A Senior's Reward
Jinwoo stared blankly at the figure Eunbyul had given him as a gift. And this thing... it was pretty risqué. A quick glance revealed a lot of skin tone—it was clearly a busty character in a bikini outfit. If he took it out in a crowded place, social burial would be guaranteed. 'How am I supposed to react to this?'
A cold sweat trickled down his back. On top of that, Eunbyul was watching him with sparkling eyes like an excited child, clearly expecting a reaction. Receiving his first gift from Eunbyul made him happy. To think she'd go this far in return for just one motorcycle ride. Her thoughtfulness was genuinely touching. But that was one thing, and this was another. The first present from the senior and author he respected so much turned out to be a figure. It was joyful, yet left him with a strangely complicated feeling.
He felt a little sad that she didn't seem to see him as a man. It was also depressing how obvious his otaku side must be. Well, if it was his own doing, then it was his own doing.
"Ah... maybe you haven't seen this anime? Sorry if that's the case."
"No! I watched it and loved it!"
But when Eunbyul, who had been reading his expression, started to look downcast, Jinwoo quickly pulled the box out himself and flashed a bright smile.
"Actually, I love isekai stuff! Especially this one—the parts where the protagonist goes through absolute hell are hilarious... I laughed so hard I cried at that first scene where the goddess is weeping."
At his long, flustered outburst, Eunbyul's face lit up as if she'd been waiting for it. It felt like the early spring morning sun was shining right in front of him.
"Right? Guys really love that character! I prefer the mage, though. The idea of mastering just one spell with total dedication feels so romantic, doesn't it?"
"Oh~ yeah. He's the only one who actually puts in the effort, so you end up rooting for him. Did you know? They're making another anime with that mage as the lead."
"Of course I know! I've been waiting forever for the second season!"
Huh? What was this? He could actually talk about anime with a beautiful senior like her? Maybe this really was another world. Anyway, it was fun, so who cared?
"Are you close with that author and the other isekai writers?"
"Ah, I found out about it while watching the anime. You know how they did that parody with the next-episode preview, right?"
"And they even used the same voice actor! I was so shocked when I heard that. The two works are completely different. The fun parts are totally different too."
"Exactly. One's a comedy, the other's serious. I guess the appeal of the serious one is watching the protagonist die over and over in those loops."
"Yeah~ My novel has loops too. Is that why you like it?"
"Of course Flirting with the Princess has that charm! Especially that first loop where he confesses in front of the princess even though he knows his memories will disappear, and it's their first time doing it..."
Jinwoo's excited chatter suddenly froze solid. It felt like he'd fallen for a leading question. Clack. Like a robot, he slowly turned his head to look at Eunbyul.
She was staring back at him with a strangely seductive smile. How could even that expression look so beautiful on her? Wasn't that a bit unfair?
"So you really did read my novel..."
"Yes, I did."
It wasn't something he could have hidden anyway. There was no way a non-fan would enter a lottery just to attend an author's autograph session. Still, admitting it in front of a beautiful senior like Eunbyul took real courage. It wasn't much different from shouting out loud that he enjoyed erotic novels.
"Um, I'm sorry."
"Huh? No, no! What are you sorry for? If anything, I'm the one who's grateful."
Eunbyul rested her chin on her hand and gazed at him intently. Everywhere her eyes touched, he felt an inexplicable heat rising. At this rate, he might actually start cooking.
"So that's how it is. Even diligent Jinwoo likes that kind of thing."
Her fox-like eyes turned toward him. Her face, full of mischief, overflowed with charm. If you took the word 'seductiveness' and painted it, it would look exactly like that expression.
"Was my work... erotic??"
"Well..."
It was an erotic novel, so of course it was erotic. Of course, if it had only been erotic, he wouldn't have fallen for it this hard. The reason Jinwoo had gotten so hooked on Flirting with the Princess was because the story and characters were incredibly compelling. Still, if she asked whether it was erotic... honestly, it was the most erotic thing ever.
"It was... pretty erotic."
"Hmm~ So even from a guy's perspective, it was erotic? Which parts specifically?"
"The... the lingerie scene that appears early on."
"Hehe~ So Jinwoo likes big breasts?"
Eunbyul asked with a bright, teasing smile. In contrast, Jinwoo's face turned so red it looked ready to explode.
"N-no! It's not because of that! I liked the scene because it was the princess's first time and she was so embarrassed!"
"So you don't like big breasts?"
"No... I like them very much."
What was this? Some new form of torture? His face was so flushed with embarrassment it felt like it was about to burst. Just then, a woman with brown hair whose café uniform suited her perfectly approached with their drinks.
Eunbyul glanced at her and whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
"Wow, that sister's chest is huge. Right?"
"Senior, please stop teasing me."
"Hahaha! Sorry. Flustered Jinwoo is just too cute."
Cute. Was that a compliment for a guy or not? Eunbyul's definition of cute was so broad it was hard to tell.
"Your cappuccino and iced chocolate are ready."
The woman naturally placed the cappuccino in front of Jinwoo and the iced chocolate in front of Eunbyul. The two of them looked at the drinks and burst out laughing at the same time. Then, as if it were the most natural thing, they slid their cups toward each other and swapped.
"She must have mixed up our orders looking at us."
"Makes sense."
Jinwoo nodded in understanding. Even he had to admit that pretty, cute Eunbyul looked more like she'd suit chocolate than he did.
"But is it really okay for me to accept this? You already gave me a gift."
"Come on~ Compared to what you've given me, this is nowhere near enough. I feel better this way."
What had he given her? No matter how hard he thought, nothing came to mind.
"......You helped me when I was about to be late, even though you didn't know anything about my situation."
"That's just what you do when you see someone in trouble."
"No, it's not."
Eunbyul shook her head.
"If I hadn't gone there, you wouldn't have made it to the autograph session. Who knows when my next one will be? Sacrificing a once-in-a-lifetime chance for someone else—that's not something just anyone can do."
She said it with a radiant smile, just like the princess in her novel.
"So I wanted to say thank you properly like this."
Her smile was so beautiful that Jinwoo had to fight to calm his pounding heart. Those lovely eyes that curved when she smiled. The faint dimples at the corners of her mouth. Even her warm, gentle voice. Every single detail felt so vivid as it seeped into his chest.
"I was a little worried, too. What if it made you uncomfortable?"
"Huh? Why would I be uncomfortable?"
"Well, it is kind of weird, isn't it? A girl writing something like that. It can feel a bit creepy."
"Not at all! I actually think it's amazing."
Eunbyul looked at him with genuine surprise. Jinwoo's voice had risen without him realizing it.
"At first I was shocked too, but in the first loop when the protagonist decides to fight for the heroine, it was truly moving. I became a fan from that moment and waited every day for the time when your new chapter would drop. I loved the way they looked at each other and whispered their love..."
As he spoke, he lost track of what he was even saying. His face flushed with excitement, Jinwoo hurriedly wrapped things up.
"Anyway, I thought it was incredible that an author could write such a wonderful story."
Eunbyul blinked a few times. Then she looked at him with cat-like, meaningful eyes.
"Hmmm~ Really? Then I guess I can comfortably appreciate my dear rea-der without feeling guilty."
That gaze made Jinwoo's heart thump again. He was starting to worry he might actually need to go to the hospital. Where did you even go if your heart hurt?
"Wow~ That's amazing! I've never met a real reader before! So they actually exist!"
She kept glancing at him from different angles, and he had no way to endure it. Besides, shouldn't it be the other way around? No matter how he thought about it, he was the one who should be amazed.
"Hehe! Anyway, hearing you say all that is actually pretty touching. Jinwoo, you really like me, don't you?"
"Yes, I really do."
"Ah! U-um!"
This time, Eunbyul's ears turned slightly red. She clearly hadn't expected such a direct answer.
'........He probably means Silverstar, not me, right?'
Even if he said he liked her, it was probably as a fan, not romantically. Seeing her happily sipping her iced chocolate with such a satisfied expression made it clear. How could someone be so kind and pure? The fact that a girl like this had read his erotic novel... it felt like he'd stepped on fresh snow and dirtied it. His conscience was stinging.
"Whew, still, thank you. I was in a bit of a slump, but you've given me energy."
"A slump? Didn't Flirting with the Princess already end?"
"It's because of my next work."
For a moment, Jinwoo's eyes sparkled. Silverstar's next work? As a fan, there was no way he wouldn't be interested.
"You're already working on it?"
"I've been thinking about it non-stop. But it's not coming together very well."
Even a star writer like Silverstar had worries like this. Or maybe, in a way, it was only natural. The bigger the hit, the heavier the pressure for the next one.
"This time, I want to write something normal instead of an erotic novel."
"Oh, that sounds good too."
While Flirting with the Princess had great erotic elements, it was also highly praised for its story. A normal novel from Silverstar was definitely something to look forward to. But Eunbyul's expression as she spoke was slightly gloomy.
"But... it's not going well."
"Is there some kind of problem?"
"Hmm, since you're my fan, you probably know that people often say my romance scenes feel unrealistic."
"That... is true."
The reason Silverstar was seen even by her fans as an otaku guy. It was because her portrayal of romantic emotions wasn't exactly great.
"Since Flirting with the Princess was an erotic novel, I could just gloss over that part with physical relationships, but I have no idea how to write a normal romance arc."
"Don't people usually write that stuff based on their own experience?"
It was a thoughtless comment. But Eunbyul's face turned slightly red and she looked away.
"......Um."
"Yes?"
"I don't have any dating experience. I'm a solo virgin."
At the unexpected confession, Jinwoo forgot to respond and just blinked. No way. Someone as pretty as her, who everyone at school knew—Eunbyul was a solo? How was that even possible?
".......What's with that look? Are you thinking, 'How can someone your age have never dated?'"
"N-no, I wasn't thinking that!"
"Hmm, really?"
"Yes, really."
Besides, Jinwoo wasn't in any position to judge anyone on that front.
"Anyway, that's why I'm paying extra attention to that part in this new work. No matter how I try, the emotional descriptions just don't feel convincing."
"Ooh."
Watching Eunbyul sigh deeply, Jinwoo felt guilty for thinking she was amazing. Honestly, just the name Silverstar alone would bring in plenty of existing fans. Yet here she was, agonizing like this to make an even better work.
'As expected, Senior Eunbyul really is incredible.'
Most people would probably think they deserved a break after finishing a novel. But that was exactly why not just anyone could become a star writer.
"Um, so about that..."
Eunbyul glanced at him hesitantly and mumbled.
"I feel bad asking this right after saying thank you, but... could I ask you one more favor?"
"If it's something I can do, absolutely."
The chance to be helpful to Eunbyul? That was something he wanted more than anything.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Hmm, I've written a bit of the next work. I'd like you to read it and give me your honest opinion as a reader."
".......Yes?"
He could read Silverstar's work in advance? And not just any work—a fresh, hot-off-the-press new one? Wasn't this more like a reward than anything?