Kang Hanna
Currently, there is a red-haired beauty kneeling in front of me, hands raised in surrender.
"I am truly, deeply sorry..."
She is apologizing with all her heart for the unfortunate incident that just occurred.
"Shall we start by introducing ourselves?"
"Yes...?"
"First off, my name is Baek Miru. I'm 21 years old."
"Ah! I'm Kang Hanna! I'm 23!"
Once I introduced myself first, Hanna introduced herself quite boldly.
"So... Hanna-nim? What are you going to do?"
"Yes? About what...?"
"What do you mean, what? You used your foot to... on my genitals..."
As soon as I said that, Hanna slammed her head into the floor.
"THUD!"
"I'm sorry! Really. I truly didn't know!"
"Ah... so you're saying I don't look like a man right now?"
"No, no, that's not it... it's just... how should I put this? You're a bit of a special person!"
"Hmm... I'll let this slide for now."
"Yes..."
"But, do you have a job or something?"
"Ah... I'm a student at a physical education college!"
"A PE college? Oh... what's your specialty?"
"Judo!"
"Judo? But earlier you were putting me in a jiu-jitsu hold and..."
"BANG!"
Kang Hanna slammed her head into the floor again.
It felt even harder than the last time.
"Uh... please don't slam your head."
"No! I have to do at least this much so Miru-nim's anger will subside!"
"No. I don't get over my anger through things like that, so please stop."
Truth be told, I wasn't actually angry. I was the one who caused the initial situation, and since I was the one who claimed to be a woman, it was hard to pin the blame entirely on Hanna.
"Yes? Then what should I..."
"Well, I don't know. Do you really love Judo?"
I wanted to tease her a little.
"I'm not sure why you're suddenly asking, but! Yes, I love it!"
"Really? Then you'd be really sad if you couldn't do Judo anymore, right?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think the Judo world would accept someone who forcibly rubbed their foot on a man's genitals?"
Hanna's eyes wavered at my words.
"Hey, you're jok..."
"THUD! THUD! THUD!"
Kang Hanna suddenly slammed her head into the floor three times in quick succession.
"Hanna-nim?"
"*Sob* *sob*. I'm sorry... please, spare me... I'll do anything. I'll really do whatever you tell me to... please don't report me."
Kang Hanna begged for leniency while crying.
"Ah... that was a joke. I'm the one who's more sorry. Please, get up."
"No..."
She kept slamming her head, showing no signs of getting up.
"...Noona, get up."
"Huh?"
When I called her *Noona*, Kang Hanna looked up at me.
"I said get up. Hurry!"
"Yes!"
She straightened her posture while still kneeling, looking like a soldier under strict discipline.
"Relax your knees and sit comfortably."
"Yes? That would be..."
"That's an order."
"Yes!"
Only then did Hanna sit down comfortably cross-legged.
"I'm sorry... I have a playful side, so I made a slip of the tongue. I'm not going to report you, so please be comfortable."
"No, you have every right to report me... I'm truly sorry."
"Then shall we call it even?"
"Yes?"
"I was loud, and I made you cry with a joke, and you... made a mistake. So, even. Deal?"
I held out my hand to Hanna.
"Aren't you going to take it? You're making it awkward..."
As I slowly lowered my hand, she grabbed it firmly.
"Ah! No, that's not it."
"Heh. Did you want to hold my hand that badly?"
"No, I didn't!"
Hanna hurriedly pulled her hand away and backed off.
'She's fun to tease.'
"Anyway, let's just pretend this whole thing never happened between us. Got it?"
"Yes... I understand. But are you really okay? You don't want me to do anything for you?"
"Yes. Well... actually, no. Are you good at cooking?"
"Cooking? I'm not bad at it, I suppose?"
"Really? Then, could you save that *tteokbokki* over there for me?"
"*Tteokbokki*?"
"Yes. I ordered the extra spicy version from *Yeop-tteok*, but I absolutely couldn't eat it... that's why I was screaming earlier. Haha."
"The extra spicy *Yeop-tteok*? Why would you order the spicy one..."
"Ah, I had a mission on my stream... I pushed myself to get the 25,000 won reward..."
"Wait, what? You did, Miru-nim?"
Hanna reacted with genuine surprise.
"Yes. Why? What kind of streamer did you think I was?"
"Just... like other men... wasn't it?"
"If you mean other men... you mean the type who just laughs, reacts, and milks the viewers for money?"
"No, it's not like that..."
"Then what is it?"
"...Actually, you're right. That's what I thought. I'm sorry."
"Heh, it's fine. Like I said before, I'm streaming as a woman."
"Was that for real?"
> [Why did you say that?]
'Ah, right.'
I had broken one of the core rules of being a *netkama*: keep it a secret even from acquaintances.
'But, it shouldn't matter if it's just Hanna-noona, right?'
> [Hmm... okay, fine.]
"But why do you go through the trouble of streaming like that?"
Kang Hanna asked me the reason for being a *netkama*.
Giving the honest answer—that I didn't want to die—didn't seem like a good idea.
"Because I thought it would be fun."
"Fun?"
"Yes. I think it's much better to work hard, prepare, and grow my stream. Rather than just making money off my gender... you don't really get it, do you?"
"No. I understand perfectly."
Perhaps she was a good listener, as she nodded and seemed convinced despite my awkward explanation.
"Anyway! So I'm streaming as a woman... but you can't tell anyone else. It's a secret between the two of us."
"Y...yes."
She answered with a trembling voice at my request.
"Now, you need to think of a way to save that *tteokbokki*. Hanna-nim."
"Ah, that's right."
At my words, Kang Hanna moved toward the sink where the *tteokbokki* was.
"There's quite a lot left, isn't there?"
"Yes... I only had one bite and couldn't eat anymore..."
"I guess you can't handle spicy food?"
"Hmm... I'm fine with *Buldak*, but this *Yeop-tteok* was exceptionally spicy."
"Really? Can I have a bite?"
"Yes. It doesn't matter. But, it's really spicy..."
"It's fine. I'm good with spicy food."
Kang Hanna, showing off her spicy-food pride, picked up a rice cake and put it in her mouth.
"Hmm... it's definitely spicy. Do you have any milk here?"
"Only water."
"Then, wait a moment."
With those words, Kang Hanna left my place.
She was probably going to get ingredients from her own apartment.
"I brought milk and cheese."
"Wow, thank you."
"Just wait a second!"
As soon as she brought the ingredients, Kang Hanna started cooking.
First, she drained some of the *tteokbokki* broth and poured the remaining contents into a pot. She added milk little by little, boiling it until it reached the right consistency and spice level, then finished it off with cheddar cheese.
While Hanna was saving the *tteokbokki*, I made some rice balls to go with it.
Although they were simple, made only with seaweed flakes, they were shaped quite nicely.
"Is it all done?"
"Yes. It should be fine to eat now."
"Really? *Nom*."
I used the tongs Hanna had been using to try the *tteokbokki*.
"Oh! This is just the right level of spice now! Thank you!"
However, when I looked at Hanna to praise her, she had her head bowed low.
"Hanna-nim?"
"Indirect..."
"Hanna-nim!"
As Hanna seemed lost in thought, I placed my hand on her shoulder to snap her out of it.
"What's wrong?"
"O...oh. It's nothing."
"...That sounds suspicious, but okay. Sit down, quick."
"Yes? I'm eating too?"
"Of course. Who do you think made this?"
I pulled out a chair and gestured for her to sit.
"Let's eat and talk."
"Yes..."
Kang Hanna sat in the chair cautiously.
"Hanna-nim, you can speak comfortably."
"Yes? No. It's fine."
Hanna waved her hands, refusing firmly.
"Am I uncomfortable to be around?"
"That's... not it."
There was definitely a slight pause between "that's" and "not it."
"Fine. If you're really uncomfortable, I can't help it. *Sigh*... I brought a woman into my home for the first time in my life..."
"Th... okay. No, fine."
At my pestering, Hanna finally dropped the honorifics.
"Can I drop them too?"
"Yes. Do whatever is comfortable for you."
"Honorifics?"
"...Do whatever is comfortable for you."
"Okay! Noona!"
Hanna's hand, which had been holding chopsticks to eat the *tteokbokki*, froze in place.
"Could... could you change how you address me?"
"Why? Isn't *Noona* correct?"
"It is, but... just call me *Unnie*. I think that'll be more comfortable."
"You want me to call you *Unnie*? Really?"
"...Yeah, I mean, you have to act like a woman, right? Think of it as practice."
"Hmm... alright. *Unnie*."
I wasn't sure if this was right, but I had been persuaded, so I decided to call her *Unnie*.
"It's delicious."
"Hey, it's just rice balls with seaweed, the *tteokbokki* you made is way better, Noona!"
"...Call me *Unnie*."
"Ah, sorry."
Another awkward silence drifted between us, and we both ate our fill of *tteokbokki*.
"*Unnie*, I have a question."
"Hm? What are you curious about?"
As we spent more time together, Kang Hanna seemed to become a bit more relaxed.
"When you thought I was a man, was I on the ugly side?"
"*Cough*. *Hack*."
Kang Hanna choked on the water she was drinking.
Actually, it was something I had been thinking about for a while. Since the men in this world were very different from the handsome men I knew, I thought perhaps the beauty standards of this world were quite different from what I was used to.
"No. You... you're very handsome."
"Really?"
"Yes. Really..."
Thankfully, according to Hanna-noona, I wasn't ugly.
"But aren't there hardly any people who look like me? How does Hanna-unnie know I'm handsome?"
It was a question fueled by quite a bit of narcissism, but I asked because I was curious.
"Well... if you look at comics, there are a lot of guys like you."
"Comics?"
Come to think of it, I hadn't looked into the comics of this world.
"What kind of comics are you talking about?"
"Uh... that is..."
"You don't have to be shy. I read comics often too."
Saying I read them often was a lie, but I didn't have a strong aversion to them.
"Th... no. I don't think I can say."
"Hey, did you watch some weird manga or something... why are you like that...? Noona?"
When I mentioned manga, Hanna-noona's face turned noticeably red.
"Noona... is that your taste?"
"No... no! It's not!! I have something urgent to do, so I'm going to go first! Sorry!!"
Kang Hanna hurriedly ran outside.
___
Below is an illustration!
It's Kang Hanna, the PE student!