Chapter 8: Convenience Store Red (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 8: Convenience Store Red (7)
I was starting to wonder if I was going about this the right way.
While I was certainly getting closer to Red, it was strictly on a personal level. In terms of my actual surveillance mission, I had achieved absolutely nothing.
As I turned it over in my head, I realized I’d forgotten something incredibly obvious. Red must have become a member of Team Hunter Killer through extensive education and training; it was only natural that she wouldn't leak internal information easily.
Of course, the "internal info" she shared while pretending it was about a group project or another part-time job could be useful depending on how it was framed, but reporting that now wouldn't change a thing.
What I needed was a major lead—something big enough to give us the upper hand against Team Hunter Killer. But no matter how close we became, there was no way Red would just blurt out something like that.
Ultimately, after spending over a week getting to know her, all I’d learned was that she was under a lot of stress and that the internal atmosphere of her team wasn't great.
"I need a big break."
I lay idly on my bed, wondering if there was any information worth digging for, when I checked the clock. It was 3:00 PM. Almost time to head to the convenience store.
"Convenience store. Convenience store," I muttered to myself as I reached for the clothes I’d tossed aside. Or rather, I tried to reach for them. The moment I saw the black tracksuit—shiny and worn from days of continuous wear—I realized that even I couldn't go out like this.
I threw the tracksuit into the washing machine and opened the closet to find something else, only to realize I didn't have a single damn thing worth wearing.
"Should I buy some clothes?"
It wasn't that I had no clothes. There were jackets, jeans, and T-shirts hanging there, but you know how it is. You open the closet to go out, and even though it’s full of clothes, there’s nothing to wear.
"Let’s see, let’s see..."
Living alone had made me talk to myself more, and I’d even started humming little melodies to my internal monologue. I figured I’d look incredibly pathetic if anyone ever saw me like this.
Since I didn't have much of a choice, I pulled on a pair of jeans and a navy sweatshirt I found in the corner and headed out.
As I approached the store, I’d already resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn't get any information today either. People say negative thinking is bad, but when you fail at the same task periodically for a month, you eventually stop getting your hopes up.
"Sigh."
The moment I let out a deep breath and pushed open the door—
"Oppa!"
Red’s energetic voice pierced my ears. She was calling out to me surprisingly loudly.
The customer at the counter, who was in the middle of paying, jerked their head toward the source of the sudden noise. My eyes met the customer’s before they met Red’s.
"!"
I hadn't done anything wrong, but I reflexively looked away and hurried toward the back of the store, pretending I hadn't seen her.
As I browsed the shelves, I heard the customer leave. Even though my back was turned, I could feel Red’s gaze drilling into the back of my head.
I tried my best to ignore it as I picked out my items and brought them to the counter. Red was staring at me with a pout.
"Uh, hey. What’s... what’s wrong?"
Did I do something? Was my cover blown? Looking at her meaningful expression always sent my mind racing through a million possibilities, making me stutter involuntarily.
"Why are you ignoring me?"
"Huh? Ignoring you?"
"I just said hi, and you totally ignored me."
She’d been using polite speech just yesterday, but now she’d suddenly dropped the formalities. Not that I particularly minded her speaking casually, but she could have at least given me a heads-up so I could prepare myself mentally.
"There was a customer there."
"Still, I was happy to see you, so I said hi."
"We just saw each other yesterday."
I watched her face closely as she grumbled and scanned the barcodes. What on earth was this woman thinking? It was hard to know how to react to her every whim.
As she leaned down to scan the items, I noticed the bandage I’d applied yesterday was still on her face.
"How’s the wound?"
"I haven't taken it off yet, but it wasn't a big deal to begin with, so it’ll heal fast."
"That’s good, then."
Beep! Beep! The scanner chirped with every item, and I watched the price climb on the display.
"Oppa, do you come to this store because I’m here?"
The question came out of left field just as she finished scanning and I was reaching for my card. I didn't know her intent, but it was true that I only came when she was working. My mission was to monitor her, after all.
"Yeah."
When I gave the casual, matter-of-fact answer and handed over my card, Red let out a little giggle and slotted the card into the reader. Was she in a particularly good mood today?
After finishing the transaction, she smilingly packed the items into a bag. Just as I was about to leave—
"Leaving already?"
Her voice caught me from behind. I’d almost made a huge mistake. I’d been so preoccupied with her reactions that I’d nearly gone home without doing anything.
"Uh, why?"
I needed to confirm why she was calling me back. The fact that I hadn't accomplished anything was separate from her reason for stopping me.
"Just... I thought you were leaving early."
I usually left immediately after paying and observed from the outside. What was different today?
"I don't have to leave early. Is something up?"
I turned back around and stood in front of the counter again, bag in hand.
"Did you run into something you don't know again?"
"The exam ended yesterday."
I asked just in case there was something else she needed help with, but that didn't seem to be it.
"Then is something bothering you?"
"Not really bothering me, but..."
Her voice trailed off. I looked up at the ceiling, wondering what the hell was going on.
Red didn't say anything else. Since I couldn't reach a conclusion, I made a decision.
"Then I’ll hang out for a bit before I go."
"Really?!"
Her pouting face instantly brightened. Again, I had no idea what specific point had made her happy. Did she just want me to be here?
"Drink this while you work."
Feeling a bit awkward, I placed the sports drink I’d just bought onto the counter and headed toward the seating area in the corner of the store.
"What about you, Oppa?"
"It was 1+1. You’re the one who just scanned it."
"Oh, right..."
For a man living alone, frugality is essential. Even if it’s not exactly what I want, the best choice is always the item with a bonus. But was she so distracted that she forgot what she just scanned? It seemed like Red had some sort of plan of her own, so I figured I’d better watch her carefully. It would be a disaster if she’d somehow figured out my identity.
I’m pretty quick on the uptake, so if I observed her closely, I was sure I could figure out why she was acting like this.
With that thought, I watched her while my lunch box spun in the microwave. After finishing a transaction for another customer who had just walked in, she looked down at her phone.
"Hm?"
My phone vibrated. It was a text from Red.
[Why do you keep staring?]
Crap. She caught me. Staring so blatantly had backfired; I hadn't thought that far ahead.
When we had dinner together yesterday, she didn't seem to notice my gaze that much, but this time I must have been too eager and made it obvious.
Now wasn't the time for these trivial thoughts. I had to give a proper reply. While I was debating what to say, Red was sipping the sports drink I’d given her, her eyes fixed on her phone.
"To hell with it."
I decided to just wing it.
[Just because.]
In my life, I’ve exchanged texts with... well, not many people, but even in that limited history, this felt like the most pathetic thing I’d ever sent. It explained nothing, and if Red had some ulterior motive, this wouldn't help resolve it.
I swallowed a curse as I stared at the two words on the screen, then looked up.
Red was looking at me. The moment our eyes met, she smiled.
Whatever. I’ll just smile too.
Just then, another customer entered the store. Red wiped the smile from her face to greet them, and I took my lunch box out of the microwave.
An hour passed while I sat there in the store. How much longer was I supposed to stay?
Right then, Luche called. I answered as I usually did.
"Where are you?"
"Where else? The convenience store."
"Are you inside the store?"
"Yes."
Why was she asking for every little detail? Why couldn't she just wait for the report?
Having sat aimlessly in the store for an hour, my tone came out a bit blunt.
"How is it?"
"Same as usual."
"You really are... Fine. Call me if anything happens."
"Yeah, yeah."
I hung up after keeping the conversation strictly to business. It seemed even Luche had given up on expecting results from my surveillance, though I secretly thought she’d better be prepared if I actually found something big.
However, I didn't have much confidence that a "big" report was coming. I was well aware that things weren't exactly going well.
"Who was that?"
I jumped at the voice suddenly appearing behind me and spun around.
Red was standing right there, holding a carton of cigarettes.
"Huh? What?"
"The person you were just talking to."
It was Luche, a Spacetro executive and my direct superior. I couldn't say that even if my life depended on it. I couldn't read the intent in her eyes. Was she being wary, or was she genuinely curious?
"My boss. Asking if the work went well."
It wasn't a lie, so it wouldn't show on my face. I’d just omitted the subject.
"Ah, it was your boss. I heard a woman’s voice and wondered who it was."
I let out a sigh of relief as I watched her walk away with the carton. She’d even heard the voice; if Luche had said something unnecessary, I would have been caught right then and there. I’d have to be careful about taking Luche’s calls when I was near Red from now on.
"But... do I just need to keep staying here?"
I still couldn't figure out her purpose for keeping me here. I’d reached the conclusion that maybe I just needed to be here, but thinking about it again, there was no reason for her to want that.
She kept me here. Why? Because I just need to be here. Why? Why though?
Since I couldn't find a second answer, the train of thought felt like it had been derailed and the tracks destroyed.
"Sorry. If you have things to do, you can go."
Red, who was stocking cigarettes at the counter, looked back in surprise. I waved my hand to show it was fine.
"No, I’m done with my work. I was just asking."
Technically, being here was my work, and honestly, it was better for me if she wanted me to stay of her own volition, but I still wanted to know her intent.
"Well, we had dinner together yesterday, and you helped me out with a lot of things. I just wanted to talk to you a bit."
If that was the reason, I didn't need to rack my brain over it. My heart felt a bit lighter, and the tension left my shoulders.
"You should have said so. I was worried something was wrong."
"Really? Sorry."
With a slight smile, Red went back to stocking cigarettes, and I decided to observe her without the pressure.
I’d been genuinely worried that something had happened. I thought she might have caught onto my identity, but it seemed she just wanted to talk in person about the study tips I’d texted her.
Once she finished organizing the cigarettes, Red came out from behind the counter to throw away the empty box. She looked at me once as she passed, and again as she came back, before stopping in front of me.
"You’re dressed normally today."
"Huh?"
I looked down at my clothes since she’d brought them up so suddenly. I’d just thrown them on, so they were about as normal as it gets.
"Yeah. I didn't really have anything else to wear."
She stared at me for a moment, closing her eyes and furrowing her brow as if deep in thought, before opening them again.
"Your outfit when we went to the bookstore was actually pretty bad."
"Uh...?"
That was a shock. Setting aside the fact that I was meeting Red, I’d actually put some effort into that outfit since it was my first proper outing in a while. Even if I didn't see her as a romantic interest, hearing that from a woman was a blow to my ego.
"I actually tried pretty hard on that one..."
I couldn't meet her eyes and looked away, stung by the revelation that the outfit I’d been so confident in was "pretty bad."
"Do you have a lot of clothes?"
"...Not really. That’s why I was thinking of going to buy some new ones."
"When?!"
Red’s face was suddenly inches from mine.
"Uh, uh? I was thinking... maybe tomorrow or the day after. Since it’s the weekend."
I ended up stuttering again in my fluster. Hearing that I was going on Saturday or Sunday, Red rolled her eyes, thinking hard.
"I don't have much time because of work on the weekend... Should I ask someone to cover for me? It’s vacation now, so there should be plenty of people who can swap shifts."
I could hear every word of her muttering from less than a meter away. I felt like I had to say it.
"Want to go together?"
My eyes met Red’s. I’d had a hunch, but I swallowed hard, trying to tell myself I was overthinking it.