episode_0557

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At first glance, New Year’s celebrations may seem varied from person to person, but in reality, they largely fall into two categories.

One group consists of those who attach little meaning to December 31st and January 1st.

These are the people who grumble, “It’s just another day—why make a fuss?”—the perennial troublemakers who transcend generations and often get lumped together when elders scold, “Kids these days…”

The other group, of course, is those who place great significance on December 31st and January 1st.

Unlike those who argue that every day is just one of 365 identical days, these are people who genuinely want to celebrate the monumental moment of the year changing.

With family, with friends, with loved ones.

People who want to leave behind a day as a memory.

Baek Seo-yeon considered herself closer to the former.

She wasn’t the type to fuss over New Year’s, let alone any other special occasion.

Going out of her way to prepare a fancy cake or seaweed soup for a birthday?

She found such actions bothersome.

Besides, with Yozora around—someone who subtly kept track of these things—she had even less reason to do anything herself.

At most, when Yozora would noisily remind her that her own birthday was coming up, Seo-yeon might half-heartedly look for a gift.

Or, if even that felt like too much effort, she’d just send cash with a “Buy something yourself.”

It was always the same.

Occasionally, she wondered if it was because she grew up in an orphanage, devoid of love—but that was as far as the thought went.

Nothing ever changed.

Her values.

Or perhaps her nature.

She figured it was something along those lines.

“…….”

December 31st.

The evening had gradually deepened into red before she noticed.

Leaning against the wall of a crowded subway car, Baek Seo-yeon stared blankly at the message she had received the day before.

The sender was Seo Woo-jin.

The content? A question about whether they could meet briefly on the first weekend of the new year.

Since she wasn’t particularly busy that weekend, she had replied with a simple “Sure.”

…Though the message also mentioned that Seol Da-bin would be there, it didn’t matter.

Had there ever been a time when seeing her had bothered Seo-yeon?

Besides, any man would inevitably end up obsessed with the gumiho’s body anyway…

Lost in thought, Seo-yeon’s gaze lingered on the most crucial part of the message.

So, she would meet Woo-jin—but not until the first weekend of the new year.

…Meeting today or tomorrow was out of the question.

Seeing Woo-jin would have to wait until the first weekend of the new year.

Frustrated, she flicked through her calendar app before letting out a deep sigh.

“…….”

…Maybe she should just go to bed early.

Or…

557

“What’s this about…? When I suggest drinking, you’re always too busy and tell me to get lost… But now you’re the one asking me out for drinks…? …Wait, don’t tell me—”

“Don’t tell me what.”

“…Who are you? What did you do to Seo-yeon? Did you eat her?”

“Stop talking nonsense and just come in.”

“Huh…? This rude tone is definitely Seo-yeon’s… But if you suddenly change personalities, it’ll kill me…”

“One more word and I’m closing the door. …And you already reek of alcohol.”

“Mm. I was just having a little drink with my classmates~…”

“…Must be nice, living such a busy life.”

December 31st.

A night so dark it looked like ink had been spilled across the sky, without a single star in sight.

Baek Seo-yeon, who had been about to wash up and go to bed as usual, changed her mind and called Yozora instead.

Honestly, she just didn’t want to sleep like this and wake up to tomorrow feeling unsatisfied.

Spending the last day of the year like any other day felt… off, somehow.

She had never cared about year-end celebrations before—why now? It was strange.

But admitting this to Yozora didn’t sit right with her either, so she ended up opening the door while feigning irritation.

“Ah! Did you start liking alcohol after that Christmas party?”

“…Call it that if you want.”

“‘Call it that’? Why can’t you just be honest— Ow…”

“…….”

“Then again, it took you forever just to admit you liked someone~ Hmph…”

“…That’s… That’s not something you say lightly.”

“Anyway. Anyway. You’re so full of feminine charm at times like this, you know?”

“…….”

Did Yozora confess her feelings to Woo-jin the moment she saw him?

The thought that she absolutely hadn’t crossed Seo-yeon’s mind briefly before she took the convenience store bag Yozora handed her.

In the past, Yozora would have stuffed the bag full of alcohol, but since she had started moderating her drinking, the bag now held eight cans of beer—brands Seo-yeon didn’t recognize.

She didn’t drink often, so she wasn’t sure, but these were probably the kind sold at convenience stores for a few bucks a can.

It still felt like a lot to her, but since it was better to have too much than too little, she didn’t say anything.

Instead, she brought up someone else’s name.

“Should’ve just invited Sua like last time.”

“Huh? Sua-chan went back home. Her actual home.”

“…Ah, right. With the training coming up. Might as well see her parents too.”

“I heard she went to visit the private tutor who taught her how to handle a sword.”

“Private tutor…? He’s an active-duty hero, but she calls him a tutor?”

“It’s not wrong, is it?”

Who could it be? Someone like Han Sua wouldn’t have learned from just anyone, so Seo-yeon was briefly curious—but it didn’t last.

With the stark white convenience store bag in hand, she headed to the living room.

Her apartment was so devoid of clutter it felt empty rather than clean.

When the convenience store bag was placed on the table in the center, the space finally began to feel a little lived-in.

No—more than lived-in, it now felt slightly messy with just this one addition.

For someone like Yozora, who had once decorated her entire place with liquor bottles, this probably meant nothing.

In any case, even if she didn’t drink much, she wasn’t so clueless as to not know she had to take everything out of the bag.

As Seo-yeon rustled through the bag and pulled out its contents one by one, Yozora, lounging on the sofa as if it were her own, chattered away with questions, naturally drawing Seo-yeon’s attention.

“Should I invite Woo-jin too?”

A ridiculous suggestion.

Seo-yeon sighed and trudged toward the kitchen to answer.

“He’s probably with his girlfriend. Even if you invite him, he won’t come.”

“But there’s no harm in asking, right? I’ll call him.”

“…….”

There was no way he’d come.

Right about now, that idiot was probably watching TV with his girlfriend.

Using her thighs as a pillow.

Or maybe Lee Ha-yoon—that ridiculously cute girl—was curled up awkwardly in his lap.

…Or maybe they were just having sex, with his little sister joining in.

Whatever the case, coming here would be impossible.

At best, he might spare a moment for a quick call.

…Still.

Even just hearing his voice for a bit—

That might be nice.

“He’s not picking up. Must be busy?”

“…I told you he’s with his girlfriend. How could he answer?”

“He could sneak off to the bathroom and take it. Or step outside for a minute.”

“That’s… ……Whatever. Just hang up and stop bothering—”

“Huh? Oh, hello?”

“…….”

“Are you outside? I can barely hear you over the cars.”

“…….”

Was this real?

Or was Yozora just messing with her, as usual?

Seo-yeon glanced at Yozora as she walked toward the kitchen, but Yozora was still gripping her phone tightly.

Part of her wanted to tell Yozora to switch to speakerphone, but her thin pride stopped her.

She had just said, “How could he answer?”—wouldn’t it make her look pathetic if he actually picked up less than ten seconds later?

All she could do was listen carefully for any sound from Yozora’s phone while the girl grinned.

“…….”

…To think she was hiding in the kitchen like this, straining her fox ears—a mutant ability—just for this.

It was a little embarrassing.

But as she listened,

that thought faded away.

“Ah~ On the way to my girlfriend’s place~”

—Yeah. We had dinner, and I’m just stopping by my place to grab a few things.

“Why? Need to pick up condoms?”

—Ha-yoon’s place has plenty. Just changing clothes this time.

“Why the change?”

—The restaurant was the kind where you can’t just show up in whatever. Had to dress up a bit.

“Some fancy hotel buffet? I wanna go too~”

—A Korean fine-dining place I booked a while ago. …And you could afford that too, you know.

“It’s just that the person I want to go with keeps prioritizing his girlfriend.”

—…Next time. Later. Somewhere farther away.

Even though all she could do was listen to Woo-jin’s voice—

Even though it was clear he wouldn’t come, since he was on his way to his girlfriend’s place—

Just as she had thought earlier,

hearing his voice alone made her feel a little better.

…I must look like such an idiot right now.

Being happy just hearing his voice—isn’t that what men bewitched by a gumiho do?

What was the point of all those rumors about gumiho she’d heard?

…Ah, right. Plates. Need to grab plates.

And utensils…

“Ah, right. Seo-yeon’s here with me right now.”

—Baek Seo-yeon? Why?

“W-We had dinner together…! Anyway, want me to pass the phone?”

—Dinner… ……So you two are drinking, huh.

“N-No way…!”

—Well, it is the end of the year. Just don’t overdo it.

“……That’s… Uh…”

While Seo-yeon was still stealthily twitching her fox ears, her own name snapped her back to attention, and she quickly hid them.

The partial wall between the living room and kitchen provided some cover—her ears probably hadn’t been spotted.

But pretending not to hear Yozora’s voice when they were this close… wasn’t an option.

Pressing the back of her hand to her cheek to check its temperature, Seo-yeon numbly grabbed the dishes and mismatched utensils before walking back to the living room.

“Here. Take it. Woo-jin’s on his way to his girlfriend’s place.”

“…….”

“So he probably can’t come, right?”

There were so many things she wanted to say.

She wanted to ask, “Can’t you come here instead?”

She wanted to sneer, “Is screwing your little sister that fun?”

“…….”

But when Yozora handed her the phone—

December 31st.

A date like any other, one that comes once a year—

A special date, one that comes once a year—

When the familiar voice on the other end said, “Hello?”—

Without thinking, Seo-yeon’s voice softened as she replied.

“……Happy New Year.”

—Ah, you too, Baek Seo-yeon. Happy New Year.

“…Have you heard it from anyone else yet? ‘Happy New Year’?”

—No. You’re the first.

“…I see.”

…Just like you were my first.

Even if it’s something small.

Even if it’s trivial.

I wanted to be your first.

Even if it’s a little early.