Big Trouble (5)

The next day at lunch. I woke up late, rolling around in bed for a while before heating up the meal Yu Jihwan had prepared and sitting down in front of the computer. Tap. Tap-tap-tap—

These people.... I was already sick of them from the very first messages. I regretted telling them what happened with Yu Jihwan yesterday, but they were the only ones I could talk to about it. I had no choice.

I took another spoonful of rice, then placed my hands back on the keyboard.

Huh...? The conversation had jumped to an incredibly explicit level right from the morning. I was completely flustered.

These single people in heat wouldn't stop throwing sexual harassment at me. I couldn't even think straight. "Ugh..."

What the hell is a wet dream and what is a preemptive kiss attack? How do these aunties know more weird words than I do? I brushed off their comments and suggested we run a raid together. But...

"Ah, seriously!" Their provocation made me snap. I quickly typed on the keyboard.

They changed the subject like they'd been waiting for it. Total demons. These people were the worst.

After getting permission from Min Soyeon, I left the house at about the same time as yesterday. I had wondered what I'd do if she refused, but the meal I prepared yesterday must have been pretty good. What should I cook today? Thanks to yesterday's grocery run, I had most of the ingredients left. A simple kimchi fried rice would work, or I could make tteokbokki with the leftover vegetables. Shopping for new ingredients wouldn't be bad either. No matter what I chose, the most important thing was making something that suited Min Soyeon's taste.

Lost in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠these thoughts, I soon found myself in front of Min Soyeon's house. I approached the gate and pressed the doorbell. A moment later, the door opened. Compared to yesterday when I had barely managed to get inside, this was significant progress. After passing through the gate and crossing the small yard, I reached the front door. Just as I reached out to press the doorbell and call for her—click.

"Welcome back."

The door burst open and Min Soyeon, her long hair let down, greeted me. I unconsciously checked her outfit. Today, there was significantly more fabric coverage than yesterday. Satisfied, I returned her greeting with a smile.

As we headed to the living room together, an unfamiliar scent suddenly brushed past my nose. It smelled like flowers, or maybe perfume. It wasn't unpleasant.

"...Did you spray something? It smells nice."

When I asked, Min Soyeon, who was walking ahead, touched her long hair and answered.

"...I think it's my shampoo."

"Really? It smells good."

Every time her hair swayed, the scent wafted out, so it made sense. We arrived at the living room. Unlike yesterday's bleak atmosphere, today it felt lived-in. Looking around more carefully, I noticed something connected to the TV.

"Huh? Were you playing a game?"

It was a console I'd seen on the internet before.

"...Just a little..."

The screen was paused, as if she'd been playing until just now. The game character looked strangely familiar.

"Oh, isn't that the mushroom game?"

"...It is."

"Wow... It's been forever since I've seen it. They still make games for this?"

It wasn't my favorite character, but seeing it felt like meeting an old friend. Though, did it always look like that? Weren't the clothes different? As I dug through old memories and drifted into nostalgia, Min Soyeon spoke in a subtle voice.

"...Want to play together?"

"Huh? Right now?"

She quickly added, "F-food can wait a bit..."

Was it my imagination? It felt like she really wanted to play with me. If I wasn't going grocery shopping, it was still a little early for dinner.

"Then... shall we play for a bit?"

The moment the words left my mouth, she made space beside her as if she'd been waiting.

"...Sit next to me. I'll teach you."

Since I didn't know much about the game, learning from her side was probably best. I followed her instructions and listened to the simple explanation.

"So this is accelerate, this is brake. And this is the item button?"

"...Yes."

"Perfect. I'm a complete master now."

It had been years since my last game. I felt a slight thrill. The controls were a bit different from what I remembered, but it shouldn't be a problem. We started the game with Min Soyeon taking the lead. And then...

"I got it!"

I quickly pressed the item button. My character hurled a bomb into the distance. With a loud bang, Min Soyeon's character was caught in the explosion and launched into the air.

"Here I go!!"

I guess I really was just a guy after all. I'd completely forgotten my opponent was Min Soyeon and was sincerely hoping to win. I passed her without much trouble and crossed the finish line in fourth place.

"...I lost."

Min Soyeon's voice was strangely lifeless as she finished in fifth. This was already my fourth game, and I'd beaten her three times. I hadn't made top three, but it was still a pretty satisfying result.

After the final round ended, I glanced at the clock. It was about time to start preparing dinner. I was thinking we should stop here when...

"...One more round."

Min Soyeon challenged me again. She didn't look as frustrated as when she'd lost our previous bet, but it seemed being behind in rank bothered her.

"Shall we?"

There was still time. One more round wouldn't hurt. And so the final game began. I picked my usual default character while Min Soyeon, instead of the princess she'd used before, chose the purple-mustache character.

...Huh?

She even picked a weirdly shaped kart instead of the default one. Then she casually made a suggestion.

"...Want to make a bet?"

"Suddenly?"

When I looked flustered by the abrupt proposal, she glanced at me and added,

"No confidence?"

That condescending look and confident tone. The way she was provoking me looked very familiar.

...No way.

Only then did I realize what Min Soyeon was planning. The sudden change in setup at the last minute, the abrupt bet—every move was suspicious. So she had been going easy on me this whole time...

Min Soyeon wanted something from me. The question was what. It probably wasn't something like "don't pretend to know me anymore." Then what was it...? Did she want me to stop coming over?

While I was lost in thought, she provoked me again.

"...You bet on everything when you think you'll win, but now that you might lose, you're backing out?"

She was right. I had no response. But if I backed out now, all the goodwill I'd built up could vanish in an instant. It was obvious I'd lose, but I had no choice. I could only pray that whatever she asked for wouldn't be too harsh.

"Fine. I'll take that bet."

I accepted her proposal, and with the bet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠made, the game began.

I pressed the accelerate button at the perfect moment. With the starting boost, my character shot forward instantly. I was expecting a smooth lead when Min Soyeon's kart suddenly appeared right beside me.

"Huh?"

Her kart, using only basic acceleration, was overtaking the other AIs and racing for first place. I should have known when she picked that weird character and kart—the specs were completely different. I glanced at Min Soyeon sitting beside me. Her eyes were wide open, staring at the TV with incredible focus.

What could this girl possibly want from me that she'd intentionally lose like this?

"...."

I quietly looked away and focused on the game. Min Soyeon's kart, now in the lead, became the target of every AI. Bombs, bananas, slows—she dodged them all with ease and raced toward the finish line. With an overwhelming lead, she crossed first, and the bet ended just like that.

The result was, of course, my total defeat. It was such an overwhelming loss that I didn't even feel disappointed. When I turned my head after the game ended, she was looking at me with a triumphant smile.

I desperately fought down the corners of my mouth that were trying to rise and asked,

"...So. What is it that you want so badly?"

Min Soyeon slowly placed the gamepad on the table and looked at me as if pondering something.

"...What would be good..."

Then, as if an idea had struck her, she smiled faintly and declared confidently.

"Make tteokbokki tomorrow."

"...Huh?"

It was the last thing I expected to hear.

"With rose sauce and lots of fish cakes."

She even gave specific ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠instructions. Slightly flustered, I asked if that was really all she wanted.

"...A-and kimmari too...?"

At the cute additional request, I couldn't hold back my laughter anymore.