Dude, Why Are You a Girl?
Once the commotion—which had never quite deserved the name—was behind us, the awkwardness had eased enough that Jojeong and I could hold a normal conversation. It hadn't vanished. At best, we were managing about half the chatter we usually traded in-game.
Oh, and we cleared the boss. Maybe the awkwardness had been getting in the way of our hands, because after she came back we took it down in three tries, which was more than I'd expected. Or maybe the briefing had simply gone better than the last one. Either way, that wasn't the point.
"Figured it'd take longer."
"Right? Does smoking actually sharpen your focus?"
"As if."
Jojeong drew her arms out in a long, unhurried stretch and straightened her back. How is she this careless? We've known each other for years, sure, but this is far too familiar. At this rate she's going to start going around with her midriff out.
I dropped my gaze for no reason I could defend. A moment later she finished and let out a pleased little groan, as if the stretch had felt wonderful.
"Still. A boss is a boss. Wore me out."
"Then let's rest a minute. I'm beat too."
"Mm. It's fine. We came for the rewards anyway. ...Come to think of it, I'm getting hungry."
She murmured the last of it to herself and caught the mouse, moving it the way someone does when they're about to order food.
She hit the order button, and photos of every kind of dish spilled down the screen. The menu was broad, and it looked good—this place probably drew a crowd even without an event running.
Jojeong clicked through the categories. Recommended, ramen, meals, dessert. Then she hit the X in the corner.
"...Nothing I want."
She said it as she leaned back into the chair again.
"There was a ton of stuff up there. If none of it appeals, maybe you're just not hungry?"
"That's not it. Nothing's calling to me."
"Hmm... Fair. Happens sometimes."
I leaned back the same way she had. The cushion was soft, and it felt nice.
I was watching her stew over the menu when the words slipped out on their own.
"Then let's go look outside."
"...Outside? What about the PC bang rewards."
"We step out and come back. That's all."
"Seats get taken fast. There's an event."
"Then we leave the characters AFK?"
"Even with a security system, I don't recommend it."
So many conditions. I found myself a little bitter toward the company for running an event built to pack the place.
I groaned over it, made up my mind, let out a sigh, and spoke.
"Then let's just go look around."
"...You're dropping it? The rewards."
"No, I still want them. We already got the second-round rewards anyway. We can pick up the rest next time."
"Even so..."
"More than anything, if I'm spending money, filling my stomach without actually enjoying it doesn't feel great. Speaking from experience."
"Mmm... if you're going to put it like that..."
Jojeong thought for a moment, then nodded. A trace of apology sat in her expression—maybe she thought I was skipping the event just to accommodate her.
I hadn't been that invested to begin with, and we'd already claimed the second round, so it didn't matter. I just didn't want to watch an old friend look let down. I shut the computer down with her and stood.
A cool wind met us as we stepped out of the PC bang. We'd been playing long enough that evening was already closing in—only around five, but autumn is autumn, and the air was chilly even with the sun still up.
"Good thing I wore something thick."
Jojeong said it while pulling down the sleeves she'd rolled up to play. I twisted one way and another, working the stiffness out of a body that had been sitting too long.
What are we even eating. Were there restaurants around here to begin with? I dug through my memory for a second, then turned to her.
"Hey. On the way here, I don't think I saw a single restaurant. Or anything like one."
Jojeong turned her head and looked at me, wearing an expression that said she could not believe what she was hearing.
"You're hopeless. Even if we did say we'd walk around and find something."
"Wasting money still felt like a waste."
"...Yeah. But I can't complain at someone spending their time for me. Out of the alley. Left, and straight. Lots of shops that way. Let's look there."
"Aha. So that's why I missed them."
We'd come from the opposite direction, so of course I hadn't seen them. I fell in at her side and started walking—a step behind, since I didn't know the way.
Five minutes, maybe. Just as she'd said, places selling food began to appear. Good smells drifted through open doors—not the sharp, artificial smell of the PC bang, but the kind that made you hungry just for breathing them in.
"I wasn't even thinking about food a minute ago, and now I'm hungry."
"Lots of shops."
"You think?"
We walked the street on small talk like that. We'd come out so Jojeong could find something she actually wanted, so I left the choosing to her. I'd eat pretty much anything.
I glanced around as we went. Fried chicken—if that was the plan, we could've eaten at the PC bang. Pass. Rice soup, too plain. Pass. Malatang, and I wasn't craving anything that hot. Pass. Shaved ice, fine for dessert, not for a meal. Pass. Shop after shop, the same story.
Then she stopped short.
"Hey. Why'd you stop all of a sudden?"
Jojeong had halted mid-step. I followed her eyes to the building beside us. A pizza place.
I glanced at her. Her gaze wouldn't leave the sign. She wanted pizza—and I wasn't wrong, because she opened her mouth.
"I want pizza."
I gave a light nod. That meant yes. The moment she saw it, she strode straight into the shop.
Inside, the smell of cheese—or maybe tomato sauce—hit my nose. It was sharp enough that my mouth was already watering. Jojeong didn't seem much different. Her lips had parted, just slightly, as she stared at the menu board.
I steered her, still half-lost in the menu, toward a seat tucked reasonably out of the way. The place wasn't even crowded, but sitting in the middle of the foot traffic still felt like too much.
I picked up the menu propped beside the table, opened it, and asked her.
"What do you want?"
"Anything's fine. Order what you want. We're eating because of me. The pizza."
She handed the decision over. Having come all this way, she seemed guilty that we'd been wandering around on her account. I hadn't thought much of it, honestly—but being considered like that left me quietly pleased.
I almost said it was fine. I didn't think she'd accept that, so instead I read her expression, laid a finger on the menu, and moved it here and there. The moment her face gave the smallest flicker, I stopped.
"Mm... how about this?"
Double Cheese Shrimp Pizza. Her eyes landed on it, and she nodded.
"Good."
"All right. Size?"
"Large. And baked spaghetti."
"...Hah."
"You doing that because you think I can't finish it? Don't worry. I can eat all of it."
Her appetite was, frankly, something else. Well—if it came to that, I could always eat the rest. Figuring it hardly mattered, I put the order in exactly as she'd asked.
After a few minor snags, the order was placed, and we waited for the pizza.
"Oh, right. Jojeong. How old are you?"
"Twenty-three."
"What? You're that young?"
"...Do I look old?"
"No, I don't mean you look old. You always logged on around quitting time, so I figured late twenties."
"...Hmph. If that's all. Oh. How old are you?"
"Me? Twenty-six."
"You've been casual with me this whole time. Didn't know you were older. Should I call you oppa?"
"Ugh, don't. That's gross."
Like asking how old she was.
"Anyway, twenty-three. You in college? About to graduate?"
"Yeah. Junior year. Retook the entrance exam."
"You retook it? That's impressive."
"You still in school?"
"No. Graduated a good while ago."
"Then what do you do."
"Freelance."
"...Unemployed?"
"No, I'm not."
Or asking what she did for work.
"Why do you keep calling me Jojeong."
"It's easier? I've said it so often it stuck."
"...Do people usually say a name from a game stuck."
"Figure of speech."
"You know my real name. Use it. At least outside."
"Don't want to. Jojeong sticks way better, so I'm calling you that for the rest of my life. Oh—right. The way I found out your real name was ridiculous. Remember?"
"—Hack, hack! How many times have I told you not to bring that up...!"
"Pfft. You asked me to carry your alt, so I said send me the name, and you thought I meant your real name instead of the alt's and just sent three characters. Shin Yumin."
"P-People mix things up...!"
"Even so, mixing that up—ack! Ow! Sorry, sorry! I won't tease you!"
Or bringing up something that had been funny, once. Idle talk like that.
Which was how I came to have my foot ground into the floor by Jojeong—face blank as ever, gone bright red with shame—while a server set the pizza down on the table. The arrival bought me a brief reprieve. I yanked my foot up into the air and offered her a slice like tribute.