99 Percent Love

“Uh… um.”  

The anger that had been building up dissipated as if it had never been there the moment he saw Yuwon.  

“Um… is that your leader over there? Hmm… yeah, he’s handsome. Wow, he could be the centre’s advertising model.”  

“Right? I’ve told you so many times to tone down your temper…”  

The idle people who had been listening to Rion also began to stammer in surprise. Some had already begun to slip quietly out of their seats.  

“Well…”  

Of all people, he had to be caught by the person in question. What should he do now? Rion’s mind went blank. Should he shamelessly push forward and say, You were the one to blame! or should he admit his guilt and back down?  

As Rion pondered, Yuwon’s verdict fell upon him.  

“Work is work, personal is personal. People who can’t separate the two have no right to be in the centre.”  

“…What?”  

“You said that once in an interview. Don’t you remember?”  

Yuwon’s face remained disturbingly calm, making Rion’s worry about possibly hurting him seem pointless.  

Did I really say that in an interview? Is this brat just making things up to mess with me?  

Ignoring his racing thoughts, Rion spoke up.  

“Well… I don’t remember. But even if I did, so what?”  

“It means I can keep work and personal matters separate, so I don’t care what you say.”  

At the cold answer, the people in the lobby fell silent, concentrating only on Rion and Yuwon.  

“I thought being rude was just Kang Rion’s standard…”  

Someone muttered in a low voice and a few others nodded. Indeed, with this level of insolence, it was no wonder that everyone, not just Kang Rion, would be annoyed.  

“Whether you insult me or openly dislike me.”  

“Hey, you… no, fine. Honestly, it was wrong of me to badmouth you here. But why don’t you just get angry instead? Do you enjoy subtly rubbing people the wrong way?”  

“I didn’t say that to be amusing.”  

“Hey!”  

Rion’s shout echoed through the now quiet lobby. When he’d mimicked Yuwon’s earlier words, there had been a hint of playfulness, but this time he seemed to be completely sincere.  

“I think you’re misunderstanding me. I don’t dislike you.”  

“Then why are you acting like this?”  

“Well…”  

Yuwon, who seemed to be about to answer, suddenly stopped. It looked like he had no intention of answering, and Rion let out a heavy sigh.  

The only sound in the silent lobby was Yuwon’s footsteps climbing the stairs. Before Rion realised it, Yuwon had approached him and held out his hand.  

“What?”  

“You left earlier without receiving instructions.”  

“Oh, so you kindly came straight to find me?”  

Rion looked at Yuwon’s hand.  

If I take this hand, I’ll feel the sweet guidance flow through my nerves and spread throughout my body. The irritation and tiredness will melt away in an instant.  

Smack—.

But Ron, fully aware of this, slapped the saviour’s hand away without hesitation.  

“Are you a psychopath or something?”  

“I’m not sure what you mean.”  

“Hah… fine. You’re my matching guide, and since we’ve already submitted the partner application, we’re officially stuck as a partner until next month, no matter what. But that doesn’t mean I’m obliged to like you unconditionally, does it?”  

Although there weren’t many pairs, it was common for pairs to get on so well that they often ended up as couples.  

But Rion, who had already gained a reputation for his poor match rate with guides, seemed determined to make another exception.  

“Right now I find you incredibly unbearable. And frankly, I think it’s going to stay that way for the foreseeable future.”  

“I told you, didn’t I? Work is work, private is private. I don’t let such things bother me.”  

Though his expression seemed to harden slightly, it was a surprisingly mild reaction for someone who had just been told to his face that he was insufferable.  

Hah, impressive.  

Rion thought bitterly.  

“Must be nice to have such a clear distinction. But I’m not as impressive as you.”  

“What are you two doing?”  

At that moment, the Centre Director, who had been informed of the situation in the lobby, rushed over. Even though the situation was almost resolved, there wasn’t much he could do except run straight to Yuwon.  

“You, come with me right now.”  

“Yes.”  

Yuwon obediently followed the centre director upstairs, and as the previously silent lobby began to fill with murmurs again, the atmosphere changed.  

“…Wow. Seriously, this is something else.”  

“In seven years of working at the centre, I’ve never seen anything like it.”  

“Rion, are you OK?”  

In the midst of the commotion, Kangwoo comforted Rion. What on earth was driving this new leader to irritate Rion so mercilessly?  

Kang-woo found the situation really puzzling when he saw Yuwon’s back disappearing as he followed the centre director.  

***

“I’ve heard a rough account of what happened at the gate. And just from your behaviour now… it’s clear that Rion wasn’t lying.”  

The Centre Director let out a long sigh. It had been barely thirty minutes since he had decided to keep an eye on things and already a major incident had occurred.  

“You said you got along well during training. Did Rion do anything to upset you?”  

“No.”  

“Then were you disappointed when you met Kang Rion in person and found him to be different from what you expected?”  

“No.”  

“Then why are you acting like this?”  

“…”  

Yuwon, who had been eager to answer, pressed his lips together and remained silent.  

That part of him is just like Kang Rion, the Centre Director thought, rubbing his temples as his headache grew.  

“Whatever your reason, you’ll have to work as a pair anyway. Wouldn’t it be better to get along? Why do you keep stirring up trouble?”  

“I…”  

“You said something about him not being a big deal, even though he’s supposed to be the greatest Esper. Why did you say that?”  

He didn’t seem like the type to be so rude, the centre director thought as he looked at Yuwon.  

After a long silence, Yuwon finally spoke slowly.  

“Because… his face was injured.”  

“What?”  

At Yuwon’s words, the director of the centre remembered Rion, who had rushed into his office as soon as he’d come out of the gate. He had indeed been bleeding profusely from one side of his cheek.  

“What about this?”  

“…”  

Yuwon stammered again. However, the Centre Director waited silently for his answer, as if daring him to remain silent until the end.  

After repeatedly biting and releasing his lips, Yuwon finally spoke in a low voice.  

“The fact that he came back injured and wanted to brag about finishing quickly…”  

“You didn’t like the fact that Rion bragged about finishing quickly?”  

There was no answer this time either, but the silence was affirmative. It was obvious without having to look. Rion must have been in a hurry to show off in front of his junior, hurt himself in the process and still grinned smugly about it.  

“That’s just his personality. Sure, he may seem immature, but he was trying to impress you. You could have humoured him and said he looked cool, even if you didn’t mean it”.  

“That’s not how it came across to me.”  

Although the statement lacked a subject, the centre director assumed that Yuwon meant that Rion didn’t seem to be trying to impress anyone.  

“The guy may be hot-tempered, reckless, and completely oblivious to his own injuries, but he’s a good person. You don’t think Kang Rion is a bad guy, do you?”  

“No.”  

“Then just let it go and move on instead of taking it so seriously. Go and apologise to Kang Rion. I usually side with the newcomers, but this time it’s all your fault.”  

“Yes.”  

Hearing Yuwon’s answer, the centre director sighed deeply and shook his head in despair.  

“He’s hot-tempered, but he cools down quickly. Bring him something he likes as a peace offering. Not today, but maybe tomorrow or the day after? He’s simple-minded, so he’ll probably forget about it by then.”  

“Yes.”  

“Do you even know what Kang Rion likes, or do you just say yes to everything?”  

“Yes.”  

The completely unconvincing answer made the centre director look at Yuwon skeptically before he continued.  

“He hates almost all sweet things, but anything with strawberries, no matter how sweet, he’ll eat. He has a surprisingly old-fashioned palate, so he’d like something like tea. He’s also obsessed with his health, so he’d go crazy for healthy food.  

Thinking that Rion would probably forgive Yuwon if he brought a bunch of things he liked, the centre director kindly explained his preferences.  

“So, are you getting used to the guidance centre?”  

“It’s still a bit overwhelming, but the seniors have taught me well, so I think I’ll adapt quickly.”  

Unlike the Espers, who were free to spend their time at the Centre when they didn’t have any assignments, the Guides were required to stay on standby at the Guiding Centre to assist the Espers when needed.  

Of course, they could take a break and rest after returning from the gate, but Yuwon had declined the suggestion to take a break and had returned to the centre immediately.  

In that respect, he seemed to be a diligent newcomer, so why was he behaving like that towards Rion?  

“All right. Don’t push yourself too hard, and if it gets tough, just say so and take a break. You’re allowed to take as much leave as the number of days you’ve spent at the gate.”  

“Yes, I’ll rest if it gets too hard.”  

Was this docile man the same one who had clashed with Kang Rion in the lobby earlier? The centre director shook his head again, thinking he’d seen his fair share of strange characters.