My First is Yours~ Pre-Karaoke Schemes
Before arriving at the karaoke bar, the princesses huddled up to sort out the mess from earlier.
"I think... I might've screwed up."
Baek Hayeon, who'd kicked Baek Haon and blown the whole incident out of proportion, stared at her mentally shattered big bro and blamed herself.
"Nah, you couldn't have known, Hayeon."
"Yeah, yeah, we pushed him too hard too."
Ironically, they harbored no disgust toward Baek Haon whatsoever.
On the contrary...
"Should we be thanking him?"
"I've never seen anything like that before..."
They blushed and mumbled so softly that Hayeon couldn't hear.
"Anyway, we can't just leave Haon like that."
"Yeah... what do we do?"
"With his personality, he might never show up to these hangouts again..."
Hayeon looked at them with anxious eyes, convinced it was all her fault.
But...
Baek Haon... not showing up?
Then what's the point of these meetups?
That's right.
If Baek Haon was a healthy, red-blooded 17-year-old high school guy who loved pretty girls... then these girls were 17-year-old high school girls who wanted to feast their eyes on hot guys too.
Han Jiwon and Chae Serin's faces hardened in real time as they racked their brains to navigate this crisis.
"Maybe we should just talk to him casually, make it not awkward?"
"No way. He might look like that, but my bro's got crazy sharp instincts... He'll totally bolt if he senses we're onto him."
"Th-then... what if we show him something embarrassing...!"
Chae Serin blurted out without thinking, and Han Jiwon chopped her neck to shut her up.
She kept it PG since middle-schooler Hayeon was right there, but...
Not a bad idea, though?
Han Jiwon's mind started churning with naughty fantasies.
"For now, no one say anything until we get inside the karaoke. If I get a chance to talk, I'll handle it."
She licked her lips with her tongue and flashed a confident grin.
"For real? You sure you don't need us?"
"Yeah, just leave it to me."
Chae Serin felt a twinge of unease, but...
She wouldn't do anything weird, right? Haon still thinks Jiwon's the soccer team captain...
Convincing herself an old classmate wouldn't cross the line, she gave the OK sign.
This is gonna be fun.
Han Jiwon was already savoring the future.
And so, they arrived at the karaoke bar.
Sure enough, just as they'd predicted, Baek Haon had bolted.
"Operation start."
At Han Jiwon's signal, Baek Hayeon and Chae Serin clasped their hands and prayed she'd pull it off.
Not knowing what she might do.
"Wh-what the hell are you doing?! This is the men's room...!"
"What're you talking about? It's unisex—anyone can see that."
"That's not what I meant! Why'd you follow me into the bathroom?!"
"Figured you might need a hand?"
Han Jiwon grinned cheekily and patted my shoulder lightly.
No, I'm trying to take a piss here—what kind of help do I need?!
I'm not a kid; with you staring like this, how am I supposed to relax and go...?
"Hm? Weird. Don't I need to stand guard like back in elementary school?"
She tilted her head and stepped closer.
"No, no! I don't need help—get out quick!"
Out of all the girls I've met, she's the craziest.
If Kim Minji seduces guys like a fox...
This one's a straight-up succubus.
"Huh? What's wrong with this? Where's the Haon who used to beg me to come to the bathroom with him 'cause he was scared?"
"M-me?"
"I still remember it~ The Haon who cried his eyes out in the dark bathroom..."
"Hold up!!"
Okay, fine, I admit it.
Back in elementary school, since Baek Haon mistook Han Jiwon for a boy... he'd drag her into the men's room all the time.
But now, in this changed body, acting like that back then makes no sense...
Even guys don't go to the bathroom together!
"You embarrassed about what happened earlier?"
She slung an arm around my hesitating shoulders and smoothly locked me in a headlock. "C'mon, man up~ Don't be such a wuss over that."
Classic Han Jiwon. Even after all these years, her tomboy vibe was still ingrained.
I'd only ever gotten headlocked by Lee Wooju and Kim Taeyang... but from a girl? And why does hers choke me out worse than theirs?
"Ji-Jiwon... okay, just... let... go... can't... breathe..."
"Your reactions are still the same~"
I flailed and tapped out, and only then did she let go with a hearty laugh. Is she seriously this strong?
"Everyone feels bad about earlier. So quit sulking~"
"I'm... not sulking. Just didn't wanna make you guys uncomfortable."
"Nah~ Now is more uncomfortable..."
BAM!
"Ugh... drank too much... how many times is this bathroom run?"
Perfect timing, huh?
Thanks to some plastered drunk, we both ducked into a stall to hide.
It all happened so fast—instinct took over—but somehow, it looked even more suspicious.
"Shh."
The voice sounded like Lee Sooyoung's dad. We were just having a wholesome chat, but since it was the bathroom, we felt awkward and hid.
I nodded, and Han Jiwon nodded back, getting it.
Being crammed in this tiny space, just the two of us—a guy and a girl—was a bit... heavy.
But since we were thinking of each other like old times... Huh?
"You okay?"
Unlike earlier, Han Jiwon's face was flushed, and she was breaking a cold sweat.
"Ah... is it too cramped...? Suddenly so hot~"
"Hang in there. He'll leave soon."
I whispered softly into her ear so no one could hear.
"Y-yeah."
She replied in the same hushed tone.
BAM!
Finally, we heard someone stagger out.
"Phew... close call. Now let's get outta—huh?"
"Haon, got a question..."
Han Jiwon, who'd ditched her outer layer from the stuffiness, grabbed my wrist...
"You ever had a girlfriend?"
She looked at me with a meaningful smile.
"No...? Why suddenly?"
"Hee~? Never, with that face and body?"
What’s with this vibe? Doesn't feel like teasing...
"Yeah, that's the truth."
Han Jiwon licked her lips...
"So you're a first-timer at dating too, huh...?"
"If I did... yeah, probably?"
"Wanna date me then?"
What? Did I just... get confessed to in the bathroom?
Just the two of us trapped together—that's it, right?
They say crises can spark attraction between guys and girls. Like if a guy saves a girl, or they're stranded alone together.
Hmm... even so, this situation doesn't quite...
"Wh-what're you saying?"
I stammered in panic.
It'd been a while since Lee Jihye's public confession... another one like this.
I gave a lame reaction, so she glanced around slyly...
"Haha! Classic Baek Haon. So fun to mess with."
Her expression flipped 180 degrees back to her bold self.
"But seriously, sis is lonely—wanna give it a shot?"
She tried for another headlock, but no way. Fool me twice? Nope.
"Yeah... probably not?"
"Aw, too bad."
She clicked her tongue briefly.
"Still, if you're ever lonely, hit me up~ I've decided my first romance starts with Baek Haon."
"What if I say no...?"
"I'll stay single forever and die alone."
She half-joked, slapping my back.
"For real..."
"So, sulkiness gone?"
She grinned at me.
"Finish up and come back~ I'll wait outside."
She stepped out to give me privacy.
Were those words for real? Or just to cheer me up?
Couldn't tell.
After she left, I sat on the toilet pondering her words for a while.
"How'd it go?"
Back in the room, Chae Serin and Hayeon eyed Han Jiwon tensely.
She cleared her throat shortly.
"He's good now."
They sighed in relief at the answer they wanted.
"By the way, unnie, why's your face so red? You got a fever?"
"Huh? Nah~ Probably out in the cold too long."
Han Jiwon brushed it off, but...
"Hmmm..."
Chae Serin stared her down.
"If you were outside that long, why're you sweating? Don't tell me... you and Haon did something."
"We're at karaoke—time to sing! I'll queue first!"
Han Jiwon quickly reserved a song.
"Something definitely happened..."
Chae Serin eyed her suspicious behavior meaningfully, but...
She couldn't pry a single detail.
About ten minutes passed.
My head was crystal clear now.
What was it like? Like a gentle lamb frolicking in vast fields?
Or dust drifting aimlessly through the cosmos without a care?
Yeah, understanding the world's truths made all that drama seem so fleeting.
No need to make friends uncomfortable over something so trivial.
Man, I've still got a long way to go.
I entered the karaoke room with a serene, benevolent expression...
"WOOOOOOOHHHH!!!!"
My eardrums nearly burst, blood trickling from my ears—or so it felt.
"Oh, Haon's here?"
"Oppa... take too long shitting and you'll get hemorrhoids."
Heh heh heh. Hayeon dear.
Seeing her worry for her big bro like that—truly touching.
These kids... acting so naturally to put me at ease. More mature than me.
"Here, pick a song."
Han Jiwon, who'd been flirting with confessions earlier, handed me the remote like nothing happened.
Songs, huh...
Since becoming Baek Haon, I'd hit up PC bangs but never karaoke.
Why? All the songs I like... no one else gets 'em!
Screaming them with just guys? I'd get called a freak!
But here... maybe different?
With friends who understood that earlier mess...
I can sing my heart out!
I punched in the number I'd memorized without hesitation.
They marveled at me queuing without searching...
"Huh?"
"H-Ha... oppa, tone down the normie cosplay outside."
"How do you even... read that?"
Ah, you fools.
Studying your asses off and can't read basic Japanese?!
I, man of the people Baek Haon—no, Kim Junsu.
My playlist since my past life: nothing but J-pop and utaite songs.
And in this reality-based world, their songs still endure!
[Hatsune Miku - Disappearance]
Behold.
I shall sing at superhuman speeds, transcending humanity.