. It looks like getting close to him is a lost cause this time, too. A tactical retreat is in order. My mind was a chaotic mess, I carefully checked my teeth—thankfully all intact—and headed back to the Red Wing where I had been staying.

　　It wasn’t long before I realized I had left all my luggage in Room 714.

　　"Hey, Yoon Geonwoo!"

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