Why Hide It? Daiso Was a First.
Why bother hiding it? Daiso was a first for me. In a world where everything could be solved with a single order from home via computer or phone, there was no real need to visit a place like this.
"This building is pretty tall and skinny, huh?"
"Some places are wider... but it's still smaller than a big supermarket."
Lee Hayun, walking ahead, picked up a basket-like thing and said so. She looked pretty practiced at this, like she came here often.
"So, what do we need?"
"Hmm. Maybe some dishes? And cooking utensils wouldn't hurt."
"Sounds like it's all kitchen stuff."
"Ever since I started living alone, I've only been getting delivery food. Figured it was time to try cooking."
Crafting a plausible lie was easier than I'd thought. Just mix a sliver of truth into words you didn't really mean, and it was done. When I'd first lured Lee Hayun out by saying I needed household goods, that was a lie. So was the bit about having just moved in and needing a ton of stuff. Cooking was something even a ten-year solo-living veteran like me could do, so that was a lie too. The only truth in it all was that I'd only eaten delivery food up until now.
From yesterday to today. Just one home-cooked meal in all that time.
"You got any seasonings?"
"Probably just salt, I think."
"Then at minimum, soy sauce, miso paste, sugar, sesame oil, chili powder..."
Muttering to herself, Lee Hayun jotted notes on her phone and started climbing the stairs to the upper floor, totototo. Despite getting banged up repeatedly during training just earlier, her energy hadn't flagged a bit. I followed behind, eyes on her swaying black ponytail and the hem of her hoodie brushing her ass.
"We can grab the seasonings at a convenience store or mart. Let's look at the other stuff first."
"They don't sell 'em here?"
"Nope. So, frying pan first. Best bang for your buck. You got a gas stove at home?"
"Yeah. Gas."
I nodded, not really sure what difference an induction hob made. I could cook, but I wasn't some chef. Lee Hayun scanned around with her jade-green eyes sparkling, then plucked a frying pan right off the shelf. She compared the tiny print on it and the price tag this way and that, then dropped it into the shopping basket without explaining why. Well, even if she did explain, I probably wouldn't get it, so I let it slide.
"Spatula? Soy sauce dish? Lock & Lock? Ladle? This size bowl okay?"
"......"
...That aside.
I'd planned to just stick close, tease Lee Hayun a bit, and enjoy the shopping. But she was zipping around Daiso like it was a mission, and it was more tiring than expected. This was throwing my plans off a little.
A quick glance around showed other shoppers here and there. Not crowded, but not empty either. Five of us on this floor, including Lee Hayun. Looked like folks stopping by after work for essentials.
Me in a stiff gray jacket that barely covered my waist and a plain black tee underneath. Lee Hayun, diligently picking items in her baggy loose-fit hoodie over her academy uniform.
I wondered for a second what others might think if they saw us. Then...
"What, why's this bowl already chipped...?"
Carefully, I wrapped an arm around Lee Hayun's waist.
...Not so much "wrapped" as "brushed against," really. I just stood beside her and let my forearm rest there.
"......Mm, ...uh..."
"......"
Just like that, Lee Hayun went quiet. Not only that—she started making these broken, wordless sounds like a glitchy machine. She looked at the bowl in her hand. At my face. Back at the bowl. Set it down, blinked hard.
Cuter reaction than I'd expected. Even after swapping spit and kissing last night.
"What's up?"
"......"
Her sparkling jade-green eyes creaked toward me like rusty hinges. Then back to the shelf. Without a word, she picked up a new bowl—the same one she'd just put back.
"Like you said, sis, that one's chipped, so leave it. I think this one's better."
"...Y-yeah? Then let's get that one..."
"Shouldn't we check it out? I don't know much about this stuff."
"I-it's just a bowl, what’s there to... check..."
The sensation at her waist seemed unfamiliar; she kept fiddling with my right arm where it touched her waist and stomach. The constant pokes suggested she wanted me to let go. Hmm. But I wanted to see her flustered more.
"Okay, this bowl then. What next? You said a few batteries might be good?"
"...Yeah... D-door lock still uses batteries."
"Mm. Kitchen stuff here, so downstairs. Grab some towels on the way..."
"......"
I tightened my arm around her waist, and though her shoulders twitched, Lee Hayun obediently followed. Her eyes kept darting to the people around, but I ignored it and headed down the stairs with the now-quiet girl.
As shopping wrapped up, I finally peeled my arm from Lee Hayun's waist and hauled the surprisingly heavy bags out of Daiso. No idea on the price, but it was paid for, so whatever. Nothing here was pricey anyway. Sure, this was mostly to lure her out, but these were legit necessities, so once home, time to unpack. Judging by the load, it'd take a solid thirty minutes.
"Seasonings from the convenience store should do... Thanks for making time today, sis. Next time, dinner's on me."
"......"
"Sis?"
"......"
Maybe the passing cars drowned me out? No response even though she was right there. I called again—same result. Bundling up against the winter wind, I looked down at her. Lee Hayun was walking with this dazed, soul-left-her-body expression.
Hmm. All I'd done was lightly hug her waist. Yet the girl who could chatter nonstop for minutes on end had glitched out like this. Standing there with the Daiso bags, I pondered, then spun around to block her path.
Only then did her eyes widen, and she stopped short. Our height difference put her nose right at my chest level.
"Sis."
"...Y-yeah?"
"Thanks. For helping today. You must be busy."
"Ah... No biggie. No shift today."
"Didn't expect that. Thought you worked every day."
"I do? Every day? ...When I went to the infirmary to pick you up, I texted the convenience store boss. Said I was too tired today."
"......"
"So he said to take the evening shift too."
Hands jammed in her hoodie pockets, Lee Hayun swallowed hard.
"S-so. I can help a bit more."
"Yeah?"
"O-of course, it's nothing compared to the free healing you gave me..."
To make up for that, it'd take an hourly wage of three... four million... Head down against the chill wind, she mumbled. Then she glanced up at my face.
"...Your place. Where is it?"
"......"
"J-just... to help unpack. That's all..."
Beep, beep, beep.
"......"
"......"
"21,520 won. Need a bag?"
After snagging the last seasonings, we tossed them in the Daiso bags and headed to my place. I hadn't splurged on a fancy spot just 'cause I made good money—nothing fancier than Lee Hayun's neighborhood. Just a normal area. More two-room-plus places than one-rooms, though. Unlike her spot, people here actually followed rules like using designated trash bags. No stray cats ripping into garbage either.
"Second floor here."
"...First floor's parking, so right above?"
"Nah. By that logic, third floor?"
"Aha..."
I hit #6050 to buzz open the ground-floor door and headed up to the second with Lee Hayun.
...Kinda nervous, huh. Sure, I'd thought about banging a hero plenty in my head, but actually doing it? First time for me too. Stay cool. Don't get too hyped and ruin it from the start. Plenty of practice already. How far could a first-timer hold out? When she starts losing it past a certain point. The pace to ramp things up so she gets swept away before she knows it.
Villains with decent faces and bodies—I'd tested it all on them plenty. Calming myself, I punched in the door code. Lee Hayun peeked curiously from the side, but no point hiding it. If genders were reversed, maybe, but her walking in meant she wanted this.
"Make yourself at home. It's humble."
"Doesn't look humble for a one-room..."
My one-room, thick with the scent of a male occupant. Slowly, Lee Hayun's fresh fragrance began to mingle in. Shame. Should've cleaned harder if I'd known. Not the tidy type to begin with—basic hygiene was it. Bedding balled up on the bed, old pizza box from pre-regression still on the central table. Even the bottled water lined up on the floor. Embarrassing showing it to someone. Should've tidied.
"...Nice. Place."
"You like it?"
"Aren't normal one-rooms smaller...?"
"Ten pyeong. Not small, but not huge. There's eleven, twelve too."
"Guess I've only seen the tiny ones."
She kicked off her shoes with a couple thuds and immediately scoped out my place, eyes wide like a country pup excited at a new spot. If she had a tail, it'd be wagging like crazy right in front of me.
"Computer's here too."
"What home doesn't have one."
"Nah, just reminded me of Jiyoon. She loves games. Shooters."
"Eh... Not really me."
She'd been gaming when I went over yesterday—hobby confirmed. Filed it away, cleared the pizza box from the table for now, and started unpacking. Frying pan first, then Daiso haul spreading across the floor.
"Pass the vinegar we got? New pans need a wash."
"Ah, I can do it."
"Nah, I'll handle it. 'Cause you're my s-sis..."
"Then thanks."
Saying that, she really acted like she was just here to unpack—didn't even glance at the big bed, straight to the kitchen. Hmm. I'd half-expected sex right away, but her acting pure was kinda disappointing.
...Whatever. Time's on my side. Hanging with Lee Hayun, opportunity would come.
As I sidled up close to her...
"Sis."
"Y-yeah?"
Lee Hayun's shoulders jumped big time; she'd been spacing out filling the pan with water.
"Why so jumpy? Here. Brought a bowl too. Needs washing."
"Y-yeah. I'll do it. I just... you came up sudden..."
She sprayed dish soap over the rinsed pan.
"......"
"......"
Ears bright red. Pretending not to notice. Acting like no interest in naughty stuff. Squirt, squirt.