Thud.
“Ah, shit.”
The man grimaced.
“I’m only halfway through.”
If he wanted to think positively, maybe he could say he got halfway through.
…As if.
The sole of his sneaker harshly ground the cigarette butt into the pavement.
Should I light another one?
The man’s hand rummaged through the pack of cigarettes.
“Empty….”When he had come to the smoking area, there had still been a few left.
The answer was at his feet.
Scattered across the ground were countless cigarette butts.
The number easily exceeded five, so it wasn’t surprising the pack was now empty.
Only then did the man snap back to reality.
At his usual pace, the pack should have lasted him a few days.
It was bothersome to go out and buy more, and with the recent price hike in cigarettes, his wallet wasn’t in great shape.
He placed the last remaining cigarette between his lips.
Click, click!
They say bad days are bad no matter what you try. No matter how many times he flicked his finger, the lighter refused to spark.
Just as irritation was about to overwhelm him—
Fwoosh—
The flame ignited, as if fueled by his frustration.
Finally managing to light the cigarette, the man took a deep drag, filling his lungs with nicotine.
As the nicotine seeped deep into his chest, the man felt his head clear.
With his mind clearer and a sense of calm returning, he picked up the phone he had momentarily set aside.
“Oh, idiots.”
Why are there so many stupid people in this world?
Scrolling through the comments on his post, the man chuckled.
There was no point in hiding it.
The man currently smoking the last cigarette was none other than Streamer J, the one who had written the post about Joanie and her younger cousin.
It had only been a day since he uploaded it, but the post had already amassed hundreds of comments, even excluding his own replies.
It was by far the post that had received the most attention among all he had written.
Of course, not all the comments were favorable toward him.
Some people had come out of curiosity due to the commotion, while others outright accused him of being a criminal.
“Criminal? Please.”
How could snapping a single picture be a crime?
If anyone made a fuss about it, he could just say it was a landscape photo.
Stalking?
He could brush it off as a joke.
The reason he used a VPN to post wasn’t because he was scared—it was just a habit.
“Still, it’s annoying.”
He had gone out of his way to satisfy people’s curiosity, but now they were accusing him of fabrication and saying his evidence was weak.
At that moment, the man felt like he understood the struggles of noble-minded individuals.
He didn’t care whether people believed him or not, but being accused of lying still grated on him.
Ptui.
Chewing on the cigarette filter, the man spat the butt onto the ground.
“Evidence? If they want evidence that badly, I can show them.”
Once he presented clear evidence, the doubters wouldn’t be able to talk nonsense anymore.
He would savor his victory, mocking them as they scrambled to retreat.
Throwing the now-empty cigarette pack into the trash, the man left the smoking area.
His steps were light, filled with the noble mission of revealing the truth to everyone.
“Hey, kid! What do you think you’re doing leaving your cigarette butt there?! Get back here and pick it up!”
“S-sorry…!”
“People like you are why smokers get a bad reputation, you know that?”
Just as he was about to leave, the man turned back under the scolding of a nearby older smoker, picked up the discarded butt, and muttered internally.
“Damn, old geezer….”
Swallowing the words he couldn’t bring himself to say aloud.
***
Ding-dong, ding-dong!
“…Hmm.”
Ding-dong!
I pulled the blanket over my head, but the persistent sound of the doorbell continued to dig into my ears.
…Who on earth is ringing someone’s doorbell so early in the morning?
“Well, technically, it’s not that early.”
“Does that even matter right now…?”
“Pfft… Since you’re already awake, why not just get up? Oversleeping isn’t good for your health either.”
“I don’t want to….”
If I really wanted to, I could get up.
But since there’s nothing I need to do, is there any reason to?
Ignoring the hand patting me gently, I burrowed deeper under the blanket.
“Goodness. With how much you sleep, someone might actually carry you off one day. And with you, Kana, even if you noticed someone carrying you off, you’d probably just go back to sleep. You’d be like, ‘It’s too bothersome; I’ll just sleep.’” ȓ₳Ɲo͍ᛒΕș
That might be true.
To be precise, it’s less about being lazy and more about being confident that I’d make it back safely anyway.
In any case.
Without bothering to rouse my drowsy mind, I let myself sink into the cozy warmth surrounding me.
I could hear Da-eun’s footsteps gradually moving away.
She was probably going to check the source of the relentless doorbell ringing.
Trying to fall back asleep didn’t last long.
“Ugh…”
The doorbell that had been tormenting me finally stopped, but the sleepiness that had fled earlier didn’t seem to return.
Caught between wakefulness and drowsiness, I eventually poked my head out from under the blanket.
It was practically a declaration of defeat.
I wanted to sleep more, but if sleep wasn’t coming back, there wasn’t much I could do.
Even though this uninvited guest had forced me to confront reality, it wasn’t enough of a reason to crawl out of bed.
As I mentioned earlier, there wasn’t anything waiting for me outside. So, lazing in bed seemed like the better option.
Creak.
“Kana~”
The slightly ajar door revealed a familiar face.
“Are you sleeping~?”
“No.”
“Hmm! That’s what I thought.”
“…?”
…What kind of conversation even is this?
Momentarily forgetting about rolling around on the bed, I stared at her blankly as Da-eun approached me with a sly smile.
She plopped herself down at the edge of the bed.
Her movement made the bed bounce lightly.
Da-eun just sat there, smiling as she looked down at me without saying a word.
“Who was it?”
In the end, I broke the silence first.
“A guest.”
“…What kind of guest rings the doorbell like that?”
Maybe a debt collector.
When I spoke grumpily, Da-eun let out a quiet laugh and reached out her hand.
Her long fingers gently brushed aside the strands of pink hair that had been tickling my eyes.
“This guest said they wanted to see Kana. Do you want to meet them?”
“A guest? Me?”
“Yup.”
“Who is it?”
“That’s a secret!”
“Huh?”
“It’s no fun if I tell you in advance!”
“….”
This is just nonsense—
“Ah-ah! No bad words!”
“How is that bad?”
Anyway.
There’s no way a complete stranger would want to see me, and it’s not like Da-eun would bring someone random over either.
If it’s someone visiting early in the morning, then…
“Is it Aunt?”
“Hmm~ Who knows? Could it be Mom or not?”
“It’s either yes or no. Just answer.”
I gave Da-eun a dissatisfied look before propping myself up against the headboard of the bed.
“Do as you like.”
Surely Da-eun wouldn’t bring over someone strange.
With that, I begrudgingly granted permission to meet the so-called guest.
Not that “preparing” was anything more than going from lying down to sitting up.
Upon hearing my approval, Da-eun smirked.
“You heard that, right? Come on in!”
The slightly open door swung fully open, revealing the person standing behind it. I turned to Da-eun and remarked,
“You said it was a guest.”
“It is a guest, isn’t it?”
“That’s not a guest; that’s an intruder.”
“Well, technically speaking, it’s not an intruder but an intruderess.”
The “guest”—or rather, the so-called “intruderess”—replied nonchalantly and approached the bed.
About to sit down, she seemed to realize she was still in outdoor clothes and instead plopped herself onto the floor.
Her behavior seemed a bit pathetic, and I stared down at her silver hair from my vantage point before asking,
“Why did you come so early in the morning?”
“Kana hasn’t come to the gym in forever.”
“Forever?”
She counted on her fingers.
No matter how many times she counted, one hand’s worth of folded fingers didn’t even carry over to the other.
“It hasn’t even been that long.”
“Anything beyond a few days is forever.”
“Uh, sure.”
This was exactly the kind of person Yuki was.
She seemed perfectly normal at first glance, but the moment you talked to her, you could tell she was a bit off-kilter.
Still leaning against the bed, I slid back down and burrowed under the blanket.
“What are you doing, Kana? You can’t just hide under the blanket in front of a guest!”
“You just admitted she wasn’t a guest.”
“Still!”
“Ugh…”
No sooner had I gone back under than Da-eun slipped her arms under my armpits and dragged me out of the blanket.
“So this is how Kana usually is, huh?”
“Well… not all the time. Kana just isn’t great with mornings, so it’s only like this in the morning.”
“Stop answering her so kindly.”
“And the only reason she’s grumpy now is that you woke her up.”
“Don’t explain every little thing!”
What kind of chaos is this so early in the morning?
With my peaceful morning already ruined, the only thing on my mind was figuring out how to end this commotion as quickly as possible.
“So you came to find me just because I didn’t show up?”
“Well, if you disappeared for days without saying anything, of course I’d come looking for you.”
“…Did I really not say anything?”
“You didn’t.”
Yuki’s tone was firm.
Da-eun scratched her head awkwardly.
“Now that I think about it… I guess I didn’t tell Yuki.”
“It’s not like I’m obligated to say anything, though.”
“Still, if you suddenly go radio silent, it can be alarming. It’s kind of a matter of courtesy.”
“Hm.”
“And considering Yuki knows our situation better than anyone, and she’s experienced with these sorts of issues, she might’ve had some good advice if you’d told her.”
“She’s not exactly the most reliable, but… fine.”
It wasn’t like she needed to convince me, anyway.
But Da-eun was more socially adept than I was, so she was probably right.
With my silent agreement, Da-eun began explaining to Yuki why I had to take a break for a few days.
Not that my holing up at home was entirely because of that.
***
“I see.”
Having heard the whole story, Yuki nodded.
“Well, in that case, it can’t be helped.”
“Have you gone through something similar, Yuki?”
“Yeah. Plenty of times.”
Though she didn’t outright expose personal details, Yuki explained that she didn’t go out of her way to hide things either, which naturally attracted stalker-like individuals.
“It’s fascinating, really. All I’ve ever done are things like 24-hour no-commentary hunting streams, and yet those kinds of people still show up.”
“It’s not always because they want to get close to the streamer. Sometimes, they just get a sense of superiority from manipulating someone famous. Or so I’ve heard.”
“Really?”
“So, how did you deal with it, Yuki?”
“My method probably won’t help you much.”
“Huh?”
Yuki tilted her head at Da-eun’s confused reaction and answered kindly.
“I dealt with it by fighting them head-on.”
“…What?”
“To be exact, I settled it with sparring. When I caught those stalkers, I’d invite them into the ring and say, ‘If you beat me, I’ll do whatever you want.’ And they’d jump at the chance.”
…What a simplistic and brute-force solution.
But because it was such a straightforward method, it suited Yuki perfectly.
Da-eun and I exchanged glances, both too stunned to respond.
Da-eun spoke up first.
“What if you lose?”
“I’ve never lost before.”
“I’m asking what you’d do if you did lose. Those kinds of people wouldn’t make reasonable demands…”
“I’d just accept it. The world of competition is harsh, after all.”
“Are you seriously insane?”
Da-eun turned her head sharply, her words filled with genuine exasperation.
“Don’t tell me, Kana, you agree with Yuki’s approach?”
“Not a chance.”
Why would I ever bother making a wager with such shady people?
I’d just wipe them out completely.
Da-eun nodded at my reply.
“Alright. This confirms that I can’t leave this to Kana.”
“Which is why I’ve been staying out of it.”
Of course, I’m aware that my values differ somewhat from those of this world.
It might make me seem irresponsible, but I’ve been leaving everything entirely to Da-eun.
I only answered because I was asked—I had no intention of getting involved.
“And what if they refuse the challenge or keep harassing you even after losing?”
“That rarely happens. Usually, after getting beaten up in the ring, they run off with their tail between their legs. If they don’t keep their promise, I just involve the authorities. Same goes if they refuse the match.”
“Isn’t that supposed to happen in the reverse order…?”
“Either way, as long as it’s resolved, isn’t that what matters?”
“No. Not at all.”
Yuki sulked at Da-eun’s firm rebuttal, while Da-eun sighed deeply.
“I was foolish to think this would be helpful.”
“I told you it wouldn’t be.”
I did say Yuki wasn’t exactly reliable.
“I should’ve listened to Kana. Our Kana is never wrong, right?”
“I’m not that reliable… Wait, are you teasing me?”
“Hehe.”
I glanced sideways at Da-eun, realizing her intention, and gave her a sulky look.
Da-eun, smiling harmlessly, pulled me into a hug.
It was an obvious attempt to smooth things over because she had nothing else to say.
“So, are you planning to stay holed up at home until this is resolved?”
“It’s not like I’m completely shut in… I’m just avoiding going out as much as possible. I don’t want to give them any excuses.”
“Want me to handle it for you?”
“No, thanks.”
“Aw…”
Rejected outright again, Yuki looked dejected and, for some reason, a bit envious as she watched Da-eun and me.
“Using a car might keep you out of trouble, but there’s always the ‘what if’ factor.”
“This won’t blow over in just a day or two.”
“Yeah, I think so too. But still, this might be a good chance for some bonding time with Kana. Lately, Kana’s been so busy that we haven’t had a chance to relax like this. Right, Kana?”
“I think I’ve been relaxing just fine.”
“I’ll give you chocolate, okay?”
“Okay. I agree.”
“That’s bribery.”
Yuki, watching the obvious bribery scene unfold, muttered awkwardly.
Then, she offered another solution.
“Why don’t you stay at my place until this is resolved?”
“Not really…”
Neither Da-eun nor I were particularly fond of that idea.
“They say leaving home is the start of a hard life.”
“You know that saying?”
“….”
“Hehe… Sorry, I was just joking. Don’t growl at me.”
“I’m not growling.”
What am I, some kind of animal?
“Not an animal, but you are a cat. Kana-nyan!”
Out of nowhere, something was plopped onto my head.
I couldn’t see it, but it wasn’t hard to guess what it was.
It was undoubtedly the hood of the pajamas I was wearing.
“Yuki, look at Kana. Isn’t she adorable?”
“Oh…”
“Oh… what?”
I shook my head, brushing off Da-eun’s hand and whatever she had placed on my head.
“Aw, but it was cute…”
“Yeah, I don’t care.”
The only reason I’d reluctantly worn this was because Da-eun had practically begged me with bribes and whining.
It’s not like I’d ever wanted to wear this outfit.
…Though, admittedly, it was pretty comfortable.
“If you want to train, just meet me in Silia Online. I’ll see you a few times.”
“Hmm… A bit disappointing, but it can’t be helped.”
I thought Yuki might persist, but surprisingly, she accepted it easily.
Maybe because she had similar experiences.
Whatever the reason, I was glad I didn’t have to say more.
“Since I’m here, how about sparring for a bit?”
“Sure.”
“Wait, wait! I’m right here, listening! What are you two planning to do to my house?!”
“Don’t worry. We’re not going to mess it up.”
I didn’t want to see the house I lived in get wrecked either.
“Like when we first came here.”
“…Ugh. Can’t you just forget about that already?”
Da-eun shuddered at the memory, clearly fed up with the teasing.
Well, that’s what she gets for randomly putting weird things on my head.
Scoffing, I stood up.
Even if it wouldn’t cause any damage, I didn’t want noisy activities happening in a space meant for resting.
“Come on, Da-eun.”
“…Me? Why me?”
“Do you have something else to do?”
“Not really, but…”
“Then hurry up.”
“Ugh… I was planning to laze around hugging Kana all day… This is your fault!”
“How is it my fault?”
Ignoring the racket behind me, I went to the living room.
Anyway, as Da-eun said, it seemed like I’d be staying indoors for a while.
It might get a little frustrating, but it couldn’t be helped.
But the situation didn’t unfold as we expected.
—
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