Chapter 175: Little by Little, Slowly (10)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 175: Little by Little, Slowly (10)
I thought the process of reporting previous events would change dramatically once I realized Luche was actually A.T., but surprisingly, nothing of the sort happened.
I followed Luche, who had stepped off the bus first, up to the office. Just as I was about to begin my report, she spoke.
"You're done for the day. Go home."
In truth, I didn't have much left to report regarding my girlfriends anyway. Anything beyond this would be stepping into private territory, and I couldn't bring myself to share those details with her.
It wasn't because of my long history with Luche; it was simply that the private lives of my girlfriends and me were things I couldn't share with anyone.
"Pardon?"
Even so, I hadn't expected to be told to leave immediately. Out of habit, I used formal speech, just as I had before realizing she was A.T.
Naturally, Luche narrowed her eyes and glared at me. Realizing instantly that it was because of the formality, I cleared my throat to correct myself.
"Is it really okay for me to just leave like this?"
"Yeah. You're on a break right now anyway. If I need anything later, I'll ask then."
"Alright."
Between meeting Luche, reporting to her, and chasing after her, I had momentarily forgotten that I wasn't actually on duty, but on a break.
I nodded, accepting her words. As I turned to leave after saying goodbye, Luche, who had been rummaging through a drawer, approached me with a small notebook. She flipped it open and showed it to me.
"It’s been a long time."
In the photo were the me of twenty years ago and the past Luche—that is, A.T. It was the last photo we had taken on the day she left the 6th Fleet. I felt a surge of nostalgia and surprise that she had kept it all this time.
Though her impression was different from the current Luche, seeing the photo and her side-by-side made the resemblance to A.T. clear.
"Do you know how much Theo and Kruger teased us back then?"
"About what?"
"They asked if she was the daughter Seira and I had together."
Back when we were in the 6th Fleet, there was a persistent rumor that Seira and I were a couple. Then, a black-haired girl appeared who looked like me when I was sulking and like Seira when she was on edge. Those who knew how close Seira and I were were shocked at least once.
"I know. I ignored it back then because I had more important things to worry about, but..."
Seeing Luche trail off as if she had more to say, I looked at her. She clicked her tongue while staring at the photo.
"I should have put Seira in her place back then."
Even in those days, the relationship between Luche and Seira hadn't been good. I’d felt a friction between them from the start and hoped it would improve over time, but it only seemed to worsen as the years went by.
"Still, Seira was the one who took this photo."
"Anyone who was there could have taken a simple photo."
The relationship between Luche and Seira still wasn't great. I used to think it was just a personality clash, but knowing Luche was A.T. made it look like an extension of an old rivalry.
I stroked Luche’s hair as she burned with an inexplicable sense of competition toward Seira, and the furrow in her brow smoothed out. I didn't expect them to become best friends just because I wished for it, but I at least hoped they wouldn't fight.
"Wait a minute. Then, when Team 3 was being reorganized, you didn't pick me because of my performance?"
"Of course not. What team leader would look at your record and choose to bring you onto a newly formed team?"
I finally learned the reason why I, with my history of disciplinary actions from major incidents, had been assigned to Team 3.
No matter how many team leaders I knew at the Seoul Branch during the reorganization, the authority to pick members ultimately lay with the team leader in charge. No ordinary team leader would have willingly taken me on.
"To think I’d only find this out ten years later."
Since it had already been ten years since Team 3 was formed, I had forgotten I was even curious about it. But learning the truth about Luche brought the events of the past decade flooding back.
"Well, thanks to that, I got my first girlfriend in my life."
"Are you just going to say it openly now?"
Feeling like I had nothing left to hide or be cautious about, I spoke bluntly. Luche responded with a playful tone, but I could sense a strange edge hidden beneath her words.
"Sorry. I'll buy you something delicious next time to make up for it."
I said it to soothe her, fearing she might actually get angry if I pushed further. Luche dropped her suspicious gaze and immediately broke into a bright smile. It was a smile I saw often, but knowing she was A.T. made it feel somewhat new.
"You'd better not take that back. If you play dumb later, I'm reporting everything about the Hunter Killers to the higher-ups."
"I got it."
She didn't seem to be seriously threatening me over the girlfriend issue, but I smiled, realizing she now held a weakness over me.
After finishing the conversation, I left the headquarters to head home, just as Luche had suggested. Strictly speaking, since I hadn't come in for official business, it wasn't really "leaving work"—I was just heading back.
It was still before noon, with the sun high in the sky, and I contemplated what to do with the rest of my day.
Feeling the cold wind against my face, I realized a harsh winter was just around the corner. I needed to move quickly before it arrived.
I had considered moving into Su-ah's place, but looking at the current atmosphere among my girlfriends, it didn't seem like it would be easy.
The homeowner had given her permission, but the other girlfriends were opposed. I needed to find a way to break through this situation. Should I just move into Su-ah's house regardless, or should I try to persuade the others?
To ensure there would be no trouble later, persuading them was the best course of action.
And since meeting in person was the best way to persuade them, I pulled my smartphone out of my pocket to see who was available.
At that moment, a text message arrived, and just as I was about to check it, my phone rang. The name 'Yura' flashed on the screen, and I answered immediately.
"Yeah."
— Where are you?
"I stepped out for a bit, but I'm heading back now."
— Really? Do you have plans for this evening?
"This evening?"
I didn't have a single thing planned, but I made a thoughtful "Hmm—" sound, pretending to deliberate.
— You're free, right? Come to my place tonight.
However, such antics didn't work on Yura, who already knew my schedule. She stated her business before I could even give an answer.
"Alright. Should I come over when your part-time job ends?"
Since I’d been caught anyway, I stopped pretending to think and checked the time. Through the phone, Yura gave a concise "Yes," and I told her I understood, knowing her shift end-time well.
I figured it would be good to visit the cafe sometime soon to greet the Boss and the other part-timers.
The brief call with Yura ended, and I checked the text message that had arrived just before the call.
*
After finishing her shift and returning home, Pink took a shower and began humming to herself. She unpacked the groceries and set up a drinking spread on the living room table.
During the month A was gone, she had emptied bottles alone. During the week since his return, they hadn't had time for a proper drink together.
Finally, the time had come for just the two of them to share a drink. Since her memories of drinking were always tied to a pleasant buzz and intense sex, the smile never left Pink's face.
"Wine here... Soju there..."
She placed the immediate drinks on the table along with the snacks. She wasn't exactly a gourmet chef, but she wasn't talentless either; whipping up simple snacks for a drinking session was no trouble at all.
For Pink, who loved alcohol, drinking with her boyfriend was a very special time. Expecting today to be another wonderful night, Pink glanced toward the bedroom closet.
Inside the closed closet was her suit, the control of which she had given to A last week. She considered wearing it now out of excitement but decided it would be better to put it on once things heated up, saving the real fun for later.
Lost in her happy thoughts, Pink quickly finished setting up the usual drinking spread they shared.
"It's about time..."
Just as she felt the timing was right, the doorbell rang like clockwork. Without even checking the intercom, Pink sprang up from the sofa, ran to the front door, and swung it open.
"A!"
"Hey. I'm here."
The moment she saw A standing at the door, Pink’s face lit up with a broad smile. A smiled back and greeted her, but there was a hint of awkwardness in his expression.
Wondering if something was wrong, Pink scanned him. She lowered her gaze from his face and noticed someone standing behind him.
"Huh?"
Recognizing the figure at a glance, Pink stared at the person behind A. Sensing her gaze, the person slowly peeked out from behind his shoulder.
"Hi, Pink."
"Green?"
A had come over after her shift, just as she’d asked—but he had brought Green with him.
Pink had agreed to the harem and fully expected situations like this to happen, but she was a bit flustered by the unannounced arrival.
However, the fluster was short-lived. Green’s arrival meant Pink had another friend to drink with. She immediately took two steps back from the entrance.
"Come on in."
Pink had never really had a drinking session with anyone other than A, but there was no tension in the idea of drinking with a fellow harem member—only anticipation.
And A saw it. He saw the strange, sultry glint in Pink's eyes as she ushered him and Green inside.
'I'm a dead man today.'
He didn't need much time or deep thought to predict his immediate future.