Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: This Wasn't What I Intended
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Racing around the event hall like mad had finally caught up to me. No matter how much dopamine was flooding my brain, my body had its limits.
"...My legs feel like they're gonna break."
After circling the hall about three times, I finally grabbed onto Si-woo's clothes and clung for dear life.
It was my first real outing in ages, and I'd been walking all day, so of course it was too much.
Si-woo looked down at me with a relaxed expression, not seeming tired at all.
"Your stamina's really crap. You should exercise."
"This isn't a stamina issue. It's normal to be worn out. Aren't you tired...?"
"Nope."
"..."
"I work out consistently. That's why I'm telling you to exercise."
"You... live such a disciplined life...? How do you even make time for that with Death Code and hanging out with me?"
Si-woo glanced casually at the time before answering.
"You make time. Wanna rest over there? The event's pretty much wrapping up anyway."
We got swept along by the crowd out of the hall.
Just the drop in people density made it easier to breathe.
"Phew... Feels like I can live now."
We took a breather on a bench near the entrance of the event building.
As soon as the heat from my body cooled, a chill set in.
Maybe because we'd suddenly come out to a colder spot.
Looking around, I saw others as wiped out as us, sprawled here and there.
Each clutching bags stuffed with their event spoils.
"We've still got a long walk to the subway. Rest up."
"Ugh... My legs hurt. Am I the only one...? Seriously...?"
"I'm human too, so yeah, my legs hurt and I'm tired, but not making as big a fuss as you."
"Hmmm..."
I gazed up at the golden sky while listening to Si-woo's indifferent reply.
'That was fun...'
I'd lined up at my favorite author's booth without a second thought.
Bought all sorts of merch, acrylics and whatever.
Legs aching, but ran around like crazy.
Was I secretly an extrovert?
No way, absolutely not.
Stuff like this? I'd never have the guts to do alone.
"Thanks. Seriously... for coming with me."
Maybe because I suddenly got sentimental, Si-woo averted his gaze and replied curtly.
"What're you on about...? I came to have fun too. If I had zero interest, I wouldn't have come."
"Did you buy anything?"
"Yeah, a bit. Not much."
Si-woo pulled something from his crossbody bag. An acrylic keychain.
"Didn't you say acrylics are a waste of money...?"
"Gotta buy what I wanna buy. And this is a keychain. Different from an acrylic stand."
"Keychain or not, it's useless either way. Can you even use that for real? How would you carry it around?"
The keychain was of the mobile game character that cosplayer had been dressed as earlier.
No matter what, that design had zero practicality.
How do you carry around a bunny girl?
Social suicide for sure.
"...Bought it 'cause I wanted it. It's cute."
"Did you buy it after seeing that cosplayer earlier...?"
"Bought it before we ran into her."
The keychain dangled from Si-woo's finger.
A character with long straight hair down to her hips.
"Your tastes are so consistent... They all look similar. Not sick of it?"
"That's what tastes are."
Si-woo gave me a pitiful look, sighed, and tucked the keychain back into his bag's inner pocket.
"Alright, let's go."
"Yeah."
We gathered our stuff and stood. Leaving the massive exhibition hall behind, we headed for the station.
Under the sunset sky, a long line of people stretched out, all carrying identical paper bags.
At the station entrance, crowds poured endlessly out past the gates.
And people like us squeezing in between, total chaos.
"Hey, we gotta catch that one! Miss it and we're waiting for the next!"
"Can't we just take the next...?"
My legs hurt; I didn't wanna run.
But no choice—we dashed and barely squeezed onto the train.
On the subway ride home.
Luckily, a corner seat opened up, and Si-woo naturally tried to seat me.
"I'm fine..."
Si-woo pressed firmly on my shoulder, forcing me down.
"You'll just keep whining about your legs hurting."
"When did I whine...? Ack—"
I wanted to argue, but the moment my butt hit the seat, all will vanished.
I stared silently at Si-woo's shoes.
Felt my strength draining right out.
The subway's warm heater air tapped at my calves.
Cozy warmth made my eyelids droop slowly.
The jolts and noise of the train somehow felt pleasant.
Drowsiness washed over me like a wave before I knew it.
Doze, doze—my head drooped, forehead resting on the bag in my lap.
Seong Si-woo had his smartphone on, but hadn't read a single line on the screen.
His gaze kept drifting to the back of Baek Eun-hae's head, dozing off beside him.
Or more precisely, the black hair swaying over her shoulders, and the slender nape peeking through.
'That's Baek Eun-hae. That's Baek Eun-hae. That's Baek Eun-hae.'
Visual input clashed head-on with memories, muddling his mind.
Just a month ago, this person had turned his world upside down, and now here she was, sleeping peacefully. It was absurd.
That carefree demeanor was the same as ever.
"Driving me insane, seriously..."
Slender shoulders rising and falling faintly with steady breaths, and the unusually sweet shampoo scent.
Of course, she hadn't changed shampoos at all.
The disconnect between his brain and eyes gnawed at Seong Si-woo's sanity bit by bit.
Personality unchanged.
Opens her mouth and spouts nonsense, acts all loose-screw somewhere.
Seong Si-woo felt like he was losing it. Her unchanged personality irritated him more.
Nothing changed, yet everything had.
"...Ah, this wasn't what I was worried about..."
Tap, tap—someone nudged my shoulder.
Annoying, why keep tapping...
"Mmm..."
Oh, right, on the subway.
Must've dozed off without realizing.
Even after opening my eyes, my vision was blurry—deep sleep for a quick nap.
Lifting my head, I saw Seong Si-woo's pitiful gaze looking down.
Still groggy, hard to shake off sleep.
"What...? We there?"
"Nah, gotta transfer. Looking at your face, you slept well."
"Already...?"
Tried to stand, but no strength in my body.
Guess it thought it was full rest mode already.
I hadn't pushed that hard at the event, so why was I this drained all over?
"Uwaaaah..."
Exiting the subway, cool—no, chilly air from beyond the gates hit me.
"Achoo!"
Cold air made me sneeze. I hugged my arms tight, hunching over.
"Ugh... Why's it so cold...?"
"Cold? Indoors here, doesn't seem that chilly."
My body shivered. Slight fever in my throat, maybe.
After all that walking, leg muscles already hinting at soreness.
Not just legs—aching pain crept up my waist, wrapping my whole body.
Even my back, holding me straight, felt like my spine was being pulled down.
Ah, tomorrow's gonna be brutal muscle pain. I could feel it.
Gotta get home and crash.
Before parting with Si-woo at the subway, he gave me a suspicious look.
"You were all hyped running around, now your energy's tanked."
"Dopamine crash, I guess... Just wanna go home and sleep..."
"Anyway, see ya."
"Bye..."
I waved from the bench. Si-woo waved lightly once or twice, then got off the train.
Now, my turn to head home.
But first, something to do.
After getting off the subway, I dragged my weary steps to the convenience store near my place.
Ding-a-ling—
"Welcome..."
The part-timer greeted me in a soulless voice.
I headed straight to the medicine shelf and grabbed Pancol.
Late hour, pharmacies closed. Best choice for early cold symptoms.
'This should do if I take it and sleep...'
Hesitated a bit, scanning for anything else.
But ended up grabbing just one more Pancol and headed to the counter.
The part-timer stood there, expression blank as ever.
"2,000 won. Thank you. Have a good night."
"..."
I pocketed the two bottles of Pancol, left the store, and hurried home.
'Gulp it down quick and sleep.'
Home at last, I carefully set down my precious merch.
Twisted open a Pancol right away. The signature sweet-bitter med smell stung my nose.
Gulp, gulp—downed it in one go.
"Ugh..."
Not sweet, not bitter, just ambiguously meh taste lingering. Rinsed with water.
Body felt limp.
After such a rare outing, no wonder. Condition off.
Usually home meant recovery, but no sign of that.
I washed up roughly and flopped onto the bed.
The slight heat in my throat spread throughout my body, an unpleasant warmth enveloping me.
Pulled the blanket up to my head.
"Sighhh..."
Unpleasant lethargy. Unpleasant warmth. Breaths hotter than usual.
Blanket filled with stifling heat.
Stuck just my head out, breathed cold air—felt a bit better.
Sleep it off, should be fine.
Eyelids closed against my will.
Hoping it was just my imagination, I drifted off.