Dodging Disaster and Cohabitation Trap
My back prickled at the impending catfight. ……………
"What the hell do you think you're doing here?!" Baek Sehee shouted again.
Ah, of all the timing...
She'd barged in right in the middle of kissing Kang Haneul. No excuse could cover this. Worst timing imaginable.
Kang Haneul's mood soured instantly, her face twisted in irritation as she glared at Baek Sehee.
"What do you mean, 'what'?"
"Playing innocent after what you've done? Forcing yourself on Yujin right now...!"
"Forcing?"
Kang Haneul shrugged nonchalantly.
"Not forcing. Yujin's kissing me because he likes it. We were on a date to begin with."
"Liar!"
"Not lying?"
"Then prove it!"
Kang Haneul smirked.
"Why should I prove anything to you?"
"...What did you say?"
"Whatever I do with my manager is none of your business."
It was a solid point. Baek Sehee seemed to realize it too, clamping her mouth shut.
This was Kang Haneul's win. Sure enough, she sneered at Baek Sehee with smug triumph.
"Cat got your tongue? Then get lost. I've got private time with Yujin to finish."
Ugh. Does she mean picking up right where we left off with the kissing?}
Judging by her words and expression, she had zero intention of heading back to Association HQ. The second Baek Sehee left, those lips would be on mine again.
But Baek Sehee, who looked ready to slink away after total defeat, didn't budge.
Instead, she completely ignored Kang Haneul and fixed her gaze straight on me.
"Moon Yujin-ssi. Are you okay?"
"Pardon?"
Baek Sehee's voice had changed completely. Calm and gentle. Nothing like how she'd spoken to Kang Haneul—it was so different, I almost thought it was someone else.
"If Kang Haneul's coercing you, just give me a signal."
"Uh..."
"Blink three times in a row. I'll protect you safely right away."
What the hell is with this woman?}
She seemed dead serious. Did she really think Kang Haneul had forced the kiss on me?
Well, it's not 100% wrong, technically.
It had a bit of coercion to it. Not full-on force, but still.
"...What the fuck are you doing right now?"
Kang Haneul's voice cut in. The irritation in it had already surpassed critical levels. One more push, and fists would fly.
But Baek Sehee still refused to even glance at her.
"Yujin-ssi, answer me. Are you okay?"
Thud.
Kang Haneul stomped, and the tile shattered like a cracker.
"Hey, Baek Sehee. You deaf or something?"
Baek Sehee finally looked at her.
"I'm talking to Yujin-ssi. This has nothing to do with you, so butt out."
"Ha. Nothing to do with me?"
Kang Haneul laughed coldly.
"Yujin's my manager. Mine. You're the one with no business here."
"Is your manager your property?"
Baek Sehee didn't back down.
"Yujin-ssi is an independent person. He shouldn't belong to someone like you."
Thud――!!
Kang Haneul stomped again, and the whole building shook. The pressure was overwhelming. Far more intense than in the hallway. Standing this close, it physically choked the air from my lungs.
Not to be outdone, Baek Sehee unleashed something in response. A pure white light. The space between them warped.
Neither budged an inch. ……………
They're really gonna fight.
Not instinct—certainty. In 10 seconds. No, 5. These two would throw punches.
And when they did, this building was toast.
I'd seen Kang Haneul's power on TV just now. She'd crushed an S-rank villain in 30 seconds flat.
Baek Sehee was EX-rank too. Her title as Dimensional Gate Special Response Team leader wasn't for show.
Then what about me?}
An F-rank Awakener, no better than a civilian.
This was like a rabbit caught between two T-Rexes. I'd just die.
Even if they kept their wits and tried to spare me somehow, problem solved? Two EX-rank Awakeners duking it out in downtown Seoul, smashing buildings? What happens to Kang Haneul, the one I'm managing?
I'm no lawyer, so I couldn't say for sure. But I could guess.
Destroying a building in Gangnam over personal beef? Astronomical lawsuits incoming. Image tanked, CF deals canceled, penalties piling up.
As her manager, I couldn't watch her go bankrupt.
I have to stop this.
Act. Right now. Anything.
"W-Wait a sec, everyone?"
I stepped between them and opened my mouth. Both whipped their heads toward me in unison.
Pressure. Kang Haneul's gaze. Baek Sehee's gaze. Black oppression and pure white light crashed over me at once.
Couldn't breathe.
"S-So... if you fight here..."
Tried to sound firm, but it came out weak.
"I-I probably won't make it out alive either... c-can you please stop...?"
My voice trailed off smaller and smaller. The end was barely audible.
Moon Yujin, you cowardly bastard.
Blame Moon Yujin's personality. The original owner of this body was peak pushover. Always cowed. It was ingrained, making bold talk impossible in a pinch.
Should've just kept my mouth shut.
But—
Silence.
About 5 seconds passed. Baek Sehee's light dimmed. The pressure from Kang Haneul eased too.
...Huh?}
Unexpected, but it worked. Why?
Baek Sehee spoke first.
"...Sorry, Yujin-ssi. I got too worked up."
She addressed only me, ignoring Kang Haneul completely.
"You have my number from earlier, right? Call me anytime. I'll do whatever I can to help."
"...Yeah."
Truth was, Kang Haneul had deleted it without asking. But saying that would spark the real fight, so I stayed quiet.
Couldn't be helped, but I felt a bit bad for Baek Sehee.
She doesn't seem like a bad person.
She was genuinely trying to help, probably. Made it awkward to push her away.
Baek Sehee shot Kang Haneul a glare. Kang Haneul fired right back.
Staring contest. But no more building shakes.
Soon, Baek Sehee turned.
"Then I'll take my leave."
She headed for the stairs. Her footsteps faded away.
"Let's go."
Kang Haneul said.
"Where?"
"Association HQ. You know we've got that afternoon interview."
She grabbed my wrist and dragged me out of the shop. ……………
Awakener Association HQ, Kang Haneul's private office.
While she was in the bathroom, I sat alone on the sofa, lost in thought.
That was seriously close.
Baek Sehee vs. Kang Haneul. If those two EX-rank Awakeners had really fought?
Just like I'd imagined. Kang Haneul would've been ruined. Association investigation, lawsuits, reputation in the gutter.
Worst-case for me as her manager too.
But I stopped it. Me, right then.
Yeah. The one who saved Kang Haneul from doom was her manager—me, Moon Yujin.
Two EX-rankers halted because I stepped in and spoke up.
I had a hunch why. My F-rank ability: Harmless Cuteness.
Not sure if it affected Baek Sehee. But it sure as hell worked on Kang Haneul.
Me butting in probably killed her hostility first, deflating Baek Sehee's fight too.
You need two palms to clap, after all.
Result was clear: Thanks to me, Kang Haneul stopped the fight and dodged ruin.
This is my chance.
Huge merit earned. Perfect leverage to seize initiative in our relationship.
Remind her of my accomplishment, prove my value as manager.
Plant the seed: You can't do without Moon Yujin.
Kang Haneul returned.
"Miss me?"
"Yeah. Haneul, can we talk for a sec?"
"About what?"
"That thing earlier. Almost fighting Baek Sehee."
Her smile stiffened subtly.
"That was really dangerous, right?"
"...Was it?"
"Yeah. What if you'd actually fought? Building collapses, Association probes, lawsuits galore."
She crossed her arms. No reply.
Good. Keep going.
"Haneul, you nearly caused a disaster without me. It was this close."
"So?"
"So you need more self-control from now on. Even pissed off, an EX-rank has to keep it in check."
I lectured like a manager advising his charge.
"Of course, I'll be by your side helping. But you gotta learn to manage your emotions even without me—"
"Then Yujin just stays by my side forever."
"...Huh?"
"You stopped me just now, right? So if you're with me 24/7? Means I can always hold back."
What the hell was this woman saying?
"No, that's not what I meant..."
"Sure sounded like it."
Kang Haneul grinned wickedly.
"Was gonna bring it up anyway. Perfect timing."
"...Bring up what?"
Something was veering way off course. Instinct screamed warning.
"Yujin, move out of that shithole one-room. Live with me."
She leaned forward, grabbing my hand.
"Place is too big for me alone. Tons of rooms."
"Haneul. Wait—"
"You said I need self-control, right? I'm always pissed. Because of my ability. But with you around, I chill. So stay by my side. 24/7."
Logically... she wasn't wrong.
But this was insane.