DPGR 37

Dojin’s eyebrows lifted slightly as he read Jiho’s lips.

He wants to go? Go where?

After a brief pause, realization struck and Dojin asked, “You want to come on the mission?”

Nod.

His brown hair fluttered with each small movement of his head.

Dojin’s fingers twitched at the earnest look in Jiho’s upturned eyes.

It was hard to say no when someone looked at him like that.

But no matter how he looked at it, taking Jiho to the field wasn’t an option.

He hadn’t even received proper firearms training due to his lack of physical stamina.

Or firearms—honestly, even basic self-defense drills had been postponed again and again because of Dojin’s overprotectiveness.

“Well… even if it’s a small-scale mission, it would still be far too dangerous for you, Guide Jiho.”

“……”

“When it comes to your safety, I can’t accommodate all your wishes. Just this once, please listen to me.”

Though his voice held clear regret, Dojin was firm. He wasn’t going to budge on this.

Jiho thought it was his own incompetence that kept him from being allowed to follow.

Not his guiding ability, but the lack of power to protect himself.

And in that sense, Jiho was right.

He was still as fragile as a paper doll, with stamina so poor he could barely stay on his feet. He couldn’t even defend his own body.

Maybe I’ve been too lazy.

Jiho blamed himself for how things had turned out.

Though in truth, it had nothing to do with laziness—it was just his naturally weak constitution.

But Jiho didn’t see it that way.

He should’ve trained harder. He should’ve pushed Dojin to let him start shooting practice sooner.

He’d been busy with guiding lessons, learning to adapt to the team—but looking back now, he couldn’t help but regret it.

“Guide Jiho. I’ll be back soon, so just stay here this time, okay?”

Dojin gently stroked Jiho’s hair, now drooping with disappointment. Jiho opened and closed his lips a few more times, but in the end, nodded weakly.

No matter how much he insisted, what wasn’t allowed, wasn’t allowed.

I need to start building up my stamina—right now.

Jiho’s mind was already busy whipping himself into shape.

Next time, he would go with Dojin. Even if just a little, he’d be someone Dojin could rely on.

***

Dojin left for the illegal breeding facility the following afternoon.

Jiho was supposed to spend the day training with Geonwoo and Sena in Alpha Team’s training room.

They were mid-session when it came time for a break.

I wonder if Baek Dojin’s doing okay… I hope he’s not hurt.

Jiho sat with his knees pulled up, back against the wall, thinking of Dojin.

He hadn’t been apart from him for more than half a day since they met, and the empty seat beside him felt strange and cold.

“Guide Jiho.”

It was Geonwoo who called out to him. He’d noticed Jiho looking a little gloomy and decided to try distracting him.

“How’s guiding training going? Are you keeping up okay?”

Jiho hesitated a moment, then gave a small nod.

Honestly, the training wasn’t all that difficult.

His three years of experience as an unpaired guide before regression weren’t for nothing.

For Jiho, who technically had prior experience, most of the lessons were just review.

“That’s a relief. You’re doing so well I don’t know what else to teach you.”

Even a whale dances when praised—and Jiho’s battered self-esteem lifted just a little.

“…Heh.”

Seeing him crack a small smile, Geonwoo smiled back.

Sena, watching their cheerful exchange, scowled.

“What do you mean ‘doing well’? I’m better than him!”

“Well, of course you are, Sena. You’re already in your fifth year.”

“Hmph!”

Jiho fidgeted nervously at Sena’s outburst, mistaking the raised voice for real offense.

Geonwoo gave a quiet chuckle and tried to ease Jiho’s worry.

“She’s just jealous we look like we’re getting along.”

“I am not! I’m not!”

“Haa. Just be generous, Guide Jiho. She doesn’t mean it.”

“Argh! I said I’m not!!”

Sena jumped up with a stomp and shouted, causing Geonwoo to plug one ear with a grin.

He clearly found her reaction amusing.

He’s kind of a little mean, now that I think about it, Jiho thought, eyeing Geonwoo critically.

Meanwhile, Geonwoo kept lightly teasing her.

“‘Hey’? That’s no way to talk to your oppa.”

“You mean ajusshi, not oppa!”

“Oof… My heart. When will you ever understand how I feel, Sena?”

“#@%$@#%!!”

Jiho narrowed his eyes at the two of them.

He couldn’t tell if they were bickering or just playing around.

Feeling Jiho’s gaze settle on him, Geonwoo turned his attention back.

“Oh, that reminds me—how’s the Pair work with the captain going?”

“…?”

“I was just wondering if the guiding’s been going well.”

He wasn’t actually curious. Geonwoo only changed the subject because he was worried Jiho might feel left out.

Unfortunately, the topic he picked—guiding—was the worst possible choice.

“…Hng.”

Jiho let out a deflated whimper.

Geonwoo, who’d asked the question so casually, and even Sena, who’d been grumbling at him moments before, both looked at Jiho in surprise.

Did something happen?

Jiho’s mood sank again.

His drooping shoulders and the corners of his lips looked even more downcast than they had right after Dojin left for the mission.

“What’s wrong?”

Geonwoo moved closer and sat beside him. Jiho glanced his way, then hesitated.

Pair Guiding was considered private—intimate.

They’d been taught it wasn’t something to discuss carelessly.

But what Jiho and Dojin had done barely counted as proper guiding anyway.

All they’d done was hold hands. That was it.

And of course, something that minor hadn’t been nearly enough.

If they were doing it regularly, maybe it would’ve been different.

But just last night, Dojin had turned down Jiho’s request to guide one more time before the mission.

He’d dodged and deflected so much that Jiho hadn’t even had a chance to insist.

“…Sigh.”

After a long sigh, Jiho finally took out his notepad.

[Actually…]

Given the situation, his message grew long.

He wrote about how Dojin had been hiding his watch from the start. How, just two days ago, Jiho had finally seen the numbers for the first time—only to realize Dojin had been lying to him.

He also wrote about their first proper guiding, which was only hand-to-hand contact, and how it hadn’t been effective at all.

Because Dojin had asked him to keep his output at the bare minimum.

After unloading everything, Jiho felt a little lighter.

Everyone needs someone to vent to, Jiho thought.

[…so now I’m not sure how I should handle guiding moving forward.]

He finally finished with a period and looked up.

Geonwoo seemed to realize something and stayed quiet for a moment.

“Ah, um… It seems like Captain Baek is… a bit, uh… sensitive about guiding.”

He chose his words as carefully as possible.

Sena, on the other hand, burst out laughing.

“Pffft! Captain Baek is seriously such a prude!”

“Sena.”

Geonwoo tried to calm her down, but it didn’t work.

Sena rolled on the floor laughing before scooting over to Jiho and egging him on.

“It’s probably because he hasn’t had proper guiding in so long. His body’s gotten way too sensitive.”

“……”

Is that how it works?

Jiho blinked, looking unsure. Sena continued confidently.

“He’ll get used to it with time. So until then, don’t listen to whatever he says. Just keep going like before—go hard with the guiding, the way you want. Got it?”

“Sena… ha…”

Geonwoo gave up trying to stop her and sighed, knowing she wouldn’t listen anyway.

What he didn’t expect was Jiho actually taking her advice seriously.

Nod, nod!

Jiho clenched his fists and nodded earnestly.

He trusted Sena so completely it was like watching an obedient puppy.

Geonwoo couldn’t help a dry chuckle.

…Is this okay?

Geonwoo was the only one still worried about Dojin now—not that it would last.

…Well, it’s Captain Baek. He’ll be fine.

He knew Captain Baek cared about Jiho, but even he hadn’t expected Dojin to be this conservative about guiding.

After a brief moment of thought, Geonwoo decided to back Sena up, adding his own comment.

“Guiding is something that needs to happen continuously anyway, so even if Captain Baek says no, try pushing a little more.”

“Yeah! Just go all in until he gets used to it! I bet he’ll secretly love it!”

“Well… maybe not exactly like that, but he will come to appreciate it.”

“See? Told you!”

Had Jiho ever seen the two of them agree like this before?

It was such a rare sight that he looked a little dazed—but he did think their advice made sense.

Even with his three years of experience from before regression, Geonwoo and Sena still had far more time on the job.

They were senior guides—of course he’d be tempted to follow their lead.

Nod!

Jiho’s eyes lit up with determination.

Yes—he needed to push a little harder.