Preparing to Steal a Japanese Wife, Kim Shin Style
After finishing his self-reflection on how he'd acted like an idiot, drunk on the spring breeze that had returned to his once-barren heart, he raised the synchronization rate that had dropped to 50% back to its original level. Perhaps because of his recent resolve, the rate had risen even higher than before.
Synchronization Rate: 87%
The final barrier that had been holding him back like a brake had vanished.
From now on, he would run without limits. As the synchronization rate climbed, his heart pleaded even more desperately. He didn't stop it. Instead, he let the emotion fill him, hardening his resolve like glue.
And so the next day arrived. Morning.
“Good morning, Sumire noona~”
“....”
Was it because of what happened yesterday? Or because that guy had said something ridiculous right after they parted? She deliberately lowered her head, letting the shadow fall across her face to avoid his eyes. Ignoring the throbbing plea in his chest, he smiled even brighter. At his smile, her eyes widened slightly, pupils trembling, before she squeezed them shut.
After taking a deep breath, her expression turned blank. Once again his chest throbbed. Throbbed. He simply let Sumire pass by without answering his greeting.
His awkwardly raised hand fell limply once her footsteps faded.
What are you going to do? He barked at his heart, which was panicking and showing all its anxiety, then took a deep breath and exhaled sharply before narrowing his eyes.
Approaching Sumire now would likely backfire. So he would let himself be pushed away exactly as far as she pushed.
“Well, I had things to prepare anyway. This works out.”
Shrugging once, he shook his head quickly and began his preparations to execute the plan.
In early 2015, the Kim Shin of this world had become a fighter by chance and used the money he'd earned to buy 3,500 bitcoins at the urging of his childhood friend—now his sworn enemy—under the pretense of “reliable information.” He had already sold 1,000 of them for 19 billion won.
He had originally planned to sell everything, but after listening to his friend foam at the mouth insisting the price would rise further, he kept the remaining 2,500 for later.
“Come to think of it, how did that guy know this information both in reality and here?”
It had been the same back then. In reality, broke, he had sold his 100 coins at the end of 2017 and completely ignored his enemy's advice to buy the bitcoin that later crashed to 4 million won. Remembering how he had later beaten the ground in regret, he frowned for no reason.
Even now, thinking about it made his stomach hurt.
Honestly, objectively speaking, it was impressive that someone so young with that much money hadn't splurged at all. A smile formed on his lips.
Thanks. I'll definitely multiply this for you.
It was now mid-March 2019. Bitcoin had plummeted from 20 million won.
Because of that, the Kim Shin here was different from the one who used to whine to his so-called childhood friend—now better read as “sworn enemy.” He had regretted not selling back then, but the version of him who knew the future was different.
In two years, it would reach 60–80 million won. Knowing that, he walked forward with shining eyes.
Sumire probably still saw him as a younger brother, given that he was four years younger.
Though his emotions had wavered, his current merits still weren't enough to take a step that carried real risk.
She must have finished that unconscious calculation. Her considerate attempt to leave him as nothing more than a fleeting memory actually moved his heart more than it hurt.
“If she doesn't see me as a man, then I'll make sure she does.”
And that was all it would take for her to realize her own nest was one she could no longer stay in. It was worldly, but she was clearly exhausted without realizing it. Someone else was flaunting wealth that wasn't even theirs.
“Life is real combat, and in real combat there's no such thing as cowardice.”
With confident steps different from yesterday's, he began his preparations.
Even so, day after day, despite the time passing, he showed his face to Sumire like clockwork. He simply didn't approach when she pushed him away. If being pushed meant he would eventually be pushed out of her heart, then obviously—
“Hmm. Still, I'm going to be ridiculously busy for a while.”
He would have to handle the schedule in his head while also going to see Sumire, but—
“Still...”
He closed his mouth for a moment. He thought about what he had worked for and what he stood to lose or gain now.
In terms of monetary value, what he stood to lose was clearly greater, but... for some reason, it felt trivial.
Finishing his thoughts, he picked up his phone.
Ring ring— Ring ring— Click.
“(Hey, you bastard, why is the first call in ages an international one? Did you come to Korea?)”
At his friend's scolding voice—the first he'd heard in months even in reality—he chuckled and opened his mouth.
“Bastard. Long time no see. Not Korea—huh? Ah, yeah. You said before that bitcoin would definitely hit 80 million in '21. No, that's not it. Then sell me 500 of my bitcoins at 40 million each. Huh? Something happened, and if I got scammed, why would I only change some of them, you bastard?”
His friend's voice grew serious, filled with worry. Calming him down, he slowly walked forward.
—
—
Jingle.
“Welcome...!”
She greeted on reflex, turning her head, but when it wasn't the person she had unconsciously hoped for, she quickly added honorifics. What are you doing, you stupid bitch... You're the one who avoided him...
She was the one who had pushed him away and ignored him, yet she was selfishly hoping he would still come find her. She inwardly scolded herself, swallowed a sigh, and pulled herself together.
It had already been a week since she started treating Shin so coldly.
Yet she had run off to organize the storage room to avoid Shin, who kept coming anyway, and hadn't seen him.
He must have given up... Just as she was trying to erase him from her mind, a coworker brought him up again.
“Hmm~ Too bad. Isn't that handsome little brother coming today, Sumire-san?”
“Eh? Ah, yeah, he probably has something going on.”
She hid her awkwardness behind a smile, unable to say anything to the coworker who had only made the situation she was trying to erase even clearer. But the tactless coworker pressed further.
“Aah~ He was such a breath of fresh air during this shift~ Hehe. Really~ If I didn't have a boyfriend, I'd snatch him up for sure~”
Twitch...!
She bit her lower lip hard at the coworker's words that mirrored her own heart. Honestly, it would be a lie to say she hadn't imagined it. If Shin were my boyfriend...? If I had met Shin before my husband...?
Crazy bitch. Three years ago he would've just graduated high school. He's not exactly a kid anymore, but still!
The more she tried to distance herself psychologically, the more her heart wavered. She sighed. While thinking that, memories of their first meeting two years ago flashed by and she shook her head.
Recalling how he had been surrounded by delinquents and couldn't do anything, she nodded.
Still, a man should be manly...
At that memory, her heart, which had been tossed about like a buoy in a typhoon, gradually calmed. She had also heard he was currently taking time off work.
Doing this kind of life again after meeting Shin would be... a little tiring, wouldn't it...?
Her husband's slovenly appearance came to mind for no reason and she swallowed another sigh.
Anyway, when he does it, he does it, but lately he's been so lazy. Still, it's kind of cute how he's been getting jealous lately because Shin helped carry things... Hehe.
She tried to erase Shin's face and steadied her heart by thinking of her husband. Lately, his focus on her had been filling her with a sense of satisfaction, giving her strength instead.
Haa... I have to hang in there... If the rent is late again this month, they'll tell me to get out...
She sighed at the money that never seemed to stretch no matter how much she tightened her belt.
How nice would it be if I won the lottery? Thinking that, her eyes drifted to the lottery tickets on the counter. She had never bought one because even 100 yen felt wasteful, but after a moment she turned her head and corrected her thinking.
Easy money leaves just as easily! Did you forget? Get it together—you already cut ties with Suzuki.
The dark period from her high school days to her early twenties, when she had briefly gotten involved, thinking it was glamorous, flickered in her mind. Back then money had been plentiful, but her heart had been rapidly wearing away.
Jingle~!
The chime cut through her gloomy thoughts and she opened her mouth on reflex.
“Welcome.”
Still spacing out while staring at the counter, she heard a voice.
“Oh my. You're a little late today, little brother? But who are you meeting? You're all dressed up~”
“Haha, hello. I am meeting someone, but I'm actually here for work.”
“Really~ I've always thought it was such a waste~ I wonder if girls kept grabbing your ankles on the way here and you couldn't walk? Hohoho~”
Startled by the voice that came with her coworker's warm greeting, she looked up with a slight frown at the coworker's exaggerated words.
Standing there wasn't the usual Shin in jeans and a hoodie or tracksuit, but a man radiating wild masculine charm.
“Shin...-kun?”
When she unconsciously called his name, Shin, who had been talking to her coworker, turned his head and smiled with crinkled eyes.
Thump!
Her heart pounded so hard it spread through her entire body. Unable to say anything, she simply stared blankly at him.
He wore a casual suit that revealed his physique—something she had never seen him in before. She unconsciously swallowed at the glimpse of his collarbone.
Is it because it's only been a week? What should I say? He came even after I gave him those signals—should I scold him? Or...
Her thoughts wouldn't settle. Her head was spinning with indecision even she didn't understand.
His gray eyes were fixed completely on hers, as if caught in a trap, simply staring. At his different atmosphere and the seriousness in his eyes that didn't end with a simple gentle smile, she swallowed at her suddenly dry throat, but it only made her thirstier.
Before she knew it, Shin had approached and was looking down at her.
Was Shin always this tall?
He had always been tall, but now he felt much larger and more dependable. His serious expression without any playfulness made her shoulders shrink.
“Are you busy, Sumire noona?”
“.... Uh, well...”
The thought that she should push him away got stuck right at her throat. I have to reject him... I should, but... Should I pretend not to hear and ignore him?
Like an idiot burying her head in the ground to avoid him, she closed her eyes and avoided Shin's gaze while steadying her heart.
I have to be firm. There are plenty of better women than a married woman like me. Far more than a dirty woman like me whose past is stained with foolish choices made while blinded by temporary wealth.
She made up her mind and opened her eyes. Just as she was about to speak to firmly reject him for his sake—
“....”
She should have said it. If she truly cared for him, she should have thrown away her petty greed and spoken up, but—
“....After my shift... I have time...”
In the end, she couldn't reject him while looking into his eyes. She turned her gaze away like a mouse hiding in a hole. Thump. Thump. Afraid he might hear her heart pounding with excitement, she covered it with her hand without thinking.
Then her eyes naturally went to Shin, who hadn't answered. She should have looked away rather than see his lack of response.
“....!”
The face she had desperately tried not to see for a week—the face she had missed so much that it had already started to blur after just seven days. His brightly smiling face, as radiant as blooming flowers, the smile that made the corners of her own lips curl uncontrollably no matter what, that pure, untainted smile made her lower her head.
Her heart pounded so loudly from the excitement that she couldn't hear anything. To protect her wavering heart, she turned her head to avoid him, but—
“Hnn?!”
A sudden cold sensation on her cheek made her flinch in surprise.
Her eyes widened. Shin, who looked surprised by her reaction, wore his usual mischievous smile and spoke.
“Sorry, was it cold?”
“Eek...!”
As he rubbed her cheek with the back of his hand, a static-like current—completely different from actual static—spread through every corner of her body. Especially the way it gathered in her lower abdomen made her knees go weak. She desperately clenched them to avoid collapsing and had to brace herself against the counter.
At his questioning look—
“Well, I'll get going. Hang in there until your shift ends. And thank you for your hard work too, coworker. Here's some Aurora Min-D.”
“Oh my~ You didn't have to~ Thank you so much~”
Whether he knew her feelings or not, she couldn't take her eyes off his retreating back as he handed the drink to her coworker and waved.
Jingle. Jingle.
“Haaah...”
Only after the door closed did she exhale the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. As the tension drained away, heat rose to her face and she fanned herself with her hand.
“Really~ Sumire-san, you're so lucky~ Hohoho~”
“...Don't tease me. I'm already confused.”
She scolded her teasing coworker, but had nothing to say about the reaction she had just shown. She really was an idiot...
“Hohoho~ But you like it, don't you~ As long as it doesn't go too far~ If a handsome guy like that showed interest in me, I'd be like, come here right now...! Oh, sorry Sumire-san~ Let me check if there's anything to organize in the storage room~”
“....”
When she narrowed her eyes and glared at her coworker who had said “come here right now,” the coworker flinched and quickly fled. Sumire sighed and covered her face with both hands.
What am I going to do when I meet Shin after work...?
Muttering inwardly, she turned her head toward the glass window beside her. Her reflection came into view.
At the expression she saw, she let out a pained sound. The pure glass that only reflected the truth showed a face she didn't recognize.
“...Really, you shameless bitch... What kind of expression is that... Ugh.”
The approach of a man four years younger than her wrapped her entire body in the scent of excitement she thought she would never feel again. Her heart, which had been beating so strongly it sent that addictive feeling all the way to her head, ultimately couldn't shake off Shin's lingering face.
Her face was flushed red, looking like someone helplessly drowning in first love.
Even if she denied it and scolded herself, saying it wasn't her—
The reflection in the glass stubbornly showed only the truth until the very end.
* * *
Leaving the convenience store, he tossed the Aurora Min-D in his hand, caught it, and smiled in satisfaction.
Sumire's cute, hesitant way of answering made his chest tickle. His lips felt like they were melting, and afraid he might make a stupid face, he covered his mouth with his hand.
Even with that effort, his tactless heart kept pumping excitement through his body. Eventually, unable to help it, he walked with a foolish grin until he caught his reflection in a car window and burst out laughing.
Pfft—!
It was a truly foolish, clumsy laugh, but anyone could see the petals of excitement blooming on his face. Smiling, he checked the skill window.
Experience: 450 → 650 / 1000
+200 UP
Closing the window, he looked up at the sky for a moment to catch his breath, then opened another.
Synchronization Rate: 90%
This feeling of his chest being completely full—this sense of fulfillment he had never experienced even during his relationships in reality—rushed through his entire body. The drifting clouds looked like Sumire's embarrassed face. Smiling foolishly again, he muttered softly.
“I'm going all in. Sumire. Look forward to it.”
For a moment, he unconsciously pointed his fingertip at the clouds and made a childish “bang” gesture before shaking his head and steadying his heart.
Preparation must be thorough. The decisive battle must be certain. Now that preparations were almost complete—
He forced his cloud-like floating heart to settle, took a calm deep breath, closed his eyes, then opened them and walked forward.