[No title provided]
She must've realized her taunt sounded plenty suggestive, because her face flushed red and she hasn't even touched her ice cream yet. ...Now it's even more infuriating. If she'd finished hers and then eyed mine, it might've been slightly less maddening, but leaving her own behind to pull off that heinous crime? No way. I hatched a little plan in my head and, for now, kept walking innocently along.
As we went, I glanced occasionally at the carrier to make sure Shabu was okay, but despite all our noisy bickering, he was fast asleep with his eyes closed. Cats sleep a lot by nature, but Shabu feels especially unique even among them.
Even Yoo Seol-ah, who hadn't said a peep until now, couldn't hold back about Shabu. "...Shabu's sleeping like a rock."
"Yeah, he was super quiet up in the attic earlier too."
"...Y-yeah..."
I'd just said it offhand, but her trembling voice suggested she was flashing back to our romp in bed. Fair enough—even with the bedroom door shut, some sound might've leaked out. Probably not all the way to the attic, though.
Not that I'd aimed for it, but with her already flustered, I kicked off my milk ice cream revenge early. "Must not have heard us, huh? We were pretty loud."
Her composure—managed with maximum nonchalance despite starting the dirty talk herself—shattered at my single line.
"Wh-wh-what crazy nonsense are you spouting?!"
Truth was, she'd been too lost in the moment to care about her volume. Knowing that herself, she skipped rebuttals and just pounded my side instead.
-...Meowww
It was a quiet night street, not too crowded, so she'd been keeping her voice down—but this time she couldn't hold back, yelling loud enough to wake Shabu. She finally lowered it after, but not before her face turned beet red from her scalp down, one hand clamped over it.
"Huuuuh..."
Deep breaths didn't help; her exposed earlobes stayed crimson. Even the cool spring night air seemed useless on her right now.
Finally, she whipped her head away and started glaring daggers at me. "...You really say the most impossible stuff outside!"
Normally she'd let it slide, but my milk ice cream grudge was still fresh. It'd been ages since I'd craved one that bad. Buy another at a different convenience store? Not the same vibe.
"I meant when we were cooking and eating—super noisy then."
"...Y-you think that'll get you off the hook like that?"
Predictable reaction. She'd fallen for this pattern once or twice before. But I'd been letting something slide until now.
"No, seriously—what were you thinking, pulling that?"
"...Eep..."
If she weren't the shy type, maybe different, but she's the opposite—so if I pushed shamelessly, she'd clam up for sure. If she'd gone full thick-skinned, I'd have no comeback, but sober Seol-ah can't pull that off.
She went quiet again. Pouting hard, she finally brought her lime ice cream to her lips, but I didn't pull any tricks. My revenge plan was way more elaborate.
Wasn't far to walk anyway, so we were home quick. True to form, we both chucked our socks into the laundry basket the second we stepped inside. Perfect sync—even collided midair for a goal.
"...Don't copy me."
She tossed it out casually, but neither of us likes wearing socks at home. We bicker daily without fail, but overlap on tons of stuff too.
Originally planned a proper wash-up once home... but with this mini cold war, who knows.
"Want me to run the water?"
Still, had to offer. She'd seemed game for showering together earlier. Other houses maybe awkward, but her place—with its huge tub and her magic—makes it comfy for two. Great for soaking and chatting.
"...Just try any weird stuff..."
"Won't. Promise."
That meant she'd join, then. And her half-hearted cover-up attempt meant her no-sex rule still held. Wonder if she's just stubborn-priding it out—time would tell.
My firm answer got a reluctant nod, though she looked a tad displeased. ...Why? She told me not to do weird stuff. Back to normal now, but why the stiff face when I agreed?
Her true feelings were hers alone, so I headed to the bathroom. Set a decent temp, was gonna timer it, but she poked my back.
"...I'll do it. You wanna wash quick anyway, right?"
Night air was cool, but after all that rolling around, yeah—hot soak ASAP. No need for magic with two people? Nah.
Stepped out briefly; not even a minute later, steamy heat wafted from inside.
"Go on in first."
Grabbed my robe, stripped, and entered. Water at the usual perfect temp. What bath salt today? Pondered, then dissolved some soft grapefruit ones.
Eased my toes in slow—whole body buzzed alive. Planned to half-bathe till she came, but... why's she taking forever? Undressing can't take three minutes.
My curiosity cleared up a few minutes later.
"...What?"
"Don't stare like that."
I blurted it aloud, straight-up baffled. Figured she'd fog it up and robe in during cold war—but no fog, no robe, so my eyes went right to Yoo Seol-ah.
Black skirt, gray crop top. Why clothes in the bath? Then I clocked the material: swimsuit. Skirt-style one. Last time at Lee Seo-yeon's, she'd regretted not bringing hers.
Damn, it suits her insanely well. Knew fashion design majors dress sharp, but swimsuit game strong too. Long-sleeve crop hides skin yet screams sexy—impressive.
...Got so captivated I ogled awhile, then remembered the question.
"...So why the swimsuit?"
"In case some pervert stares. Safety measure?"
...Playing it like that, huh? Forgot who started, but punches keep flying. Both feel wronged. But I've got a long-game plan, so no standing up yet.
Honestly, her swimsuit look was too cute anyway. Talk tough all she wants—seeing it's a win for me. Straight gain.
She slipped into the tub slow, hand pressing her thighs to keep the skirt from floating. Tennis-skirt vibe on the swimsuit, paired perfect with her flushed face from the heat. Pure and fresh—total opposite of her bratty side.
Shut her mouth and her cool beauty shines. Post-joint MT, Seol-ah chatter's popped up in my department. Most ask if anyone's got her Like account—she's got YukiNyang public, private cosplay-only otherwise. Even Kakao profile's default pic.
This side? Mine alone.
She glanced my way, twirling her long hair a bit. "...Been ages since I wore this swimsuit."
Fishing for compliments? Few know her better than me, so I trusted my read. "Suits you perfect."
We'd been sniping, but dead serious. Bikini someday maybe, but she digs coverage more. And it fits flawless.
"...Yeah?"
No face change, but full-on hair-twirl meant satisfied, probably.
"But isn't it kinda small...?"
That said, she asked—so brutally honest time. Looked a smidge tighter than original size.
"...N-not fat!!"
"Didn't say you gained weight."
See her bare daily anyway. Curves popped, but muscled elsewhere. Realizing my point, she hesitated long.
"...No, I bought this in second year high school 'cause I loved it... but it's, um, grown bigger since."
Her shy dodge screamed what without saying. ...Growth varies, but still growing? Or mana influence. If guessing cause...
"Think 'mana pocket' and you're dead?"
"......"
Pocket... wild. She's got the knowledge plus personal cred to say it.
...How'd she read my mind, though? Ghostly, Seol-ah.
Nailed dead-on, took a water bomb hit—but deserved, so no guard up.