Chapter 175: Yuna and the Guerrilla Collab!

Ｒеαɗ ｏｎ Ḱɑţ​ṚҽαɗıηģＣаƒе​

After Yuna accepted my invitation, we returned to my place together.

Tofu peeked her head out from the hallway to greet us.

As expected, the moment Yuna saw Tofu, she immediately rushed over and hugged her tightly.

“So you’re Tofu…! Ugh, you’re so cute! How can both the owner and the cat be this adorable?!”

“Nyaaa…!”

Fortunately, our well-behaved Tofu didn’t scratch Yuna, but being held like that seemed pretty uncomfortable—she let out a sound like she was dying. Unable to watch any longer, I handed Yuna a stick of Churu to rescue Tofu.

“Yuna, do you want to give Tofu some Churu?”

“Really? Can I?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

“Yesss…!”

Yuna quickly released Tofu, snatched the Churu, snipped the tip with nearby scissors, and started squeezing out the contents bit by bit. Tofu, who had been about to run away from Yuna’s overwhelming affection, immediately turned back at the word “Churu” and stared intently at her.

Lick—lick—lick—

“Wow, she’s really into it…!”

“Right? Tofu goes crazy for Churu. Even if she’s up on the cat tower, the moment she hears me open one, she comes running.”

“No way, seriously?”

Yep, it’s hard to believe, but it’s no exaggeration.

Once, when I couldn’t find Tofu anywhere, I deliberately made the sound of opening a Churu—she came darting out of the bedroom like a bullet.

A true Churu demon, I tell you.

“Nyaa~”

Anyway, thanks to the Churu, the two of them grew closer. Tofu, who had been turning her back in annoyance earlier, finished the treat and approached Yuna first—licking her fingertips, rubbing her head against Yuna’s hand, and even circling around to mark her with her scent.

Alright, meanwhile, I should make Yuna some ramen. The stream starts at 8, so I need to hurry.

“Then, while I cook the ramen, can you watch Tofu? Oh, do you want an egg in it?”

“Of course!”

Well, it’s hard to imagine ramen without an egg—except for certain types, anyway.

Sizzle—

I boiled water and pulled out a pack of ramen from the cupboard. Since I wasn’t hungry yet, I didn’t need a portion for myself.

“Da-jeong! Can I look around your place for a bit?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

Yuna, seemingly wanting to explore, got my permission and headed straight to the bedroom—with Tofu trotting closely behind.

“Wow, Da-jeong, your place is so clean!”

“R-Really? I think it’s pretty normal.”

“Nah, if you saw my room, you’d never say that.”

I felt a little embarrassed at Yuna’s first remark after touring the room, but her self-deprecating praise made me burst out laughing.

Just how messy is Yuna’s room?

“Tofu! Let’s check out that side next!”

“Nyaaa!”

Come to think of it, they’ve gotten really close. Tofu’s always been friendly, but seeing them like this, you’d think they’ve been family forever.

Watching Tofu eagerly follow Yuna’s lead, I smiled warmly and neatly transferred the finished ramen into a bowl. When I’m alone, I eat straight from the pot, but for a guest, presentation matters.

“Yuna! The ramen’s ready!”

“Okay, coming!”

Once I finished setting the table with kimchi and called Yuna, she and Tofu came darting out of my workspace and back to the living room. Then, Yuna suddenly pulled out her phone and—

Click—

“Hehe, ramen made by Da-jeong herself…! Gotta brag to the unnies.”

“I-It’s just ramen, though?”

“That’s why it’s great!”

“Uh… okay?”

After snapping a photo of the humble meal (just ramen and kimchi), Yuna sat down, picked up her chopsticks, and then paused as if remembering something.

“Oh, right. Da-jeong, would it be okay if I joined your stream for a bit later?”

“On stream? I don’t mind, but… isn’t today your day off?”

Was she feeling restless on her rare break? When I asked if she was sure, Yuna clacked her chopsticks and replied:

“Eh, just my voice is enough. Like hanging out at a friend’s place.”

“Ah… sure, I’d love that. The cherries will be happy too.”

“Great! Ehehe….”

“……?”

Her laugh at the end sounded a little sinister, but I brushed it off as my imagination.

Slurp—

“Wow, Da-jeong, you make amazing ramen…! What’s your secret?”

“I-I just followed the instructions?”

“Really? It’s so good! Say, would you like to be my bride?”

“Y-Your standards for a bride are way too low…?!”

Somehow, I ended up receiving a marriage proposal over ramen, but at least she enjoyed it. Next time, I’ll cook something more proper.

****************

While Yuna insisted on doing the dishes and headed to the kitchen, I returned to my workspace, turned on my PC, and finished prepping for the stream. Since I was an hour late today, I’d have to make it up to the cherries.

But the moment I went live—

• Lulu open the dooooor!!
• An hour late and still no face?
• Is this how you run a business, boss?
• No respect for customers, tsk tsk

Even on the waiting screen, the cherries’ complaints flooded in.

G-Guys, calm down. At least wait till you see my face.

I get you’re mad, but I had my reasons, okay?

“H-Hi-Lu, cherries…! I did give notice, but I’m late, sorry.”

• Just a little late?
• A little? A little? A little? A little? A little?
• One hour feels like a century to us…
• For the crime of audacity, you must at least act cute for an hour!

Seriously, demanding I act cute over one hour is too much! And it’s not like I didn’t give notice! I even posted about it earlier when Yuna called me out!

“C’mon, cherries, don’t be mad. I brought a very special guest today to make up for it!”

• Guest?
• Lulu?
• Tofu?
• If you say Tofu again, you’re dead.

Phew, close call. Normally, I’d show Tofu, but today’s guest is legit special.

“Hey, do you really think I’d only bring Tofu? What do you take me for?!”

• ?
• Excuse me?
• Your conscience…
• Do you not remember three days ago?
• Lulu’s getting bolder by the day…

Ugh, you’re all so harsh! Anyway, today’s guest is truly special! Don’t be shocked!

Creak—

Just as I finished boasting, the door cracked open, and Yuna peeked in, silently asking, “Can I come in?” with her eyes while nodding at the computer. When I nodded back, she slipped inside, wrapped her arms around me from behind, and—

“Mwahaha! I’ve kidnapped Lulu! If you value her life, transfer 5 billion won to Yukimura Yukiko’s account immediately!”

An impromptu kidnapping skit began.

• WHAT
• GASP
• The guest is Yukiko-chan?!
• Kyaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!
• HOW DARE YOU TREAT LULU LIKE THIS!!!!

Of course, everyone recognized Yuna’s voice and played along with the bit.

But 5 billion is excessive… Even the cherries would give up on me at that price.

Thanks to Yuna’s sensational surprise appearance, introductions were unnecessary. I tried to sit her down to resume the stream, but she clung to me, shaking her head.

“Hehe, surprised, right? Today’s guest is Yukiko-chan, as you heard!”

“Ehehe, hi, KonYuki! I dropped by Lulu’s place and decided to crash the stream~”

• Kyaaaaa!
• Guerrilla collabs are the BEST
• I’m dead lol
• If this is why you were late, we forgive you
• As if Lulu would be late for no reason pfft
• I never doubted you, Lulu!

Yeah, sure. You were all scolding me earlier. Still, gotta respect the cherries’ whiplash.

[2LuvMoe donated 1,000 won!]

• Was your ‘appointment’ today to meet Yukiko-chan?

“Ah, yes! Yukiko-chan suddenly called me for lunch, and the CEO was there too. The three of us ate and hung out before coming back.”

• The CEO was there too?
• What’d you eat?
• What’d you do?

“What’d we eat? Fancy omakase! CEO treated us!”

“Yep! Then we went to karaoke. Super fun!”

• Omakase?!
• The CEO’s class is unreal…
• Even at 100,000 won per person, that’s 300,000 total…
• Company benefits are sweet.

Our company’s perks are legit. Maybe not big-corporation level, but nothing to scoff at.

“But she had work, so she left after dinner. Yukiko-chan and I chatted at a café before heading to my place.”

• The weight of leadership…
• CEO Kang…
• How does she live like that…
• Treating her ‘daughters’ and then rushing back to work… Pain.

Guess the cherries felt it too. I didn’t say it, but I felt kinda guilty—like we were lazing around while CEO worked.

(Though if I said that to her face, she’d scold me for worrying. Hehe.)

“Oh! Guess what? Lulu flirted with me today. Jealous?”

“Huh?!”

• ?
• Lulu’s at it again?
• This gremlin…
• Out here seducing everyone.

Mid-chat, Yuna’s bombshell left me and the cherries stunned.

W-Wait! What nonsense is this?! I never flirted!

“I was gonna go home after the café, but Lulu suddenly grabbed me and said, ‘Wanna come over for ramen?’ How is that not flirting?!”

• WHAT
• !!!
• This is undeniable.
• Lulu, where’d you learn such smooth tactics?
• Grrr, this axolotl gremlin…!

Why is that the interpretation?! Yuna was the one who mentioned ramen first! I just thought, ‘Hey, my place is nearby, let’s hang more!’

This is SO unfair—!

“And now she’s all, ‘I never flirted!’ Can you believe the audacity? Right, cherries?”

• LMAO true
• She needs discipline.
• I crave correctional education.
• Biting my tongue to avoid a ban.
• My rod has grown quite firm.

Uuu, you’re all mean! I’m innocent! There was no ulterior motive! How did this even—?!

“Which is why… today, we’ll educate Lulu. So she never toys with hearts again!”

• Oho.
• Kyaa~
• Yuki’s initiative is legendary.
• How?

Forget why I’m being ‘educated’—what’s the method?! I leaned in, curious.

“It’s… a horror game!”

“……Huh?”

Just as I braced for anything, Yuna’s answer froze me in place.

…I should probably run now, right?