Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Outsider Under Scrutiny
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Yoo So-ha, Yoo So-mi's little sister, was an "Insider" straight out of a drawing.
Unlike Han Si-a, who only played the Insider role in front of classmates, or Yoo So-mi, who put on a delinquent act only when others were around, she was the real deal, fundamentally different.
I picked up on that vibe from one thing in particular.
She'd toss out a simple topic to someone and expect a clever response in return.
"They say even Americanos taste different depending on the beans or how they're roasted. Which do you prefer, Yi-an oppa—the acidic kind or the nutty one?"
"Me? I like nutty."
I gave a clear, straightforward answer, but Yoo So-ha stared at me like she was waiting for me to elaborate.
"..."
No matter how you look at me, I've got nothing more to say.
After about three seconds of silence, she tilted her head.
"That's it? Nothing else?"
"Huh?"
"Like... your favorite coffee chain, or how some coffee you tried had too much acidity and you hated it, or maybe asking me back what kind of coffee I like..."
In other words, Yoo So-ha was that type.
The kind of Insider surrounded by friends who adored her and hung on her every word, so she'd just throw out whatever she felt like talking about, and they'd naturally take the conversation from there. She saw that as normal.
Unlike her sister, who usually acted like a tough delinquent, Yoo So-ha was just your average pretty middle schooler, so she probably had tons of friends at school.
But expecting that level of conversational skill from just anyone was asking for trouble.
Outsiders like me only pulled off that kind of polished chit-chat when we were dragged to after-work drinks and had to butter up the boss.
"Uh... so what about you, So-mi? What's your favorite coffee?"
I tossed the ball to Yoo So-mi.
Help me out here, So-mi! I only came for the free food, not to make new friends.
Yoo So-mi, hit with the question, replied,
"I'm not great at distinguishing coffee flavors. But the Einspänner I had at that room café last time was delicious! So I ordered one here too. Wonder if this place's is good. I'm excited!"
"Sis can't handle bitter stuff. Why not order something sweet like my condensed milk latte?"
"Heh~ I'm in high school now, you know? Means I'm grown up enough to enjoy an Einspänner."
Oh. The conversation's flowing without me.
Yeah, you two just keep chatting. Honestly, I don't have anything I want to ask or say.
Though, So-mi, didn't you only eat the thick cream off the top last time with that Einspänner?
I remembered it being that room café's signature—super thick sweet cream on top of the coffee...
I decided to hit the bathroom while waiting for our orders.
By the time I got back, Yoo So-mi was holding her Einspänner cup with a pouty face.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ***While Jeong Yi-an was away***
"Sis. Honestly, I don't get why you like that guy. He's not especially handsome, doesn't have great style, and he's not even funny."
"Huh? It's not like I'm dating him or anything, so no need to be picky. Besides, true besties have that unspoken connection, you know."
"...Ah, right? Your one-and-only 'bestie' in the world—who happens to be a guy?"
Yoo So-ha was a siscon.
Of course, she'd outgrown the severe phase of "Sis has to marry me! Don't meet other guys!"
Still, she was enough of a siscon to want to check out any guy her sister met.
More precisely, once she sized up the guy and deemed him lacking or no good, pruning him was only natural.
She even thought tagging along—making up any excuse—if her sister tried to meet a guy alone was par for the course.
So normally, Jeong Yi-an would've been on the chopping block too,
but...
'If she insists he's not a boyfriend but a bestie, it gets kinda ambiguous...'
Her sister Yoo So-mi had barely any friends.
And Yoo So-mi had never dated.
So Yoo So-ha honestly struggled to draw the line between 'bestie' and 'boyfriend' in her sister's words.
'If it's just a friend and not a lover... he doesn't seem bad, so whatever.'
But her sister had never been this close to a boy before.
It'd only been three months since Yoo So-mi started high school, and she'd already turned down over ten confessions from guys.
By the time Yoo So-ha scoped things out, her sister had already shot them down cold.
Yet here was her sister, close enough to grab a weekend lunch alone with some guy. Not suspecting would be weirder.
"Sis. Okay, then? Name a few of Yi-an oppa's good points."
"Sure! Yi-an's great at studying, awesome at his part-time job, and during the last festival, his booth drew massive crowds—he's got real talent. Especially when we were prepping for that doujin event, he grabbed both my shoulders tight with his big hands and...!!"
"Grabbed and...?"
Yoo So-mi, mimicking Jeong Yi-an for a second, gripped Yoo So-ha's shoulders with both hands, lowered her voice, and whispered in her ear.
"If anything tough comes up, tell me. And quit thinking about meeting other girls alone—meet only me. You're mine."
Yoo So-mi's memory was seriously distorted. If Jeong Yi-an were here, he'd jump up denying it... but he wasn't.
And Yoo So-ha was left dazed by her sister's unexpected, smooth flirting.
Her face flushed beet red from her sister, sporting a dopey smile, until the café's chime snapped her out of it.
"Hehe... Sis..."
"N-no! That guy didn't say that! You okay? He didn't make you do anything weird, right? Sis, if you hang with bad guys, you'll get swept up before you know it. I have to watch out for you...!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I came back from the bathroom to find Yoo So-mi pouting over her Einspänner.
Yeah. This is fine. I can guess what's up.
Einspänner isn't as sweet as you'd think, huh?
But Yoo So-ha was glaring at me warily for some reason.
...Why?
Did they talk about me while I was gone?
No, but what could they have said to tank my image? I've lived nicely so far.
This had to be some misunderstanding.
Time to show I'm a considerate, upstanding citizen.
"So-mi, if you can't handle that Einspänner, wanna switch with me? I got a strawberry smoothie."
From our last food hunt, Yoo So-mi seemed to care about 'indirect kisses.'
But no worries—I hadn't touched my smoothie yet. Problem solved!
"Huh? Really? Thanks! But watch out, Yi-an. This café kinda sucks at Einspänner. Why's the cream layer so thin...?"
Taking the cup, I saw her lip marks on the edge cream.
'Eh, indirect kisses are kid stuff anyway.'
I sipped without thinking, and Yoo So-mi's cheeks turned pink as she watched.
Hm... I figured since she wasn't drinking from it herself it'd be fine, but she notices even this?
Still, it was my cup and coffee now. Overthinking consideration for Yoo So-mi felt excessive to me.
But I quickly changed my mind.
Because Yoo So-ha was bulging her eyes at me, mouthing,
'Put your lips there again and you're dead.'
"..."
I'd seen Yoo So-mi make scary faces at other kids plenty of times.
But I'd never been on the receiving end.
Now I got how those kids felt.
...
I silently rotated the cup and held it from the other side. Yoo So-ha's expression finally softened.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Whew... I only came out for tasty freebies as thanks for helping with Seoul Character World, but I was already drained before lunch.
On the way here, that culty ladybug auntie harassed me, and now at the café, Yoo So-mi's sister is glaring daggers...
Especially Yoo So-ha—she said she tagged along for free food, total lie.
Something flipped her attitude 180 after I hit the bathroom. Gotta ask So-mi later.
We three left the café and headed for lunch.
Destination: a chicken joint.
Not just any, though. This place was famous for unique boneless chicken dishes, like their signature carbonara boneless chicken.
Thinking back, around this time, spots popping up with quirky chicken recipes were everywhere.
I'd tried some pre-regression—something like paella chicken...?
Tasted good at the time, but I never went back before it shut down.
Having peeked behind the curtain into the future, I knew eventually fried, seasoned, and soy sauce chicken would dominate.
Sure, oddballs like sprinkling cheese or mayo-based sauces lingered on delivery menus, but quirky chicken spots all tanked.
Meaning these limited-time novelties? Eat 'em now or miss out!
...
Nah. Truth is, I'm not hyped for this weird chicken.
Just hyping myself up for motivation, 'cause I don't wanna be here otherwise.
I only came 'cause free food was promised, but tiring crap keeps happening. Sad.
Sorry So-mi, but I'd rather head home and boil ramen...
Why do bad things always pile up?
We sat at the restaurant when weird guys approached—one with yellow-dyed hair, dressed like hipsters.
"Oh~ our so cute lil' ladies~ We're exchange students from 'Merica. We sit together yo."
Ah... crap. What the hell are these idiots?