Shopping After a Long Time (F)
Shopping for clothes didn't take long. No matter how good a friend she was, Minji couldn't buy me too many outfits.
"Tsk. Let's call it a day for now."
"Ah..."
But even that short time had been torture for me. It was enough to leave me not just drained, but limp like seaweed. I slumped onto a bench in the department store, knowing I shouldn't but unable to hold out any longer.
"You've barely been shopping for an hour, and you're already wiped out?"
"Ugh... For me, that's a full day's energy gone."
No matter what she said, I couldn't move another step. I hugged the bench armrest and glared at Minji. I absolutely refuse to budge. No! I don't want to walk anymore! This had way exceeded my outdoor activity limit! Sure, I'd pop out to the convenience store or take a quick walk to clear my head, but this level of movement was pushing it—physically and personality-wise. I shot her a fierce look to show my unbreakable resolve. No bribe would get me walking again.
"...Hah, are you a kid or what?"
"I'm an adult."
"Bullshit. Sigh, anyway, we've bought everything, so no more shopping."
She shook the shopping bags bulging in both hands. I eyed her suspiciously. She'd said something similar earlier, and we'd kept shopping. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice? Not happening.
"This time it's not a lie. For real."
"...You believe me? We've been friends for 20 years—if you're lying again, you know I'll know."
"Goddamn it, I'm not lying! Keep this up, and I'll just dump the clothes here and leave you."
"Sorry."
I apologized fast at her irritated look. Best to fold quickly in moments like this. Dragging it out would just piss her off more, and she might actually ditch me. Then I'd have to find my way home from here—impossible in my state. But with shopping done, I dragged myself up, stood beside her, and snatched a couple bags.
"Whoa, these are heavier than they look."
"Duh. It's not like we bought just one or two outfits."
"Eek, thanks. I'll pay you back next time."
"Just make some content for me then. Help me climb the ranks a bit."
"Hmm, sure? I'll remake your model from scratch."
Her suggestion wasn't bad. We'd started with the avatars and maps I'd made back then, but it was time for an update. I just hadn't had the skills before. Now things were different—I could whip up anything. Ideas flooded my mind. I could add stuff I'd skipped last time, fill in the missing details. Picturing her old model, I redesigned it mentally: strip the flaws, match it to the real Minji, add those requested tweaks I'd forgotten... Two days? Nah, one day tops.
"Hey!"
"...Heh, yeah?"
"I was kidding. What're you scheming?"
"Wait, a joke?"
All my plans nearly evaporated at her words. If I made it and she refused, it'd be for nothing. I couldn't let that happen. I had to unleash this genius idea, this burning urge to create.
"No way! I'm definitely making it!"
"Eek! What the hell?!"
I clung to her leg and looked up pleadingly. Please don't take this chance away! I had to make it! Her character—Minji Nammgung's model—was like my first child. My debut creation, the first I ever released to the world. I needed to remake it fresh.
"Ow! Fine, make it! Just let go—people are staring!"
"Promise! Promise, and I'll let go."
"I promise, so let go already!"
She smacked my hands clinging to her. I met her eyes, then released. Permission granted—I was free to create.
"Awesome. I'll make it the best ever. Get hyped."
"Ugh, yeah, yeah. Now stand up."
"Heehee."
Knowing I could make it lifted my spirits. My exhausted body felt recharged. I wanted to rush home and dive in.
"That exciting, huh?"
"Obviously. It's a remake of my first masterpiece."
"Yeah, fair enough."
I skipped lightly to her car. Burger in my belly, mood on high—I could pull an all-nighter and crank out anything tonight. I slid into the passenger seat and briefly closed my eyes. Ah, I was buzzing with energy... so why am I...
*
"Snooore..."
"Huh? Oh, she's out. Must've been wiped."
Minji glanced at Hayun dozing beside her as she drove. She'd always been a weirdo since childhood, but now she was ten times stranger. A guy turning into a girl overnight? Bizarre—and annoying.
"Tch, getting all cutely useless. Sigh."
There wasn't a trace of her old male self. She'd barely gone out even then, holed up like a hikikomori, but she'd had some manly edge. How did she change this much?
"Tsk... If I wished on the moon, would I end up like that?"
Her gaze inevitably drifted to Hayun's chest with a sigh. Size wasn't everything, but damn, it was enviable. Not ugly-big, perfectly shaped—this jealousy was unavoidable. She glared a bit longer, then focused on driving. New girlfriend material? No biggie.
"Heh... hehehe, fuuun... developiiing."
Pfft, dreaming of coding even in sleep.
"Mmm... looook... thiiis... your modelll..."
"She really wants to remake it. Something to look forward to."
Having watched Momona's stream live, expectations were high. The model she used now was the one Hayun made three years ago—dated. She didn't want to ditch it casually since Hayun created it, but she'd planned to ask someday. Hayun had seemed too swamped and stressed about her content drought. Hard to bring up. But now, with the stress gone, perfect timing.
"Home sweet home. Hey, wake up."
"Mmm..."
"Sigh."
Minji chuckled, got out, and helped Hayun inside. She'd wake eventually and sort her clothes. Childhood friend perks—she knew the door code. Punch it in, open up, plop her on the bed.
"Tsk. She'll see a message when she wakes."
She stroked Hayun's hair once, shut the door, and left. Time to prep my stream. Good news for the viewers—a new model. They'd love it.
*
"Mmm... huh?"
I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. When did I even fall asleep?
"Yawn, ah. Was the shopping all a dream?"
It felt too real. I shook my head to clear the daze. Better.
"Ow, headache. Shook too hard? Anyway, not a dream."
The shopping bags by the bed proved it—Minji and I had gone. So the modeling dream...? Nah.
"Ugh, passed out in the car, huh."
Scratching my head, I recalled: memory cut off right after getting in. Dreaming of avatar-making even then? I must really want to create. Felt like something epic, but details faded. Grab phone, open notes, jot fast.
"Gotta write this before I forget—regret city otherwise."
I scribbled the dream ideas, then flopped back. Need to make 'em, but bed's too comfy. Wanna roll around more.
"Ah, tsk. Fatigue hitting late."
For a dev like me, going out is Herculean. Today's shopping wrecked me. Fun catching up with Minji after ages, but VR meetups suit me better—no physical drain, just mental if anything.
"Next time, virtual hangout."
Probably just convenience store runs otherwise. No way I'd go out again soon.
"Huh?"
Reading my notes again, I spotted it. Minji's text—went home, nothing special. But an unknown email?
"Won't infect my phone just opening it, right?"
Silly thought, but I checked. No reason for mail... not from the moon... who sent what?
"Hmm... Huh? Wha—huh?!"
I jolted at the unbelievable content. This is real?!