[Magical Girl Sun’s Reduced Vigilance Critique, Applause During the Interview]
[‘Well Said’ Magical Girl Sun, A Commendable Critique to Animal Rights Group]
[‘Don’t Mistake Monsters for Pets’ A Resonating Statement….]
[Animal Protection Group Cancels Scheduled Protests…Was Sun’s Critique a Major Influence?]
[With a Scream, ‘It’s a Monster!’ The Animal Protection Group’s True Nature Revealed….]
After returning home, I could see the positive reactions to my actions through the articles.
Simultaneously, there were negative reactions towards the animal protection group.
It’s truly astonishing to see how the world turns, the reporters are on my side.
After making a fuss, a call comes in from Senior Jiun.
The main topic of the conversation was about having seen the article and checking if I was okay—a usual concern and minor nagging she often gives.
“I’m fine, the reactions were quite good this time.”
“I was surprised thinking you got into trouble again.”
I was momentarily speechless hearing her voice through the smartphone.
Isn’t this enough to consider I got into trouble?
Did Senior Jiun sense the contradiction I was feeling? After a brief silence, her voice continued.
“No… it’s true that you did cause some trouble, isn’t it?”
“Right.”
“Well, anyway, I’m glad everything’s fine. How’s school going? I haven’t heard from you or Shiyeon lately.”
“Um….”
A curious sound mixed with a drawn-out reply.
School life? How should I explain this?
Should I mention that Shiyeon transferred to my school?
The kids at school, oblivious to everything, might brush it off as being abroad, but I can’t do that with her.
Forget it, I’ll just say something appropriate.
“It’s just so-so.”
“Is there no one bothering you?”
A common question that often arises when adults view students.
When I first heard the question, I thought Senior Jiun had eaten something bad.
“Oh, who would bother me?”
Bother me? Who?
I casually said, assuming that she was too preoccupied with raising Juwon.
However, the response was as if she was asking something entirely different….
“I mean, not that someone’s bothering you, but are there any kids you’re bothering, like Mary?”
It returned with an unperturbed question that had completely opposite implications.
Of course, I can be assertive, but that doesn’t mean I’m a villain.
On what grounds could she assume that I would bully a classmate?
“…What do you see me as?”
“Hehe. Just kidding… I’m glad to hear you’re doing well. Is Shiyeon doing okay?”
Talking about Shiyeon’s updates is always best when I hear it straight from her.
The sound of a keyboard clicking from the room.
I focused on the light visible through the door crack and casually spoke through the smartphone.
“She’s in her room; should I pass the phone to her?”
“Yeah, let me hear her voice for the first time in a while.”
“Uh-huh.”
I removed my ankle from the armrest where I had been lying sideways on the long sofa, turned my body, and stood up.
Walking boldly toward the room, I grabbed the doorknob, half-opened the door, and said,
“Shiyeon, it’s a call from Senior Jiun.”
I flung the door open and stepped inside with the smartphone extended in front of me.
What filled the screen was still a Japanese-style animation.
There were many male characters, but it looked like a wholesome sports show, right? Probably?
I left Shiyeon, who took the smartphone, and walked back to my room.
She would surely return the smartphone after the call.
‘What should I have for dinner….’
The refrigerator was quite empty except for essential foods like eggs and rice.
As I rummaged through the fridge, unable to decide what to eat, a beeping warning sound rang out from inside.
The sound rang out, indicating that the door was left open.
It almost sounded like the refrigerator was urging me to close it quickly.
In the end, I closed the fridge with a huff, still undecided about tonight’s dinner.
Hmph, I just stared at the inside for a while, and it screamed at me or something.
Just when I was fully engrossed in my thoughts, Shiyeon, having finished her call, came to the fridge and held out the phone.
“If Senior Jiun hasn’t had dinner, come to our house.”
“Oh.”
Surprised by the good news, I widened my mouth, and after hastily getting dressed in my underwear, I finished getting ready in the room.
I threw on black pants with white stripes and a plain gray long-sleeve shirt, along with my three-stripe slippers.
I figured I wouldn’t be going far, so I just hastily got dressed.
It was an outfit comparable to a man sitting under a parasol at a local convenience store.
Contrasting with Shiyeon, who wore sneakers and going-out clothes, I dragged my slippers along as I headed next door.
601 in Building 201.
Since Juwon might be sleeping, I lightly knocked instead of ringing the doorbell.
With a click, the door opened, and Shiyeon rushed in to greet them.
“Hello, we’ve come!”
“Welcome! Shiyeon, you’re getting prettier by the day.”
“Hehe.”
Shiyeon scratched her cheek shyly at the compliment she often received.
It was a fitting compliment for a middle schooler wearing her going-out clothes.
“Mary is…um, did something with her hair….”
On the other hand, I stood there barefoot in slippers.
Jiun’s eyes skimmed over my outfit with a hint of hesitation as I stood in my joggers and gray long-sleeve shirt.
What is it?
Why?
“Yep, still healthy!”
She said that while raising just her thumb, choosing to compliment my health rather than my appearance.
Why’s that with me?
During my rare visit to Senior Jiun’s home, it was quite apparent that there were baby supplies everywhere.
Notably, the rubber puzzle flooring and the multiplication tables stuck on the walls stood out.
It seemed like the house was transforming from a residence for adults to a home for kids each time I visited.
Since Juwon, the protagonist of this change, wasn’t visible, I glanced around and asked Jiun.
“Where’s Juwon?”
“He’s out for a walk with my husband; they should be back soon.”
As we entered the living room, each of us slipped off our sneakers or slippers in the entrance.
As soon as we gathered around the low table, the conversation began.
First up, tonight’s dinner.
It seemed that nothing had been prepared, as Senior Jiun immediately opened a delivery app.
“What do you two prefer? Bone-in? Boneless?”
“Isn’t boneless better because of Juwon?”
If asked to choose between bone-in and boneless, the answer is mostly chicken.
Would bone-in chicken be hard for Juwon to eat? I wondered.
However, as if she had already anticipated my question, she continued as she touched the delivery app, assured there wouldn’t be any problem.
“Juwon is Juwon, but for five people, one chicken isn’t enough.”
“What brand do you order from?”
“Just, according to taste here and there? The soy sauce is from McX…the fried is from HX… the seasoned is from PizzaX….”
After ordering one boneless fried chicken, fried chicken neck, one soy sauce-marinated chicken, and one seasoned chicken, the conversation naturally shifted to school matters.
It was a question that would eventually arise, but it came much earlier than expected.
“You two went to different schools, right? Was Shiyeon at an all-girls school?”
“Oh, well….”
Caught off guard by the sudden question, I trailed off, glancing at Shiyeon.
Do I have to say this myself?
Just then, Shiyeon quickly turned her head and directly spoke to Jiun.
“I had some trouble adjusting at my last school….”
“Now Shiyeon goes to Saewon Middle School.”
Shiyeon looked like it was tough to keep the conversation going.
She formed a V shape with her fingers, indicating we are at the same school, preventing the atmosphere from turning heavy.
“Oh really? Then you must be at the same school.”
“And in the same class too.”
“How great, that’s really good!”
With the added note of being in the same class, Jiun did a little seal clap and said it was great.
The circumstances of how they ended up there weren’t ideal, but at least being in the same school and class was the best outcome.
In addition, did you make many friends? Is there a boy you like?
Because we were at a coeducational school, I found myself inundated with such questions before April even rolled around.
Despite that, I had no romantic feelings for such individuals.
“I have a guy friend who goes to the PC bang, more like a gaming buddy.”
I answered nonchalantly while lying back and swinging my legs.
Jiun looked as if she knew I would respond that way; she stretched her mouth sideways, making a horrified expression.
“Oh dear.”
At that moment, the sound of baby shoes squeaking came from the front door.
The combination of the sound of the door lock being inputted and the sound of baby shoes made the entrance briefly noisy.
With a beep, the door opened, confirming that the password was entered correctly.
The squeaking shoes got closer.
Uncle Dae Han entered, looking surprised as he saw us sitting or lying in the living room.
“Oh? Why are you two here? Mary, you cut your hair short?”
“Hello~”
“We came to visit!”
As soon as he heard our voices, Juwon tightly held onto his dad’s hand with one hand, waving cheerfully with the other.
He still called out to us with incorrect pronunciation.
“Unnie, Unnie!”
“Juwon, you need to take off your shoes!”
Squeak, squeak, squeak, the shoes made a short rhythmic sound.
As soon as Uncle Dae Han released his hand for a moment, Juwon dashed toward him in quick steps….
Seeing this, Uncle Dae Han startled and reached out his arms, lifting Juwon before he could step inside.
He couldn’t stand dirt coming into the house.
“Juwon, go wash your hands and then sit down. I ordered chicken.”
In the fasting hours of the evening, chicken is always a good choice.
