8

I couldn't bring myself to outright refuse the request to spread rumors about a friend.

That evening, even after returning to the orphanage, I couldn't fall asleep for a long time.

While listening to Ji-yang's steady breathing as she fell asleep before me, I was lost in thought for a while.

What should I do?

If I don't firmly refuse, the company will assume I've agreed.

And honestly, there's no real option to refuse in the first place.

Noir Corporation wouldn't be called Noir Corporation for nothing.

There's always a reason when a company name sounds like something out of a noir webtoon.

At best, they call it a 'suggestion,' but if they're bent on coercing you, there are plenty of ways to do it.

Like leaking my personal information.

…Even if they get caught, a small fine would settle it.

Besides, the company doesn't exactly have a stellar reputation.

I really regret getting involved with this company.

If only it were the days when I knew nothing at all.

After agonizing for a long time, I simply closed my eyes and turned over.

Oh well, what's the point of overthinking it?

What's done is done; I just have to be careful wherever I can.

There has to be a point where both Ha-yoon and I can avoid trouble.

Surely.

Even though I thought so, I still couldn't shake my worries, so I decided not to meet Ha-yoon for a few days.

I thought the company would find this level of caution reasonable.

After all, companies work for maximum results and profit, not to torment individuals.

Not that such tormenting companies don't exist, but anyway.

If they push too hard and Ha-yoon catches on, it'll cause a huge problem for the company as well.

Even if the magical girls from the Galactic Federation are only narrowly avoiding illegality, committing such a crime against a minor—

—Oh, so it's a huge problem for me too, huh.

That's why I decided to tread carefully with this matter.

But then—

Bzzzt—

After waking up, having breakfast as usual, cleaning up briefly, and taking a shower, I got a text from Ha-yoon.

The message read:

[What are you doing today?]

Ever since she was little, Ha-yoon always found it a bit hard to say "Let's hang out" to me directly.

She's a bit timid, so she's not good at organizing gatherings or initiating plans.

I'm similar in that regard, but at least I can be direct with close friends or people I really dislike.

Ha-yoon, on the other hand, even when speaking to me as her childhood friend, always seemed a bit hesitant.

She knows I have plenty of free time anyway.

[Just staying home.]

[Then, want to meet up for a bit?]

[Sure.]

I made sure to add a period to my response.

It makes me sound more decisive.

When I have to refuse, I use three dots instead.

[When can you meet?]

I thought for a moment.

[I can go out now.]

Again, I included a period in my reply.

[Alright, see you in 30 minutes.]

[Okay. I'll be there on time.]

There's no need to decide on a location.

We always meet at the same place anyway.

"Going out somewhere?"

Ji-yang, unusually glued to her desk today, asked.

"Yeah."

"To see a friend?"

"Yeah."

"Must be nice to have so many friends~"

Ji-yang spoke enviously, and I shrugged in response.

The friend I always meet is the same one.

I do have other school friends, but Ha-yoon is the only one I'm close enough to meet during vacation.

"You should meet some friends too."

When I told Ji-yang, who kept glancing enviously at me heading out, to meet her friends, she sighed deeply.

"They're all away on trips…"

"Oh."

After an awkward silence, I finally opened my mouth.

"Sorry."

"It's fine. You had the same thing happen last vacation, didn't you?"

Ji-yang casually stretched out her fingers and examined her nails.

I don't have many complaints about living in the orphanage.

While the facilities are a bit old, there's no part of it that's unusable.

Still, we're not exactly well-off.

There are times when we can't go on trips with friends.

Fortunately, I've never missed out on things like school trips.

"…I see."

With a slightly pouty face, Ji-yang looked at her nails for a moment before suddenly brightening and looking at me with shining eyes.

"Can I hang out with your friend too?"

"Huh?"

I let out an involuntary sound at her suggestion.

"No, I mean, uh… well, if it's too much trouble, then never mind."

Seeing my reaction, Ji-yang immediately looked dejected.

Just like I know Ha-yoon well as her childhood friend, Ji-yang knows me just as well from living together.

She never touches anything I just bought without asking.

At least, not until I've unwrapped it myself.

She might eat something like bread or pancakes from a paper bag, but when it comes to vacuum-sealed snacks, she always asks first.

Those kinds of unspoken rules.

Unlike Ji-yang, who doesn't mind people using her stuff, I'm pretty attached to my belongings.

I don't get angry unless something gets broken, but I still don't like people handling my stuff without permission.

If we weren't sharing a room, this wouldn't even be an issue.

Ji-yang must also find it frustrating sharing space with a finicky friend like me.

And the "Huh?" I just let out was similar.

Just like Ha-yoon struggles to directly say, "Let's hang out," I reflexively react like this when asked sensitive questions.

It's usually followed by a refusal.

"Alright, have fun."

Although she didn't seem angry, there was a faintly hurt atmosphere.

"Oh, then—"

I reflexively started to suggest meeting her tomorrow or the next day instead.

—But then, an idea crossed my mind.

"Hold on."

"Huh?"

When I held up my hand to signal her to wait and pulled out my phone, Ji-yang looked at me with wide eyes.

She quickly lifted her head off the desk, clearly hopeful.

"Let me ask first."

"Huh?"

This time, Ji-yang made the same sound I had.

It probably didn't mean much—just a surprised reaction.

I stared at the messaging screen on my phone.

What should I say? I have no idea how Ha-yoon makes new friends.

The two of us became friends just because we happened to sit near each other in class.

[Ha-yoon, sorry but…]

[Hm? Why? If something came up, it's okay, no need to push yourself to come out.]

No, that's not it.

[Uh… is it okay if another friend joins us?]

[A friend?]

Texts don't show emotions.

Unlike phone calls, you can't hear the tone of voice.

It made me a little nervous.

[It's fine.]

[Really?]

[Yeah. She's your friend, so it's okay.]

What a nice person.

I almost jumped out of my seat in excitement but held it in.

Looking at the tense Ji-yang, I told her the news.

"She said it's fine."

"Really?"

Ji-yang jumped out of her chair so enthusiastically that her office chair rolled back.

"I'll get ready right away!"

She rushed to the closet and began picking out clothes.

Good thing she already showered this morning.

Then again, if she hadn't, the teachers would have scolded her.

So, here's my plan.

The company would prefer Ha-yoon and I to be alone together.

That way, they could twist the narrative and publish articles about us "dating."

They already know Ha-yoon isn't mentally strong when it comes to this kind of thing.

But, the company never explicitly told me to meet her "alone."

They just said to "get along with her."

So, if I include Ji-yang, it satisfies the condition of hanging out with Ha-yoon while making it harder for them to take photos.

"Don't act overly familiar."

That's why I let Ji-yang know in advance that the friend we'd be meeting today was Ha-yoon.

Ji-yang already knew I was friends with Ha-yoon.

Honestly, it's not something I brag about, but there have been a few articles about me.

At most, I was referred to as "Friend A" near a magical girl.

Even if my face was pixelated, people who knew me could recognize me from my clothes or the locations in the photos.

"I get it. What do you take me for?"

When a drama shoot briefly took place at our school's playground, I remember her yelling celebrity names enthusiastically from afar.

I gave her a doubtful look, and Ji-yang jabbed me lightly in the side with her elbow.

"Anyway, let's hurry. We'll be late."

Although we live in "almost" the same neighborhood, I've always kept it a secret that I live in an orphanage.

For this reason, the meeting place with Ha-yoon has always been near her house.

This wasn't unfair or anything—I was the one who insisted on it, so there's no point in complaining.

"Oh, over there."

Ji-yang spoke first, her voice slightly excited, and pointed ahead.

The spot her finger indicated was where Ha-yoon stood, radiating spring-like energy even in this winter weather.

Despite her thick coat, black stockings, scarf, and hat, her presence was unmistakable.

Perhaps Ji-yang's animated gesture caught her attention because Ha-yoon seemed to notice us.

I gave her a small wave, and she awkwardly waved back, looking a bit shy.

She seemed even more self-conscious today, probably because of Ji-yang.

"Hi there!"

With a spring in her step, Ji-yang bounced forward a couple of strides and landed lightly on her feet, her cheerful voice carrying over.

"You must be Ha-yoon?"

"…?"

Ha-yoon's response was incredibly awkward—much more awkward than I had anticipated.

"I'm Ji-yang. Jung Ji-yang."

"Jung Ji-yang… Miss."

Blinking, Ha-yoon glanced back and forth between me and Ji-yang.

"Huh?"

Hearing her reply, Ji-yang blinked as well before looking at me.

Hmm…

This was unexpected.

I know Ha-yoon isn't the type to use formal language with classmates.

Though with fellow magical girls, she sometimes does…

Ah.

"We're the same age," I quickly clarified, pointing back and forth between myself and Ji-yang.

A puff of breath escaped Ha-yoon's lips as if she exhaled in both relief and understanding at the same time.

She still blinked wide-eyed, processing the situation.

"Oh, um, it's just that…"

Ha-yoon's face quickly turned crimson.

"Your names sounded similar, so I thought… you were her older sister."

"…What?"

At her words, I let out a stupid sound without meaning to.

Older sister?

"Oh, I see. You thought it was a shared syllable thing?"

Ji-yang laughed as she spoke and nudged me playfully in the side.

"Hey, she called me 'sister.'

I must look more mature than you!"

At Ji-yang's teasing, Ha-yoon's eyes widened in shock.

"Oh no, I didn't mean it like that! Sorry."

"It's fine. She's just saying I look old, that's all," I replied with a shrug.

"Oh no! That's not what I meant! I'm really sorry!"

Startled again, Ha-yoon raised her voice to apologize, practically bouncing in place.

Her flustered movements were almost unbearably cute.

"Hahaha!"

Ji-yang burst out laughing at her reaction.

"You're funny."

At that, Ha-yoon's face turned an even deeper shade of red.

"But, why are you still speaking formally?"

"Uh, well…"

"Hey, hey," I interjected, jabbing Ji-yang in the ribs.

"Give her some space. Even I wouldn't know what to say in her shoes."

"Hmm, really? My bad."

"Oh, no, it's fine! I'm okay," Ha-yoon quickly added.

…Honestly, maybe she just feels more comfortable with formal speech.

She seems to have her own reasons for it.

Seeing her continue to apologize in formal language, Ji-yang grew momentarily serious, but I smacked the back of her head lightly.

"Hey, why?"

"Just felt like hitting you."

Though Ji-yang huffed and muttered something in protest, I ignored her and turned back to Ha-yoon.

"So… where should we go? It's cold, isn't it?"

"Hey, why are you only nice to her?"

Because you don't count as a girl to me.

Of course, that doesn't mean I see Ha-yoon romantically.

I'm not the type to set my sights on unattainable goals.

As Ji-yang and I continued our playful banter, Ha-yoon stared at us, her mouth slightly agape.

"Uh, Ha-yoon?"

"Huh? Oh, yes!"

Only when I called her name again did she blink and quickly respond.

"Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"

"Uh, um…"

She paused to think.

Apparently, there wasn't.

For some reason, her indecision made me feel oddly warm inside.

I mean, it's not like she's calling me out because she has nothing better to do, right? She must have assumed I'd come out if she called.

If we were both guys, it might've been a bit depressing—a pair of single friends with nothing to do, spending the start of the year just hanging out.

Well, it's kind of similar now, but at least we're girls, right?

I'm a girl too, obviously, but anyway.

I don't know what I'm saying, but the feeling isn't bad.

"Want to go to Hongdae?"

At Ji-yang's suggestion, both Ha-yoon and I turned to look at her.

"Huh? Why? Haven't you two been there?"

Never. Not even in my past life.

…Did I go to buy some comics once?

"What's there to do?"

"Well…"

Honestly, if I ever went there, it wasn't to hang out like most people.

At my question, Ji-yang looked flustered.

So, she doesn't know either.

Then again, we've been to Gwanghwamun so many times it's boring now.

All we ever did there was walk around aimlessly, stop by a bookstore, eat, and go home.

Still, there's a reason for that.

What can two underage girls do, really?

We can't drink late at night, nor can we hang out in a café until it closes.

Unless we were the type to turn a café into a bar-like hangout.

And—

Yeah. Changing our usual destination might throw off any paparazzi trying to follow us.

"…Should we go?"

Cautiously, I decided to consider the idea.

Of course, the most important thing was Ha-yoon's opinion, since she was the one who invited me out.

"Uh, well…"

Her face reddened again as she nodded slightly, her gaze fixed on the ground.

"Wow, she's adorable. Should we adopt her?"

I smacked the back of Ji-yang's head again.

Even as Ha-yoon remained mostly silent, Ji-yang kept chattering away.

Initially awkward, Ha-yoon seemed to gradually adjust to Ji-yang's talkative nature during the subway ride.

In moments like this, that personality of hers really came in handy.

After all, Ji-yang is thoughtful.

She might seem similar to a self-centered chatterbox at first glance, but unlike them, she considers others' feelings.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have lasted this long sharing a room with someone as prickly as me.

Plus, you know how some people are just naturally comfortable with physical affection?

That's Ji-yang.

Maybe it's also because we've been sharing a room for so long that I don't even see her as a girl anymore.

Hmm.

Still, I couldn't help but notice Ha-yoon's gaze.

She seemed to be watching Ji-yang's casual arm-linking with me closely, as if trying to figure out if it was normal.

With her disguise glasses on, her expression looked even more serious.

Maybe I should loosen up a bit today.

Otherwise, it might seem like I'm excluding her.

But then again, I brought Ji-yang along partly to avoid the paparazzi's focus.

If I act too naturally attached to someone else, it might raise questions later—

As I mulled over these thoughts, my brain suddenly froze.

Something brushed against my right arm, which had been hanging free.

It was Ha-yoon, hesitantly gripping my arm with a determined look.

Though it wasn't exactly arm-linking—more like awkwardly holding my elbow—her hand still found its way between my side and my arm.

When our eyes met, she almost let go, but she quickly regained her composure and held on tighter.

Well, fine.

I was supposed to meet Ha-yoon today, and it'd be odd to leave her out now.

Besides, sticking this close together might make it harder for anyone to take clear photos of us.

Glancing around subtly to ensure no one noticed, I walked down the crowded street with the two of them.

Fortunately, the many couples around us meant fewer people paid attention to our little group.