That day was quite nice compared to other days.
There were no unexpected toxic storms, no acidic rain that made your hair fall out, and no swarms of insects pouring down like a typhoon.
However, despite the good weather, my heart felt as gloomy as ever.
I showed a worried expression towards the woman in front of me without revealing my troubled heart.
‘Gyeomjok, are you really going?’
‘…….’
The woman, Gyeomjok, said nothing in response.
What on earth is she thinking…?
I thought to myself, sighing secretly.
We were currently on the highest pile of garbage in the landfill.
– Pashik, chijijik…!
Around us, drones that were supposed to separate recyclable waste were all in a pathetic state, sparking as they fell.
I used to run for my life over just one of these drones, but now, even if dozens came at once, Gyeomjok could handle them easily.
As I looked around, I turned my head back to Gyeomjok.
I was hoping to persuade her again.
‘Yeah, the city is nice. Remember? You said you’d go sightseeing in the city, and I had to go looking for you.’
‘…….’
‘I’m not saying you shouldn’t go. I’m saying it would be better to prepare more before you go.’
‘…….’
‘…Gyeomjok, haven’t you heard the rumors? The city is currently a mess with different factions clashing. Do you really want to go during such a dangerous time?’
‘…….’
Despite my earnest persuasion, Gyeomjok merely stared blankly at the great city walls, seemingly deep in thought.
Of course, I understood her feelings.
I also wanted to get out of the landfill. Who likes a smelly place like this?
But.
There’s always a “time” for things.
But Gyeomjok doesn’t seem to get my heart….
It felt like a well-raised daughter had entered puberty by ignoring her childhood friend’s request.
I opened my mouth again.
‘Gyeomjok─.’
‘Catherine.’
‘…?’
I tilted my head in confusion.
At that moment, Gyeomjok, who had been looking at the city, slowly turned to me.
Gyeomjok’s mouth opened slowly.
‘From now on, you should call me Catherine.’
‘…….’
So that’s why she didn’t respond when I called her Gyeomjok.
I let out a deep sigh.
‘…Sigh, alright, Catherine.’
At my answer, Gyeomjok, or rather, Catherine smiled brightly.
Catherine looked down at me sitting on the garbage and continued to speak.
‘You’ll go with me, right?’
‘…….’
This time I looked up at Catherine.
I heard that the sun doesn’t even show inside the city….
Catherine stood with her back to the sunlight that could only be seen outside.
This scene would surely stick in my memory for a long time.
In the end, I had only one answer.
‘…Yeah, if not me, who will go with you?’
That day.
We entered Neon City.
*
I slowly opened my eyes.
The ceiling of the motel where we spent the night came into view.
…I had a dream of the old days.
Maybe that’s why my head felt exceptionally clear today.
It has been a long time since my head has been this clear during a usually exhausting morning.
Naturally, I sat up in bed.
Where did Catherine go?
I casually looked around.
A rolling empty cola can, a holographic adult video I turned on out of boredom, the messy bed sheets.
The room in the motel where we stayed for the night was full of traces of the previous day.
“Hmm?”
I heard Catherine’s voice and turned to look.
Catherine appeared at the entrance wearing the white dress we bought on our date yesterday.
“You woke up early.”
“So did you.”
“I was a little hungry.”
Catherine was holding a large pizza box.
“Perfect timing! The pizza I ordered by drone just arrived.”
“…Mmm, the flavor is rich. I’m getting hungry.”
Normally, my appetite decreases significantly in the morning, but today was different.
I was hungry.
As I tidied up the dining table, I asked Catherine.
“What flavor did you order?”
“Just pepperoni, I felt like something a bit savory.”
“Hmmm….”
I was a bit disappointed it wasn’t Hawaiian pizza.
I was craving something sweet and sour.
Catherine was also hungry, as she continued to eat without saying much.
Looking at the pizza packaging, it was made from soy protein, a substitute food.
Turns out, it wasn’t as bad as I thought.
As I watched the melting cheese, I mused.
“Yum.”
It felt like my body was getting the nutrients it wanted.
I was eating so quickly that I might end up struggling to digest later, but I’d leave that to future me.
“Phew, I’m full.”
After we both devoured more than half a pizza, we started chatting again.
“It’s delicious, which maker is it from?”
“Pete Mc Pizza.”
“…….”
Since it was a megacorp, it looked like it was everywhere.
As I thought about that, Catherine, with cheese smeared on her mouth, looked at me.
“……So, Siwoon.”
“Uh?”
I looked at Catherine in response.
Catherine usually starting a sentence like this meant she had ‘something’ to say.
“…Um, well….”
I wondered what she was so cautious about asking.
This wasn’t the usual Catherine.
I gestured for her to feel at ease by wiping my hands with a tissue.
After seeing each other through everything yesterday, I wondered why we were being so formal now.
Catherine then seemed to come to a decision, her eyes squeezed shut as she spoke.
“So…!”
“Uh-huh.”
“…Still, it’s just the three of us, me, Eve, and the chairman, right?”
…….
Hmm.
I felt a bit playful.
“What’s that?”
“……You know, that thing.”
Last night, Catherine was really shy, which was something I rarely got to see.
Typically, she wore ‘tank tops’ and ‘dolphin shorts’ at home without a hint of embarrassment.
Catherine, always so laid-back, suddenly becoming shy and discovering girlish feelings?
This was something I could not let slide.
With the heart of a hunter who wouldn’t miss this chance, I calmly asked Catherine again.
“So what is that? Something we eat?”
“……Three!”
“Three?”
“…Anyway, that!”
I remember her saying ‘that word’ without any emotion back when we lived in the landfill.
Looks like she’s finally grasped what shyness is…
Internally, I nodded, but on the outside, I wore a cheeky expression and said to Catherine.
“I don’t know. What’s that?”
“Seriously, you’ll die.”
“Okay, that’s enough.”
After all, jokes should be made while keeping life-threatening situations in check.
Knowing this from a lot of skipping rope incidents, I quickly nodded and answered Catherine’s question from earlier.
“Yeah, just the three of us.”
“……Hmph.”
Catherine gave me a strange hum in response and looked at me.
“What about the existence of body enhancement magic? Are you going to keep hiding it?”
“It has to be revealed now.”
Honestly, I shouldn’t have thought of hiding it once Eve found out. I slightly regretted my previous mistake as I answered.
Whatever situations arise from here on, that would be my responsibility.
Hold on, a flash of memory (the memory of my broken ribs) passed through my mind like PTSD.
…….
As I shivered slightly, Catherine rested her chin on the table and said.
“Still, don’t worry too much. After all, everyone likes you, so we all live in the same house.”
“……That’s true.”
Nodding to Catherine who continued speaking.
“So, how many are there? Seven? Wow… that’s a lot even when I think about it now. What the heck have you been doing outside?”
“……I really did nothing─.”
“Thinking back, I probably liked you first. Suddenly, I feel a bit annoyed….”
“Catherine?”
As I listened to her, I came to my senses.
I never imagined the conversation would drift this way while she was looking out for me.
The atmosphere seemed to grow heavier.
– Ddiiiriri, ddiiiriri.
In that very urgent moment, a notification rang.
It came from the entrance. It seems the time to check out was approaching.
Thank you…! Motel owner!
I sincerely expressed gratitude for someone whose face I didn’t know.
“I’ll be back.”
“No, I can go.”
Catherine stood up from her seat and walked towards the notification device.
– Tik, tik, tik.
It wasn’t the method of extending through a call; Catherine pressed the buttons on the device with a stoic expression.
Soon, Catherine returned my way.
As I looked at Catherine returning, I asked.
“Does it say the time is up? We need to start preparing to leave.”
“I extended the time.”
“…?”
Huh?
I was so surprised my mouth fell open. Looking at me, Catherine had an incredibly calm expression.
“After all, there’s nothing urgent right now.”
“…I mean, there are still some raids to catch up on─.”
“Shut up, it’s annoying.”
“……Huh?”
Catherine adjusted the light switch.
The bright room quickly darkened.
Even if she felt annoyed, being shy was a different matter.
No matter how dark it was, I could still see just fine thanks to the suggestion feature of my eye implant.
I didn’t understand the difference.
Just then, the suggestion feature of my eye implant activated. The shadowy room lit up like daytime.
And there.
Before me stood Catherine, her face as red as a radish.
Catherine was trying to hide her embarrassed expression while simultaneously reaching out her hand to me.
…Sigh.
If she’s going to do this, she might as well not pretend to be strong.
I thought that as I slowly approached Catherine.
*
“Did you have a good date?”
“…Technically, it wasn’t a date, it was a city mission─.”
“Really?”
“……Yeah.”
I felt that even though I hadn’t really done anything wrong, I still felt like I did something wrong.
Or is it that I actually did something wrong?
…….
Anyway, that’s how it went.
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