Chapter 21: What’s This in My Pocket?

A gut feeling told him that even after removing the cast, the distance between them wouldn’t grow.

No—if anything, it might bring them even closer.

Hyunwoo’s prediction became a reality.

“So we’re finally sleeping separately now, right?”

“But… I’m still scared to sleep alone.”

“You’re old enough to stop being scared of horror movies.”

“It’s not that. I’m scared of not having you next to me…”

He had planned to start sleeping in separate rooms, but Chaea mumbled, carrying the weight of the world’s gloom on her shoulders.

“Well… I guess it can’t be helped. I’ve been bothering you too much, haven’t I? Sorry.”

“No, it wasn’t bothersome or anything.”

Caught off guard, Hyunwoo scratched the back of his head.

Click.

He walked over and turned off the lights.

The room plunged into darkness, making it impossible to see anything.

“…Does this mean I should leave?”

“Just stay still.”

Following the sound of her now-sullen voice, Hyunwoo climbed into bed beside her—just as he had since the accident.

When he pulled the blanket over them, Chaea hesitated before whispering.

“You’re staying next to me?”

“Why? Don’t like it?”

“No, I love it!”

Worried that he might change his mind, she clung to him—like a cicada stuck to a tree.

Not just her arms, but even her legs wrapped around him.

“Can you let go a little?” Hyunwoo muttered in a small voice, clearly troubled.

Her soft, warm skin completely covered him, and the pleasant scent filling his nose was almost too much to handle.

For a healthy high school guy, this position could only lead to one outcome.

“Uncomfortable?”

“Yeah. How am I supposed to sleep like this? It’s way too hot.”

“Alright…”

Even though Chaea looked disheartened, this wasn’t something he could ignore.

She loosened her hold slightly but still held onto his arm tightly.

“Is this okay?”

“That much is fine.”

At this rate, nothing had changed from when his arm was in a cast.

They still shared the same bed.

He still lent her his arm like a body pillow.

The only difference was that now, there was no reason for it.

Before, he could at least use the excuse that he had to help her in the morning.

But now, it was purely because she wanted to sleep beside him.

“Hyunwoo.”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks… for putting up with my selfishness.”

“At least you know it’s selfish.”

He deliberately responded in a gruff tone.

Then—

Peck.

Something soft brushed against his cheek before he could even react.

“Just saying thanks, hehe.”

Chaea giggled softly, her voice tickling his ear.

Hyunwoo squeezed his eyes shut.

‘Just wait until you get your memories back…’

Not only was she clinging to him, but now she was kissing him out of gratitude.

And there was no way she didn’t realize what she was doing.

He made up his mind—when she got her memories back, he would make her pay tenfold.

Bolting upright, he spoke.

“Go to sleep first.”

“Huh? Where are you going?”

“Bathroom.”

There was no way he’d be able to sleep like this.

He practically ran out of the room, desperate to deal with his burning frustration.

But it wasn’t just the bed where the boundaries between them had disappeared.

In their daily lives, Chaea no longer needed help with most things.

Yet, she still found ways to make things difficult for him.

For example, she no longer needed help getting dressed, but—

“Hyunwoo, can you hook this for me?”

“Your hands work just fine. Why me?”

“I can’t reach properly. Maybe my chest got bigger from just sitting around and eating…”

“That’s… not usually how weight gain works…”

She would often run up to him, struggling to fasten her bra.

Yes.

Hyunwoo was still stuck seeing her practically half-dressed every single morning.

“I’m still a guy, you know. Don’t you feel embarrassed?”

“Nope. You’re fine.”

Unconsciously, Hyunwoo bit his lip.

‘What does that even mean? That I don’t count as a guy? That it’s fine because we’re childhood friends?’

While he was busy overthinking, Chaea pouted and pleaded.

“I really can’t reach. Please help me? Pretty please?”

She even wiggled her body for emphasis.

Unfortunately, the movement of her large assets was way too visually overwhelming.

“…Fine. Just turn around.”

His face burning, he quickly spun her around.

Chaea obediently presented her bare back, waiting quietly.

Click.

With practiced ease, Hyunwoo fastened the hooks.

‘Is it really okay for childhood friends to get this comfortable with each other?’

It was a question he had asked himself far too many times.

Then—

“Hey, when we have time, wanna go buy some underwear together?”

“…What the fu—”

The words almost slipped out before he stopped himself.

“If you don’t wanna go alone, why not ask Enubi?”

“Mmm… I’m still too shy to show her.”

“…And I’m different?”

Feeling like his common sense was breaking, he hesitated before asking.

“It’s fine with you. You already see them every day.”

Chaea shrugged like it was no big deal.

“Besides, I’m only gonna show them to you anyway, so it’s fine if you pick them out—”

“Shut up. Just shut up. Get dressed so we can leave.”

“We still have a bit of time before we need to go.”

“I said hurry up.”

Cutting her off, he stormed out of the room.

“I’ll wait outside. Hurry up.”

“Ugh, fine! Just wait a sec…!”

Click.

While she hurriedly changed, he slumped down outside the door.

Swoosh. Swoosh.

The faint rustling of fabric reached his ears.

Hyunwoo buried his face in his hands.

‘How the hell did things get to this point?’

There was no boundary anymore.

No matter how much he tried to keep his rationality in check, every day felt like a trial.

Despite all the chaos, they finally left the house.

It was the weekend, exactly three weeks before midterms.

“Enubi! Jinhyuk!”

“You’re here?”

“Yo.”

They had planned to study at the library together before going to see the cherry blossoms.

With her legs fully healed, Chaea happily dashed toward their friends.

“Sorry, did we make you wait long?”

“Nah, we just got here too.”

“Actually, we were a bit late because Hyunwoo refused to help me put on my bra—”

“How is that my fault?!”

Walking up behind her, Hyunwoo immediately grabbed Chaea’s cheeks and stretched them.

‘I’m already going insane because of you, and now this?!’

“Mffyyaaah…! S-Sorry…! Really sorry…!”

“One more word like that—no, if you say anything even remotely similar in public—I’m sending you straight home.”

“Okay! I get it! I’m sorry…!”

Though she kept apologizing, Hyunwoo wasn’t letting go so easily.

Not only was she completely oblivious to how much she was tempting him, but her soft, stretchy cheeks were addictively fun to play with.

‘I’m definitely using this as my go-to punishment from now on.’

“Done yet? Let’s head inside.”

“We’re not just here to play around, so let’s get started.”

Enubi and Jinhyuk finally spoke up.

Only then did Chaea escape Hyunwoo’s grip.

“Ugh… That really hurt…”

Muttering under her breath, she rubbed her reddened cheeks as they stepped into the library.

Right beside her, Hyunwoo pretended not to care.

In the end, Hyunwoo stroked her cheek and asked if it hurt a lot.

Shwoong—
The automatic door slid open.

After watching the two enter the library—

“W-what, are they actually insane?!”

Enubi’s cheeks flushed bright red.

So the reason they were late was because Hyunwoo needed help putting on his underwear faster?
And they just said that out loud, outside, like it was nothing?!

“Aren’t we worrying for nothing? At this rate, they’ll probably have a kid before graduation.”

“T-that… That’s not okay! They’re not even dating!”

Jinhyuk’s words nearly shook her resolve, but Enubi quickly pulled herself together.

“It’d be fine if it happens after graduation. But at this rate, they’re bound to cause trouble soon….”

“Hyunwoo’s touch did seem a little… emotional.”

“That’s why we should hurry up and get them together. For your friend’s sake, too.”

“Okay, okay.”

Enubi and Jinhyuk reminded themselves of their objective today and followed them into the library.

Hyunwoo and Chaea.
And Jinhyuk and Enubi.

The four of them had gathered at 9 AM.

By the time they had been studying for exactly an hour, at 10 AM—

“110…”

“You awake?”

“…When did I fall asleep?”

Enubi lifted her head from the desk.

“About five minutes after opening your book.”

“Ugh….”

Hyunwoo and Chaea nodded at Jinhyuk’s words.

‘This is why I just wanted to go to the cherry blossom festival instead.’

Enubi stretched her arms, thinking that studying really wasn’t for her.

As she loosened her stiff body, she lightly tapped Jinhyuk’s shin with her foot while he was busy rolling the gacha.

“Why aren’t you studying?”

“I finished everything, so I’m just taking a break.”

Jinhyuk flipped open his workbook and spread it out in front of her.

She wasn’t sure whether she should say it didn’t match his looks, or if it actually suited him perfectly.

Either way, the book was filled with mostly red circles, a testament to his excellent grades.

“Tsk. I’m the only one here who sucks at studying.”

“Not just here, though. Even in the entire school, you’re ranked at the bottom— mmph….”

Jinhyuk barely held back a yelp as Enubi stomped on his foot.

“Anyway, you’re not going to study now, right? Then let’s go out and get some fresh air.”

“Hey, I’m in the middle of clearing a stage.”

“That’s something you can pause. I’ll buy you a drink.”

“…Fine.”

“Let’s go.”

“This punk….”

Jinhyuk jumped to his feet, ready to leave.

‘I just wanted to hold a quick strategy meeting, but he’s really clueless, huh?’

Enubi glared at him for a moment, then turned to Chaea.

“I’m getting some fresh air and grabbing drinks. Want anything?”

“Pocari?”

“And you?”

“Same.”

Chaea and Hyunwoo continued solving problems without even pausing as they answered.

Impressed by their focus, Enubi shook her head as she stood up.

“Alright, you nerds. We’ll be back soon.”

Shwoong—

With that, Enubi and Jinhyuk stepped through the automatic doors and left the library.

“Hah. Hyunwoo, I got everything right.”

Chaea, who had finished solving and checking her answers, whispered to Hyunwoo.

Even if she had done it before losing her memory, it was still an impressive feat.

“Yeah? Nice job.”

Hyunwoo, still working on his own problems, answered absentmindedly.

Since he always expected Chaea to do well in her studies, he didn’t think much of it.

But without the ability to read his mind, Chaea puffed up her cheeks slightly.

“How about we go out for some fresh air too?”

“Feeling cooped up?”

“Yeah. Now that my cast is off, I want to walk a little.”

“Let me just finish this first.”

“How much do you have left?”

“100 problems.”

“…”

If he was going to finish all that, they wouldn’t be going for fresh air—they’d be heading straight to see the cherry blossoms.

Wanting to leave as soon as possible, Chaea took off her shoe and poked Hyunwoo’s leg with her toe.

“How are you going to finish 100 problems? Let’s take a short break, okay?”

“If you’re bored, go study something else.”

“Boo. Do Hyunwoo, grant Yoo Chaea the right to rest.”

As Chaea playfully booed him, Hyunwoo let out a small chuckle.

“When did I ever say you couldn’t rest?”

“I want to go out with you, but you won’t budge.”

“I said I’ll go after finishing 100 problems.”

“Hmph. Fine, let’s see how that goes. I’m going to distract you.”

Thunk.

Chaea rested her foot on Hyunwoo’s thigh.

Hyunwoo flinched for a moment.

But compared to everything he’d been through at home, this was nothing.

“Do whatever you want.”

He ignored her and resumed writing.

“Eit, eit.”

Chaea started wiggling her toes more intensely.

The warmth of her foot pressed against his thigh.

At first, it was fine.

But as her foot slowly shifted toward the center, he couldn’t just ignore it anymore.

“…Hold on.”

Sensing the danger, Hyunwoo reached down and grabbed her foot.

“Wha— Why? Are you finally in the mood to play with me?”

“That’s not— No, wait—”

Still oblivious, Chaea mischievously smirked and slid her foot even further—

Right between his legs.

If she had just kicked him, he would’ve immediately swatted her foot away.

But since she was only gently pressing down, he hadn’t been prepared.

“Hm? What’s this in your pocket?”

Feeling something against her toes, Chaea tilted her head in innocent curiosity.

Hyunwoo stiffened and muttered as he pulled his hips back as far as he could.

“T-that’s… not my pocket.”

“…Huh?”

“Do you think I’d have a pocket in the middle?”

Still unaware, Chaea instinctively pressed her foot down again to figure out what it was—

“…Oh.”

And as realization hit—

Whoosh—

Her face instantly turned bright red.