NOVEL NEXT Chapter 48
“Uh, uh, huh, but I only have my underwear…”
The first words that came out during my brain freeze were those. The security guard who heard it looked so shocked that I wanted to dig a hole and disappear into the ground right there.
“I bought it at the convenience store earlier.”
Shin So-hee rummaged through her bag and pulled out a box. Printed boldly on the box was a photo of a woman’s lower body wearing black panties.
So that’s what made the noise!
The burly security guard took a step back. Anyone could tell he was flustered. Of course, those panties were something she bought at the convenience store, and anyone who’s been to a store like that wouldn’t be surprised to see such underwear boxes… but she was holding it as if to say, “I’m going to change into this today.” If things went a bit wrong, it could get incredibly awkward.
…So she was planning to sleep over here from the start.
I had no idea how I came to that conclusion.
“I only have one toothbrush…”
“Do you really think there’s only one toothbrush in this mansion? Well, I bought one anyway.”
Shin So-hee said, tapping her side bag with her hand.
It seemed she was much more prepared than I expected.
“What about clothes…”
“Just borrow one of yours.”
I doubted it would fit at all.
No, pajamas are usually a bit bigger, so it might work.
No, no, that’s not the problem!
“Ah… do your parents know?”
I almost asked if her father knew but quickly changed my wording. I knew Shin So-hee’s family background since I was aware of the game’s settings, but I hadn’t heard it directly from her yet. So I had to speak as if I were completely clueless here.
What a relief. I still had a bit of mental clarity left.
“I usually just hang out at a friend’s place and end up sleeping over. I can just contact them and say that.”
But, seriously, on a weekday?
I still had to go to school tomorrow, right?
Of course, it didn’t seem to bother Shin So-hee at all.
…Wasn’t she pretty dedicated to going to school until she decided to take Ha Neul out for fun in the original story?
…Ah, thinking about it, she had such an assertive personality that it seemed natural for her to skip school for fun. She was definitely a character who would just do what she thought she should.
“So, is that a no?”
Shin So-hee tilted her head and looked at me. This time, there was no expression, just that same vacant look I saw at the café.
However, the atmosphere felt subtly different from before. While she seemed a bit angry or annoyed earlier, now she appeared to be hiding some anxiety.
…It’s not because I’m particularly good at reading people, but Shin So-hee had been tapping her leg since earlier. As if she was a bit restless.
“…Uh… No, it’s not like it can’t happen?”
As I hesitantly answered like that, Shin So-hee’s face brightened immediately. Well, she did have a face that radiated light!
But, wait, does this have something to do with the plan I mentioned?
She was just going to sleep over at my place, right?
“Good, then.”
Saying that, Shin So-hee shot a glare at the security guard, then zipped past him and rushed over to me.
The security guard looked like he had so much to say, but once our eyes met, he shut his mouth. It was as if he didn’t know how to convince me not to act like this.
“Okay, now that’s settled.”
Shin So-hee, now next to me, casually wrapped her right arm around mine. Just where Ha Neul had been gripping me until now. Something incredibly heavy, big, and soft pressed against my arm. She must’ve been wearing a bra under that shirt, but the feeling was so vivid. Uh, she might be even bigger than Lee Soo-ah…?
“Ah!”
Just then, Ha Neul, who had been staring blankly at Shin So-hee and me chatting, finally shouted.
“Me too!”
Ha Neul raised her hand like an elementary school student trying to get the teacher’s attention.
“I also want to sleep over!”
“You, do you even have underwear to change into?”
Shin So-hee asked with an inexplicably lively expression.
“I can borrow Sara’s!”
“…Huh?”
“…Huh?”
The same sound of surprise escaped from Shin So-hee and me simultaneously.
…What’s going on? Do girls really borrow each other’s underwear like that? Is it kind of like those guys in the army who steal each other’s pants when they don’t have their own? Don’t they feel any different about it?
No, even if that were the case. As I am now, it felt like a massively repulsive act. It wasn’t a problem to lend my underwear to a girl, it was about getting a girl’s old underwear on my body.
What was that? No matter what, I’m an adult male here. I could accept some contact because I’m friends with a guy, but a guy wearing a high school girl’s underwear? It felt like I’d given up some part of my humanity.
As I stood there with a horrified expression, Ha Neul’s arms dropped limply. With her hands behind her back, she looked up at me with her head slightly bowed, tapping the ground with one foot. The lively energy she had just moments ago was nowhere to be seen, leaving behind just a feeble girl.
She looked like a drenched cat.
Holding back such an unflattering thought I couldn’t help but have if she heard it, I let out a small breath.
Yeah, if I bring only Shin So-hee in here, it might look a bit off.
…Maybe there’s a reporter hiding around here too. Wouldn’t that make more sense than them accidentally snapping a picture of me over the weekend?
Surely, they’ve been waiting for me outside since they’ve been planning this out for a while.
In fact, hiding around famous people might be a working job for them.
“Well, it’s fine.”
As I nodded, Ha Neul’s expression brightened immediately. She then tried to jump toward me, but before she could, she looked back, seeming concerned about Lee Soo-ah, who was still stuck in place.
As expected, a true protagonist.
With Shin So-hee and Ha Neul, they might just contact their homes and get permission. Even if it’s a weekday, there could be some freedom in their families, so they might go ahead and allow it.
But Lee Soo-ah was different.
Lee Soo-ah was a wealthy lady.
There’s a high chance they wouldn’t allow her to just sleep over somewhere else. Plus, she would be staying at the infamous Ye Sara’s place. I didn’t know exactly what was happening, but that was certainly a difficult situation given that the chairwoman was blocking her way.
She likely wouldn’t have spoken to Ye Sara during middle school, just like the other kids. So, the slights that were occurring must be still affecting Lee Soo-ah.
Would Lee Soo-ah’s parents even allow her to sleep over at such a household?
“…What if—”
But still.
I really didn’t want to send one of my newly-made friends back alone.
It wasn’t right. I was in the midst of getting revenge for how Ye Sara had been treated. Yet I didn’t want to overlook someone else in this group for whatever reasons.
Even if she said that she had to go back out of necessity, I had to show at least minimal courtesy. I had no idea how much courage Lee Soo-ah mustered up when she first spoke to Ye Sara.
So, I opened my mouth, thinking I’d at least throw out a suggestion.
“I do too.”
Before I could finish, Lee Soo-ah had already started speaking.
With her fists tightly clenched, shoulders slightly trembling, she looked straight at me. Her expression was stiff, but that only made her resolve seem stronger.
“I… can I stay too?”
Lee Soo-ah asked me like that.
“Is that okay?”
When I asked sincerely worried, Lee Soo-ah nodded silently.
“…”
Ha Neul, seeing that, looked back and forth between me and Lee Soo-ah with a worried expression.
Shin So-hee also had a slightly complex expression. Both of them heard the situation I was in from me during our earlier conversation at the café. Lee Soo-ah likely had some complex thoughts about getting involved as well.
“Well then, that’s good. You’re welcome. This is ‘my home’ after all.”
I said that, looking directly at the security guard. When my gaze met his, he flinched for a moment. Yeah, even though she was weak physically, Ye Sara’s face was programmed to have a terrifying expression. Plus, she had full control over this mansion, and if she ever thought to—if I decided to outright fight the chairwoman, she could even fire him.
Of course, that would lead to a fierce battle with the chairwoman, and my position would be in deep trouble, but honestly, a bodyguard like him would be far more fearful of losing his job.
Besides, this job paid ridiculously well compared to what he had to do. Yang Hye-in earned a whopping 500 million won. He’d want to hold on to this job as long as he could.
See? Money really does talk.
After my reply, Lee Soo-ah nodded with a serious face. Then slowly, she stepped closer to me.
Halting just before the entrance, Lee Soo-ah hesitated for a moment, then hopped inside the mansion’s grounds.
Her stiff expression melted away as if she had just crossed a giant wall. She looked at me and grinned broadly—
do do do do, she charged over and grabbed my left arm.
“Ah!”
Just then, Ha Neul, who had been watching the scene nervously, finally shouted.
For some reason, showing an annoyed expression, Ha Neul rushed over and jumped right into my arms.
“Eep,” I let out a strange sound unwittingly as her hand slipped between my side and arm.
!!!
Shin So-hee and Lee Soo-ah had question marks pop up over their heads.
N-No, why are they doing this now?
As I was growing tense from the surrounding physical contact with the lovely girls,
“Hehe.”
With a playful laugh, Ha Neul placed her chin on my shoulder.
“…Ah.”
Then, all of a sudden, she made that sound and hurriedly distanced herself from me.
“…?”
Why?
Ha Neul, who pulled away from me, was beet red.
“…?”
What on earth did she see from behind?
Shin So-hee and Lee Soo-ah seemed equally curious. The three of us slightly turned to look behind us.
…Maybe in front of where Ha Neul had rested her chin on my shoulder, Yang Hye-in had come out and was standing there. As always, with her expressionless face. Quite a matter-of-fact attitude.
“…”
How long had she been standing there?
Suddenly, embarrassment rushed through me.
How should I put this? It wasn’t like we had any right to say anything after doing our actions like that in front of the security guard, but seeing Yang Hye-in standing there with a blank look made me feel it was just a bit off.
So, umm… I might compare this to a situation where you’ve cracked a joke and the other person doesn’t laugh at all.
If in school, no one shows any minimal reaction, I might feel just the same way as I feel now.
“…”
“…”
At that point, Shin So-hee and Lee Soo-ah, who had been clinging to me, drew away with awkward expressions on their faces.
“Welcome back, Miss.”
Yang Hye-in bowed politely.
“Ah, yes…”
My face felt hot.
“I’ll prepare four servings for the meal.”
“Yes…”
I bowed my head deeply and replied like that.
Without saying another word, Yang Hye-in lowered her head again.
As I started walking with my head low, the three of them hurriedly chased after me.
…Somehow, I have a feeling this meal time will strangely be just as quiet as the last one.
The reasons might be completely different, though.