A Handspan Above the Ground

[Hello, Mr. Joo Hee-beom. This is the Korea Ability Association. As of March 8, 2025, you have been classified as a Guide.] At twenty-four, long past his teenage years, Hee-beom suddenly awakens as a Guide. He isn’t thrilled about his new classification— And then, appearing before him is I-young, the S-Class Esper who has never had a Guide in his life. “You’re really my Guide, aren’t you?” “…My Guide?” I-young is delighted to have finally found a Guide with a 97% compatibility rate. But for some unknown reason, Hee-beom keeps rejecting him… “I’m not doing this. I won’t be a Guide.” * * * “Hee-beom-ah, I like you.” Hee-beom-ah, I like you. Hee-beom-ah, I like you. Hee-beom-ah. I like you. Hee-beom’s mind blurred. It felt like his body was floating. His feet were on the ground, but he couldn’t feel them. Everything was just… empty. Fuzzy. Snapping back to his senses, Hee-beom stammered. “W-what, why are you saying something like that… just from holding hands?” “Why? What’s wrong with saying I like you?” “It’s weird!” I-young tilted his head, as if he was the one who didn’t understand. “It’d be weirder if I didn’t like you.” “…….” “I like you, Hee-beom-ah. So much. More and more, every single day.”