Chapter 33 : Chapter 33

"So, you started searching how to guide me in a way that would make me feel happy, right?"

Sitting across from Yoo Ha-neul, I calmly asked that question.

Even though I might not seem like it, I was a pretty cautious person in my previous life.

I thought my appearance was above average, but many people around me claimed otherwise.

Everyone has their own standards, and some people have high expectations, setting their standard for "good-looking" quite high.

No matter how much I thought my face was above average, I had never once received a confession from someone who existed in the upper echelon of male attractiveness.

Of course, there were times when I felt an attraction to pretty women.

Some of them were kind enough to talk to me, even though I was an outsider in college, and there were super extroverts who gathered everyone for drinks and after-parties, regardless of whether they were outsiders or not.

That's why I had to be even more careful.

How many posts are there online about people worrying about taking a break from school?

I've seen so many stories about people misinterpreting harmless friendliness as a personal affection, leading to over-the-top confessions, only to later wonder whether they should continue attending school.

It's one thing to daydream about naming grandchildren from a mere touch of fingertips, but it's a dangerous mistake to take that fantasy seriously and act on it.

I was only now learning Ye Sara's real story and planning to change the future.

I couldn't afford to take a reckless step and end up detonating a landmine that would also blow up my friend.

The problem is, the situation now is different from back then.

In my previous life, I thought my appearance was above average, but I never thought I had a face that would attract the opposite sex completely.

My experience of never having received a confession confirmed that thought.

Naturally, I had no reason to interpret the goodwill of the opposite sex as personal interest in me.

But what about now?

The lively girl sitting across from me, blushing so hard that it was noticeable even beyond the radiance of her face, was undeniably a beautiful girl by anyone's standards.

It made sense.

The female protagonist of an otome game may be described as average, but in the CG, she's often depicted as so pretty that she could slap the heroines of most harem games.

…Of course, the CG in "If You Wish" looked like it was hastily drawn in MS Paint by the developer.

Anyway, that's just how clichés work.

In reality, she was pretty enough.

So, how about me, the one sitting across from that girl—Ye Sara, whose appearance I had now taken over?

Ye Sara's looks are beautiful.

This was a fact.

Even in the game, it was mentioned multiple times how pretty she was.

She was beautiful when I looked in the mirror too.

While her chest might be small, her slim body had a defined shape, allowing her to pull off any outfit.

Lastly, what kind of world is this?

This is a world where it's not strange for a woman to fall for another woman or a man for another man—an otome game world.

And Yoo Ha-neul is the protagonist of that otome game.

In other words, there's enough plausibility for someone to express affection within just a few days.

…To put it bluntly, even falling in love at first sight wouldn't be strange.

Most first love stories start like that anyway.

In this field, appearance can also be part of the logic.

So now, I am extremely confused.

Was the kindness Yoo Ha-neul was showing me the kindness of a friend, or was it the kindness of a romantic interest?

Until just a moment ago, I would have shrugged it off as nothing, but I had just caught Yoo Ha-neul searching for date spots right in front of me.

And it wasn't like she stumbled upon it by accident—she specifically searched for that term.

In a world where it's not strange for girls to date other girls, she was guiding me through date courses while meeting a same-sex friend.

If one of us had been male, it would have undoubtedly looked very suggestive.

Of course, we were both women.

"T-that, well…."

Hesitating for a while after hearing my question, Yoo Ha-neul finally opened her mouth.

"Y-yes! That's it! I was just looking for places that would be nice for two people to wander around together! The explanations were good too! That's why I chose it!"

Indeed, the atmosphere had felt overwhelmingly like the path couples walked.

Though, to be fair, I had seen groups of women walking together too, so it wasn't entirely wrong.

But—

"What about the 'couple's giant parfait' sitting right in front of me?"

That's right.

While I was in the bathroom for a moment, Yoo Ha-neul had ordered not coffee, but a giant parfait.

A two-person parfait at that.

Even though we had separate spoons, forks, and straws, the menu had clearly labeled it as a "couple" dish.

"T-that, that's because—"

Yoo Ha-neul's eyes shook violently.

As I raised an eyebrow, her eyes shook even more.

"Because it's economical!"

After much thought, Yoo Ha-neul shouted that answer.

*

Even after hearing "because it's economical," the doubt in Sara's expression didn't completely disappear.

Well, honestly, yes, I did somewhat feel like we were on a date.

While Sara wasn't wearing clothes I chose for her, she still looked a bit cool in the slightly boyish outfit she had on.

So, while picking out my own clothes, I decided to wear a dress.

Sara even said it suited me.

And yes, I did enjoy seeing Sara blush every time I linked arms with her.

Honestly, it was cute.

Whenever I fed Sara, who usually accepted anything I gave her without hesitation, I deliberately gave her snacks in public, enjoying her embarrassed reactions.

After wandering around together for about an hour, well, yeah, I might've gotten caught up in the mood and ended up ordering a couple's menu without thinking.

But even so, my relationship with Sara was still at the "friendship" stage.

We were close friends who stuck together at school every day.

So, when it came to romantic feelings, I had none—.

…

…

…

—Well, not completely "none."

Yoo Ha-neul had to admit it herself.

Up until now, she had never felt romantic emotions toward another girl, and she had never fantasized about dating a friend, but recently, sometimes—very occasionally—she thought that if a girl like Sara confessed to her, she might just accept it.

Of course, she knew that wasn't likely to happen.

Because… Sara and Yoo Ha-neul were still in the "friendship" stage.

"I'll ask honestly."

After listening to Yoo Ha-neul's response and thinking for a moment, Sara spoke seriously.

"I've been stuck at home all this time, so I honestly don't know how to handle the distance between friends."

"Ah."

That's right.

Sara had been confined to that mansion all her life.

From what Soo-ah, whom we had exchanged numbers with, told me, Sara didn't have any friends throughout elementary and middle school.

Sara's expression as she spoke was calm.

It was the kind of expression you could only have if you were used to it.

If it were me, I would've felt incredibly pained the moment I started talking, Yoo Ha-neul thought.

"So, first question."

After saying that, Sara paused for a moment, as if hesitating, before continuing.

"T-that… feeding snacks into someone's mouth, is that normal between friends?"

"…Well…"

If you asked whether it was "normal," I'd have to say no.

But it's not like I had never experienced it.

Close friends often playfully fed each other snacks.

However, that usually happens when handing over something like a long stick-shaped snack, or when it's a bigger piece where your hand doesn't touch the other person's mouth.

Sometimes, when someone is preoccupied or just mindlessly accepts the snack with their mouth, it's not a big deal.

But brushing the other person's lips while feeding them a snack?

That doesn't happen.

…Yes, to be honest, I had deliberately touched Sara's lips several times.

Actually, it was probably more than "several times".

I wasn't counting, after all.

The soft sensation of her lips was, honestly, addictive.

"T-that's right! Between close friends, it happens often, yeah."

It wasn't a complete lie.

If you had to measure it, about 70% of what I said was a lie.

But there was some truth in it.

And realizing that I had unconsciously told such a lie weighed heavily on my conscience.

I felt guilt settling in my heart.

Sara's eyes narrowed, and her brow furrowed slightly.

It was a look that unmistakably signaled suspicion.

"…Alright."

But it seemed Sara decided to trust me anyway.

"Then, next question. When we were walking around earlier, we were linking arms, right? Is that normal too? Is that something close friends do?"

"Well, that's—"

Yoo Ha-neul's mouth clamped shut before she could say "yes."

Sure, linking arms could happen.

While you wouldn't do it all day, if you were in a good mood or meeting a very close friend, it could happen without thinking.

…But today was a bit different.

Yoo Ha-neul hadn't just linked arms with Sara; she had half-hugged her, clinging to her as they walked.

She could almost feel Sara's body heat through her clothes.

…That wasn't normal.

"T-that's right! Between close friends, yeah. If you're really close, it's possible…"

My guilty conscience screamed in agony, but I forced myself to answer like that.

"Hmm."

Sara made a skeptical sound.

But, once again, she didn't ask any further questions.

"Okay."

At Sara's response, Yoo Ha-neul let out a small breath.

It seemed she had passed this round as well.

"Then, one last thing."

Sara's gaze fell on the jumbo couple parfait on the table between them.

"Is it normal for close friends to order a couple's menu just because it's economical?"

"…"

This one wasn't easy to answer.

Honestly, before I thought Sara might be suspicious, I had just gotten swept up in the mood and ordered it.

Sara stared at Yoo Ha-neul, waiting for an answer.

Her expression showed genuine curiosity, as if she was asking with no ill intent, just wanting to know.

Is it really right to lie to a girl like that, just because I like her?

Of course not.

Even thinking about it a little, it's clearly selfish.

It's almost like deceiving someone who doesn't know much about relationships just to enjoy a one-sided date.

But at the same time, I was scared to tell the truth.

I was afraid that even Sara, the only person who listened to me in class, would be frightened of me.

But I can't keep doing this. A quiet voice of conscience whispered inside me.

We're friends.

You shouldn't tell such serious lies between friends.

Yes, that was the right thing to do.

But—

"D-do you… dislike it?"

What came out of Yoo Ha-neul's mouth was that question.

"…"

Sara's eyes widened.

As if she hadn't expected such a question.

For a while, Sara just stared at Yoo Ha-neul with her big eyes, before slowly narrowing them.

The narrowing of her eyes felt almost like slow motion.

Yoo Ha-neul's heart dropped.

Did she hate it?

Did she realize I was lying?

Yoo Ha-neul wondered as Sara's narrowing eyes suddenly curved slightly.

It was the kind of eye smile Sara always gave Yoo Ha-neul at school.

The kind of smile that could captivate even a fox.

"No, of course, I enjoyed it."

Sara said with a smile.

The heart that had nearly dropped started pounding quickly.

Yoo Ha-neul could feel her face heating up.