DPGR 14

“Ugh…”

Jiho let out a small grunt as he tugged down the thick scarf that reached up to his nose. Dojin adjusted it back into place and said,

“It’s cold outside.”

Jiho looked slightly sulky, but Dojin didn’t loosen the scarf.

It was the transitional period between autumn and winter—chilly, yes, but not cold enough to require bundling up like this. Dojin knew that, too.

But Jiho was frail, and he’d even had a slight fever earlier that morning. If he caught a cold, it could be serious.

“Shall we head out now?”

Unlike Jiho, who was bundled up, Dojin was lightly dressed. He pulled a black cap over his head and held out his hand. Jiho hesitated, then took it.

The warmth where their hands met made Jiho bite his lip again.

“There might be a lot of people. If you feel uncomfortable, please say something.”

Nod.

“And don’t let go of my hand. Just in case—stay right next to me.”

Nod, nod.

Having driven them to a large supermarket, Dojin held Jiho’s hand firmly as he rattled off precautions.

Only after Jiho nodded through the entire list were they allowed to enter.

“Oh? It’s Baek Dojin!”

“Gasp! Quick, take a picture!”

Even with a cap on, his face wasn’t fully hidden—some people recognized Dojin. It was the kind of hassle top Espers often dealt with, and Dojin was used to it.

But the person standing beside him—Jiho—probably wouldn’t take it so well.

Hope he doesn’t get too startled.

Dojin frowned slightly at the stares from all directions and the occasional sound of a camera shutter.

He glanced to the side. Jiho, completely unaware, was curiously looking around.

Relieved, Dojin tugged Jiho’s scarf up a little higher. Jiho looked uncomfortable, but it was better to keep his face hidden, at least partially.

“Just bear with it for a little while.”

As Jiho fidgeted to pull the scarf back down, Dojin gently stopped him and coaxed him.

Thankfully, Jiho was an obedient kid.

…Nod.

As Jiho reluctantly nodded, Dojin patted his head before continuing on.

Their first stop was the clothing section. Dojin picked out a few sets of loungewear Jiho could wear at home, along with smaller-sized underwear, socks, and sneakers.

Even though they’d been out for a while, Jiho still looked fine.

‘He’s handling this better than I thought.’

Contrary to Dojin’s worries, Jiho seemed fascinated by everything, his eyes gleaming with curiosity as he looked around.

If Dojin hadn’t been holding his hand, he might have lost him in a moment of distraction.

Was that a good thing or a bad thing…

Dojin, quietly proud of how well-behaved Jiho was as he browsed, gave him a gentle pat on the back.

“Let’s head over to the food section now.”

He’d wanted to get Jiho some outerwear too, but nothing quite fit his standards, so he decided to leave it for next time.

Besides, Jiho didn’t look bad at all in his clothes.

In fact, the sight gave Dojin a strange sense of satisfaction.

‘I’ll get him proper outerwear next time.’

For now, letting Jiho wear his things didn’t seem like a bad idea.

Unaware of the slightly questionable nature of his own thoughts, Dojin picked up the pace.

There was still plenty left to buy.

In the food section, Dojin began sweeping the ingredients he had in mind into the cart.

Taking Jiho’s nutritional needs into account, he ended up filling more than half the cart with various types of meat.

‘Should I grab a few snacks too?’

He recalled the note Jiho had once scribbled about liking sweets.

From what he’d seen at mealtimes, Jiho had a small appetite and a tiny stomach.

Snacking wasn’t ideal for health, but considering the doctor had said the priority was to help him gain weight, Dojin figured it couldn’t hurt.

As he filled the cart with different cuts of beef, he glanced around.

Just moments ago, Jiho had been beside him—but now he was a few steps away.

“Oh my, aren’t you adorable. Who did your hair like that? Want to try one of these? Careful, it’s hot.”

Jiho wasn’t alone. An older woman at a dumpling sampling station was in front of him, smiling brightly.

She praised his appearance and handed him a steaming dumpling in a small paper cup.

Jiho accepted it without the slightest hesitation.

Dojin, watching from a few steps away, was surprised at how well Jiho was adapting to the world.

He’d entered the facility when he was what—eight?

That means… twelve years. He’s spent more time locked away than in society.

With that thought, Dojin approached. Sensing his presence, Jiho turned and held the dumpling toward him after blowing on it.

“…No, I’m fine. You can have it.”

When Dojin declined, Jiho looked disappointed. But once he popped the dumpling in his mouth, his expression softened.

His still-round cheeks puffed out adorably as he chewed. His lips moved just slightly beneath the scarf.

Looks like he likes it.

Dojin picked up three packs of the frozen dumplings and put them in the cart.

The woman behind the sampling station looked up at him and gasped.

“Wait… Aren’t you Baek Dojin the Esper?”

“Ah, yes… I am.”

“Oh my gosh, my daughter’s a huge fan! Could you take a photo with me?”

“Of course.”

At the woman’s excited reaction, nearby people naturally began turning their heads. Dojin gave Jiho a gentle push toward the cart.

He mouthed silently to the bewildered Jiho:

—Just a moment.

Before the crowd could gather, he quickly took the requested photo with the woman. Then he grabbed Jiho’s hand and pushed the cart forward, weaving through the gathering people.

“We should find a quieter spot for now.”

Nod.

Jiho nodded while panting slightly from walking quickly.

Though he’d appeared calm until now, his expression showed that he was a little overwhelmed by the sudden crowd.

“Haa… ha…”

Fortunately, Dojin managed to find a small bench tucked away in a corner before Jiho got too worn out.

He sat Jiho down and pulled his own cap lower over his eyes.

“Are you okay?”

With his back to the flow of foot traffic, Dojin stood protectively as he checked on Jiho, who sat catching his breath. Jiho nodded.

But it was hard to believe he was really okay. His complexion had turned pale.

“…Let’s call it a day. I think we’ve bought most of what we needed.”

It was the obvious choice for Dojin. With the attention they were drawing and how worn Jiho looked, it made sense to end the outing and go home.

But when he said they should leave, Jiho’ expression visibly drooped.

“……”

He clearly thought he was hiding it well, but Dojin could read all of his disappointment.

Slightly drooped eyes, sagging shoulders, and a small pout.

All the worries about how Jiho might get stressed in a new environment felt pointless now. He was actually sad about going home.

‘Is it because he’s still a kid?’

Dojin tried to rationalize it, chalking it up to a child’s natural curiosity and quick emotional recovery.

‘He looks so disappointed… maybe we should stop by somewhere else.’

After a moment of thought, Dojin gently tapped Jiho’s cheek. Jiho looked up at him with wide eyes.

“…There’s a quiet café nearby. Want to stop there before we go?”

There was a place he knew not far from here, often visited by Espers, so they probably wouldn’t draw much attention.

At his suggestion, Jiho hesitated. He looked like he wanted to go but wasn’t sure if it would be a bother for Dojin.

Dojin quickly added,

“I’m thirsty, that’s all. I wanted to get some coffee. Are you tired?”

Jiho’s face lit up. His caramel-colored eyes sparkled, and he quickly shook his head.

“Then let’s go.”

Dojin gave Jiho’s cheek a gentle squeeze and helped him up. A soft little laugh reached his ear.

“…Hee.”

Seeing Jiho’s eyes curve with delight, Dojin felt reassured that he’d made the right choice.

At the café, Jiho sniffed the strong scent of coffee and immediately claimed a seat.

The Awakening Management Center had its own café, and Jiho—before his regression—had been a regular there.

Naturally, he knew how to behave in one.

“…Have you been to a café before?”

Dojin asked casually, noticing how natural Jiho seemed. Jiho nodded—then shook his head.

Dojin shot him a skeptical look.

“……”

Jiho clamped his lips shut and rolled his eyes, pretending he hadn’t seen anything.

As he stubbornly feigned ignorance, Dojin let out a low sigh and pointed toward the counter.

“I’ll go order. As for what you want to drink…”

“……”

“…I’ll just pick something for you.”

Whew.

Jiho secretly exhaled in relief as he watched Dojin walk away.

He saw him look over the menu for a bit, then ask the staff a question.

The staff glanced over at Jiho before answering, and Dojin nodded in response.

A moment later, he returned carrying two trays.

“…?”