Ch.91Episode 19. Making a Move (2)

The address Mitchell gave me was a restaurant in Jung-gu, Seoul. From the entrance, plants and multicolored lights intertwined harmoniously, creating a mood-setting atmosphere.

I walked through the courtyard and entered what appeared to be the main entrance. An employee standing at the counter spotted me and greeted me energetically.

“Do you have a reservation?”

“Ah, I’m meeting someone—”

Just as I was about to answer while glancing inside the restaurant.

“Yes. I have a reservation.”

A somewhat androgynous voice came from behind me. When I turned around, I saw Mitchell entering with her blonde hair swaying. Dressed in a beige long skirt with a white t-shirt tucked in and a black cardigan, she gave me a sidelong glance before addressing the employee.

“Mitchell.”

“Ah, yes. Ms. Mitchell.”

The employee checked a ledger and said:

“Please take a seat, and we’ll bring out your reserved menu.”

“Thank you.”

Her leisurely smile strangely reminded me of Gu Yeonhwa. While Yeonhwa’s smile was innocent, Mitchell’s conveyed composure and benevolence.

Is this what being an adult means?

But considering she goes to host bars, maybe not so adult-like after all…

“Are you going to keep standing there?”

Mitchell had already turned and was heading inside. She pointed out my dazed state while making clicking sounds with her heels.

“It seems that person knows you.”

I gave the employee a light smile and followed Mitchell inside.

The interior was decorated with numerous small lights attached to the ceiling like constellations, creating a pleasantly dim atmosphere.

She plopped down in a corner seat with a sigh. The table was covered with a clean white tablecloth, and plates, knives, and forks were already set up.

Placing her bag beside her, she looked up at me and said:

“This is amusing.”

“Pardon?”

“Seeing the instructor standing at the entrance, looking completely lost.”

“…You’re quite cold.”

I sat down across from her with a wry smile.

“That’s why I get cursed at for insisting on meeting when you clearly don’t want to.”

“If I didn’t insist, you wouldn’t meet me at all.”

“It’s not like I’m courting someone my age.”

While I had no intention of courting her, I did plan to build enough goodwill and trust. Enough that she wouldn’t throw a fit if I suddenly showed up with Gu Yeonhwa on her birthday.

…Would that be possible even with high affinity? If not, I’ll just have to take the verbal abuse.

“I don’t intend to court you, but I would like to build some goodwill.”

“Do you think you’ll gain any goodwill by being this annoying?”

“I have to try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. But this place has a nice atmosphere.”

I could see couples at several tables cuddling and whispering to each other. Irritatingly so. Tsk.

“…This is one of my favorite places.”

“Hmm. Does sharing your favorite place with me mean you had some expectations?”

Mitchell snorted at my words.

“Expectations? What expectations? I just came here because I like it. I also wanted to eat the food here after a long time.”

“If it’s been a while… I guess you’ve been here many times with Yeonhwa.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

She rested her chin on her hand with an indifferent expression. She showed no reaction to the mention of Yeonhwa.

“Hmm…”

Taking advantage of the brief pause in our conversation, two employees approached and set down our food.

It seemed to be a set meal, starting with bread, salad, and soup.

“Please eat. Since you’ve come all this way, I’ll treat you specially.”

Treat me? Does that mean she’s paying?

That’s not bad for me. Under the pretext of treating her next time, I could set up another meeting.

“I see. Then I’ll accept without hesitation.”

I tore off a piece of bread and dipped it in the soup. The taste was similar to other soups, but the aroma was stronger. The bread was soft and went down easily. The salad was decent too.

“Delicious, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“It’s a set meal, so take your time eating before you leave.”

“You were quite cold on the phone, but you’re being more considerate than I expected?”

“I had a headache then.”

“So you were awake after all?”

“…”

Mitchell stared at me with displeasure. She stabbed her salad with her fork and said:

“It’s not consideration. It’s to keep you quiet. To stop you from telling Yeonhwa. Besides…”

“Besides?”

Mitchell studied my reaction, then shook her head saying, “It’s nothing,” before taking a spoonful of soup.

“Please finish what you were saying.”

I clicked my tongue in disappointment.

“I did tell you to eat slowly, but what did you want to talk about that made you ask for dinner together? Surely you’re not trying to seduce me.”

“Hmm. There might be some of that.”

The most efficient way to build goodwill and trust was to lead with a romantic interest.

Not that I actually intended to create such a relationship. I just needed enough goodwill.

“What did you say?”

“I’m joking.”

I said with a smile. I casually ignored her suspicious gaze while crunching on my salad.

Judging by her reaction, she didn’t seem completely repulsed, but I couldn’t let my guard down. Women who have been deeply hurt by men are much more sensitive than one might think.

Still, her demeanor seemed much better than when we first met.

She must have been thinking about Yeonhwa in the meantime.

“Do you contact Yeonhwa often?”

“No.”

She glared at me before answering my casual question. Should I be grateful she even answered?

“But Yeonhwa keeps texting you, right?”

“…Yes, I suppose so.”

If it’s true, why say “I suppose so”?

Why twist every word? Besides, I already know Yeonhwa texts her.

I avoid calling unless necessary to prevent interference, but I do send texts occasionally in daily life.

She probably sent something like, “I developed an amazing technique today! It’s called Black Flame Spear, and it’s super fast! With incredible penetration power!” while making a fuss.

The thought was kind of cute.

“But is Yeonhwa still childishly watching and imitating animations?”

“She seems to be restraining herself somewhat, but she still enjoys it.”

There was no reason to hide what I knew from a parent.

She would find out soon enough anyway. Better to be truthful than to lose credibility with unnecessary lies.

“That’s not a proper hobby. Do you know how many times I was called to school because of that…”

I understand that. I had quite a headache about it at the beginning of the semester too.

“She must have had her own struggles. A ‘reason’ she couldn’t cope without it.”

It would be difficult to blame the child unconditionally. If one has a conscience.

She seemed to recognize this, closing her mouth that she had opened to object.

As our conversation paused again, the staff came and set down large steaks. They were already glistening with juices oozing from between the cuts.

“Stop talking nonsense and eat.”

“A man and woman meet, and we just eat? Maybe if it was just guys hanging out…”

I laughed and smoothly countered Mitchell’s casual commanding tone.

“Before being a man and woman, we’re a parent and an instructor, Ms. Yujin.”

“I’m well aware.”

“Are you? I was just advising in case you were confused.”

“Is that so? Thank you then.”

I deflected her sarcasm lightly while cutting into the tender steak. When I put a piece in my mouth, it melted, bursting with juices. Oh, delicious.

“This might be a bit rude, but may I ask one thing?”

“Knowing it’s rude but asking anyway seems problematic, doesn’t it?”

This seemed like permission. I could sense a slight curiosity in her nuance.

“…Why do you hate Yeonhwa so much?”

“I don’t particularly hate her…!”

Yeonhwa chose to be the target of her anger. To gain a small bit of ‘attention’ from Mitchell.

Because the only time her indifferent mother ever paid attention was when she brought subculture into reality.

That’s why Yeonhwa doesn’t know any other way to get Mitchell’s attention. Stubbornly so.

“…Yeonhwa is kind. She never shows her feelings outwardly. She’ll hold everything in and cry where no one can see her.”

“I’m not hating her. It’s just… just… confusing.”

“For years?”

“Yes! I’m sorry for being confused for years!”

She answered irritably and poured herself some water. I casually cut my steak and said offhandedly:

“Then… why not try facing it first?”

“What?”

“When you don’t know anything, seeing is the first step toward change.”

Even when solving difficult problems, don’t you start by reading the problem statement?

I’m essentially telling Mitchell to look at the solution and copy it, but she’s refusing.

Honestly, I wonder if I should help someone who refuses this much, but having Mitchell around was certainly more stable for achieving the best ending.

However, Yeonhwa is already seeping into my life, and I plan to greatly expand how much she can rely on me starting with this birthday.

From then on, I have no intention of giving any more chances.

In a way, this could be considered my last act of compassion toward her.

“Who doesn’t know that.”

“Then since you know, I’ll be taking Yeonhwa home for her birthday.”

“What?”

I grinned somewhat provocatively at Mitchell, who was staring blankly with a fork stuck in her meat.

She snorted, seemingly incredulous at my boldness in not considering her position as a parent. Judging by her increasingly grim expression, I must have hit the right button.

“You really do choose to be as annoying as possible, don’t you?”

“Then let’s establish some grounds. I’ll treat you to the next meal. Let’s have a nice birthday dinner.”

“No thanks.”

“Then are you planning to spend this birthday too with just a brief call to Yeonhwa, drinking alone?”

“How did you… Did you have someone follow me?”

She asked sharply, furrowing her brow so deeply that wrinkles formed on her nose bridge. I shook my head.

“I didn’t have anyone follow you. I’m just very interested.”

“Interested, you say. I didn’t realize you were such a nuisance. In Yeonhwa’s texts, she said you were a kind and sensitive instructor.”

“Oh. Yeonhwa said that? That’s very kind of her. By the way, you don’t exchange texts but you check every message she sends?”

I raised my eyebrow at her startled reaction and smiled. I now understood why Mitchell had shown me some goodwill.

“Really… what are you trying to do?”

“Anyway, it’s a promise. If you avoid it again, I’ll make Yeonhwa mine.”

If I had an ugly face or poor abilities, this would be a statement easily dismissed.

But Yujin was handsome and his abilities were top-tier. He could easily captivate Yeonhwa.

Moreover, with Yeonhwa’s confirmed interest in me, it wouldn’t take long to make her fall completely.

Of course, I don’t really intend to do that, but she will come to rely on me entirely. Isn’t that a form of taking her away?

“W-what! So you were after her all along?!”

In the other world, this would be a professor-student relationship, so such statements would be absolutely forbidden.

But this world is different. With a worldview that encourages procreation between ability users, there would be less resistance.

It’s not like I’m over thirty either.

“After her? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I absolutely won’t allow it!”

Her agitated voice echoed through the restaurant, causing the couples dining romantically nearby to look our way. Mitchell bit her lower lip hard and glared at me, conscious of the attention.

If Yeonhwa got angry and glared, would it look like this? Though I think Yeonhwa would be cuter.

“Then be home on July 11th. I’ll visit with Yeonhwa.”

“This guy is completely insane…”

“I’ll be insane just for today.”

If Mitchell were to text Yeonhwa now, telling her to stay away from me, that would be even better.

Though sent in anger, it would lead to more texts, which would positively influence their relationship.

“Do you have any interest in meeting me again before then?”

“No, I don’t.”

She answered angrily. If she had said yes, I was planning to meet once more and spend ample time together, but that’s unfortunate.

“Then there’s no helping it. Shall we continue our meal?”

“What kind of instructor is this…”

After that, I continued to make conversation while eating, and each time, she would grimace and nibble at her food.

She seemed to have a lot on her mind.

She should have just listened when I tried to talk.