Ch.12I’ll Buy You Tonkatsu Later (2)

“A movie with a friend tomorrow? That’s great!”

“It’s just watching a movie, that’s all. I used to watch movies with friends here too sometimes.”

“Still, it’s a good thing. It means you’ve made a close friend there already, enough to make such plans.”

Friday evening, the day before the weekend.

Hamin was having a late dinner with his mother who had returned from work, telling her about his plans for tomorrow.

Hamin’s return time wasn’t particularly early, but since his mother also worked late, their dinners were always held at this slightly delayed hour.

Usually, Hamin would do some light shopping at the supermarket and prepare dinner,

setting the table for his mother when she returned from work.

Today was no different.

“Phew, when you said you were going to that distant school without any friends, I was a bit worried. But I’m relieved. You’ve made new friends quickly. When you said you’d throw away all those novels and books you’d carefully collected and just study… I was worried you might be shocked by the change.”

Hamin’s mother beamed with delight at the news that he was going to see a movie with a friend.

It was a stark contrast to the tired expression she had worn just moments ago after returning from work.

She seemed happiest about the fact that her son was enjoying his school life.

Even now, Hamin’s decision to attend a high school far from home had been a difficult and uncertain choice.

She must have been proud to see her son navigating that uncertain choice so well.

“I-I really meant it when I said I’d focus only on studying. This time I’m just going along because he was so insistent about watching it together.”

Hamin shook his head, making it clear that he had initially declined.

As if to say his original determination hadn’t wavered at all.

“Then I guess I’ll have to visit Grandma’s house alone this weekend. You go have fun with your friend.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, did I not tell you? Grandma said she prepared a lot of spring cabbage and asked us to come pick it up this weekend.”

There had already been a much more plausible reason than claiming he had no money.

A circumstance where he wouldn’t have needed to swallow his pride or hurt Doyoung.

“You should have told me earlier. Then I would have said I couldn’t go.”

“Tsk, you shouldn’t dismiss your friend’s sincerity like that.”

“Or I could come straight home after the movie, so let’s go together.”

Now he couldn’t cancel his plans with Doyoung,

but he also felt uncomfortable letting his mother go alone.

“I wasn’t planning to play all weekend anyway. I need to keep up with my study schedule too.”

As if to say he wouldn’t let his self-imposed promise weaken,

Hamin added that this was just a brief deviation.

“Come on, why so rigid? Won’t your friend be disappointed if you just watch the movie and leave?”

“Hmm… I wonder.”

He recalled Doyoung’s not-quite-threat to keep his weekend free.

Doyoung wanted to see the movie simply because [Mari★huana] was interesting,

not because he was interested in Hamin.

Of course, even that alone was enough to make him happy.

Someone like Doyoung would never be interested in him that way.

He could be certain of that. His life experience was proof.

“Do you have enough pocket money? Should I give you some? It would be awkward to just watch the movie and part ways. You should eat together, and maybe look around your friend’s neighborhood too.”

The moment he heard his mother’s suggestion,

Hamin found himself imagining strolling through the city with Doyoung.

Without any resistance, the image just popped into his head.

Doyoung dressed in casual clothes, all stylish,

instead of the school uniform he usually wore.

Himself walking alongside Doyoung, chatting,

sitting at the same table, eating and talking together.

It was a truly dreadful picture.

No, the picture wasn’t at fault.

The fault lay with the artist who imagined it.

He was disgusted with himself for having such thoughts, even momentarily.

Until this morning, he had thought of Doyoung as the protagonist,

and himself as a mere extra, yet here he was imagining such things.

Just as Jeong Gyu had said.

He was thinking of himself as something special.

When he couldn’t accomplish anything on his own.

“So, don’t you need some pocket money?”

“…It’s okay. We won’t be out for long. Besides, he’s not interested in me; he just wants to see the movie.”

“Interested? Wait, is the friend who asked you to see a movie… a girl?”

“Cough! Cough-!”

Hamin choked and put down his water cup, coughing violently.

“Oh my! My son is quite something! Then it’s not just an appointment, it’s a date!”

“Khak… kuk. I-I’m done eating!”

Hamin quickly picked up his empty bowl and plate and rose from the table.

“Hey, at least tell me her name before you go! Or just her surname, that’s fine too!”

“Absolutely not, even knowing the surname is dangerous. I’m completely against it!”

“Against? Is her surname Ban by any chance?”

His mother’s intuition was sharper than he expected.

“I-I’m going to my room first, good night!”

-Clunk!

Hamin quickly washed his dishes,

then went straight to his room and locked the door.

He felt that if he talked with his mother any longer,

everything about Doyoung would be revealed.

“Haah…”

Hamin collapsed onto his bed.

‘Then it’s not just an appointment, it’s a date?’

Even as he tried to relax on his bed,

his mother’s words kept circling in his mind, tormenting him.

“Mom… saying unnecessary things.”

Hamin tried to force himself to sleep while calming his heart.

But contrary to his wishes, his tense body wouldn’t let him fall asleep.

“Cl-clothes… should I dress up a bit? Or should I act like it’s nothing special?”

He got up in the early morning and kept opening his closet, wondering what to wear tomorrow.

Of course, regardless of his concerns, Hamin’s closet didn’t contain particularly stylish clothes.

He had never been interested in fashion, so he only had clothes his mother bought for him or ones he purchased on sale online.

The only exception was a ‘Marina Print T-shirt’ with the protagonist of [Mari★huana] printed on it.

“No matter what, this is definitely not appropriate…”

While it might be acceptable at a gathering of hardcore fans,

choosing such fashion for an outing with someone of the opposite sex would be inconsiderate.

Hamin shook his head and tucked the Marina shirt deep into his closet.

“I’ll just dress like I usually do… trying too hard might seem like I have strange expectations.”

Hamin settled on a hoodie and jeans.

Indulging just a little, he chose a ‘white’ hoodie instead of his usual black.

White top and blue jeans.

Some might think he was going to perform sign language at a school presentation,

but this was the most casual yet neat combination Hamin could manage.

“I wonder if Ban Doyoung is also worrying about what to wear right now…”

After briefly smiling at that thought,

he quickly knocked his head and lay down on the bed.

“It’s already 5 AM…”

How long had he been worrying?

Hamin sighed deeply, surprised at how quickly time had passed.

The meeting time was 10 AM.

To arrive on time, he needed to leave home by 8 AM at the latest.

“Whew, at least I can sleep for two hours.”

-Thud

Having finished all preparations, Hamin lay on his bed.

Two hours wasn’t much, but he needed to catch his breath.

Hamin buried his face in the pillow and closed his eyes.

‘Then it’s not just an appointment, it’s a date?’

“…Ah, please, Mom.”

Of course, that didn’t mean he could actually sleep.

**

Saturday morning.

Hamin ended up spending the night wide awake.

He thought it was fortunate in a way.

If he had fallen into a deep sleep, he might have been late for their appointment.

Hamin left home on time and caught the subway right on schedule.

It was his first time visiting Doyoung’s area on a weekend,

and in casual clothes rather than his school uniform.

“The meeting place should be…”

Hamin was still unfamiliar with the area.

It was difficult to find the exact meeting spot with just the address shown in the messenger.

Of course, that didn’t mean he was confused about the location.

‘Wow, look over there.’

‘Is she a model…? Are they doing some outdoor photoshoot?’

‘She’s so pretty, seriously. Should I try talking to her…?’

There, at the center of the men’s gazes and murmurs, stood Doyoung, waiting to meet Hamin.

“…She’s pretty.”

For the first time, Hamin saw with his own eyes the casual outfit of Doyoung that he had imagined in his vain fantasies.

A white blouse that boldly exposed her shoulders, seemingly forgetting the season,

and skinny jeans that accentuated her legs.

And unlike the mature young lady impression her outfit gave,

she wore pink sneakers that ensured mobility while being eye-catching.

As the people around were saying, she really could have been a model shooting for a magazine.

“Guys! I’m underage! Don’t try to hit on me or the FBI will raid your homes!”

“Whoa, that was close.”

“Thanks for letting us know, student.”

“Yeah, as expected…”

A bold statement thrown at the men who were staring and whispering about her.

Though momentarily entranced by her casual appearance, she was still the Doyoung that Hamin knew.

“Hey, over here! Here!”

“Ah, hello…”

Doyoung waved happily upon spotting Hamin.

She ran over to him as soon as she saw him.

“What’s this, you’re also wearing a white top and blue jeans? Oh, we match.”

“Ah… huh? No, this is… it wasn’t intentional.”

Hamin was flustered by their unintended couple look.

But Doyoung just grinned, finding his reaction amusing.

“Dude, at least you didn’t wear that green checkered shirt. That’s a relief.”

“Ahaha…”

He couldn’t bring himself to mention that he actually had such a shirt at home.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Y-yeah. Slept soundly.”

Hamin nodded, telling a lie.

He couldn’t possibly admit that he couldn’t sleep because he was thinking about having a date with Doyoung.

“Hmm, and did you eat breakfast properly?”

“Yeah, I ate something quick before coming.”

Hamin had eaten a light breakfast in case they didn’t have lunch plans.

Hearing his answer, Doyoung nodded with satisfaction and entered the building where the cinema was located.

Perhaps because it was still morning, even on a weekend,

only Doyoung and Hamin were in the elevator heading to the cinema.

“Ahem.”

Perhaps finding the atmosphere awkward with just the two of them,

Hamin suddenly cleared his throat.

“What’s wrong, do you have a cold? Are you taking any medicine?”

“Huh? Ah, no. Nothing like that.”

“Good, that’s a relief.”

“A relief…?”

-Clunk

The elevator they were in stopped at floor F.

Had Doyoung also been nervous about being with him?

Doyoung’s hand, which Hamin thought had pressed for the 5th floor where the cinema was, had pressed F instead.

Surely she didn’t think F stood for Five.

No, that couldn’t be. It must have been a mistake.

“…Um, I think you pressed the wrong floor. Isn’t the cinema on the 5th floor?”

“No, this is right.”

Doyoung took Hamin’s hand and led him out of the elevator.

“Come on, let’s go in. You’re being good, right? I’ll buy you pork cutlet later?”

“W-wait a minute… this is!”

Momentarily startled by Doyoung’s sudden touch,

Hamin’s eyes met with a red cross outside the elevator.

[Red Cross is Love]

[Blood Donation Center]