Lunch Promise (4)
There was no way to refuse. Right now, I was totally cornered. There wasn't a single way to break out of this. I racked my brain as hard as I could. I gathered every last bit of my intelligence. My conclusion was simple: if I hadn't accepted the hanger, maybe it could've worked. If I'd just gone straight and said, "I can't wear this," before taking it...
Kuh. Water under the bridge now.
All sorts of thoughts flooded my head in this changing room.
"Hmm..."
The biggest one—and the most embarrassing—was taking up way too much space. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. The top was fine. A bit scratchy, that's all... No problem putting it on. I just didn't like how it felt around my neck. Not embarrassing. But the skirt. That was the real issue. I'd never worn one on stream before, so no tolerance built up. No tolerance meant it felt really embarrassing. I touched my ears—they were burning hot.
"What do I do."
I should just wear it, right? But people can feel embarrassed sometimes. I can feel embarrassed too. Ah, no. Nooo! Huh?! Whoa?? I just had a super bad thought. I shouldn't... But it's free... Take it first. Then sell it on Carrot Market later... Man, that was a really bad idea.
"No, can't think like that."
It's a gift... Can't sell it on Carrot! Bad thoughts forbidden. Can't throw away someone's goodwill like that! If I get caught, they won't buy me anything next time. But I have this feeling I won't wear it anyway. I can see the future clear as day. These clothes gathering dust in my closet. Later, I'll be like, no clothes to wear!! What do I do?! It's obvious what's gonna happen. Should I just be honest right now?
"When are you coming out?"
"Uh...? Oh, coming out now!"
Maru's voice pulled me out. I threw on the clothes she'd given me in a frenzy and stumbled out.
"Whoa... You gotta close the curtain next to you. Panties showing."
"Ah... Aaaah!"
I yanked the zipper up in a panic.
"Hm... Looks good..."
Maru naturally put her hands on my shoulders and spun me around. I went spin spin... spin spin... spin spin...
"Ugh. Dizzy."
Too many spins...!
"Ahaha. Who spins like that? Anyway, you pulled it off. Try this one too? I think it'd suit you better."
"Then we won't buy this one?"
"You wanna buy it?"
I shook my head vigorously. Still too much for me.
"No! I like the other one! I prefer pants."
"Pants...? Perfect. Pants it is this time. Look at these. Cute, right?"
Ugh... The type of pants I hate... Jeans. Not bright blue, but dark denim.
"Got it..."
I took them meekly... and shuffled back into the changing room.
Everything here was forcing big decisions. The lineup: scratchy high-neck top. Plaid skirt. Dark jeans. Total nope. But I'll try them on anyway.
"...No way. What the— Is this right?"
I just got hit with a massive shock. The waist wasn't loose. Me, who'd been skinny as an anchovy my whole life. My waist was... actually fitting... No belt needed...!
Jackpot... My dream come true. I was over the moon. Anchovy comments like "Put on some weight," "Eat more," "That's why you don't gain"—they stressed me out big time. My lifelong wish was average body weight.
People would tell me: Choco Pie makes you gain... I ate ten a day, no gain. Exercise bulks you up. Nope. Army makes you gain... Not even in basic. Any pants I wore, waistband flopping loose... Me... I... Overwhelmed. Tears almost came.
"This is it!"
I loved it. Historic pants. Won't wear them yet, but I'll treasure them in my closet.
"Gotta buy these."
I came out of the changing room.
"Ooh, suits you great. Like it?"
"Yeah! Look at this."
I stretched the waistband out wide.
"Nooo. Don't."
"Huh? Why? Look, perfect fit. No belt needed. Amazing, right?"
"Ah... No, still, don't do that here. Gotta restrain yourself."
Ah! Got it. My behavior's embarrassing right now. Mom always said that. Aww, don't do that. This is exactly it. Not sure what's wrong, but anyway, can't do it...!
"O-okay!"
"Buying these?"
"Yes! I'll take 'em."
"Great. Anything else? Wear 'em next time we meet? Promise."
Maru stuck out her pinky. Pinky promises must be kept... But. I wanna stash these historic pants. Collector urge kicking in hard... My hand shook as I hooked my pinky.
"Promised."
"Yup..."
Maru paid. Wait. No. The scratchy high-neck. Plaid skirt. Dark jeans. Gray furry jacket. Didn't expect all that. I wanted just the pants. Got... played. But I bowed deeply in thanks.
"Th-thank you!"
"Ehehehe. You're welcome~"
"I'll... try to make good use of them."
I'll try.
"Try? Wear 'em next time. Promise."
"H-huh."
"Why the gasp?"
"No... I'll try. Thank you!"
I took the bag of clothes.
After that, Maru and I chatted over choco tea at a cafe. Honestly, I just said "yeah" a lot, so I barely remember what we talked about. Felt more tired than anything.
"Uwaa... Exhausted."
Shopping wiped me out. Sleepy... Nap or not? Passed out flat.
Woke up at 9. Jumped in shock and fired up the stream right away.
"H-hi everyone."
"Today... uh... yeah. What to do?"
Eyes won't open. I rubbed them and stared at chat. Chat flooded with question marks.
Always nothing to do. Always studying, but no clothes fit me. "Suggestions? Content ideas welcome."
As expected. Question marks and "rice eating" spam everywhere. Used to it now.
"Hmm... Nothing. Wanna hear what I did today? Why so late...? Raise hands if yes!!"
"C-cursing...? Foot I get. But what's 'foot'?"
Foot okay. But foot spam hurts my feelings.
"No cursing! Time-out. So, what I did today... I'll tell ya."
Deep breath. Recall the day. Talking differs from thinking. Even perfect thoughts glitch when spoken.
"From the start, slow... Lunch today. Ramen... with Maru... again."
Gotta communicate. Muttering to myself... It's fine. Fine. Watched tons of comms vids. Like them, go slow. Plenty of time. Sena, time's on your side. Stay focused, comms ain't hard. Slow... relax... try.
"Had lunch today... Guess the menu?"
"Ah~ Comms in progress... Immerse yourselves. Again."
Comms mode, but they gotta be curious even with spoilers. Want responses like "Ooh lunch? What'd ya eat???"
"Lunch today—what was the menu?"
Sharp eyes, everyone. Good good!
"All wrong! Ramen it was."
"No... Not cup ramen. Real ramen shop, Japanese-style. I had tonkotsu. Delicious."
Good start. Now the real fun begins. Unwind what I saw entertainingly. Hmm, from where? Chat's the answer when stuck.
"Story time for real now. Questions welcome."
"Who paid? Maru covered it all. Oh! She bought me clothes too... Just the clothes... uh... 650,000 won!"
Ah, slip-up. Clothes shop too early. Rushed ahead.
"Back... Clothes shop later. Focus on ramen house now. Sorry."
Ha... Comms skills still lacking. Plan was ramen full story... then clothes quick... then cafe. No, mental reset. Try again. Not hard. Slow again.
"Redo. Sorry. From start. Clothes first— no, ramen first. Too far back maybe... Me, um. Ah! Yes!"
Comms weak, but storytelling. Nail that, recover all mistakes.
"Maru's eating style incoming."
Most memorable first. Thought she'd devour fast, stream-style. Shocked me.
"She puts noodles on spoon, chews 'em slow. Wild, right? I slurped mine. Blew my mind."
End here? Amateur hour. "How do you guys eat yours?"
Hear answers, weave back into story. Perfect. Let's do it. I can.