Chapter 161
If you want it... I could do it, but... "I'm really not gonna do it, so don't ask." Does that mean full-on aegyo is absolutely off-limits? Well, yeah, Yoo Seol-ah's never been the type to dish out cuteness on the regular.
She only pulls it out when she's had a drink or desperately wants something—and even then, it's less aegyo and more just a higher-pitched, cutesy tone. Her baseline specs are so ridiculously high that it packs a punch anyway, but she's definitely not someone you'd call aegyo material.
Lee Seo-yeon, though, was still grinning ear to ear.
"You really, really won't? Sion-oppa misses you."
"Now you're making shit up?"
Yoo Seol-ah shot back from her corner, clearly not planning to budge, like she was calling bullshit.
Of course, even her ice-cold tone couldn't pierce Lee Seo-yeon's defenses.
"Sion, don't you miss her?"
"I do."
Lee Seo-yeon brushed off Yoo Seol-ah's words like a martial arts master deflecting a strike, passing the turn straight to me.
Half honest, half curious about Seol-ah's reaction, I answered without hesitation.
Yoo Seol-ah froze at my instant reply, lips parting slightly in genuine fluster.
"...Come on, Sion, don't give in so easy."
She took a belated deep breath, trying to regain her composure.
But I meant it. Her cutesy voice is rare enough; full aegyo? Practically mythical.
"Wasn't giving in."
"...Huh? What the...?"
Two hits in a row, and her eyes were spinning like cartoon spirals.
I'd definitely rattled her, but drawing out actual aegyo? Probably a lost cause.
Seol-ah's the type who gets super embarrassed if you set the stage for it.
"......"
But the silence dragged on longer than expected.
Even iron-faced Lee Seo-yeon looked a bit thrown, fiddling with her hair and whispering so Seol-ah couldn't hear.
"...No way she's actually thinking it over now?"
...Yeah, no outright refusal this time.
Lee Seo-yeon watched Seol-ah twirl her hair while peeking our way, then clapped her hands with a new plan.
"Fine, you two go over there. We'll just watch the puppet."
She pointed to the space behind the chroma-key cloth and lights.
Figured she couldn't do it in front of everyone, but maybe alone with me? Seol-ah's aegyo extraction op was getting serious.
I silently thanked Seo-yeon profusely and slid next to Seol-ah to make refusal as awkward as possible.
Seol-ah flailed her hands in panic, but Seo-yeon's resolve was unbreakable.
"...No, I never said I'd do it..."
"This is club business. Gotta check if SD captures those fine hand gestures right. Right?"
...Gaslighting textbook example?
We didn't even need Seol-ah acting it out live, but dangling a semi-plausible excuse was enough for her already half-knocked-down state.
"Go on, you two, over there."
"...No..."
"Cat paws are fine."
Decision made on cat mimicry, probably for the aesthetic.
Hard to find an animal that suits Seol-ah better. Starts with the cute looks, lazy as hell usually but lightning-fast when she wants, and that gap between "smart" image and frequent derpy moments.
Personify a cat, and boom—it's her.
As Seol-ah kept hesitating, I gently grabbed her slim wrist and pulled her behind the green cloth.
She looked up at me with wide eyes, flustered.
I didn't avert my gaze, so she mumbled in a tiny voice.
"...No... D-do you really wanna see?"
"If I say yes, will you?"
I couldn't force it if she absolutely hated the idea, but honestly? Hell yes.
After a few seconds of eye contact, she dipped her head slightly.
"...Well, if you want... I could..."
Seeing her twirl her hair again, I fought down the warm fuzzies bubbling inside.
One smirk now, and I'd blow any chance of seeing it.
"Brought the puppet. You two have fun~"
Seo-yeon's prep signal from outside, and Seol-ah started clenching and unclenching her fists nervously.
No need to tense up that much, but her rolling eyes were already adorable enough.
Confident Seol-ah's hot, sure, but this vibe? Like watching a tiny critter.
"...Don't expect much...? It's not a big deal..."
"Okay."
She psyched herself up like self-hypnosis.
I was expecting the world, but swallowed it down.
Eyes squeezed shut, deep breath—gathering resolve.
"...No laughing. Laugh, and you're dead."
Murderous warning delivered.
Then her sparkling eyes met mine, cheeks faintly pink, hands curled into paws waving by her face.
"......"
...Holy shit.
No hiding the embarrassment this time, unlike before. I was speechless, but it wasn't over.
Her wiggling lips parted slowly.
"Nya...?"
"......Ha."
Heart-exploding—this is what that phrase is for.
Saw it once before, but that was more "awooo"—teasing vibe, not pure aegyo.
Couldn't hold back the grin; I covered my mouth with my arm too late.
Her face flushed crimson.
She thrust her paws forward.
"I-I said no laughing...!"
"...No, I—"
Not mocking—just overwhelmed by cuteness. Too late to explain.
Her machine-gun punches flew—light, but puncher’s prodigy-level form.
She glared once, then stormed out from behind the cloth.
I followed slowly, and she even jabbed at Seo-yeon.
"...So, this helps club activities?"
She knew the packaging was bullshit, but Seo-yeon stayed chill.
"Yup. That 10-hit combo? SD nailed every motion. Oppa was shocked too."
"......"
Oh right—them two were watching the puppet.
Means they saw the cat paws and the punches.
Seo-yeon smirked at Seol-ah's brief blush, landing the finisher.
"Plus, boosts Sion-oppa's work efficiency. Total club win."
"...Th-that's not—!"
Seo-yeon thumbed up at me without another word.
I returned it with infinite thanks.
All three of us smiling contentedly—except one fuming club member.
Yoo Seol-ah hunched over the computer chair, laser-focused.
"Hang on a sec. High quality takes time."
"Whose puppet? Someone I know?"
"Mage tower lord unnie I taught the most."
Demo shoot, but way more serious than the casual check earlier.
Her eyes glowed red—peak concentration.
Master artisan hands perfectly captured every tiny accessory.
She exhaled softly and explained.
"Name's Ruinele. Probably going in our game."
Looked super young, like before. Seo-yeon blinked, thrown.
"Heard the name in the church, but... really like this IRL?"
"Yup. Cute for real. Age? No clue. Maybe a few centuries..."
"Legal. Must be popular as hell."
Seo-yeon, zero filter as always.
Seol-ah beckoned her casually.
Seo-yeon eyed the flapping hand, puzzled.
"What?"
"You're on acting. Get over here."
Longtime seiyuu aspirant. Not prepped seriously now, but her skills were pro-level to me.
Seol-ah planned to hand motion acting to her from the start.
"You act with your real body anyway. Normies look awkward."
"...I'm a saintess, y'know... Magic it is?"
Holy and mana clash, sure.
But Seol-ah was firm.
"You can handle it."
"......"
Seo-yeon caved, handing her body over.
Quality link took ages.
Once connected, she geeked out like I did yesterday.
"Okay, test this character? Oppa, pet her."
"Me?"
"...Wait, no..."
"What's no? Ever heard of turnabout?"
Predictable revenge angle from Seol-ah, but Seo-yeon seemed dead serious.
She whispered to Seol-ah.
Seol-ah stifled a laugh, nodding.
"Fine, special pass."
...What'd she say?
I poked Seol-ah's arm lightly—then got the reason.
"...Says it feels like petting other characters too. Hates it."
...Seo-yeon, jealousy trumps petting kink. Do-yoon-hyung, watch out.