“Fight, fight!”
“All, unite… fight, fight, fight!”
“Don’t abandon us, unnie!”
“Wh… who are we?”
“The magical warrior of the Science Magic Agency, Park Dayoung!”
“Ah, the Academy’s psychic warrior, Ryu Ajin!”
“Warrior Ji Sehee, don’t abandon us!”
“Grant us our petting rights!”
‘Ah, I’ve seen this on the news before.’
‘These are the usual chants protesters shout.’
‘Petting rights? Are they trying to poke at some obscure issue?’
‘Anyway, the vibe, complete with red headbands on their foreheads, is truly intense.’
‘The reason for this protest is utterly ridiculous.’
“What opportunity do you want me to give you?”
‘Have I ever discriminated against anyone?’
After much thought, the people closest to me in my current social circle are Dayoung and Ajin.
Of course, I care about and consider them the most.
I don’t think I’ve ever neglected them, not even once.
I can’t understand why they’re staging such a nonsensical protest.
From above, floating mid-air, Pepe observed the situation with a mischievous expression, mocking them.
“Ha, these annoying little punks are making me feel strangely patriotic… Ugh!”
“Die!”
Dayoung grabbed Pepe and twisted its neck 7,200 degrees.
-Crack! Snap!-
I thought its head would split into a V-shape, but the neck rotated back to its original position, and life returned to Pepe’s body in a grotesque manner.
It was like a wind-up toy.
Watching its neck slowly rotate back into place, I nudged the trembling Pepe with my foot.
“Hey, are you okay? You’re alive, right?”
“S-shut up, Ji Sehee! Who survives after their neck spins 20 times?”
From the way it’s talking, it seems fine.
Since Pepe is unharmed, it’s time to focus back on the two of them.
“So, what do you two want from me? I’m tired today and just want to rest.”
‘Was postponing shopping such a big deal?’
“Don’t you even know the concept of ‘noblesse oblige’ at your level?”
“A warrior, even at low level, needs petting rights!”
“Lie down! Just lie down!”
“Lie down… lie endlessly.”
‘These two, seriously.’
‘I can’t even get mad at them for this.’
‘If they barged into my house with this kind of protest, as a homeowner, it’s natural to feel your veins about to pop, but my patience is too strong for that.’
‘First, I need to understand why they’re behaving this way.’
‘If I ask them directly, they won’t tell me.’
I need to take a different approach.
Grabbing Pepe, whose neck had just been restored to its original state, I took a few steps back.
“Hey, what’s up with those two?”
“Still don’t get it? Ji Sehee, you’re surprisingly clueless, haha!”
-Crack! Snap!-
I twisted Pepe’s neck 360 degrees and back again.
“Just tell me.”
“Ugh! These punks! Warriors are all the same, so outdated and rotten.”
“Stop beating around the bush and speak clearly. My head hurts too.”
“Ji Sehee, do you think they didn’t see you dancing with that other person? Of course, they got jealous, and that’s why they’re acting like this.”
“Seriously?”
I turned my head in disbelief and saw Dayoung and Ajin lying spread out, as if staging a “lie-down protest.”
‘It wasn’t their first time doing this, as their lying-down poses seemed oddly practiced.’
‘The thought that they’re doing this just because I danced with someone else makes my head throb, but also… it’s kind of adorable.’
It reminded me of little kids throwing tantrums.
‘Ugh, I must be crazy to think this is cute.’
Watching these two lie there like baby birds chirping, I couldn’t help but sigh.
Well, I guess I have no choice.
“Get up already. Let’s go out somewhere.”
“Really?!”
“Re… really?”
“Ugh, Ajin, you’re so annoying. Of course, we’re going.”
-Clunk!-
I ended the conversation by lightly smacking Ajin on the head and hurriedly prepared to go out.
***
Despite it being a weekday afternoon, the place was crowded.
As expected, their destination was the mall.
‘Well, I figured as much.’
Thinking about how much I’ll have to endure, I let out a small sigh.
Come to think of it, this is my first time visiting a place like this since returning.
“It’s lunchtime, right? Should we eat first?”
“I searched it up, and there’s a fancy restaurant at the top. Unnie, I want a treat! Please buy me something yummy. Choo-choo!”
“Ugh, your words and actions are so cringe.”
Dayoung looked at Ajin, who was clinging to my arm and saying “choo-choo,” with an expression of pure disgust.
Since it’s an outing and the location is crowded, I thought it’d be best to stick close to them in case of any panic attacks.
But Ajin’s nonstop chatter felt like a machine gun firing relentlessly.
Though it was a bit overwhelming, the suggestion itself wasn’t bad.
Eating at the food court seemed a bit underwhelming.
“Do they have private rooms there?”
“Of course! I’ve already checked everything!”
‘Well, with that confidence, I guess I have no choice but to follow along.’
Reaching our destination, however, was no easy feat.
For example, taking the elevator to the top floor…
“Stop clinging to unnie, Ajin.”
“No way, you dumbhead.”
Being squished between the two of them in a cramped elevator, with the added awkward stares from others, was exhausting.
Listening to the two arguing endlessly on either side of me, I started feeling restless, unable to endure any longer.
‘When will we reach the 15th floor?’
‘Why is this elevator so slow?’
Now, we’re only at the 9th floor.
I decided I couldn’t let the bickering continue any longer and made up my mind.
Eventually, there was no other choice.
It was time to discipline them.
“If you two keep this up, I’ll punish you thoroughly in bed tonight. Quiet down.”
“O||?!”
“Hic!”
[What the hell?!]
[Let’s embarrass them with more shocking words.]
[Whisper, whisper.]
[In bed…]
[That woman is so pretty. Ha!]
[I want to… join too…]
Of course, I’d have to deal with the aftermath myself.
***
After much trouble, we finally arrived at the restaurant and could relax for a while.
Since it was a weekday, there were no reserved rooms, but being able to dine in a private space was a nice touch.
Though it wasn’t nighttime, the high-rise view from the window was still captivating.
“Tasty, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, going out to eat sometimes isn’t a bad idea.”
“It’s delicious, but isn’t this place expensive? We ordered a full course.”
“You think I’d make you two pay when I brought you here? Besides, ordering a full course at a restaurant is the way to go.”
Look at the variety and richness of the dishes—it’s worth it.
Pepe, who was sprawled across the table and burping repeatedly, gave a thumbs-up and said, “You’re actually making sense for once, Ji Sehee. I, Pepe, declare this meal a source of happiness!”
‘How does that tiny body manage to hold an entire course meal?’
Since Pepe insisted on eating too, what looked like a group of three ended up ordering a four-person course.
The manager gave us a slightly puzzled look, but since Pepe ate everything so thoroughly, they let it slide.
Well, it’s not a bad outcome for them either.
As we slowly enjoyed the final dessert, Dayoung suddenly spoke as if something had come to mind.
“Unnie, was there anything fun that happened during the tournament?”
“Y-yeah! I want to hear something interesting too…”
“Tournament? Something fun?”
‘Well, not really, I think?’
The tournament was just about competing with opponents, winning, and giving interviews—that’s it.
They probably already know about that without me explaining.
If there was any behind-the-scenes story, I’d share it, but I wasn’t close enough to anyone for those kinds of interactions.
Ah, though there was one thing…
“Well, there was this time with Lotus…”
I thought it might be worth mentioning the story with Lotus.
Just as I was about to begin, “Unnie.”
Both Dayoung and Ajin looked genuinely annoyed—something you don’t see often.
“What’s going on?”
As I tilted my head in confusion, Dayoung gulped down a glass of water as if to calm herself and said, “Don’t talk about another girl when you’re with us.”
“Unnie… honestly… that comment just now gets a zero from me.”
“Let me join the flow too. Pepe is sulking! Pfft—gaggek!”
I grabbed Pepe’s head and squeezed it as if extracting juice.
Truly, the art of juicing.
It seems my comment really earned me a zero from these two.
If this keeps up, the mood will be ruined.
It would be a waste of effort to have come all this way only for things to fall apart.
It’s not some relationship-raising game, but it’s still an awkward and difficult situation.
Calm down, me.
Pick the best response here.
‘Danced with Lotus, and she was good at it.’
‘Became personal friends with Lotus.’
‘Lotus asked me to call her by her name.’
‘Or… shall we just go shopping after eating?’
‘I, too, am a patriotic conservative like Pepe. Hey, come on! Let’s do this!’
The answer I chose was…
‘This one!’
Having decided on the best response, I put on my softest smile and said, “Okay, then, how about we go shopping after we finish eating? I was thinking about buying some clothes anyway.”
“R-really? Sounds good.”
“Unnie’s… clothes, lingerie… costume…”
The topic seemed to be getting stranger, but for now, I was satisfied that I managed to calm them down.
Not knowing the harsher trials awaiting us ahead, I simply enjoyed the lightened mood, Unaware of how bright the afternoon sun outside would become.
***
“Sigh, I felt so down that I decided to go out…”
Of all times, no one was free to join me, leaving me alone.
Lotus—Cha Eunha—tried to suppress her disappointment as she headed toward the shopping mall in front of her.
Her teammates were all men, so dragging them along would’ve been awkward.
Her few close female friends were already busy with college life.
On a weekday like this, there was no one available.
‘But what could she do?’ Staying cooped up at the dorms felt like a waste of her rare holiday.
Humans need social interaction and sunlight to feel alive.
So, going out was a must.
“Let’s see if I can find some nice spring outfits.”
It was about time to update her wardrobe.
She also needed to replenish her cosmetics, so she might as well get them here.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed through Eunha’s mind.
‘Ah, come to think of it…’
‘Isn’t today a day off for Friede-unnie’s broadcast?’
Having subscribed to Friede’s Twitch and YouTube channels, Eunha knew the streaming schedule.
‘Today was definitely an off day.’
With nothing to lose, Eunha quickly sent a message from her smartphone.
[Friede-unnie, if you’re free… would you like to go shopping together?]
Though she didn’t have Friede’s personal number, there were other ways to reach out.
She had already added Friede’s MS Room avatar ID as a friend.
Rather than taking things slow, she boldly suggested becoming friends, which had worked out in her favor.
They had exchanged a few words, and Eunha knew Friede lived in Gangnam, Seoul.
‘If it’s here, Friede-unnie might actually show up.’
It felt like the perfect move, and Eunha smiled in satisfaction.
Unaware of what awaited her in the coming hours, The bright afternoon sun above her seemed to promise an eventful day ahead.