The Manager Proposal
Idols... no, EX-rank Awakeners always come with managers. ..........
'Kang Haneul really likes me.'
It's certain. She counted every single one of the 606 days since I vanished, tracked down my address, and showed up in person. She said it was unbearable without me. She even admitted she wanted to smash the Association building and slaughter everyone inside. This is obsession. Deadly serious obsession. On the level of Choi Seori, Kim Bom, and Catalina. Maybe even worse.
I'd tried to run from Choi Seori and Kim Bom. But looking back now, I need a different approach. The obsessed one is always the weaker party. In love or any relationship, the one who needs it more ends up on the bottom. Obsession means they like you that much. If I play my cards right—keep some distance, avoid blowing it up—I can seize control.
So.
'I need to take the reins.'
It won't be easy. Kang Haneul is a woman who can do anything with raw power. Running won't work. If I try, total ruin is guaranteed. Resisting head-on? She'd just crush me. No clever strategy here. I just have to handle it right—adapt on the fly, improvise.
But that doesn't mean I have to roll over completely. Kang Haneul wants me. My time with her, my presence, our connection.
'At the very least... I can try.'
Honestly, it's close to impossible. But there are no other options.
'I have to make it work.'
Even if it means risking death. This time, I have to overcome the trial. I have to reach that happy ending.
..........
Now my path is clear. I can't shrink back like Moon Yujin did. At minimum, I need to carve out a position of equality.
......Equality might be a stretch, but at least I have to make her see me as essential.
"Hey."
I spoke first.
"How'd you find me? I changed my number and deleted all my SNS."
"Oh, that?"
Kang Haneul pulled her smartphone from her waistband. She tapped the screen a few times and showed it to me. It was a screenshot of malicious comments. Ones that I... that Moon Yujin had written.
"Look at this. You wrote, [I saw you bullying other students on the rooftop back in school], right? It was always just the two of us up there."
"......"
"And the thing where I wrecked that train and armored vehicle. That got info suppressed, remember? You're the only one who knew about that, Yujin."
Kang Haneul pocketed her phone.
"So I knew right away. Oh, this is Yujin. Hiding out and posting crap like this."
'......Moon Yujin, you absolute idiot.'
Moon Yujin's revenge was way too sloppy. Trying to smear Kang Haneul with specifics just exposed himself instead. VPNs and burner accounts? Useless. The content was a confession in itself.
I nearly sighed but held it back. That's not what matters now.
"So you filed the complaint?"
"Yeah. Wasn't totally sure at first, but a few more comments and it clicked. Police handled the IP trace."
As an EX-rank with the Awakener Association, bending the cops to her will was no big deal.
Curiosity satisfied. On to the next step.
"Anyway."
I glanced around the room. Cotton stuffing from the burst pillow blanketed the floor.
"We should clean this up."
"Huh?"
"Help me tidy the room? As you can see, it's a mess."
Kang Haneul froze. Seemed thrown off by me asking her for something.
"......Clean?"
"Yeah. Could use your help."
Silence stretched. Kang Haneul gaped like she'd seen something unbelievable, then closed her mouth.
"......Okay."
She smiled. But it was different from before. Not her usual playful grin—more awkwardly genuine.
'Got her off-balance.'
Moon Yujin never would've said that. He'd have cowered and gone along with whatever she wanted. But I'm different.
Kang Haneul rolled up her sleeves.
"Where do we start?"
"Clear the cotton from that burst pillow over there. I'll sort the desk."
"Got it."
She squatted down and started gathering fluff. An EX-rank Awakener with overwhelming power, obediently cleaning at my word. Possible only because I'm not some stranger or casual classmate—because she likes me.
'It's working.'
As I bagged desk trash, I thought it over. Kang Haneul's a beast in violence—pummeling, smashing, crushing. But everyday, mundane contact? She's got no resistance.
'Probably no one's ever asked her like this.'
In Moon Yujin's memories, Kang Haneul was violent, fists before words. Terrifying, since she could pulverize your skull on a whim. Everyone feared her, flattered her, subtly opposed her, or sucked up. Only Moon Yujin stuck around... out of fear, really. Forced proximity.
Ten minutes later, the room looked decent. Kang Haneul dusted her hands and stood.
"Done."
"Thanks."
She grinned wide, looking pleased.
Next phase.
I perched on the bed and looked up at her.
"Haneul, sit for a sec?"
"Sure."
She plopped down beside me. The mattress sank deep.
Silence.
"......Hey."
I took a breath. Then grabbed Kang Haneul's hand.
"W-What!?"
She jolted in surprise. Come to think of it, this was the first time Moon Yujin had initiated hand-holding.
"Haneul, I'm sorry."
"......Huh?"
"For the malicious comments. I'm really sorry."
I said it straight, eyes locked on hers.
"I must've really hurt you. I'm sorry."
Kang Haneul's face shifted. The playfulness vanished.
"......No, it's fine."
"It's not. I was wrong."
"Ugh, seriously, it's okay."
She looked away. Tried to pull her hand free, but I held on.
"I don't care about crap comments."
Kang Haneul muttered.
"They pile up every day. Just ignore 'em."
"But mine are different. I actually know you—Kang Haneul."
"......Yeah."
She turned her head completely away.
'That's her weak spot.'
Kang Haneul's invincible to physical attacks. But sincere emotional exchange? She's got zero experience.
I let go. She finally pulled her hand back.
"Anyway, sorry. And... I'll pay back the settlement."
"Settlement?"
"Yeah. If you drop the charges. It'll take time, but I'll make it right."
Kang Haneul shook her head.
"Don't need it."
"What?"
"No settlement or whatever."
She stared straight at me. Playfulness gone, replaced by seriousness.
"Instead."
Her voice dropped. The temperature plunged. Chill ran down my spine.
"Don't vanish again. No cutting contact, hiding, running... Never."
Terrifying. Right now, Kang Haneul wasn't smiling. No jokes. No teasing. Dead serious. Instinct screamed: if I disappear again, something horrific happens.
"......Got it."
No other choice. I nodded meekly.
Her face lit up. The smile returned.
"Good. I'll drop the complaint then!"
"Thanks."
"Wasn't gonna punish you anyway."
She shrugged. And in that instant, Moon Yujin's memory flashed through my mind like lightning.
..........
Monday morning, a classroom at the Awakener training academy.
The second I opened the door, Kang Haneul charged.
"Yujiiiin――!"
She hugged me... Moon Yujin. Two round, marshmallow-like orbs smothered my face.
"Missed you so much over the weekend! Didn't know two days could drag like this!"
She clung tight—arms around me, cheek kisses, lifting me off the ground.
"What'd you do Saturday? Sunday? Why no contact!?"
"W-Weekend, so... comics at home......"
"Even weekends, you should've messaged! I was going insane!"
Weekend. Just two days. A woman who couldn't last two days... endured 606.
How agonizing that must've been... not hard to imagine.
'Yeah. What Kang Haneul wants is crystal clear.'
Simple, really. She wants to see Moon Yujin every day. Be by his side always. Never apart. Childish desire, but that's it all.
"Haneul."
"Yeah?"
"Got a proposal."
She tilted her head.
"What?"
"You wanna see me every day, right? Like back in school."
"......"
No denial.
"But you're busy, tons to do. So――"
I inhaled.
"How about hiring me as your manager?"
"......Huhhh?"
Kang Haneul gaped at me.
"Manager?"
"Yeah, manager. Heard top Awakeners have 'em. Schedule management, cleanup, errands—that stuff."
I pressed on.
"Then you wouldn't need to carve out time to hunt me down. We could stick together daily. I'm F-rank, no combat, but I'll bust my ass at what I can do."
Kang Haneul said nothing. Just stared.
'Did it land?'
My pitch feeds her possessiveness. Daily access, full schedule oversight, total control. Win for me too: cash, proximity to her for leverage. Can't run anyway—better this way. And best... I can leverage my 'harmless cuteness' ability to calm her.
"......What do you think? Even minimum wage is fine."
"......... "
Her mouth slowly closed. No words. Expression unreadable.
'Did I blow it?'
Anxiety crept in. But the card was played. I waited for her answer.