Chapter 25

[[Username: GeniusYouTuberDing]] [[Title: Is This Even Real?]]

Feeling awesome, I was gonna grill some beef, but the butane ran out completely

So I went back to the super to buy more... only to get rejected?

"It's because you're underage" and they told me a middle schooler couldn't buy it, all while laughing and heading home

I already bought the meat, but what now...

-ㅇㅇ: Did the gas range get swapped?

-GeniusYouTuberDing: My fire is too weak, the meat isn't getting properly grilled...

-ㅇㅇ: Just buy some vouchers and eat them with the same energy

-MecasPinosaurus: What a loser

-MintChitos: Judging by the "butane" instead of "viewtain," this is clearly a fake middle schooler lol

-GeniusYouTuberDing: Is this Conan?

"Ugh..."

I posted it as a joke on the gallery, but the actual situation was serious.

Right now our apartment's gas range is in bad shape.

I don't know exactly what's wrong, but the fire just isn't working, so grilling meat takes forever.

Calling the landlord would be proper, but I can't call him like this, and calling a repair guy feels weird too.

So I started pulling out the dusty gas burner I buried under stuff recently...

But even that burner is useless now that the butane—wait, no, the viewtain—has all run out.

After the ultimate fan meeting with Claire yesterday and staying in a good mood until today...

I wanted to give Hawk a taste of real Japanese beef too.

Kkik.

Look at that. Even Hawk is disappointed because he can't grill meat.

"What do I do..."

Maybe I should invite Sumi and go to a meat restaurant together.

But then I can't bring Hawk.

Hawk isn't just a beast, but still... problems arise.

Summoned beasts are controlled by all kinds of laws and regulations too.

One of those rules is public place entry restrictions for summoned beasts that could cause human casualties.

Unfortunately, our Hawk falls under the category of raptors—along with wild bears, wild cats, large herbivores, large reptiles, venomous creatures, and raptors.

Recently I took him for secret flights on the back mountain near the neighborhood...

But to be strict, that's also illegal.

To fly a raptor summoned beast however you want, you need to pass various tests at the management office to prove it's properly controlled.

"Sorry... Hawk. Your master isn't kind enough, so I can't even give you meat... Here, have some jerky."

It wasn't exactly an apology, but I bought all kinds of jerky at the convenience store.

In the old days I didn't buy it because it was expensive and never ate it, but now I bought a huge amount just to feed it to the animal... it's a weird feeling.

But since it ate it all well, that's good.

"Eat lots, Hawk. This is all yours."

Kkiuk

Hawk let out one short cry and started shredding the jerky with its beak.

Even after finishing one, it didn't wait for me to open the bag and just tore it open and ate it.

So smart. When I first got it, I already thought it was quick and clever.

The beef party got ruined and I was left with nothing to do, just fiddling with my phone...

[Sumi: What the heck lol I saw the post you made]

[Jiyun: Staring blankly in despair and sadness]

[Sumi: Wanna come over to my place?]

[Jiyun: Eh?]

[Sumi: Bring the meat and come over, let's grill it together]

[Sumi: I haven't eaten dinner yet]

Hmm.

The idea itself was nice.

The expensive beef I bought was about to rot in the fridge.

But inviting me over to her house?

There's a huge difference between meeting outside and inviting someone into your home.

It means she's considering you close enough to give you access to her most private space.

It was nice that Sumi invited me over, even if it meant she thought of me that closely.

But whether I was ready to enter someone else's house—especially a girl's house—was a completely separate story.

Kkuruk?

After finishing all the jerky, Hawk stared at me fixedly.

"Hawk, you still want some beef?"

Hawk blinked its yellow eyes twice. That was usually a positive sign.

I cared more about not feeding good things to Hawk than about not being able to eat the beef myself.

This loyal guy did everything I said without a word, so I had to treat it well.

And what was wrong with going to Sumi's house? We were close enough, right?

[Jiyun: What about Hawk eating meat there too?]

[Sumi: No problem]

[Sumi: Does its poop even come out?]

[Jiyun: Why would a summoned beast poop lol]

[Sumi: Okay, I'm heading over. Bring the meat and come out]

With that, I carried all the meat I bought and headed out to the street.

I waited for a moment, and Sumi appeared with her majestic pickup truck.

As a new thought struck me, that car sure drinks a lot of gas.

'Sumi-unnie, but doesn't this car drink a ton of gas?'

'It drinks a crazy amount. When I have a lot of errands, it's at the level of giving me a headache.'

'Just tell me the address... I would have taken the bus.'

'To properly escort a B-rank healer, you need this kind of car.'

"Uhehehe."

I bought even more meat because it wasn't enough for the shortage.

Sumi's house was in an apartment complex a little away from mine.

A super fancy and clean neighborhood. One I'd never even stepped foot in while living here.

'This is our house. Feel free to come over anytime. I almost always stay home.'

'Then I'll take you up on that...'

And for the first time in my life, I entered another person's house.

Even in school days, there was never a friend I could go to their house to play.

Only now did I feel like I was finally forming proper human relationships.

The house was clean and cozy overall, and most of all, insanely spacious.

It felt like ten times my tiny ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one-room apartment. If I hadn't been told, I might have wandered around looking for the bathroom.

'Then let's start grilling the meat. Are you hungry?'

'I've got over five years of solo meat-grilling experience.'

'Since you were ten you've been grilling meat alone?'

'Ah... um. That's what I meant.'

So I started grilling the meat. With Hawk summoned beside me, the meat scent made it lose its mind.

It was restless, pacing back and forth in front of the sizzling grill.

Then Sumi handed me one piece of the perfectly grilled meat.

Aigoo. If I just took it like this, it was still sizzling from the pan a moment ago.

'Hoo, hoo-'

So I blew on it with a gust of wind to cool it, but...

'Hey, it's not hot. Just eat it.'

'How isn't it hot? It's still sizzling right now.'

'For real?'

What 'for real'? Hot stuff is hot.

And since I became this body, I couldn't handle heat at all anymore.

I had to blow on a bite of ramyeon for a long time before eating it.

'Normally after awakening, you get this much heat tolerance.'

'Eh. Really?'

'Of course. It's not just physical strength, but stamina too. That's why awakening baths set the water temperature to a max of 60 degrees.'

The world. Not just hot water, it's actually boiling people.

'But I can't eat anything hot...'

'Fuhut. Completely cat-like? Here, I'll cool it for you.'

So I bit into a glossy piece of beef with a bite of rice.

The rainbow-colored bliss flooded my senses.

I knew that the more you eat delicious things, the more you get used to them and your threshold rises... but every time it felt brand new.

Maybe because I didn't eat for too long...

'It's delicious...!!'

'You always eat so well.'

I blew on the grilled meat and fed a piece to Hawk too.

Then without chewing, it swallowed it in one gulp.

This guy? I usually chew every bit because I'm stingy with meat...

'Uheheh. Eat lots.'

Just because Hawk ate well made my stomach full.

Hawk kept accepting the meat with wide-open mouth, and I ate the meat and rice until I was stuffed.

Hawk was equally full and started dozing off, so I reversed summoned it.

While casually watching Netflix, the time reached ten o'clock.

I was starting to check the time to head home...

'Huh. It's already ten o'clock.'

'Yeah. I should head back soon.'

'It's late, but why not stay and sleep here? How about it?'

'Eep...'

A situation I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠couldn't have imagined happened.

Yeah. Visiting a friend's house was fine. Close friends could do that.

But to sleep over? That was beyond a normal friend relationship.

Wasn't it? Did I have no idea because I didn't have any real friends?

Is sleeping over with girls normal?

'Ah, no... that would be rude, wouldn't it...'

'We have plenty of empty rooms. And it won't be rude at all.'

'I don't have any change of clothes...'

'There's new stuff in the guest room closet that wasn't even opened. I'll give you some. We also have fresh sports bras. I'll check and bring a couple. Your chest is small, so even if they fit a little loosely, they'll be okay for one night. There's also a shirt and shorts.'

'Huaaa...'

'What size does Jiyun wear on top?'

Sumi suddenly started talking about weird things.

Why was she casually asking that... it was embarrassing for a guy...

'I-I don't know.'

'Don't know? What are you wearing right now?'

'Eee...'

'Um... Jiyun's shoulders are a bit wider than I thought. The waist is long too, and the hips are big, and the legs are long. It's a complete athlete's build. I'm looking forward to seeing you when you grow up.'

'Huaaaaa...'

'It's just that your height is a little short, but the sizes won't be that different from mine, right? I'll take them out.'

So Sumi patted my shoulders and sides with both hands, then disappeared somewhere.

I stood there frozen, face burning red all the way to my ears.

Sumi soon returned with things that were hard to look at directly.

You ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠know those things... the women's underwear section in the clothing corner, I wanted to pass through quickly...

'Here. Not just underwear, we have bras and shirts too. Just take whatever feels comfortable.'

I gave my final excuse to that.

'I don't have a toothbrush...'

'We have about six new ones. I'll bring them.'

'Ugh...'

Sumi clearly wanted to make me sleep over here no matter what.

I endured unimaginable mental torture and ended up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠entering the guest room.

Fortunately, she let me change into my own clothes there quietly...__LT

So I came out wearing just the shirt and shorts, holding the underwear I was going to change into...

'How is it? Does the size fit?'

'I-I think it's fine.'

'Jiyun looks cute in a t-shirt and shorts. Wanna shower together?'

'Hiiik! N-No!!'

Sumi burst out laughing with 'Puha ha!'

'Why are you so shy? You're like a guy.'

'U-Unnie, that's weird! Suddenly talking about underwear and hips and...

'Hahaha. You're so cute.'

With that, Sumi went into the bathroom first.

The opposite bathroom was empty, but I hesitated because the mood felt off...

CLANG

Before I knew it, Sumi had already showered and come out.

She said girls took forever in the shower, but Sumi was done in record time...

'Jiyun. Can you grab any bra from the drying rack over there? This one's all frayed.'

Sumi said while reaching her body out from the bathroom.

'Huaaaaaeeeek!!!!'

I covered my eyes with both hands and turned my head away completely.

Pervert... pervert...

With my eyes closed, I quickly grabbed a piece of cloth from the drying rack and handed it to Sumi.

Without noticing my feelings, Sumi hummed and started putting on her clothes piece by piece.

She didn't even consider me a minimum boundary target at all...

After I somehow showered and came out too...

'Here. Lie down.'

Sumi lay on the bed and patted the mattress with her hand.__LT

'Since it's a queen size bed, one more lazy person like me can sleep here.'

'Uuu...'

She was deliberately doing it because she knew I was staring.

'Half of it is taken.'

Why was it really taken...

'But I wanted to sleep with such a cute Jiyun more.'

Isn't that just me thinking that?

The words felt dangerous somehow...

'Sleep well, Jiyun. Sweet dreams.'

'Ah, good night...'

.........

......

...

'Jiyun's asleep?'

'Ah, no.'

'Sleeping next to Jiyun is nice.'

'Me too...'

'You know Jiyun is really cute, right?'

'Y-Yeah. Yeah?'

'Hehehe. So cute.'

Sumi's hand gently stroked my face.

The weird feeling made me stay still.

I was having all kinds of weird thoughts in my head, but before ten minutes were up, Sumi just fell asleep.

As if she had stuffed all my head full of strange ideas.

I fell asleep on an unfamiliar bed, with an unfamiliar blanket and an unfamiliar room.

It was unfamiliar, but somehow a comforting night.

***

The next morning.

A call came in on Sumi's phone while she was toasting bread.

'Hunter Association...?'

Usually it was rare for the Hunter Association to call even a B-rank hunter.

Maybe it was about the event from two days ago.

'This is B-rank hunter Sumi.'

'Hello, Sumi. This is a call from two days ago about the event. I wanted to ask about the healer-type awakened being that you know.'