episode_0310

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“I’ll be right back—just need to use the restroom.”

About five minutes.

After sitting in silence, listening only to the sound of breathing and pages turning, I stepped outside with that flimsy excuse.

Had I been unconsciously holding my breath this whole time? Only now did I exhale lightly.

The once-quiet manga café, which had been nearly empty when we arrived, was now bustling with couples who looked like middle and high school students.

Along with the faint noise typical of minors who hadn’t quite learned proper manners.

If this were any other day, I would’ve frowned at the commotion.

But not today.

No—it was more like I couldn’t.

Because something else had taken up residence in my mind, leaving no room to care about trivial things like that.

Absentmindedly adjusting my empty wrist, I followed the signs on the wall until my gaze landed on the far end of a long, hallway-like passage.

A neatly written sign reading Restroom guided my steps.

Inside, a boy who looked to be in high school stood in front of the sink mirror, humming as he fiddled with his hair.

I gave him a half-hearted nod as he politely stepped aside, then began rinsing my hands under the cold water.

“…….”

How should I handle a ten-year bond like this?

Only now was I belatedly wrestling with the question.

—Ssshhh

“Hmm, hmm, hmm…”

“…….”

I’d noticed it before, but lately, Yozora’s demeanor had changed.

To put it jokingly, it was like she’d finally grown up after ten years.

Back at the hideout, she used to pester me daily—Let’s do this, let’s do that—like a clingy cat whining out of boredom.

On days I wanted to rest at home, she’d drag me out drinking without a second thought.

And after returning from the past, she’d been relentless, constantly badgering me to sleep with her.

But these days? She was acting more like Hayoon or Han Soo-ah would.

Change always has a reason.

And since I wasn’t that dense, I could roughly guess what Yozora’s behavior meant.

She probably has feelings for me—even if just a little.

Or maybe, after nearly being abandoned once, she was now pleading for me to cherish and love her.

There was a time she’d drink until she got on my nerves.

A time she’d deliberately act out, demanding to be taken by force.

But now—

Belatedly—

“Sigh…”

Not that she was annoying me now.

I could say that much with certainty.

But as for what I actually felt?

I don’t know.

We’d spent ten years together.

When people asked if we were dating,

we’d share an awkward glance before brushing it off with Don’t talk nonsense.

If I had to describe how it felt to receive something like a confession from a childhood friend like that…

Would that be close?

…Even though we’d always played it off around others,

when we were alone,

sometimes—

whether it was the mood,

or curiosity,

or some flimsy excuse—

we’d sneak into a room,

hide from the adults,

and shed embarrassing sweat.

If I had to describe how it felt to receive something like a confession from a childhood friend who’d done that…

Would that be close?

No matter how I tried to put it into words, they tangled and twisted on their own.

Even the phrases I managed to dredge up felt inadequate for this situation.

In the end, I splashed my face with the cold water that had been pooling meaninglessly in my hands.

I could feel the boy beside me staring curiously, but I ignored him and washed my face again.

Droplets trailed down my chin, dripping onto the sink.

Maybe it was the cooling effect, but—

Just a little.

Just a little better.

“Hello? Hey, it’s too loud, I can’t hear—”

“…….”

The boy answered a call from somewhere, then shuffled out of the restroom at a sluggish pace.

Watching him leave through the mirror, I grabbed a few sheets of tissue and wiped my face dry.

Nothing was resolved.

Nothing at all.

310

The noise outside was still going strong.

Compared to adult couples, there were several times more young students in uniforms, turning the manga café into something closer to an ordinary bustling café.

Laughter over board games.

Light chatter about this and that.

Even the mellow music playing through the speakers.

I’d imagined a library-like atmosphere for a place meant for reading, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.

Maybe it was because the books here were light—manga.

Or maybe every store just had its own vibe.

After shaking my damp hands a few times in the air, I headed back to the small private booth where Yozora was waiting.

“…….”

“…….”

No words were exchanged.

The moment I pulled back the curtain, Yozora—mid-yawn—noticed me and flashed her usual playful grin before patting the spot where she’d been lying.

I settled against the wall with a rustle, and Yozora, hugging a cushion, climbed onto my lap again.

“Haa… Comfy…”

“How is this position comfortable?”

“Well, you’re kinda shaped like a chair, so!”

“A chair—?”

Not too heavy.

But not feather-light either.

A familiar weight—one I’d carried countless times before.

But feeling it pressed against me like this?

It had been a long time.

No—maybe this was the first time.

Sure, there were memories of Yozora treating my thighs like a seat, whining about being bored.

But sitting on me with permission like today?

Sitting so quietly, absorbed in a manga?

That was definitely a first.

“We came all this way—might as well read something, right? I’ll recommend one!”

“…Dunno. Can’t be bothered. Don’t have time to finish it anyway.”

“It’s actually fun once you start! I only picked it up because of Soo-ah at first~”

At my dismissive reply, she leaned her head back and chattered away.

Even though she’d always preferred dramas and movies over manga.

Guess all three fell under the umbrella of fiction, so it made sense she’d enjoy this too.

She’s like the Yozora I know—

but not the Yozora I know.

The Yozora who’d cling to me without hesitation.

And the Yozora now—

blushing over something as trivial as small talk—

They felt like different people.

“Hmm. I think Seo Woo-jin would probably like something raunchy.”

“Don’t need manga for that.”

“Well, true~ With Seo-yeon or Soo-ah around… guess you’ve got plenty to look at. Mhm.”

“…”

“…I-I’m here too, you know.”

“…What’s with the tone?”

“Sometimes in manga… they talk like this…? Like, a young lady…? Or something…”

“…”

Yozora, trying to speak as usual.

Me, trying to respond as usual.

Between us hung a thick, awkward tension as I carefully adjusted my posture.

…Not because it was uncomfortable.

But because she kept—

pretending not to—

touching me.

…Well,

maybe it was accidental.

But still—

she kept—

brushing against me.

“W-Well… then, wanna read over my shoulder or something?”

“…What is it?”

“It’s a romance manga, so guys might not like it…”

“…Isn’t that what Han Soo-ah likes?”

“Mhm. Yeah? You knew?”

“…I’ve seen it.”

“Might come in handy with Soo-ah later. Let’s read it together.”

“…Okay! Then…, ……….”

“….”

For a moment, the idle thought crossed my mind—So this is what they mean by ‘uncomfortable.’

Carefully wrapping an arm around Yozora’s waist, I felt her stiffen like a startled cat before melting into my hold.

…This is better than before.

She’d claimed it was comfortable, but she’d been fidgeting like it was torture.

All those unnecessary points of contact had been… problematic.

I’d told her I hadn’t come here for that—if I had, I’d have taken her home—

but part of me wondered if she was doing it on purpose.

Over and over.

“…What? I’m watching, so just summarize. Or start from the beginning.”

“…Ah, this isn’t Volume 1… Ugh… To explain…”

But better didn’t mean good.

Far from it.

“…This girl’s the protagonist, right?”

“Yeah.”

“One day, the female lead’s family moves in next door, and she’s… blind… Oh, visually impaired…”

No matter how much it’s Yozora—

The soft, distinctly feminine sensation constantly pressing against my thighs wasn’t okay.

Not just touching—her weight made it impossible to ignore the pressure, and that wasn’t okay.

The faint, sweet scent of her skin, so close, wasn’t okay either.

“…Should we start from Volume 1? I’ve only read up to early Volume 2 anyway…”

“Wait. …Think it’s this one.”

The way she leaned against me, pretending to be defenseless.

The way she whispered, ticklishly close, as I reached past her to point at the page.

“I’ll turn the page when I’m done? You’re a native speaker, so you’ll read faster.”

“…Do what you want.”

The sound of black-and-white manga pages rustling in Korean.

The way we were like this, separated by just a curtain from the laughter and chatter outside.

None of it was okay.

Honestly, if we’d just changed the setting or the setup slightly, it would’ve been no different from the ordinary days we’d spent together countless times before.

But with all these circumstances overlapping—

It was unbearably hot.

“…Yozora.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re heavy.”

“H-Hey…! I weighed myself yesterday, and I’m definitely… Ugh, whatever, I’m not that heavy.”

“Whatever. You’re heavy. Change positions.”

“…Change how…? ……Oh.”

Gently pushing her off—since she showed no intention of moving—

I shifted her from my uncomfortable thighs

to the space between my legs instead,

then pulled her close again, just like before.

“What? Not turning the page.”

“…Hey. Woo-jin.”

“Yeah?”

“…Y-You’re touching… me. ……There.”

“…You’ve been like this the whole time, so just turn the page.”

“…Okay.”

We’re not dating.

We’re not even close friends.

Just maintaining that distance—

the one that’s only between you and me.