NOVEL NEXT Chapter 49
The old Matsuda Department Store is filled with rooms. Naturally, that’s how it was designed, especially since it was built to serve as a ‘department store.’
However, when considering it solely as a department store, it may seem rather small. The building itself is only two stories tall. With just two floors, the ceiling is impressively high and the space is quite spacious, but compared to modern ‘department stores,’ or even other department stores built in the early 20th century when this one was constructed, it’s not that big.
Later, when I looked into the history of the building, I learned that this department store was originally not intended for the general public. It served as a kind of special exhibition hall for luxury goods and art, catering to high-ranking Japanese officials and Korean aristocrats or royalty visiting Joseon at the time.
Therefore, its design is somewhat different from a typical modern department store.
Unlike the common layout where stores are built to jut out at corners and rise up four to five floors to gather large crowds, this mansion was constructed in the shape of an inverted Greek letter Pi (Π) in the middle of a wide plot with a large garden.
The interior is lavish, with several spacious areas that were used for events like weddings when it was in its prime.
Now, most of the rooms are completely empty, and there are hardly any proper areas being utilized.
Indeed. Excluding the spaces used by the staff for work, the only area in this mansion that could truly be called a ‘room’ is the one I use.
To begin with, it was originally a place used to confine Ye Sara, so there weren’t even any proper furnishings set up in the other rooms.
Still, fortunately, there was a spare blanket. The problem was that this spare blanket was everything Ye Sara used for ‘covering up,’ and not one that could be spread on the floor.
Moreover, since the original purpose of this building was a department store, the cold marble floors are a big issue. While they look pretty, lying down on a blanket on them is quite problematic in many ways. At least they didn’t have an extreme policy like wearing shoes indoors, but walking around barefoot on such floors is no different.
Yet, it’s still early enough in the evening that if I were to quickly find a blanket, it wouldn’t be impossible—
“What for?”
Hearing my comment about needing to find a blanket, Shin Sohee replied with a face that seemed to wonder why I was worried about that.
“Isn’t the bed that wide? Is there really a need to sleep on the floor?”
“…What?”
When I couldn’t believe my ears and asked her back, Shin Sohee looked at me intently and said,
“I mean, is there any reason someone has to sleep on the floor while the bed is that wide?”
I glanced at the bed she pointed to.
…It’s definitely wide. Honestly, it’s incredibly spacious for just me. This isn’t your typical single bed you’d find in a regular home or studio; this is a gigantic bed fit for a fantasy movie princess.
Yeah, to be honest, it makes me wonder why it’s so big for just me. It’s possible it’s a size outside the standard dimensions? Maybe they custom-made it just to fit the proportions of this enormous room. I shouldn’t have been surprised that I was living in a remodeled department store.
Coming to think of it now is funny… I guess I just didn’t notice it because it fit well with the room’s proportions.
Anyway, yes. The bed was indeed wide. Maybe the four of us could lie side by side. Excluding Sohee, none of the others are particularly tall.
However.
“Still, wouldn’t it be too cramped for four people?”
No matter how oversized the bed is, they probably only designed it for two people, maybe even three—a couple and a child. What kind of weirdo would make it for four high school girls who are just starting to stop growing?
“I agree with Sohee.”
Haneul, who had been dazing off while looking around my room, suddenly chimed in to oppose my comments.
“We’re the ones who insisted on sleeping over, right? We can’t be a nuisance any longer after coming all this way. If the four of us sleep in one bed, we won’t need to spread out the blankets either.”
Even aside from the fact that four people lying on the bed is a secondary issue, wouldn’t the person at the end eventually end up outside the blanket if just one blanket was used?
“Right? I told you so.”
Sohee beamed while agreeing with Haneul’s words.
Weren’t you two just bickering moments ago for an unknown reason?
Seeing the sudden intimate camaraderie between them left me feeling momentarily flustered.
“I—I think that’s a good idea too. Since we came without saying anything…”
No, this is uncomfortable for me.
Of course, I couldn’t say such things to these girls who were considering my feelings.
Honestly, I had hoped, even if just for a moment, that we could all sleep together on the same bed. Well, not to that extent… but you know, those thoughts many teens often have.
Sohee, at a glance, has a great figure. That doesn’t mean Sua has a bad figure either. While her mid-size differs a bit from Sohee’s, her height is nearly similar to mine, only emphasizing the difference in proportions. Haneul is in a similar situation. Unlike those two, she isn’t explicitly tall, but her moderate height gives her an excellent overall balance. Truly the look of a heroine from a visual novel.
…And all three of them are stunningly beautiful, so I can’t even begin to evaluate. They’re all incredibly attractive. Two of them are originally heroines meant to be pursued, and one is the female protagonist. Even though they all have different types of charms, comparing them is nonsense.
But, thinking of squeezing into the same bed with all three… Isn’t that an event too stimulating to even appear in teenage dreams?
But that’s the problem.
Will I be able to endure that stimulating event in reality?
…Well, I mean, even if I don’t endure it with Ye Sara’s body, it’ll be subdued quickly.
Even if I put aside the fear of moving my body, the real issue is whether I can actually sleep sandwiched between three people.
Just remembering the postures Haneul had during class today would surely make sleeping difficult.
“So? Everyone agrees?”
While I was lost in thought alone, Sohee prodded me.
…
Forget it.
Honestly, after all that, there’s no reason left to turn them down. I also didn’t find it particularly weird, so it would really be strange if I kept feeling that way alone.
Come to think of it, I’ve slept over with several friends at a pension before, just sprawling out. Going to a friend’s house and sleeping anywhere… It’s just that there’s only this bed to lie on here, so my reaction is the only thing that seems unnatural. No matter how many blankets I spread out, the cold marble floor is still cold marble.
As I nodded, the three of them, including Sohee, broke into bright smiles.
…This must be the right choice, right?
…It should be, right?
*
“So, what should we do? Just sitting here doing nothing seems a bit off, doesn’t it?”
As the one who suggested we sleep over at this mansion, Sohee asked.
“There’s still quite a bit of time until bedtime. It’s not even 8 PM yet. Should we get something to eat?”
“Ah, then let’s call the maids—”
“No, we just got a free dinner earlier.”
Sohee cleanly dismissed my suggestion.
“At least we should make the late-night snack ourselves. And honestly, aren’t we a bit full right now? Even if they are the staff, asking them to make something after 6 PM seems a bit much, doesn’t it? Most people would be off work by now.”
Her reasoning was utterly sound. It’s nearly the end of the workday, and it feels a bit off to call someone just because we want to eat a late-night snack.
…But are we really thinking about a late-night snack? What time are they planning to go to bed? It seems that Sohee isn’t just planning to sleep over; she seems determined to have fun while here.
Did she really like this group? Or was she the type of person who frequently visited other friends’ houses for fun? Either could be true; she didn’t strike me as particularly odd.
“Ah, then should we order chicken?”
Haneul suggested.
“Sounds good. Since it’ll take a while after ordering, we can wash up while we wait.”
Sua nodded silently.
Chicken, chicken, huh… Come to think of it, since arriving here, I don’t think I’ve had fried chicken. If we’re nitpicking, all I’ve had was the chicken in a chicken burger I had last time while following Sohee on that affordable food tour.
I like chicken. I wish I could drink cold beer with it… but with my current age, that’d be impossible. Plus, if I drank alcohol with Ye Sara’s body, who knows what trouble might ensue.
I quietly listened to the three of them discussing what dishes they would order and what sides they wanted. Well, as long as they don’t order from a ridiculously serious place, chicken is typically hard to get wrong, so I figured I’d just let them handle it.
“Ah, right. You go wash up first.”
Haneul, noticing I was just sitting there blankly, said.
“Um, is it okay for me to do that?”
When I said that, all three nodded simultaneously.
“Sure. This is Sara’s house after all.”
Hearing that from Sua, I hesitated to rise.
“Um, okay then… I’ll wash up first…?”
But along with my words, I felt a bit awkward. Well, it wasn’t really that I felt awkward with those three…
Yeah, I felt awkward about being told to wash up by a girl. It’s something I hardly ever get to hear in my daily life.
…
Wow, I’m really something, aren’t I?
How ridiculous is it to be this reactive just because of something that has no ulterior motive?
A long breath out made me feel considerably lighter. Right, we’re friends, so it must have just been a casual remark. I’m merely giving priority to the house owner when washing up.
What on earth have I been imagining by myself?
“Alright, then I’ll wash up first.”
As I said this with a significantly lighter heart and fully stood up, the three of them smiled radiantly at me. Their smiles were completely devoid of any ulterior motives.
*
Click.
The bathroom door off the room closed. The three remaining girls held their breath and listened intently.
In the eerie silence, where even breathing sounds couldn’t be heard, it was hard to believe that three people were present.
Then, shortly after, a splash-splash sound of water pouring out could be heard.
And as soon as that sound rang out, it was Shin Sohee who jumped up from the bed first.
She promptly hopped off the bed and walked straight to the wardrobe, flinging the door open.
“Ah, without even asking for permission…!”
Yoo Ha-neul yelled in surprise at Sohee’s sudden move. Sohee slightly scowled at her and replied,
“I told you earlier, right? I’m planning to borrow some clothes.”
Only then did both Yoo Ha-neul and Lee Soo-ah’s mouths drop open.
Sohee casually began picking out clothes hanging in the wardrobe.
“Hmm, there really aren’t many types of clothes to choose from.”
“…!”
Only then did Yoo Ha-neul recall last Saturday when she went shopping with Sara.
No, no, not that outfit…! Her internal alarm was ringing.
Without hesitation, Yoo Ha-neul jumped down from the bed, mimicking Sohee’s earlier move.
“I’m borrowing some clothes too!”
That’s right. Yoo Ha-neul declared she would borrow even underwear when she stepped into this house.
Sohee’s eyes narrowed, but Yoo Ha-neul seemed completely unfazed. Despite the height difference, there was no hint of fear in the atmosphere.
Their gazes clashed mid-air.
Watching the two with a dazed expression, Lee Soo-ah was convinced she saw sparks flying between them.