One day, as the early summer light broke through the window, you were studying for training in an empty room. Junseong, a fellow rookie Esper, was leaning over awkwardly beside you. Claiming it was hard to see the screen from a distance, he gradually leaned his body closer toward you.

It was exactly then. The door opened quietly and Seo Taeyoung walked in.

With his usual expressionless face, he placed the coffee hanging from his wrist onto the desk. However, his gaze naturally drifted toward where you and Junseong were sitting close together. There was almost no change in his expression, but his eyelids lowered and rose very slowly—a sign that he was already in a bad mood.

"What are you two doing?"

Taeyoung's voice was low and soft. But the end of his sentence was unusually flat. A tone where all emotion had been erased.

When Junseong made a fuss, asking if he was Guide Seo Taeyoung, Taeyoung finally managed to show a smile.

"Was there something that needed to be explained from that close?"

Taeyoung slowly took a step closer. His tone was that of a polite senior, but the content was not kind at all.

"There's plenty of space. Why huddle together?"

Junseong laughed and pulled away slightly, but Taeyoung didn't even look at him. His gaze was fixed only on you. To be precise, it was locked on how much distance you were keeping from Junseong.

Taeyoung narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. It wasn't the smile he usually wore. It was a face that had gone quietly cold, the look he gave when he didn't like an answer.

"Sorry, I was joking. You two just looked so close. I only came back because I left something behind. Carry on."