School Uniform Date (2)

In conclusion, nothing happened.

According to Ji-ah, it was due to constipation... As a dad, I could only nod in understanding the moment I heard that. Physiological phenomena are unavoidable. It makes sense for someone who's only just awakened.

Anyway.

I was facing the crisis of a lifetime. How had I gotten through it twenty years ago? How different would the world look now through smartphones and TVs?

Can I do this?

I sat on the sofa, pondering gravely.

I can do it. If it's me.

Let's go out. Lee Yoo-seong. Yeah, all the way!

"J-J-J-J-Ji-ah. A-A-Are there, l-lots of p-people?"

"No... Dad, there's just the car outside."

In conclusion, it was a success. The side effect? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Becoming Ji-ah's personal armrest? It was pretty common for dads and daughters to link arms while walking. That's just family stuff.

"Dad, you're too clingy."

"S-Sorry..."

"You can open your eyes now, you know?"

Honestly, it was embarrassing. Really embarrassing.

From the moment we crossed to the neighbor's side, I'd had my eyes shut for over three minutes. But hearing Ji-ah, I decided to muster some courage. Yeah, nothing changes if I stay like this. Let's try.

"See? It's not so bad, right?"

"Ah... Yeah. Thanks."

It was true. There weren't many people around. And maybe because it's an affluent neighborhood, the passersby didn't have harsh expressions.

Our goal was Itaewon. Head to the reserved photo studio there and grab a meal. Simple.

The trembling in my body was gradually easing. My grip on my daughter's arm loosened, and the shaking improved.

Phew. Yeah. I'm getting better! Maybe I can afford a bit more confidence...

Right then.

"Y-You said no people!"

"Dad... Not anymore."

Squeeze. Eyes poured in. It was a street bustling enough to deserve the name "bustling district." Busy people hurried by, and music spilled from nearby shops.

People passed. And glanced at us.

No helping it. Ji-ah wore a faint smile. How could she be so calm? Maintaining a straight face was hard enough for me. I endured only because I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of my daughter.

My gaze still stuck to the ground, my steps timid to the point of awkwardness. But... I was trying pretty hard.

"H-How much longer?"

"About... ten minutes? You're doing great, Dad."

"Th-Thanks, Ji-ah..."

Hehe. Was I really doing well? Just as I pondered that, whispers from people drifted in now and then. As an awakener, my hearing range was a bit wider than a normal person's.

You know how it is? When you're walking with someone and spot something special, but only bring it up after it's fully passed.

The problem? I could hear it.

Squeeze. I gripped Ji-ah's sleeve a little tighter. I knew most of it was positive.

B-But still...

Stuff like that felt off. Never mind that we're dad and daughter—correcting them would just be awkward.

Still... humans adapt. Walking while drawing attention actually made it feel a bit better? If I wore a hooded robe or something, I might even go out alone.

About five minutes in.

"Hello."

"...?"

The first thing that caught my eye was the camera. A smartphone-mounted one and a square interview mic in her hand. For shoving a camera in our faces right away, it was a pretty polite greeting.

A woman with an ordinary look. The unusual part...

"I'm a Nutuber who does this kind of thing."

Video upload platform Nutuber. An app I watched to kill time myself. The screen she showed had dozens of videos shot the same way.

And this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠edition was Itaewon. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I knew what she wanted. But my mind was going blank.

What do I do? Refuse? I want to. I really do, but...

"......"

Looking at my daughter's face, she seemed to be enjoying it. Her lips curved higher than usual, eyes sparkling with interest.

I hoped Ji-ah would refuse. But no dice—she stayed silent. In the end, the Nutuber's gaze fixed on me.

"I can mosaic you if you want."

"R-Really?"

"Yes. Of course."

Good. That should be fine, right?

"Th-Then... we'll do it..."

Better to just get it over with quick. That'd be faster.

I steeled myself as best I could. I didn't want to look pathetic in front of my daughter.

I'd already come outside... now an interview too. B-But... just a little more effort. Yoo-seong...!

"Alright, starting now."

"O-Okay..."

"Hello. Can I have a brief interview?"

Ji-ah nodded with a smile. I did too.

"S-Sure..."

"We're interviewing couples out for fun in Itaewon."

The Nutuber introduced herself. She did content asking about fun spots or good eats in busy areas. Since we'd agreed, it flowed naturally.

...Except the couple part!

"C-C-Couple?!"

"Pardon...?"

My face flushed bright red. Not because they mistook us for a couple with my daughter, but pure embarrassment. I mean, I'm 45...

"You're not a couple?"

"N-No... W-We, we're f-family... father and daughter."

"Whoa, you don't look it."

"I-I know, and m-my daughter too... We're both hunters..."

"Wow, dad and daughter! I thought it was a date from your outfits."

The Nutuber rattled off academy knowledge. She'd guessed we were hunters from our hair and eye colors, and with academy uniforms, assumed couple.

Right then. Ji-ah spoke up.

"It's a date. Out on a date with Dad."

"Haha, you two seem close."

"Thank you."

"So, sir, how about you...?"

The Nutuber asked about my outfit. New academy students often wore uniforms before enrollment out of excitement. But couple look?

She was asking about dad and daughter in matching academy uniforms.

"Ah, I-I'm an alum... too. Now just an old guy. Haha..."

"You don't look it at all."

"...J-Joking."

"For real. You're super cute."

This was a gender-reversed world. For men, the ultimate compliment was "cute," followed by handsome. Calling a woman cute could get you mistaken for gay or seen as mocking her pride.

So, simply put, the Nutuber had given me the highest looks compliment a man could get.

Maybe because I'd adapted to this world? My face burned even redder, and I could only deny it.

"N-No...! A g-guy like me...?"

"......"

My face heats up. My gaze drops to the ground, head shaking side to side.

"Really. Even if you're twenty... You're really, really cute."

"Wh-What...!"

I barely held back a yell. I waved both hands frantically.

"D-Don't tease an old guy, miss...!"

"......"

"A-Alright, to the daughter then!"

Lucky, I guess. While I was losing it, the three-question interview went entirely to Ji-ah.

"Freshman this year."

"Nice. Thoughts on joining the same academy as Dad?"

"I'll grow into a hunter who helps society. Thank you."

"Cool... Last one!"

Phew. Finally over? The Nutuber pulled out a script from her bag. Consideration for us.

"The photo studio."

"Thanks~."

The camera shut off. It felt like a held breath whooshed out. The Nutuber thanked us and handed over two department store 100,000-won gift cards.

"Great job. Thank you so much!"

"W-We..."

"Yes! Academy students' portraits are important. We'll blur it well."

The Nutuber nodded knowingly. Academy student. Post-enrollment, faces weren't as guarded, but pre-enrollment ones were.

I let out a quiet breath. Phew. That experience... wasn't as bad as I thought.

"Dad."

"Hm?"

"This date today? So fun. I'm happy."

"......"

Munch munch. My lips parted then closed. Mental drain was huge. It felt burdensome. Truth be told, I wanted to go home right now.

But.

"Just the photos left, then done. Taxi back."

"Yeah..."

"Love you! Dad!"

"M-Me too..."

Hehe. Daughter's happy. That's enough.

That's all that matters.