[No Title]
Did I save a country in my past life? Yoo Seol-ah, panting after throwing punches, caught her breath for a moment before pursing her lips. She glanced over my body here and there before speaking.
"...We're basically at home anyway, so... maybe we could wear some couple... looks..."
"No reason not to. Let's go."
These days, I didn't really care much about other people's stares, and more than that, not only was Yoo Seol-ah's outfit perfect, but mine looked pretty stylish too—no matter who saw us. Even when I threw something on casually, it was fine, but just a little adjustment to my T-shirt by Yoo Seol-ah made it look way better. Industry pros really are on another level, I couldn't help thinking.
"...There's no one we really run into around the neighborhood, right? Honestly, if it weren't for Lee Seo-yeon, we wouldn't even be checking this place out."
"True enough."
Yoo Seol-ah was saying it was fine since it was just around home, but this level of casual couple look seemed wearable even at school. At the very least, I hoped she'd wear outfits like this more often. Personally, I thought putting on a navy skirt was a bit of a cheat move for her. I'd felt the same way about that tennis skirt last time—Yoo Seol-ah just suited pure, innocent coords way too well. It was the kind of thing you wanted to photograph and keep forever.
Grabbing just my phone and wallet, I poked Yoo Seol-ah's cheek while waiting for the elevator.
"...Wh-what are you..."
Before she could notice, I hit the shutter button and got a satisfying shot. If I told Yoo Seol-ah straight-up I was taking a photo, her expression would stiffen up a bit. Which was cute in its own way, but shots like this—natural and unposed—were way rarer.
"...Why'd you take that...! I didn't even style my hair... Give it here, quick!"
The second the shutter sound went off, Yoo Seol-ah's eyes went wide as she lunged for my phone. But she could never snatch anything from me in the first place. Just hold my hand high above my head, and without magic, she'd never reach it.
I watched her jumping around with a fond smile, but apparently, to her, my grin came off a little differently. She stopped flailing and switched to a pouty glare.
"...Hey, so height makes you the king? You showing off just 'cause you're tall?"
"...What, our parents are both tall? I'm pretty satisfied."
181 cm wasn't freakishly tall or anything, but definitely not short either. I was always grateful to my parents for that. Of course, mentioning them now was pretty deliberate on my part.
"Don't say it like that..."
She'd met my parents in person before, so she already knew they were both tall. Even if we'd gotten closer last time, she was too soft-hearted to say anything mean. Instead of pressing the attack, Yoo Seol-ah changed the subject.
"...Oh, right. Come to think of it, your mom said she wanted some photos sometimes."
"...What?"
What was this about? I hadn't even texted my mom or dad separately since coming back from the old house last time. Had she mentioned it then? Or...
"You have my mom's number?"
"Yeah. Your dad's too?"
"......"
As I made a dubious face, Yoo Seol-ah fished her phone out of her little bag and showed me her contacts.
Baek Sion's Father♥
010 - XXXX - XX94
Baek Sion's Mother♥
010 - XXXX - XX94
Our whole family has the same last four digits, so I knew instantly.
...Why did she really have all of them? Hearts and everything.
"...You've been texting my mom too?"
"Yeah. She said she'd bring some side dishes by later, and to call if I need anything."
...Why did Yoo Seol-ah feel more like the family daughter-in-law than me?
"And she said her son barely contacts her, so could I update her on things sometimes."
"......"
Honestly, my parents contacting Yoo Seol-ah was probably my fault. Compared to their gruff son, how welcome must their sweet, adorable daughter-in-law be? But most guys don't call home much when they're living solo. I wasn't exceptionally bad at it or anything.
"...Uh, so, let's take a photo."
"Just us?"
"Yeah. Elevators always come out great."
I didn't take many photos or check SNS much, so I wouldn't know, but if Yoo Seol-ah said so, it must be true. This time, I bent my knees a bit before she could ask. She hesitated for a second, then went up on tiptoes and pressed right against me.
Without a word, she finished the shot, then ducked her head to check it, smiling. Even with her head down, the full-mirror elevator showed everything.
"Send it?"
"Yeah. It's a good one for us. Kinda college-student vibes."
We were college students, but I got what she meant. Her photo skills were great, but our expressions always came off a bit awkward, so good shots were rare. At least this would keep Mom and Dad from worrying weirdly.
But there was one odd thing I'd been wondering about. Contacts sort alphabetically in Korean order, so mine should've been right above Dad's. Why hadn't I seen it?
Even if she didn't heart just mine for some reason, she wouldn't have deleted it entirely.
"But I didn't see my number earlier."
I wasn't making a big deal of it, but Yoo Seol-ah suddenly glitched, stammering.
"...I-I have your number memorized..."
I knew her memory was sharp, so memorizing it wasn't surprising. But even if she had it memorized, the odds of deleting a saved contact were low. Probably changed the name...
But she shoved her phone back in her bag right away.
"...First floor. Gotta shop quick if we wanna eat."
...What the hell did she save me as that she wouldn't show?
I showed him the contacts without thinking earlier, forgetting how fast Baek Sion's brain works. If there's no "Baek Sion" above "Baek Sion's Father," he figures it's saved under another name... God, I'm such an idiot, Yoo Seol-ah.
Last time we were rolling around in bed, I'd spent time goofing off, changing his name over and over. But I fell asleep without switching it back, so now it's saved as [Hubby♡].
If he saw this, I'd die of embarrassment... Luckily, he didn't push it and walked ahead a bit. I moved the photo we just took to my ♡ folder, then hurried to catch up.
...Gotta stop pulling out my phone carelessly. Anything Baek Sion-related is basically a bomb.
When I paused, savoring the taste of Baek Sion-style ttukbaegi bulgogi, he asked in a slightly worried tone.
"Not good?"
"...No, it's too good..."
I'd been peeking while learning to cook bit by bit, and realized pasta or tteokbokki weren't that hard. But buying a stone pot from the mart and whipping up this level of bulgogi in a flash...?
I felt a bit walled off, but Baek Sion showed no change in expression.
"Good thing. I fed Baek Sia the most Korean food, so I'm confident in bulgogi."
Having a husband who serves ttukbaegi bulgogi for breakfast— was that even real? Did I save a country in my past life...?
Well, a few months ago, yeah. No one deserved it more than me.
After a super satisfying breakfast, we headed to the studio like it was planned. Baek Sion had some leftover work and immediately donned his headset.
...Sometimes watching him makes me think I'm too lazy, but I suck at focusing. That's when I spotted two people messing around in the club chat: Doyun oppa and Yuna unnie? Odd combo.
— Doyun: Game start's actually simple. One tutorial battle. Then a helper character pops up to explain gacha, combat, team setup, etc.
— Yuna: So, know anyone who could do the guide?
— Doyun: Who'd fit as guide...?
— Yuna: Hmm... Not playable, but someone iconic for the main image. Unique character design's a plus.
No greetings even after I joined, so they were deep in it. I'd played some gacha games, and yeah—every one starts with a helper character. Even non-gacha RPGs have 'em: overseers, fairies, instructors. They often hog the app icon or outshine playables. That's how valuable characters are in gacha.
Someone explanatory and unique for guide duty.
"...Isn't that you, unnie?"
I tried to stay quiet, but it fit too perfectly.
— Yuna: Oh, Seol-ah's here.
— Doyun: Sleep well, Seol-ah?
"Yeah. Good morning."
They were hashing out game foundations with mobile master Yuna unnie... She seemed perfect. Mysterious pretty face, astrologer vibe matching guide imagery. Gacha animations could tie into stars beautifully.
— Yuna: What about me?
"Your look as the guide character motif. Perfect."
— Yuna: ...Think I'd fit? But surprisingly, Yuna unnie was more positive than I expected.
Of course, if she knew someone better, no need—but as a subculture gal, my gut said yes.
"Yeah. Best out of anyone I know."
— Yuna: ...Could be fun, I guess...
...But one issue hit me. Why none of us club members—not even me—as playables.
I pulled Yuna unnie to a private chat.
"You're perfect for it...? But one thing to consider..."
— Yuna: What?
"Uh, fanart of you... might get a bit much."
Fanart itself? Everyone loves it. But the other kind.
I was about to spell it out, but Yuna unnie got it instantly.
— Yuna: Oh, like lewd pics?
"...Y-yeah..."
I still couldn't wrap my head around this classy cafe owner digging Lulu-something sticky, but one word painted the picture crystal clear.
...Embarrassed yesterday, enlightened today?
— Yuna: My character? I can enjoy it guilt-free. High-quality lewd pics are rare anyway. Fine by me if the game's good.
"......"
How big a deal were lewd pics and mobile games in Yuna unnie's life? More important than her own character's lewd pics flooding communities—more drawable lewd pics?
Suddenly wondered what her life'd be without communities.
— Yuna: Oh, if I do it, you drawing me, Yuki-nyang?
"Yup...?"
— Yuna: I'm in. Gotta... Free fanart incoming...
Fanart and official art, but... Casual suggestion, and it stuck this easy?
Just like that, our game's guide character was set.