Chapter 199
"You're gonna have it rough... 'Ha.'" My face is burning like crazy. Truth be told, I still remember Baek Sion mentioning last time that he wanted to see me in my school uniform, so my mind naturally wandered there without thinking. But what can I do? When you think of your student days, isn't the uniform the first thing that comes to mind...? I've spent so long as a subculture illustrator that I've drawn plenty of uniforms naturally, but considering how many adults still go on uniform dates even after growing up, my thinking doesn't seem off-base.
Baek Sion looked a little disappointed. "You should've just stood there quietly."
"What kinda nonsense is that!..." Even if he hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have worn it... My middle school uniform is probably back at my parents' house, and the high school one is tucked in a drawer at my place. But no matter how you slice it, it wouldn't fit anymore. I've been eating like a champ lately, and thanks to the succubus influence, it'd be weirder if my high school clothes still fit. Plus, it's just embarrassing. A hundred times more than wearing my Astasia battle gear. If anything, I'd take a full-on cosplay vibe like a sailor uniform. If Baek Sion begged, I'd consider a Japanese-style anime school uniform.
"What're you talking about?"
"Kyaaak!?..."
I'd turned my head away to avoid Baek Sion's gaze when Yuna unnie grabbed my shoulder from behind and spoke up. I figured it was the height thing, but Park Harin, Lee Seo-yeon, Yuna unnie—most of my close friends have this habit of hugging me. My shoulders are just the perfect height to drape an arm over... Being tall has its perks, huh?
"...You scared me. Where's oppa and Seo-yeon?"
"They're over by the game machines right now. They were doing a fighting game, but Seo-yeon got pissed and they switched."
Doyun oppa's super nice, but he's got a sneaky playful side, and Lee Seo-yeon's mature but crazy competitive. They match up great over there. The game machines are mostly two-player anyway, so Yuna unnie probably left them to it and came over here.
"...So, what's this about uniforms?"
"Oh, no... It's nothing."
Even I could hear how suspicious that sounded, but luckily sweet Yuna unnie let it slide for now.
"Come to think of it, did you shorten your skirt back in school?"
"The skirt? I did hem it a bit, but I pretty much wore gym clothes every day anyway..."
"Ah, gym clothes..."
"Same here. Gym clothes looked better, so except for first year, I barely wore the uniform."
Baek Sion seems the same, and with rules loosening up on hair and makeup compared to back then, uniforms weren't as mandatory. We still got scolded for casual clothes, but our school's gym uniforms were so cute that some kids wore them out on weekends.
"...Unnie's era had gym clothes too, right?"
"Seol-ah, it's not like a whole different world..."
"...Sorry."
I said it half-jokingly, but sensing her uncertainty, I apologized right away. Honestly, I still can't believe she's 27. She'd pass for a college student no problem—everyone would buy it.
"...But thinking about the kids who wore gym clothes every day, they were all total popular types."
"...Huh? Nah, not really..."
How do gym clothes tie into being popular? My Astasia memories from those three years are so intense that my school days don't feel all that vivid anymore. If I had to classify myself, I was kinda hard to pin down. I'd go wild at festivals or sports days, but when studying or practicing drawing, I'd hole up in my room for a month straight even if friends invited me out. I hardly ever went to those study cafes either. Being alone in my room just felt way better for focusing.
"Sion-ah, mind if I borrow Seol-ah for a sec?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
"...Why ask him...?"
I was stunned seeing Yuna unnie talk to Baek Sion like he was my guardian, all natural-like, but I'd wanted to game with her anyway, so I quietly followed. We ended up in a room packed with claw machines. Spotting me absentmindedly scanning the mountain of prizes for a fox plush, I decided to rein myself in. How long had I been away from Baek Sion, and here I was thinking of him again? Total addiction symptoms.
Truth be told, from the first time I saw them in Astasia, I thought the assassin and mage were blatantly perfect for each other. And sure enough, back on Earth, they're already all lovey-dovey, even engaged. The parties involved might not realize it, but when they stare at each other, it's like they're ready to devour one another—then when they sneak peeks, honey drips from their eyes, making third wheels like me feel like we've got sugar in our mouths. Their bickering? You couldn't pull that off if one was actually stressed. They really hit the jackpot.
"Unnie, how about that animal one over there?"
Seol-ah eyes a claw machine full of animals. Even as a fellow woman, it's impressive how just looking up at it can be so devastatingly cute. I saw Sion with a fox plush at the cafe once, so she's probably after the fox one.
"That arctic fox is adorable."
"Right? ...Wait, uh, how'd you know...?"
She nods at first, then panics. She's gotten way more expressive lately—it's nice to see her brightening up.
"Saw it yesterday. You two each had one, right?"
"...Hic, unnie's eyes are sharp as hell..."
I've heard that plenty before. Probably why her tarot cafe blew up quick after opening.
"Not a bad thing. Anyway, like I was saying, the girls who wore gym clothes all the time seemed like total popular kids."
"...Really? I dunno..."
Girls at Seol-ah's level wouldn't get left alone anyway. She doesn't even wear glasses anymore?
"If anything, I wasn't unpopular... Ow."
I flicked her forehead lightly as she tried stealing the "loner" title, and got a cute reaction.
"You chimed in on class events, right?"
"...Yeah? Like that time we swapped sailor uniforms between guys and girls."
Just from that casual tone assuming input on class stuff was normal, mentioning "loner" is basically taboo.
"You didn't eat lunch alone much?"
"Nah... I ate alone plenty. I only had like one super close friend, no fixed group or anything."
That's basically code for being friends with everyone. Sharing meals is huge for friendships, and blending into any group like that? Means she was at the class center. My 27 years of radar are pinging hard.
"Hard to believe you weren't popular, unnie."
She looked flustered for a sec, then fired back. Honestly, I think I could've made tons of friends in school if I'd tried. My personality just made it tough. Post-Astasia, though, I've loosened up and am chasing that belated youth like a wild horse.
"Unnie's the full popular girl package... Like a legendary Pokémon..."
"The legendary one's you, Seol-ah."
Counter came without thinking. Especially for Sion—she's heaven-sent. Though Sion's no slouch either; perfect match.
"...Really?"
"Yup. Pretty face, killer figure, great at art, rakes in cash, and your boyfriend adores you—pure devotion. Sion must be happy every damn day."
True to form, she blushed at the praise, waving it off cutely.
"...Boyfriend, not—husband..."
"......"
I expected pushback on the "adores you" part, but nope—she doesn't hide it when he's not around. Seeing my stunned face, she cleared her throat and kept going.
"But if anything, I'm the lucky one... Baek Sion's great at cooking, sings well too... Oh, and way smarter than me? Top of Yusung High internals..."
...Cooking and singing? Impressive. Grades probably close since same school.
But her hubby bragging didn't stop.
"...And his lashes are longer than mine, so staring makes me feel like less of a woman..."
She froze mid-sentence, like an inner brake kicked in, face turning red as realization hit.
"...Sorry. I rambled."
"Nah, it's fun."
Her expressions are so varied, just watching is entertaining. She focused on her first claw grab—missed, pouted. Didn't go for round two right away; turned to me instead.
"Unnie, mind if I get some advice...?"
"Sure. What's up?"
"...Kinda adult stuff..."
...Not sure if experience-lacking me's the best for that, but I can listen. Guess she trusts me as the elder?
"...What's up?"
"...That, uh, can I tone down the sensitivity a bit?"
Luckily not too extreme, so I might help a little. ...Deep dive? No clue there. Can't advise on unknown worlds.
"Sorry for the sudden topic..."
"No worries."
Still, too sensitive. Opposite's a relief, but poor Sion's in for it.
"Women get super mental about it, right?"
"...Yeah."
"So if the scenario's off your vibe, physical stuff alone doesn't cut it."
Women's tags lean heavy on jobs, power dynamics—not body parts like guys.
"Thanks, unnie. But... if that scenario doesn't happen, no fix... right?"
"......"
No off-vibe scenarios at all? So as long as it's Sion, it's always good. Poor guy's worked to the bone. Maybe send him stamina tonics? Don't wanna find him mummified...
Wait, yesterday I sent that pillow without thinking… …Nah, not my fault. Stars decreed it.