Blame It on the Udon
Honestly, even setting aside the fact that I wasn't causing any trouble... I had no plans to hole up inside forever. Right? I've got plenty of cash and nothing much to do. Staying shut in at home felt like such a waste. I kinda like taking walks, and soaking up some sun always lifts my mood... I don't mind cooking instant ramen at home, and it's not like I had zero food. Sure, going two days without delivery wouldn't kill me or anything, but damn, I was craving delivery food. Like, bad. I already love udon to begin with, but that day, the urge hit even harder.
"...Student. Mind if we talk for a sec?"
"...Hic."
That was the cause. Probably.
--- The scene rewinds to one hour earlier.
Order's here—
"...It's here."
As the woman with the student affairs name tag requested, this was the delivery call from Ho-jun, who'd been waiting for her.
He loaded the udon onto his scooter like always, and right before heading out, Ho-jun dialed the contact number he'd been given.
"...Yes. We'll prepare now. Just deliver as usual, Ho-jun."
"...Got it."
Gulp—
Was this really okay? But the die had been cast.
"...Sigh."
Vroom—!Braaap—!
Ho-jun kicked off on the scooter, his mind drifting back to yesterday's thoughts.
.
"This person's ordering almost every day?"
Kim Ho-jun, your average delivery guy working part-time at a regular Japanese restaurant.
After first spotting that woman at the university dorms on a delivery run, he'd switched from app-based gigs—where you only go when an order pings—to exclusive work at this Japanese place.
No big reason. She just seemed to like Japanese food, so he figured working at the only spot nearby might let him run into her again someday... something vague like that.
Luckily, it panned out. Among the regular customers who ordered nonstop, she was one of them.
Every two days at quickest, four at latest—she'd order udon at least once. Watching her, Ho-jun felt that one-sided crush vibe.
But lately, doubts were creeping in.
A woman he'd never once seen on campus, despite it being his university.
Yet every time she ordered, she'd pick up right at the dorm entrance and head inside.
Sure, Ho-jun didn't live in the dorms, but he'd spent plenty of time around campus. He was a junior now, after all.
Still, never crossing paths even once? That didn't add up.
And Ho-jun was the active type—pretty outgoing college life.
'What's her deal... really...'
Vroom—
His scooter, en route to another delivery, carried her udon order.
Lost in swirling thoughts, he arrived at the dorm building before he knew it.
And there—a familiar face caught his eye.
Long black hair. Petite, dainty build. Somehow even more captivating than the first time.
"..."
Ho-jun stared blankly for a second, then hurriedly hopped off his scooter.
She'd spotted him too, trotting over with excited little steps.
"Um... udon delivery?"
"Y-yeah. That you?"
Didn't even need to ask. By now, it was a safe bet.
Always the same lunch counter, same spot, same menu.
"...Here."
"Thanks~!"
Even the way she took the bag with both hands stuck in his mind. Those sparkling eyes saw nothing but udon.
Ho-jun hesitated.
Should he say something? Probe if she was really a student here. Like, her major, year?
"..."
"Hm-hm-hmm~♪"
But before he could spit it out, Lea gave a quick bow and skipped inside the dorm, humming a little tune.
"...Ha."
Ho-jun let out a small sigh.
Strike out again. Total idiot.
But today... he couldn't just let it go.
'Just once.'
Just confirm it once. Was she really a student? Why never seen on campus?
That was all.
He pocketed the scooter key and slipped toward the dorm entrance after her, trying not to be obvious.
"Ah, this is so not cool..."
Muttering it, but his feet kept moving.
Lea passed the dorm building side, skirted the student benches, heading deeper in.
Ho-jun, tailing her, sensed something off.
Not eating in the lounge? She'd just passed the rest-and-dining area.
Taking it inside to her room? ...But this wasn't the women's dorm direction.
'Where's she headed?'
Suspicion growing, any guilt faded fast.
About a minute later, Lea stopped.
Ho-jun peeked cautiously from half-behind a building wall.
A quiet spot, shadows scarce. Tucked behind the dorms in a little blind alley.
Lea had halted there.
And then.
"...Huh?"
A dumb noise slipped from Ho-jun's mouth.
The air shimmered.
More precisely, just the air around Lea rippled faintly.
At first, he thought it was sunlight glare.
No.
It was light.
Faint, pale, but unmistakable gold.
It rose slowly from her toes, enveloping her body in an instant.
"...What."
His heart dropped.
Ho-jun's eyes widened.
The light was brief. A blink.
Lea's silhouette drowned in gold.
Next instant.
No one.
"..."
Ho-jun froze solid.
Brain couldn't process.
There'd been a person seconds ago. Right there. Holding a white bag with one serving of udon.
Now, empty space.
"...Huh?"
One step. Two.
Stumbling forward, he checked the spot himself.
No room to breathe, no angle to flee.
Not even space for a sheet of paper between the building wall and tree shadow.
"...Where'd she go?"
No answer, obviously.
Ho-jun swallowed dryly.
Thoughts tangled.
Teleport? Space jump? Hallucination? Illusion?
No way.
"She vanished..."
Then.
A chill unrelated to spine-tingling fear washed over him.
Awakener.
'If she's an awakener...?'
That made it weirder.
Ho-jun was a junior.
Not some slacker—he was active, wide-ranging routes.
His classrooms were right next to the awakener-only building.
Heading to lectures, he'd often see awakener students heading to training grounds.
'And I've never spotted that face once?'
Impossible.
Especially for an awakener. Fewer students, and he knew most in those classes.
Yet never seen her on campus.
Still picks up deliveries at dorms, and just now—vanished in light.
"...Who is she?"
The words slipped out, and Ho-jun's face hardened.
Non-student entering dorms.
Suspected space-teleport awakener.
This wasn't something to ignore.
No joke, low odds of coincidence.
"...Holy."
Trembling hand raking his hair.
Honestly, scared.
Didn't know what he saw, who to tell.
But.
Had to tell someone.
Mystery outsider posing as student, roaming campus.
School wouldn't brush that off.
"Crazy..."
Small curse, lingering in place, then he turned.
Not dorm admin.
Student support center.
Might not be just dorms.
If not a student. And really an awakener.
This was campus safety.
That budding crush on Lea? Long gone.
"Pardon? So... a student got wrapped in light and vanished?"
The student support staff didn't hide her bafflement.
Fair enough.
Even to Ho-jun, his words sounded insane.
"...I-I know. It sounds nuts."
"Good, you get that much."
"No, but it really happened."
She rolled her pen, looking troubled.
"Ho-jun, if this is a prank, it's a problem."
"Not a prank."
"Wrapped in light... no, golden light. Gone. Like teleport."
Her expression shifted subtly.
Too serious to dismiss as joke.
"So... you're saying she's not a student here?"
"C-can't say for sure."
Ho-jun gritted his teeth.
"But if awakener, even weirder."
"Why?"
"My classes are right by the awakener building. Training grounds nearby. I know most of 'em."
Slow, clear:
"Never seen her."
"..."
"With looks like that? I'd have noticed first."
Her face changed a tad.
Ho-jun was campus-famous. Peak social guy.
Clean rep with girls, nice personality—no haters.
Him smitten at first sight? Now she was thinking.
Ho-jun pressed:
"But always picks up at dorm entrance. Not once or twice. Today too."
"..."
"H-honestly, I wanted to let it slide... but if what I saw is real, isn't this risky? Who knows her agenda?"
She stared long, silent.
Then:
"Wait here a sec."
She stood.
Ho-jun swallowed.
Felt like things were escalating.
Too late now.
If real, it'd blow up eventually.
'Shoulda just asked while handing over the udon...'
Regret and guilt crept in, but too late.
Moments later.
She returned—not alone.
Middle-aged suit guy, and a student affairs woman.
"...This him?"
"Yes. The student."
Suit guy scanned Ho-jun, calm voice:
"Could you repeat what you said? In detail?"
Ho-jun pressed lips, nodded slow.
No backing out.
He spilled it all, no omissions.
Frequent dorm appearances.
Never on campus.
Would've crossed paths if awakener.
And just now—gold light vanish.
Room air shifted completely.
Affairs staff, low voice:
"...Frequent deliveries?"
"Yeah. Every two days min, four max."
"Menu?"
"Mostly... udon."
Suit guy and staff exchanged glances.
"We'll check."
"...Pardon?"
"Next time she orders."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Call me."
Handed a business card.
Ho-jun took it dazed, staring.
Meaning clear quick.
...And now, Lea had her shoulder gripped by the student affairs woman.
.
"Student, mind a quick chat?"
"...Hic."
My brain was spinning.
'What? Who? Why grab me? Did I screw up?'
"Uh, um... I gotta eat my udon..."
Nerves mangled my words.
What's this 'gotta eat udon here' crap???
"It's fine. Won't take long. This way?"
Her vibe was ice-cold.
No, manner warm, but that aura... super detached? Intimidating poise.
Plus scary middle-aged dude behind her—double the intimidation.
Could bolt easy, of course. Poof home now.
But fleeing would make things messy.
Headlines like 'Mystery Girl Spotted Near Uni'—no more dorm pickups, no eternal delivery bliss.
"...Okay."
No choice, followed her.
Totally not for delivery food.
A faint sigh from her.
'Busted. Off to jail?'
'...No udon then...'
Even now, udon dominated my thoughts.
'...Phew.'
Kim Suhyun, student affairs staff.
Obvious relief as the girl followed without fuss.
Why? She was an A-rank awakener with 9300 mana.
Beings radiating mana so thick it choked the air—yet meekly tagging along? Cognitive dissonance city.
As combat professor for awakener classes and staff, sensing the girl's mana and pegging her was child's play.
'What kinda monster is this?'
At first glance, prayed it wasn't her.
But taking udon from Ho-jun? Confirmed.
No choice—trust the president behind her, approach.
Thank god, she followed.
"...Hiiing..."
Her face stayed stiff the whole time.
Hard to read her thoughts.
'Please, just nothing harmful to the school.'
Such worries as Suhyun hurried her steps.
It'd take ages for her to realize it was pointless.