Chapter 63

“Phew…”

After the last ‘incident,’ Chise wasn’t sure how to view Gang Ian anymore.

Could it be that Sajan has a lover…?!

“Well, it would be strange if he didn’t, honestly.”

“…Sajan is quite handsome, after all.”

With long eyelashes and well-defined features, he had the kind of looks that wouldn’t be out of place in an idol group in Korea.

If the cafe were located in a bustling area, people might visit more to catch another glimpse of the owner’s face rather than for the coffee.

To Chise, Gang Ian was undeniably good-looking, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he was seeing someone.

‘But to do something so bold in a public place…!!’

Chise recalled the embarrassing scene.

Gang Ian had sat a slightly younger-looking woman on his lap, gazing at her with loving eyes. Seeing the woman’s flushed face, he smiled familiarly and gently stroked her cheek and lips.

Then, their faces gradually drew closer…

Ding-dong!

‘Sajan! I’m here…!!’

‘Ah.’

Seeing this, Chise, who had been secretly observing from outside, decided to act as if she knew nothing and barged into the cafe.

‘Why did I do that back then…’

She knew it was rude, but for some reason, she couldn’t just stand by and watch.

As a result, Chise found it difficult to face Gang Ian afterward.

It wasn’t strange.

She had suddenly encountered a side of him she hadn’t seen before, at the most unexpected moment.

‘Ugh…’

Chise was deeply embarrassed.

She was ashamed of the unintentional disruption she had caused.

Every time she thought about it, she felt awkward recalling the scene of him about to kiss a woman he had just sat on his lap.

‘Are you crazy, Tsukino Chise?’

In reality, it wasn’t something to overreact about.

Even though she was flustered, it was something that could have been brushed off as no big deal.

Yet, Chise found herself shaken over such a trivial matter.

‘…Could it be that I like Sajan?’

Personally, she thought he was a kind person.

He had helped her when she was lost, even making her a meal for free.

Every time they met afterward, Gang Ian allowed her to owe him without any conditions.

It would be a lie to say she didn’t feel any goodwill toward someone so handsome and kind.

‘But that’s just human kindness, not romantic feelings, right?’

“Phew…”

Whatever her feelings were, it didn’t matter now.

Even if her feelings were love, what could she do?

He already had a lover, and harboring romantic feelings for him would be wrong.

‘In the first place, Sajan probably doesn’t have any romantic feelings for me.’

To him, she was just a pitiful person.

A relationship more likely to evoke sympathy than love.

In the end, worrying about this was just foolish.

‘I should just apologize and make up with him.’

She hadn’t even properly repaid the kindness he had shown her.

In such a situation, causing trouble for her benefactor and ending the relationship awkwardly?

As the hero Phantom Luna, that was absolutely unacceptable.

Ding-dong!

“Hello, welcome…”

Having sorted out her thoughts, Chise slowly opened the cafe door.

Gang Ian, seeing Chise, stopped speaking.

“Ah, um… Sajan. Hello?”

Chise smiled awkwardly at Gang Ian.

‘Ugh, this is awkward…’

Perhaps because of the unnecessary thoughts she had on the way, she felt even more suffocated.

Chise scratched her cheek and glanced at Gang Ian.

‘Really… I shouldn’t have overthought this…’

“……”

It was only natural that he didn’t like her.

She didn’t feel the pain of rejection.

She just felt more sorry because it seemed like he was also being cautious around her.

“Tsukino-san.”

“..Um, I! I didn’t mean to see what I saw last time! I mean…!!”

Hearing Gang Ian call her name, Chise hurriedly tried to apologize.

She had planned to reconcile and settle things, but…

But.

“Would you like to go to the amusement park with me?”

“…Huh?!”

What is this supposed to mean?

***

Mmm…

“……”

After hearing Gang Ian’s invitation to the amusement park, Chise remained in a daze.

“..Chise, you’re spilling the soup.”

Even while eating.

“Hey, Chise! Watch out for the pole!”

Even while walking.

“Even if it’s just a simple patrol mission, you should do it properly.”

Even during her hero activities, she kept spacing out.

“……”

““……””

After watching Chise for a while, Suzuki and Kato exchanged glances.

Thud!

“!!Hey, Chise!”

While they were momentarily distracted, Chise bumped her head into a pole.

Startled, Suzuki and Kato rushed to her.

“Do you have something on your mind? You keep zoning out.”

“That’s right. Chise. Why are you like this today?”

They looked at her with concern, unable to hold back any longer.

“……”

Perhaps because she saw her friends’ worried expressions.

Chise lowered her head slightly, as if pondering.

“Everyone.”

She looked at her friends with a dazed expression, a slight blush on her face.

“..I got asked out on a date.”

“What?!”

“What did you say??”

Suzuki and Kato stared at Chise with wide eyes.

***

“The person is the owner of the cafe I often go to…”

“Considering he helped you when you were lost, he seems like a decent person, right?”

“Yeah…”

The usually confident Chise nodded shyly with a smile.

“But, this is my first time…”

While she felt a bit excited, she also felt very flustered.

“..I don’t even know if he’s interested in me.”

Having never been in a relationship before, the current situation felt entirely sudden.

Was this really a date?

How many meals should she skip to save money?

What should she wear?

“Maybe he likes you, that’s why he asked you out?”

Seeing her worried, Kato made a face as if it was obvious.

‘Is that so…?’

Chise recalled what had happened the day before.

‘Actually, I’ve been busy lately, so I was thinking of taking a few days off.’

‘I was considering going to an amusement park, which I’ve never been to since I was a kid.’

‘But, embarrassingly, I don’t have anyone to go with…’

The cafe owner had looked at her with a clear smile.

Was that because he was interested in her?

“..He said he’s never been to an amusement park and wanted to go this time.”

When she saw it, it seemed like he just wanted to go to the amusement park…

“Come on, no way. Chise! Saying he has no one to go with? That’s clearly a lie.”

“From what I saw, it seemed like an excuse.”

Her friends shook their heads, starting to interpret the hidden meaning behind his actions.

“Even if it’s not a lie, why would he specifically choose Chise? There must be a reason he wants to share his first amusement park experience with Chise.”

“…Does he not have any friends?”

“No! It’s because he has feelings for you, isn’t it?”

Kato, frustrated, thumped his chest.

Is that so?

Under her friends’ persistent persuasion, Chise herself began to feel convinced.

“But there’s another concern, there are a lot of women around him…”

“Ah, having many women around can be a bit concerning.”

“Yeah, that can be a bit worrying. But if he’s popular and handsome, it’s natural for the opposite sex to be attracted to him, right?”

“That’s true.”

Chise’s words made Kato and Suzuki nod in agreement.

‘…I was going to ask what to do if he was hugging someone.’

Having missed the timing to speak, she sighed softly and began to listen to her friends’ advice.

“But the fact that he chose you out of all those people makes me think you don’t need to worry so much.”

“That’s also true.”

Isn’t it proof that he’s completely smitten with Chise?

Suzuki said with a sly smile.

‘Completely smitten… huh…’

“..Is that so?”

“You can trust our words. Chise.”

After a long session of advice, Chise felt a bit better.

Regaining her energy, she stood tall with a confident smile and looked at her two friends.

“Thanks for the advice, Kato-san, Suzuki-san!”

I think I caused you both a lot of trouble today!

Seeing her cheerful smile, Kato and Suzuki finally relaxed and smiled back.

“Actually, I was worried that Sajan might already have someone…!! But the fact that he asked me out means he doesn’t have a special relationship with that person, right?”

“?”

That’s a relief..!

But as Chise continued, their smiles froze.

“Just in case, I was worried I might become a mistress or something, but it seems like I was just overthinking it!”

“What are you talking about…?”

It’s natural for attractive people to have many admirers.

But among all those people, he chose Chise to go to the amusement park with!

‘Then, maybe there was a reason for him hugging that woman?’

Judging solely based on that situation might not be accurate.

Can’t we just ask about the situation later?

Anyway, what’s important now is that he might be interested in her.

“Wait, Chise…”

“I’ll head out first!”

With a bright smile, Chise said she would go prepare for the amusement park tomorrow and bid farewell.

She then ran off with quick steps.

“..Wait, Chise!! Everything you just said is canceled!! Canceled!!!”

Kato, who had finally come to his senses, called out to Chise, but she had already disappeared.

***

The next day.

Before heading out, Chise checked her appearance.

A white blouse with a cozy brown knit over it.

To give off a more mature and calm vibe, she wore a dark navy skirt and knee-high socks.

A classic date outfit.

It might feel a bit warm for the current weather, but seeing her pretty reflection in the mirror, Chise smiled with satisfaction.

‘Shall we go then?’

With an inexplicably excited heart, Chise headed to the meeting spot.

As she got closer, her heart began to race.

Step. Step.

This could be considered her first date.

Given that her partner was an extremely handsome man, it was natural for her heart to flutter.

‘Ah, we’re almost there!’

Finally arriving at the meeting spot, what Chise saw was…

“You’re early, Tsukino-san.”

“Hello.”

“..Ah.”

Gang Ian, smiling at her, and Gayeon, holding his hand tightly and waving with the other.

‘..So it’s not just the two of us.’

“Hello…!”

She quickly smiled and greeted them, but a faint sense of disappointment momentarily crossed Chise’s face.

---