episode_0007

“Wow, I’m sorry! I tried to adjust the strength as much as I could.”

“No, uh… I was just surprised by the sudden increase in strength… Could you lower the intensity a bit?”

“I’m really sorry! I’ll try to go in as gently as possible.”

“….”

My body trembled as if it was tingling inside.

I was on high alert, startled by the sudden increase in strength, but the hands on top of me slowly eased and started again, as if soothing me.

From Eun Jiwoo’s perspective, it seemed like she had completely lost her strength, as her fingertips didn’t come in properly.

“Ah, um… yes…”

The intensity was still there.

But having experienced that strong intensity at first, I could bear this level.

‘Oh… this feels good, doesn’t it?’

No, it’s not just bearable, it’s quite refreshing.

Occasionally, as I let out a moan and endure a bit, it finds and untangles the knots on its own.

Crackle…

I was planning to receive it quickly and get off, but as I received the massage, I found myself sprawled out on the bed like a rice cake.

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the rhythm that Jiu was providing.

“When you work at the cafe, you stand a lot in front of the counter, right? They say that working in the service industry can often stiffen the area around your spine.”

As she gently pressed on my neck, Jiu said.

Without realizing it, I let out a moan from under the pillow and smiled.

‘Is this small talk for icebreaking? She’s learned it quite convincingly.’

“Your hand movements are quite good… Where did you learn them separately?”

“Oh! I self-taught on the internet. I asked for three specially made steel mannequins and practiced until they wore out.”

“Steel mannequins…?”

“Yes! Superheroes have bodies as strong as steel. I thought that to handle those bodies properly, I needed the strength of steel, so I practiced with that.”

‘…Does that mean that if Jiu were to apply force right now, I would literally turn into dough.’

I shivered for a moment, but such a thing was unlikely to happen.

“Hehe…! Yes!”

Her delicate touch was still full of care.

Her natural flow, lightly digging into every nook and cranny of my back, shoulders, and arms, was exceptional.

‘Ah, this feels good… My fatigue is melting away, I might get addicted if this continues…♡’

She subtly increased the intensity, and the fine control of the strength adjustment was really nice.

And then,

Crack♥

“Uh-oh?!”

The hand that had been on my back and neck went down quite a bit.

As I felt the pressure on my lower back, I jerked and raised my neck again.

“Hey, wait! Where are you going?!”

“Huh? …N-no, it’s not a malicious intent, it’s part of the massage!”

“Even so, going that far between us…?”

“It’s really part of the advanced course! Normally, we only do the back and shoulders, but as a reward, I wanted to do a full-body massage for you…!”

As if to confirm that, she enthusiastically pointed to the menu on the tray above my head.

When I looked at it, it was really written on the menu. Basic 50,000 won, advanced 100,000 won. And,

“…What’s the erased mark at the bottom?”

“Oh, that, don’t worry about it! I wrote it down by mistake, but it doesn’t seem right… hahaha.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, please trust me just this once, as I’m going to focus solely on the massage.”

“….”

A sweet smile.

‘Even if it’s a bit too much to touch my body on our first meeting…’

Despite trying to be suspicious, the cute face and persuasive manner of the boy lowered my guard.

Whether it was boldness for his age or insensitivity, it was confusing.

Scratchhh!

“Uh-uh-uh…♡”

But this touch was real.

It pushed away the fatigue as if scratching an itchy spot, moving to the desired areas without me having to say anything.

Opening their mouth without getting bored, they focused on each other and broke the small talk appropriately to concentrate on the massage.

Tap, tap!

“Ah, ah…♡”

Not only the thighs but also the hip joints below the buttocks, muscles that are not usually used were stretched.

Folding and stretching, squeezing like toothpaste, and kneading to get the blood flowing again.

There’s no place like this.

“Haah, haah…♥”

But this feels a bit different…?

The body suddenly felt like a burning lump, as if the blood vessels had dilated.

Sensing the heat, the pores opened, and the chest beat rapidly.

I really lost my mind for a moment.

Unknowingly, Jiwoo turned her body over, looking up at the ceiling and breathing heavily.

‘Feels hazy… Feels good…’

Burning.

Although the body relaxed due to the coolness, the chest was still hot.

Feeling perfectly stretched even with a little effort, it was the best feeling.

Gulp♥

Furthermore, she felt hungry.

Something, a little more was needed.

If she continued like this, the incomplete feeling would be completed…!

‘Could this feeling be, could it be…!’

Trying to deny it, but Jiwoo approached with a flushed face.

It was so close that their breaths touched.

Trembling with wide eyes, Jiwoo slowly opened her mouth.

“Hanbyul noona.”

“Uh, yeah…!”

Internally screaming disbelief and disbelief─

“I’m sorry, but it’s time to open the store. It’s almost 8 o’clock……”

Oh.

“Get a hold of yourself!”

She stood up in a hurry.

And then she realized that she had to catch the rush hour commute, so she could only spare 30 minutes.

“Ah, sorry! I didn’t realize time was passing by so quickly!”

“Oh, that’s a compliment!”

A face without a hint of malice, smiling brightly.

Jiwoo hurriedly stood up and made a request as if adding just one thing to me.

“Noona, it’s the first time for a non-hero to experience this, how was it? Can you leave a review?”

“A review…?”

I hesitated for a moment.

I was about to blurt out my thoughts in a fit of anger, but I held back and approached cautiously, scratching my chin.

“Well… I liked the interior.”

“Oh, I decorated it myself, was it okay?”

“Y-yeah.

……But there’s nothing to see while getting a massage or resting. It’s better to have magazines or catalogs. Even though everyone is just looking at their phones, there might be customers who like the old-fashioned way.”

“That’s a good idea! I’ll buy them right away.”

“And also……”

I pointed out various other things, avoiding this and that.

I didn’t know much, but I advised on areas where I felt there was room for improvement.

“Noona, you’ve been a great help!”

“R-really?”

“Is there anything else you can advise me on?”

Actually, it was embarrassing to admit it outright, so I laid the groundwork first.

Seeing Jiwoo’s persistence and sincerity, I couldn’t help but admit it in the end.

“Lastly, about the massage……”

“Yes!”

Turning her fiery face slightly,

“…It was really good. Can I come by sometimes when I’m tired before opening or after it’s over…?”

This feeling that was 2% lacking.

Today, time was short, but if she did a little more, something would be revealed.

If she did a little more, she felt like something that had died inside her for the sake of business would come back to life.

Embarrassedly asking for a favor, Jiwoo nodded without any hesitation, like a good country dog.

“Of course! I’ll give you a lifetime free pass, Hanbyul noona!”

‘…So cute♥’

Indeed, a cute little guy.

The sign of an adult facility is the worst, but I can endure it for about a year just by looking at the massage and the face.

After exchanging greetings like that, I went down the stairs to the second floor.

“Ah~ Starting the day so refreshingly after a long time.”

Shaking my body from side to side, I opened the cafe door again.

With a much lighter body, I returned to the facility and calmly brewed coffee, thinking back on it.

“Wait, I decided to receive 15% of the store’s profits instead of paying rent, so if this store becomes really successful, maybe I’ll be able to sit on a money cushion?”

I sneakily add to my daydream.

But soon, I shake my head.

“No matter what, it would be strange if this obscure 2nd floor store became popular… Let’s wake up from this dream.”

I chuckle to myself.

“Oh, welcome!”

Rather than indulging in frivolous daydreams, I decide to focus on today’s tasks.

+++

Today, it feels like there are slightly more customers.

The chatter inside the café has increased, and so have the orders.

“Here’s your ordered Americano!”

As usual, the regular customer who has been coming for over two years smiles softly.

“You seem to have more energy in your voice today.”

“Oh… really?”

“It seems like you’ve had some tough times recently, but your face looks brighter. Well then.”

“Yes! Thank you as always!”

Leaving those words behind, the warm Americano in hand, the customer disappears.

“Is there some kind of lively aura today?”

I feel lighter, but I didn’t realize it was showing to the customers.

I’ve always put my all into running the café, but today seems different.

Thanks to my improved condition, the café is bustling with energy.

Drawn in by this atmosphere, more customers come in. And the sound of money being made makes me want to work even harder.

“Welcome!”

In any case, I receive the two customers with the same pleasant smile, who appear to be college students.

“Oh, two of you.”

“Yes, oh, two!”

“Um… but.”

“Excuse me, miss!”

“Me?”

The two college students lean towards me slightly and ask, “There seems to be a new store on the 2nd floor outside, what exactly is it?”

“It seems to have strange words like ‘women’s preference’ or ‘pleasure’ written on it… What kind of store is it?”

I find myself in a dilemma for a moment.

Should I clarify the misunderstanding?

I consider saying that it’s just a normal massage parlor and that the owner is a decent guy, but…

“Just ignore that strange store. I’m not sure myself, hahaha.”

…Sorry, Jiyu.

I can’t promote it separately because the sign is too embarrassing.