We Should Have Slept While Only Holding Hands, And Yet?! - Volume 2 Chapter 6

Chapter 6
6. Memory

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“Well, that’s what happened.”

“I see.”

Upperclassman Nabom lifted her cup of coffee and gently closed her eyes as if she were feeling the fragrance of the coffee itself before taking a sip.

“So, did you use a condom?”

“······You weren’t listening to me, were you?”

“Oh dear, pardon me. You said it was her safe day, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t tell you about that! Seriously, where did you hide those cameras and microphones?!”

I searched through my entire house a while ago hoping that my technical skills would be enough to find them, but in the end, I couldn’t find even one.

Upperclassman Nabom smiled at my cry with her sleepy eyes and spoke.

“In any case, you’ve changed a lot as well, Underclassman Jin Jaro. Not only did you fight for Miss Jaim’s sake, but you’re gradually raising Underclassman Ja Saeyeon’s affection points towards you as well.”

“I didn’t really raise anything.”

If anything, it was maxed out from the start.

“Moreover, if you put it that way, then you’re the same as well, Upperclassman Nabom.”

“Today is a special service. You did keep your promise of taking me somewhere.”

Upperclassman Nabom smiled as she said that. This was my first time seeing her in casual clothes. Her outfit appeared as if they were showing off the warmth of spring. Her dress shirt and cardigan, which had beautiful colors, emphasized her chest, and the mini skirt along with her bare legs and ankle boots beneath her shirt and cardigan emitted an alluring atmosphere. This person really does look great when she isn’t in a school uniform.

Upperclassman Nabom noticed my gaze and winked at me with one of her half-closed eyes and teased.

“I put more of a conscious effort in my outfit because of this date.”

“Of course you would.”

I simply chuckled and brought my cup of coffee to my lips as well.

It was the weekend. In order to keep my promise with Upperclassman Nabom, I decided to also act as her tour guide since the two of us were already outside together. Coincidentally, Jaim went to play with Nanda, so I didn’t have to worry about being accused of infidelity.

“A double date could have been fun.”

She said that while smiling, but I snapped at her.

“They aren’t going on a date, okay? Nanda and Jaim are simply going out to play. How could they go on a date when their age gap is so······!”

Of course, Nanda has a good personality and, if you can bear his cheesy looks, he’s rather handsome. Furthermore, he’s apparently going to become a superstar in the future, so his future career is excellent as well, but still!

Upperclassman Nabom chuckled and cut me off.

“Does that mean you acknowledge this as a date?”

······Why do I get caught by leading questions so easily nowadays?

I felt my head heating up due to Upperclassman Nabom’s gaze as she brought her hands together and rested her chin on top of them while smiling, so I tilted my cup of coffee and looked away.

······Well, I didn’t consider this as a date. I seriously didn’t think of this as a date by even the smallest degree, but this may possibly be a date in its own way.

All things aside, I did come here alone with a girl and, although Nanda and Jaim have a large age gap between them, I’m only a year younger than Upperclassman Nabom.

“Then how about using this as practice and going on a date with Underclassman Ja Saeyeon next time?”

“Puah!”

“······It’s a relief that you were looking towards the side when you spat your coffee out.”

Fortunately, there was a wall next to me. While I wiped off the coffee I had spat out on the wall, I turned my head and shouted at her.

“W-Why are you assessing things so coldly? No, more importantly, what do you mean by going on a date with Saeyeon?!”

“As a result of observing you for nearly three months now, the two of you have never gone out to do something with just the two of you. Even though you two live together.”

“No, that’s because······.”

“I also came to a realization while observing you. I realized that persuading you to hurriedly unite with Underclassman Ja Saeyeon the first time I met you was a mistake. As I thought, one must adhere to the ABCs of relationship building. Doing so would also prevent duds from being shot off like what happened to you.”

“It wasn’t a dud! I told you that we only slept while holding hands! And not in a weird way! I said we could sleep together because I had something to talk to Saeyeon about. Above all, after all this time······.”

“⎯⎯⎯······.”

“Looking away and covering your mouth while trembling is seriously unpleasant, you know?!”

Seriously, this person has a bad personality. Upperclassman Nabom spoke after wiping the tear away from her eye.

“In any case, the fact that Miss Jaim doesn’t want to go back is because there is no certainty in both of your actions, right?”

“······The future won’t change even if there was.”

My voice inadvertently went low when I said those words.

“That’s right. The future won’t change.”

“Then······!”

Upperclassman Nabom simply raised her cup of coffee and spoke.

“Nevertheless, if doing so results in Miss Jaim going back willingly, then I’m all for it.”

“······.”

I lowered my butt that was about to awkwardly get up and sat back down on my chair.

“It seems that Underclassman Jin Jaro is misunderstanding something, so I’ll explain it to you once more.”

Upperclassman Nabom put her cup down and smiled slightly.

“You probably remember, but I came here to observe so that Miss Jin Jaim doesn’t cause an information contamination.”

Her mouth was still smiling, but Upperclassman Nabom’s sleepy eyes became serious as she continued.

“There shouldn’t be a need to emphasize this after all this time, but if Miss Jin Jaim causes an information contamination, then, regardless of your ‘family experiment’ or whatever, I will be taking Miss Jin Jaim back to the future. Additionally, the longer she stays here, the higher the chances are of one happening.”

Information contamination. An issue I have to worry about while looking after Jaim.

The act of traveling to the past is followed by danger. Similar to the butterfly effect, a small action could cause a large outcome. Information contamination is one of those dangers.

Everyone has memories of the past. However, those memories aren’t accurate. If you hear about something you did when you were little from a third party, then there are times when you think ‘Did I actually do that back then?’. We can only doubt it since we’re in the present and have no way to confirm whether the information is true or not.

However, if you travel back in time from the future, then you could personally confirm that doubt with your own two eyes. Thus, us humans who live in the future with our memories can only react sensitively towards that change. People consist of memories, after all. Our personalities and thinking processes are created as a result of our memories.

Upperclassman Nabom is an agent from the future who was dispatched here in order to prevent that, and although we’re cooperating, she’s in a position where she could intervene according to the situation.

Nothing particularly happened after the previous incident, so without becoming self-aware, I only remembered that she was here to simply watch Jaim.

Upperclassman Nabom swept her finger around the edge of her coffee cup and spoke.

“So I would like it if Underclassman Jin Jaro was a bit more concerned. It seems like you did well in your own way until now, but ever since Miss Jihye arrived, there have been times when Miss Jaim’s mentality became unstable. If it becomes worse, then even I would no longer be able to turn a blind eye.”

“······Are you plotting something again?”

Previously, the incident where Jaim was nearly dragged away by force.

Well, the fundamental reason was me, but there’s no way that I could forget that Upperclassman Nabom had goaded it from behind. It was completely behind the scene. She was the worst person. Sheesh, I’m getting upset all of a sudden.

However, Upperclassman Nabom responded without erasing the smile from her face.

“Of course not. I simply said that because it seems Underclassman Jin Jaro has completely gotten used to relying on me. It’s also cute when you’re desperate.”

This girl······.

“This also made me think that Underclassman Jin Jaro is quite innocent.”

“Can you stop teasing me?”

Upperclassman Nabom watched me with amusement as I gnashed my teeth.

“Even if I were plotting something, if you consider the fact that you thought I would honestly answer with ‘Yes, I am plotting something right now.’ just because you asked me that question, proves my point that you truly are innocent.”

My mouth ended up stopping right when I was about to say something.

“Underclassman Jin Jaro, this seems like a good opportunity, so let me tell you something nice.”

Upperclassman Nabom raised her clasped hands on top of the table and spoke.

“Don’t think of me as your ally.”

“······What is that supposed to mean?”

Upperclassman Nabom smiled brightly.

“If necessary, I will lie and hide the truth. If it’s for the sake of my mission and goal, I’m prepared to do anything. That is what I was trained to do as an agent.”

Upperclassman Nabom continued while beaming.

“Therefore, please do not get relaxed towards me simply because I was your ally last time. Not for my sake, but for yours, Underclassman Jin Jaro.”

“······.”

As I thought, I can’t be careless around this person. This was the only thought that was going through my head.

Upperclassman Nabom put her clasped hands comfortably on top of her lap.

“Shouldn’t you be placing your trust in your family and not me, Underclassman Jin Jaro? Be it Underclassman Ja Saeyeon, Miss Jaim, and Miss Jihye. Don’t people say that your family is

your greatest ally?”

“How could I talk to Saeyeon or Jaim about this?”

“I see. You are experimenting as the role of the father after all.”

Upperclassman Nabom raised her cup and spoke.

“Then I guess the only one Underclassman Jin Jaro can consider as an ally and request help from is Miss Jihye. Not only is she absolutely obedient to you, Underclassman Jin Jaro, but she’s also concerned about Miss Jaim in various ways. Additionally, isn’t she your type, Underclassman Jin Jaro? She’s pure, devoted, and will never betray you.”

“······Are you giving me advice even though you told me to not think of you as an ally?”

“You’re right. It seems my timing was bad.”

Upperclassman Nabom continued as if she found my cautious gaze to be pleasant.

“Well, since it seems Underclassman Jin Jaro understands as well now, let’s stop here. Now then, you don’t have anything more to add to your report, right?”

Upperclassman Nabom spoke after drinking the rest of her coffee and setting her cup down.

“······Well, yeah. For now.”

“All right. Then let’s end the business talk here.”

After hearing my answer, Upperclassman Nabom took out a terminal that looked similar to a cell phone from her pocket and started pressing some buttons. The device emitted an audible ‘Beep’ sound as the screen went black.

The peculiar atmosphere that made it so that I couldn’t act carelessly earlier also disappeared.

“I’m simply a girl now.”

Upperclassman Nabom giggled in a way that didn’t suit her normal character.

“······.”

“So how was it? Did I make your heart beat?”

“O-Of course not. I’m not going to lower my guard.”

I missed the timing to respond. Upperclassman Nabom chuckled at my response.

“It seems I frightened you a bit too much. Still, I’m asking as a precaution, but you don’t intend to stand a girl up after having invited her out, do you?”

Upperclassman Nabom extended her hand. Seriously, she was looking at me while gently smiling with her half-opened, sleepy eyes as if she were a normal girl at least in this moment.

“······Haa, fine. A promise is a promise.”

So I grabbed her hand.

I could feel a warmness and a palpitation in my hand. However, it felt different from when I held hands with Saeyeon. I’m not sure how exactly it was different, but it felt that way.

“Now then, let us go immediately!”

Upperclassman Nabom pulled on my hand and smiled brightly.

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“······Uhm, didn’t we clearly make a deal that we’d only go to one place?”

Upperclassman Nabom pouted slightly due to my comment. For this person to be capable of making such a face. It’s cute because she’s doing that with her sleepy eyes.

“That’s mean of you, Underclassman Jin Jaro. Did you really intend to go to only one place and immediately part ways? That’s a bit disappointing.”

“No, well, I also didn’t plan on going to only one place, but······.”

“Then there’s no problem. I also wanted to go here and there.”

“I get it, so can you let go of my hand?”

I ran along the path while being dragged by the hand by Upperclassman Nabom.

People passing by turned to look at us.

After riding the bus and going a couple of stops, we arrived at a shopping district near a subway station.

It was a bit bigger than the shopping district in the neighborhood we went to when we went to the karaoke room, but this was around a suburb subway station that wasn’t very populated, so it wasn’t that impressive.

For starters, there’s a chain coffee store, a karaoke room and a PC room, and small clothing stores, but this girl was running through this lackluster place as if she were having a lot of fun. It’s only natural that everyone’s gazes would be attracted to her. Also to me, who was being dragged along. I’m sorry for looking so average.

I’ve become surprised to see that this person had even this side to her.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve come to this area, so I ended up getting excited. It looks exactly as it did before it was redeveloped.”

Upperclassman Nabom looked up at the unimpressive, old shopping district buildings while smiling. She looked as if she were reminiscing the past.

“Have you never come out this far?”

“There was no reason for me to come all the way here.”

Upperclassman Nabom nodded in response to my question. However, another question came to my head.

“You said that you hadn’t come here in a long time, so does that mean you used to live around this vicinity, Upperclassman Nabom?”

“I lived here for a short while when I was little. Albeit, I don’t remember it that well.”

“Then doesn’t that mean we might end up meeting you when you were little?”

Upperclassman Nabom smiled in response to my question and answered.

“Why? Are you worried about a time paradox?”

“No, you said that time paradoxes don’t happen, so that’s fine, but······.”

“So you want to see how cute I was when I was little, huh? I didn’t think that Underclassman Jin Jaro would have such an idiosyncrasy. I’m worried that you might try to unite with Miss Jaim before Underclassman Ja Saeyeon.”

“I’m going to get mad if you start making weird jokes.”

She simply laughed pleasantly despite the fact that I had said that while frowning. Was she always like this?

However, something was different enough to make even that reaction feel out of place.

“You don’t have to worry about that issue. Although there is a chance you may have seen my younger self once, I cleaned my identity while being trained as an agent. You won’t recognize my younger self even if you did see her.”

Upperclassman Nabom explained with a smile.

As if it didn’t matter. As if it wasn’t a big deal.

But, that’s······. Did she not feel lonely?

Why was this person working as an agent at such a young age? I suddenly became curious.

“Ah, we’re here. Let’s go inside.”

Upperclassman Nabom’s sudden words and the sensation of my hand being pulled brought me back to my senses.

We went into an arcade that had not gone into ruin yet in this day and age.

“Is this broken?”

“It’s fine. Ah, you didn’t put money in.”

“But it’s not reacting even though I’m placing my credit card against it.”

“······It doesn’t take credit cards. Arcade machines work like this······.”

Should I say that this was as expected of a person from the future? Her eyes sparkled with intrigue as she watched me demonstrate for her.

We went to a snack cart on the street that was selling spicy rice cakes.

“Mm, this is delicious. It’s a bit regrettable that there isn’t anything to drink, though.”

“You can just drink the broth from the fish cakes. It tastes nice since it’s warm.”

“I see. Owner, how much for a single cup of the broth?”

“······It’s free.”

After receiving a cup of the fish cake broth from the owner who was looking at Upperclassman Nabom with an immensely peculiar gaze, she blew on the broth to cool it down before taking a sip. Upperclassman Nabom received an even more peculiar gaze once she said she’d pay for an entire bottle of the broth.

We visited the other street vendors and looked at a bunch of cheap brooches and hairpins.

“How do I look? Does it look good on me?”

“······One girl with a flower in her hair is more than enough.”

“I’ll tell Underclassman Ja Saeyeon you said that next time.”

Upperclassman Nabom observed each piece of merchandise with a serious gaze as if she wanted to advertise that she was a girl and she even looked at the rings and earrings with fascination.

She said that she always wanted to go to a PC room, so we did.

“······Why do these people keep asking questions about our parents?”

“Well, it’s a game that’s quite harsh on beginners.”

“But games are meant to be enjoyed······. This is difficult to understand.”

Well, I feel sort of at fault for having picked this game of all things.

In any case, we continued.

The promise to go to only one place had already become a distant memory and Upperclassman Nabom pulled my hand as she excitedly went around looking at everything she could with a gleam of curiosity in her eyes.

I seriously can’t make head nor tail of this person.

This was all I could understand.

One moment, you think that she has a few loose screws, but in the next moment, she becomes so sharp that you can’t act carelessly. And if you become wary of this switch, she then shows you an energetic girl-like personality.

“Now that I think about it, why do you use formal speech with me, Upperclassman Nabom?”

“You may be younger than me right now, but Underclassman Jin Jaro is an unemployed, bald, and pot-bellied old man in the time I’m from.”

For some reason, her joking words didn’t really annoy me today.

“If anything, I feel more uncomfortable because Underclassman Jin Jaro uses formal speech with me. Well, you do speak informally from time to time as well.”

“Naturally, that’s because you’re my senior.”

“I see. Because I’m your ‘senior’.”

Upperclassman Nabom ran a few steps forward, spread her arms out and span around. Her skirt fluttered and her beautiful, curly hair swayed in the wind. It was as if she were shining as she smiled brightly.

I ended up holding my breath at that sight.

We had met around lunch time, but before we knew it, it was already time for dinner.

Through the window of the bus, I could see the purple sky spread out before me as the sun went down.

“I was able to have fun today thanks to you.”

Upperclassman Nabom said that to me with a smile once we got off the bus.

“Today feels like the second time I’ve had this much fun ever since I’ve come here.”

“Was the first time the day you went to a karaoke room with Nanda Oppa?”

“······Can you

you please forget about that? I was simply elated for a moment because I was meeting a famous star.”

Upperclassman Nabom’s embarrassed attitude didn’t suit her. I laughed silently.

“Will you take me somewhere next time as well?”

Upperclassman Nabom looked at me as she asked that. With a hopeful face.

So I averted my gaze away from her expression and answered.

“······Well, as long as it isn’t within the range of being considered a date.”

“As I thought, you’re completely infatuated by Underclassman Ja Saeyeon. This is good progress.”

“That’s not it, okay? I just have no interest in dating.”

Upperclassman Nabom’s brows went down a bit because of my grumbling.

“Did you not have that much fun, Underclassman Jin Jaro?”

“······Well, I can’t say that I didn’t have any fun.”

I’m not saying this particularly because of that sad expression. Don’t misunderstand.

“I see. Then I’ll look forward to next time.”

The corner’s of Upperclassman Nabom’s lips went up furtively once she heard my reply.

“In any case, I’ll be going home first, then. It’s time for dinner.”

“About that.”

I was about to turn around, but those words made me look back.

“Underclassman Jin Jaro.”

Upperclassman Nabom looked at me and smiled brightly.

“Would you like to come over to my place and have some ramen?”

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“······.”

“Oh dear, are you not going to have some? I’m pretty confident in my ability to cook ramen.”

No, I wasn’t particularly looking forward to coming here. I really wasn’t.

“As I expected, eggs are an essential part of ramen. It supplements the lacking proteins and also makes the ramen taste better.”

It’s just, what should I say? I was simply surprised because this person had said something so alarming in that situation. It’s not like I’m disappointed or anything either.

More importantly, it’s Upperclassman Nabom we’re talking about. She’s not someone I should be expecting these sort of things from.

We were in a studio flat a bit to the side from the bus station. Upperclassman Nabom’s home was a small room inside the flat. Apparently, she barely had enough to afford this room with the expenses she was provided when she was dispatched here.

Upperclassman Nabom tuck her ramen-like, wavy hair behind her ear and used the pot lid as a bowl as she slurped up the ramen noodles after blowing on them a bit. I don’t know whether this suited her or not.

“I went out of my way to invite you, so you should have some. The noodles will get soggy.”

“······All right, I guess.”

What choice do I have left?

I let out a sigh and ate the portion of ramen that Upperclassman Nabom had scooped out for me. It certainly did taste good. My thoughts must have appeared on my face as Upperclassman Nabom smiled.

“I’ve spent a lot of time by myself, so I got tired of cooking proper meals and wound up eating ramen more frequently. Ramen is the friend of people who live alone. Mankind’s greatest invention.”

“······Sure it is.”

I was about to take my glasses off because the hot steam had fogged up the lenses, but Upperclassman Nabom handed me a tissue. I was planning to eat without my glasses on, you know?

“You look a bit better without your glasses. Have you considered changing to contact lenses?”

“Glasses are the pride of mad scientists within the scientific field.”

“I see that your roots are still the same.”

I’m definitely not being stubborn about my glasses because I’m afraid that something might go in my eyes. I’m simply wearing them because I’m nearsighted. I could only see the outline of Upperclassman Nabom’s body so I couldn’t read her face.

For a while, only the sound of slurping, Upperclassman Nabom blowing on the noodles to cool them down, and soup being drank filled the room.

“Would you like to eat rice with the soup?”

“Ah, I’ll have some.”

There were no other conversations besides these brief exchanges.

Nevertheless, I didn’t feel uncomfortable. If anything, this felt rather familiar and relaxing. Was it because we’re alone in the club room a lot? Still, something felt different······.

“If you’ve finished eating, then give me your bowl.”

“Ah, wait.”

I returned to my senses once I saw Upperclassman Nabom put the bowls in the pot and stand up. I put my glasses back on as I quickly stood up and took the pot from her.

“What’s wrong, Underclassman Jin Jaro? Are you finally no longer able to hold back your carnal desires?”

“Don’t say weird things, okay? I’ll do the dishes.”

This was the least I could do since I had received a free meal. I went to the sink in the corner of the room before Upperclassman Nabom could stop me.

“······Uhm, why is every single plate in the sink?”

“Because I’m lazy. The bowl that you were using earlier was the last remaining one.”

“Did you eat off the lid of the pot not because you’re a gourmet, but because you just didn’t have any more plates······?”

I couldn’t help but let out a sigh. Well, if it’s the lifestyle of the person who absolutely hates bothersome things, then this was it. So instead of complaining, I put on the rubber gloves and started to do the dishes. I’m repaying for a bowl of ramen quite expensively.

Between the sound of the flowing water, Upperclassman Nabom’s voice came from behind me.

“Then I’ll gratefully accept your goodwill. I’ll be taking a shower, then.”

“What?!”

I was so surprised by her words which she had said as if it were the most natural thing that I turned around, but Upperclassman Nabom had already entered the bathroom and closed the door.

“······.”

What is this person thinking?

While I was standing there in shock after having been unable to even stop her, I could only hear the sound of water flowing. I then heard the rustling sound of clothes being taken off behind the thin door, and then the torrential sound of water coming out of a showerhead.

······This is that, isn’t it? It’s that, right?

No, it’s Upperclassman Nabom. The person whom I can’t get head nor tail of. Her affection points towards me is 0 anyway. She’s someone who enjoys teasing me. This is probably also a joke or something.

But would people normally joke about going to take a shower in a situation like this? When she invited me over, she also used that famous line of coming over to have some ramen. If that’s the case, then is this······?

Even while I was washing the stockpiled dishes one at a time, my mind kept coming up to conclusions all on its own. Should I just leave? I already ate. But it would be rude if I leave arbitrarily without saying goodbye. While these thoughts went through my head, I realized I had been washing the same dish over and over again.

“······.”

After wiping the last plate and placing it on the drying rack, I hesitated on whether I should simply leave or not, but in the end, I decided to sit down and wait. No, I’m not looking forward to anything. I’m a cold scientist who isn’t blinded by sexual desires. Even if I’m tempted, I’m capable of composing myself.

······Nevertheless, there really is nothing. Nothing in this room, that is.

Once I sat down meekly and looked around the room, I forgot about my situation for a moment as that thought went through my head.

A closed wardrobe. A floor table with nothing on it. A shabby vanity table. Reference books, novels, books on scientific theories, and even fairy tale books, these few books which were completely unrelated to each other made the bookshelf they were on look even more empty. On the wall, there were torn areas of the wallpaper which were most likely spots where the previous owners of the room had stuck posters on.

Even if this was a room that was rented out due to work, it was so bleak that I couldn’t believe that someone has been living here for nearly 3 months now.

This was the exact opposite of Saeyeon’s room.

This was an empty room that had no adorable plushies, comfortable cushions, or a TV.

Were the club room and this desolate home the only places which Upperclassman Nabom could reside in?

Just at that moment, the bathroom door opened with a ‘click’.

“That was refreshing.”

My head reflexively turned towards the sound.

Upperclassman Nabom came out of the bathroom while wiping her moist hair with a towel. I wonder if it was because of the hot water, but her face and skin had a peach-like tint to them. Her glamorous legs and thighs shook with each step she took, and naturally, her breasts, which were large enough to have their own universal gravitation, bounced as well. Droplets of water flowed down from her hair and around her coy navel.

In other words, she wasn’t wearing anything. She wasn’t even using a towel to cover her body.

“Kya! P-Put something on! Why did you come out naked?!”

I snapped my head away and shouted. I could only hear Upperclassman Nabom’s voice.

“Is there a problem with me going around my own home comfortably?”

‘Ah, I should drink some milk.’ I heard her mutter that to herself in a small voice. I then heard the sound of the refrigerator being opened, the sound of something being poured, followed by several gulps and then a ‘Puah, this is the best.’ being uttered.

“No, even so······!”

I hid my reddening cheeks and was about to shout, but I stopped myself. I mean, I may also share that belief of being comfortable when in one’s own home, but I at least have the common decency to wear my boxers and a t-shirt. I don’t walk around completely naked.

······I should wear clothes properly from now on. Yeah. Even if Jaim is my daughter, I don’t think I should go around like that. A full suit might be a bit

a bit too much, but let’s wear some proper clothes after taking a shower from now on.

“Pardon me. You can turn around now.”

“······You aren’t joking, are you?”

Once I turned my head cautiously, I saw Upperclassman Nabom wearing a single wide and flabby t-shirt. ······No, that outfit is a bit too much as well.

“It’s the first time I’ve had a boy over, after all. I wound up acting like I always do.”

Upperclassman Nabom scratched her cheek as if she were embarrassed and sat down quietly. It was difficult to leave my eyes on her wet, crossed legs so I turned away, but it seems Upperclassman Nabom misinterpreted my action as she glanced around her room and laughed.

“It’s a bit empty, isn’t it?”

“······Yeah.”

“I came here on a mission after all. I originally thought I would return within a month. That’s why I didn’t try to decorate anything.”

Upperclassman Nabom chuckled as she said that while looking at me. I didn’t have anything else to say, so I turned my head.

With an audible thump, the closet door fell open. A bunch of posters came rolling out.

“Ah······.”

“······.”

I picked one up and unrolled it. I was greeted by a grinning Nanda wearing a bizarre outfit. Does this guy not age? He looks the same.

“······.”

Once I gave Upperclassman Nabom a blank look, Upperclassman Nabom, who was staring at her posters vacantly, blushed furiously and shouted.

“W-What’s so bad about a young girl having posters of a famous trot star?! What?! Do you have a problem?!”

“······No, I don’t have any problems with that.”

She was saying the exact opposite of what she had said before, but I’d feel bad if I pointed that out now. She was panicking to the point of speaking informally as well. So this is how she normally talks, huh?

I simply let out a sigh and handed the poster over to her. Upperclassman Nabom snatched the poster away and grabbed the rest of the posters that had rolled out on the floor and shoved them back into the closet. I see. Were these the reason her wallpaper was torn······?

“Still, you’ve stayed here for a while now, so shouldn’t it be fine for you to gradually start decorating your room? Well, even with the Nanda posters.”

Upperclassman Nabom took a deep breath in response to my teasing and spoke.

“Although things have become like this because Underclassman Jin Jaro had escalated matters.”

“······I’m sorry. That was presumptuous of me.”

“Please reflect on your actions.”

Once I bowed my head and said that, Upperclassman Nabom chuckled.

“I’ll give you a TV next time. We have a spare one in our storage.”

“If it’s one of Underclassman Jin Jaro’s inventions, then I’ll refuse. I don’t want to go through the same thing I did when I used the alarm clock you recommended last time.”

I’ll elaborate. My invention ‘Throw Towards Tomorrow’ alarm clock is a device that won’t stop ringing until you throw it hard enough that it breaks apart. If you want to use it again, then you just have to reassemble its simple pieces. Upperclassman Nabom, who struggled to break it in the morning, had a big fight with her neighbor on the very first day she used the alarm clock. Thus, the next morning, she came looking for me with her eyes only a quarter open, something which I had only seen once before, and threw the clock at me. She threw it with all her strength, so it hurt······.

“Speaking of inventions.”

“Are you trying to change the topic?”

“Robot maids, am I really the one who makes them?”

“Are you going to ignore me? Well, yes, you are.”

Upperclassman Nabom, who was narrowing her eyes as if she had recalled that moment in the past, returned back to normal and nodded her head. I was honestly scared.

“They boast a degree of completion that makes it hard for me to believe that Underclassman Jin Jaro was the one who made them, so, within half a year of the first model being sold, you sold over 5 million models worldwide. Afterward, you actually had a monopoly of the entire market.”

“O-Oooh······!”

“A unique function which befits Underclassman Jin Jaro’s mechanophiliac tendencies is one of their distinct features.”

“R-Really?! T-Then there’s a new world underneath······?!”

“······This may be abrupt, but you look like utter trash right now, Underclassman Jin Jaro. I honestly feel uncomfortable, so could you leave?”

“I-I was just curious as a scientist.”

It was a joke. Yup, a joke. I’m not excited.

Upperclassman Nabom let out a sigh and spoke.

“In any case, I believe that you won’t order her to do something like that just because I told you that she’s your ally. You also have a conscience, right?”

“It was a joke······.”

“There’s also the fact that she resembles Underclassman Ja Saeyeon.”

“······.”

My lips stopped moving once I heard those words which were said with a smile. This person, how does she know?

“More importantly, how long do you intend to stay here?”

Upperclassman Nabom turned around and asked me that. With her usual tone.

“It should be fine for you to leave now since you’ve finished eating the ramen. Ah, were you perhaps looking forward to something? Have you finally heated up due to my charm? This is troubling. For a person who already has a wife and daughter to ultimately grab the hand of infidelity······.”

So I was also able to respond with my normal tone.

“Stop saying weird things! Rather, did you really invite me over just to eat ramen?”

“As I thought, you really were expecting something. For you to not unite with your wife but try to unite with another woman instead. Truly, you’re a wicked man, Underclassman Jin Jaro. I’m worried about Underclassman Ja Saeyeon and Miss Jaim.”

“I told you that’s not it!”

“Well, I understand your desire to truly have a ‘physical relationship’ with me, but didn’t we already have one? If you go any further than this, then it’ll genuinely become infidelity.”

“I don’t have such desires, okay? We never had that sort of relationship either. Moreover, why do you like saying ‘infidelity’ so much?!”

Upperclassman Nabom approached me slightly as if she were teasing me and continued.

“Of course, that’s because there’s no subject matter more fun than teasing Underclassman Jin Jaro. Now then, what were you hoping for when I invited you over to eat ramen?”

While at a distance where our noses nearly touched, Upperclassman Nabom grinned at me. Can you do something about your habit of bringing your face close when you’re excited? Is this a normal reaction in the future? Jaim does this sometimes as well.

“Haa······. I’ll be going home, then.”

Once I let out a sigh and stood up, Upperclassman Nabom nodded.

“All right. Return safely. Today was fun.”

“Is messing with me that fun?”

Upperclassman Nabom responded to my complaint by smiling furtively and speaking.

“Of course, that’s because you’re the only person I can mess around with, tease, and be friendly around.”

“······.”

My hand paused as it was about to open the front door.

Her teasing words were said in her usual voice. A tone that purely had a slight friendliness to it as if she were messing around with her cute junior.

However, just now, that was definitely······.

I inadvertently looked back this time as well, but once I did, slightly different from last time, Upperclassman Nabom was simply waving her hand at me with a smile.

“······See you at school.”

Really, I can’t tell if I have a grasp of this person or not.

Ο

ÅΟΟÅΟΟÅ

Ο

The sun had already set completely by the time I left the studio flat. The night air was chilly. I adjusted my collar and decided to head home.

This was a lot later than I had expected. I originally planned to go back home right when the sun started to set at the latest. I left Saeyeon and Jihye at home all day. I wonder what the two of them did in order to pass the time and stave off boredom. Should I buy some snacks for Saeyeon on my way home?

“······Sniff.”

“Uah, that scared me!”

So I was nearly scared to death when someone crouched next to the entrance of the studio flat made that noise. They were in a dark place so I didn’t even know they were there.

“······Why are you there?”

Although I became twice as surprised once I realized who it was.

In a corner where the light couldn’t reach that well. It was already a dark spot, so their black clothes made them even harder to see. Jihye, who was crouched down with her arms folded, sniffed and looked up at me with glum eyes before answering my question.

“You were late and you didn’t contact us, so I was waiting for you, Master.”

“What? How did you know I would be here?”

Jihye pouted slightly at my question and turned her head away.

“You said you were going to hang out with Miss Nabom today, didn’t you? You weren’t coming home, so I figured if I waited here, I’d at least be able to meet Miss Nabom.”

Certainly, I kept it a secret from Jaim, but I told Saeyeon and Jihye where I was going today. There’s a chance Saeyeon might misunderstand if she finds out later, after all. It was honestly unexpected when Saeyeon smiled and told me to have fun with ‘Big Sis Nabom’.

“Then you should have come up. Why’d you stay here?”

Jihye squirmed because of my words and mumbled in response.

“······Because, I don’t know, the passcode for the entrance······.”

“······Ah.”

Modern technology is great. In order to prevent burglars from entering, you aren’t able to enter the building itself unless you enter a passcode at the entrance. Our place doesn’t have something like this. Instead, we have a security guard watching the entire complex.

Jihye responded while sniffing.

“I was planning to follow whoever goes in, but no one came out······. Someone finally came out, so came out, so I was about to go in, but they saw my outfit and started asking questions because they thought I was a suspicious person, so I ran away and came back later.”

“It’s time for you to come to terms with the fact that your maid outfit doesn’t fit in this current age.”

“But, if a robot maid doesn’t wear a maid costume, then they’d just be a robot······. This is like my pride.”

Why would a robot have something like that?

Once I let out a sigh, Jihye stood up. I heard the sound of plastic bags rustling as she did.

“Be honest. You were buying groceries, but you got lost on your way back, so while you were asking around, you came here because you remembered Upperclassman Nabom lived here, right?”

“N-No. I came here looking for you, Master.”

“All right, all right. I’ll hold a bag. Let’s go home.”

Jihye panicked once I snatched a plastic bag filled with groceries from one of her hands.

“Master, holding the luggage is my job. I can hold it, so you don’t have to worry.”

“If I let a girl hold everything, then I’ll be seen as a cold-hearted bastard, you know? It’s fine, so just follow me properly.”

After I walked past Jihye who still didn’t know what to do after what I had told her, she followed after me with short and quick steps. She walked beside me.

“So, how long have you been waiting?”

“······About an hour.”

So her timing was bad. She got here right after Upperclassman Nabom and I entered her place.

“Then is Saeyeon by herself at home right now? What about Jaim?”

Jihye held her plastic bag with both hands and shook her head.

“She hasn’t come home yet.”

“······That Nanda. He should be sending her home early since she’s still a kid.”

“Mr. Shin Nanda called earlier. He said that the two of them are going to have dinner before going home. He said it couldn’t be helped because Miss Jaim asked.”

“······That Jaim. She’s still a kid, so she should come home early.”

Now that I think about it, it feels like there’s a higher chance that Jaim is seriously going after Nanda than Nanda is going after Jaim. Although I won’t allow either to happen even if dirt were to go into my eyes. Even if it’s Nanda.

“In any case, so Saeyeon is by herself at home, huh······.”

Once my expression unknowingly became dark, Jihye responded immediately.

“What’s wrong, Master? Is it because of the Missus?”

“It’s because Saeyeon isn’t particularly used to being by herself. Did she say anything when you went out?”

“No. She only said to have a safe trip. Although I am a bit late······.”

Jihye seemed to start worrying as well because of my concern as she covered her mouth with one hand and looked as if she were thinking. Should I give her a call? I took out my cell phone.

“Hello?”

“Saeyeon?”

“Ah, Jjaro! You should have called sooner. I was worried.”

Just as I predicted, her voice sounded dark, but it instantly became bright the instant she confirmed it was my voice. Like I said, she revives way too quickly. I unintentionally let out a soundless laugh.

“I met Jihye and we’re on our way home right now. We’ll be there soon.”

“I was worried because Miss Jihye wasn’t coming home even though she said she was going to buy groceries, so I thought she got lost again, but she was with Jjaro, huh?”

“······.”

Once I looked at Jihye while making my emotions visible, Jihye must have also heard Saeyeon’s voice as she quickly turned her head away. Well, whatever.

“At any rate, I forgot to call. As an apology, I’ll buy some snacks on my way home. Is there something you want to eat?”

“Then······. Ice cream!”

“Okay. Then wait while watching TV. I’m hanging up now.”

After hearing Saeyeon’s reply, I put my cell phone back in my pocket. Saeyeon has changed a lot as well, huh. If things were like before, then she would have whined that she was bored or fret about being scared. I felt a gaze, so I turned to see Jihye staring right at me.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, I just thought that Master and the Missus got along well.”

“Well, we did know each other for a long time.”

“You look happy.”

“Because it feels like Saeyeon has grown up a little as well.”

Saying this myself felt humorous, so I smiled bitterly. Who knew that I would say something like this?

“······But, it’s regrettable.”

Jihye made a slightly gloomy face and spoke.

“For you to split up from that Missus in the future.”

“······Yeah.”

I think I did what I could to smile bitterly.

If the future doesn’t change, then regardless of whether Saeyeon matures or how I accept it, Saeyeon will be gone from our home.

Instead, in that home which I don’t even go back to, Jaim and······.

I turned my head and looked at Jihye.

“What’s the matter?”

Jihye blinked as she tilted her head.

The more I look at her, the more I’m made to realize that I had made her.

Her blinking must have been done in order to make her truly seem like a person. A person who doesn’t blink would be scary, after all. They would give off an uncanny valley feeling as well.
(TL note: Uncanny valley is a theory where people feel more repulsion towards humanoids that are awkwardly human-like. LINK)

When she sniffs because it’s cold, pats down her chest whenever she’s surprised, and stutters from time to time, all of these lifelike responses.

These sort of trivial responses must have been needed for my goal, after all.

And, the more I look at her,

The more I feel like she resembles Saeyeon.

They give off a similar atmosphere. Despite being somewhat dopey, there’s definitely an atmosphere that stimulated other people’s protective desires.

Their personalities are similar. They’re normally air-headed, but they’re sharp when it comes to weird things, and they get concerned about what other people do.

Their sociabilities are also similar. They’re able to talk to anyone with ease and they don’t think that’s strange.

Their actions are similar as well. That humming right now, the way they respond when they’re surprised, their somewhat sloppy behaviors, and the way they respond when they’re embarrassed.

I understand why Upperclassman Nabom said that Jihye is my ally. Because she’s like Saeyeon. Just like Saeyeon, she’ll most likely never betray me.

Of course, there are other facts. And those other facts are,

······The parts, that I had taken away from Saeyeon until now.

I was made to realize, to a painful degree, the fact that I was the one who had created her.

I also realized how much of a twisted person my future and current self were.

I probably created my ideal form of Saeyeon.

Innocent, dopey, but kind. A sociability that allowed her to become friends with anyone. A Saeyeon who could do housework and everything outside of that by herself, listen to whatever I tell her to do and stop a fight with a smile on her face while also giving her regards to the kids who were harassing her daughter.

And even while doing all that, she was a girl and not a child. A Saeyeon who gets embarrassed if you see inside her clothes or take her stockings off.

If I didn’t make Saeyeon stay like a child until now, wouldn’t she have become like this?

Furthermore, of all things, after breaking up with Saeyeon, I made the robot maid who stayed at home and looked after Jaim resemble Saeyeon.

“······If Saeyeon were like you, then Jaim might not have attempted to come here.”

I could only laugh bitterly. How reckless was the future me?

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

Jihye, who had no way of knowing what I meant, simply blinked and asked that.

Ο

“······What’s that supposed to mean, Dad?”

Ο

And an incredibly cold voice, made me turn my head.

We were on an unpopulated pathway within the apartment complex that leads to home. Jaim was there and glaring at me.

She must have really considered her outing with Nanda as a date as she was wearing clothes that were fancier and cuter than what she wore when we all went to Yongsan together. However, she currently didn’t look like she had a fun time.

While clenching her fists, she glared at me with her large eyes that were shimmering so much that it felt like they might start shining.

Nanda, who was standing beside her, was going back and forth between blankly staring at me, Jihye, and Jaim.

“Ah, Miss! Are you coming home now? Did you have a fun time on your date with Mr. Nanda?”

It seems she couldn’t read the mood as Jihye simply approached Jihye while smiling. However, Jaim brushed past her and glared at me as she stood directly before me.

“······Miss?”

“What did you say just now, Dad?”

“No, Jaim, what I meant is······.”

“If it weren’t mom, but that piece of scrap metal instead, I wouldn’t have······ come here?”

I messed up. She misunderstood me completely.

“That’s now that I mean. What I said just now······.”

I did whatever I could to explain myself, but Jaim simply bit her lips and glared at me. There were even tears forming at the edge of her eyes.

“J-Jaim? Jjaro probably didn’t mean it like that.”

Nanda spoke gently as if he were trying his best to calm her down. However, Jaim didn’t turn away despite those words.

“Miss, I don’t know why you’re acting like this, but Master······.”

“······It’s because of you!”

The instant Jihye placed her hand on Jaim’s shoulder, Jaim shook it off. Jihye opened her eyes wide.

“Miss?”

“Finally······. I was finally able to leave that place······! I, finally had the family that I wanted······! But, again, Dad······!”

Jaim, whose body was trembling in order to stop her tears from flowing, pushed Jihye aside and shouted as loud as she could.

“Something like you, should just go to a scrap metal dump!”

Jaim ran off.