There could be a possibility of terrorism near the kindergarten Shiba attended.
How should one react to such information?
Naturally, one should try to eradicate it, and if that fails, leaving the kindergarten would be the only option.
It was impossible to simply ignore even the slightest risk.
"What are you thinking so hard about, Shiheon?"
Byeol, with her arms crossed and pressing close to me, pouted her lips at me.
"Do you know how hard I've worked for this day? Don't think about anything else, just look at me, only me!"
But that's the thing.
My mind kept drifting that way.
I smiled bitterly at Byeol's face, and she, not liking my reaction, cutely stomped her feet.
By space magic, we arrived at the Seoul Department Store.
A very typical date for couples, she said, 'Let's go shopping now!' and pulled me into the store.
Of course, my space magic played a role in getting here.
Without teleportation, we'd have to date at the academy amidst the gossiping students.
Still, Byeol wore a hat, given her high position as the vice-chairman.
"Got it. Why are you so desperate?"
"But so far, it's been Seyeong who monopolized you. Or what, you don't like gamers or what~!"
Byeol playfully patted my shoulder.
As I feigned pain and moved away, she stopped hitting and rubbed her cheek against her arm.
I felt a sadistic pleasure toward Jin Dallae that I didn't understand.
I shrugged my shoulders teasingly at her.
"Was it really only Seyeong who monopolized me?"
"…!"
Byeol's shocked face.
"Yo…."
Unable to speak properly, she stood dumbfounded, then punched my shoulder hard.
"Yo, you damn thing!"
"Ouch!"
"Talking about another girlfriend in front of your girlfriend… You're too much! Do you know what you did?"
"What then."
"Like taking your girlfriend to a PC room to teach her StarCraft, but not teaching her anything and just panicking while she uses 4 drones!"
What an analogy.
I kind of understood it, which made it even more amazing.
The girlfriend wouldn't even grasp the concept of population; she just kept making workers until it's 'Oppa, what do I do?' and then zerglings chase her back to her base.
The worst boyfriend ever.
Her analogy was quite accurate.
"I'm sorry."
Byeol narrowed her eyes like a cat at my straightforward apology.
She looked at me nonchalantly, then suddenly grinned and stretched out her arms.
Her large movements made her lightly worn dress flutter.
"…Then, why don't you hug me?"
"Yay."
"Hehe… I can finally brag to my parents~"
"Got a boyfriend? What will they say?"
"Hey~ With Shiheon, he's top husband material! Let's go to the graveyard together sometime. My mom and dad would welcome you with open arms. 'Our pretty girl who only knows gaming brought a guy~' Hehe."
"The graveyard… Ah."
It seemed that Byeol's parents had long passed away.
Seeing me lost for words and not responding, Byeol playfully slapped my buttock.
"Why? It's common these days."
"Is it? I haven't heard such stories much."
"Shiheon? That's surprising… Well, it's really nothing. Let's see… when was it?"
Byeol hooked her arm into mine and started walking around the department store.
"…Just. I used to be a real nerd back then. A hikikomori? Locked in my room playing games. Well, that's still the same now."
"Yes."
"So… Flower. You heard today, right? My parents were killed in a terror attack by those bastards."
"I see."
"I realized then. Ah… Staying locked up at home, I was really stupid. Funny, isn't it?"
"No. That's quite impressive."
"Hehehe say it's funny. Just."
Byeol laughed bitterly and turned towards the women's clothing.
Everyone had a painful past, but it's usually tough to overcome it and lead a normal life.
Byeol was brightly getting over hers.
And those damn Flowers breaking such a kind family…
…These Flower bastards were always popping up.
Byeol continued her old story with hearty laughter.
Her coy actions and the smile she showed me did not seem like those of a woman who had been hurt.
Ironically, Byeol's assertive appearance seemed even sadder.
"So I realized, ah~ this isn't right. But, oh? Like a character out of a novel, I was the one with charisma and talent."
"Wow… that's totally."
"Like a manga?"
Byeol, with her arms still crossed, flexed one arm. She struck a muscle-showing pose and laughed.
"So this gamer Byeol went to the Academy!"
"Ah."
"But I was a nerd, not good at talking, just studied and trained. I became friends with Seyeong, but she was my only friend."
"So your friendship began there."
"Yep yep. She's really nice, aside from her bad temper…. Anyway, Byeolmonogatari doesn't end there."
Byeolmono… Ah, Byeol's story.
Byeol, still unbelievably, mixed Korean and Japanese as she spoke, placing her hand on her chest.
"Continuous victories at the Academy. Eventually got a job and rose to Vice Chairman, the youngest worldwide!"
"That's the best."
"Yep yep. Do I seem special now?"
Honestly, until now… perhaps because of her personality, she didn't seem like a remarkable person.
Falling in love easily, putting herself down.
Who would believe that such a person actually held significant achievements as the Vice Chairman of the association?
That's amazing.
I slightly uncrossed my arms and said to Byeol.
"You've really been through a lot."
"…Yeah. But, well~ I actually wanted to marry more than I wanted a job!"
"Hahaha. Good for you."
I patted Byeol, who was wearing a hat, on her head.
At that moment, Byeol stopped walking and looked at me with wide eyes.
"You've grown up well. Anyone else might have broken down."
"…Right?"
"I've also had my share of issues, but I lived like a fool for over ten years."
I admired that aspect.
Me, disillusioned with life and feeling empty due to problems with my father.
Until just before hearing Byeol's story, I hadn't thought it strange that I had grown up in the wrong direction.
"Really?"
"Yes. But seeing Byeol, who had worse experiences and grew up cheerfully… It's quite, well."
Byeol, realizing I had similar experiences, looked up at me with eyes brimming with concern.
She spoke of herself so nonchalantly. Yet, when it came to hearing about me, she was different.
What could I say to Byeol?
Pondering, I settled on just one phrase that came to mind.
"I thought you turned out better than expected. I see you in a new light today. Haha."
"…Ah."
Byeol's pupils suddenly fluctuated upon hearing my words.
Her pupils, shaped like stars, moved left and right once, up and down once.
And gradually, Byeol's lively expression broke, and her lips quivered.
"So, that's it? Ha. Haha. Better than expected, what? I've always been a capable person."
Byeol, having fixed her expression, looked defiant as she poked my waist, but the face she had just shown was not easily forgotten.
"Enough! Let's go buy some clothes."
"Yeah, yeah."
A well-fitting outfit, a yellow couple's t-shirt, and accessories like earrings.
Led by Byeol, we successfully completed our date without any work-related conversation, deciding to part with smiles.
"I was going to nag since it's been a while… but I let it go because you're pretty."
"I'm fine with it. Should we go to a motel?"
"…Enough. I just want to keep this feeling as it is."
9 PM.
Byeol, holding the clothes we bought, took a step away from me, her cheeks shyly blushed, her eyes dripping with sweetness. Suddenly, her gaze seemed deeper than before.
"Hey."
Byeol, who had been slightly awkward in treating me, now spoke in a much more relaxed tone.
"Yes?"
"…Even if I am a mistress, are you going to let your girlfriend go like this?"
Byeol, flickering her lips, sent a provocative signal to me.
When I took a step forward, Byeol, full of mischief, smiled and stepped back.
"What are you doing?"
"There's no tree that won't fall after ten strikes! Keep coming, keep coming."
Jump.
Byeol stepped back again as I took a step forward.
Feeling somewhat stubborn, I walked towards her as if running three steps.
At that moment, Byeol took off her hat and pouted her lips.
Softly intertwined tongues and fluffy lips. The scent of the other person brushing against my nose.
A droplet of saliva, like the sweet taste of starfruit, fell from Byeol's mouth onto the sidewalk paving stone.
Crackle.
The light above us on the utility pole flickered once.
When the light came back on, Byeol had already detached her mouth, still smiling innocently and cutely.
"…Mistress. Promotion to wife?"
"If only you spoke well, how nice that would be."
"…Hehehe. What can I do about being such a Byeol~"
Byeol laughed heartily, ran away, and looked back at me from afar, waving happily.
"Still, I wasn't a nerd today, right~?"
This time, I acknowledged it.
Waving back, a satisfied Byeol left.
Pitter-patter. Her steps, like a cheerful elementary student, involuntarily made me laugh.
'…Looks like an outsider now.'
Outsider. A shorthand for someone who went around alone.
Seeing her cheeky behavior today, the innocent image of Byeol I felt seemed to shatter.
Still, there's no need to say that out loud.
The atmosphere was perfect for parting.
I cherished the sight of Byeol disappearing on the horizon until the last moment.
Vibrate!
The vibrating sound of my cell phone. I pulled it from my pocket and deciphered each word of the received message:
Byeol is dancing: Today was nice!Byeol is dancing: But why didn't you insist on going to the motel till the end? Are you tired of my body or what!Byeol is dancing: (Angry emoticon)
'…She has issues.'
Byeol was still being Byeol.
In a dim back alley, men clad in robes that concealed their presence sat atop a pile of scrap metal, smoking rolled flower petals.
"Phew… So? When are we starting?"
"Don't know. It's up to the leaders, not us. We just follow orders."
"What are they even using this drug for?"
One man pulled out a magic-processed glass bottle, peered at the purple liquid inside, and mused aloud.
"…Hmm. Not drugs, more like a stimulant, that sort of thing."
Among the members of Flower, it's rumored that it granted eternal life.
But, of course, if that rumor were true, they wouldn't be using civilians as test subjects.
So, it must be a clinical trial. Something along those lines.
"It extends life, forcibly expands the magical reservoir, and pushes potential to the limits. Good grief. When petrified, does the power double?"
Almost the perfect drug, really.
He was genuinely curious about what would happen once this reagent was complete.
"Even if it's completed, it's not like we'll get to use it."
"…Right?"
The man yawned, returned the glass bottle to his magic pocket, and stepped out of the alley for some fresh air.
A couple embracing each other across the street was particularly annoying to see.
Not much longer now.
A man standing beside a leader echoed the sentiment.
The middle-aged man, looking paranoid and frequently biting his lips, gathered phlegm and spat it onto the ground.
"Ptui."
The discarded cigarette was carelessly tossed aside, and the man swaggered back into the alley.
His thick spit mingled with the paving stones.