Chapter 34

Kim In-ho woke up and washed his face. He felt groggy.

He wanted to sleep more, but he would’ve been late for the appointment.

Stumbling to the bathroom, he looked in the mirror. A zombie stood there. It was a zombie that had barely slept after tossing and turning until 4 a.m.

At the sight of his dreadful appearance, he thought, “Should I cancel the appointment?” But he held back. It would’ve been rude.

Still, after showering and applying lotion, he looked decent enough.

In front of the full-length mirror in his room, Kim In-ho pondered.

“What should I wear?”

The checkered shirt was a no-go. He never really liked it, and it had a bad reputation.

The sweater and polo shirt were also out.

After much deliberation, Kim In-ho chose a safe but very clean, non-offensive outfit. A shirt and jeans. If this didn’t suit someone, it was because clothes just didn’t suit them.

He didn’t make the mistake of carrying a backpack and wore canvas shoes instead of sneakers.

Nice.

Feeling like a freshman again (he had gone to the military right after starting university and was now back in his second semester of the first year), Kim In-ho headed to the meeting spot.

The clock tower near the movie theater. Arriving there, he checked the time.

He was 50 minutes early. He had worried about waking up late, but thankfully, he made it on time.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Kim In-ho looked around. It was about time for Han Yoorim to arrive.

And then he immediately froze.

He had made eye contact with a girl.

“It’s Min Chaewon.”

Min Chaewon. A fellow part-time worker at the movie theater, known for being blunt and tough (presumably), making her hard to get close to.

Was she meeting her boyfriend?

Not wanting to attract attention and risk a confrontation (paranoia), Kim In-ho cautiously tried to move to the other side—

“Mr. Kim In-ho?”

Min Chaewon called out, stopping him in his tracks.

“Why is Min Chaewon talking to me?”

In an instant, a hundred delusions flashed through Kim In-ho’s mind. We won’t go into specifics due to privacy concerns.

Min Chaewon, wearing sunglasses, continued.

“You’re early. Yoorim unnie is at the café. Follow me.”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t Yoorim unnie call you to come?”

“No, she did, but…”

What’s going on?

Dazed, Kim In-ho followed Min Chaewon and quickly checked the message he received yesterday.

Han Yoorim: Want to go shopping tomorrow? I’ll pay.

…This wasn’t meant to be a one-on-one date.

He wanted to scream internally, but instead, he sighed and entered the café.

Inside the antique-themed interior, something caught Kim In-ho’s eye.

Bright blonde hair that seemed to steal all the sunlight in the world. Clear blue eyes like the sky. A face that perfectly matched the word “flawless.”

He could never get used to it.

Calming his trembling heart, Kim In-ho approached Han Yoorim.

“Unnie.”

“You’re early?”

“You’re early too, unnie.”

“I’m always like this. Hmm.”

Han Yoorim’s scrutinizing gaze made Kim In-ho shrink. Why is she looking at me like that?

After staring at Kim In-ho, Han Yoorim slowly nodded and then poked Min Chaewon’s side.

“I told you, right? See?”

“Yeah. You’re right.”

What’s right? What’s going on? Feeling slightly left out, Kim In-ho was about to feel hurt when Han Yoorim spoke.

“Actually, today… Chaewon unnie is buying me clothes.”

So that’s why Min Chaewon is here.

But why?

“The reason is, I bought some popular items from an online shopping mall and tried them on. As soon as I heard about it, I thought of you.”

“Me?”

“You use the same site as me, right?”

The secret code he just heard meant his fashion sense was trash.

He should’ve just stayed feeling left out.

Stunned by the shocking revelation, Kim In-ho froze. Han Yoorim sipped her Americano and spoke.

“You’ve done a lot for me, and I’m grateful. So while buying my clothes, I thought I’d buy you some too.”

“…You could’ve told me other people were coming.”

“Didn’t I? Oh, I didn’t. I thought you and Chaewon unnie knew each other, so I didn’t mention it. Sorry.”

Han Yoorim bowed her head in apology.

That’s all fine, but one question arose.

“You thought I knew Min Chaewon?”

“Don’t you?”

“We’re coworkers, but that’s not the context here. You thought we were close, right?”

“At least I thought you felt some familiarity with Chaewon unnie.”

Why did she think that? Does she think everyone likes me just because I’m pretty?

Not entirely wrong, but it’s not that extreme.

Confused, Kim In-ho furrowed his brows, and Han Yoorim asked.

“Do you not watch my broadcasts?”

“I don’t really catch live broadcasts. If you had a MTube channel, I’d watch, but you don’t.”

“I do.”

“You only post game PVs.”

“Then you don’t know what I do on broadcasts.”

He barely knew. Even when he tuned in, he’d turn it off after 10 seconds.

Han Yoorim glanced at Min Chaewon, seeking some kind of agreement. When Min Chaewon nodded, Han Yoorim began to explain.

“Min Chaewon is also a broadcaster.”

“A broadcaster?”

“Yeah. I’m surprised you didn’t know. How could you not know?”

“Regular people are more indifferent to streamers than you think. Big MTube channels are like celebrities, but I’m not that famous. Not just Kim In-ho, but others probably don’t know either.”

For a moment, Kim In-ho felt the urge to search Min Chaewon’s name. But he held back. It was almost an iron will.

Unaware of Kim In-ho’s struggle, Han Yoorim took a bite of chocolate cake and widened her eyes.

“This place. The desserts seem handmade. They’re amazing.”

“So, unnie. What does Min Chaewon being a broadcaster have to do with me?”

“Huh? Oh. I thought you’d watch her broadcasts since I’ve been involved with her a lot on stream. You get curious when you see someone often, right?”

“Is that related to familiarity?”

“Viewers naturally feel an internal closeness to broadcasters.”

He didn’t quite get it, but he decided to let it slide.

It was tiring to hear more.

“Unnie, let’s go.”

At Min Chaewon’s urging, Kim In-ho moved to the destination with Han Yoorim.

It had been a long time since he’d been to a department store. These days, everything is ordered online, so there’s hardly any reason to visit offline stores.

Min Chaewon skillfully navigated the department store, recommending clothes to Han Yoorim.

One out of ten times…

Kim In-ho also recommended some clothes.

“Hmm.” “Hmm.” “I like it.” “Hmm.” “Gasp.” “Wow.” “Kya.” “Pya.” “This is nice.” “Hmmmm.”

These were Han Yoorim’s reactions every time Min Chaewon brought out clothes.

It seemed her taste was quite firm, but it was unclear why she only wore popular items from clothing shopping malls like herself.

Kim In-ho’s clothing recommendations, which were more of a side task, ended quickly.

As she handed over the clothes, Min Chaewon advised, “In-ho, you should wear darker tones because of your skin color.”

There were many other explanations, but they sounded like alien language, so he couldn’t remember anything beyond that.

After quickly handling Kim In-ho, Min Chaewon wandered around the department store to tackle the main dish, Han Yoorim, and about two hours later, she muttered softly.

“Unnie.”

“Yes.”

“Are you really only going to wear this kind of stuff?”

“Isn’t it pretty?”

“Anything would look good on you if you were the model.”

Min Chaewon sighed. It seemed she didn’t like the clothes Han Yoorim picked, but honestly, Kim In-ho couldn’t relate.

Isn’t it good?

He wasn’t the only one who thought so.

Han Yoorim also tilted her head and spoke.

“Isn’t it good?”

“It is, but it’s too…”

“Too?”

“It’s the kind of clothes that guys with a certain taste like.”

“What kind of taste?”

“…Otaku.”

At that, Kim In-ho flinched. He had trauma from a girl who looked like Min Chaewon saying “otaku.”

He subtly checked Han Yoorim’s reaction. He was worried she might get creeped out and change all the clothes.

But contrary to his expectations, Han Yoorim smiled brightly.

“No wonder.”

“No wonder?”

“I wondered why I only liked those kinds of clothes. It’s because I’m an otaku. I’m quite deep into it, I must say.”

Han Yoorim puffed out her chest. Kim In-ho also puffed out his chest.

Min Chaewon glared at Kim In-ho (he moved suddenly, so she looked. No particular intention). Immediately, Kim In-ho’s back shrank.

Han Yoorim picked up the shopping bags and moved.

“Shopping is done. Let’s go eat quickly, I’m hungry.”

“I made a reservation.”

The restaurant Min Chaewon reserved was a Korean restaurant with a stylish hanok.

The reserved place was a private room. Following the guide, they entered the room, and Han Yoorim sat down. Min Chaewon sat next to her.

Kim In-ho sat in the empty seat, across from Han Yoorim.

“I reserved here because unnie likes Korean food. Did I do well?”

“Lately, I’ve been craving Korean food, but I like all kinds of food.”

So she doesn’t picky about food. After mentally noting that, Kim In-ho drank some water.

After a short wait, the appetizers came out.

Abalone stew, grilled pine mushrooms, and salad.

All served on individual plates, it felt like being at a course meal restaurant.

Picking up his chopsticks, Kim In-ho hesitated and decided to try the salad first. It was the most familiar.

There were fruits in the salad.

Various kinds.

Apples, tangerines, peaches—.

“Peach?”

Kim In-ho looked up.

Han Yoorim was eating the salad.

Kim In-ho urgently shouted.

“Unnie, this is peach!”

“Huh?”

Despite Kim In-ho’s warning, Han Yoorim put the salad in her mouth.

Chew chew. Gulp.

Han Yoorim said.

“It is peach.”

“No. That.”

Kim In-ho’s mind was filled with hooks, and he stammered.

The gaze is piercing. Specifically, Min Chaewon’s gaze is piercing.

I want to turn back time.

Buzz. Vibration sound. Min Chaewon took out her smartphone and went outside, asking for understanding.

“Unnie, just a moment. I need to take a call.”

Left alone, Han Yoorim kept moving her chopsticks. The clinking sound filled the room.

Should I go out too?

Not knowing what to do after causing a scene, Kim In-ho fidgeted.

Han Yoorim ate a grilled pine mushroom and said.

“You remember well? I only mentioned it in passing.”

“So I remembered correctly!”

Kim In-ho jumped up.

About three weeks ago. When Han Yoorim visited Kim In-ho’s house, she clearly said she couldn’t eat peaches, but this time she ate them without hesitation, which confused him.

So I remembered correctly.

Why did unnie lie about that?

“Hmm.”

Han Yoorim looked Kim In-ho over. Her gaze was strange, so Kim In-ho sat down awkwardly.

Han Yoorim put down her chopsticks and spoke.

“In-ho.”

“…Yes.”

“Did you come out 50 minutes earlier than the appointment time because of me?”

“Unnie, it seems like your habit…”

Did I do something wrong?

Did she take my joke too seriously?

What if she thinks I’m a stalker?

Kim In-ho bowed his head. What to do. What to—.

“Bam bam bam.”

A sound effect that drained his energy made him look up.

Han Yoorim was eating the abalone stew with a blank expression.

“Congratulations. The Han Yoorim route has been liberated. Strive further to uncover the truth.”

“Huh?”

“Chaewon’s restaurant selection skills are good. So far, there’s no bad choice.”

Han Yoorim resumed her meal as if nothing happened.

Kim In-ho leaned back in his chair, his tension easing.

Often, frequently.

There were many times when unnie’s words didn’t make sense.

Really.

“But thanks to In-ho, one problem has been solved.”

“What problem?”

“I’ve decided what kind of game to make.”

Clink. Han Yoorim put down her water glass and declared.

“The next game will be a visual novel. The protagonist is a re-taker. It’s all thanks to In-ho.”

He didn’t know why it was thanks to him, but he decided to let it go.

He wouldn’t understand even if he asked.