Wanting to Talk About Old Times
Im Yeonghyeon first met Seo Yuha in first grade of elementary school. They were in the same class and sat next to each other, so they often chatted.
Back then, Yeonghyeon was shy, but he and Yuha clicked somehow.
"Did you watch Super Ranger yesterday?"
"Yeah! Red beating the Devil at the end was so cool."
They grew close like that, and then their moms met—and surprisingly, the moms hit it off too. Turns out their houses were even nearby. After that, they started visiting each other's homes to play, becoming true playmate friends, and this lasted all the way through middle school.
"So, know what she said? No way~!"
"Hehe, what was it?"
Yeonghyeon fell for Yuha when he saw her smile like pure sunshine. She smiled a lot anyway, but it felt like she smiled even more around him.
Yeonghyeon never forgot those memories and feelings. If Yuha still showed that sunny side now, he might fall for her again—but she'd become cool and cold like moonlight.
Why did she change like that?
Still, that icy moonlight drew his attention. Was it lingering attachment, or was he attracted to the Yuha of today? Yeonghyeon couldn't answer.
But there had to be a reason she'd changed. Positive or negative.
"Groooar!"
Yeonghyeon was in the middle of an S-rank dungeon, idly thinking about Yuha amid it all. Monsters swarmed him by the dozens, but he felt no tension as he summoned his sword.
He charged it with magic and swung a few times—monsters fell like leaves in the wind.
"Let's see..."
Yeonghyeon sold the mana stones from slain monsters to fund himself. He had plenty of money, but staying home made him restless, so he hunted for exercise.
Once he hit his goal, he left the dungeon, wrapped himself in wind magic, and soared into the sky.
I wonder what Yuha's up to.
Even as he thought that, he doubted she'd ever seen him as a man. To her, he was just a guy friend—nothing more, nothing less.
Oh, right—she texted about picking up those shoes.
Yeonghyeon decided not to overthink. The present mattered more, so he changed course from home to the department store.
"Hm?"
He sensed something near the department store. It was a rift, opening right by the Department Store Plaza.
Human lives were precious, so Yeonghyeon rushed in.
"Grrr..."
Wolf-like monsters spotted him and charged all at once. Annoyed, Yeonghyeon charged magic and flicked his hand lightly.
One gesture triggered a magic explosion, wiping them out. He then infused his fist with water magic and charged.
Pow!
He smashed with full force—the monster vanished without a trace.
Clearing them like this, their numbers dwindled fast.
"Stay put—it's dangerous!"
A few times, people nearly got hurt, but Yeonghyeon saved them just in time.
"Yeonghyeon!"
Then he ran into unexpected faces.
"Seo Mother?"
Looks like the mother and daughter had been shopping together. That's when a mantis monster sneaked up behind Yeonghyeon.
"Yeonghyeon! Behind you!"
Yuha shouted urgently, but he was already aware—he kicked it hard with his leg.
That finished the last monster.
"It's safe now. No one got hurt, right?"
"I'm fine. Worry about your girlfriend first."
Time for the fake lover act they'd discussed.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm good."
Yeonghyeon stared straight at Yuha.
"Why stare like that?"
"Nah, just wondering if this is your bare face."
At the blind date, she'd clearly dressed up, but now? Utterly casual.
"What? Disappointed?"
Quite the opposite. He liked this natural look even more than the made-up one.
"You..."
Yuha started to retort, but Yeonghyeon's looks shut her up.
Damn, he really is handsome.
She'd thought so at the blind date, and seeing him again confirmed it.
"Wasn't picking a fight—just saying it's refreshing."
"A compliment?"
"Yep."
As they talked, Yeonghyeon glanced around.
"Hold on—gonna check if anyone's hurt."
While he stepped away, Seo Mother shared her thoughts with her daughter.
"Yeonghyeon was so cool just now! He's really grown into a man."
"...Yeah."
"What? Not impressed?"
She figured her timid daughter might feel that way.
But Yuha had seen not his strength, but his eyes in battle—emptier than her own.
"No one's hurt," Yeonghyeon said, returning. Yuha spoke up.
"Mom, sorry—mind if we split here?"
"Oh? Sure, sure. Gonna spend time with your boyfriend?"
They'd planned a mother-daughter tea time, but Yuha had questions for Yeonghyeon.
"Since my daughter's asking, Mom'll step back~"
Her girl's romance came first—Seo Mother smiled and left.
Yeonghyeon asked, "Weren't you out with your mom for something?"
"We were just heading to a cafe anyway. More importantly—you got time?"
"Free unless something comes up. Why?"
"Wanna talk about old times."
Yeonghyeon nodded and they moved to a nearby cafe—quiet enough for a chat.
"What'll you have?"
"Hot Americano."
He ordered at the kiosk; drinks came quick. They sat facing each other and sipped.
Yuha looked drowsy, savoring the warmth. "Good for cold days."
"What've you been up to?"
Just two days apart, but he checked in.
"Gaming, sleeping, that stuff. You?"
"Nothing special. Monster hunting, training."
"Didn't know you were an awakener."
It wasn't the awakening that shocked her—it was him fighting monsters. The shy kid now battled bravely.
"Didn't you say you were self-employed?"
"Yeah. Make a living hunting monsters."
"Not a hunter?"
"Self-employed."
"Better than me, at least."
She was unemployed—praiseworthy that he hustled.
"Always wondered—whatever happened to your dream of being a teacher? Why hunt monsters instead?"
"......"
"Don't have to say if you don't want."
Yeonghyeon hesitated, then answered.
"Faced reality."
He shared his high school story. He'd chased his childhood dream of teaching, but grades kept dropping despite studying. Doubts grew, and that summer vacation, he awakened—with talent, no less. Choose: dream job as teacher, or promising hunter path?
"...I see."
"Disappointed?"
"No reason to be. Your choice."
But those empty battle eyes lingered—void of meaning.
"Awakening lets me live comfortably, so I'm content."
"Yeah?"
Yuha wanted to probe more but stopped—it felt like poking a wound. She'd quit art for lack of talent; she got it somewhat.
"Since we're sharing—why'd you quit drawing?"
He remembered her winning awards young; everyone expected an art career, even went to art high school.
"Secret."
"What? Why's yours a secret?"
"Not a great story. Tell you later."
Yeonghyeon let it drop, curious as he was. Silence fell; he broke it.
"Family nagging about dating lately?"
"Tons. Especially Dad."
Her mom approved; Dad disapproved.
"You?"
"Similar. 'How's dating?' stuff."
"Blind date straight to dating—naturally curious."
"Fake or not, we don't feel couple-y, do we?"
Second meeting, yet it felt like old pals—gender aside.
"So?"
"If they catch us faking, we're screwed."
Yuha imagined: her mom seeing her future shatter.
"I'd cease to exist..."
"They won't actually kill you."
"What about you?"
"Me..."
No death, but facing furious Im Mother? Even an archmage weakened before her. Yeonghyeon paused, then said,
"Ahem, we need to get closer first."
"Aren't we already close?"
They weren't strangers—history made it comfy.
"Meet once or twice a week?"
"Meet?"
"Literal. We knew each other young, but it's not the same vibe."
He had ulterior motives but kept it logical.
"Casual—like movies or nearby outings. Snap photos for proof later."
"Ooh, smart. Good thinking."
Yuha agreed—photos would sell the act.
"Cool. Any places you wanna go?"
"......"
Silence. Yeonghyeon scratched his head.
"Simple—movie? Anything you wanna see?"
"Yeah, but it's kinda childish—okay?"
"What is it?"
She shyly showed: animation. Popular lately, so he knew it.
"Blade of Demon Extermination?"
"Yep. Seen it?"
"Nah."
Air went quiet. It was a series—better with priors.
Yeonghyeon backpedaled. "I'll watch summaries at home."
"No need—fun standalone."
"Alright, then let's go."
Yuha always loved cartoons and anime—huge fan. Yeonghyeon? Watched as a kid, lost interest as adult.
"Deal. When this week?"
"I'm always free—your schedule."
"Day after tomorrow?"
He nodded. Coffee done, he stood first.
"Heading out."
Light wave goodbye, gone. Yuha lingered, thinking—then it hit.
Wait—this is a date?
Guy and girl meeting solo? Date vibes. For comfort's sake, but slight embarrassment rose.
No—fake dating. Don't overthink alone.
Just acting comfy—she relaxed.