Chapter 64: Hot and Warm Like the Sun (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 64: Hot and Warm Like the Sun (3)
As I got to know the members of Team Hunter Killer, I made up my mind to secure at least some information on the mysterious Yellow, about whom I knew absolutely nothing. However, when I actually tried to look into her, I realized there was no way to even start.
The only reason I was able to find out Yubin and Yura’s locations was that they shared the commonality of having part-time jobs, and Luche had managed to track down their workplaces through her investigation.
Meeting Green and Hayoung had been a stroke of pure luck. If not for those fleeting coincidences, the day I learned anything about them might never have come.
This was the first time I had resolutely decided to dig for information on my own, but I lacked a proper method. So, one of the options I chose was to ask Luche.
“Luche.”
“What?”
I called out to Luche, who was sitting in the office, staring intently at her computer.
“Do you happen to have any additional information on Team Hunter Killer?”
“What kind of additional information?”
“For example, locations where members other than Red and Pink frequently visit.”
“None.”
Her flat denial was so firm that I didn't even feel let down. It was so resolute that it felt like there truly was nothing to find.
“We haven't had a duel in two weeks because of the monsoon season, and there’s nowhere to look. How would I know?”
Unlike Spacetro, even if they were Superhumans whose information was partially exposed to the media, almost nothing was known about their personal lives.
The only information available was mostly news reports of certain Superhumans causing accidents during confrontations with civilians.
“Why? You want me to look into it?”
“No. You must be busy with the training schedule, so I’ll look into it myself.”
“How is the surveillance going?”
When I was monitoring Yubin, Luche used to call constantly to check for results, but she hadn't really contacted me while I was monitoring Pink—Yura. It seemed Luche was now convinced that no significant information would come from surveillance alone.
“There’s no specific information regarding their combat power. If we’re talking personal info, maybe just that the atmosphere in Team Hunter Killer is better than before?”
“I’m not interested in their team atmosphere.”
To Luche, the fact that the members of Team Hunter Killer were getting along was completely useless information. In fact, it would have been better news if the atmosphere was bad. If their relationship was strained, she could look for cracks to exploit, but hearing they were getting along was essentially reporting that the enemy’s teamwork was improving.
We already knew their teamwork was excellent even before knowing the state of their internal atmosphere; this was just confirmation that it had gotten even better.
“Did you find out anything about the materials of the weapons they use, or perhaps a weakness of Superhumans?”
“It’s impressive that you thought I could find that out just through surveillance.”
“I didn’t think you could. I was just asking.”
Perhaps realizing her own question was absurd, she blushed and looked back at her monitor, avoiding my gaze.
“Is the surveillance okay? If there’s really no progress, you can stop.”
“I’m not doing much else anyway, so I should at least do what I’m assigned well.”
I had no intention of stopping the surveillance immediately. It gave me an excuse to meet Yura, and I still held a glimmer of hope that some information might surface for Spacetro’s sake.
Yubin and Yura never spoke a word about important internal information regarding Team Hunter Killer, but there was no telling if they might let something slip inadvertently.
“I think I’ll head out for the day.”
“Already?”
“I’m going to go home and review the training schedule.”
There wasn't much else I could do even if I stayed at headquarters. I could have spent more time looking up info on Superhumans, but I felt like heading home early today.
“Alright. Are you coming in tomorrow?”
“I think so, but I’m not sure.”
Giving her an ambiguous answer, I said goodbye to Luche, packed up my things, and left the headquarters. The hot afternoon sun felt like it was scorching my skin, and I hurried my steps, thinking only of getting home quickly.
I entered the passcode on the door lock and opened the door. The cool air from inside immediately chilled my heated face.
“Oppa, you’re home?”
Yubin, who had arrived home first, was lying on the bed looking at her smartphone. She sat up when she saw me enter.
“It’s incredibly hot outside.”
“Look how red your face is. Did you put on sunscreen?”
She touched my face, which was flushed red from the heat. The soft touch of her hand made me feel my tension melt away.
“I didn't.”
“You have to. What if your face gets burned?”
“I’ll wear it from now on.”
I had heard from Green during lunch that there had been something like a disagreement during their meeting today. I was worried Yubin might be in a bad mood, but she seemed the same as usual.
“How was your part-time job today?”
I knew Yubin had gone to a Team Hunter Killer meeting under the guise of an office assistant job. I brought it up in case she wanted to talk about anything bad that happened, but Yubin just nodded as if nothing was wrong.
“Yeah. I talked with the people I work with, and it was fun today too.”
She said she talked. I didn't know if she had cleared the air by talking to Yellow a bit or if she had cheered up by talking to the others, but I could tell for sure that they had discussed what happened today.
“Are you going tomorrow too?”
“Yeah. I’ll go for a bit in the morning, and then to the convenience store in the afternoon.”
As I confirmed her schedule for tomorrow and listened to her answer, a dangerous thought suddenly crossed my mind.
If I followed Yubin when she went to the Team Hunter Killer meeting, wouldn't I be able to find the location of the Earth Defense Union’s Seoul headquarters?
I wondered why I hadn't thought of this until now, but then again, since I hadn't considered taking direct action to investigate until recently, it was natural that the idea of tailing her hadn't occurred to me.
However, this plan had too many risk factors.
First of all, the process itself was perilous. Superhumans have exceptional senses. While I couldn't explain exactly to what degree, it was a fact that they possessed senses far superior to those of an average person on Earth.
If I tailed Yubin, there was a significant chance of being detected, and if that happened, I wouldn't be able to continue. In fact, the bigger problem than the possibility of tailing her was how I would explain myself the moment I was caught.
She might misunderstand my intentions, and in the worst-case scenario, my true identity could be exposed.
I wouldn't have to worry about being spotted in the massive crowds of Seoul, but if the headquarters was in a secluded area where few people passed by, the probability of being caught would skyrocket. Since I didn't have enough information, just thinking about it made me feel uneasy.
“Make sure you use sunscreen.”
When I poked the cheek of the girl who was still fussing over my face, she smiled.
“I’ll do my part, so you make sure to put it on whenever you go out, Oppa. You’re going out again this weekend, right?”
“That’s right. Should we go buy some tomorrow before I head to work?”
At those words, Yubin thought for a moment before answering. She was likely mentally coordinating the time to go to the cosmetics store with her commute.
The downsides of tailing her existed even after reaching the destination.
First of all, four out of the five members of Team Hunter Killer knew my face. And three of them—Yubin, Yura, and Hayoung—had been physically intimate with me, so there was no way they wouldn't recognize me.
Then would Green, with whom I hadn't been intimate, fail to recognize me?
Thinking about it, I felt like Green would recognize me too.
Even assuming the best-case scenario where I successfully tailed Yubin to the vicinity of the Earth Defense Union’s Seoul headquarters, the problem remained: would Yellow, the target of my information gathering, even be there?
Based on the information I had gathered so far, she was taciturn but had a bit of a strong personality, and she rarely attended Team Hunter Killer meetings. There was no guarantee that Yellow would be there on the day I decided to tail Yubin. I couldn't exactly ask Yubin if Yellow was coming, and as for asking anyone else—let's just scrap that idea. The act of asking itself would give them too many reasons to find me suspicious.
“Yeah. I think we’ll have time, so let’s go together.”
By the time I thought about buying sunscreen I didn't even own, I had already mostly abandoned the idea of tailing her.
Putting everything else aside, the act of deceiving my girlfriend and following her felt wrong; I’d feel guilty even if I didn't get caught. It just felt like something I shouldn't do.
To be honest, if I were just a bit more cold-blooded, it wasn't impossible, but unfortunately, I wasn't the type of person who could be "just a bit more cold-blooded."
“Since the monsoon is over, it’ll be like a short date, right?”
I couldn't imagine doing anything that would disappoint my girlfriend, who was so happy about a simple outing, even if it was just for a short while.
Though the fact that I was meeting her while hiding my identity was already plenty disappointing.
“I guess so.”
I also felt good about going out with Yubin. Was it because my body had cooled down thanks to the air conditioning? I felt refreshed, and unable to contain my rising spirits, I kissed her.
After a light press of our lips, we pulled back and looked into each other's eyes. This time, Yubin took hold of my face and leaned in to kiss me.
This time it was longer, our tongues entangling. It was a sensation I could never grow tired of. I responded to her kiss and wrapped my arms around her waist.
“What’s this? The sun hasn't even set yet, and you’re already in the mood?”
As our lips parted, the smile wouldn't leave my face. I was sure my expression alone was radiating my desire. Yubin blushed and began to take off her clothes one by one, and I did the same as we held each other from that early hour.
*
The next morning, we went out together and took the subway. For a moment, I wondered if we were heading straight toward Yubin’s headquarters, but fortunately, that wasn't the case.
We got off at a station midway and headed to a cosmetics store, where I looked at sunscreens for myself. I wanted to ask why we came all the way here, but I was avoiding bringing it up myself, fearing her headquarters might actually be nearby.
“I think this one looks good. What do you think, Oppa?”
“I don't really know, so let’s go with the one you think is best, Yubin.”
Knowing nothing about sunscreen since I never used it, I immediately paid for the one Yubin chose with my card and walked out of the store without looking around further. Since I knew the time for the Team Hunter Killer meeting, I found myself leaving without even asking if there was anything else she wanted to see.
Belatedly, I checked Yubin’s reaction. She was looking at the time on her smartphone with a look of regret.
“Isn't it almost time for you to go to work?”
“Yeah. If I take a taxi from here, I’ll be there in no time.”
“Have a good day.”
I felt bad about not being able to fully enjoy the date with Yubin, but on the other hand, I wanted to leave the area quickly, fearing I might run into someone I knew nearby. I just hoped that where we were wasn't near her headquarters.
I had abandoned the idea of tailing her because of the risks, but if I were to be seen by someone like this, it would be just as disastrous.
Yubin was still standing there, looking at her phone as if she didn't want to leave yet.
To think I was wishing to get away while my girlfriend was so reluctant to say goodbye—I really was a piece of work.
Seeing her like that calmed my restless heart. Despite the hot weather, I gave her a light hug, feeling her warmth.
“I’ll be waiting at home.”
Only then did Yubin’s expression brighten, and she wrapped her arms around my waist.
After the hug, I saw Yubin off in a taxi. The anxiety that had briefly subsided began to bloom again.
There’s a saying that a guilty conscience needs no accuser, and that was exactly my situation. Even though I knew the probability of running into someone I knew in this vast city was slim, I couldn't help but feel anxious because of the secrets I was keeping.
Let’s just go straight home.
With that thought, I headed toward the station.
The probability of suddenly seeing someone you know in the middle of Seoul is extremely low. However, a low probability doesn't mean zero probability. Even if it’s 0.1%, the possibility exists.
But what are the odds of encountering someone you don't personally know, but whose face you recognize as a target?
I followed the face of a person I saw while walking toward the station.
Ever since I first obtained information on the members of Team Hunter Killer, I had never once erased their faces from my memory, so there was no way I had misidentified her.
“Wait, uh...?”
A yellowish bob cut with a slightly dark tone. That woman, whose height was notably taller than the other members—I had found her in the middle of Seoul, defying miraculous odds.
I watched as Yellow entered an arcade.