Ch.8Chapter 2. Private Life (2)

I felt pathetically unable to refuse when asked to create rumors about my friend.

“…”

That evening, even after returning to the orphanage, I couldn’t fall asleep for a long time.

As always, I lay listening to Jihye’s steady breathing—she had fallen asleep before me—while lost in thought.

What should I do?

Unless I explicitly refuse, the company will assume I’ve agreed.

And truthfully, refusing isn’t really an option anyway.

Noir Corporation isn’t called Noir Corporation for nothing. There’s a reason companies in webtoons have names like that.

They’re calling it a “suggestion,” but if they wanted to force me, they’d have plenty of ways.

They could even release my personal information.

…Even if caught, they’d just pay a small fine and be done with it. Their company image isn’t particularly great to begin with.

I feel like I’ve gotten tangled up with this company for no good reason.

It would have been better if I’d never known anything.

“…”

After worrying for a long time, I just closed my eyes and turned to my side.

Ah, what’s the point of thinking about it more? What’s done is done. I’ll just be as careful as I can.

There must be a way for both Hayun and me to avoid trouble. Definitely.

*

Despite thinking that way, I was still worried, so I had no intention of meeting Hayun within the next few days.

I thought the company would consider this reasonable. After all, companies work for maximum results and profit, not to torment people.

…

Well, I can’t say there aren’t companies like the latter, but anyway.

Bluntly speaking, if I approached Hayun too aggressively and she noticed something was off, it would create bigger problems for the company too. Even though magical girls from the Galactic Federation operate in a legal gray area where they “just don’t get caught,” if someone committed such crimes against a minor—

—Oh, that means I’d be in big trouble too, right?

So I planned to approach this matter more cautiously.

But then,

Ding—

After waking up as usual, eating breakfast, doing some quick cleaning, and taking a shower, I received a text from Hayun.

The message read: [What are you doing today?]

Since she was very young, Hayun has always found it difficult to be the first to suggest “hanging out.” She’s rather shy and not good at planning gatherings or taking the initiative to hang out with others.

I’m similar, but I can at least be direct with my (few) close friends or people I really dislike, whereas Hayun seems hesitant even when talking to me, her childhood friend.

Even though she knows I have plenty of free time.

[Just staying home]

[Then, want to meet up for a bit?]

[Sure.]

I deliberately added periods when replying.

It makes me sound more decisive. When I have to reluctantly refuse something, I use three periods.

[When can we meet?]

After thinking briefly,

[I can go out now.]

I included a period in this reply too.

[Let’s meet in 30 minutes then]

[Okay. I’ll head out then.]

We didn’t need to specify where. We have our usual meeting spot anyway.

“Are you going somewhere?” Jihye, who was unusually glued to her desk today, asked.

“Yeah.”

“To see a friend?”

“Yeah.”

“You have so many friends~”

When Jihye said this enviously, I just shrugged.

I always meet the same person anyway. I do have other friends at school, but Hayun is the only one I’m close enough with to meet during vacation.

“You should meet some friends too.”

When I said this to Jihye, who kept glancing at me enviously as I prepared to go out, she sighed deeply.

“They all went on a trip…”

“Oh.”

“…”

After an extremely awkward silence, I finally spoke.

“Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. You were in the same situation last vacation.”

Jihye said this while stretching out her fingers and examining her nails.

…I don’t have many complaints about living in the orphanage. Even though the facilities are a bit old, I think it’s not a bad place.

However, that doesn’t mean we’re particularly well-off. We often can’t join friends when they go on trips far away.

Thankfully, I’ve never had to miss school trips.

“…Ah, right.”

Jihye, who had been staring at her nails with a slightly sulky expression, suddenly looked at me with bright eyes.

“Can I hang out with your friend too?”

“Huh?”

I couldn’t help but make that sound at Jihye’s question.

“I mean, if that’s too awkward, never mind.”

Seeing my reaction, Jihye immediately deflated.

Just as I know various aspects of Hayun from being childhood friends, Jihye knows various aspects of me from living together.

I don’t like people touching my new things without permission. At least ask after I’ve opened the packaging first.

Food like fish-shaped pastries or hotteok that come in paper bags can be eaten without asking, but snacks in vacuum-sealed packaging should only be eaten after asking… those kinds of unspoken rules.

Unlike Jihye, who doesn’t really mind if others use her things, I’m quite attached to my belongings. I won’t get angry as long as nothing gets broken, but I still don’t like people touching my things freely.

…This wouldn’t be an issue if we had separate rooms, but I’m sure Jihye finds it frustrating to share a room with someone as particular as me.

And my “Huh?” reaction just now was similar. Just as Hayun has trouble directly asking to hang out, I unconsciously react that way when asked sensitive questions.

And that reaction is usually followed by a “rejection.”

“…Well, have fun then~”

She didn’t seem angry or upset, but the atmosphere suggested she was a bit hurt.

“Ah, then—”

I reflexively started to say something. Maybe we could meet tomorrow or the day after—

—I was about to suggest that when a thought occurred to me.

“Wait a second.”

“Hmm?”

When I held up my palm toward Jihye and took out my smartphone, she looked at me with round eyes. Judging by how she suddenly lifted her head that had been slumped over the desk, she seemed hopeful.

“…Let me ask first.”

“Huh?”

This time Jihye made the sound I had made earlier. I’m certain there was no special meaning behind it. It was just a sound of surprise.

I stared intently at my phone’s messaging screen.

What should I write? I have no idea how Hayun makes “new friends.” After all, we just became friends because we sat near each other in the same class.

“…”

[Hayun, sorry but…]

[Yes? What is it? If something came up, you don’t have to come out]

No, that’s not it.

[Um… would it be okay if another friend joined us?]

[Friend?]

Text messages don’t reveal expressions. They don’t convey the mood of a voice like phone calls do.

So it was a bit scary.

[That’s fine]

[Really?]

[Yes. Since it’s Jieun’s friend.]

She’s really such a nice person.

I almost jumped up from my seat but managed to control myself, and told Jihye, who was watching me tensely:

“She says it’s okay.”

“Oh!”

Jihye sprang up from her seat, causing her wheeled office chair to roll backward.

“I’ll get ready right away!”

Then she hurried to the closet to get her clothes.

I’m really glad I showered this morning.

Well, we’d get scolded by the teacher if we didn’t.

*

So, my plan was this:

The company would want Hayun and me to hang out alone. That way, they could manipulate angles and compositions to create articles claiming Hayun was “in a relationship.”

They seem to already know that Hayun isn’t mentally strong in that regard.

But here’s the thing—the company didn’t specifically tell me to meet her “alone.”

They just said to “stay close friends.”

So what if I put someone between Hayun and me?

I’d still be fulfilling the condition of hanging out with Hayun while simultaneously preventing photos from being taken.

“Don’t act like you know her too well.”

Anyway, I told Jihye in advance that we were meeting Hayun today.

Jihye already knows that Hayun and I are friends. In fact, not to brag, but there have been a few articles about me. I was only mentioned as “Friend A” near a magical girl, but still.

Even with my face blurred, people who know me would definitely recognize me from the clothes I was wearing or the places I was photographed.

“I know, I know. What do you take me for?”

Though I seem to remember her enthusiastically calling out celebrities’ names from a distance when a drama was being filmed at our school playground.

When I gave her a skeptical look, Jihye elbowed me in the side.

“Anyway, let’s hurry. We’ll be late.”

Although we live in “almost” the same neighborhood, I’ve been hiding the fact that I live in an orphanage, so I always meet Hayun near her house.

This isn’t about unfairness; it’s just what I decided to do, so there’s nothing to complain about.

“Ah, there she is.”

Jihye, with an excited voice, spoke before me and pointed ahead.

There stood Hayun, radiating a spring-like atmosphere even in this winter. She managed this despite wearing a thick coat, black stockings, a scarf, and a hat.

Hayun seemed to have noticed us too, perhaps because Jihye’s gesture was quite large. When I waved my hand slightly at Hayun, she shyly waved back.

She seemed even more shy today with Jihye beside me.

“Hello~!”

Jihye took one step, two steps, bounced lightly, and landed with a tap before greeting Hayun in an excited voice.

“You must be Hayun?”

“Um… yes?”

Hayun responded incredibly awkwardly. Much more awkwardly than I had expected.

“I’m Jihye. Jeong Jihye.”

“Jeong Jihye… miss.”

Hayun blinked and then looked back and forth between Jihye and me.

“Huh?”

Jihye blinked at Hayun’s words.

Then she looked at me.

Um… I didn’t expect this either.

Hayun isn’t the type to use formal speech with classmates. I think she used formal speech with other magical girls, but…

Ah.

“We’re the same age, same age.”

I quickly said this while pointing back and forth between Jihye and myself.

“Haah,” Hayun exhaled. Judging by how she was still blinking with round eyes, it seemed more like she was understanding while exhaling rather than sighing.

“Ah, um, um, um.”

Hayun’s face instantly turned bright red.

“Your names are similar, so I thought she was your older sister.”

“…Huh?”

I blurted out that stupid sound for a moment at Hayun’s words.

Older sister?

“Ah, I see. You thought we had the same generational name?”

Jihye said with a laugh.

Then she poked my side.

“Hey, she called me your older sister. I must look more mature than you.”

Hayun was startled by Jihye’s words.

“Ah, um, that’s not, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. It just means I look mature, right?”

I retorted.

“Ah, um, that’s not, I’m so sorry!”

Startled again, Hayun apologized loudly. Each time, her feet would lift about 5 millimeters off the ground before dropping back down as she turned toward whoever she was apologizing to, which was ridiculously cute.

Hahaha!

Jihye laughed loudly seeing Hayun apologize.

“You’re funny.”

At Jihye’s words, Hayun’s face turned even redder.

“But why are you still using formal speech?”

“Ah, um, well.”

“Hey, hey.”

I poked Jihye in the side.

“Give her some space. Even I wouldn’t know what to say in this situation.”

“Hmm. Is that so? Sorry.”

“Ah, um, no. It’s okay.”

“…Actually, I think I prefer you using formal speech. I’m feeling something here.”

When Jihye’s expression turned serious after watching Hayun continue to apologize formally, I smacked the back of her head with my palm.

“Ow, why!”

“Just felt like hitting you once.”

Jihye grumbled a bit, but I easily ignored her.

“So… where do you want to go? Are you cold?”

“Hey, why are you only being nice to her?”

Because you don’t fall into the category of “female” to me.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I put Hayun in the category of “romantic interest.” I’m not the type to look up at trees I can’t climb.

As we bantered, Hayun watched us with her mouth slightly open.

“Hey, Hayun?”

“Huh? Oh, yes!”

Hayun blinked and quickly answered only after I called her name again.

“Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”

“Ah, well…”

Hayun fell into thought for a moment.

She doesn’t seem to have any particular place in mind.

And that response gave me a ticklish feeling.

So… she’s close enough to call me without having anything specific to do. And she also believes I’ll come out.

If both Hayun and I were men, I might have felt a bit sad about it. It would have looked like two single male friends with nothing better to do, meeting up at the beginning of the year just to spend time together.

Well, the situation is actually similar now, but at least we’re girls, right?

I’m a girl too, but anyway, she’s also a girl.

I’m not sure what I’m saying, but the point is that I don’t feel particularly bad about it.

“Want to go to Hongdae?”

At those words, both Hayun and I turned our heads.

“What? Haven’t you been there?”

I’ve never been there at all.

In my past life, I think I might have gone… but I don’t think I went there to hang out like others do.

Did I go to buy comics?

“What’s there?”

“Um…”

Jihye seemed a bit flustered by my question.

What’s this? She doesn’t know either?

But thinking about it again, we’ve been to Gwanghwamun so many times that it’s become boring. We didn’t really do anything special there. We just walked around aimlessly, visited a bookstore, ate, and went home repeatedly.

But there was a good reason for that.

What would two underage girls do? We can’t drink alcohol late at night, and we’re not going to sit in a cafe until late either.

Unless we were Earthaboos who use cafes like bars.

Besides—

Right. If we suddenly change our destination instead of going to our usual place, wouldn’t the cameraman be extremely confused?

“…Want to go?”

So I cautiously decided to accept the suggestion.

Of course, what mattered most was Hayun’s opinion. After all, I came out because Hayun called me.

“Ah… um, well.”

Hayun’s face turned red.

Probably because not only my gaze but also Jihye’s was on her face.

“…Okay.”

With her gaze lowered, Hayun nodded slightly and answered almost inaudibly.

“Hey, she’s really cute. Should we take her home and raise her?”

I hit the back of Jihye’s head again.

*

Even though Hayun didn’t say much, Jihye chattered away enthusiastically.

Hayun, who was extremely awkward at first, seemed to be gradually getting used to Jihye during our subway ride. Jihye’s talkative personality was a big help in this situation.

After all, Jihye is considerate of others. At first glance, her personality might seem similar to an Earthaboo’s, but unlike Earthaboos who tend to put their own thoughts first, Jihye generally thinks about others first.

If she wasn’t like that, she couldn’t have shared a room with someone as difficult as me for so long.

Plus, you know how some people are naturally comfortable with physical contact?

Jihye is like that.

Well, part of it is that I’ve shared a room with her for so long that I don’t see her as a woman at all.

“…”

Hmm.

I was a bit concerned about Hayun’s gaze.

She had been carefully observing Jihye, who was naturally linking her arm with mine and pulling me along.

She had an expression that seemed to be seriously considering, “Is this natural?” The fact that she was wearing disguise glasses right now made that impression even stronger.

Hmm… maybe I should let things flow today.

Otherwise, it might look like we’re excluding her.

After making that judgment, I tilted my head again.

But wait, I deliberately brought Jihye along to avoid the camera’s gaze. If that’s the case, maybe it would be better to naturally stick with someone else and later make excuses—

—As I was thinking about various things, I suddenly felt my brain go numb.

Something touched my right arm, which had been feeling a bit empty while my left arm was being pulled by Jihye.

Hayun was holding my arm with a somewhat determined expression.

It was too awkward to call it linking arms—she was more like “grabbing my elbow”—but at least her hand was between my side and arm.

When our eyes met, Hayun’s hand almost lost strength for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure and gripped firmly again.

“…”

Well, I guess that makes sense.

Hayun was the one I originally agreed to meet, so it would be a bit odd to leave just her out.

And actually, if we’re all stuck together like this, it would be difficult for a camera to get a good angle.

I rolled my eyes around, trying not to let the two notice as I was scanning our surroundings while walking down the crowded street.

It was fortunate that there were many couples among the passersby.

Although there were more people than expected, not many paid much attention to the three of us.