Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Unexpected Sleepover
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On the bed.
A massive blanket lump the size of a person was wriggling around like a caterpillar.
What the hell is she doing?
I reached out and grabbed the edge of the blanket.
Then yanked it off.
There was Han Sea, face flushed red, nose buried in the pillow.
Her eyes were glazed, hair a mess, and my pillow was wedged between her legs.
Dojin's brain couldn't process it. His mouth hung open blankly.
Silence.
Han Sea's mind went completely blank.
She'd been caught.
Caught sniffing the pillow.
Reflexively, she snatched up the pillow.
And hurled it at Dojin with all her might.
Thwack!
The pillow smacked him square in the face.
"Ow! Hey! What the hell, throwing a pillow out of nowhere!"
Dojin yelled as he caught it.
Han Sea huffed, her face beet red.
Words tumbled out without passing through her brain.
"Ah! Th-there was a saliva stain here!"
"...What?"
"I was just checking if it smelled like spit!"
She shook out her hair, pretending to be disgusted.
"What bullshit is that? I don't drool in my sleep. And if you're checking the pillow smell, why the hell are you under the covers?"
"I don't know! It was cold, okay? Anyway, it stinks!"
Dojin frowned, examined the pillow he'd caught for a moment, then shoved his nose into it.
He sniffed deeply.
"Bullshit. No saliva stain, just smells like fabric softener."
Dojin grumbled and tossed the pillow onto the bed.
"Sigh, you're always pulling crazy shit. Just eat some ramen and get lost. You're getting on my nerves."
He turned his back and headed to the kitchen.
Only then did Han Sea let out the breath she'd been holding.
Her heart felt like it was about to shatter her ribs and burst out.
Thank god. That guy's brain is innocently pure.
Slurp.
"Ah, so full."
Han Sea patted her belly after slurping down the last of the broth.
"All done? Now get out."
I'd barely set down my chopsticks before issuing the eviction order again.
Han Sea ignored me, frowning as she fiddled with her waistband.
"Ah, I'm full, so I'm getting dressed. Give me some comfy clothes."
"I said get out. What nonsense? Change at home."
"If I ride in the car now, I'll puke. I'll just wear it till it digests. Come on? Quick."
Her whiny voice gave me a headache.
If I didn't give her something, she'd probably stick around all night nagging about clothes.
I rummaged through my closet and tossed her the biggest boxy t-shirt and some drawstring shorts.
"I'll wear these for a bit, rest, then head home."
She hummed cheerfully and vanished into the bathroom.
A moment later.
Click. The door opened, and I glanced over absentmindedly.
"...Hey, that actually looks kinda hip?"
Han Sea spread her arms wide to show off.
The black boxy t-shirt hung down to her knees.
It was so oversized it swallowed her whole body.
The problem was her bottoms.
I'd definitely given her shorts, but no matter how hard I looked, there wasn't a scrap of fabric down there.
Complete bottom disappearance.
Her white collarbone peeked dangerously from the loose neckline.
I had no idea where to look; my eyes darted around the air.
"Hey, are you seriously wearing the shorts I gave you?"
"Nah? The shirt's long enough anyway; no point."
"What?"
"I'm already stuffed and bloated. Why bother? It's uncomfortable."
Crazy.
So she was out here in just the one t-shirt.
"Hey! Then you're basically in pan... uh, never mind."
The words caught in my throat.
"Now that I'm full, let's play a horror game to help digest. I found one."
Han Sea plopped casually onto my bed and grinned.
The t-shirt hem rode up dangerously over her thighs.
That precarious line between her pale legs teased visibility.
"To laugh at you freaking out. Just one hour, then I'll go."
I forced my gaze away and pointed at the wall clock.
"It's already 2 a.m. One more hour makes 3, and I've got first period tomorrow. When am I supposed to sleep?"
"Wake up at 8 and you'll still get like 5 hours."
"Five hours is plenty."
She replied nonchalantly.
"Who says five hours is plenty for you?"
"Come on, skipping a little sleep won't kill you. They say you sleep when you're dead. Hurry up and start it."
In the end, I couldn't break her stubbornness.
I grumbled as I downloaded and launched the game she'd recommended.
"I'll just watch from the side. You're super weak at these. If you get scared by this, you're a total wuss."
Han Sea scooted right up next to me.
[Room 404: Closed Ward]
The loading bar filled up, and the screen went black.
I pressed down on my middle finger over the 'W' key.
The character began shambling forward slowly.
The closed ward corridor was pitch dark.
I twitched my mouse hand, and the flashlight beam danced wildly along the walls.
Through the gap in a rusted iron door, streaks of blood dragged across the floor.
Thud. Thud.
Footsteps tore through the speakers, shattering the room's silence.
I cautiously turned the corner.
In that instant, a rotten hunk of meat hanging from the ceiling filled the screen.
I scrolled the mouse wheel to zoom in.
The detail was so grotesque I nearly gagged.
"Ugh, they really nailed the creepy vibe."
That was when it happened.
Han Sea silently grabbed my forearm.
Her fingertips trembled from tension.
Pretending not to notice, I crept toward the door with furrowed brows.
At the door, I tapped the interact key with my index finger.
Creeeak.
As the worn hinges groaned and the door swung open.
A bloodshot eyeball burst from between the wardrobe doors, piercing the screen.
"Kyaaak!"
Han Sea screamed and latched onto my arm.
Hot body heat radiated through.
"Hey, if anyone's supposed to jump, it's me! You're just watching—why are you scared?"
"N-no. You keep going that way! Ah, aaak!!"
Her voice started shaking.
This was the girl who never flinched before—what was up with her now?
But I had no time for questions.
The soft, heavy sensation pressing against my arm scrambled my brain.
Han Sea was blatantly mashing her chest against me, claiming she was scared.
I forcibly dragged my eyes back to the monitor.
The character on screen was panting heavily.
I hit 'Shift' to muffle footsteps.
Blood dripped realistically onto the dark bathroom tiles: plip, plip.
Third stall. Black hair swayed through the cracked door.
Every time I clicked to open it, her grip on my arm tightened.
The vivid squish of flesh transmitted through my thin shirt.
Creeeak.
The bathroom door opened, and a ghost reflected in the mirror engulfed the screen.
"Agh!"
At the same time, Han Sea buried her face in my shoulder and burrowed in.
I couldn't breathe. Not from the game.
All my nerves focused on that alien sensation on my arm.
I finally yelled.
"Hey! Quit rubbing your chest on me!"
But she wedged my arm even deeper between her breasts.
"I d-don't know. It's scary. Eek!"
"You're not even looking at the monitor anymore. Want me to quit?"
I actually moved the mouse to the exit button.
Desperate hands grabbed my wrist from behind.
Han Sea peeked over my shoulder.
She sucked in a determined breath.
"No, I'll watch."
"Fine. Then keep your eyes open properly."
I sighed and gripped the mouse again.
The character stepped into the underground morgue.
Zzzt, zzzt.
The flashlight flickered ominously like a bad connection.
Every time the light died, pitch blackness swallowed the screen.
The silence was maddening.
Something was about to jump out.
Instinctively, tension gripped my mouse finger.
Eerie BGM swelled as I rounded the corner.
A ghost in white mourning clothes exploded across the screen.
"Waaah!!"
Han Sea wailed and yanked my arm like she was crushing it.
The pressure cut off circulation.
No more.
"I'll quit, so let go of my arm quick."
"Okay, I'll let go if you quit fast."
She said that but didn't loosen her grip at all.
I twisted my trapped arm forcefully, barely managing to move the mouse cursor.
Clicked exit.
Screen went black.
"Haa... haa... finally off."
Ragged breaths filled the cramped room.
Even after quitting, silence lingered for a while.
I turned around.
Han Sea had retreated to the corner of the bed, hugging her knees in a crouch.
"Hey, wuss girl. Go home already, please."
"Go now? I'm too scared to drive. Can't you see my hands shaking?"
"Take a taxi."
"Taxi's scary too. What if the driver kidnaps me?"
"Kidnaps? Yeah, right. So? What now? You wanna sleep over?"
"Yeah."
"What do you mean 'yeah'?"
I let out an exasperated laugh.
"How do you say 'sleeping over at a guy's place' so casually?"
She crossed her arms over her chest like an X and twisted her body.
"Wow, what guy's place? You see me that way? Pervert."
"You're kidding. Try stripping and seducing me. See if I fall for it."
"No take-backs on that, right?"
Han Sea's lips curled into a sly grin.
"Okay. Wait here."
Without hesitation, she slipped into the bathroom.
Click.
The lock turned with an unusually loud snap.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down my spine.
"Hey, no way, right?"
I called out, but the water running drowned it out—no reply.
I sat on the bed, leg bouncing nervously.
She wouldn't actually do something insane, would she?
No, with her, she totally would.
My mouth went dry.
A moment later.
Bang—the door flew open.
"......"
Han Sea looked like she'd just washed her face.
Still in the same boxy t-shirt.
"What? Imagining something? Your face is red."
She grinned mischievously while patting her face with a towel.
"No."
The steam went out of me.
Or was it relief?
"Too lazy to wash my hair."
She dove straight onto my bed.
The old mattress springs screamed.
"Why are you lying down so naturally?"
No answer.
She'd already claimed the pillow and settled in.
"Ah, whatever. I don't care."
I pulled a thin futon from the wardrobe and spread it on the floor.
"I'll sleep here. Do whatever you want—sleep over or not."
"Hey, the floor's hard as rock; my jaw'll get crooked. Come up."
"Too cramped."
"It's not. Just come up. Don't make me uncomfortable. If you don't, I'll come down."
"Ha, bullshit."
"For real. Sleeping on bare floor wrecks my back. You wanna pay the hospital bill?"
"Threatening me now?"
"Yep. Counting to three. If you don't come up, I'm coming down. One, two..."