The Sixth Balance Game Result

The sixth Balance Game theme came with a time limit of over six full days, so I decided to ask other people for their opinions.

"Ajeong, have you ever worked any other part-time jobs besides this one?"

"Yeah. Freshman year, during the semester, I did serving at a sushi place."

"Were there other part-timers when you worked there?"

"Yeah. The owner, me, and one other part-timer — three of us total."

Thankfully, Ajeong had other part-time experience. It was a shame it hadn't been cafe work, but serving had enough similarities that it was more than good enough.

"Then if you could pick the other part-timer, what would you do?"

"Me?"

"Yeah. An FM type — by-the-book, senior to you — or an MZ type, Gen-Z and junior to you. Which one would you rather work with?"

"Hmm… I think working with the FM side would be better?"

"Why?"

"Because being good at the job is what matters… Is an FM person really that picky?"

"Well… hmm. I'm not sure about that?"

"Really? Then ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is an MZ someone who slacks off, or does it just mean their age group?"

"Hmm… that's random. Could go either way."

"I see… Still, I'd go with FM. They might have a good personality and be good at the job."

"Yeah… thanks."

"Huh?!"

Grateful for the unexpected angle she'd given me, I grabbed Ajeong's hand without thinking.

"Why are you so surprised by that much?"

"I-it was just so sudden…"

"You always jump when I do ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠something out of nowhere, huh? So if I give you a heads-up, it's fine? I'm touching you."

As I said it, I set my hand on one of Ajeong's butt cheeks. As expected, she didn't resist at all. Instead, Ajeong reached for my own butt and started groping it with abandon.

"I didn't go that far."

"Hehe… It's so firm!"

I was starting to think Ajeong might be an even tougher opponent than the Boss.

Ajeong's opinion had been a real help. Even as an MZ, a diligent person could show up. Even as an FM, someone generous with others could show up.

The next person I sought an opinion from was Hayun, whom I ran into on the way home while still turning Ajeong's insight over in my head.

"Uh… never mind."

"Huh? What?"

"It's nothing. Just go inside…"

I dropped it because it didn't seem like she'd be much help.

Should I ask the Boss?

Actually, the person whose opinion I ought to weigh most was probably the Boss. We were hiring a part-timer for the cafe she owned — she was more than qualified. I'd just gotten home, so trekking all the way to the cafe felt like a hassle. I decided to call her instead.

Her number… here it is.

I'd saved it when we scheduled the interview, but once I properly started working I'd never contacted her even once.

Huh?

Come to think of it, I didn't know the Boss's real name. Calling her Boss every single day, I'd never really needed to. Curious now, I opened KokoaTalk and tapped her profile.

Both her profile picture and background were the defaults. With looks that gorgeous, you'd think she'd put up a photo — but that didn't seem to be her style. I hit edit name and checked what she'd originally set.

Bae Yejin…

Maybe because her image came to mind first, even the name felt somehow elegant. Having confirmed it, I immediately called her.

Riiing— click.

"Yes, hello, Boss."

"Is something wrong…? Boss is working hard looking for a part-timer…"

She'd clearly taken it as a pressure call. Her voice had gone small as she said she was still searching.

"Hmm. Are you revising the menu board too?"

"Yeah… I already put in the order for that…"

"Pfft. I'm kidding. That's not why I called — but you've already ordered it?"

"Because Woohyun's working so hard…"

"I appreciate it. It's nothing major — I just had something I wanted to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Boss, would you rather have a young Gen-Z part-timer as the new hire, or a somewhat older by-the-book part-timer?"

"Hmm… is Woohyun trying to bring someone in?"

"No~ I was just curious what kind of part-timer you'd prefer."

In reality I was the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one choosing, but she'd end up believing she'd hired them herself.

"Hmm… a younger one would be better, wouldn't it?"

"Why?"

"If someone older came in, it might make Woohyun uncomfortable."

"Boss…"

"Hmm~?"

I was genuinely moved. Thinking back, the Boss had always looked out for my comfort. And I'd half-threatened her into giving me what I wanted. How had I not realized that just having a Boss like her already made this the sweetest part-time job imaginable, working conditions aside?

"Boss, I'll do a good job."

"Heheh… Woohyun always does a good job~ Just please don't say you're quitting."

"Yes. Even after I find a real job, I'll work at your cafe on Saturdays."

"Oh my. Even just saying that means a lot."

"I mean it… Boss, are you not busy right now? Not many customers?"

It was seven in the evening. Even if the day of the week was different, there still had to be far more customers than before. I wondered if it was really okay for her to be chatting this leisurely.

"Huh…? Wait… you're right? There really aren't many customers today~"

"Oh… that's a relief. It must be hard handling everything alone on the days I'm not there, right?"

"W-well, yeah?"

"Hopefully we find a decent part-timer soon. Hang in there a little longer."

"Thanks. Oh… a customer just came in? Can I hang up?"

"Yes~ Thank you. See you Saturday!"

"Okay~"

Click—

The cafe seemed freer than I'd expected. It was a weekday, so fewer people than the weekend wasn't exactly strange. The Boss had chosen MZ. She'd chosen it for my sake, but it was still her choice.

I opened KokoaTalk and went into the chat room.

I can still change this, right?

Last time, even when I'd picked early within the time limit, the clock had kept running. Looking at that, it seemed natural that changes would be allowed freely until the deadline. Of course, I couldn't be sure — so I still needed to choose carefully from the start. Better to only try switching once if I genuinely changed my mind.

For now, this Balance Game felt more or less decided. Plenty of time remained, but I didn't think my mind would change. Above all, the cafe owner herself had made the pick.

Sure enough, the countdown was still ticking. I'd be able to see the result Saturday at 6 p.m., when I came in for my shift.

The sixth Balance Game felt oddly anticlimactic compared to the ones before. The reason I felt that way even though it was a choice tailored to me was simple. No matter which side I picked, if someone truly bizarre showed up, I could just quit the cafe. Or I could ask the Boss to fire them. The options almost certainly didn't include detailed terms about how long the person would work, after all. Once they were hired, things would follow a realistic flow. If they had personality problems or work problems, the Boss would handle it herself.

It basically felt like a rest week. Even if I didn't get a reward this time, there was no real loss — so I wouldn't even feel bad about it. Thanks to that, I got to spend the week living like there was no Balance Game at all.

Same as always, flirting with Ajeong at the gym while we worked out. Greeting Hayun whenever I ran into her on the way.

"What was that the other day?!"

"What."

"You were about to say something and then went inside with this whole 'ugh, what would you even know' look on your face!"

She'd read me with terrifying accuracy.

"It wasn't like that. It was nothing."

"Grrr…! What! Was! It!"

"You a kid?"

"Tell! Me!"

Hayun latched onto my body out of nowhere and started throwing a tantrum. Honestly it was nothing, so I could've just told her — but the way she was acting made me not want to even more.

"Here."

"Huh?"

Instead, I held out a finger to her. Under normal circumstances it would have made no sense, but Hayun caught on immediately — she even swallowed hard.

"Do I really have to tell you?"

"…No. Instead…"

"Instead?"

"Aaah— slurp."

She opened her mouth right then and took my finger in. Slurp— suck…

…

"But how does a finger taste like this — slurp—?"

After sucking on it for a good while, she finally had the leisure to get curious.

"Do I have to tell you?"

"Slurp—"

I had no other way to explain it anyway, so I shut her down with the same line as before. She seemed to take the hint and focused on sucking my finger.

…

"Hey, I've got to go home now."

"Mmph…"

Nod nod—

She nodded at my words. Even so, she didn't release the finger in her mouth.

"Ugh…"

In the end she followed me all the way to my door, getting every last bit of flavor she could.

"So this is where you live… suck, suck—!"

Thinking it was the last chance, she sucked harder. I doubted that actually changed the taste, but she rolled her tongue around, sucked hard, rubbed gently — sampling it every way she could.

"I'm going in now."

"Yeees…"

Slam—

I shut the door, came inside, and checked my finger. It had gone all wrinkly.

I've ruined one exam re-taker.

In a state that far gone, focusing properly on studying had to be difficult. Then again, she hadn't exactly had great grades even without me, so it wasn't something I needed to worry about.

"Suck."

Curious how good it really was, I tasted my own finger once.

"It really is…"

Every time I imagined the most extreme chocolate flavor, but by the time she'd finished tasting and my turn came around, a suggestive strawberry note was always mixed in. I almost went for another taste, then felt like I was committing a crime and went to the bathroom to wash my hands.

Time flew by, and Saturday came around again.

In two hours, I'd find out what kind of part-timer had shown up. I'd put on a brave face saying that if anything seemed off I could just quit or get them fired — but apparently that wasn't how I actually felt. I'd grown attached to Ice Bean before I knew it. Please, just let a decent person walk through that door. I still wanted to keep milking this sweet deal a little longer.

I arrived at the cafe with my heart pounding. Maybe it was the nerves — prep took longer than usual, and I barely made it one minute before six.

Ding-a-ling—

The moment I stepped inside I checked the counter, but no one else was in sight.

"Woohyun, you're here?"

"Yes, hello. Did you by any chance…"

"Heheh… Boss did exactly what Woohyun said! They're out taking the trash right now."

Every price on the menu board had been unified at 4,000 won. And the part-timer who'd been hired was currently out throwing away the garbage. I pulled out my phone and checked the clock down to the second.

The second it hit six, they'd appear right in front of me, wouldn't they?

Gulp—

I started counting down from ten in my head.

10, 9, 8…

…

2, 1, 0!

"Hello!"

"Huh?"

The person walking up to greet me right then was almost certainly the new part-timer. And it was a face I knew all too well.