Ch.123Equipment Shutdown (6)

“Sob sob sob… Phew!”

Shortly after Ms. Miso left, Do Hamin, who had regained consciousness, emptied the remaining cola in one gulp.

His body had been trapped in the 38.2-degree Ban Do-young’s blanket furnace, barely able to breathe properly.

He probably wanted to replenish even a little moisture, whether it was carbonated or not.

‘Not just my face, but my forearms are bright red too.’

Do Hamin’s left arm, which was holding the cola bottle, was flushed red as if burned.

They had been lying under the blanket wearing thin clothes that revealed their body contours, with their skin touching.

It looked like he had been desperately tensing other muscles to prevent the [Lower People Rising] hidden underneath from stirring.

“That’s the bottle I drank from, but you’re drinking from it just fine.”

“Cough… cough…!”

Do Hamin was startled and fake-coughed as soon as he heard those words.

“What? You’re still sensitive about that kind of thing. I thought you’d be fine with it now that you’ve confessed.”

“W-well, I couldn’t help it. I didn’t have time to think about that.”

“Alright, ahem. Drink comfortably.”

Even though he saw me drinking from it just now,

he didn’t mind putting his mouth directly on the bottle.

I guess it did bother him after all.

“Phew… I really thought I was going to die.”

“From happiness?”

“…There you go again.”

“Heheh, you punk. You’re not denying it.”

Do Hamin packed all the snack wrappers he had brought into a bag and headed for the front door.

Though I wanted to enjoy this brief calm after the storm a little longer, Ms. Miso had only stepped out temporarily, not left completely.

“Go back to your room while you’re still somewhat lucid. Don’t run into Ms. Miso when she comes back. Though from what I saw earlier, Ms. Miso probably wouldn’t notice anyway.”

I said this while putting one of the round rice balls Ms. Miso had made into my mouth.

Having sweated and with no Ms. Miso around to be mindful of, my appetite had increased reflexively.

It was a sign that Ban Do-young’s body was gradually overcoming the cold.

“Hmm, so this is what Ms. Miso tastes like. Definitely small and cute, perfect for eating in one bite.”

“Oh, p-please say ‘cooking style’ to avoid misunderstandings.”

“Wait, hold on. You need to replenish salt along with fluids. Have a Ms. Miso before you go.”

“I’m telling you, it’s not Ms. Miso but the rice ball Ms. Miso made—”

—Pop

“Op.”

I put one of Ms. Miso’s rice balls into Do Hamin’s mouth as he was putting on his shoes at the entrance.

It was just the right size to mute his nagging mouth in one bite, just like Ms. Miso herself.

“How is it? Pretty good, right?”

“Mmph… Yeah, it’s delicious.”

“See? I told you. It would be nice if we could eat it again sometime, but that’s too bad.”

“Huh? Since you said you’re dating Sol-young’s brother… won’t you have another chance to eat it later?”

“Well… there’s no guarantee I’ll still be here then.”

“…Huh?”

“Cough, it’s nothing.”

My hoarse voice had almost returned to normal now.

Though I still coughed occasionally while speaking, it was a condition that would completely heal after a good night’s sleep.

Still, this might be the last night, so

it would be proper to return the original owner’s body in a healthy state.

“You should get going now. Thanks to you and Ms. Miso, my cold is much better.”

“Okay. I-if you need anything, just let me know.”

“Why? So you can sneak out at night to buy it? Like a husband driving out at dawn because his pregnant wife wants blood sausage?”

“…If you say you really need it, I would do that.”

“Oh, ohh…”

Ah, I feel like giving him a quarter of a kick for being such a dork.

But my body is still too stiff for kicking.

“L-lucky. Do Hamin’s future wife.”

“N-not just in the future, I could do it now too. I-I’m not a model student, so sneaking out of the dorm at night… even I could do that.”

“…Pfft, you put your hand on your chest like your conscience is bothering you. Whatever. Thanks for saying it anyway.”

Hmm, yes.

Though he still has many shortcomings,

I think he’d be good enough for the future Ban Do-young.

“You don’t need to push yourself that hard. You, Do Hamin. You’re already quite decent.”

“…Huh?”

“Just keep being the way you are now. Then there won’t be any problems.”

Yes, even if he’s a dork, he’s a dork who knows how to move forward.

When the ‘real’ Ban Do-young returns after I’m gone, she might be a little upset wondering why this dork is her boyfriend,

but if they keep spending time together like now, he could at least make it onto her list of boyfriend candidates.

Boys’ growth plates, once they open up properly,

it’s not that difficult to surpass Ban Do-young’s height.

“Ah, but maybe I should give you some pointers just in case.”

“…Huh?”

“After your confession on the school trip that you’ve been preparing for, your relationship with Ban Do-young will change significantly.”

Thinking this might be my last conversation with Do Hamin,

I briefly explained to him about the mishaps that might occur after I’m gone.

“Even if I say I don’t want to study with you after the school trip and that I’ve forgotten everything I learned, please don’t get too angry. I’m not that bad at studying, so if you explain things slowly again, I’ll remember quickly.”

“I won’t get angry. I’ll find ways to explain things simply until you understand.”

Good.

This should prevent Ban Do-young, who hasn’t kept up with high school curriculum for nearly three months, from being looked down upon.

Let me tell him one more thing.

“When we have kendo lessons together, the content might become much more difficult and strict than before. It won’t be with bad intentions, so please forgive me.”

“…Okay, I’ll try to keep up with the pace. It naturally gets harder as we progress anyway.”

That’s also well explained.

The real Ban Do-young’s lessons, who was genuinely dedicated to kendo, will be much stricter and scarier than my superficial ones.

This should prevent Do Hamin’s affection from decreasing out of fear of Ban Do-young.

Let me tell him one last thing.

“Even if my personality becomes more irritable during my period than before, it’s because I’m in pain, so please try to understand.”

“U-um… I’ll be careful on those marked days.”

Actually, one more last thing.

“My taste might change slightly someday. If I say I want pistachio chocolate bubble tea instead of zero lime, please just bear with it and buy it for me, even if it’s just for one day. People’s tastes can change sometimes, right?”

“Th-that’s quite an upgrade in taste. I’ll try my best.”

“Oh, and also.”

Really, really the last thing.

“Even if I forget our promise to be first in the final exams and our promise to watch a movie again, you must remember and keep them no matter what, okay?”

“Do-young…?”

“And… and also.”

There must be more.

Important things I need to tell Do Hamin now.

Things I won’t be able to say if today passes.

“Ah… and.”

“Do-young, are you okay?”

“Huh…? Why wouldn’t I be? I’m just stumbling over my words because my headache makes it hard to think clearly, but I’m fine.”

“We’re… a couple now after my confession in the Ferris wheel today, right?”

“I suppose so. As of today, Do Hamin and Ban Do-young are in a relationship.”

“But something’s strange… Do-young. You’re talking like someone who’s about to leave for somewhere far away.”

“…”

Golden eyes filled with anxious black spots flickered in Do Hamin’s gaze.

Black spots that didn’t suit Do Hamin, who should be shining golden like his eyes, finally showing his protagonist qualities in this world.

“Why are you talking like someone who won’t be able to meet again tomorrow? Is there something seriously wrong with you besides the cold?”

“…”

Only after staring into his eyes for a moment did I realize.

Those spots were the reflection of the haggard Ban Do-young in his eyes.

My selfish desire to stay by his side even a little longer

was creating unnecessary blemishes on this world’s protagonist.

That wouldn’t do.

This is clearly the world of a youth romance webtoon.

“Sigh… oh, you dorky idiot.”

“Ban Do-young…?”

I deliberately sighed with exaggerated gestures.

Using the harshest expression to address Do Hamin.

“I thought you’d improved a bit, but you still can’t read the mood. Anyone can see this is like a role-play where a terminally ill woman is telling her lover what she wants to say before leaving. Can’t you play along a little better?”

“W-was that all… just acting?”

“This is really no fun. How are you going to be Ban Do-young’s boyfriend like this? It’s day one and you’re already showing your limitations.”

“Y-you should have given me some warning…! When you suddenly start talking so seriously, of course I’m going to worry first! How was I supposed to know it was acting? You’re just making a fool out of the person who was worried…”

Do Hamin shouted angrily, realizing all his worry and anxiety had been caused by fake acting.

Judging by the slight tears welling in his eyes, he must have been genuinely concerned about a serious situation.

It stings my conscience a bit,

but I thought this was the appropriate final face for a ‘fake’ to see.

“Heheh, you still need more education about Ban Do-young. You need to do better tomorrow at the field trip than today, okay? Don’t disappoint Ban Do-young.”

“F-fine, just get better soon! If your cold doesn’t improve, we can’t even go on the field trip together! Sleep well! Don’t be sick!”

“Okay, good night to you too, Do Hamin.”

Do Hamin returned to his dorm with a flushed face.

Even as he had to hurry back to avoid Ms. Miso, his face remained red with emotion.

“Take care, Do Hamin.”

I waved at him from the doorway until he was out of sight.

“…I liked you. More than I thought.”

Only when my voice couldn’t reach him could I finally say what I wanted to tell him.

.

.

.

The morning sunlight falling through the window naturally woke me up.

It felt like I had just had a very good dream.

“Yawn… It feels like I’ve been sleeping for an incredibly long time.”

Rubbing my half-closed eyes,

I pushed back the hair that was blocking my vision.

“Ugh… My whole body aches. How long have I been lying down? Surely not nearly three months in this world too…”

“…Huh?”

Why am I still Ban Do-young?