Childhood Friend
"Unexpected that she accepted the offer..."
Inside the car passing through Southpeak's tollgate, Enoch let out a sigh-tinged mutter.
"There were rumors that Lü Chen's executives burn out their brains and commit suicide when they're in danger. Guess it was just talk after all."
"No, that's true. I've seen executives actually die that way."
"Then why didn't Serena?"
"Like Soo said, her goal was survival, so... that's probably it. For now."
Even as Angela, she couldn't be certain. When it came to megacorp executives, a certain image came to mind—cold, ruthless, viewing people as mere tools, barely human. Serena fit that image perfectly. No matter that they'd met as connector Lena, the sharp edges she occasionally revealed made it clear she hadn't risen to her position by accident.
That's why Soo's offer baffled her. By all rights, she should have overheated her brain and killed herself.
"Soo, how'd you know?"
"Mmmph..."
Soo mumbled around her lips. It sounded like words, but they were so slurred they were unintelligible. Good at everything else...? She seemed capable at most things... but multitasking didn't come easy.
"Busy?"
"...Yeah."
Soo stared at the flame flickering at her fingertip. She looked like she was just gazing at it idly, but she was actually busy with something. Every twitch of her tail changed the flame's shape—color shifting, size growing, sometimes snuffing out entirely. Yet her focus never wavered. Pet her head, poke her cheek, grab or tickle her tail, even bite and lick it like Angela did—nothing got a reaction. Just that plump tail quivering. It was so contradictory, she wondered if the tail had its own personality.
"Hmph."
At a red light, Enoch glanced slyly at Soo and spoke up.
"...Planning to stare at that forever?"
"Mmph."
"Focus is good, sure, but you need to cool your head sometimes."
"Mmm..."
"And staring at something that bright up close'll ruin your eyes. Didn't you say you can't even get implants?"
Her tail was buried in something soft and squishy, and Enoch kept talking. Soo's brow furrowed tightly.
"Eat something at least. Got you a large cheeseburger set from your favorite spot."
"...Later."
"Don't eat it, and I'll have it."
"You eat it, Enoch."
"Skip it now, and the pickles are—"
Soo's head whipped around. No trace of her usual drowsy eyes. They were stained crimson. Not a trick of the fingertip flame's light. Definitely a different color from normal.
"...Your eyes?"
"No pickles."
Like a kitten hissing, Soo bristled her tail fur. Angela loved it, of course. She giggled. Soo hissed. Enoch looked shocked by the change... And the awkward one was definitely Enoch. It felt like a bomb with a lit fuse.
Red was scary in so many ways.
"No, your eyes, they're—"
"Pickles. Pickles... pickles?"
Soo's eyes returned to normal. But her mind drifted off again. Muttering her most hated food confirmed it.
"What the..."
The light changed. Enoch hit the accelerator, questions unanswered.
A bit later, Soo tossed out a random question.
"Enoch, you put pickles in the burger?"
"I..."
No way I'd put that crap in, he started to say. But the vibe... maybe he should say yes. Like those wuxia moments of enlightenment. Soo looked just like that—on the verge. So Enoch decided to help out. Seemed like that's why she'd asked.
"Yeah, put 'em in. Warm pickles, drowned in ketchup."
Soo smacked her lips. As if tasting warm pickles. Then her body shuddered. Eyes crimson again. The flame at her fingertip writhed violently.
And.
"Oh."
The flame.
"Oh!"
Fierce blaze.
"...Oh?"
Wild, thrashing flames.
"Whoa—!"
Shot out the window, incinerating Enoch's bangs completely.
"Enoch, want some fries?"
"Not eating."
"Ice cream?"
"You've licked everything— what'm I supposed to eat?"
"What's wrong with sharing between friends."
"Not eating."
Enoch gruffly replied, brushing his bangs. Just ash fell. Or still falling, really. It'd been four hours since his hair singed and curled. He'd brushed nonstop, but ash kept coming. His mood soured further.
"Enoch."
"What."
"Where I'm from, they shaved heads short for the military."
"So."
"You too, right."
Enoch's sharp glare made Soo flinch and look away. Her plump tail drooped sadly.
"Sorry."
"Hide that tail. We're almost there."
"Yeah."
Soo tucked her tail in her clothes and waddled over, tugging Angela's hem.
"Short hair'd suit Enoch too, right?"
"Y-Yeah! Enoch looks good in anything. Great bone structure."
Angela was quick on the uptake. Soo nodded happily at her, eyeing Enoch. But his sulky face hadn't softened.
Should she show some magic? She knew a cool application— he'd like it. Everyone loves fire magic.
Soo wiggled her fingers. Angela grabbed her hand instantly.
"...That seems like a bad idea, Soo."
"I haven't done anything yet."
"Not... yet, yeah. Sis knows somehow. And you shouldn't."
"Mmm..."
Soo smacked her lips regretfully. Fire magic was so cool.
"Enoch."
"Why keep calling me."
"Just buying trunks?"
"What else? I'm shipping out far anyway."
"I'll get you a gift too."
Enoch glanced at her.
"Gift?"
"Yeah, gift."
They split team earnings evenly—now three ways with Angela, but before, halfsies. Soo had nowhere to spend, so she'd saved a ton. Enoch blew his on implants right away. Plus, he'd vowed to repay her Hod surgery costs. She said no need, but they'd settled on installments. Despite being teammates, a huge wealth gap yawned between them.
So Soo's gift... Enoch was pretty intrigued.
"Hmph..."
"Don't want it?"
"If you're giving, I won't say no."
"Then one for the trip, one to make up—two gifts."
"Hmm..."
"Uh-huh... two million credits or less, pick anything."
"T-Two million... Gah."
Brows twitching, lips quivering, smacking lips, clenching and unclenching fists— Enoch fought down his rising smile and nodded.
"Haircut too?"
"Obviously."
"Down perm?"
"Yeah. Best stuff."
"Hmph."
Enoch grinned, brows dancing. Angela desperately held back laughter. Without bangs, he looked... intensely unique. Objectively handsome, sure. Buzz cut wouldn't ruin that. But this—bangs-only burnout? No way to call it handsome. Avant-garde as hell. No one in the world could pull it off.
Even Angela, who believed in no absolutes, was certain this time.
"Just this once."
"Heehee."
Enoch and Soo shook on it. Behind them, Angela teared up suppressing. But she couldn't hold it. Gotta get inside quick.
She hurried past them. Up close, Enoch was even more shocking. How did Soo not crack up? Almost admirable...
"Pfft, ahem... Shall we head in now?"
"Yeah, let's."
"Yeah, go."
Now all chummy, Enoch and Soo followed Angela.
"Just open the door?"
"Yeah, always unlocked."
"Yeah, makes sense. Closed shop would be weirder."
"But one thing to note."
Angela blinked as Enoch hemmed and hawed, finally forcing words out.
"Shopkeep talks a bit... unfiltered. No brain-to-mouth filter. Just bear with that..."
"Not hard."
Angela turned the knob without hesitation. Creaky hinges groaned kwargak. Cheap bell jingled jaling, tickling Soo's ears. Wooden floor squeaked kieek-kieek underfoot, and a musty, addictive mold scent wafted. Perfect for a fence shop. She'd only seen these in movies or games—real life was thrilling. Silver-gray eyes sparkled. If her tail were out, it'd thrash wildly; her heart thumped.
Kieek-kieek.Soo stomped harder on purpose. Add a rocker and fireplace? Perfection. Toss in leather-bound books? Dream. Sadly, no. Just gleaming implants of every color and a plush boss chair.
"What the—Enoch? Your bangs... Pffft! What the hell happened? You look like total shit! How? Sacrificed your bangs for your life?"
"...Something like that."
The woman in the chair stopped what she was doing and stood. Enoch looked genuinely glad.
"Thought you died, not showing up."
"Told you I wouldn't. Sent messages too—what're you on about."
"Obviously spam."
She cackled, shifting from Enoch to Angela. Natural—Angela drew eyes like a magnet.
"...Whoa."
Her reaction wasn't ordinary. At all.
"Just... whoa. What is that. Those tits are whoa."
"Frey, that's enou—"
"Lemme just squeeze 'em once, pleeease."
Enoch facepalmed. Ash fluttered from his bangs.