Chapter 239
Would a sparrow really pass by a mill unscathed? The pool was just a bit over a meter deep, but in this brutal war disguised as water play, I was undoubtedly the biggest casualty. My forces were practically annihilated—like a nation on the brink of total surrender.
"...Please stop... I don't want to drink any more water... guh..."
I begged desperately, but Lee Seo-yeon just flashed a bright smile and dunked me again. Her radiant grin looked like something out of a commercial with a model, while I was a far cry from glamorous.
"Pwah..."
These people were truly evil. Sure, everyone had swallowed some water, but the number of times I'd been fully submerged probably exceeded everyone else's combined. It was so unfair. Not only was I the weakest in raw strength, but my height was a huge disadvantage too.
Guys like Baek Sion or Doyun oppa had the water lapping at their waists, but for me—with a little exaggeration—it was up to my neck. Even the other girls were about 10cm taller, so their movement speed was noticeably better. In the water, both speed and power drop dramatically, leaving me flailing like a water ghost.
"...Why me only..."
"You're the lightest, Seol-ah, so easiest to toss."
"Treating me like a ball..."
They weren't kidding about water play draining your stamina—I could barely string words together now. Luckily, neither Baek Sion nor Lee Seo-yeon messed with me this time, so I drifted to the pool edge for a brief respite.
But as expected in this group, no one was letting me off easy. A soft hand gripped my shoulder.
...Feels like a girl's hand, so maybe Yuna unnie this time? Whatever, I surrendered to it. After being dunked thirty times already, what was one more?
"...Here."
"Huh?"
I'd meant "do whatever," but the voice wasn't Yuna unnie's. This cute yet cool tone belonged to...
"Oh, unnie. Learned to swim already?"
"...Yeah, got the basics down. What happened to you?"
"...Everyone's ganging up on me..."
Ro-ha unnie gazed at me with faintly pitying eyes. Even while I'd been chugging water, I'd snuck peeks— she'd been glued to Itsuki, practicing diligently. Mastering swimming in hours showed her learning skills were top-notch.
But swimming aside, the real key was her teacher: Aisaka. "So, how was it?"
"...Huh?"
"Anything happen while learning?"
She read my expression and started fidgeting. It was amazing how her usual cool demeanor crumbled around Aisaka.
"...W-Well, he held my hand while guiding me..."
Her face flushed as she recalled it. ...Classic swimming lesson event. Real classes start with wall kicks, then progress to holding a kickboard. Proper form matters, but so does confidence—believing you won't sink and can move forward. Nothing builds that like a hand to hold.
I nodded inwardly with a pleased smile, but Ro-ha unnie looked utterly confused.
"...But isn't that normal for swim lessons...? He wasn't grabbing on purpose, right?"
...I was pretty sure Aisaka had aimed for it at least a bit. Even if kickboards make it necessary, I bet holding hands was on his mind. But this couple was one I wanted to nudge while letting them inch closer naturally, so I kept it positive.
"Do you usually hold hands?"
"...N-No!? Excluding that one time he tried on our date way back, it was totally the first..."
She stared at her own hand unconsciously. ...What even was this adorable creature?
"Then Aisaka must've been aware too. Trust me on this."
One reason I was so sure: the special thrill of hand-holding. For me, even after sleeping with Baek Sion first... our initial date hand-hold still burned vividly. More butterflies than even kissing, somehow.
Ro-ha unnie relaxed a bit, but flinched while eyeing her hand.
"...But my right hand has a little callus... Think he'll find it weird...?"
She'd been full of cute worries. Calluses were inevitable for illustrators glued to stylus pens—probably second only to hand-sport athletes.
But when you like someone, you don't notice that stuff. It's proof of hard work, anyway.
I pulled her hand closer, inspecting it.
"...Your fingers are so pretty, unnie. Bet Aisaka thought the same."
"From piano as a kid...?"
"Yeah, Baek Sion plays too..."
I slipped up and swallowed the rest, but she was already smiling faintly.
"Not always, but pianists do tend to have long fingers."
"...Guess so."
Advising on her love life but name-dropping Sion too much felt off. I pivoted quickly.
"Anything else?"
"...Oh, he brought up the swimsuit..."
"Really? What'd he say? That it looks good?"
Praising a swimsuit is straight-up flirting. Even a milder version warranted a "today's our one-month anniversary."
"Said it suits me... and I told him you picked it."
"No way!?"
"Yeah."
I got the most stares from guys, so if I thought it was cute, it was a sure thing—but voicing it meant my choice was a smashing success.
"I usually work in pajamas. Lots of video calls too."
"Then the effect must be insane."
Going from comfy work clothes to this revealing swimsuit? He'd lose his mind.
"...But 'suits you' is 99% a green light. You could even..."
"Even...?"
I nearly said "pounce now," but toned it down.
"Book the next date right away."
"...H-How do I even...?"
"Just use a Lupco Yanglip pattern or something."
Her fave comic's binges stuck all its dates in my head. Less sugary than most romcoms, more comedy—perfect for gradual progress, great for folks wary of too-sweet stuff.
Off the top: "Let's scout locations together" or "Come over, check my art." Plenty of openings as work buddies.
But alone, she'd seem icy. From what Aisaka said yesterday, he even worried she still disliked him—spot-on. She just tenses up, coming off cold.
"...But copying the manga exactly might seem too obvious...?"
"Unnie, if you don't flirt outright, how else?"
"......"
She pouted silently at my blunt truth. Blushing from a swim hand-hold? Pure innocence incarnate—no way I'd suggest booze-fueled pouncing like I did. Still, she needed to step up.
"You're cute anyway, unnie. A little hint and he'll be hooked."
"...Got it. Thanks, really."
"No prob. Hit me up anytime."
I felt a twinge pretending to be a love guru, but it'd help her. After sincere thanks, she shared date spots.
"Some I've scouted for work, some not... I'll text the list. Go check 'em out together."
"What about you?"
"Gotta chat game stuff with Doyun. Probably the three of us."
Serious business then. ...Fine. Not my top choice, but I'd end up on a solo date with Baek Sion anyway.
"So this is the place you wanted to check?"
"Yeah. No idea what it was, but Ro-ha recommended it."
"......"
Didn't seem like Nagi's style... Possible as one of many suggestions, though.
Suspicion gnawing, I glanced between Yoo Seol-ah and the shop.
"If it's recommended, the site explains everything. Sure it's from Nagi?"
"Totally!... Look!"
It was on her date course list—"red"—but her awkward phone-holding screamed bluff. I called it.
"Not the only one. Scroll up."
"...Nothing above?"
"Now. Before I make you."
"......"
Face reddening, she scrolled. Ro-ha's top 10 popular date spots unfurled.
...Knew it. Out of tons, she picked this.
"Nagi sent ten."
"......"
"And you pretended not to know what it was..."
"...I wasn't pretending..."
"The one adult shop out of ten?"
Her face exploded crimson; she stared at the floor, speechless.
...Visiting a sex shop could be fun anyway. Popular Japanese date spot, even. Just couldn't resist teasing her lame "I had no clue" act.
"Not going in? Basically a weapon shop for a succubus."
"D-Don't say that outside!?"
She startled but stepped forward—clearly curious about the place.