Academy Preparations (4)
"You okay?"
I asked worriedly, looking at Miho's pale face. Even after leaving the theater, she was clinging to my collar, still uneasy.
"Ugh... sorry, Hanjun."
I stroked her hair anxiously, hoping her triangular ears wouldn't pop out again. Fortunately, she gradually calmed under my touch, tilting her head in rhythm with my hand. Soft black strands like silk silk slipped between my fingers. As I nuzzled into that glossy hair, a sweet fragrance tickled my nose. Addicted to the texture and scent, I kept petting her. Miho's cheeks flushed, her head swaying happily.
"......"
Then I noticed the part-timer at the theater entrance staring at us blankly. His empty eyes held a mix of envy and despair. Miho and I quickly put some distance between us.
"Hehehe..."
Miho giggled like she was in heaven, intertwining her fingers with mine. She looked so content and blissful that I couldn't help but smile too. Led by her hand, we moved on to the next date spot.
The place Miho led me to wasn't anything special, just like the theater. A cafe, a comic cafe, a plain chicken joint. Typical spots any high schooler our age had probably hit at least once. There, Miho spent time with me, expressing her joy with her whole body—just like that day she danced barefoot across the desk. She sniffed the air deeply, humming little tunes, tilting her head. Having watched her all this time, I knew exactly how happy she was.
Watching her warmly, a sudden thought bubbled up in my chest. Her words from the art room: 'I'm mustering the courage to cross over to your world with you, Hanjun.' Seeing how much she loved this world, the idea of her leaving for the other side left me feeling strangely bittersweet.
As if sensing it, Miho stopped and turned to me.
"Hanjun, what's up?"
The sun had set, and the lakeside park glowed only under flickering streetlamps. Beneath the white light, she stared straight at me.
"Nah, just lost in thought."
I scratched my head and brushed it off. She snorted suspiciously, then grinned.
"You know what, Hanjun?"
"What?"
"When you're flustered or something feels off, you always blink a lot?"
She demonstrated, batting her big brown eyes cutely. Adorable as it was on her, the idea of myself doing it was mortifying. As I grimaced, she poked fun.
"See? Blinking away right now."
"...How'd you notice?"
"I watch you all the time."
Her gaze locked on me, and it hit me: she sees me too, just like I see her. I smiled awkwardly, and she whined playfully.
"So~? What were you thinking just now~?"
"Just... you seem to love this world so much. Makes me wonder if crossing over is really right for you."
I answered honestly. Her face grew complex, then she spoke softly, clasping my hand in both of hers.
"Hanjun, listen."
"Our fox clan gets a lot of stares from others?"
"'Cause you're pretty?"
She giggled "Hehe."
"That's part of it, but we're born with natural charm."
I got the gist. Miho had this inexplicable allure. I nodded, and she continued.
"I told you before, right? I was full of flaws over there."
"Yeah."
Only able to handle three tails, seen as a disgrace to the clan. I didn't know her full pain, but her sad smile made my chest ache too.
"At first, I tried hard. But feeling those stares while I struggled... it scared me."
"......"
"Wherever I went, eyes followed, exposing my shortcomings. I shrank more and more. Even started hating our clan's 'advantage'—our looks. But then..."
She gripped my hand tight.
"I ran here and met a guy... who said it was my personality he found charming, not my looks."
Her brown eyes held me. She stepped closer.
"First time anyone said that. My heart pounded. Started as a joke, but I fell deeper."
Now chest-to-chest, she looked up from under my chin.
"You know, Hanjun? For the first time, I was glad I was born attractive."
Under the streetlamp's white glow—brighter than the light itself—I swallowed hard, staring at her sparkling face.
"When you gaze at my face. When you shyly look away sometimes. Knowing you see me... it made me so happy."
She grabbed my collar.
"I came here 'cause the human world looked fun, but mostly 'cause no one knew me. I wanted to be seen as human Lee Miho, not fox clan Lee Miho. But..."
She tugged my collar, stepping back. I followed instinctively, facing her grin.
"Now it doesn't matter. Fox Lee Miho or human Lee Miho—as long as you're there seeing the real me."
She backed away playfully. Half out of the light now, straddling shadow and glow, she perked up triangular ears in the dark for show.
"So, this world or that one—doesn't matter, as long as you look at me."
She slipped fully into shadow. Her brown eyes turned red.
"You promised to keep your word, right, Hanjun?"
"Uh... yeah."
Like old times, hypnotizing me with crimson eyes.
"Lots of promises... but one in particular: stay with me until I grow nine tails."
Three tails swished behind her. Face hidden in dark, but her sly, seductive eye-smile was alluring. Drawn in, I stepped into shadow too.
She cupped my face, rising on tiptoes. Sweet lips met mine. Soft at first, then hungrily sucking. Smack. Slurp. Wet sounds echoed in the dark.
I savored the kiss, wrapping my arms around her waist. Her swishing tails tapped my hand cutely, but I pulled her closer anyway.
Hypnosis, necklace—never before had I moved of my own will. But now, in this moment, I held her in the shadows, feeling her fully. Slurp, smack. Sweet breaths and saliva mingled. Our secret tryst in the dark lasted quite a while.
"...That's a lot."
I scratched my head, eyeing the bag I'd packed. Today was the day to cross over. An hour before Kim Jihye arrived, I double-checked my otherworld essentials: underwear, toiletries, notebooks. Surprisingly bulky. She said there were marts there for daily needs, but after living so frugally, I couldn't bear to leave half-used toothpaste or barely worn undies behind. A thrifty guy like me, who'd tracked every penny? Impossible.
As I rummaged, grumbling, a gruff voice came from beside me.
"What're you doing?"
"...?!"
Startled, I whipped around—Kim Jihye. Chewing her cig, looking beat as usual, she eyed my bag.
I hastily shoved protruding panties back in.
"You're early. What's up?"
I glared up at her for the unannounced Shrink Ground. Unfazed, she stomped over and started unpacking my stuff.
"Hey, what're you doing?!"
I panicked, trying to stop her. She fiddled with my undies and clothes, then clicked her tongue.
"Told you, buy daily stuff over there."
"These are clothes."
"Buy clothes too. Why wear this crap."
"Too wasteful to buy new."
She sighed.
"Damn, that old lady really tossed everything. For real..."
Irritated, she chewed harder, then pulled something from her suit pocket—a black card. Blank, sleek. I took it, staring. She said curtly,
"Your inheritance. Granny blocked sorcery ties, so she couldn't give it till now."
"My inheritance?"
"Yeah. From your mom and dad."
I toyed with the cool black card.
"How much is on it?"
"Enough to last till you die. Spend freely."
"For real?"
She smirked at my doubt.
"Yeah, blow it all, it'll still have plenty. Relax."
"...Kinda scary."
My hand trembled holding it. I tucked the black card away safely. She added,
"Oh, and at school, prioritize deflowering one youkai."
"Who?"
I sighed, recalling the pending issue.
"Snow woman."
She stressed it firmly.
"Taking the virginity of a snow woman with extreme yin body will massively stabilize your yang energy. So fuck the snow woman."
Feeling guilty toward last night's Miho, I slowly etched the name into my mind.