Vol 7 Chapter 27

"I've always done it. I can't receive contact when I go to the kendo dojo. Keep that in mind when coming."

Though normally people would communicate outside through mobile phones, Kapros had disposed of his phone, which he had barely used even after high school, and never used one again. Je-hwan's expression darkened slightly, having surely realized through their many meetings that Kapros didn't have a phone.

'Tomorrow happens to be my part-time work day too.'

Tomorrow was his first day back at work since being discharged, so he had been thinking he should exercise today, but he hadn't been able to because Je-hwan had come.

"What do you mean, kendo dojo..."

Hearing Je-hwan's muttering, Kapros realized that to him, it might seem quite strange that someone with a leg disability would work at a kendo dojo.

"I don't directly teach, just observe postures and give advice. The people I work with are like parents to me too."

Though of course his real parents were perfectly fine too. After hearing Kapros's explanation, Je-hwan remained lost in thought for a while before asking a completely unexpected question.

"Is it far?"

"...From here?"

When Kapros asked dubiously, Je-hwan nodded.

"Well. About 20 minutes by bus."

"You take the bus?"

When Kapros looked up at the sharp question, Je-hwan was glaring at him with a suddenly quite fierce expression.

'Why is he acting like this again?'

"No... I take taxis sometimes too."

"Isn't it hard?"

"Not really."

It might have been difficult if there were stairs to climb onto the bus, but since the footboard came down and up automatically when boarding anyway, what was there to be hard about? But Je-hwan seemed quite displeased about something.

"Still..."

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The ringtone that rang out just as he was about to say something cut off the flow of conversation. Je-hwan instantly pulled out the black VT electronic notebook Kapros had seen before from inside his clothes with a stiff expression, opened it to look, then immediately put it back.

"Sorry. I think I need to go right now."

"Okay..."

He really must be busy. When Kapros nodded and stood up, Je-hwan stood up too. As Kapros was about to say goodbye, he belatedly remembered something he needed to tell him.

"Ah right. Are you playing the game well these days?"

"...Why?"

Je-hwan answered after a slight delay.

"Yoon Seok-ho... Branch Manager asked me to tell you not to ignore his contact."

Due to his habit when thinking alone, he almost just said "Yoon Seok-ho" but belatedly added "Branch Manager." Fortunately, Je-hwan didn't seem to notice anything strange.

Though he hadn't particularly wanted to pass it on, Kapros had asked wondering if Je-hwan wasn't playing the game much these days since he was ignoring Yoon Seok-ho's contact, but Je-hwan focused on a different aspect.

"He said that to you? When?"

"When he contacted me a few days ago."

"...Do you contact him often?"

"What? What do you mean often? I'm telling you this so I don't have to hear him asking me to pass on such messages again."

If he was going to ask questions, he could at least ask less horrible ones. When Kapros answered with a frown to Je-hwan who was asking about assumptions he didn't even want to imagine, Je-hwan nodded as if understanding.

"I'll do that. ...I'm doing well in MIST. How about... you?"

He sure answered quickly what was asked earlier. But Kapros couldn't say that because Je-hwan's gaze was too serious.

"...I'm doing well too."

"I see."

After saying that with a slight smile, Je-hwan suddenly let out a long breath while looking at him.

"...I miss you."

Kapros could immediately understand who those words were meant for. The moment he met Je-hwan's eyes, he too suddenly thought that rather than these black eyes, he wanted to see those blue eyes from MIST.

'Yu-wan...'

How long did they stay like that, looking at each other in silence? Je-hwan turned his head and asked another question.

"Tomorrow, is it okay if I come again?"

A cold face whose thoughts were hard to read and slightly furrowed brows. But now Kapros felt he could tell this was Je-hwan's expression when he was nervous.

"You can't. Tomorrow's my day at the kendo dojo."

"...What time?"

"Two o'clock."

"I see."

Before Kapros could ask what he meant by "I see," Je-hwan was already opening the door and heading outside.

"I'll contact you again."

With those as his final words, the door closed before proper goodbyes could be exchanged. Kapros sighed and turned around to head to the kitchen. His throat felt dry and he wanted water for some reason.

'There's some time left.'

Thinking he should exercise a bit at times like this, he headed to the room with the treadmill. He couldn't neglect exercise if he wanted to get healthy as quickly as possible. And actually, there was another reason why he had started exercising more intensely than before since being discharged, which was...

'Because I can go find Jeong Seung-jo again once I get better.'

Looking at his old practice sword that always stood in the corner of the room, Kapros renewed his determination once more.

The next day, when Kapros left home to go to work, he was lost for words seeing the huge bike and its owner standing in front of the villa.

"You...?"

"I'll take you."

Je-hwan made the offer before Kapros could say anything. So this was why he had specifically asked about the time after hearing about today's work. Since it seemed to be a planned action, he probably wouldn't just leave even if told to. Kapros looked with complicated feelings at the two helmets tucked under Je-hwan's arm.

"Didn't you... have work?"

"Don't worry about it, a few hours is fine."

How could he say that with sweat beading on his forehead that obviously showed he had ridden here at full speed? Kapros looked up at the sky once, let out a "huh" of laughter, then looked at Je-hwan.

"Just where do you live to come all this way like this?"

"It's not far. Time's passing while we talk, so hurry and get on."

Je-hwan approached while answering and forcefully put a helmet on Kapros's head before putting on his own. He seemed to be doing this in case Kapros refused, but accepting such consideration was more in line with his personality rather than declining.

"Well anyway, I'll gratefully accept the ride. Since you came on your own, don't ask for fare later."

When Kapros slightly lifted his helmet to reveal just his mouth and answered, Je-hwan's eyes widened a bit before he smiled pleasantly.