Lily's Kneading and the Jealous S-Rank
With a determined grunt, I kneaded. Press. Press. Press. Press.
As she received Baek Arang's kkneading, a single memory burned vividly in Iris's mind.
Her beloved pure-white kitten Lily from childhood.
Whenever she felt sad or scared, Lily would come without fail, pressing softly into her chest with those fluffy paws, offering warm comfort.
Now, the little girl kneading her back with pleasant vibrations felt exactly like Lily.
The fear gnawing at her heart melted away like snow in spring, and a soft smile slipped out.
"Phew... All done."
I wiped the cold sweat beading on my forehead with my sleeve and quietly stepped down from the bed.
"Your body should be fully relaxed now. You must feel a lot more at ease."
At my words, Olivia, who had been watching anxiously from behind, covered her mouth with both hands in disbelief.
"Oh... my God. Thank you so much, Arang! I never thought I'd see Iris looking so peaceful..."
Olivia bowed her head repeatedly, as if ready to prostrate herself right then and there.
But the hospital room's atmosphere wasn't entirely warm and fuzzy.
"......"
Han Serin stood rigidly behind me.
Arms crossed tightly, lips pursed in a pout, she glared down at me with a face full of dissatisfaction.
...Why again?
"How long have we known each other, and you're already all over her like that, kneading away with such devotion. You two act like you've been besties for ten years."
Han Serin grumbled openly like a child, shooting dissatisfied glances back and forth between me and Iris.
This is an S-rank hunter? Her dignity's totally shot.
I let out a deep internal sigh and shook my head.
Just then, the rustle of sheets came from the bed, and Iris, who had been lying there languidly, slowly raised her upper body.
With movements so light it was hard to believe she'd been sprawled like a corpse moments ago, Iris got off the bed and charged straight at me, wrapping me in a tight hug.
"......Huh? 'Lily...'" "Eek?!"
Iris crushed me in her embrace and started rubbing her cheek frantically against mine.
"So squishy... So warm... Smells just like my Lily..." "W-Wait! Hold on a sec!"
As I flailed in panic, Han Serin's eyes rolled back from behind.
"Is she seriously nuts...? She's a patient, but you think I won't touch her?"
Han Serin stepped forward, fuming as if ready to grab Iris by the hair.
I desperately pushed Iris's cheeks away with both hands and yelled.
"Hey, who's this Lily anyway?! I'm not Lily! I can't breathe!"
Startled by my desperate resistance and Han Serin's menacing aura, Olivia jumped in frantically.
"I-Iris! Please calm down! Arang looks uncomfortable!"
Only when Olivia grabbed her arm and pulled her away did Iris flinch and finally let go.
She took a step back from me, gazing up with the sulky eyes of a child who'd lost the world's greatest treasure.
"Ah... S-Sorry. You just felt so familiar, I couldn't help myself..."
Iris fidgeted with her fingers, her voice small and apologetic.
...Is some debuff still lingering? Like mental confusion or stat reduction?
"Familiar my foot. That's way too much skinship for strangers. Nearly called the cops."
Han Serin grumbled in a sharp tone, scanning Iris up and down.
I stared hard at Iris's dejected face for a moment.
Still unstable mentally. And those oddly pitiful eyes.
I let out a short sigh and nodded.
"......Got it. I know you didn't mean it, so don't beat yourself up too much."
The moment forgiveness dropped from my lips, color bloomed across Iris's sulky face.
Was that an act...?
Her beaming smile was so radiant, it was hard to believe she'd been on the verge of tears.
She clasped her hands together, eyes sparkling as she asked.
"Um, then... could you come again tomorrow?" "Huh? Well..."
I crossed my arms and pondered.
Honestly, it'd be a hassle, and I planned to laze around in my room all day tomorrow.
"Dunno... My schedule's pretty packed lately."
At my lukewarm reply, the smile vanished from Iris's face.
She stared silently at the floor for a bit.
Her expression turned as gloomy as if the world were collapsing again, then she cautiously lifted her head.
"Then... could you at least give me your number? I'd love to have your contact."
An S-rank hunter hitting up a 15-year-old girl for her digits.
What are the cops doing? Not that they could even arrest an S-rank.
Absurd as it was, thinking of future favors, I nodded readily.
Networking, right?
"Sure, a number's no big deal. Here."
I pulled up my number on my phone screen, and Iris snatched Olivia's phone, hurriedly saving it.
"We're done here, right? Let's go, Arang. You must be tired."
Han Serin grabbed my wrist with a voice dripping irritation and tugged me toward the door.
Smack!
In that instant, Iris darted in front of me, coldly swatting Han Serin's hand away.
The air in the room froze solid.
...Can we just go home already?
The soft, pleading eyes she'd turned on me were gone; now her gaze pierced Han Serin sharply.
"Don't touch her."
Her voice was chillingly low and icy.
"My Lily's in the middle of talking to me. Don't interrupt."
As if her true nature as an American S-rank hunter had surfaced, an overwhelming pressure crushed the room. Olivia gasped in shock.
It was a murderous vibe, but the woman next to me wasn't one to back down either...
I glanced sideways at Han Serin.
"Ha, unbelievable."
Han Serin met Iris's killing glare head-on and let out a scoff of absurdity.
"Who's this Lily you've been yapping about? Her name's Baek Arang. Get it right."
"......Lily's my cat." "Calling a person a cat? You seriously messed up your head."
Invisible sparks flew wildly between Han Serin and Iris; the tension was thick enough for an all-out brawl any second.
"Iris! Please stop! She's Arang's bodyguard, remember?!"
Olivia desperately grabbed Iris's arm, but Iris's glare stayed locked on Han Serin like she wanted to tear her apart.
I watched the ridiculous scene in a daze.
...Ugh, I just wanna go home.
Grown adults bickering like this in a hospital room.
I clutched my head and let out a deep sigh.
"Haa..."
Alright, time for the classic approach.
"Stoooop iiiit!!!!"
I bellowed at the top of my lungs.
"......!" "......!"
My roar made Han Serin and Iris, who had been growling at each other, flinch simultaneously and turn to me.
Both had wide eyes and dumbstruck faces.
I planted my hands on my hips and glared at them alternately.
"What the hell are you two doing?! This is a hospital—embarrassing much?!"
I scowled and jutted my chin up.
"I'm warning you. If you fight or glare like this in front of me again, I'll never see either of you. Ever. Got it?"
At that single line, their ferocious auras crumbled like a lie.
"Gasp! S-Sorry, Arang. Unnie's sorry. I got carried away. Won't happen again."
"Li— I mean, Arang! My bad! Don't be mad, please. I swear I won't fight again! Okay?"
The two who'd been ready to kill each other moments ago now apologized in perfect sync before me.
"Hmph."
Not fully satisfied with their apologies, I shot them lingering glares.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
My tail, slipping out from behind my pants, irritably thwacked the floor in discontent.
Every smack made Han Serin and Iris's shoulders twitch.
"One more time in front of me, and you're done for."
"S-Sorry! Never again!" "Y-Yeah! Unnie swears for real!"
Listening to their frantic apologies, Baek Arang shook her head as if they were hopeless.
...Ugh, I really just wanna go home.
Rubbing my aching head, I glanced at the two peeking at me nervously.
