You're Never Boring
When I'm with you… Seha was eating the dumplings and suddenly started making the strangest faces. First he looked troubled, then his expression shifted into deep thought. He glanced at me, let out a sigh, changed his eyes again, and began steeling his confidence like he was preparing for war. I have no idea what’s going on in that head of his. Is there something on my face? Oh, now he’s looking straight at me and smirking. Of course, that smiling face is exactly my type. But what does it even mean? A declaration of war? Is he suggesting we flip the table and settle this army stew grudge in a straight-up fight?
Not saying a single word while poking at a Balrog’s fighting spirit. He may be a frail human, but I have to praise that sheer guts of his.
“Hey, Yoon Seha. What’s with the sudden weird vibe? Did something crawl out of the dumplings and fry your brain?”
“Huh? No need to worry. I’ve just finally made a man’s resolution, that’s all. Cheer me on as I walk the path of a true man.”
“Where did this ‘true man’ talk come from all of a sudden… There really must have been something in those dumplings. Want the other half? I feel like I’ll start acting weird if I eat any more.”
“Lower-man trait: splitting food in half. True-man trait: devouring it whole without cutting. Therefore, since these dumplings are already cut, you—the lower man—will eat my share too.”
“If you don’t drop that shitty tone right now, I’m actually going to set you on fire.”
“Yes ma’am. I’ll eat quietly.”
As expected, fire always knows the right answer!
The army stew I’d worried we’d never finish because of its mountain-sized portions ended up completely empty once the two of us tackled it. These races really do have overwhelmingly larger appetites than humans, regardless of gender. Yet they never gain weight and maintain their figures perfectly. That’s why whenever models from their kind post photos on social media, they get flooded with jealous praise. At the same time, though, there are always plenty of bitter comments calling them freeloaders who get to stay fit without effort.
I wonder if Hana has ever heard that kind of talk from her classmates. If she had, I would have been a lot more upset.
“Ugh… I’m so full… That was amazing. I could probably play drums on my belly now. Strike up the band~ Du-du-dung!”
Despite my sweet concerns, Hana was happily patting her own stomach with obvious satisfaction.
“Even if you are a total tomboy, you’re still biologically a girl. Don’t do that in front of the opposite sex, Hana. What would people say if they saw?”
It reminded me of the sea lion we saw at the amusement park back in middle school.
“Don’t talk like my mom~ Besides, I never show this side of myself outside.”
The extra insistence that she’s not a tomboy but a p-r-i-n-c-e-s-s is just like her.
“This is technically outside too, you know? With your belly sticking out like that, please maintain some dignity, Your Majesty!”
“Who are you calling a pig! I didn’t gain any weight—in fact, I lost some!”
“After scarfing down that mountain of ham from the army stew? If you say you actually lost weight after that… that might be a sign of illness.”
“That’s it, you…”
Hana jumped up from her seat, clearly triggered by the pig comment, and marched over to me. She grabbed my hand and pressed it firmly against her stomach.
“…Uh… Ah…”
I think she just wanted to prove she didn’t have any belly fat, but this is basically skinship, isn’t it…
“Y-yeah… It’s completely smooth. No extra fat at all. I admit it, so could you please let go of my wrist now…?”
She was gripping me so tightly I couldn’t pull away. I had no choice but to endure the brain-melting stimulation while caught in her hold. Why did she have to wear a crop top that shows her midriff today of all days! If there had been any fabric between us it might have buffered things, but instead our skin met directly and I felt every soft inch.
Honestly, the sensation was pure bliss. Plus, thanks to a Balrog’s natural flame affinity, her skin was warm like a hand warmer. Even if I wanted to stop touching and yank my hand free by force, a mere human like me is nowhere near a match for a great demon Balrog in either race or sheer physical class.
“Uh… yeah… I should let go. Sorry, did I grab your arm too hard?”
“You naturally adjusted your strength, so I’m perfectly fine… Haha… You’ve been managing it well, huh… I’ll go do the dishes now…”
And though it might sound strange to say it, her skin was as soft as cream-filled milk bread.
I picked up the pot and fled to the kitchen. Thank goodness there were dishes to wash…
A little later, Hana—whose embarrassment clearly hadn’t faded yet—approached me with her wings fluttering lightly. The fact that she’d trotted all the way from the living room on her hooves just to ask if I needed help was an extra touch. If you act like that, it only makes me embarrassed all over again.
“Then could you take the plates stacked in the dishwasher and put them on the shelf?”
“Yeah… got it. You still haven’t put away the breakfast stuff.”
“I was planning to clean up as soon as I got home from school. But today I lived the life of a social butterfly for once~ I didn’t have any time at all.”
“Pfft… You’re telling me someone actually dragged the self-proclaimed ultimate loner Seha outside? If you’re lying, heaven will punish you~”
Hana said this while pulling out the plates she’d used for her morning toast.
“It wasn’t a person~. It was some demon who claimed that her feeling bored was a contract violation. Then she dragged me around everywhere she wanted to go. A total tyrant, I’m telling you.”
“Whoever it is, she sounds incredibly beautiful, kind, pure… and like a devil who’d throw herself into anything with full effort, right?”
Hana smiled brightly as she placed the remaining cups on the shelf.
“None of those descriptions are even close. Still, there’s one thing I can say with absolute certainty about you, Hana.”
“What is it? Tell me.”
She had moved right beside me now. The spade tip of her tail gently scratched at my leg. She poked my side and looked up at me with a mischievous grin. Yeah. You always keep things from ever getting boring.
“It’s fun being with you. It was fun before, it’s fun now, and I’m pretty sure it’ll stay that way in the future too.”
I turned my head and looked straight into her golden eyes as I spoke.
“Pfft… Hahaha…!! Ah… seriously… this is too much. I’m actually going to cry from laughing… Wasn’t the flow just now clearly heading toward a confession? But what did you say? That I keep you from being bored? That’s the most unexpected line I’ve ever heard.”
“I was just honestly sharing my impression of you. From kindergarten all the way to the first day of second-year high school. It’s my conclusion about Balrog’s daughter Lee Hana, based on all the observation data I’ve gathered watching you this whole time. Besides, a proper confession needs the right atmosphere. Who in the world confesses while doing the dishes~.”
“We almost had our first one right there~ It’s such a shame. I almost became the first high school girl in history to get a confession while organizing dishes~.”
Hana hadn’t gotten the answer she’d hoped for, but instead of looking disappointed she clutched her stomach and laughed cheerfully.
“That ‘never boring’ line… It was pretty good, Yoon Seha. I’d even like to praise you for landing a solid hit on me. If I only looked like some tyrannical woman to you, I would’ve been so sad I’d cry for a completely different reason.”
“Heh. I’ve lived with a demon for years. This much is an easy choice. Here, last plate.”
Hana took the plate and spun it once in her hand.
“Hey, if you break that I’m telling your parents immediately.”
“The edge here wasn’t cleaned properly, so I’m disinfecting it with fire.”
With a soft whoosh, short flames wrapped around the plate.
“There. Moisture’s all gone, so you can put it on the shelf like that.”
I took the plate and ran my fingers across it. Hana’s warmth had melted gently into the ceramic. I’d been worried it might crack, but it seemed she’d controlled the heat perfectly.
“How’s that? Nice and clean, right? If you’re going to compliment me, now’s the time.”
“Since you’re already doing it, why not handle the rest of the plates too? I’m requesting an extension on the Balrog dishwasher trial version.”
“Should I make it so we only eat out of pots with no plates from today onward?”
After we finished the dishes, Hana and I stepped outside through the front door. The night had already grown deep. I have school again tomorrow… ugh. I slipped one hand into my pants pocket and used the other to see her off.
“I ate really well today. You’ll cook for me again next time, right?”
“Sure. There’s roughly a three-month cooldown until the next meal, so let’s meet then. By the way, even if you pay real money, the cooldown can’t be reduced by even a second.”
“Confirmed~. I’ll come for dinner again in three days.”
“Don’t just arbitrarily shorten months into days. And why am I the only one cooking? When your house is empty, try making something delicious too. It’s not like you can’t cook—you’ve even won awards for it. This is definitely something the Childhood Friend Exploitation Prevention Committee needs to hear about.”
“Coming into a girl’s empty house just to eat and leave? Kyaa~ Seha is so wild♡”
Her tail was slapping loudly against the floor. Is her brain really that flooded with pink?
“Can you stop twisting it into a sentence that would get someone reported to the police…?”
“Hehe. If a menu that catches my eye comes to mind~ Now, Nuna’s really heading home. I’ll wake you up from bed tomorrow too~”
“Please don’t. I’ll change the door-lock password. Just meet me in front of the house at eight. I’ll come out on time.”
“Okay~. Don’t oversleep. Brush your teeth before bed. See you tomorrow, our Seha~”
Hana said her goodbyes and opened the door to her house. She’s even saying the things Mom would say on her behalf. Time to head inside. I should rest a little and go straight to sleep. It’s finally Monday… ugh.
I stepped back into the house. Since I hadn’t turned on any lights, the hallway was filled with nothing but darkness. It felt exactly like the empty ache in my heart after leaving Seha’s side.
Without turning on the lights, I climbed the stairs and entered my room. I dove straight onto the bed. I hugged the cake doll Seha gave me today as tightly as I could. The doll Seha gave me… Hehe… I love it so much…!
Ring! Ring!
My phone started ringing from inside my pocket. Who is this, interrupting my happy daydream? Oh, it’s my parents. It looks like Mother and Father have reached the territory. When I turned on my phone, they had sent a text saying they arrived safely along with a photo of them with my cousins. College students really have it nice. They get self-directed free periods and can just head back to the territory whenever they want. I want to create my own free time and go rest in the territory too. Of course, I’d bring Seha with me~.
I pulled the blanket over myself and replayed everything that happened with Seha today in my head. It was fun, embarrassing, kind of manly… and…
“It made my heart flutter too.”
The words Seha said to me while washing the dishes kept echoing in my mind. From a Balrog’s perspective—one who loves luxury and pleasure—those words were the highest possible praise and practically a confession.
“Rather than just being too nice and letting me drag him around… it’s more fun when he lands a hit on me like that sometimes. Hehe.”
I hugged the doll tightly once more.