Episode 5: The Second Branch Point

On our way to the vacation spot, we stopped at a highway rest area for lunch. After eating, it was coffee time. The guys' eyes kept lingering on Da-bin.

I'd expected this from Oh Han-gu and Choi Hyun-woo, but even Jun-seo seemed fixated on Da-bin's cleavage. Staring at my girlfriend—no, my fiancée—Da-bin like that... it grated on my nerves, stressing me out...

But at the same time, my heart raced, filling me with a strange thrill. While I sank into these dark thoughts alone, Choi Hyun-woo started teasing Da-bin.

"Hey, Im Dda. You've really stacked 'em up nicely, huh?"

"S-Stacked... what?"

"What else? Your tits."

Hyun-woo blatantly eyed Da-bin's chest. Her face flushed crimson as she covered her cleavage with both hands. If it had been some other asshole, I might've grabbed him by the collar right then.

But I didn't—because that's just how Hyun-woo was. We'd known each other long enough for me to get used to his bullshit. Da-bin knew it too, so she just blushed instead of escalating. If it'd been a total stranger, she'd have reported him for sexual harassment.

Ah... but it didn't end with just blushing. Maybe because Hyun-woo had been piling it on since the car ride, Da-bin finally snapped.

"Ha! Hey! Choi Hyun-woo! At it again?!"

She dropped casual speech on her college senior and oppa, Choi Hyun-woo. It was a reaction she'd shown before when she was really pissed. Back in college, Hyun-woo's pranks had even made her cry once or twice...

Yet she never cut ties with him, which made Hyun-woo a weird guy in his own way. Da-bin's outburst made Hyun-woo back off with his tail between his legs.

"Sorry, Da-bin. It was a compliment, really. They look bigger than before... I was just jealous of Do-yoon, that's all."

"Haa... When's this oppa ever gonna grow up?"

Da-bin hooked her arm through mine as she spoke. I was the only one here to protect her. It was cute, making me want to tease her too—but now wasn't the time. Teasing her right now might get me killed.

"Hyun-woo? Never gonna grow up. Hey, asshole, I know all about how you dated that big-titted girl once and you've been on this kick ever since. Aren't you sick of it?"

I backed Da-bin up by roasting Hyun-woo. Then Oh Han-gu, oblivious to the mood, chimed in from the side.

"Her tits were huge back then!"

"Haa— you assholes... Da-bin's the only girl here, cut it out. Guess I'll side with Do-yoon and protect her."

Jun-seo stepped in again. He carried more weight than Hyun-woo and Han-gu combined. Handsome with a calm vibe, about my height. Back in college, girls called us the top two guys.

Above all, he'd invested in my cafe startup—he was the grateful bastard for that...

The pension near the beach had plenty of rooms. Da-bin and I, as a couple, shared one. But right now, I'd been kicked out while she changed into her swimsuit.

"..."

It was taking forever.

"Da-bin, you done yet?"

"Ugh... yeah! Almost. Oppa..."

"..."

Still no sign of her.

"Da-bin, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠everything okay in there?"

"Hee... eek..."

"What's wrong?"

Worried for real, I prompted her, and she cracked the door open, peeking her face through the gap.

"Da-bin?"

"O... Oppa..."

"Tell me."

"It's embarrassing to go out like this..."

"It's fine... Show oppa first."

She finally opened the door and peeked out. Seeing her in the one-piece swimsuit made my heart pound. But it wasn't the bikini I'd hoped for, so disappointment mixed in.

"Da-bin, this is fine! Plenty of bikini girls at the beach!"

"Tch... "

"What?"

"You were hoping for a bikini, huh?!"

Busted. It'd be weirder if she hadn't noticed. I'd even begged her to wear revealing clothes in front of my friends. She'd shown me her casual outfits for approval beforehand...

But the swimsuit was out of my control.

"This is pretty enough!"

"You're not just after pretty—you want sexy!"

"True... Heh..."

"Seriously... you perv idiot..."

"Hehe... Oppa's a perv idiot... Hehe... I'll let the no-bikini slide this time, my Da-bin!"

"Wha—what?! Oppa, are you missing a screw?!"

"Just kidding, Da-bin!"

"Idiot jellyfish!"

Thud! Thud! I took her kitty punches all over again. Jellyfish? That stung a bit...

The sky was clear, the sea transparently blue. Colorful parasols dotted the wide sandy beach. Better than expected...

I didn't join my friends in the water. Instead, I lounged on a sunbed under the parasol, watching them. They splashed each other playfully. Like kids.

Of course... my girlfriend Da-bin wasn't beside me. She was in the water with my college buddies, having fun. Watching from afar thrilled me more than I'd imagined.

Using water fights as cover, they splashed her. Water hit her face, blurring her vision, and they ogled her figure. I could see their tricks plain as day.

Jun-seo... he teamed up with Da-bin like my proxy, blocking Hyun-woo and Han-gu's attacks. It felt weird... What if Jun-seo fucked Da-bin? I'd hate it. Rage.

Especially since he was my closest, most trusted friend. But... my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fury only made my heart pound harder. Blood rushed southward. Was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠excitement the backlash of anger?

Savoring the taboo thrill, I watched them play a while. The lazy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠beach afternoon. After a long swim, my friends and Da-bin headed out.

I'd started excited by the perversion, but no one crossed lines, leaving me a bit disappointed. Because I was watching? They splashed but never touched...

Honestly, even if Hyun-woo and Han-gu talked dirty, they were good guys at heart. Jun-seo goes without saying.

But as Jun-seo and Da-bin emerged, Hyun-woo and Han-gu hesitated, staying in the water. Wait... those bastards...

The thought hit me. I stood and yelled, "Hey! Time's wasting! Get out!"

"Uh... yeah! Coming!"

"..."

Still dawdling, so I yelled again to hurry. They finally came out. I eyed their crotches intently.

Sure enough... they were hard. My brow twitched. Text appeared before my eyes.

Like a casino slot machine, the points number spun. It stopped at 6.

A new branch point. One more point than 01. An unknown tension gripped me as I stared at the text.

The required points seemed arbitrarily set. Branch points spawning from certain acts. It built tension and anticipation.

Before I could commit the new save to memory, more text wriggled into view.

Numbers spun again. I clenched my fists, hoping for high. It'd make regression easier... But it stopped at 2.

The text melted away. Jun-seo and Da-bin approached my parasol. The other two trailed awkwardly, their swimsuit fronts still bulging.

I sat up and spread a beach towel for Da-bin first. Dizzy from lying too long, my vision swam. A voiceless whisper tickled my ear.

This was... Oh Han-gu's voice. I finally remembered the regression perk.

Hear inner thoughts of men performing netorase-related acts with Im Da-bin.

Blood rushed to my dick...