Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: The Robot Swimming Championship
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Curled up under the covers, Haon couldn't keep still, fidgeting constantly.
“Can’t sleep?”
Juyeol turned on his side and stroked the nape of her flushed neck. Every time Haon moved, the sound of the blankets rustling against her body teased his ears.
“Ah, it’s a new bed and new blankets, so it feels a little unfamiliar.”
A large bed and bedding had been brought into the penthouse bedroom.
She didn't know how long she'd be here, but since Juyeol was coming every day, she wanted to make sure he could sleep comfortably.
Haon asked with an apologetic expression.
“Are you awake because of me?”
“I can’t say no to that.”
Juyeol couldn't sleep, his mind constantly replaying the night he had slept with Haon in his own bed.
The bed at the safe house had been too narrow for two, and Haon had kept burrowing into his arms…
As if trying to escape the memory that made his face burn, he changed the subject.
“Since you don’t look sleepy, I’ll ask. What was so pitiful about that Nova guy?”
“Losing someone precious by your side is a difficult thing.”
Haon answered as if it were obvious.
Juyeol glanced at Blue, perched on Haon’s phone. He was reminded of her ‘Parang’ and ‘Juyeol’.
Nova had cleverly exploited Haon’s weakness, playing the role of someone depressed by loss.
Haon, having already lost someone precious, couldn't possibly turn a blind eye to someone like that.
Swallowing the anger that threatened to rise again, Juyeol asked casually.
“Is that why you’re helping with Hyeseong’s case too?”
“I wanted to be a source of strength for you, too.”
“Because I… have the face of your friend?”
He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. He was about to add that she didn't have to answer, but Haon spoke first.
“It was like that at first. But you and ‘Juyeol’ are different, after all.”
Watching Haon give an awkward smile, Juyeol felt a tightness in his chest.
He wanted to ask what that meant, but he was afraid of what her answer might be.
He looked at the shadow her eyelashes cast on her eyes and replied, “Of course we’re different.”
His mind in a tangle, Juyeol silently cursed Nova.
He vowed to punch him secretly, away from Haon, if he saw him the next morning.
But Nova didn’t show up the next day either.
* * *
The next morning.
“We’ve waited long enough. He’s just messing around, so you don’t have to worry about it.”
Juyeol put Haon, who had been waiting for the no-show Nova, into the passenger seat. It was ‘Eun Haon’s’ car.
“Still…”
“Just focus on having fun and relaxing today. You spent a long time choosing where to go, didn't you?”
He sat in the driver’s seat, checked the destination Haon had chosen, and made a strange face.
“You want to go here?”
“Yeah. Is it bad? Do you want to go somewhere else?”
“No. We’ll go here. I have no idea what it is, though.”
Juyeol tilted his head but drove toward the location Haon had picked.
The place they arrived at was an indoor swimming pool, packed with people.
「International Robot Swimming Championship」
「International Robot Swimming Championship」
Juyeol looked up at the banner, stretched taut in the wind, and muttered in disbelief.
“There are this many people who want to make robots swim?”
“Wow. Look over there, Juyeol. I think that’s the trophy. Do you think the robots are shaped like boats? Or fish? If I’d known about this sooner, I would have participated. Ah! It looks like you can bet on the winning robot over there!”
“…”
But seeing Haon’s eyes sparkle as she hurried forward, a smile crept onto his face.
*What does it matter? As long as you’re happy.*
He pulled Haon’s shoulder closer to cut through the crowd, but then he realized his mistake as the path cleared all too easily.
People were murmuring at the appearance of Eun Haon and Ghost, slowly backing away.
Before Haon could notice, Juyeol changed direction and led her to the merchandise booth first.
“Come here.”
He then pressed a baseball cap onto her head. It was a hat with the ‘IRSC’ emblem on it.
“Wear this.”
Then he pulled a matching hat down low over his own face.
*This should do it,* he thought, but Haon giggled beside him.
“You haven’t even seen the robots yet, and you already like the event? That’s a relief.”
“That’s not it… Well. Let’s just go with that.”
Juyeol chuckled and entered the event hall.
It was an international competition, so there were many foreigners, and the atmosphere was electric.
Haon strolled through the venue, watching people tune up their robots before the final match.
The space between booths was narrow, so everyone moved in close clusters with their groups, which meant Juyeol had no mind for sightseeing or anything else.
His back went rigid every time Haon, pressed against his side, wiggled her hands in anticipation.
“That one has silicone flippers! I guess propellers aren’t allowed by the rules.”
Unaware of Juyeol’s inner turmoil, Haon excitedly wandered around, constantly adjusting her grip on his sleeve.
Slightly peeved that he was the only one so conscious of it, Juyeol used the hand on her shoulder to gently tap her cheek.
“Hm?”
Haon looked up at him, her face full of excitement.
“…”
For a moment, Juyeol felt as if his heart had leaped out of his chest and then returned.
*Does a person need to be this cute? She’s too cute.*
Feeling his ears grow warm, he finally voiced the words he had been holding back.
“…Haon.”
“Uh, yeah?”
Haon’s shoulders flinched. She didn't think Juyeol had ever called her that.
He had always called her ‘hey’ or ‘Eun Haon’.
‘Juyeol’ had always called her “Haon-ah,” but it felt different coming from this Juyeol.
She didn't know what it was, but it felt incredibly awkward and tingly.
Noticing Haon’s reaction, Juyeol hid his surprise and spoke again.
“Haon. Should we go find our seats in the stadium now?”
“Sh-should we? Y-yes. Let’s do that.”
Flustered, Haon answered her own question and turned her head away.
As soon as Juyeol caught a glimpse of her red neck through her brown hair, he took a sharp breath.
His thought of trying something more if a ticklish tension arose seemed laughable now; he couldn't do anything at all.
He was too busy pulling his cap down further to hide his completely flushed face.
* * *
The moment the competition began, the subtle tension that had surrounded Haon vanished without a trace.
Juyeol let out a hollow laugh, feeling a little dejected, but it was nice to see Haon so excited she was bouncing in her seat.
“Waaah! Juyeol! The robot we bet on won!”
Haon shrieked happily and threw her arms around Juyeol’s neck.
He swallowed a groan and adjusted Haon’s hat, which was about to fall off.
That brief moment was a time of immense internal conflict.
*Should I pretend to be excited too and pull her into a hug to satisfy my own feelings? No. That would make me no different from Nova. She’s so happy, I should let her enjoy it fully. But she hugged me first, right? No, still—*
After much deliberation, Juyeol ultimately just held onto Haon to keep her from tumbling off the folding chair.
Those who bet on the winning team could claim their prizes at the front desk.
「The betting funds collected today will be used to create robot-building kits for children, to be donated to 14 orphanages.」
Juyeol saw the large sign on the front desk wall and thought, *That explains it. No wonder the bets were fixed at one thousand won.*
Haon, her face relaxed with excitement, took her prize and opened it as soon as they left the building.
The prize was a T-shirt with a robot surfing on a wave. On one side of the chest, it read, ‘GO! IRSC!’
“I love it! Our hats and shirts are a set.”
Haon held the large T-shirt against her body and laughed out loud.
It was a bright, warm laugh. The kind that made you feel good just by seeing it, the kind that made you want to hug her.
Juyeol, who had been smiling along without realizing it while curling his tingling fingertips into a fist, suddenly felt awkward.
*I never understood how other heroes managed to date and have relationships in the middle of long cases… And here I am, doing just that.*
He sighed as he neatly folded the two prize T-shirts and tucked them away.
*Though she probably isn't thinking anything of it.*
Haon, still buzzing with excitement, was dashing around in front of the event booths like a puppy in the snow.
* * *
The sunset was painting the sky as they drove back to the institute.
Passing over the Gwonyoung Bridge, Juyeol glanced at the passenger seat and let out a small laugh.
“You were like this on the way there, too. Do you like rivers?”
Haon, who had been pressed against the side window looking outside, smiled bashfully and faced forward.
“I wasn’t looking at the river, I was looking at the bridge. In the place I lived, this bridge was destroyed by the war.”
Even though she was smiling, a hint of loneliness touched Haon’s face.
“Why… did you join the war?”
“It just sort of happened?”
“What does that mean? Were you drafted?”
“I couldn’t just stand by while people were getting hurt and dying right in front of me.”
“…”
“I wish the place I lived had heroes, too.”
Juyeol fell silent for a moment, his grip tightening on the steering wheel.
“You…”
Just as he hesitantly opened his mouth, a massive impact sent their bodies flying.
A large truck had mercilessly slammed into the side of the car.