Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Wanna Go See It?
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It was just past 11:30 PM.
Only right before midnight did Si-woo finally log into Death Code.
"Why'd you come in so late today? It was getting so late I thought you weren't coming..."
Si-woo replied in a somewhat subdued voice.
"...I went to see my little sister."
"Suddenly...? You went to see your sister?"
"She's starting university soon. And since she mentioned she'd moved, I dropped by."
"Your sister's becoming a college student? Already...?"
It had been ages since I'd seen Si-woo's little sister in person—I couldn't even remember her face anymore—but I knew he had one.
What was her name again? Sia, right?
We'd exchanged greetings now and then up until she was in high school, I think.
Si-woo let out a disbelieving chuckle at my words.
"Hey, we're not that far apart in age. What're you even saying all of a sudden?"
"You always react like that when you don't know what to say..."
Oh, right—I had something to ask Si-woo.
"Oh yeah. Can you send me those pics from Iller Munfes?"
Si-woo, who seemed to have forgotten about it too, replied in a flustered tone.
"Uh, yeah. Sending them now."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the photos popped up from Si-woo.
There was no need to rush like that.
I checked the photos he'd sent.
A cosplayer in a bunny girl outfit pressed right up against me.
In the shot, I stood stiff as a board at attention, forcing an awkward smile.
I wasn't the point of the photo anyway—the cosplayer was—so it didn't matter much, but damn, I looked stiff.
"Why do I look so stupid standing there...?"
"You always stand like that. Anyway, you gaming right now?"
"Nah, can't today... Account's still locked 'cause the name change hasn't processed."
"Then why're you in Death Code?"
"You bitch if I don't show, bitch if I do. Talking's enough, isn't it? It's not like I only log in to game."
"Ugh... Maybe I'll bounce early too then, after homework."
"Whatever..."
I grumbled as I scrolled through pointless humor posts on internet communities.
Then yesterday's thing crossed my mind.
Getting hit on at the convenience store.
"Oh right. Si-woo, something weird happened yesterday..."
"What?"
"I went to the convenience store, yeah? Know what the part-timer said to me...?"
I continued with a chuckle in my voice.
"Said he liked me and asked for my number. Never thought I'd get asked out like that in my life..."
Si-woo asked in a more serious tone.
"......Did you give it to him?"
"No...?"
"Good. As long as you didn't."
Si-woo's reaction felt off.
"Anyway, first time getting asked for my number, so it was kinda novel... Guess women really do get hit on just walking around. Even at a convenience store."
"Don't give it out next time either."
I shot back in disbelief.
"Like I'd give it? Why would I hand my number to some guy?"
"A dude who demands your number without even chatting first? Can't be right in the head."
"Why?"
"Anyone into your body type's gotta be a psycho."
"What the hell's that mean...?"
"Exactly what it sounds like."
Should I be offended?
But it was weirdly not quite worth getting mad over.
If I did get pissed, it'd just look like I was mad as a girl.
I swiveled my chair to face the mirror.
There I sat in the reflection.
This has gotta count as slender, right?
I spun back to the monitor.
"If they like cute types, there's demand, no?"
"Ugh... You're saying that yourself?"
Si-woo replied with real disgust laced in.
No need to hate it that much.
Talking about getting hit on suddenly sparked a dark thought.
Not now, but down the line.
Getting asked for a number means people see me as a chick, yeah?
Which means...
"Hold up, now I'm depressed..."
"What now?"
"You said I can't ever go back... What the hell do I do later?"
"What do you mean, do? Just live it. Enjoy life."
This dense asshole.
He wasn't getting it at all.
"What about marriage and shit later...! No way I can pull that off...!"
After the slightest pause, Si-woo murmured quietly.
"...Hmm. With your face, seems easy enough...?"
"Earlier you called anyone into me a psycho, now you're flipping? No, screw that—not the point. Marriage might be doable. But after? How do I even live? No confidence."
"What confidence? You need guts to get married? If you like each other, you just... do it."
"How do I keep up the girl act forever?"
"Gotta fake it? Strangers'll assume that's just you anyway. Say you're kinda flat for your looks."
"......That's depressing."
"...Which part?"
Suddenly, legit depressed. Wasn't planning that.
Still hungover from that day?
"...Nah. Forget it."
We hung out in the same Death Code call room, each doing our own thing.
I watched some internet streams, then looped back to communities.
Si-woo was grinding mobile game dailies, he said.
Then he let out a groan like he was stretching or forcing words out.
"Uwaaah, dailies done. What've you been up to?"
Couldn't say I'd been ego-Googling on news sites and forums.
"Me? Just internet broadcasts...?"
Si-woo hesitated, then got serious.
"Uh... Won't be able to hop on Death Code as much anymore."
What the—thunderbolt out of nowhere.
No more Death Code? Then who the hell do I chat with?
"W-wha—why...?"
"Told you I nailed the job. Start date's locked in."
Vaguely rang a bell, but I'd blanked.
"Oh... right. Job..."
Si-woo went on, tension and hype mixing just right.
"Gotta move near the office now, settle into the place. Work starts, gotta grind hard—especially early days."
Then what about me?
"Then what do I do..."
My inner monologue slipped out loud.
"You can go back to normal life now, yeah? Just need that resident card."
"Job hunt again...?"
Truth was, all excuses—even with ID sorted, no quick job vibes.
Wasn't that serious before anyway.
That's when, doomscrolling communities on autopilot, my eyes snagged something massive.
"Whoa...!"
Si-woo perked up at my outburst.
"What? Outta nowhere."
"Si-woo, before you get slammed—wanna catch a movie?"
"What flick? Random."
Nope, bad pitch.
"Please come watch a movie with me. These perks—I need 'em..."
Copied the community link and fired it over.
"...So you want company for that?"
"Please, just once... Movie solo's too cringey... And alone? I'll stick out as the only girl. My treat on tickets...!"
Fair worry. Series was peak dude-bait.
Story? Mass-produced garbage.
Sold on sleaze and character thirst—that's it.
But that's what hooked me.
Longer silence this time, then Si-woo answered.
"......When?"
"Earliest tomorrow. I'm begging, so I'll sync to you...!"
Si-woo firm.
"No lunch tomorrow."
"Why...?"
"Police station run at lunch. ...Evening works?"
"Oh, for me...? Evening it is?"
"Perks at night? Risky."
"They vanish quick—no scalpers even...?"
"...Movie, dinner, out clean."
Si-woo caved—gladly, bet.
Theater was out a ways, so separate trips, meet there.
Just coming to watch was huge; even handing over his perk?
Lifesaver fr.
En route, exact repeat of yesterday's convenience store BS.
Just hoofing it from bus stop to theater—random dude blocks me.
"Um, hey—mind giving your number?"
Settled on this rejection script now.
Second round, not first.
"I, uh, like girls... Sorry."
Straight truth. He eyed me weird but bought it, bounced.
Brushed him off quick, ducked into the building.
Elevator solo. Score.
Shared ride? Awk city.
Doors shut—bam, sweet caramel popcorn whiff.
Last rider brought snacks.
Hit me: theater realness.
Only show for perks or must-sees; hadn't sat in those seats forever—hyped.
Doors open—inside way busier than expected.
Locked eyes scanning the swarm, spotted familiar nape.
Si-woo.
Hasn't clocked me? One hand pocketed, eyeballing the showtimes.
Snuck up, palm-smacked his lower back hard.
"Uwah!"
"Early bird, huh...?"
Si-woo whipped around—flustered stare, then chill.
"Ah, crap... Scared me. Who the—whoa."
Gaze raked my face, froze.
"You cut your hair?"