Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: At Athena's House (1)
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After weekdays that were no different from wars passed by like a storm,
the weekend afternoon returned peacefully once more.
"Ughhhh... Ahhhh...!"
Jae-hyun scratched his disheveled hair, which looked like a magpie's nest,
and stretched vigorously to fully wake himself up.
Because he'd come home after overtime until Friday night, he'd woken up late in the afternoon,
but that didn't make him feel bad at all.
Maybe it's actually good since I got to sleep so soundly.
"It's 3:30 p.m., too awkward to do much of anything...,
but just sitting around feels awkward too."
- *clink—*
The fridge only had a few small cans of beer inside.
He grabbed one and headed to the kitchen,
also pulling out a bag of salty snacks from the cupboard.
"Ahh... Refreshing."
Lying on the sofa with cool air from the AC blowing over him, legs stretched out straight,
he gulped down the cold beer and crunched on the snacks.
It was an act that could truly be called supreme bliss.
"Nothing fun to watch... Well, how would I know what's fun if I haven't watched anything?"
He wanted to check out trending dramas or anime lately,
but not knowing what was good or worth watching left him with no desire to dive in.
No matter how much faster he handled work compared to before,
he still came home exhausted and crashed straight into bed, unchanged.
Keeping up with trends when he barely had time to sleep might be a pipe dream.
"Guess I'll just put on something random and drink my beer...."
But it was too quiet without any noise, so he played a random video for background.
"Huh? Who's messaging me?"
After starting the first drama that caught his eye,
he unlocked his smartphone while sipping his beer and saw a notification.
The only incoming messages were probably spam ads.
Working as a manager had cut off contact with most friends,
and during work, he used the bureau's messenger or work phone.
Even Flora's messages came the same way.
So there was no need to share his personal number, nor had he.
"Athena...?"
The message was from the magical girl Athena.
Hello, Manager-nim! Sorry to message you out of the blue.
Do you have any plans or anything this weekend, by any chance?
About an hour before Jae-hyun woke from his long sleep,
a message had arrived asking if he had any plans this weekend.
'Did I ever give her my number...?'
Thinking back if he'd shared his personal cell number,
a memory from when he first met Athena suddenly surfaced.
"Ah... Right, that happened."
Instead of the work number for contacting Flora,
he'd accidentally given her his personal one by mistake.
He'd corrected it with the work number later, so no issue,
but this time, for some reason, she'd messaged his personal line.
Sorry for the late reply. I was out cold late due to overtime yesterday.
No particular plans. Just chilling at home.
"Hm...."
It might've come off too stiff and formal,
but it matched Athena's usual tone so far, nothing odd.
Switching to something casual suddenly would probably feel weirder.
You must've been tired and sleeping! Did I wake you up for nothing?
"Even if you did, it's no big deal."
Don't worry about it.
Is there a reason you messaged this number?
The 'typing...' indicator lingered for dozens of seconds
while he crumpled his empty beer can, then the reply came.
Well... If it's okay with you, would you like to come over to my place today?
I'd love to eat together and watch something fun... hehe.
"Come over...?"
The reason Athena messaged Jae-hyun's personal number was to invite him to her house.
To eat tasty food and hang out watching fun movies or dramas.
I'd be thrilled if you invite me, but...
Is it really okay for me to come to your place alone, Athena-nim?
It was basically a suggestion for a home date.
He'd been to plenty of girls' places alone because of Flora,
but from Athena's perspective, it might be different.
Of course! You're Jae-hyun Manager-nim, so you can come anytime.
I'd be so happy if you did...
"Perfect timing, I was bored anyway."
Staying home all day on non-workdays was fine, of course,
but he didn't hate going out to meet people either.
He couldn't even remember the last time he'd gone out on a weekend before or after his summer break.
Then where and what time should we meet?
It's 3:30 now... 5 o'clock okay?
It's near the bureau, so it won't take long to get here.
The Magical Girl Management Bureau building was nearby Jae-hyun's place too.
Plenty of time even after showering and changing.
Then let's meet in front of your place at that time.
Yes! See you soon!
"Her personality shines through even in texts."
Her gentle nature was palpable even through the tiny screen's words.
A stark contrast to a certain blonde magical girl in the neighborhood.
"What should I wear...."
He tossed the crumpled beer can and empty snack bag in the trash,
then rummaged through his closet for something to wear out.
Meanwhile... in a large officetel near the Magical Girl Management Bureau.
"Huuu... He's really coming, right...?"
Athena buried her face in a pillow and stomped her feet,
worried that Jae-hyun might not be able to make it after all.
Waking someone from sleep to invite them over nagged at her,
and guilt crept in that she might've ruined his weekend rest.
But something even more important overrode that unease in her heart.
- *Thump...♥ Thump...♥*
If she hadn't suggested inviting him over,
she wouldn't have been able to calm her wildly pounding chest.
"No... He's not the type to cancel suddenly."
At least she'd sent the message, so that was a relief.
"What now...? What should I prepare...."
She'd invited him on impulse but hadn't decided on food or activities.
Just messaging him had been nerve-wracking enough for her.
"First this and... that to make...."
Over an hour left before Jae-hyun arrived,
so she planned to check the fridge and whip something up.
Luckily, she cooked often, so ingredients were plentiful.
- *Crash—*
"Kyaa!? Oww ow ow...."
The problem wasn't ingredients or time, but her hurried heart.
She kept slipping while prepping veggies and making mistakes.
- *Sizzle—*
After prepping everything, she oiled the frying pan and stir-fried the ingredients first,
then opened the fridge again to prep another dish simultaneously.
'It has to taste good.'
All the meals Jae-hyun made during her break had been delicious,
so even if not surprising, she wanted to serve something enjoyable.
That's just human nature—to share what you've received.
- *Sizzle—*
- *Chop chop—*
"Hoo...."
Not masterful enough to brag about,
but Athena sweated diligently to make something tasty enough to enjoy.
The clock hands neared the agreed 5 p.m.
Jae-hyun held a small box with a cake,
looking around for Athena's place.
"Turn here and... this building?"
The map app pointed to an officetel like Flora's.
Conveniences like a hospital and convenience store on the first two floors,
with offices and residences above—a mixed-use complex.
Here. Waiting in front of the 1st floor convenience store.
Offectels didn't let just anyone in,
so he messaged Athena and waited for her to come down.
- *Step step—*
While checking his phone in front of the store,
footsteps approaching from behind soon reached him.
"...Manager-nim!"
Athena, waving from afar and hurrying toward him.
"You didn't have to rush out like that."
"No way! I can't make you wait in the heat too long."
Unlike her usual casual, boyish style,
she wore airy, feminine everyday clothes.
'Hope it doesn't look weird...?'
Of course, this wasn't her usual home attire.
Hearing her white summer dress suited her during break,
she wondered if Jae-hyun liked that style and wore this.
'She looks pretty...'
Not as flashy as the outfit that gave her strength back then,
but Jae-hyun could tell she'd put thought into it.
"Oh, was the trip here tough? Weather's pretty hot...."
"Like you said, you live close by, so it wasn't bad."
Athena fidgeted awkwardly, unused to private meetings.
Jae-hyun found it cute but just smirked inwardly without showing it.
- *Ding—*
They entered the officetel, took the elevator,
and slowly ascended to Athena's place.