Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: The Outsider Stared at by Yoo So-mi
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ As we were finishing up the carbonara boneless chicken at the restaurant...
Yoo So-mi's younger sister, Yoo So-ha, leaned back in her chair, sipping her cola, and spoke up.
"So... what are we gonna do after we finish eating all this?"
Hearing that, I thought to myself.
'...? Yeah, what? Go home, obviously.'
I couldn't tell if this girl was genuinely hoping we'd do something together afterward,
or if she was just waiting for someone to say, "Let's go home."
She couldn't possibly want to hang around here after running into that crazy guy at the restaurant just now, right?
Or maybe I'm the only outsider who wants to go home?
But I was out here eating on Yoo So-mi's dime.
Whether we head home right away or do something else was up to the benefactor, Yoo So-mi.
So I looked at Yoo So-mi, conveying with my eyes, 'You decide what we do next.'
Yoo So-mi, who had been looking at me too, met my gaze right away. She flashed a bright smile, like she got the message, and opened her mouth.
"So-ha, you should head home and stop playing around now. Finals are coming up soon, right?"
"Aww, sis... You and Yi-an oppa have tests too. Why just send me home...?"
"I'm exempt from test scores since I study art so hard instead, and Yi-an already got second place in the whole school, remember?"
"..."
In this fork in the road—end the meal here and wrap up the gathering, or keep going—Yoo So-mi somehow invented the option of 'send only the little sister home.'
So-mi, you definitely looked at me and smiled earlier. Wasn't that like, "I get what you mean"?
Sending home the one who wants to stay longer and keeping the one who wants to go home... Why choose the option that makes everyone miserable...?
Stunned inwardly by Yoo So-mi's unexpected choice, I watched as Yoo So-ha pouted a little regretfully and spoke.
"Guess I have no choice... But you're right, sis. I should really be studying for exams instead of playing right now. Honestly, I only came out today following you because I was curious what kind of person your new friend is."
Yeah, I figured as much.
Especially at the cafe this morning, Yoo So-ha had been sizing me up pretty blatantly.
At least I didn't completely flunk her evaluation, because she smiled at me and continued.
"I was worried you might be hanging out with some weirdo, sis, but meeting you myself, it was all for nothing. You're even cooler than I expected."
"Plus, Yi-an oppa doesn't seem to be eyeing you with any creepy intentions, so if you two just stay friends like this, I don't see any reason for me to butt in."
Getting critiqued like that by a middle school third-year girl felt a bit off for a 35-year-old uncle in a kid's body, but her assessment was way more positive than I'd expected, so I was a little surprised.
Today had been one of the most frustrating days since regressing, so I'd assumed her first impression of me was something like 'total social reject.'
I was especially glad she noticed I wasn't leering at Yoo So-mi.
And finally, after paying at the chicken place and saying goodbye out front, Yoo So-ha said,
"Yi-an oppa, thanks for helping us back at the chicken shop. You handled those weirdos so calmly in English—it was awesome. Can I get your phone number? Let's keep in touch sometimes!"
"So-ha! I've got Yi-an's number, so I'll give it to you later."
"Okay! That works! Bye, sis! See you later, Yi-an oppa!"
And with that, Yoo So-ha headed home.
Until just now, I'd only been thinking about going home myself, but her praise before parting lifted my gloomy mood a bit.
I waved to her as she headed for the subway station.
So I didn't catch the expression on Yoo So-mi's face—the one who'd sent her little sister home under the pretense of exam studying.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Yi-an, have you ever been to a place called Multi Cafe?"
This came up while we were discussing what to do next.
But I couldn't answer right away.
Because we were sitting on a bench along Sinchon street, and our distance was... very close.
On top of that, she was clinging to my left arm like she was hugging it... Yeah, definitely touching.
Yoo So-mi doesn't usually stick to me like this at school or the sandwich shop job.
I don't know if she's conscious of people's stares, or if she just craves warmth at certain times.
But I do remember the last time, when we took a taxi together helping with her doujin event prep, she was pretty close then too.
And even then, she wasn't flirting or anything like she saw me as a guy she liked or wanted to date.
So I decided Yoo So-mi was just the type who occasionally feels like cuddling up to a friend.
Result: my mental state right now was 30% embarrassed, 70% guilty.
The 35-year-old inside me was hearing phantom police sirens wailing in my ears.
"Multi Cafe... First time hearing it. Like that room cafe we went to last time?"
I said, recalling the room cafe the three of us—Han Si-a, Yoo So-mi, and me—had visited during our food crawl.
"Hmm... More like a cozier space than that room cafe? You pay to rent a room, but you take off your shoes and can lie down inside."
"Oh... That does sound comfy."
Before I regressed, busy areas like Sinchon had tons of manga cafes where you could lie down indoors.
But right now, it hasn't caught on yet—cafes and manga rooms all just have regular tables and chairs.
I'd even searched for manga cafes myself when picking our next spot, wanting to lie down...
But nothing like that existed yet...
So when Yoo So-mi suggested something similar first, I had no choice but to welcome it with open arms.
Well, one arm was pinned right now, but anyway.
"Sounds good to me. Why do you wanna go there? Got some tasty menu?"
"Nah. They have free soft drinks and snacks, but nothing special. I just... thought you looked a bit tired, Yi-an..."
I nearly teared up at So-mi's thoughtfulness.
I hadn't done anything physically exhausting today, but mentally, yeah, wiped out.
That said, if she was being considerate, maybe let go of my arm too...? Probably not.
Honestly, at this point, the biggest mental burden on me was Yoo So-mi herself—if only she'd realize that.
.
.
.
We arrived at the Multi Cafe.
The interior was all pink and cozy, clearly targeting girls who want to gossip in a snug spot.
They had small rooms and large ones depending on group size, but since it was just us two, we got a small one.
Of course, "room" didn't mean fully walled off with a door. Like a room cafe, each was curtained at the entrance.
Can't seal them completely, or it'd be a motel room.
If this place had been that enclosed, I would've dragged So-mi right back out.
The small room we rented was a tad cramped for a guy stretching out fully.
I had to bend my legs or curl up or I'd hit the wall on one side.
But with plush mats covering the floor, curling up on my side was pretty comfortable.
Pillows and cushions in the room showed it was designed for lounging on the floor from the start.
Just designed for girls 170cm and under.
"Kinda funny saying this after already renting the room, but... is it really okay if I nap here? We finally made time to hang out, and it'd waste your time if I just crash."
I was tired, but lying down now, I felt bad for So-mi.
Fine for me to sleep it off, but she wasn't gaining anything from this.
"It's fine! Rest for like two hours, recharge, then we play again! So don't worry and lie down quick. It makes me happy too."
"Thanks...!!! I'm really glad I have a friend like you. Sorry, but I'll catch a quick nap then?"
In the end, after entering the room, I didn't touch any of the free drinks or ice cream—just conked out.
.
.
.
"Yi-an... asleep?"
"...No. Not yet."
.
.
.
"Yi-an... asleep?"
"..."
"Hehe... Fell asleep, huh?"