episode_0556

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“What’s this? Why’d you suddenly come here?”

“Suddenly? That’s my line. Out of nowhere, you tell me to clear my weekend schedule and all that…”

“I have something planned for that day, that’s why.”

“Don’t care, don’t care. Walking all the way here made me tired anyway…”

After sending Yozora a brief message earlier that night,

I had planned to take it easy and rest for a few days, but this drunkard, who couldn’t possibly have known my plans, barged into my place unannounced.

I asked why she came—not a single word of welcome escaped my lips—but watching her casually walk past me and flop onto the bed made me sigh in exasperation.

Even in the ten years I’ve known her, she’s never acted like this before.

Now, barely a year later, she’s treating my place like her own.

But I couldn’t be bothered to scold her for it, so I silently closed the front door and straightened the shoes she’d carelessly kicked off.

Compared to mine, her tiny sneakers looked almost meek sitting neatly beside them.

“Aah~… Maybe I’ll just crash here tonight…”

“……”

“Tomorrow’s free anyway… and staying up all night wouldn’t be so bad either…”

Still, I had a rough idea why she came.

Her excuse—that she didn’t understand why I told her to clear her weekend—was just that: an excuse.

With that flimsy pretext, she must’ve wanted to barge into my place alone.

Despite her slightly irritated tone, she was grinning the same as always.

And the way she immediately fused with the bed made me wonder if she was afraid I’d kick her out.

Does she think I’d actually turn her away if she just honestly said, “I came because I wanted to”?

…Well, maybe I would’ve in the past, I mused briefly.

For now, I sat down right beside Yozora, who was still sprawled out.

My hip brushed against the pitch-black stockings peeking out from under her skirt.

“Yozora.”

“…Yozora is currently asleep and can’t hear you.”

“There’s probably some juice left. Want me to get you some?”

“…Orange?”

“Yeah.”

“…I’ll have some.”

“I’ll bring it, so at least sit up properly while I do. Don’t just lie there.”

“Ah, as always, I’ll generously allow you to slip two Zolpidem pills into my juice~?”

Ignoring her lame joke, I headed to the fridge.

Since I mostly survive on delivery and meal kits when alone, there was plenty of space left even after stocking up on things others liked.

So, pulling out the juice I’d bought specifically for Yozora from the bottom right shelf, I filled a cup to the brim—

Then paused mid-pour when I felt something sinister creeping up behind me, not wanting to spill the juice.

“What now?”

“‘What now?’ If you really did slip sleeping pills in there, I’d have to act drowsy, pretend to fall asleep, barely stay unconscious, and only ‘wake up’ after you came inside me, right?”

“No need for that, so back off. Your chest keeps bumping into me, making me sway.”

“Ahaha~ You actually like it, don’t— Eek, eek!”

“Hey. Cut it out…”

Her thick-knit sweater.

The softness of her breasts pressing insistently against my back—I knew that sensation all too well.

Yozora, standing on her tiptoes, had wrapped her arms around my waist and deliberately pressed herself against me.

At first, I tried to push her hands away, telling her to back off because it was uncomfortable, but it was futile.

If Yozora put even a little effort in, I couldn’t win. So, resigning myself, I held out the cup of juice.

“Take it and get off me. It’s hot.”

“Tch… Hot, my ass… You’d be panting in no time if I slid your dick between my—”

“More importantly, weren’t you curious why I called you this weekend? Isn’t that why you came?”

“…Ah.”

Seizing the moment she loosened her grip, I turned around to face her. Her red eyes darted around before she answered, as if just remembering.

“…Well, um, I figured it was because you wanted to have tons of sex starting the new year… but I wanted to confirm with you. Yeah.”

“……”

I had only told her to keep her weekend free.

There was a reason I’d been so vague with Yozora, though.

If I brought up Seol Da-bin’s request with days still left, she’d probably cook up some weird scheme.

So I’d planned to tell her when the time came.

But now, wondering how to handle this, I figured it wasn’t that big a deal and started explaining the truth.

…Well, it wasn’t much—just that Seol Da-bin had broken up with her boyfriend and wanted to meet all my sex partners.

Anyway.

Surprisingly, Yozora listened calmly rather than getting excited.

Then, after sipping her juice, she replied:

“…I’ll actually be kinda busy then. Seriously.”

“Because of your training?”

“Yeah. More importantly, it’s not like before where I could just mess around. It’s gotten kinda serious.”

“……”

“There’s stuff I need to study, and if I end up spending the day with you, the whole day’ll disappear…”

I knew she’d been taking her academy life more seriously than expected,

but this was still surprising.

“Are you aiming for a position like Baek Seo-yeon’s?”

“Not really. I guess hanging out with Sua-chan rubbed off on me… Plus, with solid backing, I even got a shiny new identity?”

“…You and the title ‘hero’ go together like oil and water.”

“Even so, if I wanted to do anything else, the only place I can think of is your dick’s home address.”

“……”

“Or maybe Seo Woo-jin’s cum dumpster.”

A hero with no sense of justice.

A hero who’d do the bare minimum and laze around.

Still, thanks to her face and body, she’d probably scrape by with niche popularity—a future that was painfully clear.

Is this what Yozora’s hero career will look like?

But to me, she’ll always be the villain who whined about drinking together every other day.

…Swallowing my thoughts about how unsuited she was, I continued.

“That’s a shame. I thought it’d be good for Da-bin to talk with you since she already kinda knows Baek Seo-yeon.”

“Well, there’s Sua-chan… but she’s too much of an airhead. That’d be awkward.”

“Busy on weekdays too?”

“Probably?”

“Then what do we do…?”

Baek Seo-yeon already knows Seol Da-bin to some extent.

Yozora says she’ll be busy.

Han Sua has picked up too many wrong ideas from us to introduce her.

This leaves no one to introduce to Da-bin.

At this point, maybe it’d be better to set up a proper talk with Baek Seo-yeon.

Even if the two already know each other’s identities, they’ve never had a real conversation, right?

The most they’ve talked was when Baek Seo-yeon wasted time in the infirmary and they happened to bump into each other…

“…Ahem, hmm.”

“…?”

I was about to ask Baek Seo-yeon if she was free this weekend when—

Just as I wrapped up my thoughts, Yozora suddenly cleared her throat and gave me a look.

…Now that I think about it, her usual playful smile has twisted into a pout, like something’s bothering her.

“What?”

“…Instead of ‘what do we do,’ there’s something you should be doing right now, no?”

Yozora asked as if it were obvious, but honestly,

I had no clue what this “something” was supposed to be.

Was she telling me to move the schedule up?

But Christmas has already passed, and we’re at the tail end of December.

New Year’s is usually spent with family, and I’ve got plans with Lee Ha-yoon then, so rescheduling would be tough.

Weekdays before the weekend are when her training starts, making it even harder.

Pushing it back further would just drag things out, which I’d rather avoid…

“Just say it. I’m too tired for riddles right now.”

“Haaah……”

Yozora sighed loudly, making sure I heard.

Then, after downing the last of her orange juice, she continued.

“…So, Yozora said she’s busy this weekend. Right?”

“Yeah.”

“And when asked if she’s busy on weekdays, she said of course. Correct?”

“Yeah.”

“And Yozora thought your message about clearing the weekend was an invitation for nonstop sex. Remember?”

“Yeah.”

Her tone was weirdly teacher-like.

As I vaguely noted that, Yozora fidgeted with her cup and dropped the next line.

“…So then, why do you think Yozora went out of her way to visit you today?”

“……”

“…Ah, the juice is making me sleepy…”

“……”

“So sleepy… that even if someone forced themselves on me while I slept… I wouldn’t notice……”

“…You pulled this same act last time.”

“…Snore… Snore…”

“…Haa.”

…Kinda peckish.

“Hey, Ha-yoon. I’m making ramen. You want some?”

“No. …You should’ve eaten more at dinner.”

“Then I’ll just make one?”

“Eating at night makes you fat…”

“I’ll handle it. And skipping the broth helps, right?”

“It’s just that you don’t gain weight easily…”

Guess I’ll make myself some ramen.

Leaving Ha-yoon to her YouTube in the room, I rummaged through the cupboard alone.

Stir-fried ramen, white broth ramen—thankfully, there was one pack left of my favorite.

If Ha-yoon had said yes, I’d have had to pick something else. This small victory lifted my mood.

…Might as well toss in an egg while I’m at it.

The decision was quick. As the broth bubbled, I carefully cracked an egg in, letting it sit without stirring to keep it from clouding.

Then, chopsticks in hand, I sat at the table—

But remembering I was already having ramen, I went back to the fridge to grab some kimchi.

“Ji-yoon?”

“Hey, what the— I said I’m not eating…!”

“No, no. It’s just, I think my friend is doing her training at the same place as you.”

“…Friend?”

“Anyway, yeah. Your name came up while we were chatting, and I found out.”

“Why’d my name come up?”

“Dunno? Just came up naturally?”

“……”

“Here, look.”

Thinking she was just after my chopsticks again, I was about to shoo her away—

But Ha-yoon shoved her phone in my face, insisting I see for myself.

On the screen was a group chat between her and her friends.

Scrolling up, I saw them talking about family and whatnot until—

Ha-yoon casually mentioned me, since we’re at the same academy.

A friend named Seol Da-bin, who seemed to recognize me, took particular interest.

“That unnie—she’s the one from before, right?”

“The one with the boyfriend…”

“I saw her near Seo Woo-jin’s place once.”

“…Hmm.”

…Seems like she’s definitely at the same place as me…

Not like there are that many offices nationwide anyway…

With multiple options, people usually compare things like hometown proximity, hero reputation, etc.,

so it’s natural for some overlap if you live around here…

Hmm…

“Ah, can I have just one bite?”

“…? Hey, you crazy— I made this for myself…!”