Date Disguised as Investigation
Cream was weak to compliments. She didn't hear them often. Choi Rin was much the same.
She might seem vulnerable to praise, but that wasn't quite it. More precisely...
'She's weak to being treated like a woman.'
It was obvious, wasn't it? The tomboy Choi Rin. With her personality and looks so boyish, she wasn't used to being treated like a girl. Look at her now.
"What the hell are you talking about all of a sudden?! Ah~ It's so hot... Should I turn on the AC?"
Flustered, she was talking about cranking the air conditioner in October.
"Isn't it just a natural reaction for a guy?"
"Maknae... you're a pervert!"
Choi Rin fanned her face, trying to cool off.
"A beauty in her underwear? It's only natural for a man."
I pushed harder.
"Beauty... ugh... hey! You... kuhhh..."
Overwhelmed, Choi Rin finally snapped.
"This conversation's over! Done here!"
She shut it down completely. I wanted to tease her a bit more. Shame. Still, I could see progress, so I let it slide for now.
Clink—! Clink—!
Silent mealtime. Choi Rin's phone buzzed. A chance to escape the awkward vibe. Her expression relaxed.
"Hello? Oh, Hyeok. Yeah... got it. I'm with the maknae, so I'll head over now."
The caller was Kang Hyeok, apparently. She hung up and set down her spoon.
"What's up................................?"
"Sounds like a government request came in."
The flustered Choi Rin from moments ago was gone, replaced by a serious one.
"Maknae, you done eating?"
She glanced at my empty bowl.
"Licked it clean."
"Alright, let's go! Your first request, maknae!"
Choi Rin seemed genuinely excited as she jumped up. We followed her to the Hero Office.
I figured we'd take a car, but...
"Whoa~ Mom! It's the Omega Queen over there!"
Public transport it was.
"Just buy a car already."
"Flying's faster anyway..."
She had a license but no car. Her reason was ridiculous. We arrived at the Hero Office via crowded buses and subways. Inside was buzzing.
"Here."
Kang Hyeok handed over files casually. Choi Rin read them on the move. No words between them, but perfect sync.
"Straight to the briefing room. Everyone gather up!"
Staff snapped to attention at her shout.
"Maknae, in you come!"
My first hero meeting kicked off.
The government request tied back to the first-day incident. Those ability-suppressing bullets that briefly took out Choi Rin—they were loose in society now.
Kang Hyeok explained the suppressants, but it was a wall of jargon that went in one ear and out the other. All I caught was that they destroyed superhuman DNA. Weak heroes were permanently powerless. That's why it landed on Choi Rin.
"Safe rating?"
"A-grade. B-grades are iffy—some lost powers, some didn't."
Choi Rin pondered Kang Hyeok's answer.
"Maknae teams with me."
"No way! Too dangerous!"
My C-rank made it risky, he argued.
"It's a gut feeling. Maknae's fine."
"How many times have I said don't rely on hunches?"
Choi Rin trusted her instincts. Kang Hyeok demanded data. Clash.
"Okay, we're going together. Can't ignore the top hero's gut."
I sided against Kang Hyeok. Partly to woo Choi Rin, but I was confident too.
'Superhuman DNA, huh?'
I didn't have any. My world's abilities weren't DNA-based. Suppressants wouldn't touch me.
"Haa... if he insists. Can't be helped."
Kang Hyeok sighed and formed teams. Once set, Choi Rin and I headed out for investigation.
Day one: Zilch. Just nabbed regular villains. Wanted to slack, but bad first impression on day one? No thanks—hustled hard.
Day two: Nada. Other teams hit suppressant-wielding villains; we didn't.
"Sigh... why us only..."
I knew why. Choi Rin. Suppressants barely fazed her, and with her backup, villains steered clear. If Kang Hyeok were here instead? They'd swarm.
Day three: Choi Rin was getting antsy, using "investigation" as cover for playtime.
"We gotta act careless to lure 'em!"
She slurped a smoothie at a café. Looked like she'd order iced Americanos, but claimed bitter coffee was too much. Baby taste buds.
Day four: Full-on date now. Shopped everywhere, even claw machines.
"People'd think we're dating."
She blushed cutely at my joke.
Day five: Hit a clothing store. Learned her tastes up close. She pretended otherwise, but her eyes drifted to skirts. Comparing to her usual gear. Couldn't look away—liked 'em.
"Like 'em? Try 'em on."
Asked the spaced-out her.
"Huh? Nah. Wouldn't suit me..."
Trailing off.
'Push now.'
She'd cave with peer pressure.
"C'mon~ You'd rock it. Try it."
"I... said no!"
But eyes glued to skirts.
"This top'd match perfect."
Grabbed a complementary blouse.
"Hurry and change~! Maknae's begging!"
Shoved it at her.
"Aah~ F-f-fine. Whatever."
Reciting like a textbook, she hit the fitting room.
Choi Rin emerging? Stunning. Embarrassed, she swept back her hair.
"H-how's it look?"
Pretending nonchalance, but dying for my take.
"See? Told ya it'd suit. Gorgeous!"
"Ehehe—!"
Beaming at the praise, she bought it on the spot.
"We'll keep it like this! Lures villains better."
Lame excuse. She just wanted to wear it.
This whole mess stemmed from Kang Hyeok not awakening early on.
'Early game's everything.'
Rediscovering that truth, I trailed the beaming Choi Rin. Her smile froze mid-city stroll.
"Top hero? More like top bitch! Look at that face. Hero my ass?"
"Begging to get raped?"
Villains slithered out with sleazy laughs.
"Third-rate villains and their clichéd lines."
Choi Rin ignored, assuming stance. They circled us slyly.
"I got four. You take the one behind."
She bolted mid-sentence. I kicked off too, charging front-runners.
They reached for pockets simultaneously.
Click—!
Pulled guns.
'What? These idiots?'
At this range? Sword or fist beats drawing. We were faster—dropped 'em easy.
"Even third-raters packing suppressants."
Choi Rin lamented the spread.
"Ah... it's ripped."
Her gaze dropped to the torn skirt, sharpening.
'Something's off.'
Too easy. All small fry I could've soloed. Targeting Korea's top hero with this?
I scanned around, summoning the Holy Sword Gram to boost vision for anomalies.
Spotted him. Rooftop sniper, lining up on Choi Rin.
"Aw... I liked this one."
She was distracted, post-fight relief turning to skirt worry. Sniper smirked.
I moved.
Bang—!
Took the bullet for her. Lodged in my arm. Blood poured, but Gram's power dulled the pain.
"Maknae—!"
Choi Rin whipped around, saw me, then—
Boom—!
Cratered the ground leaping skyward. Shattering glass rained—her fury etched in every shard.
"You okay?"
Back with a half-dead sniper dangling from one hand.
"Yeah, fine. Powers intact."
Swung Gram to reassure her.
"Choi Rin here. Villains down. Requesting backup."
She radioed in. Cleanup to Kang Hyeok; now we're in the office infirmary.
"Dud?"
Staff eyed the bullet close.
"Normally disintegrates on entry."
Superhuman DNA triggers it. No DNA here, so intact.
"Maknae's got results."
Sample secured, live captures—win, he said. But Choi Rin's face was dark.
"I'll submit this. Take care of him."
Staff left me to her.
"Sorry. Got distracted by the ill-fitting clothes."
Deflated Choi Rin. Her fault for bringing me, her lapse—guilt crushed her.
"Skirt's all torn."
Steered the topic deliberately.
"Huh? Yeah... lost control in the rage."
"Suited you. Waste."
Tears welling, she looked up.
"We'll shop again later."
I smiled.
"Then our captain treats—dinner and a date?"
"Deal! This captain's going all-out expensive!"
She caught on, wiping tears with vigor.
"Thanks..."
Quiet gratitude. Affection skyrocketed today.
Thud—! Thud—!
Heard the maknae Choi Rin brought back was badly hurt.
Initially griped about adding some unvetted newbie, but...
'Saved Choi Rin, they said.'
I was too frantic then to see his face. Heroic debt earned a test—passed with flying colors. Had to onboard.
'Lucky break.'
Sorry, maknae, but better you than her.
'Choi Rin's our office ace!'
Her down? Everything grinds to halt. Personal feelings too, of course. Everyone but her knows I like her. Wonder when that oblivious girl'll notice...
'Oh, here already.'
Daydreams flew by; infirmary reached.
Door ajar.
'Told 'em to keep it shut.'
Chewing them out later. Hand on knob—Choi Rin's voice stopped me. Eavesdropped instinctively.
'What am I doing...'
Pathetic, but couldn't stop. Crying Choi Rin, consoling maknae. Mood felt... intimate.
'Nah, just her sense of duty.'
Clothes? Buy new ones? Peeking through—her outfit was different. Stuff she'd never wear normally. The kind she flat-out refused me on, claiming no fit.
'Why'd she budge for him?'
Asked once—pestering kills charm, she said. We both figured skirts weren't her... but wrong. Torn, yet she looked beautiful.
Thoughts spiraling. Still lurking, caught them scheduling a date.
'Barge in now?'
That vibe? Tough.
'Just bail.'
Turning away—eye contact with maknae.
'Hallucinating?'
Thought so, but illusion. His gaze stayed on Choi Rin.