Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Daily Life #2
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"Juu-nior!"
"...Why."
Scritch scritch.
A line jumped across the illustration that had been coming along nicely.
"Oh, come on. Just look at this."
"Nah. Pass."
"Aaaang! Junior!! Don't be like that!"
She's two years older than me, and here she is throwing a tantrum...
Thanks a lot.
No, that's not the point.
"Look, I only agreed to help out with making the merch."
"But but but! It'd be so much fun to cosplay together!"
What am I supposed to do with this otaku club president, whose elegant first impression is now a distant memory?
She's shoving a flyer at me for an upcoming cosplay event for a Subculture Club game.
"See? This is right after midterms, perfect timing when we'll have some free time."
"Having time and not wanting to do it are two different things."
"Waaah! I'm gonna cry! Say yes quick!"
I realized there was no point in drawing anymore today, not with the president grabbing my shoulders and shaking me around like a ragdoll.
I let out a deep sigh and stood up.
"Fine, whatever. Let's hear it."
I quickly refilled my hot chocolate.
"What'll you have, President?"
"Oh, green tea for me, please."
The moment I said I'd listen, she switched from whiny kid to demure lady mode, heading back to her seat.
I set the green tea in front of her and sat across, sipping my hot chocolate while glancing at the flyer on the table.
She launched right back into her pitch.
"You know this game, right, Junior? And this cosplay fest is pretty famous too."
Of course I do. It's one of the games I've done illustrations for on commission, so I'm quite familiar.
This game's cosplay festival—Cosplay Fest—was entering its third year as a regular event.
"Win here, and the prize money is huge! I don't need the cash, so you can have it all."
"I'm not exactly hurting for money either..."
Even if the source is the president sitting right in front of me.
"Ahh! Don't say that! It's your lovable president's request—just do it this once!"
I had no choice but to hold my head as she started slipping back into baby mode.
"Aaa, alright, just cut it out..."
"For real? Yay!"
Seeing her genuinely bouncing around with excitement, I figured why not—just this once.
"I'll go with the masked character."
"What are you talking about?! Seo Ijin Junior has to do Crowd cosplay! I'm doing Irina!"
The president was cheering for a game character named Crowd.
The total opposite of me—blond delinquent vibes that'd suit Yoon Jiu perfectly.
>
The character the president wanted to do, Irina, was Crowd's lover in the game.
They often got paired up as a set, so naturally, she wanted to dress me as Crowd to match her Irina cosplay.
"...No, that's a bit..."
Pointless resistance and very pointed whining ensued.
In the end, I agreed to Crowd cosplay.
The overexcited president glomped onto me,
prompting the vice president and treasurer—who'd been watching anime—to come out of the darkroom, unable to ignore the commotion.
They dragged the rampaging president away.
Thanks, seniors.
Whew. That took it out of me.
Glancing at the time, club activities were almost over.
No real difference between leaving now or soon, so I decided to head out early and wait for Lee Sea.
"I've got plans, so I'll head out first."
I slipped out of the clubroom, leaving their heads peeking from behind the blackout curtain with farewell waves.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ From the old building housing the Subculture Club to the second new building with the major Cooking Club, it was quite a hike.
The old building was tucked away in a corner of the grounds, so even strolling leisurely to the central new building took about ten minutes.
That's how you end up bumping into acquaintances by chance.
"Seo Ijin! Where you headed? That's not the way home."
Hong Yeonseo popped up beside me, her body and clothes still damp with sweat from handball practice.
Normally she'd stick right to me without a care,
but aware of her own sweatiness, she kept a shy distance.
"Yeah, got plans. You heading to the dorms after club?"
"Yeah. But... plans...? With who?"
Hong Yeonseo trailed off in a way that wasn't like her.
"Lee Sea."
"...Sea? What kind?"
"Dinner plans... Why?"
"Just the two of you...? No. Nothing. Yeah, okay. Enjoy your dinner."
"You too."
She headed off to the dorms with a troubled look.
What a bland reaction.
I waved goodbye and resumed toward my destination.
Soon I reached the new building, where club kids were starting to trickle out.
Peering in from the entrance, I spotted Lee Sea coming out at just the right moment.
She was on the phone with someone, so I hung back to wait.
She finished up and stepped out with a complicated expression.
Then she saw me and brightened, quickening her pace.
"Don't run. You'll trip."
"Hehe, wasn't running. Just walking fast."
"Same difference. Anyway, be careful."
"Okay!"
Grinning ear to ear, Lee Sea grabbed my arm and linked it with hers.
"Clinging today, huh... People are watching."
"So what? Everyone who matters knows we're close."
It's the feel of you against my arm that's the problem.
It hits me anew that this little one isn't so little anymore.
"By the way, what was that call about? You looked off."
"Oh, you saw. It's nothing. Just a classmate."
I see. She has her own circle, so none of my business.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Even after leaving school and walking through the neighborhood, Lee Sea kept her arm linked with mine.
Only after reaching home did she finally let go, opening the door to announce my arrival.
"Mom! Ijin's here!"
Her mom appeared shortly after.
"Ijin dear~ You haven't come by in ages."
One romcom trope: the heroine's female relatives are all stunning too.
Lee Sea's mom looked far too young and beautiful to have a high school kid—nothing like a typical housewife.
Lee Sea took after her exactly. Or wait, the other way around?
She took after her mom, but with added mature charm.
Honestly, with the uncle soul inside me, that side's more my...
I shook off the crazy thought, greeted her, and stepped inside.
"Been busy adjusting to school. I'll come by more often."
Smooth talk, but hey, if it makes us both happy, that's what counts.
Her mom beamed at my words, and the mood turned warm and cozy in an instant.
The savory aroma of dinner cooking wafted over—clearly she'd been prepping already.
"Go relax in Sea's room, Ijin. I'll help Mom with dinner."
"Need a hand with anything?"
"Pfft, help? Just make yourself comfy. Or better—stay the night?"
"M-Mom!"
Blushing furiously, Lee Sea tussled with her mom.
"Haha... I'd feel bad imposing that much."
"Imposing? You're practically family with Sea—mmph!"
Lee Sea suddenly clamped her mom's mouth and herded her to the kitchen.
Heh. Brat's got no manners with her own mom.
I headed to Lee Sea's room.
Opening the door revealed a space that screamed "girl's room" at first glance.
First time here since middle school graduation.
Sitting on the bed felt too much, so I pulled out the desk chair.
Looking around, I spotted nostalgic items everywhere.
That on the bed—the Dorae○ doll I gave her in elementary school... Still has it, huh.
That one's a photo from our family trip in middle school...
That sticker pic of the four of us—Yoon Jiu, Lee Soyun, me, and her—from our city outing...
Other mementos decorated the shelves.
Even the framed group photo from last week's six-person escape room was proudly displayed.
I reminisced on my long history with Lee Sea.
Ten years and counting—it's a long one.
After a good ten minutes wallowing in age-inappropriate melancholy, her voice called out.
I stepped out to the kitchen and found a feast laid out.
"Whoa. You went all out."
"It's been ages since Ijin came over—gotta pull out the stops. Dig in."
I took my spot in front of what looked like my serving of rice mound.
No idea why they sandwiched me between them...
"Ij-Ijin. These are mine."
As I picked up my chopsticks, tense-faced Lee Sea topped my rice with rolled omelet.
She slid the japchae dish my way with her other hand.
"Ooh. Looks decent."
She'd never really cooked before, but club must've taught her well.
"Thanks for the meal."
I bowed and shoveled a big bite of rice and egg.
*Munch munch.*
Lee Sea and her mom froze, eyes glued to my mouth.
.........This is awkward.
I chewed hard and swallowed. Thankfully,
the rolled egg was delicious.
Childhood friends who can cook feel too "main wife" material,
so lots of stories twist it into poison for cliche subversion. I'd been worried.
"Ooh, it's good? Nice job, Lee Sea."
She finally exhaled in relief and started eating comfortably.
"Phew. Glad it suits you. Oh, try the japchae too!"
Once relaxed, her home-cooked meal was tear-inducingly good.
In pure flavor, and in its warmth.