We Should Have Slept While Only Holding Hands, And Yet?! - Volume 1 Chapter 6

6. Reconciliation

 

 

“Jaim, take this.”

“Hm? What is it?”

Jaim tilted her head at the item that I had handed to her. I spoke while rubbing my eyes which were tired since I had stayed up for the past 2 days straight.

“Last time, you said that the battery in your game console died, right?”

Jaim held her spoon and became evidently mopey.

“Yeah······. A couple of days ago, when I was playing it in my dream, I was happy······.”

······Is she a game addict? This is a severe case. It seems Jaim must have remembered something while she was muttering those words since her eyes then shot open and she let out a shout.

“Wait, wait a minute!”

“What’s wrong, Jaim?”

Without answering Saeyeon, who had asked that while tilting her head, Jaim hastily left the dining table and went in Saeyeon’s room.

Mm, would 30 seconds be enough? 30······. 29······.

“Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaad?!”

“Guak?!”

T-This brat······. Even though I’m eating right now, for you to tackle me with all of your strength······. Is this heart-pounding sensation the start of love······? My leaving consciousness was brought back because Jaim had grabbed me by the collar and had started to shake me.

“Dad, what did you do with my game? You took it, didn’t you, Dad?! Right?!”

“F-For starters, let go and······.”

“What did you do with my game?! Ah, don’t tell me you actually dismantled······!”

“It’s right here! It’s here, so let go of me!”

Once I took out the game console, Jaim quickly snatched it away from me, held it close to her chest, and glared at me. She even had tears in her eyes.

“H-How could you enter a girl’s room and take something however you please?! Low-life! Idiot! No matter how much Dad may be that type of person······! Ah!”

After carefully examining her gaming device, Jaim ran up to me once more and started to hit my shoulder. That hurts, you brat!

“I knew it! You took it apart, didn’t you?! You disassembled it, right?! If it’s broken, then you have to take responsibility, Dad! Take responsibility!”

“Ah, seriously! Yeah, I took it apart! If I want to make a charger, then I have no other choice, right?!”

Twitch, Jaim’s arm, which had been assaulting my shoulder, came to a halt.

“······What?”

“I have to know what the rated voltage or standard of the device is before I can do something like make a battery charger, right? If I don’t, then the circuits will just end up getting fried. You should be able to charge it now. Though it’ll take some time since it consumes so much energy by nature.”

“How······?”

“Don’t underestimate me. I am the genius scientist of this age, a true mad scientist. If it’s something at this level, then I can handle it with ease.”

The reason why I stayed up all night wasn’t because the device was difficult to figure out, but because I needed time.

“Even if you drop me in the 18th century, then, if need be, I’m someone who’s so great that I would still be able to create a computer while in that time frame.”

“Oh, right. Jjaro, there was a call yesterday. They said they’re going to commercialize it.”

“Is that so? That’s good. With this, there’ll be less of a strain on my research funds now.”

“······Mom, what are you talking about?”

Jaim blinked her eyes, making it clear that she didn’t know what was going on. That’s why I explained it to her in Saeyeon’s stead.

“I sold a patent a short while ago. The product this time is probably going to do great.”

“······What? You did, Dad?”

“Jaim, why are your eyes like that? Oi, oi, brat.”

“No, but, I always thought that Dad was just a complete piece of junk, who even got things like fundamental calculations wrong and was only good at talking.”

“You, give that back. Hand it over. Also, give me back my goodwill.”

This kid isn’t afraid to say anything.

“Brat, where exactly do you think I’ve been getting the means to cover my living expenses, research funds, and also support my hobby?”

“By pimp······ubububu!”

After pulling on Jaim’s cheeks as she was about to say something nonsensical as if it were obvious, I stuck out my chest and declared.

“I am a genius who, at his current age, has sold 15 patents.”

“Jaim, Jjaro even appeared in the newspaper before.”

In response to my words which were said while sticking out my chest and Saeyeon who added that tidbit while giggling, Jaim contorted her face as if she were trying to mull over what she was told before speaking.

“Okay, so it’s that kind of joke, right?”

“No! I make items that properly help in the world!”

 

2. Coloring Radar.
An item that I made before I could awaken and uncover the truth about the world. The radar displayed the color of female panties within a 30-meter radius. Due to a diffusion problem and the protection of privacy, the item wasn’t commercialized. I broke out in cold sweat when I was called to the police station.

 

2. Acht-Acht (8.8mm) Antiaircraft gun.
My first commercialized product. It detects flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and other bugs before intercepting them with an 8.8mm laser. It makes your monthly electricity bill hit 1 million won (Approximately $1000), and because the gunfire re-enacting sound was too loud, it failed to disseminate. My hands were trembling like crazy when I had to pay the electricity bill that month.

 

3. Morning Waking Bed
A product for lazy people. If you set an alarm, then the bed will vibrate and wake the person up at the appointed time. The good thing about the bed was that it woke people up with certainty, but it strangely failed to be commercialized. In the end, I learned that lazy people didn’t want to be woken up. I got scolded by Saeyeon when she fell out of her bed due to surprise because I had secretly made her into a test subject.

 

“In front of this era’s genius scientist, who has a countless number of other inventions, the patents of which are being used, something like a trivial charger isn’t an issue!”

That’s why you should stop opening your mouth like that. Although it’s okay if you look at me with admiration, that expression is really displeasing.

Well, it’s not like they’re selling all that well, but it’s still enough to earn a living. That’s the reason why I’m looking after Saeyeon, but that’s simply because the world isn’t able to understand my science.

“Yup! Jjaro is amazing!”

Saeyeon, why are you getting all happy as if you were the one who was complimented?

Well, if I say it like this, then this kid will definitely make a rebuttal. Something like ‘Isn’t that a technician and not a scientist?’. If she says that, then I’ll pull on her cheeks. I pleasantly waited for her response.

“······.”

······Huh? She’s not responding? If it’s this kid’s personality, then I thought that she would definitely say something. I lowered my raised chin and looked at Jaim.

“······Dad.”

“What?”

“I didn’t see you like that, but you’re an amazing scientist, huh······.”

Jaim was looking at me with eyes that were really sparkling with the color of yearning. She even had her hands held in front of her chest.

What’s with her all of a sudden? It’s embarrassing if you do that.

“Dad, I’m really grateful.”

“H-Hm? Y-Yeah, be grateful.”

“Yup! I’ll be grateful!”

While smiling radiantly, Jaim nodded her head.

This brat, she looks cute since she’s smiling like this. Stop smiling, I’ll get attached.

“I’ve repaid my debt with this, all right?”

“Debt?”

“I told you before, didn’t I? I don’t do things that aren’t helpful to me.”

“Yeah.”

“Therefore, if you’ve been helpful, then I’ll repay you accordingly.”

“It’s an obvious fact, but Dad, you’re really condescending, aren’t you?”

“As I thought, give that back! Give that back right now!”

“No! Bleh!”

Jaim cutely stuck her tongue out at me before leaving the dining table once more. Saeyeon spoke up in reaction to her.

“Ah, Jaim! You shouldn’t play games while eating!”

“Wait a second, Mom! Dad made it for me, so I’m going to at least try turning it on.”

Despite Saeyeon’s comment, Jaim ran towards a power outlet, plugged the charger in, and connected it to her game console. Once the light that showed if the battery was being charged or not had turned on, her eyes widened.

“Oh! It’s really being charged! Dad! Thank······. Hm?”

And then, her delighted voice stopped.

After tilting her head, Jaim examined her game console before opening her eyes widely and looking at me.

“······Dad, it’s charging, but the power isn’t turning on?”

“Ah, that? While I was taking it apart, there must have been an error somewhere since it stopped turning on. Well, you can charge it now, right?”

Nothing is perfect in the world after all. If you gain something, then you’ll lose something in return. This is the law of equivalent exchange. It’s incredibly important when it comes to alchemy.

“As I thought, Dad is a complete piece of junk who only knows how to yap! Compensate me for my game! Pay for it!”

“Ow, ow! Even though I made you that with care!”

ÅÅÅ

 

“And so?”

“We decided to go to Yongsan this weekend. She kept insisting that I have to compensate her, so I figured I’d just buy her a new one.”

“That’s good. As it so happens, I’m also free this weekend.”

In response to my report, Upperclassman Nabom spoke as if things had truly turned out well. Now that I think about it, she did say that getting along with Jaim was also one of my quests. Did I inadvertently end up completing it?

“As I thought, plain clothing would be more appropriate for the occasion, wouldn’t it? I even bought some recently because they looked nice. It would be better if I wore something pretty, right?”

“Wait. Don’t tell me you plan to keep an eye on us?”

Upperclassman Nabom blinked her eyes and asked back.

“Pardon? What could you possibly be talking about? We’ll be going together.”

“······What was that?”

I feel like I misheard. Have my ears been going bad lately?

“I said that we’ll be going together. Underclassman Jin Jaro, why are you reacting like that all of a sudden?”

“Why are you talking as if it were something obvious?!”

“I came to a realization after the previous incident. I learned that, as expected of Underclassman Jin Jaro whose mentally a eunuch, there’s no point in beating around the bush with you. Since you don’t understand even if I tell you, I honestly don’t have the confidence to win.”

“I’ll question you about that offensive speech later, but what do you mean by ‘I don’t understand even if you tell me’?”

“It’s that part about you. ‘A-As it so happens, I’m also free······.’ this obviously means, ‘Let’s go together.’, does it not? Underclassman Jin Jaro, did you not learn what ‘I bet ya don’t have this back at yer place.’ means?”

〈Camellia Flower〉 is a good short story that they even teach you about at school. Obviously, I had learned about it. No, if that’s the case, then······.
(TL note: Camellia Flower is a Korean story about a boy who likes a girl but is too embarrassed to admit it. Basically, he’s your typical ‘tsundere’.)

“I see. So that’s what you’ve been trying to say. I was slow in realizing.”

“It’s fine if you’ve understood now. In any case······.”

I understand now, so you don’t have to say anything more.

After placing my index finger on Upperclassman Nabom’s lips and stopping her from continuing, I brushed her wavy hair back and spoke in a voice that was filled with grief.

“But I apologize, Upperclassman Nabom. I am a cold, city-dwelling scientist who is of this generation. I cannot answer your passionate emotions. It’ll only be troubling if you fall for me. Hoo, I’m living such a sinful life······.”

“I recommend that you speedily go and receive some A/S. Your current state is quite severe.”

I feel like I’ve been seeing this ‘Did you get shot in the head?’ expression a lot lately.

Upperclassman Nabom wiped her lips with a handkerchief before throwing it on the ground.

“Well, as Underclassman Jin Jaro had said, observation is also my goal.”

“No, I don’t care about that.”

“······I see that you have quite an aptitude in affronting people.”

After seeing Upperclassman Nabom lower the ends of her mouth as if she were actually hurt, I continued.

“Upperclassman Nabom, you said it yourself, didn’t you? You told me to spend my time with them like a fa, mily. But if Upperclassman Nabom, who had said that, were to squeeze your way in, then what would they say?”

“Oh, you’ve been unexpectedly concerned about this, haven’t you? Even though you said that you didn’t care about Underclassman Ja Saeyeon.”

I wasn’t concerned about this at all······ would probably be a lie.

“But it’s all right. As I’ve said before, I have no interest in a eunuch who will go bald in the future.”

“Just saying either one of those is incredibly upsetting, but since you’ve fused them together, the insult has reached a super rare level.”

“This is an easy to miss golden opportunity where I can actually use the excuse that I’m working properly. I’ve also been curious about the scientific technology level of this era.”

“Like I said, I understand Upperclassman Nabom’s situation, but······.”

“But if you enjoy the promised cozy date with just you and your affair partner on a later occasion, then, although it’s unfortunate, I’ll give up on this opportunity.”

What’s with this scary······. Upperclassman Nabom smiled with her eyes.

“If Underclassman Jin Jaro goes with me, then I can give an excuse like ‘I went out in order to learn more about the research subject’, and not only will I not have to go by myself, but I won’t be bored either since I can just ask you for explanations. Moreover, since Underclassman Jin Jaro will be paying for everything, it’ll be an opportunity that’s as good as this, so I’m okay with backing down.”

“The first two things are fine, but I’ll have to pay for everything?”

“Oh dear. Surely you aren’t saying that you won’t buy me anything, are you? Underclassman Jin Jaro, haven’t you become so enthralled by my charm that you already do everything that I ask you to do? Although I have to let you touch my breast once per can of soda.”

“That never happened, you know? Rather, aren’t you self-destructing right now, Upperclassman Nabom?!”

No matter how you look at it, doesn’t this sound as if she’d sell her body for a single can of soda?

“If you wish to defeat a powerful enemy, then there are times when sacrifice is inevitable. Now then, leave this to me and let us go together.”

“The premise concluded as us going together in the end?!”

“Now, make your choice. Go with everyone this time, or enjoy a date alone with me next time. Additionally, you’re not allowed to phone an audience member.”

After saying that, Upperclassman Nabom scooted her chair slightly closer to me. Ugh, this is a distance where the law of universal gravitation can take effect. Upperclassman Nabom furtively folded her arms and looked up at me with sparkling eyes.

Rather, this is the first time this person has ever pestered me like this. Did she want to go that much?

I’m not sure what Saeyeon would say, but I feel like Jaim wouldn’t like it that much······ for starters, since this is supposed to be a reward for what Jaim had done for me, I don’t feel like I should comply······ but if she’s going to beg and pester me this much······.

 

“······So you’re telling me that she’s going with us?”

I quickly exclaimed at Jaim who was glaring daggers at me.

“I-I had no other choice! She kept saying that I’ll have to go on a date with her later on if I didn’t invite her now, and I’m afraid of what might happen if that date were to actually occur.”

In the middle of the night, after Saeyeon had gone to bed, and while my nominal assistant was helping me with Multi’s improvements, once I told her about what had happened since I felt like I had to at least tell her, Jaim pressed her hand against her forehead as if she had a headache.

“······No, no matter how much of a compulsive idiot you may be, Dad, I didn’t think that you were this thoughtless······.”

Jaim gave me a sharp look and glared at me.

“Where did that ‘mad scientist who doesn’t get swayed by the foolish, untaught masses’, the one Dad always talks about, go off and die at? They say that rabbits can live without their liver, but were you able to live without your brain, Dad?”

Look at this girl talk.

“Then what do you want? For now, Upperclassman Nabom’s role is to keep an eye on you. Instead of following behind us in secret, don’t you also think it’d be better if she was somewhere that we could see?”

“If you can’t even say it······. Ah, I’m going to die of old age at this rate······.”

Because of her tone that sounded as if she really did have a headache, I quickly spoke up.

“F-Fine! I’ll ask Nanda to go with us as well, so let’s call it even with that. Okay? You’ll also be satisfied if he comes as well, right? He’s your favorite celebrity after all.”

Different to what I had hoped for, Jaim spoke while glaring sharply at me in response to my offer.

“Dad, do you think I’m an idiot?”

Don’t behave like that while holding a wrench in your hand. It’s seriously scary.

“And so? What excuse are you going to tell Mom?”

“I already have countermeasures for something like that. We’re going to the electronics market anyway. Wouldn’t Saeyeon understand if I tell her that, as it so happens, Upperclassman Nabom also had something to do there so we decided to go together? We’re also in the same club and since Saeyeon is well aware that I’m knowledgeable when it comes to science and technology, I can tell her that Upperclassman Nabom is coming along so I can explain things to her. If we’re talking about excuses, then I have plenty.”

“······Dad, do you really think Mom is going to believe that?”

“You said it as well, didn’t you? That Saeyeon is a child.”

And children are easily deceived by lip service.

Jaim gazed at me with sad eyes and spoke.

“······Really, you don’t think at all, Dad.”

“Hm? What are you talking about?”

“······It’s nothing.”

Don’t say something that’s incredibly concerning and follow it up by telling me that it’s nothing. Now that I think about it, there was also something that I was concerned about.

“On a side note, Jaim, are you not going to sleep with Saeyeon today? Is it fine for you to keep helping me out like this almost every night?”

Jaim, who was muttering to herself while turning the wrench, paused in response to my words.

“Dad, are you worried about me?”

“Regardless of everything else, I’ve been ordering an elementary schooler around at night, so of course I’d be concerned. At this rate, you’ll stay underdeveloped.”

“······You always say one line too much, Dad.”

She frowned again and grumbled. Even though I showed concern for her.

“You recently haven’t been playing with Saeyeon either, right? Saeyeon looked bored lately, so play with her sometimes. Even if you’re just an elementary schooler.”

“Mom will probably like it more if you were the one who played with her, Dad.”

“I don’t want to.”

Jaim let out a deep sigh because of my stern retort. She then bit at her nails as she muttered to herself.

“······As I thought, I have to do something about this.”

“Why do you keep mumbling to yourself? If you have something to say, then say it properly.”

“You’re dumb, Dad.”

“Not that!”

ÅÅÅ

 

Well, under that context, Sunday quickly arrived. We were standing in front of the subway station, the place we had agreed upon.

“······So you really did come.”

Jaim, who was wearing a white, flower-patterned one-piece which belonged to Saeyeon, folded her arms and looked up at Upperclassman Nabom with cold eyes. Different to the lively clothes she’d normally wear, her current attire was sublimating her girlish modesty to adorableness, but the face she was making was ruining all of that. Even though she’d be cute if she stayed still.

“I’ve been looking forward to coming here today after all.”

And Upperclassman Nabom who was looking down at that Jaim was······.

“······Uhm, why are you wearing your school uniform?”

School uniform, an attire which I’ve always seen. She giggled at my question.

“Oh dear, are you disappointed that I’m not wearing casual clothes?”

“Slightly.”

She said that she was going to wear something pretty, so it’d be a lie if I said that I wasn’t looking forward to seeing what she was going to wear. I’ve never seen this person in plain clothes after all.

My answer must have surprised her since Upperclassman Nabom opened her eyes widely, blinked a couple of times, before smiling again.

“If that’s the case, then that’s unfortunate. However, after going through the school regulations, it was advised that in order to not forget one’s duty as a student, you should also wear your school uniform for casual occasions as well.”

“The only person in the world who would oblige to a rule like that is you, Upperclassman Nabom.”

Rather, was there a rule like that?

Upperclassman Nabom winked and continued.

“Honestly, the biggest reason is since it seems a certain someone didn’t want to go on a date with me. Even though I made preparations and was also looking forward to it.”

“······Uh huh.”

I knew she was teasing me anyway, but if she says it like this, then even I’ll end up reacting a little. While I was trying to select my words, I felt someone pull on my pants so I lowered my gaze.

“That’s a nice atmosphere you have there⎯⎯⎯? Dad⎯⎯⎯?”

Your true nature is showing, kid. Jaim glared at me while revealing her canines before turning her head towards Upperclassman Nabom’s direction and looking unkindly at her as well.

“You as well, you thieving cat. You’re trying to hit on my dad even while in front of his daughter. Did you want to flirt that badly?”

“Hm? I hear a voice, but I don’t know where it’s coming from.”

“······I’m right here.”

Upperclassman Nabom went as far as to raise her hand above her eyes in order to look around in an exaggerated fashion. Eventually, as if she had suddenly come to a realization, she looked down at Jaim and smiled.

“Ah, sorry. I couldn’t see you down there because of my breasts. You’re short by nature and you’re also underdeveloped after all······. By the way, how old are you, little girl? Are you a pre-schooler?”

“I-I’m not! You cow!”

The other side is showing her true nature in her own way as well. Because of the sight of the two of them disregarding, gnashing their teeth, and snapping at each other, everyone who was walking by the subway station turned to look at us. Please don’t look this way. I’m not with them. They’re strangers. Rather, why isn’t he here yet? I called him because I knew it would be like this.

“I’m sorry for being late! Did you wait long?”

Speak of the Devil, Nanda’s voice came from behind me.

“Do you know what time it is right now?”

More than that, it’s cringy if you say it like that! It’s like you’re late for a date or something. Once I turned my head while groaning······.

“Y-You······!”

“I’m only late by 5 minutes. Hm? Jjaro, what’s with that face?”

As always, Nanda was displaying his usual refreshing smile. Although he was emitting a buttery atmosphere, as expected, a cool guy will always be a cool guy. But, that’s, I mean······.

“······Why are you wearing a sparkling sequins outfit?”

I was barely able to push back my urge to act as if I didn’t know him in order to ask him that question.

That outfit which should have gone extinct from the Earth about 20 years ago. There was a bunch of silver-colored sequins embedded into his dark purple blazer. They were really shining brightly underneath the March sunlight. Underneath his blazer, he was wearing a flower-patterned dress shirt that was, in its own way, at the peak of bad taste among dress shirts. Furthermore, he even had on a dainty butterfly necktie which was something that even made me want to latch onto him and beg for him to take it off. I lowered my gaze because I couldn’t dare to look at his upper body any longer, but what came to my line of sight was his pure white pants and pure white shoes. Also known as the ‘Bbek Shoes, Bbek Pants’ style. Everyone who was passing by was looking at him with their mouth agape.
(TL note: ‘Bbek’ is just a stronger pronunciation of the word ‘white’ in Korean.)

“I’m going to be hanging out with a cute little lady, my number 1 fan, so I should dress for the part, shouldn’t I? How is it, little lady? Does it look good on me?”

······Please, I beg of you. Don’t wink in such a bizarre pose. I let out a sigh at Nanda’s words which were overflowing with his imposing confidence. No, even if this kid is his fan or whatever, anyone who’s sane wouldn’t like someone wearing······.

“Shin Nanda Oppa······! Wore that for me······!”

“······Hey?”

W-Who’s this kid who has her hands gathered in front of her chest with radiantly sparkling eyes, has an expression that looks as if she’s at her zenith of happiness, and is muttering to herself as if she were in a dream?

“That attire, after wearing that at his debut concert and being praised for having perfectly revived the retro-style, he never wore it again and it became known as his first-time limited performance outfit······! To be able to see it this close······!”

Nanda tilted his head at Jaim’s words.

“Huh? Little lady, how’d you know that I’ve been saving this outfit so I could wear it during my first performance?”

“I-It felt like that was the case for some reason! It’s super cool!”

“Is that so? Thanks. I see that you have a good sense of style, little lady.”

Fortunately, Nanda didn’t seem to think too deeply on Jaim’s comment as he grinned in response to her quick excuse. Good, good. That’s a relief.

“By the way, Jjaro, why are you so far away?”

“Who are you? Upperclassman Nabom, a weird person keeps trying to talk to me······.”

“Is that someone from a newly formed pseudo religion? How scary.”

Upperclassman Nabom and I had moved a distance that was just enough to make people think that we were unrelated to Nanda before we started to whisper to one another. Nanda shrugged.

“Well, sure my outfit may stick out, but isn’t that reaction going a bit too far?”

“Why do you think that, excluding Jaim, there isn’t a single person within a 30m radius of you? What’s up with your destructive fashion sense?!”

“Who knew that the day would come when Jjaro would complain about my fashion sense······.”

That pose of pressing his hand against his forehead as if he were truly shocked was incredibly annoying. Rather.

“What’s wrong with my fashion sense?!”

“Since you’ve brought it up, I’ve been wanting to say this since a while back, but isn’t that tool belt too absurd?”

“This is my pride as a scientist! In order to be able to disassemble and uncover the truth about the things that I’m curious about at any given moment and place!”

“Then I’ll also say that this is my pride as a trot singer.”

He isn’t backing down. His comment makes me actually want to take my belt off right this instant.

Once I gnashed my teeth and glared at him, Nanda lowered his voice and spoke while glancing at Jaim and Upperclassman Nabom who had both started to fight again on the side.

“I squeezed in because they were like that, but it seems it wasn’t that effective. Well, I felt like it would end up like this. In any case, where’s Saeyeon? I know you invited me because you expected this would happen, but I thought Saeyeon would try to intervene as well.”

“Saeyeon is over there.”

Once I pointed at Saeyeon, Nanda tilted his head.

“······Why is she pouting like that?”

In a spot that was a short distance away from Jaim and Upperclassman Nabom, Saeyeon, who was wearing her favorite flowy fairy-tale princess-like dress, which she would always happily wear, pouted and turned her head away with a ‘Hmph!’ once she noticed my gaze.

“Well, there was a little incident this morning.”

 

This morning. While I was in the middle of looking through my clothes since we were going to go out anyway, there was a knock at my door.

“······Jaim, if you barge in immediately after knocking again, then I’m not going to stay still.”

I heard a low and nervous voice.

“I-It’s me.”

“······Saeyeon? What’s up?”

I was honestly surprised. It was the weekend so Saeyeon would normally sleep in, and since we were going to eat breakfast and go out during the afternoon, I was planning to take my time waking her up, but for that Saeyeon to be here?

“C-Can you open the door?”

“I’m asking you why. I’m getting dressed right now.”

“Then I’ll be coming in.”

“When I said I was getting dressed, I said it in a present progressive form! I didn’t say that I was already done! Kyaa! Kyaa!”

No, wait, it’s Saeyeon, isn’t it? She’s a kid anyway and we’ve already seen everything to see about each other’s body, so why am I acting like this?

The moment I thought that and stopped screaming, Saeyeon opened the door and revealed her face.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah?!”

I was honestly incredibly surprised. Terribly surprised. What is that? Seriously.

“Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-You, you, what’s with that face?!”

“Ehehe······. I tried doing makeup. How does it look? Do I look pretty?”

Make, up? Not special effects makeup? This isn’t SFX?

Saeyeon’s face, which I think was smiling timidly, was quite the spectacle. No, it wasn’t on the level of a spectacle. Please don’t look this way. You, turn your head away.

Two black eye blobs that appeared almost panda-like. Don’t imagine something cute just because I said she was like a panda. This wasn’t something cute like that but pitch black like a real panda. Her eyes were already naturally large, so the makeup made her look even more bizarre.

Her face was pure white like snow. Don’t think of something romantic just because I said it was pure white. This looked like white paint.

Her cheeks were colored in a peachy pink shade since that was supposed to highlight the cheeks in their own way. I’m saying this again, but just because I said it was peachy doesn’t mean that you should think of some fresh color. That’s······. That’s······. Ah, I don’t know.

I don’t even want to mention her RGB 255 0 0 bright red lips since they’re so frightening. Ah, damn it! I ended up mentioning it.

While looking like that, Saeyeon smiled. I think she was smiling.

“Jjaro, I asked you how you think I look.”

Looking at this any longer wasn’t good for my head. My SAN points were decreasing. Tissue······. Eh, there is none. I’ll have to clean this off as soon as possible.

“······Ah, who cares, get over here. I’ll clean you off.”

“W-Why are you trying to wipe it off? It’s been such a long time since I last did makeup.”

“Long time, my ass. This is your first time, isn’t it?”

“Well, yeah······. But still, I did it prettily······.”

Saeyeon moved side to side in order to avoid my hand and spoke. It’s hard to wipe you clean if you do that. I let out a shout because of my dropping SAN points and my growing annoyance.

“If you’re going to put on makeup, then do it properly! What are you supposed to be?! You aren’t a ghost!”

Saeyeon finally stopped after hearing those words.

Good, this is my chance. I quickly turned her head and rubbed her face clean with my t-shirt.

“Really, why did you play with makeup when you’re still a kid who doesn’t even know how to put it on? If you’re going to scribble on something, then do it on drawing paper. Now then, the other side. Turn your head.”

“······.”

After Saeyeon wordlessly turned her head, I finished cleaning her face. Although it was still messy since I had only rubbed her clean, it was better than before.

“Dang it, now I have to wash this shirt again.”

“Did it······ look, that bad on me?”

It must have been quite a shock to Saeyeon since she stammered fretfully and was looking up at me with strangely tearful eyes. I let out a sigh.

“Yeah. It really didn’t look good on you. More than anything else, it’s too soon for you to be wearing makeup. Do makeup after you’ve grown a bit more.”

“······But, I’m, an adult, mon. I even have a daughter, mon.”

“Yeah, yeah. Now then, let’s go eat.”

It was still morning but any sign of sleepiness from my body was already entirely gone. Honestly, I don’t think I should have breakfast right now, but I want to at least remove this occurrence from my memory while eating something.

While thinking about that, when I was about to put my hand on top of Saeyeon’s head like I would always do,

Thud, Saeyeon blocked my hand.

“······Saeyeon?”

“······I’ll go home first. Jjaro, you can take your time getting dressed.”

Well, if she says so. Right when I was about to turn my head away, I remembered something.

“Ah, tell Jaim to set the rice up. If you’re up, then that means she’s up too, right?”

In response to my words, Saeyeon furrowed her brow and shouted.

“······Jjaro, you idiot!”

After that event, Saeyeon kept behaving like this since then.

Nanda let out a deep sigh after hearing my explanation.

“Jjaro, you really are······ never mind.”

“What’s with that tone?”

Why is it that whenever I say something, people always respond after letting out a sigh first? Nanda glanced at Upperclassman Nabom for a moment before making a strangely serious face and speaking.

“Jjaro, I’m asking you this just in case, but are you aware that Upperclassman Nabom always goes around with makeup on?”

“Why should I?”

“Well, it’s fine if you don’t. But still, I think it’d be a good idea if you used your head a little.”

“Okay, what’s with your tone since earlier? If you have something to say, then say it straight.”

“Oh, now that I look at you again, you wore some pretty clothes, little lady. I’m sorry for realizing so late. Did you perhaps dress like that because you were going to meet me?”

So you’re ignoring me. Nanda waved his hand and walked towards Jaim. I could see Jaim, who had been baring her teeth and growling at Upperclassman Nabom, panic after seeing Nanda and quickly fix her expression.

“Saeyeon, are you all right?”

So, well, the timing was appropriate and I didn’t have anything else to do, so I approached Saeyeon and spoke to her. If she keeps sulking like this, then the mood would continue to be bad today.

Once I sat down next to Saeyeon, she puffed out her cheeks more and scooted away from me a bit as if she wanted to openly display how upset she was at me.

“Hmph. I purposely put on makeup since I was going to go out together with you and Jaim, but you wiped it off and called it scribbles. That’s so mean, Jjaro.”

As I thought, she was still upset about that.

“Smearing something on your face doesn’t make it makeup.”

“······You should stop being shy and just tell me I’m pretty if you think I look pretty.”

After saying that, Saeyeon glimpsed at me with red cheeks. All right, fine. I let out a deep sigh and gave her the answer she wanted.

“Okay. You’re pretty, you’re charming, so please stop being mad.”

“Really? Ehehe······.”

Did you cheer up after that single line? Isn’t your revival too fast, girl?

As if a dried flower had been watered, Saeyeon smiled brightly using her entire face. While rubbing her cheeks with both of her hands, Saeyeon glanced at me and spoke. You look adorable if you do that.

“Uhm, Jjaro, then between Big Sis Nabom and me, who’s prettier?”

“What? What are you saying all of a sudden?”

I have no idea what she’s getting at. Saeyeon put both of her hands below her face like some sort of flower and looked back and forth between me and Upperclassman Nabom.

“Well, Big Sis Nabom is pretty and mature, but Jjaro, you wiped my makeup off because you thought I was pretty even without it, right? Someone who’s pretty without makeup is prettier, right? Right?”

At the end, Saeyeon was only looking at me with eyes that were sparkling with hope.

······Now that I think about it, it’d be a lie if I were to say, that I was completely unconcerned.

Thus, right when I was about to answer her.

Boing. A soft sensation touched my arm.

“Now then, let us go, Underclassman Jin Jaro. Since everyone is here now, the only thing left for us to do is have fun, right?”

“B-Big Sis Nabom?! Since when were you there?”

Thud. While I was being told that, I felt something soft touch my hand.

“Let’s go, Dad! Instead of linking arms with that weird woman, let’s go have a pleasant family outing together with your wife and daughter!”

“J-Jaim?”

“Wait! Don’t run! Don’t you see that there’s a lot of people? I’m going to fall! Ah, sorry! Excuse us! Jaim, you need to stop pulling as well!”

I heard Saeyeon’s voice behind me as I was being dragged while my arms were also sealed.

“I, I also want to link arms or hold······.”

“I only have two hands, you know?! Rather, can’t you help me a little?!”

ÅÅÅ

 

“Behold and be surprised! This is the Yongsan Electronics Market! The Mecca of electronic goods, the land of advanced technology!”

No, the last part might be a bit misleading, but in any case.

If someone who’s unknowledgeable were to hear this place’s name, then they would most likely assume that this place was some sort of department store or shopping mall, but in truth, it would be more appropriate to think of Yongsan as a bunch of ‘districts’. Behind Yongsan station, there are a countless number of shopping areas that trade in electronics with the distinct characteristics that each respective shopping area specializes in. Almost every single electronic can be bought here. That is, of course, if you have enough money.

Furthermore, although I did say it might be misleading, it actually is a trove of advanced technology. Electronics that come out for the first time are released here and the people who are interested in technology and use Yongsan as their stronghold will make use of the items and give feedback. Although it’s difficult to see products that are still in their development or researching phase, you can experience commercialized electronics here faster than anywhere else.

“Is this a bazaar?”

“Dad, is this a museum?”

“No!”

But, these two girls······!

“No matter how I look at it······. Wow, this is nostalgic. I remember seeing this back when I was little.”

“Whoa, I’ve only seen these in pictures. Dad, buy me that.”

Yeah. I understand your feelings. I get it. If someone went around selling an i386 computer claiming that it was state-of-the-art technology, then even I would laugh. But, still······! Be that as it may······!

“Be quiet! This is currently the best at this moment in time! Don’t look down on modern practical science!”

“Why are you the one getting upset, Underclassman Jin Jaro?”

“Why are you the one getting mad, Dad?”

“Jjaro, why is the person getting upset you?”

“Jjaro, why are you upset?”

“I’m not!”

I grumbled and walked down the street. Not only were we loud, but since our group was rather peculiar to begin with, people kept looking at us from all over.

Well, of course they would. One guy with a tool belt wrapped around his waist, a guy wearing a sparkling stage outfit in this day and age and in Yongsan of all places, a girl who was wearing her school uniform even though it was Sunday and had a body that made universal gravitation occur, and two girls who were both wearing flowy one-piece dresses like a pair of sisters.

My eyes unconsciously went towards Saeyeon. I didn’t have any weird motives. I just wanted to see if she was still upset.

······Truly, she’s a stylish and beautiful girl as long as she doesn’t open her mouth.

Her long and natural hair gave off an amber light as it received the sunlight. The flower pin in her hair and the way she wore her clothes didn’t make her look childish, but made her give off a refined feeling instead.

Her long and slender limbs moved energetically and she must have been talking with Jaim, who was walking alongside her, about something as the smile on her face wasn’t disappearing.

Tap, tap, the red enameled leather shoes which Saeyeon cherished tapped on the floor each time she took a step. Even those late-to-the-trend shoes matched her outfit and it all made Saeyeon appear like some young lady from a pictorial magazine.

“So, where are we going, Dad?”

“Since our goal is to buy you a portable game console, we’ll have to learn about the shopping areas for those.”

“Can’t we just randomly go into any store and buy one?”

I gave an explanation to Jaim who had asked that while blinking her eyes.

“Jaim, don’t look down on the Dungeon of Yongsan.”

“Dungeon? What dungeon?”

“Yongsan, in short, is a type of dungeon. Pathways that are intertwined in a complex manner, monsters that pop up here and there, and treasures that are placed between those. In order to obtain those treasures, we have to defeat the monsters and explore the area. A thoughtless amateur will simply end up losing their life. Speak of the devil. Look over there.”

In response to my words, Jaim turned her head and looked at the pitiful family that happened to be caught by a monster a fair distance away from us.

“Welcome ho, customer! How much information have you looked up before coming here?”

“Huh? Ah. I was planning to buy my son a game console······.”

“Kids these days love games quite a lot, don’t they? I’ll cheaply recommend you a good product, so please come inside. How about this? This has been trending recently so every kid carries one around. They say that if a kid doesn’t have one, then they even get bullied for it at school. I’ll keep this a secret from my boss, so I’ll sell this to you, Missus, for a cheap price. The current net price is······.”

“······Did you see that?”

“······Yeah. I saw it. This is a scary place, huh.”

Upperclassman Nabom tilted her head.

“Oh dear, what’s the problem, Underclassman Jin Jaro? It seems like that person was just kindly counseling those people, who don’t know much about the products, and he even gave them a recommendation.”

“How foolish, Upperclassman Nabom. What happened there is nothing like that. The true taste of the Dungeon of Yongsan is the legwork and bargaining. That is the weapon of a warrior and the method to fight those monsters. If you get dazzled by such a simple speech, then······.”

That’s why amateurs are no good. A child who always responds to kindness isn’t suited to be here in Yongsan!

“By the way, Dad, Mom got caught over there.”

“What?!”

Once I quickly turned my head around, I saw Saeyeon a reasonable distance behind us and making a face that made it apparent that she had no idea what to do because she was caught by an employee who was trying to talk to her. Damn it!

I quickly ran to her, grabbed her by the hand, and dragged her back to our group. The panicking Saeyeon’s eyes became wide because of my action.

“J-Jjaro······?”

“Seriously, don’t make me worry and follow us properly. How could you get caught like that the instant I tell you to be cautious?”

I could only sigh. Yeah, in this current situation, Saeyeon was more concerning than Jaim. This girl is someone who will always respond to anything that’s said to her and won’t be able to budge an inch.

“That’s why, Saeyeon, don’t do anything weird and just stick right next to me. Okay?”

Because who knows what’ll happen if she ends up somewhere that I can’t see.

It seems she must have been surprised by my words, as Saeyeon, whose face was dyed red, blinked her eyes a couple of times before nodding.

“Ah, o-okay! I understand.”

“······Why is your face so red? Do you have a cold?”

“N-No! I’ll definitely stick right behind you, Jjaro!”

“A-All right······.”

As I thought, something’s weird. Saeyeon grinned happily before interlocking her fingers with mine. As if she wanted to prevent our hands from coming apart. Well, this much is probably fine. I simply turned my head.

“······Ehehe.”

Saeyeon, who was grinning happily, glimpsed at Upperclassman Nabom a bit before leaning her head on my shoulder.

“Hey, Jjaro. Let’s link arms! That way I’ll be able to stick right next to you!”

“Link arms? Just grab Jaim’s hand. I’m worried about her as well after all.”

Saeyeon erased the bright smile on her face in response to my words and frowned.

“······You’re a dummy, Jjaro.”

“You’re dumb, Dad.”

“Are you an idiot, Underclassman Jin Jaro?”

“Jjaro, are you stupid?”

“Can you guys stop attacking me as a quartet?!”

ÅÅÅ

 

“Are you messing with me, kid?!”

“B-But······!”

“There’s no buts or anything! I told you the game console you want doesn’t exist!”

“J-Jjaro, don’t be like that······.”

Without hiding my annoyance towards Saeyeon’s words as she was trying to stop me, I poured my drink down my parched throat.

Several hours after that previous occurrence, we were at a fast food restaurant.

Even though we went around for several hours making bargains and proposals, this kid wasn’t satisfied. This isn’t it, I don’t like that, etc etc. It was apparent that everyone was tired, so we decided to have a light meal at a fast food restaurant and rest a bit before going out again, but at this rate, we’ll just end up like a merry-go-round that gets nothing done.

“But you said so, Dad! That you’ll pay me back!”

“It’s just a game console. Let it go. How do you expect to buy something that won’t come out no matter how much you search for it?”

The portable game console that Jaim wanted was the model that comes out in the future. At this current time, it probably wasn’t even being tested or even in the planning phase yet. There’s no way that we’d be able to find that kind of item.

Saeyeon and Nanda, who didn’t know the situation, were simply smiling awkwardly since they most likely only saw this as a child throwing a tantrum. However, Upperclassman Nabom, who did know the situation, was silently looking at me.

“But······.”

“Ah, seriously. If you have something to say, then say it properly! Yeah, I’m sorry that I broke your console, but why are you making this much of a ruckus about it?”

Because of my annoyed shout, the frowning Jaim finally exclaimed back at me.

“It’s······ something Dad bought for me!”

“Bought for you? I did? ······Ah.”

That was a surprise. For a second there, I was wondering what she was talking about.

With tearful eyes, Jaim spoke while trying to hold back her crying.

“It’s the one and only thing, Dad has ever bought for me······!”

“Hm? Jjaro, did you buy a game console for Jaim without me knowing?”

Saeyeon tilted her head because of Jaim’s words.

Ugh, this kid keeps making things complicated. I quickly tried to give her signals with my eyes, but it seems Jaim wasn’t able to take the hint.

I then tried to give Upperclassman Nabom a signal instead this time.

“······Underclassman Ja Saeyeon, do you have a moment?”

In response to Upperclassman Nabom’s words, which were said because she had noticed my signal, the head-tilting Saeyeon turned her head towards Upperclassman Nabom.

“What is it, Big Sis Nabom?”

“I plan to go pick flowers, but would you like to go with me?”

“What do you mean by picking flowers?”

“······Will you go to the bathroom with me?”

Upperclassman Nabom must have understood that curve balls didn’t work as she then threw a straight ball. Saeyeon nodded her head as if she finally understood.

“Eh······? Oh, sure! Let’s go!”

Upperclassman Nabom turned to look at Nanda this time.

“You as well, Underclassman Nanda, if there’s something that you wanted to see separately, then how about going to check it out right now? You’ve been constantly with us until now after all.”

“Mm, sure. I’ll also go take a look around for a bit.”

The good atmosphere reader, Nanda, seemed to have understood Upperclassman Nabom’s intention to give us some space as he nodded and stood up as well.

Upperclassman Nabom glanced at me for a moment as she left the table. She was telling me to have a good talk.

Thus, I let out a long sigh and spoke to Jaim who I was left alone with.

“I don’t really know your circumstances, but can’t you give up on this? Don’t make dangerous situations like this.”

“······I’m sorry about just now.”

However, it seems Jaim wasn’t going to cheer up anytime soon.

“If it’s something I bought for you, then it should be fine if I buy you something now, right? You can fix your game console or buy a new one when you go back to the future.”

“······There’s no way Dad would fix it or buy me a new one.”

“Didn’t you say he bought that for you as well?”

Jaim pouted and answered.

“That may be the case, and it might be fine if Dad buys me a new one, but still, I don’t want that for some reason. Moreover.”

While drinking her juice out of her straw, Jaim looked at the seat where Upperclassman Nabom had been seated.

“I don’t like how that weird girl came with us and is behaving like that even though this is supposed to be our family outing.”

“Are you going to bring up something we already wrapped up? Isn’t that why I invited Nanda? Also, she tagged along just in case you pulled something like this.”

Jaim continued to pout as if she wasn’t satisfied with that answer.

“Still, it’s a family outing. It’s our first family outing, so I don’t like the fact that other people are here with us. I also don’t like how that weird girl is acting as if she’s concerned.”

I thought that this kid would understand.

I wordlessly took a sip of my cola.

I invited Nanda with us and came to a place like this on purpose because I didn’t want her to think this way.

The restaurant was filled with families since it was the weekend. Although I thought that this restaurant was a place that wasn’t suited for family outings, I was apparently wrong.

Who knows. There’s a chance that these families came out to shop together in order to buy home appliances, and there’s also a chance that they came out here in order to buy their kid a game console just like we were.

While I was silently looking around our surroundings, Jaim asked a question in a cautious voice.

“······Are you bothered because you came out here with me and Mom?”

“······Yeah.”

I nodded passively. Jaim let out a sigh because of my answer.

“I knew that was the case. That’s why your expression has been like that, right?”

“As a groundbreaking pioneer, it’s simply pathetic to look at these foolish, untaught masses.”

Even though they’re going to have domestic disputes, father and son disputes, and father and daughter disputes when they get home, they have these happy expressions on their faces while they’re here. Are they trying to parade to others that ‘We’re this happy!’? It’s pathetic, that kind of cheap mentality.

“Dad, you really are twisted, aren’t you? Do you have no plans to unwind yourself?”

“I’m not twisted. I’m the one who’s normal.”

“Haa, really······.”

I contemplated for a moment if I should pull on Jaim’s cheeks as she let out a sigh, but I stopped myself.

Jaim put her hand on her chin and looked at the family seated next to us.

“Dad.”

“What?”

“You’re the worst.”

“You trying to declare war on me all of a sudden?! You brat!”

“Ubububububu!”

I pulled on her cheeks and let out a sigh shortly after.

“You really don’t get bored of this, do you? Do you like it when I pull on your cheeks like this? Do you like it? Huh? Are you a masochist? You’re a masochist, aren’t you? Well, you did make some weird noises when I hit your butt. Is your hobby receiving spankings?”

“S-Suhap, sahying weiuh hings!”

“Speak Korean.”

I let go of her cheeks and, smack, her face returned back to normal. Are these actually made out of rubber?

“Uuu······. Haha, hahaha!”

“Did this kid finally go insane······? Or did you like it that much?”

Do you want me to pull your cheeks more? Jaim, who was receiving the gazes of others because she had laughed herself to tears, wiped her tears away with her finger.

“Yeah, I like it when you pull on my cheeks.”

“······So you really were a masochist. I’ll respect your preference.”

“Jeez! I said that’s not it!”

Jaim slightly averted her gaze and rubbed her cheeks.

“Dad, you’re, at the very least, responding to me.”

My mouth, which was about to say something, inadvertently stopped.

“You know, Dad, future Dad seriously treated me as if I were an invisible person back when I was in the future.”

Even while we were within all of this surrounding noise, I could clearly hear Jaim’s voice.

“Of course, he’d occasionally react when I talked to him, but that was really just a ‘reaction’. I said something so he answers. It was like that.”

Even if they were in the same space, they were simply in the same space.

You are you and I am me. That was it.

“I ate by myself, slept by myself, and I would always play by myself. Instead of feeling lonely, I felt really bored because of that. That’s why when I told him that on the day he came home after a long time, he bought me that game console.”

That’s why I thought that he was just busy. He was properly worrying about me. He bought me that so I wouldn’t be bored.

“But he continued to not come home even after that, and when he did, he would occasionally buy me games and end it with that. Then, one day, I got grumpy. Yeah, I knocked over a display cupboard while pretending it was an accident.”

“You, that’s······.”

“I know. I know it was a bad thing to do. But still······ I thought that I had to do it at least once.”

Jaim smiled faintly.

“Do you know what he did once I knocked it over? I thought he would scold me or tell me it’s okay, but instead, he silently cleaned up the display cupboard. He threw away the things that were broken and lifted the display cupboard back up. He didn’t even sigh. He didn’t even say a single word to me. He just, cleaned it up as if it had coincidentally fallen over.”

That’s why this kid······.

“It was then that I realized. Ah, Dad really did have no interest in me whatsoever. To him, buying that game console for me was like tossing me something so I would stop troubling him, it had no other meaning than that. Even if I were to cry or get mad here, he’ll just ignore me.”

Jaim beamed. It was a bright smile, but something about it······.

“That’s why, you ‘reacting’ to me properly is enough to make me happy, Dad.”

However, this smile, was nothing but bright.

“You get upset if I mess around with you, you pull on my cheeks, we worked on Multi together, and you even worried about me for sleeping late. That’s more than enough for me. I’m glad I came here.”

Because of that smile, I could only be curious.

This kid, was like me. She had the same experiences as me.

Time always spent by yourself. Parents who didn’t care about you.

Didn’t have something like family memories, nor were you sure if something like that even existed.

But why, why isn’t this kid thinking like that?

How, is she able to think like this?

Even though she had that sort of family. Even though families were like that, why?

Is it because she’s still a kid?

“······Is that so.”

“Although I’m not satisfied since you won’t unite with Mom. Uhm, Dad. Since we’ve come this far anyway, be honest. Are you sure you aren’t a eunuch, Dad?”

“I said I wasn’t, didn’t I?!”

“Hahaha.”

Jaim laughed and pushed the edges of my mouth up with her fingers.

“That’s why you should stop making this Darkness of Darkness expression and smile for a change. Okay? This adorable daughter is even playing with you, isn’t she? Ebebe.”
(TL note: ‘Ebebe’ is basically her making a noise as she plays around with the edges of his mouth with her finger)

“If you don’t remove your fingers right this instant, I’m going to bite them off.”

“For you to want to lick and suck on your daughter’s fingers······.”

“You brat! I stayed docile but you’re really getting on my nerves!”

Once I raised my fist, Jaim furtively moved out of the way and stuck her tongue out at me while laughing.

“So, did you not have fun today, Dad?”

“I didn’t, you brat. Do you know how much trouble I had to go through because of you? If you were going to be like this in the first place, then we shouldn’t have come here.”

Jaim slightly lowered her eyebrows because of my grumbling.

I lowered my drink.

“I have two things to say.”

“······What is it?”

“First, regardless of whether I’m the genius scientist of this generation who will leave a mark in history or not, it’s impossible to repair something and make it perform like it did during its original state. You can’t make a computer during the 18th century, right?”

“······Huh?”

Jaim, who was averting her gaze as if she were upset, started to open her eyes widely.

“Second, this is merely a reward for helping me with my work. It’ll be troubling if you have some sort of weird misunderstanding because of this. I’m a man who doesn’t live in debt, so I’ll repair what I had broken. Pure and simple.”

“······Dad, does that mean······.”

I stood up and nodded.

“We’ll be changing our course after we’re done eating. From purchasing to repair.”

We’re in Yongsan so we should be able to find the appropriate parts. Of course, it may be impossible to make a game console from the future function as it normally did, but if it’s my ability, then it’ll probably be possible to make it run at roughly the same performance rate.

Then that means we’ll need one more thing.

“Also, you have to help me fix it. I’m not sure if you’re useful as a daughter, but I know that you’re useful as my assistant. All right?”

“······Okay!”

Jaim smiled brightly in response to my words.

“Don’t smile. I’ll get attached.”

Sheesh, what’s she so happy about?

ÅÅÅ

 

The sun was starting to set.

“Nanda Oppa, I’m sorry. All you did was look around with us······.”

With a tired face, Nanda smiled at Jaim’s apology.

“It’s fine. Well, I did want to have a look at some sound systems, but I can do that when I come here again later on. Also, it’s my meeting with an adorable little lady, my number 1 fan, so I can handle this much effort.”

“Nanda Oppa······!”

“Can you stop trying to hit on a little kid? You pedophile.”

“Jjaro, I know you’re jealous, but let me off the hook this time. I’m acting like this because she’s cute. No matter how much of a doting dad you may be, a misunderstanding like that is rude.”

“If you talk rubbish one more time, then I won’t fix any mechanical problems you may have in the future.”

Nanda simply grinned at my threat.

“Rather than that, Jjaro, haven’t you been hitting it off well with Upperclassman Nabom? As I thought, is it because the two of you are in the same club or is it because you’re both the same type of scientist?”

“It’s because of the topic. That’s it.”

“Oh dear, Underclassman Jin Jaro, was your relationship with me only on that level? For you to play with my heart······.”

“Upperclassman, you as well, I’m going to get mad if you say something nonsensical one more time.”

I say that, but she was definitely helpful.

Jaim may be talented when it comes to technological stuff, but she’s still a little girl. She isn’t effectively helpful yet. That’s why I asked Upperclassman Nabom for a favor while we were shopping. If she knew what components were needed for the repairs or if she was knowledgeable in that regard, then to teach me about them. Upperclassman Nabom grinned with sleepy-looking eyes and spoke.

“Do you finally intend to get a bit closer to Miss Jin Jaim? I see that leaving the two of you together was effective.”

“I simply have a tendency to repay my debts. In any case, can you?”

Upperclassman Nabom tapped her finger on her lip as if she were contemplating my request.

“Mm······ Well, I’m not allowed to give you information about the technology, but if it’s only this much, then it should be fine to help you. If Underclassman Jin Jaro were to work on it by yourself, then you’ll most likely be unable to obtain any results and simply end up consuming your time and budget, like you did with Multi.”

Although I bared my teeth and glared at her, she simply laughed it off. Just you wait. I’ll make you regret those words later on.

“At any rate, thank you.”

In response to my words which I had said out of courtesy, Upperclassman Nabom beamed.

“Think nothing of it. I should be helping you as a fellow scientist, and I’ve also put you in my debt with this.”

“······I feel like my gratitude has completely waned away.”

“······Uhm.”

In that instant, Jaim’s voice could be heard so Upperclassman Nabom lowered her gaze.

“What’s wrong? Are you upset since you want to monopolize your dad but he’s busy talking with me? Electra complex?”
(TL note: A complex where a girl gets competitive with her own mother in order to monopolize the father for herself. LINK)

“T-That’s not it! And you aren’t my mom! No, that’s not what I wanted to say······.”

Jaim, who appeared to be hesitating, seemed to have made her resolve as she then spoke.

“······T-Thank you for the help.”

“Hm? What did you say?”

“S-Stop messing around! I know you heard me! That······ since, we’ll be able to fix my game, because of your help······ I’m grateful, for that.”

Jaim averted her gaze and muttered that out loud as her cheeks became dyed red. Upperclassman Nabom chuckled and nodded.

“Yes. That’s great, isn’t it?”

How nice and warm. But these two have certainly become a bit closer today. They kept going at each other’s throats even when we were buying the parts for the repair, but the two of them being scientists by nature must have been a factor in this since they also had these and those sorts of conversations.

“Now then, we bought everything we needed, so shall we go back? It’s getting late and I have to also work on the repairs once we get home. Nanda, you’re fine with that as well, right?”

“That’s fine with me. Shall we go then?”

“Ah, Jjaro, wait.”

Right when I was about to turn around, because of Saeyeon’s voice, I wound up stopping midway in order to gaze at her.

“What? Is there something else you want to look at?”

“No, not that. It, might be a bit out of the blue, but······.”

“If you have something to say then say it straight.”

Saeyeon fumbled with the edge of her dress nervously.

“Can you······ buy me a gift as well?”

“A gift? Why should I?”

It really was out of the blue. Saeyeon appeared to be embarrassed as she kept glancing at me while twisting her body.

“No, well, I came along today as well, I was helpful, and I recommended a game and even gifted it to Big Sis Nabom. Furthermore, this is a family outing, so after this, with just the two······. No, the three of us, I wanted to play around for a bit longer······.”

“How was that helpful? You only made more problems.”

I let out a sigh and spoke.

“We got in trouble since you kept picking up and putting down parts without any knowledge. If you’re going to help, then do it properly.”

Although it seemed like she was trying to help, she’d get random employees involved and say things like, ‘How about this?’ ‘Jjaro, they said this is good!’ even though she didn’t know anything about machines. Since she kept touching products that we weren’t going to buy in the first place, people kept looking at us with annoyance. We even got in trouble because she had knocked over a product once.

“Was I······ not helpful?”

I snorted in reaction to Saeyeon’s words which she had said while lowering her eyebrows as if she were being scolded.

“How much help could a kid be?”

“Jjaro, aren’t you going too far?”

Nanda spoke up after looking at Saeyeon who had become gloomy because of my comment.

“She did her best to come this far with us today, so you should buy her some clothes as thanks. Jaim is wearing Saeyeon’s clothes, right? I saw a department store on our way here. You should spend some time together as a family.”

“With what money?”

Do you know how expensive clothes from department stores are?

“Saeyeon has a lot of clothes anyway. Saeyeon’s parents are coming home soon, so we can ask them to buy her clothes when they get here.”

If it’s Saeyeon’s parents, then they would be delighted if Saeyeon came up to them and asked them to buy her clothes. Saeyeon was basically the type of person who only wore the clothes that her mom had bought for her. Although I wonder if that’s something she should still be doing as a female.

Saeyeon seemed to falter because of my answer and fiddled with the edge of her dress more.

“But, it’s been a long time since we last left the house together like this······. We’ve, never gone on a date after we became husband and wife either······.”

“Date? Do you even know what dates are?”

“I know······. Dates are when a boy and girl who like each other are together······.”

“If you say it like that, then would me being in the club room with Upperclassman Nabom be considered a date?”

Though we aren’t a boy and girl who like each other. In response to my words which I had said while laughing, Saeyeon’s face became grim as she was slowly becoming gloomier.

“······Ah.”

And, for some reason, Jaim’s face as well.

“So Jjaro was really cheating with Big Sis Nabom······?”

“Why does it turn out like that? I’m just saying.”

“That’s right, Underclassman Ja Saeyeon. As I told you before, Underclassman Jin Jaro and I merely have a ‘physical relationship. Although it does feel like a date.”

“Can you stop saying weird things?”

Once I leered at Upperclassman Nabom, Jaim pulled on the edge of my clothes.

“D-Dad. Let’s hurry up and go home. I’m tired.”

“You are? Yeah. We did walk around a lot today. I also have to fix your game console. Look, Jaim said she’s tired as well.”

In response to my words, Saeyeon lowered her head and mumbled.

“······We’re going since Jaim wants to?”

“Ah, seriously. Saeyeon, can you stop acting like a child? That’s why······.”

“I said let’s go home!”

Because of Jaim’s abrupt shout, I stopped talking.

Although it seems Jaim had unintentionally shouted that out since she covered her mouth with her hands immediately after, there’s no way that her already spoken words could be taken back.

Saeyeon turned around,

and ran straight towards the subway station.

“Hey, Ja Saeyon!”

I shouted again at Saeyeon who didn’t stop when I had called out to her.

“Where’s a kid like you planning to go by yourself?! You can’t even ride the subway alone!”

Saeyeon stopped for a moment, turned her head,

bit her lips, and with tears filling her large eyes,

“······You’re a dummy, Jjaro!”

She shouted that at me before continuing to run away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TL note: Thanks for reading the chapter. As you probably noticed, Jaro gets rather, frustrating in this chapter. Although his feelings are understandable, it’s still frustrating. So this is where I’m going to warn you guys right now. NEXT CHAPTER IS THE CHAPTER THAT I’VE BEEN WARNING YOU ALL ABOUT. The point in the novel where Jaro gets really frustrating and annoying. It’ll be wrapped up within the volume, so you guys are free to ignore the next chapter release when it comes out and wait for when chapter 8 comes out so you can read it straight without being left in this pile of frustration at the end of chapter 7. So yeah, you’ve all been warned about the next chapter. Remember, the series apparently gets a lot better in the later volumes.

Lastly, I’d like to give a shout out to the author. He left a comment in the last chapter, so that was nice of him. I apparently wrote his name wrong so it has now been fixed in the ToC.