Chapter 222
It's your favorite thing, right? Neither of them went to university, and Roha unnie said it was an old grudge, so at least high school connections. If they've known each other even longer, they could be childhood friends. But exes...? The unexpected revelation left us all at a loss for words. The girls' table was all cheerful vibes, while ours was the polar opposite.
"...Ah, it's not that serious, so don't worry too much."
Yeah, that made sense. If they'd broken up on really bad terms, they probably couldn't even be in the same space now. Of course, breaking up with a lover doesn't exactly scream "we ended on good terms." If it had been that great, they'd still be together.
...So that's why. I'd noticed their nicknames seemed friendly, but they were subtly avoiding each other.
"...So, when did you two date?"
"Pretty long ago. Around the end of high school..."
At that age, not quite adults, but definitely not clueless kids like in elementary school sweethearts... Did they really break up over a fight? But prying further in this atmosphere felt a bit rude, so I poked Baek Sion in the side and fled back to the girls' table. He gave me that exasperated look—so sweet.
Anyway, Roha unnie said she'd tell us after eating, so I'd just watch everyone else chow down and wait.
"...Um, staring like that makes it hard to eat..."
Roha unnie set down her chopsticks mid-bite into some tempura, blushing a little. ...Why did even she make eating tempura look so elegant? When I eat, it's more like "scarfing it down."
I'd once tried being dainty in front of Baek Sion, but he just said, "Hey, eat like you normally do," so I gave up on the ladylike act. Grace must be innate, huh.
"...Hah, I'm stuffed."
"Seol-ah, you really pack it away. I'm jealous."
"...Ugh."
"No, really, it's a compliment."
In the end, with time to kill, I polished off a bit more tempura, wrapping up a satisfying meal. Everyone always tries to pile food on my plate when we eat together... I mean, I've always loved food, so honestly, it doesn't bother me. But since returning from Astasia, I handle most bodily functions with magic, converting everything but essential nutrients to mana. So I can eat even more freely now. After all that hardship, it's only natural to use mana wherever I can.
Roha unnie came back after paying—must've handled the bill ahead of time, slipping her phone into her bag. I had a mountain of questions, but I decided to hold off until we got outside. It was still lunchtime, so we'd probably hit a few spots anyway.
"Got any plans set?"
"Nope!"
Baek Sion and I aren't the planning type for trips, and the other three said they had no must-sees either, so I answered confidently. Roha unnie looked a tad surprised by the quick reply but regained her composure fast.
"Actually, I narrowed down some options based on what we talked about last time."
She'd prepped this much from one message exchange...? Roha unnie was meticulously organized. She even sent me the list right then via chat—clearly planning to let us pick. It was in Japanese, but that didn't faze me.
I scrolled through, spotted one spot, and decided instantly.
"How about...?"
Proposing it to the group, everyone nodded right away. Yuna unnie's eyes were sparkling especially hard. Our unanimous pick: Akihabara, a place I'd always wanted to visit.
"I've never been to Akihabara, but... real maids actually work there...?"
Yuna unnie let out a suspiciously giddy cackle. Roha unnie smiled faintly in response.
"Not just maids. Evenings bring out the cosplayers hawking their stuff too."
Most "holy sites" disappoint in person, but not Akihabara—I've never heard anyone leave unsatisfied. It lives up to the otaku mecca label. You can buy every subculture good imaginable, setting it apart. Japan's got dedicated Akiba tour guides, showing how much love they pour into it.
Roha unnie wore a faint smile.
"Honestly, figured you'd pick Akiba."
Among us, the "least" otaku was Yuna unnie, who mainly played mobile games. Prioritizing Akiba over Tokyo Tower or major tourist traps? Totally natural. Fish belong in water.
"It's not far, but taxi's faster, so let's cab it."
I suggested public transit like the subway, but Roha unnie was firm. No way she'd let us walk and tire our legs. Fine, whatever.
"See you there."
We split guys and girls again for taxis. As soon as I hopped in mine, heart pounding a bit, I tossed out the question casually.
"...So?"
"Huh?"
"...What's the deal with you two."
Roha unnie pretended not to get it for a second, then sighed and started talking. No skipping love stories among girls.
"Well... he's my childhood friend...?"
"Whoa!"
"...Childhood friends are the best..."
Varied reactions flew out, making Roha unnie blush and shoot us a glare. But nothing beats hearing a cool type's romance tale.
"Our parents were close too... We've known each other since we were babies, basically."
"Same neighborhood?"
"...Walking distance."
...Not even elementary school classmates—perfect childhood friends. Leaning in eagerly for the juicy details, Roha unnie hesitated, lips twitching, before continuing.
"We went to the same schools forever, so we hung out almost daily as kids. If one parent was out, we'd crash at the other's house."
"...Heh heh."
"...Yeah, we fought a ton too."
Yuna unnie's giggles echoed from the front seat. Come to think of it, she'd once gushed about loving childhood friend stories during girl talk. Her reaction totally tracked.
Roha unnie flushed but kept her voice steady.
"Then, right before middle school graduation... he confessed."
We didn't squeal outright with the driver there, but everyone buzzed with romcom vibes. I knew they'd broken up, though.
"It's old news now, so I barely remember..."
"Uh-huh."
Lee Seo-yeon nodded furiously, dying for the next part.
"Honestly, back then I didn't even know if I had feelings for him. Everyone always said we fought nonstop. But when he confesses, turning him down feels awkward, right?"
"...Kinda."
You'd shut down a total stranger cold, but with someone you like platonically? Rejecting's tougher than it seems. Some folks struggle to even recognize their own crushes.
"So we started dating, met up the next day... and it was so awkward, I thought I'd lose it."
...What a cute dilemma. Imagining middle-school Roha unnie made it ten times cuter.
"We felt close fighting as friends, but dating made us drift. Worse, even."
"...Happens sometimes."
Especially jumping from childhood friends to lovers—that awkwardness must be indescribable.
"I could tell he was trying to be careful too, and... cringey? That piled on. So on our Christmas date..."
Roha unnie paused, face tinged with regret.
"He went to hold my hand, and I yanked away on reflex."
"...Oof."
Yeah, that'd sting. Explained why Itsuki seemed cautious now.
"Looking back, I'm sorry. Wasn't disgusted—just startled."
"Then?"
"Turned out he felt the same. Suggested going back to friends... We 'broke up' about a month later."
Sounded like a lingering, bittersweet end. But I remembered her earlier words.
"You said you barely remembered, since it's so old."
"...Ugh."
She remembered Christmas details fine? Roha unnie froze, totally called out.
"High school got busy for both, and things got even more awkward after."
"So what's it like now?"
She went quiet, gathering thoughts. This was her cutest expression yet.
"...But without Itsu—him around, I felt kinda empty. We both skipped uni, worked from home, so no chances to meet."
"Can't force it if you're homebodies."
"Right when I started missing him a bit... he summoned me."
And reconnected there? Lee Seo-yeon smirked too—total romcom plot.
...These two got "kidnapped" into it, kinda? I tilted toward Lee Seo-yeon.
"Your goddess into love stuff?"
"...Peira? She handles it, but her personality's kinda evil—not fitting."
If love-related, it'd be suspicious. Evil, even. Maybe she just yoinked fun-looking pairs while handling the demon king? Baek Sion and I met in Astasia too.
"So, unnie—do you like him or not?"
"......"
Her vague phrasing begged a straight answer. After my blunt push, Roha unnie hesitated long, then squeezed her eyes shut.
"...Yeah, I think I like him now."
Yuna unnie cooed "Oh my~" up front; we grinned. Roha unnie launched excuses.
"But our personalities clash... We fight daily over the Lupco Yanglip comic lately."
"Hmm..."
"And he's probably still scarred 100% from back then—major grudge."
"But you like him, right? Then you seduce him this time."
"......"
Roha unnie clammed up till we hit Akiba.