Self-Development
With bated breath, I waited for the answer, my heart pounding anxiously.
As if Sehyun's approval was the deciding factor.
"No way. I'll definitely stop you."
Sehyun shook his head firmly, his resolute attitude enough to deflate even the strongest will.
"That's so negative."
"It's too dangerous. You're a woman, after all."
"That doesn't matter! There are female hunters everywhere! Even the guild master of Nine Tails is a woman."
"That's one thing, but I'll stop my woman."
Sehyun's outrageous declaration hit me like a thunderbolt.
My breath caught in my throat.
Emotions swirled in me, seeing Sehyun view me as a woman.
It must have been a slip of the tongue. It had to be.
"What... what did you just say...!?"
"Oops."
Sehyun finally realized his mistake.
His face flushed with embarrassment as his gaze darted around.
"My woman! The nuance is completely off. Explain yourself right now."
"I mean, if it's a woman I know, I'll stop her. Not some weird meaning!"
"Oh? So you're saying you'll stop any woman you know, even if they're insignificant?"
I shot Sehyun a sharp glare, my face straight.
Sehyun, caught in the act, blushed awkwardly.
"You're the one here, you...!"
"Wrong, bro. I have to consider you as a man. You can't judge by appearance."
I corrected Sehyun like a one-hit instructor explaining the right answer.
Feeling like scolding my little brother for flaunting his girlfriend.
Anyway, he crossed a line.
"Anyway, you can't become a hunter. Absolutely not."
Sehyun's tone was unyielding.
His determination to become a hunter was so firm he couldn't even voice it.
What's this? He's acting cowardly.
He's an S-rank hunter himself, yet I'm the one...
"Siha, you... aren't planning to become a hunter, are you?"
Sehyun stared at me suspiciously, his eyes sharp.
I flinched like a criminal with no alibi.
"N-no, there's no way. You took that example too far! I was just wondering what it would be like if I became a hunter. If it's not bad, then I can do it."
Stung to the core, I denied Sehyun's suspicions.
"Well, that's good news."
Sehyun finally relaxed.
But my mood was the opposite, heavy with unease.
'Wrong. This guy isn't on my side.'
He was a stumbling block to me becoming a hunter.
Not just a transfer of knowledge, but an obstacle to the end.
But I couldn't give up like this. I had to try again.
I carefully probed Sehyun.
"Still, it's a bit disappointing. I think the ability I gained from awakening is excellent as a hunter."
"The one where the more you like someone, the stronger they become?"
"Yeah, you felt it too back then. It was amazing, right?"
Thanks to Affection's Touch, Sehyun had demonstrated enhanced skills beyond his usual level.
Essentially, an effect recognized even by S-rank hunters.
With this, Siha's future as a hunter looked promising.
"No, now that I think about it, I'm not sure. Did my ability really manifest back then?"
"But I said it was under good conditions!"
But Sehyun changed his words cowardly.
I retorted sharply to Sehyun.
"It might have been due to other reasons. Actually, the possibility is even higher."
"Grrk! What possibility?"
After some thought, Sehyun spoke.
"Because of the sense of duty to protect you, I was sincere beyond my usual."
"Then it's thanks to me!"
"You're right, but it means my ability didn't have much influence."
Weak. Now he's denying my ability.
He turned the proof results into bubbles in an instant.
"B-but I'm the owner of an ability that strengthens the target the more I like them...!"
"I'm not denying the ability itself. But the degree of effect is uncertain."
Sehyun summarized his opinion coldly.
In short, verification is still insufficient.
"U-uuu...!"
"Can I prove the value of my ability at the association in this state? Probably not."
I couldn't think of a proper rebuttal.
Indeed, my ability is hard to prove.
Even if Sehyun, an S-rank hunter, became stronger, I couldn't tell if it was due to my ability.
Sehyun was already an overwhelmingly strong hunter.
Compared to him, I was inexperienced.
My physical abilities were mediocre, and the value of my ability was unclear.
With this, I couldn't become a hunter.
"Seol Siha."
Sehyun called my name softly.
His expression was serious, making my body stiffen.
"You know I understand your personality well, right?"
His eyes pierced through my mind.
Only then did I realize Sehyun's true intention.
'This kid already noticed my intent halfway and pretended not to.'
Sehyun had already caught on.
He knew what I wanted.
That's why he was trying to stop me.
"Even if you say it, I won't listen, but I hope you drop that thought."
Like me, he probably didn't want me to become a hunter either.
Because he cherished me.
"Sehyun."
Then it was my turn to respond.
"...Yeah."
"You know me well. You know what answer I'll give too?"
"I know. Just looking at your face, the answer is obvious."
Sehyun shook his head with a resigned expression.
"When I get my hunter's license, I'll show it off to you first. I hope you're ready."
"You... If I could, I'd lock you up."
"That's extreme. Wanting to turn me into a yandere?"
"For your sake, I'd consider it."
A dangerous scent coming from my best friend.
I hadn't blackened Sehyun with obsession before.
"Sehyun, since it's already happened, will you cooperate properly?"
"No."
"Cheapskate."
I grumbled at Sehyun in a displeased voice.
'Well, I expected this reaction, so it's fine.'
With that, I
Officially declared my challenge to become a hunter to Sehyun.
---
Small opinion clashes don't diminish friendship.
We're the kind who can share anything for each other.
'...I thought that just a moment ago.'
Sehyun wasn't the one, after all.
The incident happened right after I finished my shower.
"Hooong. Hooong. Hooohooohooong-♪"
Singing a cheerful anime song with an intro,
I came out of the bathroom in fresh clothes.
"Hey, wait a sec."
"Eung?"
Sehyun in the living room gasped when he saw me.
For reference, I wasn't naked or wrapped in a towel.
I was in square panties and a t-shirt, but all private parts were covered.
"That's my panties."
"Was it? I don't know."
Confusing. Panties aren't just one or two.
"Crazy! The blue striped one is my panties!"
"What are you saying. I have a similar design too."
"Your panties have wide stripes on bright sky blue!"
The panty expert was speechless. How detailed.
Sehyun was thrashing around like a little brother whose cola in the fridge was stolen.
"Well, how's it? Thinking of panty sharing."
"No such sharing system, bro."
"In the end, panties are meant to be circulated. Like a drum washing machine."
Like the law of mass conservation, the total amount of panties is perfectly preserved in the house.
Only the wearer changes.
Therefore, I'm not wrong.
"Siha, you... are you going to keep wearing those panties?"
"Yeah. They're comfortable."
I flaunted the panties like a model in a fashion show.
Although for women, this side was much more familiar.
Psychologically, it's status quo bias.
The inertia of maintaining the lifestyle I had when I was a man.
"Not taking them off?"
"Take them off here? I'll take them off?"
As I reached for my waist, Sehyun turned deathly pale.
"Puhahaha! Chicken game! Loser, loser!"
As expected, Sehyun lost the chicken game.
Super coward. If you were a man, you shouldn't have run away.
"You, not just me, wouldn't do that to other men, right?"
"You're the idiot, sis. Why would I do indecent things to men? No fun in teasing."
Sehyun is a fool for bringing up such a question.
An action worth executing because he's Sehyun.
"Anyway, I'll return them cleanly. No hair will stick to them."
"...Hair?"
"There won't be any hair to shed anyway. Smooth bald head."
Sehyun's face didn't understand the meaning.
And buffering count: three, two, one.
Only then, upon realizing the truth, his face turned bright red.
"Hey, Seol Siha-!!!"
"Wahaha. You didn't imagine something lewd, did you? Against your best friend."
Challenging the master of psychological warfare, pathetic.
Sehyun backed off first this time too.
Sehyun trembled with defeat.
"Siha, you really should be careful."
"Hehe. If I scare you, you won't be scared at all?"
"...Really, I might just cover you."
Sehyun's words, said with a face that was embarrassed even to say, avoiding eye contact, barely uttered.
The desperation of a desperate nerd squeezed out.
But since it was filled with the desire one could feel as a man,
"Hic!?"
Startled, a hiccup escaped.
I reflexively covered my mouth, but couldn't stop the embarrassing sound.
For a moment, I was overpowered by the power.
Sehyun was looking at me with male eyes.
'I didn't intend to tease that much!'
The joke went too far. I honestly reflected.
Sehyun made me almost shed tears from fear.
"Um, ... sorry. Maybe I went a bit too far?"
I quickly apologized before the flames spread too much.
Unsure because Sehyun didn't respond.
"My joke was too much. I'll admit it! So don't actually cover me!"
I crouched with both hands on my head.
Like an armadillo expressing displeasure with its body.
"Would I cover you? You're overthinking it."
"Uwaaa, wa!?"
Sehyun pushed my forehead with his finger.
I, crouched, tumbled backward like bowling pins.
"Grrrr...!"
Defeated. Losing the chicken game to Sehyun.
I, who ran away scared first, was the fool.
'Next time, I'll threaten first by saying I'll cover you. The loser in the end is the real coward, so prepare.'
I sharpened my blade with a promise of revenge match.