Somehow, I Ended Up with the Best Shield
Leaving the cafe, Hayeon and I headed straight to the department store. What business do two adults have at a department store? Come on, it's obvious. I figured I'd just hand over the item and head home, but somehow we ended up going shopping too.
"How about this one, Semin? It'd look great on you."
"...That's way too sexy!"
"Hmm, didn't you like high-exposure clothes? Just look at what you're wearing right now..."
"Th-that's true, but... still, if you're gonna buy me something, could it be a bit more modest, please...?"
Yi Hayeon, who was two years older than me, naturally dropped the formal speech with me and started making me try on all sorts of clothes I'd never seen before. I felt like a human Barbie doll, but honestly, it worked out for the best. I needed some plain clothes anyway, and thanks to Hayeon, I didn't have to agonize over it myself.
"Whoa, they're selling this one too? I've wanted to wear it so bad, but it doesn't suit small-chested girls... Damn."
...Man, the more I get to know her, the more I realize she's ridiculously high-energy. Is dressing me up really that fun for her?
Hayeon was so excited she shoved clothes into my hands and rushed me into the fitting room. A moment later, when I stepped out in the outfit, she clapped like a seal and cheered.
"Yes! This is it! No matter what else, you have to buy this one!"
I ignored Hayeon's fussing and glanced in the mirror for a second.
...Hmm, the exposure seems decent, but somehow it looks insanely sexy. She called it a cardigan crop top— the chest dipped a little low, and my armpits were fully exposed for that breezy feel. The size was a tad off, so my boobs were bulging like they might burst, but the fabric made it comfy enough. Honestly, even I thought it looked pretty good on me, but the problem was...
"...This one looks kinda sexy too, doesn't it? I said I needed modest clothes!"
Yeah, the problem was it still looked sexy. The cut emphasized my chest way too much for no reason, and people were already staring.
Hayeon stared right through my chest and said,
"It's your body that's sexy, Semin. If I wore it, it'd be all-ages rated. This is modest—at this point, the only way to cover those tits would be a boxy tee."
"Oh, a boxy tee? Sounds perfect. Where's that?"
"Absolutely not! As long as I'm here with eyes wide open, I won't tolerate you ruining the racks."
Wait, why is she trying to make me wear the clothes she wanted? I couldn't wrap my head around it.
* * *
In the end, I fell to Hayeon's gift offensive and left the store with shopping bags filling both hands.
...I thought Hayeon and I clicked well, but when it came to fashion, we didn't match at all.
Once we left the store, Hayeon and I started looking for a restaurant. Wandering around while shopping had brought us right to dinnertime. But from earlier, I'd been feeling people's stares on us.
I mean, with the famous Yi Hayeon walking around, who'd not look? She had that kind of stunning beauty that made people double-take.
That's when it really hit me—I was hanging out with an A-rank hunter.
...Feels kinda weird hanging with a hunter I've admired forever.
I called out to Hayeon, who was diligently hunting for a restaurant.
"...People are staring a ton. Isn't it exhausting when it's always like this?"
"Huh? Oh, the stares?"
Hayeon gazed at me intently for a moment before continuing.
"You really think it's because of me?"
"Obviously. You're an A-rank hunter, after all."
"...Semin, don't you have zero self-awareness? Hands down, you're the least self-objective person I've ever met."
"What do you mean?"
"Sigh, it means your tits are huge. You seriously won't tell me how to grow mine?"
"No way something like that exists."
"Tch, lucky you... If you ever pull a boob-growth item, you have to sell it to me. Got it?"
"...Fine, sure. But if I do, I might smash it on sight..."
"You will not!"
We bantered like that all the way to the restaurant.
...Isn't the interior here a bit too flashy? It screamed expensive. Not a place for a gutter-rat like me from the bottom of the barrel.
Hayeon, unfazed, told the staff to seat us at the best table. Once we sat down, I stared at the menu in shock.
"Th-three hundred thousand won!?"
"Ugh, why are you yelling out of nowhere? You scared me."
"Isn't this crazy expensive? Let's just grab some cheap soup instead."
"...Not something a streamer who made 500 million won in one night should say."
"Still feels too pricey... Do they grind diamonds into the food or what?"
"Whatever. I'm paying anyway, so order whatever you want."
...Well, if she insists that hard, refusing would be rude. But 300,000 won... Definitely the priciest meal of my life.
As I gawked around with wide eyes, Hayeon spoke up.
"By the way, Semin, something's been bugging me."
"Yeah? What?"
"Why are you still calling me 'Hayeon-nim'? Didn't we agree to drop the formalities?"
"...Oh, right?"
Come to think of it, I'd been using banmal but still tacking on the honorific. Yeah, even I knew "Hayeon-nim" sounded kinda cold.
...So what should I call her? Hayeon-ssi? That's even stiffer. Hayeon-ah? Nah, that's straight banmal. Unnie? Hell no, I'd die before calling anyone that. Only one option left, then.
I opened my mouth after sorting my thoughts.
"Okay, from now on, Hayeon nu—"
"Just call me unnie, nice and casual."
"Huh? Th-that's kinda..."
Am I nuts? Calling her unnie would be admitting I'm a girl! When I made a face, Hayeon looked visibly disappointed.
"...Really? I was kinda excited thinking I'd gained a little sis... Fine, I can't force it."
Damn, now I felt like trash. Seeing this high-energy girl all downcast made me feel like I'd committed a felony.
Fuck, why hit me with this trial? No choice now.
I spoke in a soothing tone, like coaxing a sulky kid.
"A-alright! ...Ha-Hayeon... unnie."
Hayeon's face lit up instantly.
"Yes! That's perfect from now on, Semin."
"...Sigh, got it."
Just a hunch, but I had a feeling Hayeon and I would be seeing a lot more of each other.
A bit later, the food started arriving at our table. Steak, huh... It'd been years since I last had any, but thanks to Hayeon, here I was. All in all, a satisfying day.
As I eagerly sliced into my steak, Hayeon said,
"By the way, Semin. You planning to keep streaming, right?"
"...Honestly, not sure. My goal's selling items, not streaming itself. Plus, after proving it this much, won't people believe me if I just post text?"
"Th-that's true, but... couldn't you keep streaming?"
"Huh? Why?"
Hayeon grinned at me.
"Simple reason. Your streams are fun!"
"...My streams are fun?"
"Yeah. I said it at the cafe too—that wasn't just lip service for the item."
I'd thought her cafe words were empty flattery, but her voice now rang with sincerity.
My streams are fun—I'd streamed for nearly a year, but no one had ever said that. It might seem trivial, but to me, those words hit hard. Like someone finally recognized me for real. A feeling I'd never known.
I replied in a slightly trembling voice.
"...Thanks, un— ahem, unnie. I'll keep streaming."
"Really? Awesome!"
Hayeon beamed like a kid at my answer, then made a thoughtful face.
"Oh, and word's spreading among A-rank hunters about you. Bet some are dying for an item they need."
"Eek, really? My ability isn't that great..."
"You're just new to awakening it. It's a killer power—be proud."
With that, Hayeon thumped her chest proudly.
"Anyway, if you ever run into trouble or need anything, hit me up. Your unnie's got you. I'm pretty capable, you know."
"...For real? Got it, unnie."
...Somehow, I'd unintentionally befriended a fucking solid nuke shield. Might as well get that ID made now.