9

Why? Is the atmosphere fascinating?"

"No, it's just another bustling area, not much different from other places."

Well, compared to the familiar surroundings near Gwanghwamun, the vibe was completely different.

They had developed the area around unused train tracks into a somewhat sentimental park, and the people strolling around seemed relatively younger.

However, my wandering gaze wasn't because of that.

I've never worked as a reporter, so I'm not sure, but would a reporter get flustered if the expected location suddenly changed?

The reporter who took pictures of me entering the convenience store with Hayoon didn't seem to be around.

That means, at the very least, the photo wasn't taken "nearby."

I may not have a camera, but there's one thing I know for sure:

the better the camera, the bulkier it is, and the farther it can shoot, the larger its lens.

Well, if they really took the photo from "far away," it wouldn't be easy to spot them with the naked eye.

"So… what do we do now?"

Anyway, getting off the subway and coming to a crowded place was a good start.

But what now?

Since my reincarnation in this world, one thing I've avoided is "fan activities."

In my previous life, I was an otaku, but not in this one.

This was partly because of circumstances.

After all, buying and collecting things requires money.

Plus, having lots of belongings in the orphanage was a bit of a hassle since we had to move out as adults, and too much stuff would be a burden then.

As a result, I had no reason to visit the "places otakus frequent" in Hongdae.

I had no intention of dragging these two along either.

Hayoon might let it slide, but Ji-hye would probably tease me about it for half a day.

"Uh… how about clothes?"

Ji-hye, after darting her eyes around, spoke in a slightly uncertain voice.

"Clothes!"

The one who reacted to that was Hayoon.

When I turned toward her voice, she was looking up at me with sparkling eyes.

Hmm…

Hayoon likes cute clothes.

It was even mentioned in her webtoon character introduction, and as her childhood friend, I knew it too.

Normally, she dresses modestly due to her shyness, but as a magical girl, her outfit designs were quite adorable.

In the story, her designs as a magical girl often changed as well.

Rather than having different transformation forms, it seemed her attire changed based on what she imagined while transforming at the moment.

That's what worried me a bit—the sparkling eyes she was directing at me.

Somehow, I had a feeling she'd pick something excessively pink for me.

Not that I'd hate it, but—

"Don't want to?"

When I stayed silent for a moment, Hayoon's energy slightly deflated.

After a brief hesitation, I said, "Alright, let's check it out."

Hayoon's face brightened instantly.

Ji-hye's face lit up alongside hers.

Hayun… hmm.

She didn't pick something too pink for me.

But it was still as pink as I feared.

It wasn't something blatantly hot pink with frills and lace everywhere.

But it was still light pink—a long-sleeved T-shirt with a relatively understated design.

On top of that, Hayoon swapped my pants for a white skirt.

It was a long, pleated skirt, so it wouldn't be terribly cold, but…

Wearing pink clothes was… a bit much for me to handle.

Still, with Hayoon clasping her hands together and looking up at me with sparkling eyes, I couldn't bring myself to refuse.

Ji-hye, standing a step behind Hayoon, openly smirked at me.

I clenched my fists and held back my frustration.

I'll punch her arm or something when we get back.

Fortunately, there weren't any coats worth buying on the spot, so I only changed into the inner clothes before leaving the store.

A black coat over a pink T-shirt and a white skirt.

For someone like me who usually dressed in all-black tones, the bright design was almost unbearable.

"So pretty!"

Hayoon, modestly dressed herself, said so while clinging to my arm.

Had she lost some of her shyness after making me change clothes?

Click.

"Ah, sorry."

When I sharply turned my head at the sound of a camera shutter, Ji-hye looked a little flustered.

"Was I not supposed to take a picture?"

"No… it's fine. I just got startled by the sudden sound."

I replied to Ji-hye's question, trying to sound nonchalant.

It seemed I was overly self-conscious.

I shook my head lightly to regain my composure.

Whatever the company might say, we were here to have fun.

"Then, I'll send it to you."

Jiye said with a mischievous grin.

Hayoon looked pleased, but no matter how I looked at it, Ji-hye seemed intent on keeping that photo of me in pink clothes for eternity.

I glanced down at Hayoon beside me.

Hayoon, slightly shorter than me, looked up with a bright smile when our eyes met.

I wasn't particularly angry.

Even if I had been, would I have been able to stay mad after seeing that expression?

For a first visit, we were having quite a good time.

Well, having two friends with me—why wouldn't it be enjoyable?

Hayoon still seemed a little awkward, but it was much better than before.

Since today wasn't too cold, though still winter weather, we decided to stop somewhere warm to rest for a while.

"I'll be back after using the restroom."

After successfully finding a table and ordering drinks, Ji-hye immediately got up.

"Alright."

"Enjoy your date, you two."

It seemed Ji-hye had taken a liking to teasing Hayoon.

As Hayoon's face reddened slightly, she waved at us and quickly headed for the restroom, leaving me glaring at her retreating back.

For a moment, Hayoon and I were silent.

Hmm.

When Hayoon's with me, she tends to talk quite a lot.

Was she feeling awkward because I'd suddenly brought a friend along?

While pondering this—

Click.

The sudden sound of a camera shutter next to me made me turn my head with a questioning look.

Hayun, smiling, was aiming her smartphone camera at me.

"It suits you so well."

Oh, this girl.

Her tone of voice was entirely different from when her friend Ji-hye was around.

Is this what they call a "friendship booster"?

"Really?"

I pouted slightly.

"Yeah. You always wear black clothes."

"I think it suits me. Black matches my hair."

Perhaps because Hayoon was the only one beside me, I found myself grumbling without restraint.

"Why stick to the same look every day? Sometimes you can change your image."

I propped my chin on my hand and looked out the window.

"Why? Are you sulking?"

"No, I'm not."

"Is it because I dressed you in cute clothes?"

"I told you, it's not that."

I replied in a sulky tone, making Hayoon giggle.

Bzzz.

"Ah, our drinks must be ready."

As the buzzer rang, Hayoon immediately grabbed it.

"I'll get them."

Before I could get up, Hayoon was already on her feet, so I decided to stay put and wait.

Still, I couldn't help but watch the back of her head intently, just in case someone strange approached her.

It happens sometimes.

After confirming she safely reached the drinks, I thought it'd be fine to relax and pulled out my phone.

The internet site I habitually opened displayed:

[Blossom, really in a relationship??]

It wasn't a headline article.

Blossom was the protagonist of the webtoon I read, so ever since Hayoon became a magical girl,

I'd made a habit of checking the entertainment section of online newspapers.

There had been a few helpful pieces of information.

This article, too, was one of those I routinely checked.

This one wasn't so much an article as it was a single photo.

The photo showed Hayoon picking out pink clothes for someone.

I quickly looked around.

Thankfully, no one seemed to be watching me.

Most were chatting happily with their companions.

Many were couples, naturally absorbed in each other, paying no attention to their surroundings.

Was it taken with a telephoto lens?

The clothing store had been quite crowded.

If they'd tried to take it from afar, their view would have been blocked naturally.

But with a smartphone…

"Why?"

Suddenly, Hayoon's face popped into my view, startling me so much I nearly fell off my chair.

"Why are you so surprised?"

Hayun laughed, reaching out to steady me.

The tray with the three drinks we ordered was already on the table.

"Were you looking at something strange on your phone—ah."

"Ah."

I was so startled that I didn't even think to hide my phone.

At first glance, Hayoon might seem a bit dreamy, but she's Blossom—the leader among magical girls active in Korea.

Her physical abilities are exceptional.

And that includes her dynamic vision.

Once she had seen my phone, there was no way I could hide it anymore.

"This… it's me."

While Hayoon was staring at my phone, I cranked my brain into high gear.

"And this is from today."

Hayoon's brows furrowed slightly.

It wasn't a look of anger but more of a serious expression.

To be honest, Hayoon isn't the type to make stern faces.

It's as if her facial muscles just don't move in a way that would look "grim."

So, when she makes this face, it means she's very serious.

"Oh, the coffee's here."

At that moment, Ji-hye returned from the restroom, speaking cheerfully as she approached us.

Of course, her bright tone quickly faded.

"What? Did something happen while I was gone?"

Hayun might not be able to move her facial muscles as freely, but I had no such limitation.

And I wasn't particularly skilled at hiding my expressions.

Ji-hye often said that my negative emotions were especially easy to read.

"Uh, well…"

I started to say something but closed my mouth again.

Should I tell Ji-hye about this?

She had seen the article last time, so it might not matter much, but—

"It's stalking."

"Stalk—"

Hayun suddenly declared in a firm tone, and I instinctively started to repeat her words before quickly shutting my mouth.

Stalking… stalking… oh, right.

Even if it's a reporter, following someone around and secretly taking photos is still stalking.

You could call it paparazzi work, but still.

"Stalking?"

Ji-hye tilted her head in confusion, and Hayoon pushed my phone toward her.

"Huh? This…"

Ji-hye's eyes darted back and forth between my pink top and the image on my phone.

The top I was wearing was pink, and so was the top in the photo.

Of course, the "me" in the picture was blurred out with a shallow focus, so it wasn't clear whether it was a man or a woman.

Moreover, the picture was taken not after Hayoon dressed me in the outfit but while she was holding it up against me to see how it looked.

Since my body wasn't fully visible, the scene could easily be misinterpreted as "a playful moment of someone suggesting pink clothes to their boyfriend."

Even if I tried to explain that it wasn't recent, the unique outfit made it impossible to argue it was from before.

I felt a cold sweat trickling down my back, and it wasn't just because of the overly warm indoor heating.

"So… does that mean we're being followed right now?"

Hayun seemed to have completely forgotten the awkwardness she felt when she first met Ji-hye today.

With a serious expression, she nodded.

"Yes."

Seriously?

A reporter?

"What should we do? Should we report this to the police?"

Ji-hye, who had been intrigued when she saw the article earlier, now seemed genuinely scared.

…

Even though it was a legitimate newspaper…

"Sorry. I shouldn't have dragged you into this."

"Huh? Oh, no, it's fine. It's not like you did this on purpose…"

Ji-hye waved her hands in a flustered attempt to comfort me.

Would the police even arrest a reporter for stalking? It seemed like a gray area.

Normally, if a random person walked around taking pictures of strangers with a big camera, it could cause major issues.

"First, we need to figure out who took the photo."

Hayoon spoke firmly.

She didn't seem to think it would cause significant legal trouble.

While there might be a moral obligation regarding following and photographing a minor, the law wasn't as clear-cut.

"And if there's a picture of you, I'll make sure to request its deletion."

Hayoon looked at both Ji-hye and me with a serious expression.

My back was drenched in sweat, my T-shirt beneath sticking unpleasantly to my skin.

"So, for now…"

"Let's act like we don't know."

Hayoon declared with a resolute expression, making it hard to argue against her.

Moreover, I couldn't bring myself to confess my involvement.

Both Hayoon and Ji-hye would probably look at me as if I were trash.

… Should I have just been upfront about it from the beginning?

Would that have been better?

If I had, I'd also have to reveal that I was an operative for Noir Corporation, secretly fighting against them.

In the end, while Hayoon sipped her drink and glanced around with a serious look, I barely managed to drink half of my Americano.

Perhaps because we were sitting across from each other at the café, no new articles seemed to be published.

The angle must not have been favorable.

I felt somewhat relieved.

Maybe they only planned to post one article a day.

If no new stories appeared for the rest of today, it would be like nothing happened, and I could just enjoy the rest of the day.

But as always, hopeful expectations are bound to be betrayed.

"They're nearby."

I had already received my phone.

The article was posted on an online news platform, so naturally, Hayoon could monitor it as well.

Was the reporter reckless because the article was getting good traffic, or did they genuinely believe there was no chance of getting caught?

Honestly, I just hoped they wouldn't get caught today.

[Blossom with a serious expression.]

The photo showed Hayoon looking up at me with a rather serious face.

At first glance, it could be mistaken for a couple having a fight, with one of them looking upset.

And at that moment, I realized something.

Hayoon… was the person who displayed the most variety of expressions around me.

She never showed such a wide range of emotions in front of other friends.

Before this situation, when Hayoon felt slightly awkward around Jiye, she behaved the same way she did with other people—reserved and shy.

It was only when we were alone that she smiled so openly, fully relaxing in my presence.

Because we were childhood friends.

We both knew there was no awkwardness or tension between us.

…Maybe that's why James assigned me this task in the first place…

My heart throbbed painfully.

"It seems to be a disguise," Hayoon said.

She didn't bother to look behind us.

Maybe she thought that acting too aware of the situation would cause the stalker to flee.

"This company… It felt familiar. Turns out it's a subsidiary of Noir Corporation."

Is that so?

Well, Noir Corporation did dabble in entertainment ventures.

"Wait."

Hayun switched into professional mode, typing rapidly on her phone.

As I blinked in confusion, Hayoon glanced at me and gave a faint smile.

But that smile looked… a little sad.

"Don't worry too much. I'll make sure your photo doesn't end up in the newspaper," Hayoon said, calling me by name.

No, that's not the issue here…

I clenched and unclenched my hands repeatedly.

Maybe it was just my imagination, but it felt like the blood wasn't circulating properly.

Hayoon rummaged through her bag and pulled out something resembling a wristwatch.

"Oh, that."

Jiye reacted but quickly covered her mouth.

"Are you going to transform here?"

"It's fine," Hayoon replied.

"I won't transform right here. I'll move to a more discreet location first."

She whispered softly.

Luckily, it seemed no one around here recognized Hayoon as Blossom yet.

Maybe there weren't many people interested in entertainment news in this area.

"Even if a monster shows up, I can handle it."

Hayun clenched her fist determinedly as she said this and tucked the device back into her bag.

Well… how should I put this?

Even if that news outlet operated legally, hitting a reporter probably wouldn't be a good idea, would it?

It seemed like having me nearby was making Hayoon more agitated, but I wasn't sure what to say to calm her down.

A single slip of the tongue could lead to an irreversible mistake.

I didn't want to risk ruining my relationship with my childhood friend when I already had so few close friends.

I quickly scanned our surroundings again.

I still couldn't tell who might be holding a camera.

"Uh, Hayoon."

"Don't worry too much."

"Ah, no, that's not it."

Normally, in situations like this, Hayoon would be the one flustered while I remained composed.

But now, it was the opposite.

It seemed Hayoon thought her reaction stemmed from the fact that I was partially visible in that photo.

"I… need to use the restroom for a bit."

"Ah."

At my words, Hayoon gave a bitter smile.

"Alright."

And, as if to reassure me, she added, "Let's head into a nearby building first."

At Hayoon's suggestion, Jiye and I nodded, and we quickly entered a building nearby.

As soon as I entered the restroom, I closed the toilet lid and sat down.

Then, I assumed Rodin's "The Thinker" pose.

But I had no idea what I was supposed to think about.

My mind was too jumbled to come up with any clear solutions.

Damn it.

Even when I faced Blossom head-on, I hadn't been this flustered.

…Though, I'm not sure if that could even be called a "face-off."

Eventually, I dropped the pose and grabbed my head in frustration.

Not that it helped.

I couldn't come up with any ideas, and all I did was waste time.