Ji-ah's Naughty Secret
I came to my senses to find that the sun had fully set.
It felt like I'd been staring at something endlessly, but most of it just swirled vaguely in my mind.
This frustrating sense of almost grasping it but not quite wouldn't go away.
I was blankly staring out the window when Ji-ah, who had been rifling through the materials, looked up and spoke.
"But why are you looking into the origins, Do-jun?"
"It's related to my abilities, and there's also a kid who's having issues with hers."
I explained Vivian's situation to Ji-ah.
As my words went on, Ji-ah's expression changed, and by the end, she looked ready to burst into tears.
"How could something like that happen..."
"It's not a situation I can just leave alone, right? So I'm stepping up to find some way to help."
"Do-jun is so kind, after all."
"I doubt I'm the only one who thinks that. I bet you'd do the exact same in my shoes."
"I'm... not sure."
"From what I've seen by your side, I believe Ji-ah would think the same way I do."
"Really?"
Ji-ah smiled faintly at my words.
No matter how I looked at her, she had such a gentle impression.
Maybe Ji-ah would be okay with this?
"Want to meet her sometime?"
"Huh? The kid?"
"Yeah. She's got a tendency to shy away from other people. But you look so kind from the start, so I think it'd be fine."
"Kind, huh... Yeah, I guess so..."
Ji-ah gave a wry smile, as if she lacked confidence.
Her vibe was a bit different from usual.
Is something else going on?
"If you don't want to, that's fine."
"No! I really want to meet her."
"Alright then. Let's wrap up."
"Okay!"
We packed up the materials spread out in the reading room and left the library.
Of course, we were heading to the dorms, and as Ji-ah looked around, she asked,
"Do you live together in the dorms?"
"Yeah. No other place to keep her."
"Now that you mention it, that makes sense."
After that, we talked about origins, magic, and Vivian, and before I knew it, we were at the men's dorm entrance.
Fortunately, no one was at the front gate of the men's dorm.
"Come to think of it, this is my first time at the men's dorm."
"It's not that different. Probably the same as the women's dorm."
"Still, it feels somehow different."
Does it?
Last time I went to Ji-ah's room, there wasn't much difference.
Same size, same layout...
The only thing was that sweet, feminine scent unique to girls' rooms?
"It's the space where Do-jun lives. That alone makes it special."
"Uh... yeah, I guess."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Vivian spent way more time in the room than I did, but no need to mention that.
Standing in front of my dorm door, Ji-ah took a deep breath.
"Hoo... I'm nervous."
"Why are you nervous? Come on in."
"Ah! Wait a sec!"
I pulled the hesitating Ji-ah inside the dorm.
It was quiet inside.
As I headed to the bedroom, Ji-ah looked around in admiration.
"This is Do-jun's dorm..."
"It's no different from yours. Stop looking around and come here."
"No, it's totally different."
If you say so.
I opened the bedroom door.
Vivian was still asleep on the bed.
"Vivian. Wanna wake up?"
"Mm..."
Ji-ah, who had followed me in, froze in place.
"This is...?"
"Yeah. This is Vivian. She had nowhere to go, so I'm taking care of her."
"I see..."
I shook the half-asleep Vivian awake.
She sat up and burrowed into my arms like always.
I naturally held her, but I could feel Ji-ah staring piercingly at us.
"What?"
"You're... just taking care of her out of necessity, right...?"
"Yeah, of course. Vivian, wake up."
Vivian was trying to fall back asleep in my arms, so I shook her again.
After fidgeting a few times, she rubbed her eyes and sat up.
"Why...?"
"Someone I want you to meet."
"Who...?"
"Lee Ji-ah, a close friend of mine. Wanted to introduce you."
At my words, Vivian turned to look at Ji-ah.
Their gazes met—Ji-ah with her subtle expression and Vivian.
Ji-ah approached us and knelt down.
"Hi, Vivian. I'm Lee Ji-ah. Nice to meet you."
"..."
Vivian silently turned away and burrowed back into my arms.
A crack appeared in Ji-ah's smiling, greeting face.
"She's just shy with strangers. I'm sure she doesn't mean it."
"R-right? It's not what I'm thinking, right?"
"No idea what you're thinking, but it probably isn't."
Silence settled between us.
I reflexively stroked Vivian in my arms, and Ji-ah's lips twitched like she had something to say.
"Ji-ah? Something on your mind?"
"Um... what kind of relationship do you two have...?"
"Relationship? Hm..."
Come to think of it, I never really thought about it.
What were Vivian and I?
Theoretically, owner and slave, but I had no intention of treating her like one.
Family... or a stray pet I picked up... nothing fit perfectly.
As I pondered, and Vivian bobbed her head to my touch, Ji-ah quietly stood and backed away.
A fragile smile hung on Ji-ah's lips.
"Then I'll head out. Have a good time, you two."
"Ah, let's go together. I'll walk you."
"No, it's fine."
No matter how much I insisted, Ji-ah refused and awkwardly backed out.
The front door opened and closed, leaving just me and Vivian in the room.
After Ji-ah left, Vivian lifted her head again.
Did Ji-ah feel uncomfortable after all?
"Vivian."
"Yeah?"
"Did Ji-ah make you uncomfortable?"
"No, not that... but..."
"Then?"
"Mm... dunno."
With that, Vivian rested her head against me again.
Yeah. She might not know.
As long as Ji-ah wasn't uncomfortable, that was good.
At least it opened the possibility of someone else she could talk to comfortably.
────◆────◇────◆────
The next morning, unusually, Ji-ah was later than me.
When I got to our usual meeting bench at the fork, the spot where Ji-ah always sat was empty.
I sat there waiting, and just as I started feeling uneasy, I spotted Ji-ah running from afar.
She was just a bit late; there was still plenty of time before morning class, no need to run...
"Huff, huff, sorry, Do-jun. I was late, wasn't I?"
"Plenty of time left. Why run? Just come slowly."
"I couldn't keep Do-jun waiting..."
Ji-ah, cheeks flushed red, panted as she spoke.
Her breasts heaved with overwhelming movement in time with her breaths.
I couldn't help but stare at the motion.
"Do-jun?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Something happen today? You're later than usual."
"Huh? Ah... haha, yeah, something like that."
Ji-ah awkwardly changed the subject—it was obvious even at a glance.
I did it often myself, so no need to pry, but this was Ji-ah.
If I probed a little, she'd tell me.
I looked straight into her eyes.
Up close, she looked a bit tired.
"A secret you can't tell me?"
"Ah... uh..."
Her flushed face turned beet red in an instant.
Her eyes darted away, wandering the air, and incoherent words spilled from her lips in panic.
"Huh? Won't tell me?"
"Uh... do you really want to know?"
"Yeah."
"I... that..."
Ji-ah muttered softly, avoiding my gaze.
Too quiet to hear.
"Huh? What?"
"...Forget it!"
Ji-ah covered her face and ran off.
What could make her not answer even then?
Honestly, unexpected. I thought shy Ji-ah would confess right away.
I started to chase her, but she headed toward the dorms.
I followed anyway.
"Ji-ah! Where you going!"
No response.
Maybe she couldn't hear over the noise or something.
She dashed straight into the dorm.
I couldn't follow—the entrance was crowded with cadets coming and going.
What now...
As I pondered, an idea flashed.
I pulled out Thousand Changes.
Until now, I'd only used it as a sphere or pistol.
But it could change into various forms, right?
Maybe something like this?
I transformed Thousand Changes into a cloak large enough to cover my whole body.
I draped it on and willed it to refract light.
Scientifically, optical camouflage; magically, invisibility. Would it work...?
From wearing it, it looked normal.
The brilliant shimmer blocked my view outward, though.
I slowly headed to the dorm gate cloaked, careful not to make noise.
My heart pounded louder.
No one stopped me passing the gate.
Experiment successful.
Cloaked and silent, I headed to Ji-ah's room.
Her dorm's front door was slightly ajar.
I slipped in quietly; presence from the bedroom.
Approaching, I heard Ji-ah's faint voice.
"...I really should stop this... hnng."
Hard to hear through the door.
Cracking it open, I saw Ji-ah sitting on the bed holding something.
One hand held the pen I'd given her before; the other was between her thighs.
Besides her voice, wet squelching sounds filled the room.
The bedsheet was already stained with some fluid.
"Ahh... Do-jun... this is wrong... I should give it back..."
Ji-ah fiddled with the pen I gave her, lost in thought.
The pen gleamed, slick with unknown fluid.
"Then... just one last time before I return it..."
Ji-ah pointed the pen downward.