The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]
Chapter 131: I’m Not Here!

Chapter 131: I’m Not Here!

Lane parked his car on the guarded airport parking.

"Okay, you’ll go in first with Lane, and then I’ll join you as Xavier!" he told Ava, as he climbed onto the back seat - as Xavier - covering himself with a blanket. It was only for a while, ten, fifteen minutes at most, but he didn’t want anyone passing by to notice that someone was sleeping in the car. Just in case they tried knocking on the window or something, and ended up alerted because he wouldn’t wake up. He fixed up a radio ear piece on his ear...

And switched.

"Let’s go." He fixed up another ear piece - this time as Lane Allen - and got out of the car.

All three of them had the ear pieces. It was far easier to communicate that way, through radio, than having Ava call different phones to give him urgent messages.

They headed straight for the luggage check-in, to get to the gate area. There was still a lot of time - it wasn’t even 12 yet, and their flight was scheduled for 2:45 PM - but the sooner they got through with it the better.

The spatial bag was left with Xavier - with his Association’s ID, only he could bring one aboard without any restrictions. Ava could get herself a permit, but it was kind of a bother, a lot of paperwork, so she didn’t, as for Lane... Well, Lane didn’t even have the Esper license, and was unaffiliated, so there was no way he could get one!

Their carry-on bags were checked - they were almost empty, save for their phones and documents - so it all went quick and well.

At least at first.

They were walking through the waiting area, wanting to take a seat in some quiet, hidden corner of some cafe, when all of a sudden, Lane ducked behind the nearest chairs.

It was so unexpected, that Ava didn’t even notice at first. She took a few more steps forward before she realized that her friend was no longer next to her.

"Um... Lane?" She glanced back at the man, her brows instantly rising high up her forehead at the ridiculous sight.

Lane was crouching behind the chairs, all curled up in himself. The chairs - just regular, simple, plastic airport chairs - didn’t hide him well, so he was pulling his hood deep down his head. His panicked eyes were so wide they were practically bulging out their sockets, and he was desperately pressing a finger to his lips in a hushing gesture, glancing between Ava and some other place...

Confused, Ava followed his gaze.

Ah.

She stepped closer to Lane, setting herself in-between Lane and the people he was clearly wary of. It still wasn’t enough to fully conceal him, as she had a much smaller frame, but at least he appeared less conspicuous now.

"You do remember you’re Lane Allen now?" she asked in a hushed voice, still a bit perplexed.

"Yeah... But it doesn’t make it any better."

"...What do you mean?"

"I’ve met him not long ago. In my real body." Lane cast another glance at Damien. What the hell was the man still doing here? Their plane was supposed to take off like an hour ago... It wasn’t because of Lane, was it? The rest of the delegation was also there, so probably not. Their plane must have been delayed, or something along those lines.

What a rotten luck.

"Okay, so? He doesn’t know you’re that guy he dates, right? Unless... He suspects something?"

"Damn straight." Lane glanced Damien’s way again.

And he had to quickly turn back, because as if on clue, the man looked his way as well at the same time! And if their eyes were to meet, then Lane would be doomed, without a doubt!

"Can you distract him? So that I can move somewhere else."

"Hmm. Fine."

"See you in a while."

Ava swung her hair, hiding her ear piece, and approached Damien, leaving Lane behind.

Meanwhile Lane, afraid to even so much as glance Damien’s way now, pulled out his phone, and using his front camera, spied on what was happening behind his back. Once he saw Ava chat with Damien, he slowly, carefully, moved forward, along the row of chairs.

People were giving him weird looks... And perhaps he’d be better off just standing up and walking away normally... As long as Damien wouldn’t spot the pink hair...

But, Lane’s brain was so muddled up, that he failed to consider any of that. He just wanted Damien to see him at all, not even his back. Period.

After a long and arduous journey, he finally got far away, and dipped into the nearest cafe.

"I’m in Starcup," he whispered through the radio, as he went over to the counter, dusting off his clothes.

When Ava came to the coffee shop a few minutes later, he was already sitting by the table in the corner, the one most hidden from sight.

"So? Care to explain?"

"Ugh... It’s nothing much, really." Lane lay down on the table, resting his chin on his arms. "I just had my Routine Guiding recently... You know, back when I tried calling you so much? So I went to the Association, and happened to run into him. That was all, but his intuition is just insane!"

"Okay, so? Is it just because you said you can’t come, so you think it might be suspicious that Lane Allen appears at the airport around the same time?" Ava took a guess.

"Yeah, more or less."

"That’s stupid then," Ava couldn’t help but scoff. "You’d have to be an idiot to come to the airport in your real body when you knew that he was going to be here... Oh, wait." She paused, giving Lane a pointed look.

Lane gave her a dark look in return. "I didn’t know he was still going to be here, okay? Anyway, whatever. I’m gonna switch now, keep me updated."

Having said that, Lane buried his head in his arms, pretending to be taking a nap.

And a moment later, he opened his eyes back in the car.

He slowly sat up, stretching his waist, and reached for his - Xavier’s - phone. Only now did he notice that there was an unread message from Damien - since Lane disconnected in a rush, the man didn’t finish what he was going to say... And so he texted, [Our flight is delayed. If by any chance you will finish early, let me know. Perhaps you can still make it.]

Fuuuck.

Lane couldn’t help but swear inwardly. So it’s his own negligence that led to the situation... If he bothered to check his phone, he would, of course, still be in trouble, but would at least have known to watch out for Damien!

Well, there was no point complaining about it now. Lane checked his spatial bag, pushed the blanket away, and headed for the terminals.

And then his radio sounded out.

"He’s here! In the cafe!" Ava’s voice came from the end of the line.

Fuuuuuuuuuck!

Lane almost tripped on air.

There was no need to specify. He naturally knew exactly who Ava was talking about! He turned around on the spot, laughing helplessly at his own terrible luck, dived back into the car, shot the door...

And switched.