Chapter 6

　　"Open the door for a second. I left something."

　　The moment I realized I’d left my luggage, I rushed back to the Blue Wing and paced in front of Room 714 for what felt like an eternity. I didn’t just stand there, of course. I knocked, I called his name. I had the key and could have let myself in, but I had a feeling that barging in unannounced for a second time would push Yoon Geonwoo’s patience to its limit.

　　After a long while, the door opened a crack, and my duffel bag was unceremoniously tossed out. The problem was, that wasn’t all of it. I called his name again, but it was no use.

　　"Yoon Geonwoo, can’t I just come in and get it myself?"

　　I could feel the same hot air from before seeping through the crack in the door, and I knew I had to stop. If I pushed him any further, his contamination level would probably start rising again. Instead, I called out a final warning through the closed door.

　　"Fine! I’m leaving, I’m leaving… You, don’t you dare use your ability!" I threatened that I’d come barging right back in if he did, but no sound came from inside.

　　Where the hell did he get that temper? Suppressing my frustration, I picked up the duffel bag he’d thrown. A faint rattling sound came from within.

　　Oh… no… please.

　　A dreadful feeling washed over me. I looked inside the bag, and sure enough, the small picture frame I always carried with me was shattered to pieces. The few clothes I owned were now embedded with shards of glass, completely ruined.

　　"…Ah."

　　I must have rummaged through it too hastily. A sharp piece of glass sliced my fingertip, and a bead of blood welled up. The disastrous situation made my heart sink, but thankfully, the photo inside was unharmed.

　　A wave of resentment toward Yoon Geonwoo washed over me, but at the same time, I just wanted to know why he refused guiding so vehemently.

　　That bastard. After I went out of my way to help him.

　　But what could I do? The one in need is always the one who has to bend.

　　And so, with a net loss for my efforts, I returned to my old room and spent the next four days sick in bed. I thought I had been fine at the time, but what had gone wrong? Was it because Yoon Geonwoo was an S-Class esper with high contamination levels? Or was it because I was inexperienced with oral contact guiding? Or maybe it was because I had forced it on him without consent.

　　Could it be… all of the above?

　　The questions remained unanswered, but a lingering sense of unfinished business kept me from unpacking the bags I’d brought back to the Red Wing. In the meantime, the fleeting winter break came to an end.

* * *

　　Beep—

　　99.3°F.

　　The number flashed in red on the electronic thermometer. Good, that’s a normal temperature.

　　"Your fever’s almost gone. How’s everything else?" the school nurse asked. This was my third time getting medication from the SAA infirmary in the past few days. I answered her question immediately. Of course, she wasn’t just any school nurse; she was a specialized medical professional dispatched from headquarters.

　　"My head doesn’t hurt as much anymore. My neck is still a little sore, though."

　　"Okay, head… and neck."

　　As if my vague answer was sufficient, the nurse jotted it down on the chart. The prescription chart was linked to the monthly physical exam records at SAA, so all medical history was updated in real-time. Because of that, my current illness, the medication I was taking, and even physical stats like muscle strength and body water percentage were all detailed on the chart.

　　I snuck a glance as the nurse handed me my medication.

　　"I’ll give you a three-day supply. Take it three times a day after meals. The red one will make you drowsy, so take it in the evening."

　　"Thank you… Um… what about my face?"

　　When I asked about my face, the nurse examined my injuries with a worried expression. When Yoon Geonwoo had thrown me, I’d face-planted, and the inside of my upper lip, where it had hit my teeth, was torn and swollen. It might not have been his intention, but it was a real pain, hurting every time I talked or ate.

　　And that wasn’t the only bruise. The spot where he had grabbed my collar, though only for a moment, was now marked with an ugly, mottled bruise in the shape of his handprint.

　　A high fever and minor injuries like these were usually nothing to me. But combined with my already weakened state, they felt disproportionately significant.

　　"Let’s see… The swelling is almost gone. Just keep applying the ointment I gave you before."

　　"Thank you," I mumbled, pressing gently on the sore spot.

　　The nurse’s kind face creased with concern as she asked me a delicate question. "Geumi, is someone… bothering you?"

　　"Pardon?"

　　"If it’s hard to talk about, you can just write it down."

　　I didn’t need her to elaborate to understand what she was implying. The injuries were in awkward places, and she had likely reviewed the personal details in my chart. I racked my brain for a plausible explanation, but nothing came to mind. Right, because telling her ‘I got choked and thrown out for trying to forcibly guide a sick Yoon Geonwoo’ is a great idea, I thought sarcastically.

　　Silence was the better option here. I mentally scrapped the excuse and simply shook my head. "No, it’s nothing like that."

　　I tried to offer my brightest, most reassuring smile, but it only seemed to deepen the worry in her eyes. Fearing she might press me for details, I quickly got to my feet. From now on, I’m only coming here when I’m actually dying.

　　She insisted on monitoring my condition and told me to visit often. I gave a quick bow, relieved to be escaping, and turned to leave.

　　Just as I was heading for the door, clutching the snacks and prescription she’d pressed into my hands, the door slid open and a student a full head taller than most strode in. His dark navy activity uniform marked him as an esper. Since I was standing right by the entrance, we collided hard. My body, already weak from the fever, tilted precariously.

　　"Ah!"

　　I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for another fall. A sharp, dry gasp cut through the air, and a strong arm snaked around me, pulling me against a solid chest. The tall esper let out a laugh.

　　"Gotcha."

　　I peeked through my lashes to find myself half-enveloped in his arms. A crisp, windy scent, sharp enough to clear my groggy head, washed over me.

　　[Matching Rate: 91%]

　　[Contamination Level: 26%]

　　Startled, I had used my ability before I even saw his face. The matching rate was familiar, as was the scent. I looked up at the esper holding me, and a flicker of recognition made me murmur his name.

　　"Jin Ian."

　　A-Class esper Jin Ian. A 91% match. He was the esper I had been temporarily paired with before my regression, an arrangement made after Yoon Geonwoo had unceremoniously cut ties with me. Wow… he looks exactly the same, I mused. With his sharp features, light-colored hair, and pale eyes, Jin Ian had always stood out, even among other espers. Of course, his towering height and the subtle playboy vibe he exuded also had a way of drawing attention.

　　"Huh? You know me?" he asked, a curious tilt to his head.

　　Of course, I knew him. We had gotten along quite well. But now that I was back in the past, I couldn’t exactly bring up a relationship that only I remembered. Even if we had been partners before, the man in front of me was a stranger.

　　"…Your name is written here," I said, pointing.

　　"Ah, you saw my name tag."

　　A bitter taste filled my mouth, but I decided to feign ignorance. I gestured to the three characters stitched onto his uniform, and he nodded in understanding.

　　How long is he going to hold me like this? The longer I remained in his embrace, the more I could feel the nurse’s stare boring into the back of my head. I had to admit, two guys tangled up in the infirmary doorway probably wasn’t a pleasant sight. I wiggled, trying to signal for him to let go, but he just stared down at me with an unreadable expression.

　　"Um… I need to go."

　　"Oh! Sorry!" I tapped his shoulder, and he jumped as if startled, releasing me. He apologized several more times, which only made me feel more awkward, so I quickly made my exit.

　　When I returned to my room, hands full of snacks and medicine, I found a mountain of luggage that hadn’t been there this morning. The owner was obvious. Sure enough, the bathroom door flew open, and a figure emerged, humming cheerfully and spreading his arms wide.

　　"I’m back, Geumi!"

　　The winter break was over, and my roommate from the Red Wing had returned.

* * *