Chapter 30 : Chapter 30

Is it because she's the protagonist?

Yoo Ha-neul is confident no matter what she does.

No matter how inappropriate it seems, she goes to places she shouldn't and takes people she shouldn't take.

Of course, that doesn't mean what she's doing is wrong.

But sometimes, even if something seems wrong, it's hard to speak up.

Especially when the person seems like they can bulldoze anything with money.

But Yoo Ha-neul, whether she's fearless or driven by a strong sense of justice, acts without hesitation.

Well, that was the same in the original game.

Even when she was bullied and felt down, she kept talking to those around her, no matter how much they ignored her.

Later, when the bullying became more overt, she never backed down.

Because she believed she did nothing wrong.

It wasn't just mental strength; in that route, she was bullied either because Ye Sara hated her or because others thought she was insignificant.

And in the end, Yoo Ha-neul proved she wasn't wrong.

She didn't care what others thought, and if there was no path, she would make one and keep walking.

"We're here! See? It's close, right?"

"…Yeah… right… super… close… just… right in front of me…."

Although not considering if there was a path was a bit of a problem.

Running 500 meters was, of course, way too much for my stamina.

Of course, I didn't run the full 500 meters nonstop.

I ran until I was out of breath, then walked for a long time, then Yoo Ha-neul, sharp as always, pushed me to run again as soon as I caught my breath, and we repeated this several times.

Hmm, there's another issue with Yoo Ha-neul's protagonist-like personality.

She doesn't care about others' gazes at all.

As Yoo Ha-neul mentioned earlier, the shopping mall is 'obviously' in the middle of a bustling area where 'lots' of people are walking around.

And there are so many foreigners walking around too.

Actually, it feels like there are more foreigners here than Koreans.

It's still morning, so there are fewer people compared to midday, but it's far from empty.

So, we just dashed through the middle of a street packed with people.

Well, to say 'dashed' is an exaggeration, as my legs were weak, and if Yoo Ha-neul hadn't been pushing me from behind, I wouldn't have made it this far.

Yes, I was dripping with sweat, panting heavily as Yoo Ha-neul pushed me through the middle of a busy street.

And the stares of those around us were just a bonus.

Luckily, people didn't seem to think I was being bullied based on our expressions.

Since I'd been grumbling the whole time to Yoo Ha-neul, it probably didn't look one-sided.

"..."

"...Uh..."

And then, we realized something after getting here.

"...Opens at 10 AM."

As I read the sign in front of the shopping mall with my bangs stuck to my sweaty forehead, Yoo Ha-neul shifted her gaze to the side.

"Well, then… should we head to the café next door? My treat!"

Yoo Ha-neul spoke as if trying to appease me, but I raised a hand to stop her and plopped down on the shopping mall's entrance stairs.

"Go to the café like this? Drenched in sweat? In a bit, I'll probably start reeking of sweat."

When I said that, Yoo Ha-neul seemed at a loss for words.

Yoo Ha-neul hadn't sweated much, likely because she was in pretty good shape, but I was soaked, as if I had been caught in the rain.

…It might be better to just buy new clothes and change everything, even my underwear.

After all, my wallet is pretty full.

"...Here."

Yoo Ha-neul rummaged through her hoodie pocket and handed me a handkerchief.

It was light blue.

I silently accepted the handkerchief and wiped my face.

Though my sweaty body still felt gross, at least wiping my face was something.

Yoo Ha-neul sat down next to me.

Not so close that we were touching, but close enough to feel her warmth.

"March is still supposed to be chilly."

"You don't get a proper workout unless you sweat."

I'm trying to gain weight, not lose it… never mind.

"So?"

"So, what?"

When I asked abruptly, Yoo Ha-neul blinked in surprise and looked at me.

"Well, you called me out so early. We came here first, planning to buy clothes soon. What's next?"

"Uh…."

It seemed Yoo Ha-neul hadn't thought that far ahead, as she paused in thought for a moment with her mouth slightly open.

"Is there anything you want to do?"

After thinking for a while, Yoo Ha-neul asked.

As she turned her face toward me, the sudden brightness made my vision blur.

I've been getting used to it lately, but when she looks at me from such a close distance, it's dazzling.

I narrowed my eyes and shifted my gaze back to the street.

The number of people was gradually increasing.

The variety of voices was also growing.

I heard both Korean and many foreign languages.

Most of the faces looked fairly cheerful.

Well, it's the weekend, so most people on this street are probably out for fun.

I sat, resting my chin on my hand, and absentmindedly replied.

"Not sure…."

What do kids these days do for fun?

When I was young, it was either PC bangs or karaoke.

Or maybe drinking… oh, that was during college.

I couldn't drink when I was a minor.

Occasionally, I went to watch movies with friends.

We used to go see big blockbusters together.

…What should I do?

It's not like I can suggest we go to a PC bang, right?

I don't even know the songs high school girls usually sing at karaoke.

Going alone with Yoo Ha-neul feels a bit awkward.

And there aren't any movies that come to mind right now.

"Uh… Ah…."

While I was lost in thought, Yoo Ha-neul suddenly let out a sound as if she realized something.

For some reason, her face turned slightly pale.

Did she forget to turn off the gas or something?

"Well, for now! Let's just think while shopping! As we pick out clothes, we'll probably come up with something!"

"Uh, yeah…."

I was taken aback by her sudden enthusiasm and unknowingly nodded.

*

It was a mistake.

Asking if there's anything you want to do.

That was a clear mistake.

Of course, it wasn't entirely Yoo Ha-neul's fault.

Asking such a thing casually to a friend is pretty common.

Usually, the response is something like "I'm not sure," and then you head to a café or grab a bite to eat.

But the girl sitting next to Yoo Ha-neul was different from ordinary girls.

Like a bird in a cage, Sara had barely experienced the world outside her mansion.

How could Sara possibly give a proper answer to that question?

Sara turned her slightly narrowed eyes toward the street.

There were many people bustling about with bright expressions.

Those people were living their own lives, meeting with friends or lovers on weekends after a busy week.

But Sara had never fully experienced such things.

"Not sure…."

Sara answered as if she genuinely didn't know.

It wasn't the kind of nonchalant, "I'm not sure," that friends usually say.

It was a response born of real uncertainty, not knowing what to do.

No, Sara had even asked Yoo Ha-neul what they should do earlier.

That was a reasonable question from someone like Sara, who had never done anything outside.

Yet, Yoo Ha-neul was the one who dragged Sara out here to run.

"Uh… Ah…."

Yoo Ha-neul's face turned pale as she realized the truth.

"Let's…."

'What should I do?

What can I do to make Sara happy?

How can I make her enjoy running away from that mansion today?'

But as panic set in, her mind went blank.

So, to the puzzled Sara staring at her, Yoo Ha-neul quickly shouted.

"Let's just start by shopping! We'll come up with ideas while picking clothes!"

"Uh, okay…."

Surprised by the sudden outburst, Sara hesitantly agreed.

*

"Try on all of this? Really?"

Sara asked in surprise, her arms full of clothes.

She clearly looked flustered.

"How many outfits do you have?"

At Yoo Ha-neul's question, Sara didn't answer.

"Not many, right?"

Sara nodded her head.

"Then, this is a good chance to buy a few more outfits. You can't get by with just one set when you're going out. Plus, if you don't like any of these, you don't have to buy them."

"R-really?"

Sara responded in an uncertain voice.

"Yes. If they get heavy, I'll carry them for you."

"It's not about the weight…."

Sara hesitated for a moment before letting out a small sigh.

She seemed to have surrendered to Yoo Ha-neul's intense gaze.

"Okay, I'll try them on."

Sara answered and walked into the fitting room.

And Yoo Ha-neul immediately pulled out her smartphone and opened the internet browser.

"Seoul… attractions…."

That's right.

The reason Yoo Ha-neul piled all those clothes on Sara was to buy some time to search.

This was Sara's first real outing.

Of course, they had jumped over the fence for two days in a row, but that was technically just on their way home from school, not a real outing.

This was the first time Sara had left her mansion of her own free will.

And most of the things they'd do today would probably be firsts for Sara, including this shopping trip.

In that case, it would be a waste to settle for a typical hangout.

Since it's her first time out, Yoo Ha-neul wanted to give Sara an unforgettable memory.

And maybe next time, Sara will say, "I want to try this too".

So Yoo Ha-neul was now fully focused on searching for ideas.

But Seoul is vast.

There are so many places to go and things to do.

Of course, typing "Seoul attractions" into the search bar brought up a flood of options.

"What should I do…."

There were too many choices.

Instead of helping, it made it harder to decide.

As she wandered through the options, one thing caught Yoo Ha-neul's eye.

"Seoul date courses."

"...."

It wasn't just a list of places, but also suggestions on how to get there, including where to eat, walk, and take pictures.

Coincidentally, it was just the two of them, Yoo Ha-neul and Sara.

…This could work, right?

Though it was a date course, it seemed like a wholesome enough route.

Even if two friends went, it shouldn't be a problem.

…This should be fine, right?

As Yoo Ha-neul struggled with her internal conflict,

Swish, the fitting room curtain opened.

"How do I look?"

Sara was wearing tight-fitting jeans, a black T-shirt, and a khaki jacket.

The outfit was simple, but her pretty face made the clothes stand out even more.

With her hair tied back and a cap on, she would look amazing.

…This should be fine!

After seeing Sara like that, Yoo Ha-neul convinced herself.