Sohee

,Hiek…”

The massage Sohee gave me was amazing.

That touch, as if sweeping away all the fatigue accumulated in my legs, and that strangely familiar sensation, made my whole body languid.

There was a mishap where drool dripped down my chin because the strength in my mouth was gone, but anyway, the massage itself was very satisfying.

,Hayeon… you look like a melted mochi…”

Ellie said with a slightly reddened face.

I got up from my seat at those words.

While putting back on the stockings I had taken off to get the massage.

,Did you feel good?”

I nodded at Sohee’s light question.

The area massaged wasn’t just my feet.

Beyond my feet, the touch that went up my ankles made the muscles of my entire legs feel relaxed.

Was that why? I couldn’t stand properly and staggered as I got up from my seat.

,Can you stand? I think it would be better to lie down a little more…”

,No… I’m okay. The match is about to start.”

I turned my head, checked the time, and said.

I was getting a massage from Sohee, and before I knew it, the match time was approaching.

The team’s leader looking so relaxed.

I bit my lip and patted my cheeks.

The warmth felt on my slightly flushed cheeks.

I only got my legs massaged, but my whole body felt hot.

,Let’s go!”

Steps moving forward with a powerful shout.

The rest of the team followed behind me.

If you leave the waiting room and walk down the long hallway, you can head to the stadium where the preliminaries are held.

The place we arrived at after walking down the hallway was a large fork in the road.

Each of the paths, divided into three sections, had a letter written on it.

The place we’re heading to is section B.

I looked around as I walked down the road.

Because I could see other teams walking down the hallway.

Their faces held various emotions.

Joy and cheers, anger and despair, and various other emotions filled the hallway.

I could tell by their expressions. Which team had won, and which team had lost.

I tilted my head as I watched them.

Is it really necessary to cry and laugh like this over a mere event match?

It’s something I can’t understand.

,Yeona. It’s not that way.”

,Ah, oops.”

I was too busy looking at people to go the right way.

I was led out of the hallway by Sohee’s hand pulling me.

A wide space unfolded as I left the hallway.

In the center, capsules were installed at regular intervals along with small partitions.

The capsule models were, of course, the latest.

It seemed that only new capsules, not used ones, were placed to prevent any complaints later.

,Oh…”

,We’re over there.”

As I was admiring the stadium, Sohee pointed to a corner and said.

It was in the same stadium, but it was a place created by utilizing a very small space.

That place, where only two capsules existed, had the title of “Deathmatch Only” attached to it.

Certainly, in a one-on-one deathmatch, you don’t need many capsules.

You just need to point your swords at each other once.

Looking at it from a distance, it seemed that the basic preparations were all finished.

An employee identifying the participating players, and an employee operating a computer on a small desk.

That seemed to be all the personnel managing the deathmatch.

,Are you the participants for the deathmatch?”

,Yes. Here…”

As I approached the stadium, an employee came forward and spoke to me first.

Sohee replied in a calm voice.

She took out the prepared documents from her arms and handed them over.

The employee standing there glanced over the contents of the documents, scanned them once with a small scanner he had, and nodded.

,Shinhyun High School confirmed. Please prepare in the temporary waiting room.”

,Has the opposing team already arrived?”

,Yes, they just arrived and are preparing in the waiting room. You can check their approximate profiles inside, so please take a look.”

Hmm…

I looked at the tent across from me at the employee’s words.

I couldn’t see the opposing team’s faces because of the long tent, but the legs sticking out from underneath it made it clear that the entire opposing team was made up of men.

,What are you doing?”

,Ah, I was just going to see the opposing team’s faces.”

,Do you want to see them?”

,No. Just because.”

There’s no time for this.

I shook my head and stepped into the temporary tent.

,Oh…”

I thought it would be a very crude environment because it was blocked off by a tent, but it had everything it needed.

A screen to see the overall match situation and even a headset connected to the in-game.

Information about the opposing players was displayed on the large screen.

Nickname: jeo222

Favorite character: Knight

It’s really just basic information, as the employee said.

All I can know is the opposing character’s height and nickname.

And their favorite character.

Preparation time is 5 minutes.

We had to choose our player before that.

I crossed my arms and looked around at my teammates.

To be honest, I didn’t think we would lose no matter who went out.

Of course, except for Seongshin-seonbae…

,Who wants to go first?”

,Me! I’ll go! I’ll show you the fight of chivalry!”

The first to raise her hand was the small Ellie.

She seemed to want to go out so badly, jumping up and down and waving her hand.

I nodded and replied.

,Okay. You can win, right?”

,Isn’t that obvious! Trust me!”

I can trust Jupiter, the Knight of Light.

After Ellie’s participation was decided, there was a slight commotion on the opposing team’s side as she went inside the capsule.

It seemed they were a little surprised after checking Ellie’s information.

It’s definitely surprising. Ellie’s height was very small.

,Hayeon-ah. Come here.”

,Huh?”

Just before the match was about to start.

I already knew the outcome of the match, but I was secretly trying to watch it closely because it was the first match.

When I turned my head, Sohee, who was sitting on a soft chair, was patting her lap.

That signal meant to quickly sit on her lap.

My body walked over naturally.

I don’t think deeply about it. It was an action I had always done, so there wasn’t even a hint of hesitation.

,Here.”

Sohee spread her arms as I got closer.

I turned my body and placed my butt on Sohee’s lap.

At that moment, Sohee’s arms gently wrapped around my body and pulled me into her arms.

Sseu-euk-

The sensation of my stockings rubbing as I went up.

It might seem a little perverted, or rather, it definitely is, but I liked this sensation.

A secret I can never tell Sohee.

So, I neatly closed my legs and leaned my body against Sohee’s chest.

The position was comfortable thanks to the soft cushion, but my heart was uneasy.

While I was naturally getting into position, Seongshin-seonbae, who was looking at me and Sohee, smiled with a subtle expression and opened her mouth.

Her lips were trembling slightly, and the tips of her ears were red.

It seemed like it was hot here.

,You guys… are so natural…”

,Because we’re friends.”

,Friends…”

Isn’t this much natural for friends?

I nodded at Sohee’s answer and crossed my arms.

Seongshin-seonbae would be surprised. As far as I knew, she didn’t have any friends who would do this kind of skinship with her.

,The match has started…”

While I was thinking about Seongshin-seonbae, Sohee’s small voice pierced my ears.

A voice that came like a whisper and a hot breath.

It thinly penetrated and passed over my neck and ears as if licking them.

A strange sensation, a sensation that should definitely be strange, felt strangely familiar.

,So, Sohee-ya, too close… Hiek…”

,I want to get closer.”

I was startled and turned my head.

Her lips lightly touched the tip of my ear.

Definitely, definitely touched.

Even though we’re friends, even though we’re not ordinary friends, isn’t this too close?

As I covered the tip of my ear with a surprised expression and looked up at Sohee, the corners of her lips softly curved.

,Just kidding… Was it ticklish?”

,Ye, yeah, it was ticklish like crazy.”

,Your ears are sensitive too.”

,Yeah, they seem to be very sensitive. So, please be careful.”

,Okay.”

I let out a sigh of relief at Sohee’s answer.

Just as I was about to turn my head and focus on the match screen, the match was over.

The result was, of course, Jupiter, that is, Ellie’s victory.

,Oh, when did it end?”

I wanted to see it because it was the first match.

To see what the opponent’s average was.

I looked at Sohee and Seongshin-seonbae’s faces in a flustered state, but it seemed that neither of them had seen this match video.

This is a disaster. Ellie would definitely be sad if she came out.

My heart ached as I imagined Ellie’s face distorted with tears.

Now that it’s come to this, I have no choice but to make up a story.

About a minute passed like that. The lid of the capsule opened and Ellie came out.

My conscience pricked as I saw her smiling with victory.

,Ellie! You won!”

,Did you see! That strike of mine!”

I didn’t see it.

But I have to say I saw it.

,I saw it! It was so cool! Right, Sohee-ya?”

,Yeah. It was very cool.”

,Hmph… Is that all you have to say…?”

Ellie crossed her arms and turned her head at my and Sohee’s admiration.

She said that, but she seemed very happy, judging by the twitching corners of her lips and eyebrows.

Okay. I’m so glad Ellie is simple. If I praise her a little more, I think I can get away with it.

,Just that? The opponent fell with that clean strike, right? I thought a simple evaluation would be better than attaching all sorts of fancy words.”

,Oh, oho…”

,Yeah. Ellie. You were cool. Do you need any other expressions besides that?”

,Hi, hiek… I was cool… Yeah…”

She’s completely 넘어왔다 (convinced).

I let out a sigh of relief at Ellie’s giggling appearance.

I succeeded in protecting the heart of a small girl.

,Then. Who is the next to go after the very cool me!”

Ellie went out, so now I’m going to go out…

,Seonbae.”

Just as I was about to get out of Sohee’s arms, Sohee opened her mouth.

Her gaze was directed towards Seongshin-seonbae.

,Uh, huh?”

,How about Seonbae going out?”

,Me, me?”

Seongshin-seonbae, who was standing blankly and looking at the screen, was startled and asked back.

,Yes. You practiced a lot, right?”

,Sh, should I…? Should I go out?”

,Yes. That would be good.”

Seongshin-seonbae smiled strangely at Sohee’s suggestion and walked towards the capsule.

It seemed that she secretly wanted to participate in the match.

Seongshin-seonbae went into the capsule like that.

Now I’m really going to focus on the match.

I looked at the screen from Sohee’s arms.

But…

Sseu-euk-

,Th, that, Sohee-ya…”

,Why?”

Sseu-euk- Sseu-euk-

A subtle, very subtle sensation gently sweeps over my lower abdomen.

Sohee’s hand is holding my waist.

She was spreading her fingers and stroking my stomach.

,This is a little distracting…”

,Was it distracting…? Sorry…”

,Please focus on the match.”

I like you, but I wish you could fully focus on the match when it’s in progress.

I slapped the back of Sohee’s hand.