DPGR 18

When Jiho made another puzzled face, Yulchan cleared his throat awkwardly. But the laughter still bubbled up, and in the end, he turned to Jihye for help.

“Uh, noona… can you explain the game a bit…?”

“Huh? What’s going on?”

“Money—cough, cough!”

Yulchan’s face flushed bright red. Jihye, who had been cutting cake in the kitchen, quickly ran over and peeked at Jiho’s notebook.

A second later, she burst into laughter too and began rummaging through the game box.

“We use this as money. If you use real money, you’d get arrested. Clink clink—jail time.”

She held up some colorful paper bills and fluttered them around. Jiho visibly relaxed once he saw it was fake money.

Ah, I see. That’s how it works.

He nodded, finally understanding. Meanwhile, Kijoon finished setting up the board and looked around proudly.

With his chin lifted in confidence, he declared, “Alright, everyone ready to get totally wrecked by Kijoonie?”

His expression was… something like a predator eyeing its prey.

Jihye and Yulchan, who had been chatting beside Jiho, suddenly wore serious looks too.

What is this game, even…?

Jiho couldn’t understand why they were all reacting this intensely to a board game. He just darted his eyes around, thoroughly confused.

And just like that, Jiho’s very first game of Blue Marble began.

To make things easier for Jiho, who was new to the game, they played in teams—Kijoon and Jiho on one team, and Jihye and Yulchan on the other.

Maybe because they were all around the same age, they got close quickly. The living room soon filled with cheerful noise, and Jiho, who had once looked at them warily, was now completely absorbed in the game.

“Rome! Rooomee! Hand over the money!”

“Ah! Come on, let it slide just this once!”

“Noooope. You guys totally robbed Kijoonie earlier. Right, Guide Jiho?”

Nod nod.

Jiho nodded earnestly. He turned out to have quite the competitive streak. Maybe he was secretly obsessed with money.

Even if it was fake.

“Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Kijoonie and Guide Jiho win!”

Jihye and Yulchan went bankrupt. Kijoon pumped his shoulders in celebration and held out his hand to Jiho.

“High five~.”

Jiho hesitantly pressed his palm against Kijoon’s. It wasn’t really a high five—just a gentle touch—but Kijoon seemed totally satisfied.

“Wanna play another round?”

As he began cleaning up the board, Jiho’s stomach let out a loud growl.

“…!”

Jiho’s face turned beet red as he fidgeted in embarrassment. Jihye grabbed Kijoon by the collar and shook him.

“Another round?! Our Guide Jiho is hungry!”

“Ack! Why’re you taking it out on me?!”

“Hyung, noona… please…”

Jiho had been startled by their antics at first, but by now, he knew it was just how they played around.

Watching their goofy scuffle, Jiho couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“Hee.”

A soft little giggle—nothing out of the ordinary. But to the sharp-eared Espers, it rang loud and clear.

Wait. What was that? Was that a laugh? Did he just giggle?

No way. That’s how a twenty-year-old laughs? Is he actually ten?

Ahhh… I get now why Team Leader’s thinking so hard about pairing with him…

They were all secretly freaking out at the innocent little laugh, but none of it showed on their faces.

Instead, they suddenly sprang into action, maybe to cover up the fact that they had frozen for a second.

“Oh! Would you look at the time—it’s already lunchtime!”

“Food! Let’s order food!”

“Okay! Guide Jiho, is there anything you’re craving?”

Jiho shook his head. He was hungry, but he didn’t really have an appetite for anything in particular.

“Hm, then let’s just order a bunch of good stuff. Like a buffet.”

“Ooh, good idea. We’re using Team Leader’s card anyway, right?”

Kijoon and Jihye giggled as they pulled up the delivery app. The two were never more in sync than when it came to spending Dojin’s money.

“Hyung, noona…”

“It’s fine! Captain Baek’s loaded!”

“Totally. Even if we ordered a full hotel buffet, he wouldn’t even notice.”

“But still…”

Yulchan tried to stop them, but they didn’t even pretend to listen.

He sighed and justified it to himself—it was better than them fighting, at least.

From the way he went through the motions, it looked like something he was used to. Jiho had to suppress another laugh threatening to burst out.

After eating and playing a few more rounds, Jiho started nodding off.

His belly was full, and he was completely drained from being around the Alpha Team Espers—he was exhausted.

“Guide Jiho?”

“Mmm…”

“Why don’t you go lie down in bed?”

In the end, Yulchan gently nudged him awake and guided him to the bedroom. Only after watching Jiho wobble his way to the bed and collapse onto it did he return to the living room.

“How’s the Guide? Sleeping?”

“Yeah. He must’ve been really tired.”

Jihye and Yulchan kept their voices to a whisper. Even though the bedroom door was shut, they were worried their voices might leak in and wake Jiho.

Kijoon was also quietly tidying up the game board. As he slipped the game box into his bag, he murmured,

“But isn’t it kinda surprising how different he looks after just a few days? I mean, Guide Jiho.”

“Yeah, definitely…”

“He’s filled out a little, but it’s more than that—his expression and overall vibe feel brighter too.”

“Our team leader was so up in arms about Guide jiho being too young. But judging by things, he’s been taking really good care of him, huh?”

It must’ve been instinctive.

The same thought passed through the minds of Kijoon, Jihye, and Yulchan. They recalled Dojin’s expression from that morning, even if they’d only seen him for a moment.

“…Don’t you think the team leader’s expression has softened too?”

“Right? He was practically melting.”

“His eyes were dripping honey when he looked at him.”

It was a positive change—for both Baek Dojin and Seo Jiho. The three of them quietly hoped this change would last.

“I really hope things work out between them,” Yulchan murmured.

Jihye and Kijoon nodded. The atmosphere in the living room settled into a soft, peaceful calm.

More time passed than I expected…

***

In the elevator, Dojin glanced at his watch, frowning slightly.

He’d lost too much time at the Center. He was getting home later than planned, and the delay was making him antsy.

‘I hope Guide Jiho’s okay.’

He trusted his team members, of course. But that didn’t stop him from worrying about Jiho.

Ding—

The elevator doors opened. The moment they did, Dojin dashed out and unlocked the front door.

Any minute now, his team members and Jiho would come rushing over to greet him—

But as he shut the door and took off his shoes, the house remained quiet.

Not that there were no signs of life… but still.

What’s going on?

He only understood when he stepped further into the living room.

Right at the edge of the room, Dojin stopped in his tracks and blinked.

…They’re asleep?

Jihye was sprawled on the couch, using Kijoon’s jacket as a blanket. On the floor beneath her, Kijoon and Yulchan lay side by side, fast asleep and snoring softly.

He should probably wake them and send them home now.

But the three sleeping faces looked so peaceful… it was hard to bring himself to disturb them.

“Mm… Team Leader…?”

Thankfully, or perhaps unfortunately, Jihye—ever sensitive to presences—stirred first. Her mumbling roused Kijoon and Yulchan as well.

“Huh…? When did you get back?”

“Just now. Where’s Guide Jiho?”

“In the bedroom… haa… sleeping on the bed.”

They must’ve napped deeply—Kijoon and Yulchan’s faces were still a little puffy from sleep.

He had planned to keep them around for dinner before sending them home, but seeing them like this… he figured it’d be better to let them go now.

“Good job. Go get some rest.”

“Uh, should we clean—”

“I’ll handle it. Just go.”

He even waved his hand like he was shooing away pigeons, and the three smiled sheepishly as they shuffled toward the door. Even as they left, they kept their voices low so as not to wake Jiho.

“Alright, we’ll get going then.”

“See you soon at the Center—with Guide Jiho too.”

“…Get home safe.”

Dojin waved. He didn’t respond to Jihye’s suggestion about seeing Jiho at the Center. He purposely dodged it.

The team could tell, but they didn’t push. They knew exactly what he was worried about.

Ha…

After sending them off, Dojin looked around the quiet house. That was when he noticed Jiho’s notebook on the table.

Flip—

[I don’t have any money.]

[Please pay the toll.]

Looks like they played a game.

[Should I go to the deserted island too?]

Even from these brief lines, he could imagine the scenes. He’d watched his team play board games now and then when things were quiet at work.

Dojin flipped through the notebook, smiling softly. The lines were plain and dry, but he could feel that Jiho had genuinely enjoyed himself.

Looks like he fit in better than I expected.

Just as that thought brought a sense of relief—

Flip—

The page turned, revealing something scribbled in the back. No… not quite scribbles. More like writing pretending to be scribbles.

What’s this?