Glass Mental (3)
I'd put a lot of thought into Cho Yuli's route. The biggest hurdle was that most of the flags for her route happened at school or her house. In other words, it was damn near impossible for me to even run into her, let alone intervene in the events.
Surprisingly, I found a way around that pretty quickly. I'd bumped into Yuli by chance and learned she didn't just hole up at home all the time. That opened up a path to approach her.
But there was another problem. Acting openly in front of her carried way too much risk. What if I got close to Cho Yuli and showed even the slightest bit of favor or help? What kind of reaction would she have? I didn't even need to guess.
In the game, Yuli was a late-bloomer heroine, but just the first flag in the nurse's office closed the massive affection gap from all the other heroines who'd gotten a head start. Plus, her flag affection gains were huge, so players would mindlessly play and accidentally tumble into her route all the time. Imagine if I became the object of that obsession.
"Ugh... just thinking about it scares me."
Every single action was a massive risk. Taking that into account, I came up with Operation The World Is Still a Warm Place!.
If strangers kept showing her kindness, she'd pay less attention to Seonwoo's favors. And those "strangers"? That'd be me, of course—thoroughly disguised, changing my look every time to seem like different people. The key was making sure she never realized it was the same guy showing her goodwill.
Above all, Operation The World Is Still a Warm Place! was a long game. The peanut butter ice cream was just the first step. And even if I pulled it off, who knew when the next chance would come? Whenever an opportunity arose, one of those "strangers" had to step up.
With that resolve, I finished my thorough disguise and headed out the front door.
"I'm going for a walk."
"Taeyang... you're heading out like that?"
My sister stared at me with a look of utter dismay.
"What's wrong with it?"
"You're seriously asking?"
I'd just pulled a black hoodie low over my face, added a black mask and sunglasses to hide everything else. For outerwear and pants, I threw on the leather jacket and leather pants Mom bought that I'd never worn. Oh, and just in case, I scuffed up some old soccer cleats I'd used to wear.
"Hold on. No matter how I look at it, this is weird!"
"I'm just gonna jog for a bit. What's the big deal?"
"Just wear your usual training clothes... Taeyang!"
Sis was such a busybody. It wasn't like I was trying to impress a girl or anything.
I bolted out of the house before she could grab me. If she dragged me back and force-changed my outfit, the op would be busted.
As I entered the shopping street in the next neighborhood over, tension hung in the air. My hands wouldn't stop shaking no matter what I did.
"What if she doesn't show today?"
Given Cho Yuli's obsessive personality—once she fixated on something—she had a high chance of coming at this exact time for that peanut butter flavor. And Seonwoo wouldn't have put her up to it. No such event existed in the game.
Still, I couldn't shake the worry. But by the time I reached the ice cream shop, I realized it was pointless.
Right on cue, Cho Yuli was heading inside.
I'd planned to arrive earlier than her and wait nearby—couldn't miss her and fail because I was late—so I'd left ahead of schedule. Never thought we'd sync up like this.
I didn't hesitate and went straight in.
"Welcome."
"Uh, peanut butter flavor..."
"Sorry, it's all gone today too."
"Of course..."
Yuli, in her usual menhera fashion from yesterday, let out a deep sigh.
"Excuse me, I dropped off some ice cream a few hours ago. Peanut butter flavor."
"Ah, yes..."
The clerk glanced sideways. Right next to her was the guy who'd missed out on peanut butter for days and looked defeated.
"What's the name?"
"Choi Hwaseong."
"Yes, Mr. Choi Hwaseong..."
The clerk opened the freezer and pulled out the reserved item. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cho Yuli staring desperately at my peanut butter ice cream emerging from the cold. Her trembling pupils screamed how badly she wanted it.
"Oh... ah, sorry!!!"
Yuli's eyes met mine, and she apologized out of nowhere before fleeing in the same pattern as yesterday.
I grabbed my ice cream quick and got out. Once outside, I scanned around hurriedly. Luckily, she was right nearby.
"Hey, wait a sec!"
Ahem. Forcing my voice deeper was tough. I'd need a voice modulator next time to really sell it.
"M-me...?"
Yuli flinched in panic and turned around. Her quivering eyes looked straight-up scared of me. Guess getting called out by a stranger at night on a dark street would freak anyone out.
"You were looking for peanut butter earlier, right?"
"Huh? W-well, yeah... why?"
She glanced back and forth between me and the ice cream, clearly on guard.
"I've got a bit of a cold brewing, was on the fence about eating it. Here, you can have it."
I held out the ice cream. She waved her hands frantically, refusing.
"No, it's fine. No reason for me to take it..."
"You look wiped out. Have something sweet to lift your spirits. Seemed like you really wanted it."
"Really, it's okay."
"My mind's made up—if you don't take it, I'll just toss it."
"Whaaat?? That's such a waste."
"So just take it home and enjoy."
She eyed me and the ice cream alternately, then cautiously reached out.
"Y-you didn't... put anything weird in it, right?"
"I just picked it up—hasn't even thawed."
"Ah, no, sorry. And... thank you."
Finally, she took the ice cream.
"Have a good day~"
With that, I turned and jogged off first. Once she was out of sight, I stopped and pumped my fist. Yes!
Phew~ Felt a weight lift off my chest. Easier than I thought? And I didn't blow my cover at all.
Operation The World Is Still a Warm Place!—first button secured.
Cho Yuli had been really down lately. She'd met this nice guy named Choi Seonwoo who treated her kindly, but he was always surrounded by popular friends. Her personality made it impossible to approach him.
She wanted to talk even a little... Today she'd force herself to say hi or something. But days passed with zero contact.
She couldn't even chat with her new real-life friend from SNS. Yuli was seriously depressed.
I want something sweet.
Yuli needed a small comfort. At school or home, alone as always, only the internet and sugary desserts had ever cheered her up.
She'd heard about a new ice cream shop nearby—perfect for a mood boost. Online buzz said peanut butter was popular.
Yeah, even someone like me deserves a little reward. I've been going to school steadily.
But the trendy spot was too crowded. Daytime was packed, and by evening, peanut butter was sold out.
Am I... not even allowed ice cream anymore?
Too scared to talk to Seonwoo, too pathetic to get her favorite flavor—she hated herself. If she failed again on day three, she'd be so down she'd probably cut her worthless wrists.
And per Love Chain's plot, the next day was when Yuli and Seonwoo would meet for the second time. Sleepless and depressed with a headache, she'd flee to the nurse's office and run into him again. He'd hear from the nurse that she was struggling and should befriend her. Then he'd approach her outside too, and she'd slowly join the heroine crew.
That's how it should've gone.
Until that kind stranger showed up...
Yuli's gloom vanished in an instant. Heading home with the ice cream, she replayed the moment.
—"I've got a bit of a cold brewing, was on the fence about eating it. Here, you can have it."
If he had a cold, he could've given it to someone he knew. Or stash it in the fridge till he recovered.
But he gave it to a stranger. To a worthless menhera girl like her.
The suspicious outfit and forced-deep voice were odd, but he was undeniably kind.
At home, Yuli eagerly opened the box and pulled out the cup. The sweet peanut butter scent wafted up—just like online reviews said.
Scooping it in, it melted smoothly on her tongue: sweet bliss, rich butter aroma, nutty savoriness. Perfection.
As it hit her mouth, the lingering depression started fading. Happiness—long absent.
"Thank you. And get better soon, Hwaseong."
Yuli murmured like a prayer, smiling. That day, no gloom. No self-harm. She even slept well.
And thanks to that, she skipped the nurse's office the next day.
"Achoo! Ah, crap... did I actually catch a cold?"
It was just an improv line, but when I woke up the next day, I felt off. Change of seasons, I guess. Seonwoo got it, now me—cold season's here.
"Oh dear, you've got a fever too."
Sis checked the thermometer with genuine worry.
"Sis, you'll be late for school."
"Yeah. Can you make it to the hospital alone?"
"You think I'm still a kid?"
"Don't want you getting lost and calling for sis again."
...Even now, she teases. Wait, no—she looked seriously concerned.
"I'll use maps on my phone, don't worry. Cough, cough—"
"Okay, I'll tell school for you. Go to the doc, then rest at home."
She glanced back worriedly once more before leaving the room.
Sleep it off first, hit the hospital after lunch. Rare day off school, plenty of time.
"Hmm... got time to kill. Might as well start the next op?"
I picked up my phone.