Chapter 16
Chapter 16
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Fashion Advice
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Truly after a long time, I woke up at the "normal person" time that my hyung had mentioned.
There wasn't any particular reason. My body had simply reacted on its own.
"Why did Rat Mouse hyung have to pick a place like that...?"
Rat Mouse was innocent, just wanting to hang out with the raid team members, but I felt resentful toward him for some reason.
The meeting spot was one of Seoul's top bustling districts, and just thinking about it made my breath catch in my throat.
I'd suggested somewhere with fewer people, but he'd said the transportation was convenient or something like that.
Anyway, that was the situation.
"It won't get canceled last minute due to some sudden issue, right?"
With that small hope in mind—and feeling self-conscious about the location—I was dithering like this right now.
A pitiful wardrobe, unable to fulfill its purpose because it had the wrong owner.
"Is this a bit much?"
The black training suits and hats laid out neatly on the bed were proof.
Not on purpose, but every single item in there was the same type of clothing, and as if they'd even unified the colors, they were all in drab shades of black.
"It's a wardrobe, at least..."
Honestly speaking, my usual clothes weren't bad now that my body had changed. No, they actually looked pretty good.
It was embarrassing to say it myself, but in this situation, my face was basically my outfit.
"Sure, it looks good, but so what...?"
Still, these were the raid team members I'd shared life and death with for two years, so I couldn't help but feel a bit greedy.
"After two years, I don't even know what they look like..."
Today was like the first button! That was why I was worrying like this, even though it didn't suit me.
"Ha... nowhere to even ask."
I'd posted anonymously on the community, but the replies were just things like "total loner lol" or "big boobs?"
"No one I can turn to for help..."
A life where the only person I kept in touch with was my hyung, and even that was just exchanging greetings.
In the end, it was the moment I reached for my usual training suit.
"Ah...!"
As I was resigning myself, an alarm went off in my head.
Someone in a similar situation to me, who knew more about "women" than anyone.
Not quite a friend, but hadn't someone come into my life that I could contact?
"...A phone call might be too much, huh?"
We've only met a few times—calling out of the blue would definitely make me seem like a weirdo.
I wondered if this was the right thing to do, but I couldn't shake off the worry easily.
And finally, after agonizing over it dozens of times, I picked up my smartphone.
"Can you help me?"
Haon Park, who had streamed late into the night before falling asleep, doubted his eyes when he woke up.
There was a text from "Noeul Lee," whom he'd had no contact with since that time, aside from her bringing him side dishes.
It had been sent a full three hours ago.
The text from Noeul three hours prior was confusing because, aside from that one cryptic short phrase, there was absolutely no follow-up.
Normally, if there was no reply, you'd send another text or at least call, but there wasn't even a missed call.
"Did something happen to her?"
A sudden "help me"—what on earth did that mean?
Unable to hide his bewilderment, Haon immediately called her.
The ringtone was very brief, as if she'd been waiting.
"Hello?"
- …….
"Noeul? Is something wrong?"
- …….
"Noeul?"
- …….
She'd picked up quickly, but there was no response.
Haon stared at his smartphone, which gave no answer despite his calls, wondering if the call hadn't connected properly.
"...Time's ticking away?"
No reply came back, but the call time was steadily increasing by the second.
Just as Haon thought it might be a connection issue and moved to hang up, a soft voice came through the speaker.
- Um, uh... Haon. I was wondering if I could get some help.
Even as the former woman herself, Haon couldn't help but think her voice was really nice.
"Sure, what's going on? Is it something big?"
- No, not that...
"……."
- Well, actually...
Just then, as he was pondering what kind of request would make her hesitate like that.
- I was hoping you could tell me a bit about women...
"What?!"
Haon couldn't hide his shock at Noeul's sudden words.
Not just the content, but with that subtly alluring voice of hers, it felt suggestive even if you didn't catch the meaning—it was perfectly normal to think so.
"At this level, is she doing it on purpose...?"
He was certain it wasn't him being weird; anyone else hearing it would think the same.
"Is this what they call flirting?"
For a split second, Haon felt that she was more proactive than she seemed.
"Could you be a bit more specific about what you mean...?"
Even so, Haon double-checked.
To prevent a repeat of the previous incident.
But unfortunately, the response was quite ambiguous.
- Huh? I mean it literally...
What does that even mean, Noeul?
Maybe he hadn't fully woken up yet and wasn't understanding.
Feeling a headache coming on, Haon decided to go along with the contextless conversation for now.
"Okay, sure, I can tell you. What do you want to know?"
- Ah, it's a bit hard to explain in words...
"Should I come over then?"
- Oh, is that okay? But you've been helping me so much already...
The ticklish voice coming through the smartphone. Haon shook his head, trying to dispel his stray thoughts.
"Well, you're my 'loyal fan,' after all. I don't know what it is, but as long as it's not too hard..."
- Still, just taking help feels bad... Hmm...
He somehow kept his composure and continued the conversation.
Oddly enough, the more they talked, the drier his throat felt, so as he waited for her reply while drinking some water.
- Then I'll tell you about men too! I don't know if it'll help, but how about we teach each other?
"...Pfft!"
Haon unwittingly spat out the water he'd been holding in his mouth.
"Cough, cough!"
- A-Are you okay?
Her concerned voice was so nonchalant that he wondered if young people these days were all like this.
Of course, he himself had curiously experimented a few times with his changed body.
It was true that what he'd thought of as mere exploration had been embarrassingly addictive and contributed to some unexpectedly long breaks from streaming...
"...She said she was 22."
A vigorous young man turned woman—it would be a lie to say such thoughts hadn't crossed his mind. It was a natural phenomenon.
But to go this far?
Feeling firsthand why inexperienced guys struggled with women, Haon caught his breath.
"A-Alright, I'll get ready and head over..."
- O-Okay, I'll wait! Come casually! Thank you!
"……."
He wasn't sure who was thanking whom, but the call ended like that.
In the midst of it, he hated how his body reacted on its own, and feeling a sense of loss at how quickly he'd adapted to this body, he sighed.
"Guess I should shower first..."
Less than 30 minutes since waking up, but Haon hurried to get ready.
"H-Hi, come on in!"
At the familiar knock, I opened the door to find Haon.
I didn't know how much prep he'd done, but his neatly dressed appearance boosted my trust.
Was this that "effortless chic" or whatever it was called?
Compared to my usual stretched-out white t-shirt, Haon looked like he had all the makings of a great teacher.
"Make yourself at home."
"Ah... excuse me then."
Haon seemed unusually tense today as he cautiously followed behind me.
Well, taking on a student would be nerve-wracking.
"Y-Your room looks so tidy now."
"...Hehe."
I chuckled sheepishly at the voice from behind me.
Since I was the one asking for a favor, it was embarrassing to show my usual mess, so cleaning up had been worth it.
See, I can do it if I try! —Though I didn't say that out loud.
Maybe because we'd been over a few times, Haon sat familiarly on the edge of the bed without needing guidance.
In his hand was an unfamiliar shopping bag.
"What's that?"
"Oh, this?"
Haon shook the shopping bag at my question and smiled awkwardly. Something sloshed inside.
"It's wine."
"Hm, I've never tried alcohol..."
"I thought it might be needed anyway. Even though it's early..."
I thought he was really considerate.
Haon never came to my place empty-handed. Pork stir-fry, coffee, cakes—always some snack, and this time wine.
Well, better than showing up empty-handed; it meant something.
"How did you think of that without me even mentioning it?"
"...I used to be a woman too, so I have that much sense."
"Wow..."
I was purely impressed.
To go this far out of affection for a student trying to take one step toward normalcy!
Is this the leisure and intuition of someone with lots of social experience? My trust in him grew. I really couldn't ask for a better mentor.
Compared to him, I was...
"Truth is, I have no experience... Even though I said that earlier, I wonder if I can really teach you anything about men..."
Actually, seeing Haon—his outfit, his demeanor, his composure—he was far better than I'd ever been as a man.
That realization deflated me a bit, but Haon kindly smiled and reassured me.
"It's fine. I'm older, after all."
Even if it was just a two-year difference, he was so dependable.
My hyung was like that, and now Haon too—they both acted so amazed that I was going out, fussing over every little thing. They were just alike.
"I'll definitely repay you someday."
I didn't know when, but I vowed it to myself.