Ch.96Episode 20. A Happy Day (3)

“Eugene oppa, what do you think of this scent?”

Koo Yeonhwa holds out her wrist, sprayed with sample perfume, toward my face. She waves her arm, urging me to smell it. As she waves, the blueberry scent spreads, making my eyebrows twitch.

It’s not too stimulating and has a subtle fragrance that isn’t bad.

“It’s nice. The smell.”

“How about this one?”

She sprayed another sample from an ivory glass bottle onto her other wrist and held it out.

“This one’s good too. Smells like some kind of flower. The refreshing feeling isn’t bad.”

“What am I supposed to do if you say everything is good?”

“What can I do if everything is good? What kind of image does your mother have anyway?”

The image I have of Michelle is that of a cold city woman, but surprisingly delicate on the inside.

“Hmm. Someone who appears cold on the outside but is unexpectedly attentive and a considerate boss?”

Koo Yeonhwa said with a serious look, her hand on her chin.

“What’s with that detail?”

“When I think about it, you’re a bit like your mom, Eugene oppa.”

Yeonhwa put down the samples and moved on to look at other perfumes. I watched her back with displeasure.

Me, similar to that woman? I’m starting to dislike that idea.

“Be quiet. Then you pick one.”

“I was going to do that anyway.”

She seems to be acting normal, but she’s been grumbling since I teased her at the hamburger place. She must be upset about losing face.

I considered it just her being cute as I examined products away from her, smelling the samples.

Then I discovered a perfume in a pink glass bottle and sprayed a little on the back of my hand. It must be a floral fruity type, as a subtle strawberry scent spread. As I quietly smelled it, I thought the sweet yet refreshing fragrance would suit Yeonhwa well.

“Eugene oppa!”

“Hm? Did you pick one?”

I put down the pink perfume and approached Yeonhwa.

“Yes. What do you think of this?”

It was a perfume in a yellow bottle. The citrus scent had a luxurious feel.

“It’s nice.”

“Great. Then I’ll get this one. The price is… 60,000 won. That seems reasonable.”

“Yeah? Alright.”

A clerk who had been standing nearby approached tactfully and picked up the boxed perfume, asking:

“Would you like to purchase this product?”

“Yes.”

“We’re currently having a promotion where if you buy one more product, you get a 30% discount. Would you be interested in purchasing another?”

“Ah, unfortunately, I don’t need another—”

“Oh, really? Then shall we pick one more?”

When I spoke as if I’d struck gold, Yeonhwa tilted her head in confusion.

“Instructor… oppa, what are you buying? Isn’t one enough?”

“Well, I have someone I’d like to give a gift to.”

I turned back toward the store. Without hesitation, I picked up the perfume I had spotted earlier. It was the one in the pink glass bottle.

“This one, please.”

“Understood.”

We follow the clerk to the counter as she takes the boxed items.

“Someone you want to give it to? Who?”

Yeonhwa, sticking close to my side, expressed her curiosity.

“Who do you think I’ll give it to?”

“Hmm. So you do have a girlfriend? I guess with that face and your skill at handling me like a player, you couldn’t possibly be single.”

Is it my imagination?

Her voice seemed to drop slightly, as if she was disappointed.

“Wrong. I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Really? That’s surprising. Then… are you giving it to your mother?”

“Not that either.”

Unfortunately, Eugene doesn’t have a family.

If Eugene had parents, would he have avoided becoming a villain in the original story?

While I was thinking about that, the clerk was scanning the barcodes and stating the price. I took out my card from my wallet and handed it to the clerk.

“Would you like to collect points?”

“No, that’s fine.”

“Would you like to pay in installments?”

“No, please charge it all at once.”

Even with a 30% discount, the perfume was still quite expensive.

“Also, could you wrap each one separately?”

“Of course. Please wait a moment.”

After completing the payment and returning my card, the clerk skillfully wrapped the perfumes and placed them in a shopping bag before handing it to me.

“Thank you. Please visit again.”

We exit the store with the clerk’s farewell.

“I’ll definitely pay you back for the gift. Even if I have to do a short-term part-time job.”

“I told you not to.”

“You don’t train in the evenings anyway. I just need to work about four hours then.”

“You should continue self-improvement in the evening. And you need time to watch anime when you rest.”

“Do you think I’m a child? I can go without watching anime. I can endure it.”

She speaks proudly, but I could clearly see she’d whine about wanting to watch anime once she actually started working.

“Forget it. You need to get stronger as quickly as possible. Don’t waste time on part-time jobs.”

It’s not like I can be by your side 24 hours a day.

“How strong do I need to become?”

“Until you reach S-rank.”

“Ehhh… how can I possibly reach S-rank?”

Didn’t you talk about turning evil and doing something to the world before? Where did all that confidence go?

“You can do it. If it’s you.”

I smiled with conviction. Looking at me smiling with my gums showing, Yeonhwa made a “hmph” sound and twirled her hair.

The blush on her face and her uneasy gaze made it obvious she was feeling shy. Anyone could tell.

She keeps showing these reactions, which makes me want to tease her more.

“…D-don’t smile unnecessarily. I’m still angry.”

“What are you angry about?”

“Because you keep teasing me.”

“I haven’t teased you at all.”

“Ugh! You have serious memory problems. Dementia already? Your future looks tough.”

“Want a knock on the head?”

“W-why do you always resort to violence? No violence allowed!”

I chuckled as she protected her head with both hands and kept her distance.

“Alright, alright. By the way, we still have some time left. Want to go to a subculture store?”

“Of course!”

She answered loudly with sparkling eyes, as if she’d been waiting for this. People walking nearby stopped and looked at us.

I gave a wry smile seeing her more excited than at any other moment today.

Still claiming you’re not an otaku?

* * *

Unfortunately, there was no subculture store inside the department store, but there was one in a nearby building, so the distance wasn’t too far.

An entire floor was dedicated to the store, so we took the elevator up.

As the elevator opened with a ding, I flinched at the sight of a character standee panel. At a glance, it was a blonde female knight. She looked familiar, probably a character from advertisements I’d seen on computers or television. I couldn’t recall her name though.

“Oh, it’s well-made, isn’t it? I’d like to take it home.”

“Don’t steal it.”

“I won’t steal it! Do I look that immoral to you?!”

“You’ll get kicked out if you’re too loud.”

“Hmph!”

I follow her as she walks ahead with a snort.

Then I chuckled when I saw the words “waiting line” attached to the wall. How passionate about subculture must one be to wait in line to buy things? It was a sensibility I couldn’t understand.

Fortunately, since it was a weekday afternoon, there weren’t many people. Most were young men. Occasionally, I spotted a woman.

Everyone seemed to have come for some light otaku shopping during their vacation.

…Maybe not so light?

I corrected myself as I saw some filling their shopping baskets to the brim.

“Ahhhh…! This is it. This!”

Yeonhwa kept exclaiming in admiration at the merchandise displayed. They were goods from the witch romance comedy she had recommended to me.

“Ha. She’s really pretty as expected. The witch is the best. The protagonist is so handsome too. Ah, I’m going crazy.”

Her hands hovered in the air, unable to reach into the display case. In my opinion, Yeonhwa was prettier than the anime character.

“Oh, the figure is well-made too. I wonder which company made it?”

“You even care about the manufacturer?”

“The manufacturer is important! Some companies are sloppy with the finishing touches.”

“I see. But I don’t think I’ve seen figures in your room.”

Except for the cute animal figures decorating your desk.

“That’s right. I don’t have space for figures like these. Besides, I’ll eventually leave the dormitory, and having figures would mean more things to move. So I decided to buy figures after graduating from the academy.”

“I see.”

“Ah, I absolutely have to buy this.”

She had already grabbed a basket and started filling it with merchandise. She bought everything from illustrations and posters to acrylic character stands.

It was almost a complete sweep.

“Seems like you’re spending more money than on your parents’ gift?”

She must be the type who can starve but can’t resist her otaku hobbies. When I asked with a chuckle, she snapped back, “Mind your own business!”

“Hey.”

“What?”

“Take my card.”

I took out my card from my wallet and held it out. She frowned at it and shook her head.

“No thanks. I’ll buy these myself. Why should I use your money to buy my things?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll get it all back tomorrow. Just use my card today.”

“I don’t understand what you’re thinking! You’re secretly plotting something, aren’t you? You’re so devious— ack!”

I brought my hand down on the head of the one talking nonsense. Yeonhwa flinched and squeezed her eyes shut.

“Hurry up and go shopping.”

“Hiing.”

She reluctantly took my card and resumed shopping while rubbing her head.

After shopping for a while, she headed to the counter. Meanwhile, I looked around casually and checked the time on my phone.

It was already past four o’clock.

Michelle’s house wasn’t too far from here, so it seemed like we should stop by an ice cream shop and a flower shop soon.

I didn’t forget to send a text message.

[It’s five o’clock. I’m coming over, so be home.]

She read the message but didn’t reply.

Feeling annoyed at Michelle for reading and ignoring my message, I was rechecking my plan when Yeonhwa appeared in front of me with a large shopping bag.

“What are you staring at your phone so intently for?”

“Ah, nothing.”

I put my phone away, evading the question.

“Did you get everything?”

“Here.”

“What’s this?”

She suddenly held something out to me. It looked like something to attach to a keyring. I believe they’re called key chains?

“It’s a keychain. Put it on your car keys. Since you still seem uncomfortable with this industry, I bought you a cute one.”

It was the white tiger pet of the witch from the anime. Looking at the pure white tiger image, Yeonhwa stammered:

“S-since I had f-fun today, I’m g-giving you this special gift! I’ll check tomorrow if you’ve attached it to your car keys… so make sure you do! Understand?”

While I was curious about her reaction if I didn’t attach it, I wanted to see her satisfied smile if I did, so I nodded obediently.

“Are we going back to the academy now?”

“No. We have one more place to visit.”

Now for the highlight.

It was time to meet Michelle.

I stopped by an ice cream shop and a flower shop nearby to prepare perfectly for the birthday celebration.

“Why are you buying a cake and flowers? Ah! Are you sending gifts to your mom too?”

She asked curiously as we got in the car with the ice cream cake and bouquet.

“That’s right.”

“But won’t the ice cream cake melt? It’s almost summer.”

Don’t worry. You’re today’s delivery person.

“Don’t worry about that. Shall we go? Fasten your seatbelt.”

“Okay.”

After confirming Yeonhwa had fastened her seatbelt, I stepped on the accelerator.