Dongyarados... What Kind of Tonkatsu Shop Name is That?
Seo Ji-hyun grumbled as she searched for directions on her phone.
"Take bus 873, get off at Byeolda Apartment, transfer to 681, then get off at Jobong Park."
It was a bit complicated, but she was now a seasoned public transit user who could handle buses just fine, so no big deal.
"Mm-hmm. Got it."
Ji-hyun put her plan into action right away. Time was short.
We met earlier than I thought.
She kept checking her phone's map app to avoid getting lost and headed straight to her destination.
"...We're here."
She arrived in front of the Japanese restaurant Dongyarados. Ji-hyun nodded up at the huge sign on the second floor.
Then she stood near the entrance, anxiously eyeing the cherry blossoms in full bloom.
"No way... she wouldn't actually go cherry blossom viewing, right? They'll just eat and split?"
That was all she wanted. Just confirm that and head home.
That's when footsteps on the stairs and murmurs drifted down.
-Ugh... I ate way too much.
-Ahaha, who told you to stuff yourself like that?
-...You did, Dahyun-ssi.
Ji-hyun quickly ducked behind the building to hide.
Dahyun and Hura emerged and naturally headed toward the park bursting with cherry blossoms.
"...They're really going?"
Ji-hyun gritted her teeth and quietly followed.
Thud.
"Ow."
Ji-hyun had bumped her head into a street tree. She casually readjusted her hat and kept tailing them.
A minor slip-up.
From behind park trees, Ji-hyun watched the two play around.
It was chaos.
One spun in circles and flopped over like a top. The other dove into the blossoms yelling, "Who's the flower here?" Now they were even playing "Catch me if you can~."
-If you catch me, you're dead!
-Waaah!
It was a bit brutal for playtime, but Ji-hyun's eyes missed those details.
Up close it's tragedy, from afar it's comedy, as they say.
"...Having fun, huh."
Crack—
A menacing crunch echoed from her clenched fist.
Tap—
Suddenly, a hand landed on her shoulder.
"Huh?"
Ji-hyun whipped around reflexively.
"Hey there?"
A scary big sis in sunglasses smiled at her.
"M-Me?"
Ji-hyun blinked in confusion. She didn't recognize her at all.
Black hat, black sunglasses, black leather jacket. She was about Ji-hyun's height—tall for a woman. Chewing gum with delinquent vibes, she radiated intensity.
"Yeah, you. Who else is here?"
"Uh... do you need something from me?"
Ji-hyun eyed the opaque shades warily.
"Hmm..."
Sera stepped closer without a word.
Step back—
Ji-hyun retreated instinctively, but a tree blocked her.
She pressed her back flat against the trunk.
"Eek."
As flustered Ji-hyun tried to slip sideways, Sera's hand slammed onto the tree, trapping her.
"...!"
Cornered, Ji-hyun stuck to the tree like a startled meerkat, wide eyes fixed on the approaching Sera.
The sunglasses drew nearer.
Sera stopped only when her face was inches from Ji-hyun's nose. Then she lowered the shades.
Intense eyes gleamed underneath.
Meeting that gaze, Ji-hyun froze solid.
She gasped involuntarily.
"Gasp."
Those cold, serpentine eyes scanned her face meticulously.
They held a strange glint—curiosity? Amazement? Or a snake flicking its tongue at prey?
Slither slither—
Ji-hyun felt goosebumps, like a snake crawling over her shoulders.
Her breath quickened. Her eyes darted wildly.
Already a shrinking violet in real life, the intimidating stranger so close left her clueless.
A suffocating silence poured over her head. She couldn't make a sound.
This scary sis seemed unbeatable, even in the fantasy world.
Ji-hyun recalled someone from Pangwol.
Her roaring flames cooling to ice. Icy blue-crystal eyes.
"...Gulp."
She swallowed hard. The sound echoed loudly.
The fear she'd whittled away with steady workouts peeked out again.
Should I not have come? If I'd stayed home... Should I run now? Apologize for whatever? What do I do? What do I do?
Chaotic thoughts swirled. Her breathing grew ragged, eyes shaking, cold sweat dripping.
She had to scream or burst. Her mouth opened.
As terror turned to sound, Sera's long finger pressed her lips.
"Shh."
"...!"
"Tsk. You suck at basic tailing. Gonna yell and blow their cover?"
"...!"
Ji-hyun's eyes widened again. Her heart sank.
The scary woman knew she was stalking them.
"Wh-Who..."
"Me?"
Sera grinned and fully removed her sunglasses. Playful eyes sparkled.
"I'm Hura's noona."
"...!"
"You're Hura's friend?"
Ji-hyun nodded slowly, dazed.
"Nice to meet you. Little bro's friend."
Ji-hyun clasped Sera's outstretched hand with her trembling, sweaty one.
Pat pat—
Dahyun pounded my shoulder hard. Stronger than expected. Does she do martial arts?
"Ow! Ow! Stop hitting!"
"You ain't dead yet?"
"No way. It hurts like hell."
Dahyun snickered.
"Such a baby."
"...Not babying."
We walked side by side, taking in the cherry blossom-lined street.
"Heard some Baekrim High girls came by?"
"Yeah. Handled it fine."
"Yeah, heard you shut 'em down with slick talk."
She flicked her tongue like ebbebpe.
"...Wasn't that slick."
"Close enough?"
"Not even."
"Kabirul." (lol)
"...What's lol? And it was other customers who rallied to keep order, not me."
"Ooh, wriggling out already. Impressive?"
"No biggie."
Come to think of it, first time cherry blossom viewing with someone outside family. Family trips were ages ago. Blossom viewing itself had been forever.
"That tteokbokki association president from earlier—she's the one?"
"Who?"
"You know, I called you the snack bar mascot, and you said the tteokbokki association prez from Baekrim High was coming to see you."
"Ah... yeah, sorta."
"...? You look super unenthused."
"Sigh... it's complicated."
"Why'd she wanna see you? Likes you? Head over heels?"
Dahyun poked my shoulder like a mischievous kid.
I grimaced reluctantly.
"She's Tteokbokki-dan."
"Whaaat?"
Dahyun's eyes went huge.
"An exec, but I didn't customize her, so she recognized me."
"And? And?"
I shot a dirty look at her sparkling eyes.
"Why do you like Tteokbokki-dan so much, Dahyun-ssi?"
"Dunno. Fun, right? So what happened?"
"Told her to keep my identity secret and spy for Tteokbokki-dan intel."
"...You made a high schooler spy?"
"Yup. Good call?"
"Totally! Sounds fun! Hear anything?"
"Planning a Nutube channel soon."
"Whoa, really?"
Dahyun bounced excitedly.
...She's definitely not normal either.
"Oh, and hey."
Dahyun asked casually, like small talk. But her vibe screamed this was the real question.
"That Ji-hyun... your friend, right?"
"Yeah. Friend."
"How'd you meet?"
"In Pangwol."
My answer surprised her; her tone pitched up.
"Huh? Then how in real life?"
"Coincidence."
"Liar! What coincidence?"
"Met you by coincidence too."
"Oh yeah."
She accepted instantly. Seizing the moment, I asked about yesterday.
"Hey, what'd you talk about with Ji-hyun?"
"Huh?"
"You met at the snack bar yesterday. Seemed off..."
I scratched my head, trailing off.
"Oh. Nothing much."
Dahyun shrugged it off.
Unsatisfied, I probed further out of worry. Why was I like this lately? Old me would've let it slide.
"Uh... Ji-hyun seems rude, cold, impolite, full of herself like a know-it-all—"
Crack—
"Hm? What was that?"
Just a cherry tree swaying gently. Misheard?
"Anyway, she's got a good heart. Soft inside. ...Just in case you misunderstand."
"...Got it."
Dahyun pouted.
We walked in silence after that. Then she checked her watch.
"Whoa, time flew."
"Huh?"
"Gotta head out."
"Al-Already? Stay longer..."
Dahyun looked regretful.
"Wanna, but got plans."
"Plans? What? Important?"
"In Pangwol, with Crying Priest—"
"Yeah, fair enough."
Dahyun spun and strode back without another word.
"Hurry. I'll walk you."
"Okay!"
I caught up and matched her pace.
"So, what's Crying Priest like up close? Real-life gentleman?"
"Eh... yeah?"
Hura and Dahyun's cherry blossom spot in Jobong Park.
Behind a row of trees.
"Okay, copy me."
Sera peeked out from the tree.
"L-Like this?"
Ji-hyun mimicked her.
"Yep. But always ready to duck fast."
Sera whipped her head back lightning-quick.
"Like this. Whoosh—"
"Whoa..."
Ji-hyun admired the clean move.
"Got it? Understand?"
"Uh... kinda."
"One—peek out. Two—pull back like wind. Ready? One!"
"Hup!"
"Two!"
"Ha!"
"Good. Now real deal. Keep up."
"Yes ma'am!"
They stealthily tree-hopped, tailing Hura and Dahyun.
-Hey, what'd you talk about with Ji-hyun?
Ji-hyun's ears perked at her name.
-Uh... Ji-hyun seems rude, cold, impolite, full of herself like a know-it-all—
Crack—
Ji-hyun clenched her fist at the trash talk.
Sera shot her a scolding glare.
"S-Sorry."
"Shh."
-Anyway, she's got a good heart. Soft inside. ...Just in case you misunderstand.
"...."
Hura's sincerity warmed Ji-hyun's chest.
Yeah... you're always like that.
Even in Genesis Village's mercenary guild, amid the gossip, he believed in her to the end.
Defended her no matter what.
...So consistent. Front and back, totally the same.
Unlike fake school friends.
Ji-hyun touched her chest.
Thump thump—
Her heart raced a bit faster.
Can't stop now.
She was slowly, surely grasping her feelings. Sometimes warm, sometimes bittersweet.
"Tch... Dahyun, should've pushed harder. Too nice."
Sera smacked her lips, watching them go.
Then eyed Ji-hyun hand-on-chest.
"Hey."
"Y-Yes?"
"Wanna grab coffee? My treat."
"...Coffee?"
Sera grinned.