217. Cat Fight (3)
217. Cat Fight (3)
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ Wh-what? Shin Se-hee is trying to split up Utopia?
【Yeees, It's Sofia】 ─ Yes, I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but it's the truth.
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ No way. Isn't there some kind of misunderstanding? There's no way Shin Se-hee would do that...
Tap tap.
Sofia tapped her phone with icy, sunken eyes.
She knew this method was petty and underhanded.
But now that she had declared it in front of everyone, she wouldn't stop.
So wasn't it only right for this side to respond in kind?
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ Hmm, as a matter of fact, I heard from Shin Se-hee too.
'...What?'
Sofia's eyes flew wide open at Jin Yu-ha's reply.
To think that that Shin Se-hee woman had already contacted Jin Yu-ha separately.
No.
It was a perfectly plausible turn of events.
Her mind had simply been paralyzed and failed to bring it to mind.
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ She said she wants to meet up separately once this Personal Request is over... I figure I'll talk to her in person first.
【Yeees, It's Sofia】 ─ NO!!!!!!
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ Wh-what the hell. What's wrong with you?
She could feel Jin Yu-ha's bewilderment even through the text.
But she couldn't let those two meet.
【Yeees, It's Sofia】 ─ It's dangerous! You're only saying that because you don't know what Shin Se-hee is scheming right now. That woman will leave a scar on you, Jin Yu-ha, that you'll never be able to wash away.
【Yeees, It's Sofia】 ─ I'm begging you. Please, please, can't you just not meet with Shin Se-hee?
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ Even so, not meeting is... Even if she really is nursing some bad intentions like you say, honestly, there's no real danger for me, is there? Especially since you've given me a heads-up like this. If I'm careful, it's not exactly...
【Yeees, It's Sofia】 ─ Th-then with me! Meet her with me!
Impatience began to bleed into Sofia's texts.
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ You're seriously suspicious... What the hell happened to make you act like this? Can't you just tell me straight out and get it off your chest? You're telling me out of nowhere that Shin Se-hee is trying to split up Utopia. Frankly, you've got me totally confused here.
【Yeees, It's Sofia】 ─ ...
'I knew you'd react like this, obviously...'
This was a disaster.
She'd let her emotions get the better of her and revealed her hostility too directly.
This was precisely when she should have persuaded him calmly...
Sofia bit her lip hard.
Drip─
Bright red blood trickled down from her lip.
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ What is it, is it really something you can't tell me?
Already sensing something was off, Jin Yu-ha was asking her again. Several times Sofia typed out a reply, only to delete it again.
'...'
Because she was curious.
Curious exactly how Jin Yu-ha would react once he learned the truth.
【Yeees, It's Sofia】 ─ ...Jin Yu-ha. Utopia is precious to you, isn't it?
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ Yeah, of course. Is that even a question? If it weren't, why do you think I created Utopia?
【Yeees, It's Sofia】 ─ Yes. Of course it is. In that case, what if... What if, say... Shin Se-hee were to confess her feelings to you... what are you planning to do...?
Tight.
Sofia shut her eyes.
She'd said it.
In the end, she'd gone and said it.
The hand holding her phone trembled uncontrollably.
What kind of reply would come back?
Surely, as the Jin Yu-ha she knew, he wouldn't accept.
He would never, ever want Utopia to collapse.
Yes. That was the kind of person he was.
Gulp.
Sofia swallowed dryly and glared at her phone.
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ A confession? Shin Se-hee to me?
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ Hmm, to be honest, I never even considered that possibility...
'I knew it!'
Jin Yu-ha was going to turn her down!
The fact that it had never even crossed his mind was proof enough, wasn't it!
The corners of her mouth soared upward.
Sofia's mood rocketed sky-high in an instant.
But.
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ If Shin Se-hee confesses, hmm. I think I'd probably accept?
"Huh?"
Had she misread?
Even after checking again, the words remained the same.
"...Y-you'd accept?"
A plummeting feeling.
As high as it had soared, the fall was that steep. The place she crashed down into was a bottomless mire.
【Yeees, It's Sofia】 ─ Whatareyousaying.Jin Yu-ha.Thisisn'tright.Y-you have to protect Utopia.Howcouldyoudothis.
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ Huh? What does me accepting Shin Se-hee's confession have to do with protecting Utopia?
No.
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ Isn't it natural for couples to form when you've got men and women in the same party?
That was a lie.
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ It's like that in other parties too. Totally common, right?
Jin Yu-ha didn't know.
Why Utopia had been able to keep going until now, how it had been maintained without any discord.
We are people who look only, solely at you.
That accepting Shin Se-hee's confession was an act of betrayal.
He didn't realize.
Her head blazed white-hot.
Numb to all sensation, Sofia was now speaking without even knowing what words were spilling from her mouth.
【Yeees, It's Sofia】 ─ Then, what if I told you... that I love you, more, more deeply than Shin Se-hee...?
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ Oh, come on, don't kid around. Shin Se-hee, when you think about it, made it pretty obvious she was into me. But you, Sofia, you never really showed any signs like that, did you?
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ You're a reliable comrade! I'm counting on you in the future too! ^----^
Thud.
Crash─
The phone slipped from Sofia's hand and smashed to pieces on the floor.
For a long time, Sofia remained motionless, her head hung low.
"..."
At last, when she lifted her head.
Sofia's eyes were gleaming dangerously.
"...I won't let this go. I'll never forgive you. Shin Se-hee."
* * *
It was nearly dawn, and the world outside was still dark.
Huff, huff─
Sofia ran in every direction hunting for Shin Se-hee.
Shin Se-hee's room.
Utopia's hideout.
Lecture halls at Velvet Hunter Academy, buildings scattered across the grounds.
Even the cafes and restaurants Shin Se-hee primarily frequented.
But they had all already closed for the day and turned off their lights.
"...Where. Where are you. Where the hell are you!"
Sofia felt like she was about to lose her mind.
A compulsion seized her, screaming that she had to find Shin Se-hee right now and do something about her.
And it was just then that a shadow approached.
'...This is? Ichika?'
It was Ichika's shadow.
The shadow began to move slowly, as if telling her to follow.
Sofia dragged her feet after the shadow.
And the place where the shadow halted was none other than our home.
The house where she lived with Jin Yu-ha.
Kang Do-hee, Lee Yu-ri, and Im Ga-eul had also gathered there.
No one exchanged a word, but they knew from each other's eyes.
'You're looking for Shin Se-hee too.'
And then, Ichika walked out of the house, her face blank, dressed in pajamas embroidered with a little bear pattern.
"...Where is Shin Se-hee right now. You know."
Sofia snapped at Ichika. Ichika nodded.
"I know. I came out to guide you."
"..."
"Because I'm curious too."
Ichika looked up at the building as she spoke.
"Just what Shin Se-hee intends to gain by pulling a stunt like this."
So saying, Ichika led everyone into the building, and they all got on the Teleporter together.
And she pressed the button for the very top floor.
'This is... Jin Yu-ha's room?'
Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined Shin Se-hee would be here. And the others must have felt the same, because their faces all went rigid.
Beep─
The Utopia Party members were registered, so by using an Emergency Visit, they could enter even Jin Yu-ha's room.
Ichika stepped forward and opened the door to Jin Yu-ha's room.
Creak─
"Oh, you've all come? You're later than I expected."
And there, they came face to face with Shin Se-hee.
She was draped across the sofa, blowing on her nails— fwoosh— and examining them.
Sitting there on Jin Yu-ha's sofa in a pure white dress, decked out gorgeously— the sight was an insult in and of itself.
"You..."
Kang Do-hee looked ready to pounce at any second.
But there was no way she could.
This was Jin Yu-ha's room.
A room where he lived, filled with objects he cherished.
There was absolutely no way a Utopia Party member would dare wreck such a place.
A cunning ploy if ever there was one.
Seeing them all standing there grinding their teeth in frustration and hemming and hawing, Shin Se-hee let out a little pfft of laughter.
Puhahahaha─
Kyahahahahaha─
A spine-chilling laugh rang out.
Shin Se-hee had been cackling like that, clutching her stomach, for a good while— now there were even tears welling in her eyes.
"...You— you knew all along!"
At that sight, Lee Yu-ri bristled and shouted.
"Of course. How could I not know? I'm well aware that every single one of you had a nice, heart-to-heart chat with Jin Yu-ha."
"..."
At that, the Utopia Party members chewed their lips, flooded with a crushing sense of defeat.
Because they recalled Jin Yu-ha's reply from a moment ago: that he would accept Shin Se-hee.
"So, have you tasted enough despair?"
Shin Se-hee spoke, her voice still tinged with amusement.
"Haah... To be honest, I'm so very, very, very, veeery much enjoying this right now. Part of me wants to savor this enjoyment for a looong time..."
Hmm.
Shin Se-hee took a long look around at the party members.
Then she shrugged, as if she had no choice, and let out a sigh.
"Hmm, you all couldn't get through to Jin Yu-ha on a call. So you texted him, right?"
Having broached the topic that way, Shin Se-hee then dropped a bombshell.
"That— that was actually me. In other words, it wasn't Jin Yu-ha you were talking to. You were all having a conversation with me."
"...!!!!?"
*
[ postscript ]
────────────────
【Warm Autumn Weather】 ─ hoobae.
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ ?
【Warm Autumn Weather】 ─ ivelikedyoufromthefirstmomentisawyouhoobaewantedtoconfessbutwasstupidlytooscaredbackthenanddidnthavethecouragenowalliwantistotellyouthatilikeonlyyouhoobaesomusteredupsomuchcouragetotellyouthismyheartpoundedeverydaywhenisawyouatthetraininggroundandevenwhenwewereonpartyactivitiesi onlysawyouhoobaeandthoughtonlyofyouJin Yu-hahoobaewill youbemyboyfriendnowill youbemyownsunsunillbeyourmymoonwhenyoucomebackfromthisrequestillbewaitingforyouinfrontofthespatialmovementformationitsGa-eulwholovesonlyyou.
【Warm Autumn Weather】 ─ Oh, I, I'm cra—!! Why ca, can't I delete it...?
【Warm Autumn Weather】 ─ Delete. Delete!!!
【Warm Autumn Weather】 ─ F-forget this! I'm sorry!
─ Warm Autumn Weather has left the chat.
【Sword Demon(劍鬼)】 ─ So, who's going to be Support now. Idiot sunbae...
────────────────
As she stared at Im Ga-eul's chat window— at the girl who had blurted out exactly what she wanted to say and then fled— Shin Se-hee could do nothing but wear an awkward expression.
'Should I invite her back... and tell her, I'm sorry but my heart belongs to Shin Se-hee, so I have to turn you down?'
...That was probably the right call, but she couldn't help feeling it was somehow a little cheap.