Chapter 127: Yu Ha-neul (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 127: Yu Ha-neul (1)
“Hehe, this is going to be so much fun!”
Ji Nuri’s Mini-Me hummed a tune, trotting along with rhythmic, bouncy steps as she led the way.
I watched the tiny figure quietly.
Is she really that happy?
In the end, we had decided to watch the movie Ji Nuri wanted to see. It wasn't like there were any major blockbusters playing right now anyway, and I’d lent a small helping hand in making the final decision.
— “Four people means four sets of merch…! I should ask Seung-ho to go exchange them secretly later. We can just split them in half, right?”
It seemed Ji Nuri assumed I was familiar with this anime. I wasn't. Not even a little. In fact, I had never even heard the title before today.
I figured I’d just give her my share of the merch later. She’d probably love that.
“I can help you with your tickets over here.”
A female employee approached us with a practiced, professional smile. The Mini-Me perched on her shoulder checked our tickets and blinked.
— “…Is this movie trending lately?”
Three striking girls and one guy. Seeing a group like ours coming to watch an animated film clearly elicited that kind of reaction. Now that I thought about it, we were a bit of an unusual sight.
“Yes, you’re all set. It’s Theater 6, just inside. Enjoy the movie.”
Without letting her internal confusion show, the employee pointed toward the entrance with professional poise. She was a true veteran.
“Thank you.”
I gave a polite nod and headed toward Theater 6.
Perhaps because it was a weekday, the theater wasn't very crowded. It wasn't empty, either, but it looked like we’d be able to watch in peace without any major distractions.
Since Shin A-young was the one holding the tickets, she took the lead.
— “D… E… F… G…”
Shin A-young’s Mini-Me hopped up the stairs, counting the rows.
— “Ah, here it is.”
She stopped at a row.
“We can just sit side-by-side like this.”
Shin A-young took the innermost seat. Following behind her, I naturally took the seat next to her. Then, Lee Sol moved quickly, planting herself firmly in the seat to my right.
“Hmm.”
Only one seat remained at the end. Ji Nuri sat down, clutching her drink in one hand.
The seating arrangement had ended up like this by chance—or perhaps, a silent agreement had passed between Lee Sol and Shin A-young.
“…….”
Come to think of it, this was my first time watching a movie with Ji Nuri.
— “This is going to be great…!”
Ji Nuri’s Mini-Me was already chattering away before the lights even dimmed. I had a feeling this wouldn't be a quiet viewing experience.
*
“A movie like that is actually okay once in a while,” Shin A-young muttered softly as we walked out of the screening room.
Ji Nuri beamed with pride, looking as if she were the director receiving a personal compliment.
“Right? Right?”
“Yeah. Even though some of the dialogue was a bit exaggerated, it didn't feel awkward. It definitely would have been cringey in a live-action film, though.”
“…Huh?”
Ji Nuri’s expression tilted in confusion, not quite sure if that was a compliment. Regardless, Shin A-young continued her review.
“Seung-ho, what did you think?”
“Animated films definitely have a different feel compared to live-action. Did you see the directing during the stage performance scene?”
“Ah, right, that part.” Shin A-young nodded in agreement, lightly clapping her hands together. “The camera angles were really bold. And the background colors kept shifting during the parts where the protagonist’s emotions were being revealed.”
“Well, animation costs less than live-action CG.”
“…That’s definitely a strength unique to the medium.”
Shin A-young rested her chin in her hand, her eyes sparkling as if she had discovered a fascinating new distinction.
— “It’s hard to jump into the conversation….”
— “So, are they saying it was fun or not…?”
The other two listening to our conversation wore subtle, sidelined expressions. Had the two of us been in our own world for too long?
“Ahem.”
I let out a small cough and changed the subject. Checking the time, it was already around dinner. We had eaten popcorn, but the long walk had quickly burned through those calories.
“Let’s head out for now.”
Eating outside would probably offer better portions and prices than the department store restaurants. We stepped out and strolled along the street, greeted by a cool autumn breeze.
“What do you guys want for dinner?”
“Yeah, good question.”
Lee Sol’s eyes turned serious, as if this were a matter of life and death. With four people, deciding on a menu was a task in itself. Cravings change by the day, and everyone has different tastes.
But I had a secret weapon for times like this.
“I’ll list some options, so tell me if anything sounds good.”
In moments like this, the Mini-Mes were truly helpful. I started naming the types of food I saw around us.
“There’s a ramen place over there….”
“I’m not really feeling noodles. I want a proper, filling dinner,” Ji Nuri said, shaking her head. She usually liked noodles, but not today.
— “…Hmm. I like noodles, though.”
Lee Sol’s Mini-Me rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. Unlike Ji Nuri, she did want noodles. In that case, a place that served both noodles and meat would be best.
I pointed in a different direction.
“How about pork cutlet? There’s a Japanese restaurant over there.”
“It’s not bad, but…”
— “…Mmm, I want to eat a lot of rice.”
Shin A-young didn't like that they usually served tiny portions of rice.
“It’s a bit meh.”
— “…Pork cutlet….”
Lee Sol’s Mini-Me narrowed her eyes. She didn't seem keen on it either. Come to think of it, she never really liked pork cutlet much. I wondered if she had a bad memory associated with it.
They were being quite picky. I scanned the street, searching for a place that met all the criteria.
“Then, how about there?”
After looking around, I finally spotted a place and pointed. Lee Sol read the sign aloud.
“…Pasta?”
“Yeah, they sell risotto and fried rice there too. They have meat dishes as well.”
It happened to be nearby, too. Fortunately, the reaction was positive.
“Oh, pasta sounds good.”
“Yeah, I like that.”
“I’m in too.”
At that, all three Mini-Mes took on satisfied expressions. The three girls picked up their pace, walking ahead with light steps. They seemed to be in more of a hurry than usual—probably because they were starving.
“…….”
I walked a step behind them, watching the three of them joke around as they walked. Despite the headache of choosing a menu, seeing them happy made me feel at ease.
*
The weekdays flew by in an instant, and the weekend arrived.
Hanging out with the girls was fun, but time like that always seems to pass in the blink of an eye. Feeling the familiar fatigue of labor, I moved busily around the store.
But it was fine. I only had to hold out for a few more weeks. Knowing this would be over soon gave me the strength to keep going.
“Whew….”
I let out a tired breath and wiped the sweat from my forehead with a towel. Checking the time, it was finally time to clock out.
“Hyung, good work today.”
A young-looking male student greeted me. He was a new part-timer who had just started. He was only in his third year of middle school, but the manager had no choice but to hire him because we were short-staffed. He’d be a high school freshman soon anyway, so it wasn't a big deal.
“…You’re here early.”
“Well… I haven't memorized the manual yet, so I wanted to look over it one more time before I start.”
That was a commendable attitude. I gave a small smirk and nodded.
“Take your time. No need to rush. If there’s anything you don’t know, feel free to ask anytime. You still have that notebook I gave you, right?”
“Yes. It’s been a huge help.”
I had written down a notebook full of tips for him, and it looked like he was putting it to good use.
“Alright, keep it up.”
I stepped aside so as not to disturb him. Soon, the kid turned his attention to the manual taped to the refrigerator.
“…….”
Ha Seo-rim, who was coming into the break room from the floor, locked eyes with me. She gave a small bow. Her movements were much softer than they used to be.
“Senior, good work today.”
“Yeah, you too.”
I gave her a light wave.
— “We’re supposed to meet at the station… if I move slowly, I’ll still get there with time to spare.”
Her Mini-Me muttered softly as she passed by. She checked the time and headed into the changing room. It looked like she was going out somewhere, but it wasn't any of my business.
“Seung-ho—”
The manager called me from the staff room. I stood up and headed over.
“Yes? You called?”
“Could you just throw these out before you head home?”
He pointed to two trash bags piled in the corner.
“Sure.”
I pressed down the trash bags to pack them tight and tied the handles. I held the heavy bags in both hands and headed for the exit.
Creeak—
Whooooosh—
“Sss….”
As I stepped out through the back door, a cold wind hit me. The weather had turned quite chilly.
“Heave-ho.”
I tossed the general waste bags into the bin and dusted off my hands. With this, my work for the day was finally done.
“Phew….”
Now I just had to change and go home. I’d grab a quick snack on the way back, then head to the gym….
“……Seung-ho?”
A faint, delicate voice pierced the air.
There was a haunting familiarity in the way she called my name. At the sound of that clear voice settling over my shoulders, I stood frozen, as if glued to the ground.
“……Lee Seung-ho. It’s you, right, Seung-ho?”
“…….”
Even without turning around, I knew instantly who it was. I tried to move back inside as if I hadn't heard her, but my feet refused to budge.
“…….”
It was only natural. Whether for better or worse, she was someone who had left a permanent mark on me. I tried to stay composed, but my body reacted before my mind could.
“Sss….”
I took a shallow breath, the cold air filling my lungs. I slowly turned around. My gaze, which had been trailing along the ground, slowly lifted.
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Yu Ha-neul Concept Illustration