Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Serial Paparazzi Predator
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"Eh, ehh? Yuu! What the heck!? Why are you here, and... wearing an apron...?"
"S-Sanghyeon sunbae? Don't tell me you're working part-time here?"
"Busted. Haha. Looks like I need to make some money somehow."
Saki and Ren exchanged glances, then suddenly burst out snickering.
"Pfft..."
"Heehee..."
What was so funny?
It wasn't the kind of laugh from seeing something ridiculous. More like tension melting away into relief.
"What's so amusing? Come on, laugh with me too."
"Hee, it's nothing."
"Pahaha! Yeah, yeah, really nothing!"
Anyway, seeing them laugh so brightly made me happy.
Just as I thought, stepping up confidently solves everything.
"Have you decided on your orders? I'll take them."
I pulled out the mini notepad tucked into my apron pocket and got ready to jot them down. Saki's eyes sparkled.
"Heeey~ Yuu looks good even like that. Kinda sexy, maybe."
"..."
Ren stared at me with a dazed look. Did she think so too?
How is a guy running around in an apron sexy?
Anyway, they ordered, I noted it all down perfectly, and took a step back to head to the kitchen.
If I slipped away smoothly now and just brought out the food, this would all be over.
But then, an unexpected curveball hit.
"Hey! Peasant! What're you doing!? Move your ass already!"
Harumi had scurried over at some point.
She stood on tiptoes, cutely pounding my shoulder with her tiny fists.
After working frantically side by side, forcing our rhythms to sync, had some kind of camaraderie formed?
I'd unintentionally put Harumi face-to-face with Ren and Saki, which had me a bit tense, but those two didn't know anything about Harumi...
"Hey, Yuu... You didn't take this job just to make money, right?"
Saki's eyes—usually so oblivious and straightforward—suddenly blazed with inexplicable fire. She glared back and forth between me and Harumi.
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Part-time job. Why here, all of a sudden?"
"Huh? Well, 'cause I'm broke—"
"Broke why? Was paying for that weekend meal such a burden?"
"S-Saki, what's with you? Sanghyeon sunbae might feel bad hearing that!"
"Ren-chan, stay out of it!"
Asking about someone's finances so bluntly was a huge faux pas in Korea or Japan, but Saki's eyes burned with determination to get answers.
Why was she acting like this? Like a wife catching her husband cheating.
Haa...
This situation was already a problem as is.
As I opened my mouth to smooth things over, Harumi—who'd been quietly listening—blurted out the one thing she absolutely shouldn't have.
"Eh, huh? Hey, peasant... You told those ladies we went to that restaurant together last weekend...?"
Boom!
That was my brain exploding.
"...What did you say?"
"What?"
We're screwed.
As I stood there dumbfounded by the sudden reality, even Kaori sunbae joined the fray.
"Hmm... Sanghyeon-chan~ We're super busy right now... You know these customers? Still~ work's work, right? Yeah? Yeah?"
Rub... rub...
Kaori sunbae's hand slithered stickily over my bulging bicep as I held the tray.
I could feel each finger tracing down my arm muscle like a snake.
Zing.
"Sanghyeon sunbae. Who's that lady?"
Ren's voice, cold as early semester rumors.
Kaori sunbae, not expecting a stranger to say that to her face, stammered in confusion.
"L-Lady...? Student, I'm not a lady, I'm this shop's owner—"
"Oh, sorry. Shop auntie."
"Sh-Shop auntie...?"
Ren glared at Kaori sunbae with a rigidly stiff face.
No one could call that expression anything but rude.
"Sanghyeon sunbae, you must be close with the shop auntie. And you even have dinner with your part-time coworker?"
Ren's frozen voice.
In stark contrast, hot sweat poured uncontrollably down my feverish forehead.
How did it come to this?
How the hell... did we end up here?
If this were a Japanese novel title, it'd be something like 『My Girlfriend (Crush) and My Girlfriend (Fiancée) and My Bestie (Sex Buddy) All Meet Up for Total Chaos!』
"Sanghyeon-chan. Anyway, keep it short. We're swamped."
"Yeah, peasant! I'm the only one suffering here!"
After Ren's repeated jabs, the slightly downcast Sae-ko sunbae muttered something like "Have I got more wrinkles...?" and trudged back to the kitchen dejectedly. Harumi scampered off to greet other customers too.
Left were just me, Saki, and Ren.
As I awkwardly wiped the beading sweat from my forehead and tried to come up with an excuse, Ren suddenly stood up.
"Saki, let's go."
"Huh? No, why!? We need to grill him right now—!"
"No. Let's go for now. Sanghyeon sunbae has work. This is his workplace; it's not right for us to drag drama here."
God bless.
If I were in Ren's shoes, my blood would be boiling, but she stayed so calm.
"And... I won't suspect Sanghyeon sunbae anymore. Sanghyeon sunbae, I'm really upset right now. You know that, right?"
"Y-Yes, of course, Ren-san. I can explain everything—"
"Stop. It's fine."
Ren gave a slightly sad smile and nodded.
"There's something, right? Something you can't tell me yet. I've already learned Sanghyeon sunbae isn't the type to betray people lightly. For now... you're swamped, so we'll head out. But... tell me soon."
Overwhelming main-wife energy that made my heart pound like it would leap out...!
The mindset of a wife who trusts her husband's pure heart no matter what flings he gets into outside.
Drip.
Tears leaked from my eyes unbidden.
Being fully trusted by someone feels this good...
"Eh, huh... Tears...? S-Sanghyeon sunbae?"
"Whoa? Yuu!?"
Saki, who'd been awkwardly standing and half-convinced by Ren, saw my tears and couldn't keep attacking. She reached out awkwardly to wipe them, though she was too far to reach.
"Sorry for showing such an ugly side. I'm truly grateful you understand, Ren-san. I would never betray your feelings. Same for Saki. I don't know what you're thinking yet... but I'll explain everything. Got it?"
"Ugh... Saying it like that leaves me nothing to say... You idiot dummy... You better explain properly later?"
Convinced by my sincerity, Saki blushed faintly and nodded.
"Well... See you, Sanghyeon sunbae."
Ren smiled sweetly to the end, took Saki's hand, and left the shop.
Ren.
Is she a goddess?
To not betray her heart, I have to tell the truth.
That I'll share my love with multiple women!
With the power of love, nothing's impossible.
.
.
.
Closing time before I knew it.
"You two did great. I didn't expect it to be this packed on the first day, ho ho. Lots of customers today."
"Happens sometimes. Haha."
"Wow... Sanghyeon-chan thinks so deeply. Kids your age would've whined about how tough it is and quit."
Her swaying hips.
Kaori sunbae approached again with her female-in-heat vibes.
As she drew near, a unique scent wafted over—mature perfume mixed with that distinctive body odor from a woman after a full day's work.
"How about it? First day celebration—grab a beer together? Tomorrow's our day off."
She said "together," but her eyes were fixed only on me. Damn, she really has her sights set. Shouldn't have let her hold my hand while begging.
"Huh? Tomorrow's off, boss?"
"Yeah. Gotta handle some building contract stuff tomorrow. You and Harumi-chan aren't skilled up yet, right? No real manager here either. So, closing for the day."
I see.
Anyway, afters are a no-go.
Just worrying about Harumi, Ren, and Saki has my head splitting. No bandwidth for extra side chicks.
"Ah, I have studying at night. Sorry, boss."
"Ah... Yeah. I see. Alright then. Good work today—head home."
Kaori sunbae pouted, a bit sulky at not getting her way, and shooed us out.
I bowed deeply and naturally took the exhausted Harumi's hand, leading her outside.
Whoooosh—
Night brought a nice cool breeze.
"Hweee... G-Gonna die..."
Once outside, Harumi collapsed into a squat on the asphalt. The tiny girl looked even smaller crouched like that.
"You a monster? How are you fine after working that hard?"
Much friendlier tone now. No romantic flirting yet, but the distance between Harumi and me had closed just as I'd wanted.
"Just built sturdy, that's all."
"Siiiigh... Lucky."
"By the way, miss, when should we schedule that meal I owe you?"
Want to push things forward ASAP.
But Harumi raised one eyebrow, staring like I'd spouted nonsense.
"Huh? What're you on about? Tomorrow, you said."
"Pardon?"
After working together all day, when did I say that...?
"This. The DM earlier saying dinner tomorrow—wasn't that you? Thought you were pranking from the bathroom..."
What the hell is this?
"I never sent that. Didn't go to the bathroom once, miss."
"Hoh...? For real? Not you? But earlier... Papa...? Something about paying 100k yen after dinner, dinner tomorrow... Only you know those exact details, so I figured you were messing with me using that..."
My face scrunched up on its own.
A paparazzi uncle approaching with the exact contract amount of 100k yen after dinner, word for word...?
Did that paparazzi bastard have a healing factor or something?
Or another paparazzi hitting on Harumi?
Unless it's some industry standard, that doesn't make sense.
"Miss, did that message set a meeting spot?"
"What... It really wasn't you? Anyway, Nakano ward OO Cafe nearby... Same spot we bumped into last time? That's why I thought it was your dumb prank."
Time, amount, details, location—all identical.
This was no coincidence anymore.
Something's up.
Multiple paparazzi targeting Harumi specifically.
'Serial Paparazzi Predator'.
Not even assaulting the heroines themselves—who the hell's behind this bizarre crap?