Frozen Party with the Squad!
Okay, seniors, it's time to wake up.
Well, I said that, but it was probably better not to get my hopes up. After all, I was going to grunt and burrow back under the blanket.
I scanned the other seniors. Some were already stretching and yawning, while others were still lying there.
If I woke up the ones who hadn't risen yet and then woke Jihye-senpai, that would be it. Just another ordinary morning, the same as always.
"Let's party!"
...Exactly like that, Jihye-senpai shot up from her bed and shouted.
"Eh? You're awake already?! No way!"
"Why? Why not?"
"You don't get up every day! You were supposed to wake us up at least three times a day!"
"I may act like a princess, but isn't calling me the sleeping beauty a bit much? Besides, my words are a little... sharp?"
"I'm sorry!"
"You've got energy this morning..."
That was what the senior who was rubbing her sleepy eyes said. Then Jihye-senpai rolled off the bed and climbed onto the mattress of the same senior.
"You don't have anything you can't say to your senior? Got energy?"
"Hic, I'm sorry!"
"So, what exactly does 'party' mean?"
By now, Kim Heejin had finished straightening up the bedding and asked.
"Party! Let's party!"
"No, I just asked what kind of party it is. You didn't say 'let's party' just like that."
"Harang went to a remote place yesterday, right?"
"Yes."
"I heard she got discharged there?"
"Apparently, she's even more solid than before."
As if showing it off, she jumped off the bed with a little bounce.
"Ha! Harang! No! Stop!"
"Hey, go easy on the drama."
"...If I end up hurt again, I really won't be able to laugh. Maybe we should start physical therapy slowly."
Warnings came from three different directions, and she stopped immediately.
Anyway, her leg was fully healed. She received treatment at the hospital Jihye-senpai personally recommended, so her trust level was 100%. The diagnosis was irrefutable.
"Let's celebrate my little sister's complete recovery with a party!"
Jihye-senpai pushed the mattress with her palm. The seniors who had been full of energy since morning struggled just to agree in a wobbly way.
Everyone had agreed. I had, too.
So, what kind of party was this? Were we buying cake? Was there a cake shop nearby?
To be honest, I wasn't the type who loved cake. My sister liked everything—fresh cream, chocolate, sweet potatoes—without discrimination, but from my perspective, they were just too sweet.
But why? I had been thinking about it, yet my mouth was already watering. Why did eating sweet things suddenly spark anticipation?
I couldn't understand it at all. Jihye-senpai's recommendation was a lump of sugar so sweet it gave me a headache, yet I was drawn to it. It was like I had suddenly started craving something sweet.
Was it the stress? I decided it must be the stress.
"Are you eating cake?"
"Huh? Whose birthday is it?"
"If it's a party, isn't cake part of it?"
"What are you saying... Ah! Wait, have we never had a party with Harang?"
Yeon Byeori paused for a moment after hearing Jihye-senpai's words.
"I think we have."
"Oh my. Our little Harang didn't know the true flavor of a party... We can't just sit around with such a wonderful junior!"
So, what exactly was a party? Was it another thing I didn't know about? I wanted to say, "Ah! I know what that is!" now.
"There's frozen food, right?"
"You mean the ones sold in the convenience store? I've never tried them..."
"Yeah, buy a bunch of those and eat them all together. Frozen party."
Jeong Seung-a, who had been standing beside her, explained.
It was to eat all the frozen foods piled high in the convenience store refrigerator until you were sick of them.
I wasn't sure if it would be worth as much as the chicken when my sister came for a visit. Could it restore my taste buds, which had already become overly refined?
I had mentally become a picky, serious food critic.
"After morning inspection, let's go straight to the convenience store!"
"You're all going together?"
"Of course!"
"Does Hero Jihye-senpai plan to pay?"
Kim Heejin asked. Jihye-senpai nodded.
"It's a gift from my little sister! So the little sister should pay!"
Why nod? The flow didn't match at all!
"You're truly a trash personality."
"No, I was going to pay, but lately I've spent so much money...
"Sorry."
"No! I'm not complaining about Byeori. She was working hard on her debt, wasn't she?"
Jihye-senpai draped her arm around Yeon Byeori's shoulder. Yeon Byeori, who had been reluctant, accepted it with a sigh because of the debt.
"Drink your blood, Hero Jihye-senpai. I know how much you've worked hard, so why tell me to buy more?"
"She didn't care in the first place. It's better to treat Harang normally than to worry about how poor and struggling she is, compared to you."
"Of course."
It was sincere. The moment you notice someone caring about you, your heart starts to feel heavy. Since I've caused so much trouble lately, I needed to capture this moment.
"I'll pay."
I hadn't completely stopped eating frozen foods, but this was the first time I'd eaten them in the base.
To have my first experience with frozen food in a party format...! As a commemorative party for my recovery!
I felt my eyes getting a little red and quickly finished preparing for inspection.
"All meals are skipped! You can eat or not eat them, but do not skip all of them!"
The chef would be sad.
Our unit's food was tasty, so it was a bit of a shame, but what could I do? I had to try something new.
Following Jihye-senpai's lead, I quickly put on my clothes and grabbed my wallet.
After announcing that we were all heading to the convenience store together to the Situation Room, we headed straight there.
Wait for the frozen food!
...
Welcome... Wow.
I passed the cashier, who was looking dazed by our greeting method, and reached the frozen food corner. Earlier I had just glanced over it, but now I saw there were quite a variety.
"It looks like my eyes are going to spin."
"They already are, I guess? Anyway, today the star is you, Harang, so pick anything you want!"
"I'm not the one paying, after all."
"Exactly! So you're the one who gets to choose!"
Still, they seemed to be offering choices. If they had chosen whatever they wanted and said "pay for it yourself," I might have been a little put out.
I looked at the products lined up. Chicken, dumplings, pizza, cheese cake...
"Cheese cake!!"
"Harang's eyes are spinning. Didn't you talk about cake earlier? Are you craving it?"
"I want something sweet."
"What? Last time when you went with me, you said you didn't like sweet things and only drank Americanos, right?"
"But after trying again, it really... seems to suit my mouth."
Jihye-senpai chuckled and put the cake in the basket. Yes! Cheese cake!
...Wait, after all, I'm the one paying.
I felt a little down for a second, but it was fine. When I used it, I had to use it properly. Otherwise, everyone would just feel uncomfortable.
I picked one of each kind. I also bought a small pizza that could be eaten cold. Since I would only eat one person, I bought one for each.
After watching the heavy basket for a moment, Jihye-senpai called me.
"Superhuman Seo Harang?"
"I'm thirsty."
"Suddenly? Then a drink would be..."
"First, put some drinks in. There's a coffee machine outside, right? Just one coffee from there. No, wait. Heejin and Byeori will drink too, right? You guys too?"
"Ah, yes."
"Um... then should we drink? Harang, can I ask you?"
"Then just pour it according to the number of people."
Suddenly coffee? I nodded and dashed toward the coffee machine.
It was just words, but after pulling a few coffees, time passed. Was I going to get scolded again for being late?
The world had been kind to me lately, but the scars left by the past incidents were still firmly etched in my body.
A reality where I could be scolded even though I hadn't done anything wrong. That was the life of a junior!
"Thank you."
"Oh, you're here?"
"Huh?"
The thing that should have been in the basket was in a bag.
A card was in Jihye-senpai's hand.
"Our Harang came too late, so I paid. From now on, don't be late and come quickly. Don't use my money freely."
"Hero Jihye-senpai, if you're embarrassed or shy, your words get long."
"Hey! Jeong Seung-a! What do you know!"
Jihye-senpai jumped off the bed and grabbed Jeong Seung-a's shoulder to shake her.
"Hero Jeong Seung-a."
"Anyway! Since I already paid, you handle the bill! I'm not moving!"
Hmph! Jihye-senpai crossed her arms and let out a fart. Her heavy chest rested on her arm.
"Jihye-senpai."
"Hm?"
"It would be better to correct your behavior."
"Eh? You don't have anything you can't say to your senior."
"No, it's because of the other people's gazes."
"Eh? Ah— the people looking at the counter?"
I nodded. The person calculating was looking at Jihye-senpai.
Just as I thought she would resist and counterattack, Jihye-senpai lowered her arm with no interest.
Did my attention work? I was happy that my standing within the living quarter seemed quite solid.
"Okay? Let's go."
"Understood!"
Yay! I lifted the envelope with a light heart.
With that, a gaze on my nape suddenly felt cool.
"Um, Harang?"
"Superhuman Seo Harang? What is it? Hero Jeong Seung-a?"
"Um, I think you should be a little more careful with your actions."
"Actions?"
Jeong Seung-a's words seemed connected to the strange feeling I had felt moments ago. As I mulled over what she meant, I felt the gaze again.
One, not two... three! No, four!
I was relieved it wasn't hostility. But at the same time, I felt a slight unease.
I wasn't sensitive to other people's gazes. Rather, I was the insensitive type.
But this time was different. Was it because of life in the base? Or the aftereffects of awakening? Or just suddenly?
Anyway, I couldn't just ignore four gazes.
"I think someone is targeting me!"
Saying that, I turned around. And at that moment, the four gazes embedded in my body vanished like melting snow.
Of course! They really would, right? Who in the world would keep staring if the target looked back?
"Harang. Is something wrong?"
"I'm looking forward to eating frozen food for the first time in a while, so let's hurry."
"Is something bothering you?"
"Um? No. It's just that I feel gazes."
"You must have become sensitive because things are busy lately. Eating delicious things today and resting well should make you feel better."
I agreed with Jeong Seung-a's comforting words. It was probably because I was sensitive.
I turned my back again. The gazes poured down as if waiting. It was burdensome.
"...Um, it's a bit bothersome."
I was sure who it was.
Jeong Seung-a. Kim Heejin. Yeon Byeori. And the last one, the staff member.
"Bothersome?"
"Harang, you have to be careful with your actions. If you do that, everyone will stare."
"Dress more carefully."
"Sorry."
After casually dropping one line, the answer came back as if waiting. Only one person turned away.
It was nice that my caution was noticed, but I wasn't the only one who seemed embarrassed! It was unfair!
...That unfairness naturally subsided as I carried the heavily inflated envelope and climbed the stairs.
The first frozen party of my life opened right here and now!