Chapter 11: Ch 11: Can you prove your talk?

’The teacher is glaring at me. Does she think I am disturbing the class? Unbelievable! I did not even do much. Aren’t the ones causing trouble Alan and Daniel?’

But even if that were the case, the fact that both of them were recognized as powerful people to keep on one’s side made the teachers turn a blind eye to them.

Noah, on the other hand, was not as lucky, and he was happy to play this role.

Finally, the tiring class schedule came to an end and Noah could head back to his room. Or...he wanted to, when Daniel decided to grab his arm and drag him toward the training hall.

Before he knew it, Noah was standing in the training ring with Daniel by his side, and Daniel grabbed his one good hand and started to run.

"Excuse me...but what are we doing here?"

Noah tried his best to keep up with Daniel as he was dragged behind the other guide. He was not tired, but he was confused enough to want some answers.

Daniel looked back at him with a frown before answering in a breathless voice.

"We are...training our stamina. I did think about doing this...after you recovered...but it would...be better...to start early."

The training chamber was specially designed with increased gravity. So it was obvious why it was making Daniel tired. Even if he was an SSS-class guide, he had grown up among ordinary humans. His endurance was as high as a guide’s could be.

However, it was nothing compared to an esper’s—or even Noah’s.

Unlike Daniel, who had the luxury of living among humans, Noah had trained in the labs his whole life. Much of his training had been comparable to an esper’s simply because the scientists wanted to see how far he could go.

So he was not out of breath and could genuinely keep going for much longer. But he decided to follow Daniel’s lead and pretend to be tired.

And it was a good thing he did, because Alan’s sharp eyes were looking at him with even more interest now.

’Darn it! You idiot esper! Show some interest in Daniel if you are going to follow us. Stop looking at me like you want to crack my skull open and look inside it.’

Noah cursed in his mind, and some god must have heard his plea because Alan finally turned toward Daniel instead of Noah.

"You are rather fit for a guide. You completed this course in record time while keeping an eye on your roommate. It makes me wonder whether your classification is even correct. Are you sure you are not an esper who was mistaken for a guide?"

Alan asked, taunting Daniel. But this time, it felt like he had gone too far. Even Noah flinched, wondering if he should say something.

However, it turned out that he did not have to because Daniel decided to take matters into his own hands.

He grabbed Alan’s wrist and looked at him with a defiant expression. The slow flow of energy between the pair was apparent, making Noah feel excited and nervous at the same time.

’They are having their first guiding session already? This is unexpected...but isn’t that good? I need to take note of this development and send the results to the scientists. They need to know and check the situation...’

Noah felt excited and dreadful at the same time. This felt like a historic moment, and at any second Alan would pull Daniel along with him to relieve the sexual frustration that built up as a result of guiding.

But that moment never came. Instead of dragging Daniel away, Alan took a step back and gave Daniel a polite look.

"Ah, now I have no doubt in my mind that you are, indeed, a guide. I apologize for doubting your rank and your classification. Please accept my apologies for overstepping."

Alan was quick to apologize, and it was only natural that he did. After all, he had just gotten a taste of real guidance that was capable of stabilizing him.

It would not take long for him to start obsessing over the guide who was able to make him feel better.

Noah knew this very well, but he still felt a sense of detachment when he saw this development. Somehow, it made him feel hollow and unsettled.

It felt as if he was once again being left all alone while the other two got to move forward with their lives...

’I need to snap out of it. Our connection broke the day I decided to stay behind and let them escape. We are all but strangers now, and I have a mission to accomplish.’

Noah quickly suppressed the feelings rising inside him, but Daniel immediately grabbed his wrist, distracting him.

"Hey, come with me. We are leaving now. I feel like I will lose more brain cells if I have to stay here for even a second longer."

Daniel grumbled as he dragged Noah out of the room. Noah could do nothing but follow behind him.

But his eyes kept drifting toward the room he was leaving behind, eventually meeting Alan’s.

The esper flashed him a smile before waving, but Noah could not help feeling as though there was more hidden behind that smile.

...

’That guide ran away. But I have to admit that he was really good. I have never felt this good before. But...somehow it doesn’t feel satisfying. But it did stabilize me.’

Alan looked at the wrist Daniel had grabbed. The tight grip of the guide had left a mark that any esper would have treasured. But Alan could not help feeling as though he had swallowed something rotten.

Instead, his eyes kept drifting toward Noah while he was being guided, and he had almost wanted to grab the other guide and demand to be guided instead.

He could almost imagine those bright eyes watering as he grabbed that blond head and pulled him closer while being guided...and he was hard just imagining it.

’Darn it! Looks like I need to take care of myself after all. But how weird. The guiding did not affect me as much as that other guide did. Maybe I really am more fucked up in the head than I thought.’

But one thing was clear—there was finally a guide capable of matching him, and no matter how Alan felt about this guiding, he needed that guide by his side.

It was time to end his silly infatuation with Noah and focus on Daniel...even if that left a bad taste in his mouth.