I Need to Be Pretty (1)

Two weeks later. The appointment was set.

"Hohohoho, H-Hong... Hong Su-yeon...!"

Ever since getting her number, she'd eagerly accepted the invitation. Of course, anyone would say yes to an offer from Hong Su-yeon.

At any rate, Nam Ha-neul was clutching her head, wrapped in a blanket on the bed, trembling all over.

"W-What do I do, what do I do, what do I do..."

Actually meeting someone and having a conversation was terrifying. Especially now, in her female body!

...Or maybe not?

Thinking about it, her Charm stat was higher now than when she'd been a guy. Honestly, this body was probably much better for meeting people. But the macho male ego buried deep inside her wouldn't forgive that logic.

She grabbed a water bottle from the floor and chugged it down. It didn't change anything, though.

"...What do I do."

At least it gave her a moment to breathe. Calming down a bit, she reviewed her current situation.

Her Charm stat was currently 57. Pretty high for someone with mild obesity. Even with a bit of baby fat on her face, she gave off a cute impression.

Still... if I'm g-gonna meet someone...

Wouldn't it be better to boost her Charm even higher? It was a pretty one-dimensional thought, but it made sense.

Hmm...

She had 10P left. Even if she dumped it all in, it'd only be +1.

Of course, punishment missions keep coming every day...

She could stockpile a decent amount in two weeks. But she still felt unsatisfied.

"...Stat Creation Ticket."

The ability to create any new stat she wanted. She wondered if she could make good use of it for this meeting.

"F-First, I need to s-save up points—"

A quest she could clear as long as she didn't quit. Anyone would think it was a total gimme.

But not for Nam Ha-neul.

"C-Cosmetics...? B-Buy...?"

To buy cosmetics, she'd have to go to a cosmetics store. A place teeming with women!

She didn't hate women or anything. It was just that the instinctive fear from her past memories was hard to shake.

And ultimately, she knew nothing about cosmetics. Even if she went to the store, she'd just flail around and buy nothing.

And—

Then the clerk will come talk to me...!

She was the type who never went back to a salon after the stylist chatted her up. That was Nam Ha-neul.

Rubbing her throbbing head, she went to shut off her still-open computer.

Someone caught her eye. CherryPicker—Yang Che-ri herself.

"......"

Contrast effect. She was meeting Hong Su-yeon soon; hanging out with Yang Che-ri wouldn't be a big deal, right? The massive gap in their statuses inexplicably gave her courage.

And she still had that sponsorship money coming!

"Eek."

Thinking it over again made her grumpy. She fired off a message right away.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Uh..."

The question threw her off. It felt kinda scary somehow. Hidden behind Hong Su-yeon's giant shadow, Yang Che-ri was actually pretty bold and no-nonsense. Memories of getting scolded during their games bubbled up.

But she couldn't back down now. Shaking her head, she kept typing.

Now she was even hesitating in chat. After a long back-and-forth with Che-ri, she finally managed to set a date for the cosmetics store tomorrow.

"Huuuuh, huuuh."

She walked down the main street in a state of extreme tension. How tense? She'd blitzed the punishment quest and still had Presence Erasure active as she headed to the meetup spot.

"Ugh... I f-feel like I'm gonna puke."

Last time she'd met anyone besides the convenience store clerk? And this time, it was a group hang—she'd have to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠talk the whole time.

Dragging her shaky legs, she moved slowly forward. There, just ahead, was Yang Che-ri, looking exactly like on stream.

Shoulder-length brown bob. Cute tomboy vibe with an average bust. Unlike her usual hoodies on broadcast, she'd put in real effort today—lace top and skirt.

Meanwhile, Nam Ha-neul was in her ratty home tracksuit.

She sidled up and tapped Che-ri's shoulder. Thanks to the skill, no one noticed unless she spoke first.

"Huh? Who're you?"

"I-It's... m-me."

"Ehhh? Sis?!"

Che-ri bounded over and cupped Nam Ha-neul's cheeks, squishing and rubbing them playfully.

"You're super cute~!"

"S-Stop, d-don't—"

"Puhaha!"

After messing with her for a good while, Che-ri let go and laughed heartily. She knew how to have girly fun, but no way was she changing her speech.

"Sis, what is that outfit? Put in some effort!"

"I-I don't... have any clothes."

"Such a waste of a cute face."

Her punishment mission reward that day: 30P and +4 Charm. Now at 61 Charm, she really did look pretty cute.

"Alright, cosmetics first. But your skin's so good, you might not even need much?"

Che-ri grabbed her hand like it was nothing and pulled her into the Dolly View Young.

Nam Ha-neul gawked at the unfamiliar sights, mouth agape.

"What? Like you've never been to a Dolly View Young before?"

"F-First... time."

"Whoa, sis had no friends? With that face?"

"F-Friends..."

The sudden fact-bomb left her reeling. Last time she'd had friends? Elementary school, low grades.

"...Yeah."

"Eh? What's with the sudden gloom? C'mon, hurry up~"

"W-Wait."

No apology? Just steamrolled. Nam Ha-neul followed, dragged by the hand.

"Picked out any cosmetics?"

"...No."

"Ugh, seriously? Never done makeup? What a waste!"

"Hmm..."

What a waste of a face. Words she'd fantasized about while lying in bed. Hearing them like this felt weird.

"I'll pick for you then?"

"Y-Yeah..."

"Got it. You're definitely a cool-tone, right? This, this..."

Che-ri swept items into the basket like a pro. Nam Ha-neul just stood there, flabbergasted.

"W-Wait, just three for the mission."

"What? You said you had none at home. Gotta get the basics: skin, lotion, toner, essence. Blush~, a stick, cushion, eyeshadow~"

It was all good for clearing the mission anyway. But she regretted not coming alone.

"Don't worry, that sponsorship cash was huge. Cosmetics and clothes on me today."

"...!"

Everything felt fine in an instant. The stream that led to Hong Su-yeon? The money that started it all.

She'd come with emergency cash for the mission, but Che-ri footing the bill? Eyes wide.

But only for a moment.

"J-Just g-give me cash—"

"Checkout, then clothes! Can't hang much longer today~"

"W-Wait."

Che-ri linked arms and marched to the counter.

"Ring us up!"

Che-ri's chest pressed against her arm. Her mind not fully girly yet, Nam Ha-neul blushed faintly. Her ears burned bright red, impossible to hide.

"Huh? You okay, sis?"

"N-No... fine..."

While she spaced out, checkout finished. Mission cleared in a flash. Way faster than the agonizing buildup.

Even if Che-ri had drained all her energy in a crowded store.

...Not hating this.

For some reason, it didn't feel bad. Normally she'd be fleeing home from people by now.

"All set, let's go. Face still red?"

"N-No. L-Let's go."

Dodging Che-ri's hand to her forehead, she hurried out first. Of course, no clue where the clothes store was, so she looped right back.

As they linked arms again, the clear notice popped up. Rewards suggested more stages ahead, with bigger points.

"D-Dizzy..."

"Whoa, slow down? You look off."

Not her health, just embarrassed to be so close to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Che-ri.

"Hang in there, almost there!"

"O-Okay..."

They arrived at Chara, a store full of women's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠clothes. Surrounded by mannequins, Nam Ha-neul wondered if she belonged. Like stumbling into the women's restroom.

(Though now she had to use it.)

"Hmm~ Stay right here."

Che-ri positioned her in front of the mirror, spinning her around to assess. Figuring out fits before trying on.

But something was off.

"Huh...? Aren't your pants looser than before?"

It wasn't her imagination. With rewards, Charm jumped +6 to 67. The last bits of flab vanished, and her innate ugliness was gone—only beauty remained.