Chapter 225
"Is that it?"
"Why are you being such a wuss?"
"...No, I'm not!"
Baek Sion, who usually responds to everything with a cynical edge, showing this kind of reaction was kinda cute. But no matter how I looked at it, it felt like he was using me as a shield to hide from Roha unnie.
When I gave him a suspicious side-eye, Baek Sion glanced around nervously before dragging me deeper inside, pretending to browse the merch.
"...But seriously, nothing happened?"
"What the hell did you hear to make you act like this? Of course nothing happened."
If I had to nitpick, it was just that Roha unnie's cuteness was off the charts. They'd both been fumbling around each other for a while now, but it seemed like one little step would solve everything. And even now, they were subtly sticking close.
Lee Seo-yeon was with Doyun oppa too, so yeah, it was obvious—couples drawing each other in.
"...No, Nagi said you're pretty intense..."
Guess the guys had some chat in the taxi. And since she's a cat beastkin, I kinda wanted to see her in action. From what I'd heard, her cat ears and tail just pop out naturally when she unleashes her power. Different from me, but it suits her cat vibe perfectly.
"Unnie seems like the dagger type."
"...How'd you know?"
"Well, people with that sexy aura all..."
Not just looks—there's this prejudice that folks with a decadent inner vibe wield daggers. But when I saw Baek Sion's eyes change, I couldn't finish.
"...Not me, Roha unnie..."
"Who said that?"
"Eek..."
...When he's holding back laughter like right now, he's not sexy at all!
I'd blurted it out remembering how peak-sexy he'd been in the heat of battle, but it just gave him ammo to tease me. To get that decadent vibe again, something would've had to tank his mood hard. We've been back together a good while now, but he's never properly gotten mad at me. Not that I want him seriously pissed—that'd be the worst—but I wouldn't mind a taste of that intensity now and then.
"By the way, did you give Nagi something?"
"...How'd you know?"
"I could feel a trace of your mana over there."
...Baek Sion's senses are downright terrifying. Roha unnie's mana signature is close to mine, so I figured brushing past would've been undetectable.
Even in fights, he's more calculated than me, but sometimes he goes berserk and wipes out the enemy lines solo. Makes sense now—that's trance-mode.
"What'd you give her?"
...If I tell the truth, he'll tease me for sure. But it's already busted, and lying's awkward as hell.
"...Truth serum?"
I figured Baek Sion would rib me about it being some aphrodisiac, but instead, his eyes wavered.
"...Isn't that kinda dangerous? What if Nagi's secretly bloodthirsty inside...?"
"Come on, just spill what you heard."
Clearly some massive misunderstanding about Roha unnie.
Finally, Baek Sion whispered what he'd heard, and I smacked his thigh.
"...Probably saw wrong. And when you relax, your face muscles loosen up too, right? Plus, you always came back covered in blood yourself..."
He secretly loved battle too, yet here he was pretending to be scared. Roha unnie's so sweet and cute...
"And she asked for it herself. Said she wants to get closer to Aisaka."
Looking a bit relieved, Baek Sion panicked in a new way.
"...She really likes him?"
"Duh, it's obvious. Roha unnie turns into a whole different person whenever Aisaka comes up."
Guess since Baek Sion hadn't chatted with her one-on-one, he didn't get it. Explains the scary image. Normal Roha unnie is pretty robotic. No wonder he thought slaughter-bot.
"But isn't it basically an aphrodisiac...?"
"Nooo! It's not lust—it's just desires..."
Just when the misunderstanding cleared, Baek Sion revved up like I'd predicted. Should've left him scared of her.
Anyway, lust and desire are different. If it's naughty thoughts, sure, it'll make her honest about horniness. But if it's pure affection like hers—probably going on since her first crush three years ago—then it'll just make expressing it easier. Might progress fast.
Clearing things up, we headed back out. Aisaka was chatting in Japanese.
"Sure. But SPICA shoots don't allow filming anyway, so it's fine with me."
...Thought she wouldn't notice, but of course she did. In a Lupco Yanglip merch shop? Impossible not to. One alone might pass, but together? Instant recognition. Famous faces stand out, even if few know them.
Aisaka handled it smoothly, smiling for pics and stepping up to shield Roha unnie first.
...They totally like each other, right?
He drew eyes his way so she wouldn't get bothered; her face screamed gratitude. Focusing on her, I spotted her ears turning pink—no flush, but close.
Such close childhood friends. He knows she hates random crowds.
"Thank you. Looking forward to more support!"
Aisaka wrapped the mini fan-meet with pro promo lines. We watchers decided to move spots. Needed distance from the Lupco Yanglip booth for group time.
Not splitting by gender this time—Yuna unnie with us two—so mostly couples paired up.
"...So you gave it to her?"
"Yeah. She took it."
Me, Baek Sion, and Yuna unnie trailed, spying on the proto-couples. Seo-yeon and Doyun oppa got cheers too, but Roha-Aisaka were the hot topic. So careful not to even bump shoulders—frustrating yet sweet.
"...Wait, did she just..."
Roha unnie glanced back slyly and swallowed the pill. Not just me who saw.
...Hold up. Even if not directly lust-boosting, popping it roadside feels risky...
As unease hit me, Roha unnie stepped closer and whispered to Aisaka.
"...W-what'd she say?"
Couldn't lip-read from here, so I asked Baek Sion, most likely to catch it.
No way a confession already...? But his face soured.
"...Something like 'thanks for earlier'?"
"......That's it?"
Max-honesty serum, and that's the result? Half-expecting drama, we watched till the cafe. Nothing. Roha unnie looked shy but satisfied—like yeah, that's it.
"This is weird..."
I swear I made it potent...? Manufacturing flub? It's been months since real combat—lost my touch? Bitter.
Something off, so I excused myself to the bathroom and dumped half my spare stash in my mouth to test.
...Hmm, yeah, no real change.
> Everyone was taking their time picking menus, so I decided to hit the bathroom quick and stood up.
The place looked brand new—spotless everywhere—but the layout was tricky, and I was wandering a bit.
"...Urk!"
Suddenly, an abnormally thick mana snare clamped me. Blinking, I was in the emergency stairs. Yoo Seol-ah—who'd gone to wash up first—glared up at me with smoldering eyes.
Most worrying? Her irises were dyed vivid pink.
...Did she take the pill? Why this all of a sudden...?
"What the—mmph."
Guess what, it was real—she grabbed my nape and crashed her lips into mine instead of answering.