Ch.177Episode 35. Date Before the New Year (4)

Bin Yoon, who ordered assorted sushi and tantan noodles, looks around the restaurant interior with curiosity.

Should I call it Japanese ambiance?

The interior was lit with orange lights, and the kitchen was openly visible so customers could watch the chef’s cooking performance.

“I didn’t know a place like this existed. It’s in quite a secluded spot.”

As Bin Yoon said, the sushi restaurant was located in a somewhat deserted alley away from the busy streets.

However, the noren curtain unique to Japanese restaurants and the red lanterns hanging outside illuminated the alley, creating a subtle distinctly Japanese atmosphere.

“But don’t you think it has a great vibe?”

“Absolutely. The noodle-making technique seems amazing too. Dynamic, I should say.”

If the tables in front of the kitchen hadn’t been completely packed with people, we would have had a front-row view.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Seeing places like this makes me want to visit Japan.”

“Then why don’t you go?”

By now, she was earning money that couldn’t be compared to an ordinary office worker’s salary. Even after dozens of trips, money would continue to pile up, so there was no need to worry about finances.

“Really? Then should we go sometime?”

“With the others?”

“Huh? Oh…”

She seemed a bit flustered, as if she hadn’t considered going with the others. Apparently, she wanted to go with just me.

“Did you want to go with just the two of us?”

“…I didn’t say that.”

“Oh? That’s too bad. I was hoping to go with just you.”

I spoke in a way that would make her self-conscious. In response, Bin Yoon fidgeted with her fingers and cleared her throat, trying to hide her agitation.

“Then we can go. You’re my benefactor, Instructor, so I can certainly treat you to a trip. You’ve worked so hard for me… for the special class over the past year…”

“By yourself?”

“Of course?”

“I already know it would be boring, so I won’t go alone. Trips are more enjoyable when you go with someone else.”

“W-well… if you really want to go with me, I suppose I could accompany you. We can just sleep separately like during the MT.”

Though Bin Yoon spoke as if it were no big deal, her face was already flushed. It might have been due to the orange lighting.

“MT… Come to think of it, you kissed me then, didn’t you?”

“…Eek! Y-you remember that?!”

Bin Yoon exclaimed in surprise, inadvertently raising her voice. As the calm atmosphere was broken, other customers in the restaurant looked our way.

She looked around nervously and lowered her head. Only then did the customers turn away.

“It’s all because of you, Instructor…”

“Right. Let’s say that. But I see you remember it too? I thought you wouldn’t remember because you were drunk.”

“Ah… Ahem. Huh? When did I ever kiss you?”

After clearing her throat, she expressed her doubt in a serious tone. Her all-out pretense was so ridiculous that it was funny.

“I said ‘peck,’ but you’re thinking ‘kiss,’ aren’t you?”

“…No, I’m nooot?”

Her voice even cracked. How flustered could she be?

“It’s too late to deny it now.”

“Forget it! That was just…! I-I only did it out of gratitude! There was no other meaning to it…!”

“Sure, sure. I’ll believe that.”

Strong denial is affirmation, after all.

“A-anyway, why is it so hot in here?”

Bin Yoon fans her face with her hand while looking around. Her body seemed to be heating up from embarrassment.

“I-I need to take off my coat.”

Swish.

As she removes her coat, her voluptuous figure comes into view. It was noticeable even when covered by the coat, but now with her tight turtleneck sweater fully revealed, even I couldn’t help feeling a bit overwhelmed.

…She seems even bigger than Yu Ari?

“Aren’t you staring a bit too much?”

She covers her chest with her arms as she speaks.

“Who told you to dress like that?”

“That’s my choice. How I dress.”

“Then looking is my choice too.”

“Wow. So you’re openly admitting to visual harassment?”

“What visual harassment? I’m your instructor.”

Just as we were exchanging jokes without a hint of sincerity, the server brought our ordered ramen and sushi.

“Enjoy your meal.”

As the server set down the food, they alternated glances between my face and Bin Yoon’s chest, then widened their eyes.

“Ah! Could you be Yujin—”

I quickly put my index finger to my lips in response to the server’s reaction. The server understood my request for silence and nodded.

“Wow… you’re really handsome.”

“Haha… thank you.”

Just before leaving, the server looked at Bin Yoon’s chest one more time.

“Hey, Yooni.”

“Yes?”

Bin Yoon, who had been distracted by the tantan noodles, tilted her head. Apparently, she hadn’t noticed.

“Even the server couldn’t take their eyes off your chest.”

“W-what did you say?!”

Bin Yoon vigorously turned her head, looking around for the server. For reference, the server was female.

In truth, I think anyone, regardless of gender, would glance at a woman with a chest as large as Bin Yoon’s. Though everyone’s thoughts would differ.

“Let’s eat.”

I’m not an expert on sushi, but the slices of fish on top of the rice were all thick. They were almost too big to eat in one bite.

The size alone made it incomparable to an ordinary Japanese restaurant.

“Oh… it looks spicy and salty!”

Bin Yoon exclaimed in admiration at the tantan noodles placed in front of her. I could see meat toppings floating on the oil above the bright red broth.

It looked like it would make a good accompaniment to soju, just like soup with rice.

“Are you going to drink alcohol too?”

“Alcohol? Hmm… I might get drunk again…”

“I saw they have highballs.”

“Highballs? Ah… you mean that soda-like alcohol? I’ve been wanting to try it… Should we?”

“I drove here, so I shouldn’t drink.”

It would be different if we were planning to stay at a motel.

“Call a designated driver. I’ll pay for it.”

It wasn’t the answer I wanted, but just her desire to enjoy drinking together was enough.

“…Should I?”

“Yes. Drinking together is more fun. What would I do if I got drunk alone?”

“It might be better if you got drunk alone? That way I could safely take you home.”

“Come to think of it, that’s true. Then do you want to watch me drink?”

“I don’t like that idea.”

“Then let’s drink together. We can call a driver.”

In the end, we ordered two highballs. I could see ice and soda water in thick beer glasses, with lemon wedges attached to the rims.

“So this is a highball…!”

“Well, shall we toast?”

“Yes!”

Clink!

Right after toasting, Bin Yoon gulped down her highball, then covered her mouth with wide, surprised eyes.

“Wow… this is totally my style.”

“Hehe. Is it?”

“It’s so delicious! Is this what they call ‘insanely good’?”

Watching her reaction, I took a sip of my highball. It tasted like carbonated soda with a slightly bitter aftertaste.

After drinking our highballs, we began eating the food in front of us in earnest.

“Should we order another round?”

“Sure.”

Bin Yoon, who had quickly emptied her glass, made the suggestion. She might not handle alcohol well, but she certainly enjoys it.

Another round of highballs arrived, and we raised our glasses once more.

“Would you like to try some tantan noodles?”

“Yes. Will you share some?”

She scoops some onto a small plate for me. After eating the tantan noodles she served, my throat felt slightly irritated.

“…Isn’t it spicy?”

“It’s not… Hoo…! It’s, it’s spicy!”

Despite trying to act nonchalant, Bin Yoon’s lips were already bright red. They even had a purplish tint, as if blood wasn’t circulating properly.

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not lying.”

“Why don’t you wipe your lips before saying that?”

“Ahem!”

Bin Yoon sheepishly licked her lips and gulped down her highball. I continued our dinner, enjoying her reactions with a slight chuckle.

“It’s almost seven now. Should we head back?”

I checked the time as we left the restaurant.

“Already?”

Her tone suggested she was somewhat disappointed. I had planned to spend the whole day with Bin Yoon, so I was willing to keep her company if she wanted to stay together.

“…Feeling regretful? We can extend if you want.”

“Are you talking like some boyfriend rental service?”

“How about the real thing instead of a rental?”

“Oh, stop it!”

She hit my arm with an incredulous expression. But judging by her face, she didn’t seem to dislike it.

If she hadn’t had personal relationships with the others, Bin Yoon might have taken this as a confession.

“Just kidding. You seem disappointed, want to go somewhere else?”

“…Yes.”

“You’re not drunk?”

“I’m not drunk! I’m not a lightweight.”

“Yes, you are.”

“No, I’m not!”

“Sure, sure. Anyway, you want to go?”

“Yes.”

I took her to a nearby pub. We chose a corner seat to ensure our conversation wouldn’t be overheard.

We ordered draft beer along with skewers and assorted fruits as snacks. It was quite a lot of food for people who had just finished dinner.

I didn’t mind since we planned to eat leisurely while talking.

“Ahh!”

She let out an exclamation after putting down her beer glass.

“Beer really should be served cold, even in winter.”

“What’s the point of drinking it if it’s not cold?”

“Exactly.”

We exchanged small talk to lighten the mood of our drinking session before shifting to more serious topics.

“…How’s your mother doing these days?”

“She’s fine. All the debts are paid off… and she’s overcome her drug addiction.”

“That’s good.”

“But I don’t see her anymore.”

“Oh?”

“She still doesn’t seem to have come to her senses. She doesn’t try to earn money herself and keeps asking me for money. So I’ve just cut off contact and am living my own life.”

“That’s the wise choice.”

I said as I picked up a skewer.

“Come to think of it, my dad also came looking for me recently. He must have heard about me. He asked me to pay off his debts too.”

Once trash, always trash.

I feel that every time I hear about Bin Yoon’s parents. I was just grateful that she had grown up properly despite such parents.

“Did you pay for him?”

“Do I look like a pushover? Why would I pay for someone who abandoned me?”

She snorted in disbelief as she stabbed a piece of melon with her fork and put it in her mouth. She chewed it vigorously with a displeased expression.

Meeting her father must have put her in a bad mood.

“I thought you were a pushover. Guess not?”

“I don’t want to hear that from an instructor who shows excessive interest and help to his students.”

Well, that’s to keep you all from becoming villains.

“That’s why seniors and everyone else fall for you.”

…Huh? How did the conversation turn that way?

Her accusatory tone momentarily left me with a dumbfounded expression. I blinked at her for a moment before quietly saying:

“…Are you jealous?”