episode_0043

I took the first step to hold Hanabi’s hesitant hand.

That moment.

“Wow.”

I felt like someone had hit my solar plexus hard, and I felt sick and nauseous.

“Ha, Hahwi…!”

Hanabi, startled, opened her eyes wide.

She spoke with disappointment and concern in her voice and tried to let go of my hand.

“Uh, that… I’m sorry. I didn’t even know the topic and just asked you to hold my hand…”

I tightened my grip and held Hanabi’s fidgeting hand tightly.

“It’s okay, don’t let go.”

“The complexion is pale… Don’t force yourself to hold back, you can just let it go…”

You must not let go.

If you give up here, you won’t be able to overcome the trauma. Also, Hanabi would feel embarrassed.

“I know it’s because of trauma, but it’s still a shock… Those rabbits were okay… To me, it’s nauseating…”

Hanabi mutters to herself with her head down.

“Hanabi. Cheer up. Carrot.”

“Pat, pat. Lotus root.”

Santoto and Forest Toto patted Hanabi’s depressed shoulder and comforted her.

I don’t know when Forest Toto woke up from fainting and untied the rope.

Anyway, I thought those two would make fun of Hanabi, but it was unexpected.

“Butterfly.”

“Uh, huh?”

“Raise your head and look at my face.”

I still held Hanaba’s hand tightly and looked straight at her face.

I don’t know if it will work or not, but for now, I decided to put an animal on Hanabi’s face like I did with the rabbits.

Let’s see. An animal that resembles her…

Baby fox?

No, it looks more like an animal other than a fox…

After thinking and continuing to think, the image of an animal popped into my mind.

“···Red panda.”

“Huh?”

The animal that resembled Hanabi was a red panda.

To be precise, it is not a red panda that exists in reality, but resembles a red panda character with very large eyes that might appear in an animation.

And when the red panda was placed on her face, the nausea disappeared as if it were a lie.

This also works for Hanabi.

In that case, there would be no problem in joining hands with Seo Yi-eung and Isabella. Hopefully, this method can be used by other women as well. It is unlikely that such a situation will arise.

‘Conversing with a woman, making eye contact, and even holding hands… I’ve grown a lot, really.’

I felt proud.

The fact that we have achieved great progress by using expedient methods.

“Huh? The complexion has returned… I feel okay inside…?”

“Yes. It’s okay.”

“It’s really good, right…?”

“It’s okay. And the reason I felt nauseous earlier was just because I didn’t feel well today. I’m sorry if I offended you.”

“G, really? Wasn’t it because I was disgusting?”

“Of course it’s real. Why do I disgust you?”

I answered that and slightly curled the corner of my mouth.

It was awkward. It feels like my facial muscles are twitching rather than smiling. It’s still difficult to smile.

“Hehe. I shouldn’t wash my hands today.”

Thanks to telling a white lie, Hanabi’s expression brightened even more.

“Kang Ha-hwi. Well then, how about taking the next step? Lotus root.”

Forest Toto, who pushed Hanabi away and approached, said with a sinister expression.

It’s as if a hypnosis-breeding man is targeting the female protagonist and licking his lips.

Maybe it’s because the original version is pretty, but even with that expression on her face, she looks beautiful.

“Next step?”

“Since we have confirmed that there is no problem in holding hands with a woman, we are talking about going to a higher level of intimate skinship. Lotus root.”

The choice of words was also very vulgar.

This is my first time hearing something like thick sticky.

“For your information, I am not doing this to satisfy my selfish desires. Ha-Hwi Kang I am only suggesting this to heal your trauma. Lotus root.”

cancer. I guess so.

“Carrot. Not a bad offer. The higher the level of skinship, the higher the woman’s immunity will be.”

Santoto agreed with Forest Toto.

After all, that rabbit is no different.

“Joe, I think it’s a good idea… I also agree…”

Hanabi also nodded timidly.

Why is he like this again?

“Everyone seems to agree, so now we just have to decide what kind of skinship to do. Carrot.”

“So, how about putting your hands together? Or fold your arms…?”

“It’s better to just hug warmly. Lotus root.”

The three women shared their opinions.

I haven’t even agreed yet.

Well, I have thoughts of raising the level of skinship, but…

“I’m sorry, I don’t plan on doing anything more today, so you can stop sharing your opinions.”

Unfortunately, that’s it for today.

If you slow down your progress too quickly, it becomes poisonous.

Therefore, I planned to raise the level step by step without being impatient.

If you raise the level too much in just one day, your brain may be damaged.

“If you don’t like Ha-hwi, there’s nothing you can do…”

“It’s a shame. Carrot.”

“Lotus root···. Just one kiss…”

Additionally, even if I raised the level, I had no intention of engaging in sexual skinship.

We’re not dating, are we?

You should only do such things with someone you have a special relationship with.

The purpose of skinship was only to overcome trauma.

“Anyway, thank you for joining me in overcoming trauma today. Butterfly, thank you too.”

Except for Forest Toto, the other two asked for skinship first, but since they couldn’t thank Forest Toto alone, they expressed their gratitude collectively.

“No. Rather, we were thankful… If you need help, feel free to talk to me, not to these bunnies. Because I can come running within 1 minute…!”

“I can also run in 10 seconds. Carrot.”

“Lotus root···. If a kiss doesn’t work, just pat the butt once…”

So today’s skinship stopped at this point, and I even brought them dessert and sent them home. I would like to say thank you once again for helping me overcome my trauma.

***

As time passed, another holiday arrived.

3 p.m.

The raindrops that had been falling steadily became thinner, the dark clouds gradually cleared, and the weather became sunny.

‘The rain has stopped.’

On the way to the convenience store.

I was looking up at the sky and folding my umbrella after confirming that the rain had stopped.

“After. It was frustrating to drink at home, but it finally stopped.”

Cha Seol-yu came out of the building holding a soju bottle in his hand.

Come out as soon as the rain stops…

As expected, he was a person who did not exceed expectations.

Knowing that, I bought some snacks at the convenience store.

Cha Seol-yu sat down on the bench and drank.

What’s different from usual is that you drink from a small soju glass.

Are you thinking about your health now?

I was somewhat relieved to see that I wasn’t drinking from the bottle like I used to.

After I approached Cha Seol-yu.

He took out a few dry snacks from a plastic bag and handed them over.

“Eat it with this. If I drink alcohol, I feel empty.”

“Huh? What is it, when did you come?”

Cha Seol-yu was startled and spilled his drink.

She looked at my face and the snacks alternately, scratched her head, then timidly held out her hand and took the snacks.

“I’m sorry for always treating you like this… Anyway, thank you. I’ll eat well.”

After handing her the snacks, I sat down on the bench.

Then Cha Seol-yu looked at me with puzzled eyes.

“······.”

“······.”

“···Doesn’t it go in?”

“Shall we come in?”

“Huh? no···. I’m not asking you to go in.”

Now that I was out, I decided to talk to Cha Seol-yu.

Anyway, when I go home, there is nothing to do other than playing games.

“To stay here with you?”

“Yes. Because I was bored. Please pour me a drink too.”

“Do you want to have a drink together? Something seems to suit me often these days, you? Last time, he went to the charnel house with me.”

I think I’m talking about what happened last month.

There was a time when I followed Cha Seol-yu when he was going out because he looked lonely.

Just like she took care of me.

It was an action that came from my desire to take care of her.

Also, Cha Seol-yu is the first person in this world to have a connection.

She has now become one of the few precious people in this world that I can trust and rely on.

“Did Santoto and Forest Toto ask you to take care of me?”

“No. I’m just doing that because I want to become closer to my sister.”

When I answered calmly, Cha Seol-yu laughed.

“Now you can say such unfamiliar things well. Are your social skills improving day by day?”

“I’m constantly working hard.”

I got used to talking with Cha Seol-yu.

Because we’ve often had casual conversations like this.

“Very nice. At first, I thought what would happen if I became a social misfit and locked myself in my room.”

“Sister, please follow my example and try your best. If you drink like this all the time, you’ll quickly get into trouble.”

“I’m still reducing it.”

Now I can easily tell light jokes.

“That’s right. But Ha-hwi, I heard you were acquainted with Nabi?”

“Did the butterfly talk?”

“Yes. They say he’s a gaming friend or something… Anyway, Hanabi may be frustrated, but please understand and treat her well. He’s a bit lacking in social skills. There are also traumas like you.”

Just look.

It felt like only people who had suffered some kind of trauma lived in this building.

After chatting with Cha Seol-yu about various things and having a drink, about 30 minutes had passed.

Cha Seol-yu puts down his drink,

“Hey! If you want to drink together, come down! Don’t look at me darkly!”

Suddenly, I looked up at the top of the building and shouted.

I raised my head and followed her gaze.

‘······.’

I can see someone sticking out their face from the third floor window.

The face was blurry and hard to see, but I could tell right away that that person was Hanabi. That location is room 303.

‘Could it have been watching from over there…?’

Is spying on other people a hobby?

What are you spying on?

I almost got goosebumps at the incomprehensible behavior.

As I stared at the window, Hanabi quickly disappeared.

And soon after,

Craddangtangtang-!

With the sound of rough footsteps, Hanabi appeared at the entrance to the first floor of the building.

Hanabi came over to the table and sat down, panting heavily.

“Hmm, hmm! I was just admiring the scenery outside the window… We met by chance. Amazing…”

Hanabi took a breath, cleared her throat, and muttered.

She was a woman who could not bear to lie.

“Ah, anyway, I came out because my sister called me… It looks like he wants to drink with me, so I guess I should hang out with him… It would be uncomfortable if Ha Hwi and I drank together.”

It seemed like he was desperately waiting for us to call him.

Suddenly, the three members of our studio gathered together for the first time, chatting while enjoying the daylight hours of the holiday, and leisurely had a drink in a friendly atmosphere.

Today was also satisfying enough to put a smile on my face.

“Butterfly. Stop talking nonsense and get a drink. Politely with both hands.”

“It’s tasteless to get it from my sister, so I’ll get it from Ha-hwi…”

“Crazy bitch.”

It may be an insignificant day for some, but for me, it is a day full of joy that I have never experienced in my previous life.

I hope this peaceful daily life will always continue.