Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Chopstick Revelation
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Coffee's a bit...
Strictly speaking, Chan-ho hadn't done anything major wrong.
My original personality getting exposed to the world was entirely due to my own carelessness.
The fault for that incident lay squarely with me.
Taking revenge on innocent Chan-ho by sniping him or harboring grudges against him just wasn't right.
So, my action of sniping Chan-ho could fairly be called a bit pathetic, and I couldn't deny it.
Now, I could fully accept that fact.
He had pointed out my mistake and harped on it several times, sure—but he was streaming at the time, wasn't he?
How many times had he gotten hit up until now? I could laugh this counterattack off.
It was probably just to entertain the viewers, anyway.
Only now could I understand Chan-ho with a broad mind.
Absolutely.
Absolutely not because my revenge had succeeded and I felt better.
"Hmph. Hm-hmm!"
For some reason, the nice weather had me humming a tune without thinking.
I was pretty tone-deaf, so the rhythm and pitch went wild on their own, but so what?
No one was around in my room to see.
With that, I finished preparing to head to the shop owner's place.
I'd realized it while helping with yesterday's stream: giving detailed feedback online was just inconvenient.
And my place wasn't far, for once.
She was already familiar with me dropping by after a few visits, so we'd agreed to do it at her home today.
Off to the shop I went. It was still a bit before closing time.
If I spun up Triachia again, I might "accidentally" run into Chan-ho once more.
No matter what, twice would be brain-dead, so I decided not to disrupt the stream anymore.
A few minutes' walk later.
I arrived in front of the now-familiar building.
- Ding-a-ling!
"Welcome...! Oh, Seo-ha?"
"Yep. I'm here."
The shop owner, lounging in a chair staring at the ceiling and jiggling her legs...
She really looked bored out of her mind.
No wonder she'd insisted I come over right when I mentioned heading to her place around stream time.
She must've been super bored.
"Surprising? I figured you'd have a ton of customers."
"Ahaha... Business is slow while the sun's still up."
"Huh? But you close before sunset."
"Exactly. That's the problem. Ugh... Ah! Want something to drink?"
"I'm good..."
"You're a customer first. Hang on."
She vanished briefly behind the counter and came back with a paper cup of instant mix coffee for me.
I took it carefully and fell into thought.
I'd never been a fan of instant coffee.
I only liked hot Americano—anything sweet like this was a hard pass.
But trying it with syrup last time had shattered that preconception.
"Mix coffee and smokes... Aren't you worried about bad breath, boss?"
"Hey!! It's a vape, so it's fine...! And I brush a lot?!"
"Sniff sniff. Ew!"
"Don't sniff!! Don't plug your nose!! It doesn't smell!"
I leaned in close and sniffed, so she recoiled in horror and shoved my face away.
I was a little surprised. No real aversion, even though it was physical contact with a woman I didn't initiate.
I'd gotten close to the boss these past few days, I realized.
Or maybe because I'd seen her rock bottom, she didn't feel like a "woman" anymore...
The boss frantically rummaged behind the counter and popped a breath mint candy in her mouth.
It really didn't smell. Just the usual fresh cherry scent wafted from her.
"Anyway, thanks. I'll enjoy it."
"Not sharing this candy with you!"
"Keep it."
I pulled out my pre-packed toothbrush and said it with a grin.
We were eating dinner together before streaming, so this was basic prep.
Not like last time, where we ate and I headed straight home.
"Gah...! Why are you so thorough...?"
"Just common sense."
"Ugh! At this point, I'm dying to catch you slipping somehow. Something to tease you about..."
I flinched.
She must not know what happened between me and Chan-ho last night.
No wonder she hadn't mentioned it at all.
"Seo-ha seems like the thorough type who won't show any openings easily... Sigh. Guess I'll have to wait to tease you."
"Y...eah."
I averted my eyes as I replied.
We were collabing with Chan-ho tonight anyway—it'd all come out then. Why lie?
I just didn't count that as an "opening."
A behind-the-back apology—what crime is that?
In my book, it deserved praise.
Besides, she'd already gotten one from me before.
She knew what kind of person I was, so no shock there.
"Collabing with Chan-ho tod—er, I mean, that guy again?"
"Huh? Yeah. Probably until his master's off-day?"
"......"
Maybe Chan-ho realized from my recent snipe that he'd been a bit mean and would drop the incident?
...Tried imagining it, but my mind went blank.
All I could picture was him excitedly spilling the beans to the boss.
"Nothing to do anyway—wanna just chat?"
"You really called me over just to kill time..."
"Ahem! But I was seriously bored... Ah! There's something I've been curious about but held back on asking. We're closer now, so maybe okay? Skip if it's too much."
"Why lay this much groundwork?"
"Eh. Just... your past? You mentioned something like social avoidance disorder last time..."
"Ah."
Feeling awkward to ask directly, she shared her own history first.
Basically, tried out for idol trainee, hit her limit, and quit.
Recalling it seemed painful—her eyebrows twitched as she spoke.
Trainee. Her looks totally fit that backstory.
I nodded inwardly in agreement.
Unlike her, I didn't mind sharing my past.
Growing up an orphan, getting bullied—any fault on my end?
With my sound mind, no shame at all.
I wouldn't volunteer it unprompted, but...
My first real friend asked, so no reason to hold back.
I recited it in an almost too-calm tone, feeling bad for her tense expression.
"I... see. You went through a lot."
"It was livable enough. Two hands, two feet intact, all fingers present."
The last bit came out awkward, as expected.
Personal experience: missing fingers actually makes life easier.
Who am I? Public company hire via disability quota.
Of course, disabilities generally hinder economic activity, so my case is special.
I didn't wanna get smacked for loose lips, hence "personal experience."
"......"
For some reason, she went quiet after that exchange.
Looked like she was deep in serious thought.
I didn't interrupt.
Time passed until closing.
I hitched a ride in her car to her place, comfy as could be.
She usually ate dinner with the stream on, so I joined her at the table.
"Hey! Nice to see you! Challenge: No Tardiness—Day 500 success ongoing!"
"Alright! As announced, special guest today. Guess who, and I'll give you a kiss as prize!"
"What's wrong with my lips! You guys are just shy?"
"Nah, probably the boss's bad breath."
"Hey!! I don't have bad breath!!"
- Pure Innocent Nari donated 2,000 won!
"Thanks for the donation! With Seo-ha here, we got simple delivery. You good with sushi, Seo-ha?"
"When'd you order?"
"When you went to wash up. Should be here any sec."
Boss as expected.
Sushi was a rare treat for me after months of home cooking due to budget woes.
My mouth was watering already.
Sushi arrived soon after; I grabbed it at the door, and dinner was set on the table.
Of course, my spot was off-camera.
Just eat now... But I froze.
Facing a problem I'd overlooked.
"Sushi's fine by hand, right?"
"Huh? Why hand? Use chopsticks. Don't wanna get messy."
"No, um..."
Eating without my go-to fork lately.
Damn... I'd packed a toothbrush but forgot the fork.
Sneak-peeked the delivery bag—no way sushi place includes forks.
Just chopsticks nestled inside.
"Ahem. I always eat sushi by hand."
"Oh? Well then... Hands are clean anyway. Here's the side udon service."
"......"
Cold sweat as I took the small udon container.
No way I could eat this by hand.
Had to skip the udon.
"I don't eat much like you, boss... Udon's fine."
"I'm dieting too these days—small portions! E-everyone! I won't eat the udon either!"
"Thanks, then."
Luckily, even as I polished off most of the sushi, she didn't suspect a thing.
And yeah, she ate the udon. Both mine and hers.
Pig.
"Huh? Seo-ha, no salmon?"
"No... It's."
"What. You ate the regular salmon rolls? Why leave the tartar sauce ones?"
Cuz sauce gets on your hands.
Eating that by hand would look weird.
As I hesitated without answering, the boss's eyes narrowed.
"Why? Huh, what's up? So suspicious. Chatty Seo-ha suddenly quiet?? Hmm, hmmm..."
"......... "
"You... don't tell me."
Thud. Wooden chopsticks placed before me.
So considerate—even unwrapped and split.
I glanced up at her slyly.
"Seo-ha... bad with chopsticks?"
Sigh.
Big trouble.