Awkward Encounters and Soju Confessions
Damn, running into Seo Haneul here of all places. It was pretty embarrassing. Sure, the school was nearby, so it wasn't impossible to bump into her around here, but with Yuu right beside me? This was seriously awkward.
"Yeah, tell me about it."
I played it cool for now. No point in drawing aggro.
"Who's your friend?"
"Yeah, she's from out of town. Figured since she's in Seoul, we could grab a bite."
"Oh."
As I said that, Haneul's attention shifted to Yuu beside me.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Seo Haneul." She gave a slight bow and extended her hand. Guess calling her my friend piqued her interest.
Yuu hesitated for a second, then tried her best to sound natural.
"Nice to meet you too..!"
But she couldn't quite hide that faint foreign lilt in her voice.
"You're from Japan, right? Your accent kinda gives it away."
I hadn't expected Haneul to clock her as Japanese right away.
"Yeah, friend from Japan."
"What? Last time you said you didn't have many friends."
"Five including her. That's not a lot, is it?"
"...Yeah, definitely not."
Great, now I'd certified myself as a total loner. Felt kinda weird. Like, officially outed as a real nerd.
That thought didn't linger. No point sticking around—Haneul would keep chatting if we did. Time to wrap it up.
"Anyway, we're gonna eat. That's why we came."
"Oh, sorry, my bad. Didn't mean to hold you up."
"No need to apologize."
After that chat with Haneul, we grabbed a secluded table by the window, out of sight. Sitting somewhere visible might invite more people I knew to say hi.
Not that I have friends worth that.
Those two I'd randomly gotten close to lately had super wide social circles, so tucked away like this made sense. Explaining Yuu to anyone who popped by would be a hassle.
As those thoughts crossed my mind, I glanced at Yuu. She was staring holes into the menu.
"What do you wanna eat?"
"Hmm.."
She pondered for a bit, then—
"This one…!"
She picked chadolbaek. Hanwoo chadolbaek, no less.
...Oof.
That was gonna hurt the wallet. But hey.
"Four servings of the Hanwoo chadolbaek, please."
I'd already ordered by then. Yuu had come all the way to Korea—skimping felt wrong. She wasn't your average Japanese mangaka; she was Kashio Yuu of Electric Man. Easy to forget how big a deal she was with her right here.
Right then.
"...Sino-senpai."
Yuu pointed at one menu item with her signature pitiful look.
Soju
"Ah. Sure, sure."
She wanted to try soju since she was in Korea. But more importantly—
"You hold your liquor okay?"
I was curious about her tolerance. Needed to pace things right.
"Sanbai."
Three beers and she'd feel good. So for soju—
Maybe seven shots?
Exactly one bottle. Average for Koreans.
No worries then.
My limit wasn't sky-high either. Two bottles, sip steadily, call it a night.
As I mulled that over and finished ordering—
"Sino-senpai, why... no ero pics lately..?"
Out of nowhere. What the hell kind of question was that? Threw me off. And yeah, I felt wronged.
"...I am drawing naughty stuff?"
"No no, super naughty. Oppai-exposed pics..!"
"Ah."
Oppai. Meaning, why no bare-tits art?
Easy answer.
"Followers blew up, so figured better play it safe."
"Aah.."
Yuu nodded like she got it. Then she pulled out her phone, showed me, and added—
"This one's really eroticcchi…"
On her screen: one of my old naughty drawings. Not the recent ones—the super early ones I'd posted to chase clout. Full-frontal exposure, top to bottom.
"...How do you even have that?"
I'd deleted it ages ago. Where'd she get it?
"Secret!"
At my shocked question, she squeezed her eyes shut. Like she wasn't gonna spill.
Just as Yuu had her eyes clamped—
"Your meat's here."
The chadolbaek and soju arrived.
*
"Oishii…!"
Good call splurging. Didn't expect her to love it this much—felt like vicarious joy. She devoured it so well, it lifted my mood too.
"Want more, just say. I'll order."
"Hehe.."
Yuu nodded eagerly, chewing the chadolbaek thoroughly. Like savoring every bit.
Clink.
While she ate, I cracked the soju. Suddenly, Yuu set down her chopsticks, gingerly took the bottle.
And poured into my glass with both hands.
"This right..?"
With a dopey grin.
"Saw it in a drama?"
"Yesss."
She poured carefully, then handed the bottle back. Picked up her glass.
Guess she wanted me to pour. No reason not to.
"First one's full."
I filled hers to the brim, nearly spilling. But Yuu looked thrilled, not annoyed.
Figured she'd dig this drama trope. Full pour it is.
Glad she liked it. Didn't wanna give her bad vibes about Korea.
We clinked our brimming glasses.
"Kanpai~!"
"Cheers."
She'd seen somewhere to turn sideways and down it in one go.
"Urgh.."
Face soured. But hey, nobody drinks soju for the taste. It's cheap buzz fuel.
Random thoughts aside, we kept tilting glasses. Mixed with dirty talk too raunchy for eavesdroppers.
"Number marks are pretty.. hehe.."
"Nail scratches are better. You don't know."
"Whoa, nail marks.. so naughty.."
"I'm the senpai here."
"Senpai, yoroshiku onegai shimasu..!"
The booze loosened us. Our pervy tastes spilled out unchecked. We were each other's only confidants on that front.
"Choking the neck tight.. feels super naughty..!"
"Eh, not really my thing."
I wasn't into hard stuff. Light spanks at most. Neck choking? Too intense.
At that—
Tap tap.
Yuu whipped out her phone, typed furiously, showed me.
No. How much of a perv was she? Never crossed my mind.
"Joke, joke..!"
My face must've frozen. Yuu cracked up, chugging water.
Ah, couldn't let her get the upper hand. Felt like I was losing.
Gotta stay sharp.
No letting her pace drag me under. I shook it off, looked back at her.
My eyes snagged on something. That white neckline flashing every time she tilted her laughing head.
Her words echoed, making it stand out sharper. Subtle skin shifts on every swallow, line trailing under her collarbone. Kept drawing my gaze.
Booze messing with my judgment.
Needed to clear my head. Excused myself to Yuu and stepped out.
Didn't smoke, so I just stood there, breathing fresh air.
Nice and cool.
Head clearing up. Few more minutes, then back in.
That's when—
"Senpai, what're you doing out here."
Yujia appeared, fiddling with her signature black hair. Sharp, suspicious glare.
"...Just spacing out."
"Out here?"
"Staying inside's boring."
Anyone else, fine. But not Yujia. She'd recognize Yuu's face. She'd seen her in Japan firsthand.
Act natural.
I reminded myself, kept it casual.
"Why'd you come?"
"Haneul unnie said they needed drinkers. Got bored, so. That a problem?"
"Nah, not a problem."
Hmm. Fuck, we're screwed.
