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Snowflakes melted in my palm.
"Uisin-ah, are you cold?"
Yeom Junyeol appeared so suddenly that I startled. I hadn't noticed that he was there with me, lingering outside the school buildings. Did his concealment ability improve again? I looked at him in pride.
"You're not wearing your gloves?"
"I gave them to a junior earlier."
"…Uisin-ah is very kind as always. What's the junior's name?"
Why did he sound a little tense? Thinking that he must be worried about that junior's financial situation, I gave the name.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure it was legitimate."
"Yes?"
"But in the meantime, Uisin-ah's hands are getting colder…"
"It's not that cold."
"Can I hold your hands?"
Yeom Junyeol can do anything. I conveyed this to him, and he smiled and took my hands. I expected him to touch one briefly, but instead he held both of them.
"Does it feel better?"
"You're very warm. It feels very pleasant around Senior Junyeol."
"I'm glad."
Yeom Junyeol looked so happy that I was struck blind and speechless. What a kind and clever senior who looks out for his juniors. I wanted to reassure him that he didn't have to worry about someone like me, but every time I opened my mouth, I saw his smile and lost my words.
"Uisin-ah must have a hard time during winter. Don't worry, I'll make sure to accompany you from now on."
"Accompany me…?"
"Can't I?"
"Senior Junyeol can do anything."
I answered immediately, thinking he might not have heard me correctly the first time.
"I like when Uisin-ah is like this, but I can't help but worry too. Please don't act like this with other people."
"Huh? Okay."
"…I'm not sure if you really understood, but I'm glad you agree."
"Yes."
"Haha."
Yeom Junyeol laughed a lot more once he held my hands, so I didn't ask him to let go as he guided me toward the exit.
"Junyeol? What are you doing?"
"Uisin-ah was cold, so I'm keeping him warm."
"Huh? It's Junyeol and Uisin. You're even closer than I thought!"
"Haha, thank you! Uisin-ah and I are very close."
"So that's why the forums are going crazy right now. Junyeol, good for you!"
"Thank you, I'm very happy."
Various people stopped us along the way, but their conversations were confusing so I had a hard time saying anything other than thanking them for well wishes and expressing my feelings for Yeom Junyeol. I made a note to check the forums later to see the pictures of Yeom Junyeol they mentioned.
"Oh? Are we going home with Uisin-ah today?"
No, why did Yong Jegul suddenly appear?
My good mood instantly evaporated as I realized my situation. I couldn't have predicted that Yeom Junyeol was guiding me to leave the school with him and Yong Jegeon. I wouldn't complain about accompanying Yeom Junyeol, but going with Yong Jegeon sounded a little dangerous.
"Jegeon-hyung, maybe you should have stayed quiet for a little longer."
"It's nice to see this rare side of Junyeol as well."
Despite getting gently scolded, Yong Jegeon smiled so happily that it made one's stomach turn.
Just then, I suddenly received a message.
[Kim Sinrok] Uisin, I'm on my way.
[Kim Sinrok] Hold on just a little longer.
Isn't that even more dangerous?
But since Teacher Kim Sinrok sent me some rare messages, I decided to listen and follow his plan.
"Please wait."
"Uisin-ah? Is something wrong?"
"…Please wait."
Faced with Yeom Junyeol's wide eyes, I lost my words and couldn't remember how to buy us time. Moreover, wouldn't it be dangerous if I intervened in their plans to escort Yeom Junyeol home? What if I put him and Yong Jegeon in danger because of my inconsiderate actions?
"It's great how we don't even have to say anything for Uisin-ah to be convinced. Junyeol, make sure to plead our benefactor as much as possible."
Yong Jegeon made some noise, but I was too worried to pay him any attention.
"Uisin-ah, let's go. I'll keep you warm at home."
Just as I was about to concede.
"Teacher Yong."
"Jeho, are you coming with us too?"
Teacher Kim Sinrok appeared as well, looking a little flustered. He expertly ignored Yong Jegeon's nonsense, but his composure broke when his eyes fell on Yeom Junyeol and I's linked hands.
I understand. I would be very envious if I saw Yeom Junyeol hold hands with someone else too.
"Uisin-ah looks like he's thinking something fun."
"Uisin, where are you going?"
One bad teacher and one great teacher spoke one after the other.
"Senior Junyeol is helping me warm up."
"…It's warm at the mansion too."
I know that, but what does this have to do with me?
Jeho looked a little frustrated after seeing my expression, and spoke more convincingly.
"Haven't you warmed up a lot already? I heard there are plenty of pictures on the forum, so you must have been like for a while."
"I wanted to spend time for Uisin-ah, so I took the long route."
"…For Student Junyeol to answer so cheerfully, did you get corrupted by Yong Jegeon?"
Jeho said some incomprehensible thing that made me think he'd been corrupted by Baekho instead. How could the kind and clever Yeom Junyeol ever get corrupted?
"You've been warmed up already, so don't go to the Dragon Palace for nothing."
"What's wrong with going to the Dragon Palace? If Uisin-ah and Junyeol want to go, then I'll happily guide them there."
"No one asked for your help."
"But Uisin-ah might feel worried if he hears Junyeol went home on his own. Won't his hands get cold again? Jeho, do you want our benefactor's hands to get cold?"
"That… Obviously I don't want that."
"Uisin-ah will be worried if he doesn't go. So let's go already."
"…Uh? I'm not going."
"It'll be safer if it's all four of us. Right, Uisin-ah?"
I hesitated after seeing Jeho's baffled expression, and hesitated even more at Yong Jegeon's delighted expression. If Yong Jegeon wants something, it's probably something bad…
But before I could confirm my thoughts.
"Master, please come home with me."
"Okay."
Since my disciple asked me to, of course I'll do it.
As a result, the dragons successfully kidnapped two people at once.