episode_0014

The food options in the cafeteria were quite diverse. From clean Korean dishes to simple porridge, there were also Chinese restaurants, sushi bars, rice bowl restaurants, and pasta places. Perhaps the patients were generally young and had symptoms that were far from gastrointestinal issues, allowing for such a variety.

“Didn’t you eat? What do you want to eat?”

There were many tempting restaurants around, and personally, I was craving spicy jjamppong.

“No, let’s just grab a coffee and head up.”

“Why? I have money!”

“Don’t lie.”

Even though I planned to sneakily pay for it, I chose a cafe so that if I couldn’t resist her stubbornness and didn’t use my card, it wouldn’t be too much of a burden on Lena.

But Lena’s subtle smile and “Hmm” made me feel uneasy for some reason.

“Alright, I get it. That’s how it is.”

“…What now?”

“I have to go see Lager…”

“Hey, we’re not on those terms!”

I yelled out in surprise. I quickly grabbed Lena, who stumbled backward in shock, almost falling due to her crutches.

“Phew, thanks.”

“It’s nothing. …Anyway, stop getting involved with him. He probably doesn’t like it either.”

“How would you know?”

“I know. Who else knows him as well as I do?”

With that remark, we headed into a nearby cafe and made our way to the counter. I was planning to finish the calculation quickly before Lena could catch up and pay.

“Two warm Americanos and a warm latte, please. We’ll drink them here.”

“And the payment…”

“Oh, just a moment.”

As I was about to order the Americano, I suddenly remembered the incident when I couldn’t drink coffee after eating a hamburger a few days ago.

“Oh, I can’t drink coffee.”

With a hint of regret, I changed my order.

“Please change the Americano to a strawberry yogurt smoothie. And add whipped cream on top.”

I briefly recalled the slightly watery whipped cream I had with Dakota, but surely they wouldn’t do the same here. As soon as I finished ordering, Lena quickly handed over her card.

“Here. Hurry, hurry.”

My urgent urging made the cashier fumble a few times in front of the card machine. My frantic behavior, as if someone was chasing me, must have been bewildering to the cashier.

“Hey, what are you doing! Are you paying now?!”

“Hurry up. Just hurry.”

I was really being chased, so there was no choice.

The sound of the payment being processed felt like the sound of victory. I showed the cashier the receipt once as a sign of gratitude, then confidently stood in front of Lena, blocking her way.

“Go away. No. I’m not changing the payment method. Go back quickly.”

“Hey, I said I’ll pay!”

“I’d rather eat flea poop. Buy it next time when you go out.”

“Fine. Okay, I got it.”

It was a lie. I would find a way to trick her into letting me pay later. Why should I let her take advantage of me when eating out would be more expensive?

I hoped there was enough space for Lena to lean on her crutches as I found a spot against the wall. Lena seemed quite satisfied as she sat down first, which made me proud as well.

Perhaps because there weren’t many customers, the vibrating buzzer rang soon after.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“I told you I’d come with you, but you’re working too hard.”

“Why are you saying that?”

I gestured to stop Lena, who was smiling slyly, and headed towards the counter. I hoped the strawberry yogurt with whipped cream would be fresh and well-prepared as I received the tray, but…

“Damn it.”

It was watery again.

Right away, I wanted to go find the author Hago, who was probably lying on the fifth floor, and ask if this world really only allows whipped cream management like this.

But didn’t they say even a tiger comes when you call?

Just then, a message arrived from Lago.

[When are you bringing the water?]

Has this guy lost his mind?

Seeing him walking around fine earlier, why treat a perfectly fine person like a well?

Ignoring the message, I put my phone in my skirt pocket and grabbed the tray before heading towards Lina.

“Wow!” Lina clapped enthusiastically, but when I put down the tray, she awkwardly smiled and raised a complaint.

“Oh! Ale, but… I prefer ice.”

“If you keep eating cold things, it’s not good for your stomach.”

“Okay. Since you bought it this time, I’ll eat it as it is, but next time, I’ll definitely have it with ice.”

I thought it was unlikely, but it turned out to be true. However, it wasn’t a situation where I could ask and order.

The seats in the cafe were all sofas, making it quite uncomfortable to sit. Sitting deeply made my tailbone fold too much, and sitting slightly forward was a bit better, but my tailbone still bothered me, so I had to slightly bend my waist.

The chairs in the hospital room had no backrests, so when I tucked my butt in and sat down, my tail was comfortable too, but it was a shame in that aspect.

“Should I ask for a different chair?”

Lina asked if I looked uncomfortable enough, but I shook my head. I didn’t want to make things more complicated since I had already been a nuisance during the billing process.

Then, as I unknowingly twisted my body to find a comfortable position with my tailbone bothering me.

Thinking about moving my tail towards the leg after crossing my legs.

“Oh!”

My tail moved.

For the first time, my tail moved as I wanted!

By crossing my legs and slightly bending my waist and pelvis, I pulled my tail forward to the front of my body, and now I could sit comfortably on the chair.

“This position is okay.”

I’m not sure if this is similar, but somehow, I felt like I might understand why women wear skirts and cross their legs.

Then, the phone in my skirt pocket rang again.

“Oh, seriously.”

“Why?”

“It’s Lago. He’s asking for water.”

As expected. This time, I didn’t even read it and just put the phone back in my pocket.

Lina asked with a worried look.

“Don’t you have to go?”

“Why should I? Do I not have hands or feet? You saw me walking around just fine earlier.”

“But who’s going to bring it is another issue.”

“I’m just too lazy to move, that’s all.”

“If it’s just that reason, can’t you ask the head nurse?”

Oh, right, Dakota was with me. But why are they not focusing on the conversation and making things difficult for the person who made room for them?

Daydreaming leader Lina began to interpret this situation according to her own standards.

“That means they want you to come quickly.”

“Ah, no. And whether you like it or not, I made room for you two to spend time together. What good does it do if I join now?”

“Maybe they just want to end the time they have together quickly?”

That could be true, but it wasn’t a pleasant situation from my perspective.

“Maybe it’s awkward. Were they about to fight?”

“It’s not because they fought, it’s just that I wish you were there between them.”

Lina’s words made sense this time. Dakota clearly likes Lago, so as Lago, that situation wouldn’t be comfortable.

But what can you do?

If they spend time together a few more times, maybe Lago will gradually adapt as a man.

By that time, it would be impossible for anyone to resist the allure of Dakota, who had a doll-like beauty that could captivate anyone’s gaze.

It was all a buildup for that moment.

No matter how much I complained, I would never give in…

Ring~

“Ugh, this is so annoying.”

I hadn’t even taken three sips of my drink yet. Why was this being so bothersome? As I thought about maybe writing a curse, I opened my messaging app.

[If you don’t come right now, I’ll tell everyone we’re dating.]

“Damn it.”

Upon reading that message, I reflexively stood up. Ignoring Lena’s surprised expression, I rushed out of the cafe and headed for the elevator.

Dakota was not necessary to avoid my ultimate goal and delay. Even if I excluded Lager from my surroundings, there was no law preventing other male characters from appearing. I would figure out a way at that time.

However.

‘If I continue like this, it’s clear how much trouble I’ll be in the future. What am I doing!’

There was no need to create unnecessary trouble and make enemies.

[Wait. Don’t say anything.]

As soon as I sent that message, the elevator arrived. I pressed the 5th floor button and frantically pressed the close button. Although I saw people running towards me from a distance, I silently apologized to them in my heart.

I don’t know why the time it took to ride the elevator felt so long. Surely nothing was happening during that time.

As soon as the door opened, I rushed in with an anxious heart.

Please, please don’t let things go wrong.

Swoosh.

As I opened the sliding door.

“I feel most comfortable when I’m with him.”

I doubted my ears.

What am I hearing right now?

After uttering those words, Lager avoided eye contact with me in embarrassment.

And Dakota, with eyes that seemed ready to burst into tears at any moment, stared at me with a piercing gaze.

“I now understand why you were so calm even after I sent you up so easily. I get it now.”

Facing this chaotic situation.

I felt a sense of distant despair, as if everything had gone to hell.