Chapter 162: December (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 162: December (6)
The next day, after school let out.
I headed over to Ha Seo-rim’s classroom.
I had asked Ji Nuri to deliver a Chocomong to her yesterday, but she had flat-out refused to take it. Since her reasoning wasn't exactly wrong, I decided to show up in person today.
‘This should be the place.’
If I remembered correctly, she was in Class 1. I peeked inside the room.
‘Did she leave already?’
I couldn't see Ha Seo-rim anywhere. I wondered if I should just head over to the Band Club practice room instead.
— “What the...”
“Are you looking for someone?”
Just then, a male student approached me. Judging by the vibe, he seemed to be from Class 1.
“Is Ha Seo-rim inside?”
“Ha Seo-rim? Hold on a sec.”
He trotted into the classroom.
“Hey, Ha Seo-rim! A senior is looking for you.”
Ah, so her seat was right by the hallway. No wonder I didn't see her from the door.
“...A senior?”
Ha Seo-rim blinked as she spotted me.
“Ah.”
With a short gasp, she awkwardly pulled a hair roller out of her bangs and tucked it away. Then, she walked quickly out the back door.
“You actually came.”
“You told me to come myself.”
“...I did, didn't I?”
Ha Seo-rim fiddled with her bangs, looking restless.
— “I didn't think he’d actually show up, though...”
Seo-rim’s Mini-Me tapped her toes against the floor, looking embarrassed by the situation.
“So... are things okay after what happened yesterday?”
“More or less...”
If I had to be precise, I’d say things were only half-resolved. Shin A-young’s anger had subsided, but the situation had only grown more complicated since then. However, I didn't feel the need to explain all that.
I gave a vague nod.
“Here. This is for you.”
I pulled a carton out of my padded jacket pocket. It was a chilled Chocomong I had just taken out of the club room fridge.
“……”
Ha Seo-rim stared down at the Chocomong in silence.
— “...Is this where it ends?”
I heard the Mini-Me’s faint murmur.
Where what ends? What did that mean?
“You know...”
Ha Seo-rim slowly looked up, her eyes meeting mine.
“...I worked pretty hard to help you in my own way. Don't you think trying to call it even with a single Chocomong is a bit much?”
“Huh...?”
“Things have even gotten awkward between me and A-young because of you, Senior.”
“Well... uh.”
I had no defense for that. I did feel guilty about it.
“And besides, I don't even like Chocomong that much.”
“Oh. Really? Is it an allergy or something...?”
“...No, it’s not that. I just don't usually drink it.”
— “It’s not exactly good for you, either.”
So she didn't like it. I awkwardly lowered my hand holding the drink.
“Then, do you want something else? I’ll buy it for you at the snack shop.”
“...Why are you so quick to try and spend money?”
Ha Seo-rim gave me a steady glare. It seemed she didn't approve of my loose purse strings.
“Try to save a little.”
“……Oh, sorry.”
I apologized instinctively.
...Wait, it’s my money, isn't it? But I figured I’d just get scolded again if I said anything, so I kept my mouth shut.
“...Then, what can I do for you?”
I handed the choice over to Ha Seo-rim. As long as it wasn't anything too difficult, I was willing to do it.
— “Oh, he’s actually planning on doing something else?”
The Mini-Me’s eyes widened.
“……How far were you willing to go, Senior?”
She hit me with the hardest question to answer.
* * *
Meanwhile.
Ji Nuri was sprawled across the club room sofa, feeling completely drained of energy.
“When does break start...?”
It felt like weeks had passed, but winter break was still a long way off. She wanted to play already.
“…….”
Ji Nuri pouted sullenly, but no one responded. Everyone else seemed busy with their own business. Shin A-young was in the middle of a game, and Lee Sol was lying on the other sofa, staring intently at her phone.
How tragic. If Lee Seung-ho were here, he would have at least given her some kind of answer. But he had stepped out for a bit, saying he had something to discuss with Ha Seo-rim.
“What are you looking at...?”
Ji Nuri sat up. Since Lee Sol seemed to be agonizing over something, Nuri peered over curiously. She craned her neck.
“Huh?”
Ji Nuri’s voice rose. For some reason, Lee Sol was looking at cosplay outfits.
“Shh. Quiet.”
Lee Sol placed an index finger to her lips, glancing at Shin A-young. Fortunately, Shin A-young was too focused on her game to pay them any mind.
Ji Nuri lowered her voice accordingly.
“...Why are you looking at those?”
She felt a spark of interest, wondering if Sol had finally developed a hobby in her field. If that were the case, Nuri was confident she could teach her everything. And then, they could go to events together.
“I was thinking of wearing one for a shoot,” Lee Sol answered without taking her eyes off her phone.
“Huh? A shoot?”
“...You know, the one I’m doing with Seung-ho.”
“No, no. That’s not what I mean.”
Ji Nuri waved her hands. She knew the two of them were filming content for social media. She saw it posted on Inbyeol from time to time. That wasn't the issue.
“Wasn't that account for normal stuff? Like dance challenges and things...?”
“Ah—”
Lee Sol’s finger tapped the screen nonchalantly.
“This is the trend these days.”
“What?”
What was she talking about?
“Cosplay is?”
Since when? Had the trends changed without her noticing?
“Ahem, hmmm...”
Ji Nuri let out a small cough and crept closer to Lee Sol. Peeking at the phone screen, she saw a photo of a cosplayer. It looked like a cosplay of a famous overseas VTuber. The character’s gimmick was being a twin.
‘Not bad.’
It was a good choice. Lee Sol had a slender build, so she would definitely look good as that type of character.
...No, putting that aside.
“Isn't this a bit too revealing?”
“This?”
“I-it’s on the revealing side. Look here.”
Ji Nuri zoomed in on the screen.
“See?”
The shorts were short, and the midriff was subtly exposed. A lot of pale skin was on display. Imagine wearing that yourself. Even if it was for cosplay, showing something like that to a red-blooded teenage boy...
“Haaah.”
Just the thought made her head heat up. Ji Nuri’s body twitched as a flush of embarrassment washed over her.
“H-how can you wear something so scandalous?”
Lee Sol stopped scrolling. One of her eyebrows quirked up as her gaze shifted toward Ji Nuri.
“……?”
She looked at her with a blank expression, as if her common sense had just walked out the door. Ji Nuri tilted her head at the strange look.
“What?”
“Phew—”
Lee Sol let out a short, deep sigh.
“...Never mind.”
Closing her eyes tightly, she slid her phone into her pocket. As far as Sol was concerned, this was just absurd. This girl... she seemed to have completely forgotten what happened at the valley.
Regardless, Ji Nuri kept hovering around her like a bobblehead.
“But really, are you going to wear that?”
“...It’s not that revealing. And the outfit is cute.”
“U-uh-huh...”
Ji Nuri kept her mouth shut, looking awkward. If Sol said she was going to do it, what could Nuri do? She wasn't in a position to tell her what to do.
She’d realize it once she actually wore it. She’d learn the hard way that cosplay wasn't that easy.
* * *
Late evening.
After finishing club activities and returning home, Ji Nuri crouched in front of her closet and peered inside.
“Heave-ho.”
She was doing some long-overdue organizing. Inside, transparent cases were stacked in an orderly fashion. They were the figures she had collected over time, along with plenty of other merch.
“……Hmm.”
Scrub, scrub—
Even as she wiped down the transparent cases, her thoughts drifted elsewhere. The fact that Lee Sol was suddenly doing cosplay was quite out of the blue. And the fact that she was going to show it to Lee Seung-ho... it felt strange.
It was especially jarring because it was cosplay—a field Nuri was confident in.
“...Wait.”
Suddenly, a possibility occurred to Ji Nuri. Wait, could it be? That guy, Lee Seung-ho... he wasn't using this to satisfy his own hidden desires, was he?
‘It’s not entirely impossible...’
She could understand. After all, wasn't Lee Seung-ho a boy going through puberty? She had seen that side of him before, too. Furthermore, the only people who could teach Lee Sol about cosplay were either herself or Lee Seung-ho. There would be no reason for him to stop a pretty girl from cosplaying if he got to see it.
“……How lewd.”
Ji Nuri’s eyebrows knitted together. Beads of sweat began to form on her forehead from the heat. She naturally checked her reflection in the mirror.
If that was the case... does that mean he looks at me that way, too?
Whoooo...
“…….”
Ji Nuri shuffled on her knees toward the back of the closet.
‘Where did I put it? I’m sure I left it here...’
There was a cosplay outfit she had acquired once, unable to overcome her curiosity. A bunny girl suit. It wasn't for any other reason; she had bought it because she was genuinely curious. After buying it, she couldn't bring herself to return it, but she couldn't wear it either, so she had just stashed it in the corner of her closet.
“Just once...”
Should she just try it on? Just to see how it looked.
“Here it is.”
It was still there, neatly folded and well-preserved inside a garment bag. I wonder if it still fits.
Rattle, rattle!
“Eek!”
Ji Nuri shrieked in surprise at the sound of the doorknob turning.
“What are you doing in there? Hurry up and come out for dinner!”
“Y-yes! I’m coming!”
Ji Nuri frantically shoved the outfit back into the corner of the closet.
“Phew……”
A sigh of relief escaped her. It was a good thing she had locked the door before organizing.
“…….”
In the meantime, her sanity returned slightly.
Rustle, rustle.
With quick hands, Ji Nuri refolded the outfit she had pulled out and put it back where it belonged. She shifted the clothes hanging on the rack to hide the figure cases and the boxes in the back.
“Phew—”
No matter how much she thought about it, that outfit was too much. Who would even wear something like that? Professional cosplayers might wear it for work, but for a normal person to wear it... isn't that just being a pervert?
I should throw it away later.
She closed the closet and opened her bedroom door to go eat.
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If she ever wore it.