The 'Kim Taeyang - Choi Gahee' Route (1)
Seonwoo's trajectory toward the Cho Yuli route had been somewhat derailed. Every evening, I chatted with Hayan sis about what happened at school that day, but there was no mention of any new friends.
In the Love Chain storyline, Seonwoo introduces Yuli—the second girl he meets—to the group the next day. "Let's all get along from now on," he says, and she joins the crew. When Hayan sis got close to Gahee, Juyeon, and Seonwoo, she told me all about her new friends, so there's no way she'd skip over Yuli. That left me wondering. Maybe Seonwoo and Yuli never met? Or they did, but didn't hit it off?
All I'd done was give Yuli the ice cream she wanted and add her as a new friend on SNS. My phone notifications were still blowing up, so I'd turned them off. But if I ignored her completely, I had a bad feeling she'd spiral into self-destruction, so I was replying just enough to keep things from crossing the line.
"Sis, any new friends lately?"
"Huh? No."
Hayan sis tilted her head as she answered.
"Oh, it's nothing. Just feeling bored these days."
I brushed it off and stacked up the empty bowls in the sink. She always cooked, so washing dishes was naturally my job.
As I scrubbed, Hayan sis approached with a smile.
"How's the studying going?"
"Yeah, thanks to you."
Midterms were coming up soon, right? Truth be told, I'd barely studied—too busy dealing with Yuli and the other heroines, plus catching that cold. But hey, middle school level. If I dusted off my past life's study habits, I'd at least scrape by with average scores.
Lost in those thoughts about the midterms two days away, she said,
"Then after exams, let's hang out this weekend, just you and me."
"Huh? With you, sis?"
"Last time I suggested the shopping district, you had plans with Yuyeong, remember?"
Oh, the day I first met Gahee sis. I'd said I had plans with a friend and bailed, so she probably assumed it was a playdate with Lee Yuyeong.
"Got it. So, downtown then?"
"Yeah, downtown by the station. Gahee's coming too."
Hayan sis flashed a bright smile. Even to her own brother, that pretty face with its mischievous grin was charming. Her eyes curved into happy crescents, and when I stared, she tilted her head innocently with a "What?"
Based on my life experience, that meant she had ulterior motives. But knowing Hayan sis, her schemes were probably just teasing me until I cracked up laughing.
I tried to play it off as no big deal, then paused. Wait—after exams, this weekend?
"Sis."
"Yeah?"
"Who's all coming?"
"Just planning to invite Gahee."
"Cool."
This was perfect! The next event in Love Chain was the gang—Seonwoo and the heroines—hitting the town after exams. A karaoke episode, for sure. Seonwoo bonds with someone there, planting a flag. The invite would've come right before exams, around now. But instead, Hayan sis suggested just the three of us: me, her, and Gahee sis.
Iri sis wouldn't come without Hayan sis anyway. Which left Seonwoo and Seong Juyeon alone. Not bad. Sure, I couldn't steer toward the Choi Gahee route, but the Seong Juyeon route didn't harm me or sis much.
"Yeah, I hate crowds anyway, so just the three of us?"
"Yep."
I grinned involuntarily. One flag successfully blocked.
"Heh heh heh…"
"As expected…"
"Huh? What'd you say, sis?"
"Oh, nothing. You look thrilled, Taeyang."
"Yeah, I'm pumped to hang with you."
Sis and I both laughed, genuinely happy.
Midterms passed without incident. They graded fast—scores were out almost immediately. As someone from my past life who'd already been college age, a little review got me averages. Some subjects still stuck in my memory.
Plus, Lee Yuyeong's scores next to me were brutal.
"Told you to cut the anime and study."
"Sh-shut up! I was busy with manager duties!"
She'd bragged our school halted club activities a week before exams. All those times she'd bugged me to hang out or watch anime at her place during study week? Self-inflicted wounds.
I considered ribbing her extra for payback, but let it go.
"Ugh… What do I tell Dad…"
"I'm out."
"Hey? Exams are done—play with me~"
No such promise. I ditched her and headed home. She'd attract other girls soon enough. Yuyeong had plenty of friends even without me.
The weekend loomed tomorrow. I'd half-expected a last-minute change letting Seonwoo crash, but no. Double-checked with Hayan sis casually—she confirmed just three of us.
"Why isn't Iri sis coming?"
"Huh? She said she has plans."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Don't worry—it's definitely just us three."
"Who's worried?"
I didn't get why she emphasized it, but three it was. I'd dodged a Seonwoo flag, so one less worry.
Soon, I got added to a group chat with Hayan sis and Gahee sis.
Probably because last time I went "walking" in that weird disguise to hide my identity. She'd nagged me about my outfit after.
Forgot Gahee sis was loaded. Yandere mode and she'd buy a deserted island. But she inherited her modest parents' traits—no flashy spending or showing off.
She might just hand me designer stuff outright. Better than yandere overkill gifts, though.
We planned the rest: wander downtown, dinner nearby, then split.
Chat done, I spotted an SNS notification. From GlassMental—my chat with Cho Yuli. My only SNS account, anyway.
She'd posted again.
A photo of some shop from afar. It was packed inside. The dessert place from our chat earlier? Confirmed: closed early, lines till shut.
Yuli couldn't even approach. Delivery? Doubtful—too slammed, no leftovers.
Wanted to pull off The World Is Still Warm!, but tricky. Unless she came back next time. No easy way now. Shelve it.
Closed SNS, and sis knocked on my door.
"Come in."
"Taeyang, come here~"
"Why?"
"Picking outfits for tomorrow."
"Can't I just go as is?"
"Gotta look nice for downtown."
Hayan sis was hyped. Fine, play along a bit.
Weekend morning. After sis dolled me up forever, I looked decent. My "walk" disguise must've shocked her.
"There. Hehe, Gahee might swoon."
"Overkill… Even dressed up, I'm still me."
"What's wrong with you? You're cute and cool like this."
Grateful my sis still doted like this, but that was embarrassing. I changed the subject to "hurry up," and she giggled, noticing.
"You watch out too—don't flirt with guys."
"Aw, worried about me?"
Meant as payback for the cringe, but she beamed innocently.
"Yup~ Sexy-cute sis is fine."
Sexy… not the word for blood sis. But her effort paid off: spring-fresh white blouse, light blue skinny jeans hugging her legs. Seemed casual, but highlighted her killer figure with pure charm. She earned the self-praise.
"I'll finish up. Wait a sec."
"Sure~"
Ding dong. Doorbell. Out the door, and there was Gahee sis.
"Hey Taeyang~ Looking sharp today."
"You too, Gahee sis."
She nailed it. Blonde ojou-sama vibes: white dress blending with her hair like a goddess statue come alive. Off-shoulder style bared her neckline, collarbone… Ahem, calm down. I averted my eyes downward.
Bad move. Gravity pulled to her chest. Snapped away—rude to stare.
"Taeyang, your face is red… Still got that cold?"
Gahee sis asked innocently, worried. Made me feel like a perv trash.
"Not that. Don't worry."
Suddenly, Hayan sis appeared behind, hand on my shoulder.
"Taeyang's fine. Right?"
Did she catch me ogling? Sis eyed me amusedly, chuckling. Still scheming smile.
"Yeah, good."
"Glad. Don't overdo it."
"Everyone ready? Let's go on our friendly date."
Hayan sis wrapped arms with ours and led out. Whatever her inner thoughts, her excitement was nice to see after so long.
"Taeyang. I'll cheer you on."
"Huh?"
Her secret whisper in my ear made me flinch. No way…