Admitting It Makes Life Easier
A few days had passed since I'd made that blood oath(?) with Luna, but I still hadn't fully come to my senses.
The reason? Obviously, the silver-haired princess who had licked my finger without a moment's hesitation.
"No way... Me, I...!"
I didn't want to admit it. No, I couldn't admit it!
"Me, a lolicon...? No way...!"
But how do I explain the way my heart races every time I look at the girl sleeping peacefully beside me?
I like cute things, but I'm not a lolicon!
I like big-breasted women! I even thought about joining the Jjimukdan!
—Pewng!
Kukuku. So what? Luna's just a little girl right now, but she'll grow into a fine lady later. What's there to worry about? Just claim her early and admit it~ Being a lolicon's no big deal. Falling for someone isn't a crime.
No, I can't do that! Sure, Luna's young and cute and pretty, and considering her growth potential, she's totally a girl worth liking! But I need to snap out of it, Si-hyun!
Suddenly, Devil Si-hyun and Angel Si-hyun appeared in my head and started arguing.
"I've really lost it. Now I'm hearing nonsense."
Hey, let me give you one solid reason. Luna's a character from the novel we read, right? We're just into 2D girls. No problem at all.
Devil Si-hyun started rationalizing with sweet words. But sadly, that logic didn't fly here.
More precisely, not in the country where I lived right now.
"Sorry, but that logic doesn't work on the peninsula."
This country nitpicks everything. But we're just doting on Luna. It's not much different from adoring a kitten.
Hmm... Yeah, it does seem more abnormal not to like Luna.
"What am I supposed to do if even the angel agrees with the devil? So what's the conclusion? Don't leave it undecided."
You're the one who decides, not us. You have to choose.
Sometimes, just accepting your heart's voice is the best way.
—Pewng!
The debate raging in my head ended without any real gains.
"Nah, there was a gain. That it's okay to just follow my heart."
It was undeniable that Luna had become precious to me. And it was also true that my heart had pounded for her just a few days ago.
But considering I'm a total moe-only guy, that pounding can be fully explained. I have zero resistance to skinship.
In other words, my heart racing for Luna was just a reaction to being flustered by the closeness!
"Yeah. I'm not romantically into Luna. I just like her as a cute little sister."
And anyway, I couldn't stay with Luna forever.
Please End the Story of the Mengmang-grade Ghost Story.
Resolved Stories: 0
"Lora disappeared somewhere after we resolved her ghost story, and Tsuki too. Luna's probably the same."
Once I ended the story of the mengmang-grade ghost story Collector, Luna would surely leave my side and return to the novel world she came from.
"In the first place, the reason Luna took an interest in me was because she mistook me for Lucifer, right? Once she goes back home, she'll live happily with the real Lucifer there."
Lucifer. I didn't know who he was, but a guy whose night form looked similar to mine.
"From the memory fragments, he had a cool, gentle way of speaking. No wonder Luna misses him."
I decided to wrap this up quickly.
"I'll just focus on what I need to do. Ending the apocalypse story. And helping Luna recover her emotions."
That way, even after she left, she could live happily.
"Then Lucifer can take it from there!"
I could've concluded this so simply—why did I agonize for days? What an idiot.
At that moment, Luna, who had been sleeping soundly beside me, rubbed her eyes and woke up.
"Si-hyun..."
"Oh, Luna. Slept in a bit today, huh?"
"......"
The girl stretched her arms out as soon as she sat up.
"Hug me...... Si-hyun."
—Squeeze.
"Sleep well? It's the weekend, so let's spend the whole day together, Luna."
"Really...?"
"Yeah. Haven't been able to go out much lately with everything going on."
"Yay......"
Her drowsy golden eyes. Luna, not fully awake yet, looked just like any ordinary little girl.
Luna's drifting further from her ghost story nature. That's a great sign.
It meant all my efforts to help her recover her emotions weren't in vain.
Hope she finds even more emotions today.
* * *
"Si-hyun...... Lots of paper...?"
"Luna, this isn't paper—it's money. I don't have a ton, but for you, this much is nothing!!"
"......?"
Si-hyun rolled up his sleeves with a serious expression and fed a bill into the machine.
~♫ ♪ ♬ 𝅘𝅥𝅯
A short tune played from the machine.
"Ah, aah! Got it! Got—"
Thud.
The plushie slipped weakly from the claw.
Si-hyun was currently waging a lonely battle to win a rabbit plushie for Luna.
For the record, Luna hadn't asked for it.
"Heh heh heh...... Alright. Let's see who wins, you or me?!"
"Si-hyun... You okay...?"
"Of course. Luna, ever heard of unbreakable spirit?"
"What's that...?"
"It means an unyielding heart is key. Feels like a quote made just for me, right?"
Si-hyun pulled out another bill with grim determination.
Ten thousand won, twenty thousand... After countless tries, finally.
"Luna, look! I finally got one!"
Si-hyun beamed, holding up the plushie.
"Si-hyun... Used ten papers."
"What."
Si-hyun had blown a hundred thousand won on a single small rabbit plushie.
They say claw machines are like gambling. Next time, no hesitation—call 133... whatever it was. Yeah, gotta do that.
"Luna, truth is, this plushie's one-of-a-kind in the world. So a hundred thousand won is basically a steal!"
"One...?"
"See? All the others are plain white, but this one's got a silvery sheen. Just like your hair."
Si-hyun grinned sheepishly and handed the rabbit plushie to Luna.
"So from now on, its name is Lulu. Luna's little sister."
"Lulu...?"
Luna took the plushie in her small hands and hugged it tight.
—Twitch.
The girl's lips curved up ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly.
It was too faint to call a smile, but for Luna, it was a huge change.
And Si-hyun didn't miss it.
At first, it was so subtle you'd need a microscope, but now...
After months with Luna, Si-hyun could spot these changes easily.
"Luna, you like Lulu?"
The girl nodded silently.
"Hmm, mind lending me Lulu for a sec, Luna?"
"......?"
Si-hyun took the rabbit plushie and held it to his ear a few times.
"Ahem, I see. Gotta pass this message to Luna quick, huh?"
"Si-hyun...?"
"Luna, Lulu says she's over the moon to be the little sister of such a pretty, cute princess like you."
"Lulu...?"
"Yep. And one more thing."
Si-hyun gently placed the rabbit back in Luna's arms.
"She says to hug her whenever you're together. It'll make her even happier. Haha."
"......"
Luna carefully hugged the plushie with her delicate hands.
"Lulu...... I'll hug you... And."
"And?"
"Si-hyun too... Together..."
Her eyes sparkled, as if saying hug me quick.
Damn, I lose. Totally lose.
—Squeeze.
"Haa... Screw it! I'll just be a lolicon. Honestly, this is cheating. Everything you do is too cute!"
"Cute...?"
"Yeah! Cute, super cute. From head to toe, not a single uncute spot! It's fresh every day! Thrilling! Cuteness is the best!"
Si-hyun finally shouted it proudly.
He was a lolicon!
Of course, it was more a pure attraction to her cuteness than romantic feelings.
Anyway, Si-hyun decided to be honest with his emotions.
"Phew—! Saying it out loud feels so refreshing!"
"Si-hyun's... a lolicon...?"
"Luna-exclusive, Luna-exclusive only! No other girl in the world can match our princess's cuteness anyway. I'll be a lolicon just for Luna."
And no one's listening. If I just think of myself as the only lolicon, problem solved. No one else will know.
But Si-hyun had forgotten.
There was one being who could read his mind.
Si, Si, Si-hyun oppa is... a pervy perv pervy perv!!
Yeah, I'm a perv. All guys in the world are pervs!! If there's one who isn't, he can throw a stone at me!
H-heh... You're gonna do bad things to me too...?! Like in ero manga!
Your tone sounds like you want it, though.
N-no it's not...! Keep teasing me and I'll leave!
Leave? Where to? If you want bad things that bad, I'll do 'em. Come here!
* * *
While Si-hyun bickered with the notification window, Luna quietly watched him, hugging her plushie.
A man boldly confessing he liked her.
A man who seemed utterly smitten, but only with her.
Si-hyun's... amazing.
A person who turned into someone nostalgically familiar at night.
A mysterious person who remembered a name even she didn't know, as if it were obvious.
And.
"Someone who... treasures me..."
Luna was a ghost story that had lost her memories and emotions, existing as nothing more.
No one stayed by her side.
No one ever approached.
It had always been that way, from past to present.
She'd assumed the future would be too.
But now.
"Si-hyun's... here..."
With him, maybe she could live a normal life.
Even without memories, filling the void with new ones alongside him—that might be enough.
"Si-hyun... Teach me..."
She wanted to ask him.
What is this fluffy feeling? What's the name of this warm wave spreading in my heart every time you hug me, every time you call my name...?
As the girl murmured softly, about to call his name.