Chapter 23: Meeting a New Person on the Way Home.

Clatter. Rumble…

The suitcase, containing nothing much but snacks for Kyuseok, rattled as it dragged along, my body feeling unusually heavy. It only has my iPad, clothes, and snacks, so why is it so heavy…? Have I become weaker?

I hadn’t noticed my weakened strength. Perhaps because I became a girl… I’ve come to believe this is my original body. In the past, I could have carried this with one hand on my shoulder.

Ugh. Immigration is too harsh for a hikikomori. How many times did I have to repeat the same thing and show my belongings…? I was embarrassed because I had a lot of snacks.

I’m completely drained. Almost collapsing… but there’s still more of this procedure…

“Sigh. It’s so bothersome to go back to Korea.”

I feel like I’ll be moving to Japan eventually anyway. I want to become an illegal immigrant. I have to prepare for my broadcast and draw everything based on Sayo’s feedback.

And a stranger will be sitting next to this hikikomori…?

“…I should have squeezed more money out of Kang Shimjeong and flown business class.”

I don’t usually splurge on first class from Korea to Japan. But if I fly economy, there will be a stranger next to me. And if I have a panic attack, it’ll be embarrassing for me and I’ll feel bad for the person next to me.

The cause of my panic attacks isn’t that complicated. As long as the person isn’t similar to Kang Shimjeong, I’m fine.

“Please… please, not a tall man…”

Even if it’s a tall man, as long as he doesn’t look as intimidating as Kang Shimjeong… as long as he doesn’t look like 100% male hormones…

Thud. I put my suitcase in the overhead compartment and looked out the window at the dark airport. Nothing was visible except for a few red lights, but it was somehow poetic. I liked it.

In about 5 minutes… the flight will depart. And in 5 minutes, the person who will ruin my romantic atmosphere will arrive.

“—The business class is full…”

“Yeah. Just take economy class quietly. Acting all high and mighty…”

Glare!

Ahh. I can’t hear the conversation clearly, but… my loser sensor is tingling. The person walking this way will definitely be sitting next to me. If you ask why, I’ll answer this way: my premonitions of misfortune are usually more accurate than my hopes.

Who is it…!

I glanced over to check.

“Hmm…”

Half a success… I guess.

A tall man sat next to me. I almost cried, but thankfully, he wasn’t muscular or dressed in masculine clothes. He was quite thin. Slightly more flesh than the model Kim Kyuseok, but still much thinner than average.

And crucially, he was wearing a mask. It was a relief that I was wearing one too. One of the merits of masks is that they prevent unwanted attention.

His visible eyes were intense. Good at conveying emotions, I should say? It would be hard to lie with eyes like that. They were screaming that he was tired and annoyed. I should leave him alone.

Hmm. If he’s tired, he won’t talk to me first… good. It’ll be perfect if I just lean against the window and sleep during the flight.

Or should I read the book I recently bought? Hmm. The more I improve my knowledge, the more dignified I’ll be as a Vtuber.

It’s better to read a book than be caught by viewers and mocked in a clip. Hmm. I picked up a seemingly popular book at the bookstore. The title is…

“Fragments of Winter?”

Flinch.

“A modern setting with a touch of sci-fi? There’s a reason it’s popular.”

Flinch, flinch.

…Sigh. Why is he doing that?

“…Are you okay? You keep flinching.”

“Ah. I’m fine. Sorry. It’s my favorite book…”

Huh? Favorite book?

I held up “Fragments of Winter,” and the man next to me smiled and nodded. He looked like he was in his mid-twenties, but he likes this typical drama that high schoolers would enjoy…

Well… I can understand, but

Will my social anxiety understand you?!

My voice, much smaller than my initial courage, betrayed me as the mysterious man next to me spoke to me..

“How far have you read? There are several volumes.”

“This is my first… time. A friend recommended it to me…”

Kim Kyuseok mentioned it once, but it was months ago, so I don’t remember clearly. How did it come up? I think it was when we were catching up…

The man smiled again upon hearing my words. What’s with that strange smile? A look that says, “Haha, I see.” After hearing about the friend’s recommendation, the man took a pen out of his pocket and fiddled with it.

“Aha. Do you… need an autograph?”

“…Why would I need your autograph?”

Ah. My social anxiety disappears when I’m being serious. This is another new discovery… I’m glad I learned this thanks to this man.

“Don’t you… know me?”

The man widened his eyes in surprise and pointed at himself. Since he wants to be recognized even with a mask on, he must be a celebrity.

Why would a novelist give out autographs… Ah. That’s it.

“Did you… appear in ‘Fragments of Memory’?”

As if he had been waiting for that, the tension left his eyes. Is he a bit arrogant? Or is he a really famous actor…?

I don’t know much about actors, so it’s hard to react.

“Ah. Yes! You know me. I’m Im Jinwoo, who played the male lead, Lee Junho.”

“Aha… Actor Im Jinwoo…”

I tried my best to smile and put my hands together, pretending to know him, but… I don’t.

I don’t even know the lead actors in blockbuster movies, let alone a just famous actor. He looks young, is he a rising star…?

“…Ah. You don’t know me.”

Im Jinwoo’s eyes filled with disappointment. A rising star after all? A top actor would probably understand if someone didn’t know them.

“…Yes. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. I haven’t received any awards yet. I won the Best New Actor award last year, but…”

The atmosphere died. Along with Im Jinwoo’s eyes.

Honestly, shouldn’t he have expected this when he talked to a woman quietly reading a book next to him? Isn’t it weird for an actor to talk to a woman sitting next to him?

Well, even with a mask on, this damn beauty can’t be hidden. Even though I tried to hide my eyes with a hat, my silver hair and blue eyes might have been visible. Maybe he’s trying to hit on me… no, is this paranoia from Kim Kyuseok’s tickling?

“Please watch the drama later. It’s interesting.”

A dejected Im Jinwoo put his pen back in his pocket.

…I feel a bit bad for him. I should at least give him a positive response. It would be too cruel to keep rejecting him.

I picked up my phone with the hand that was holding the book and opened my notes app. I showed him the screen with “Watch Fragments of Memory drama” written on it and said,

“…Yes. I don’t particularly enjoy dramas… but I’ll try watching it.”

“Yes! Thank you. What’s your name?”

Ah. So he is giving autographs? Can’t he just do it after I watch the drama? Hmm. I won’t be able to meet him then. I don’t want to ruin the book, but… it’s not a book I cherish, so it’s fine.

“I’m Kang Soohyun.”

“…Kang Soohyun?”

Im Jinwoo, who was scribbling with his pen, looked up at me. Confusion and bewilderment flickered in his dark eyes.

What? Why?

“Is there a… problem?”

“Ah. No. Well, it’s not a rare name. It’s just the same name as someone an acquaintance always talks about.”

“Oh.”

How many Kang Soohyuns are there in Korea? Probably thousands. It’s a unisex name, so his acquaintance might know one.

“…Thank you.”

Actor Im Jinwoo… scribbled, and wrote “Be happy.” Classic. Im Jinwoo looked visibly pleased as I accepted the book.

“You’re welcome. We’ll be sitting together for two or three hours anyway, can you tell me a bit about yourself, Soohyun-ssi?”

“I’d rather not… How about a different topic instead of my life story?”

“Ah. Then…”

I can’t say, “Just being with you is giving me a headache and making me want to vomit.” I’m barely managing to answer his questions, I don’t have the social energy to talk about my past.

“Let’s talk about something unrelated. Do you like mint chocolate?”

“I hate it.”

This topic… is bearable.

“We have a lot in common.”

“…I don’t think so.”

Im Jinwoo, 23 years old. Not a traditional actor, though not many people knew that. He debuted ambitiously at 16 in the idol group ‘Liberty,’ which disbanded miserably after less than a year. He then landed a role in a drama his agency sent him to out of desperation, and he gave a passionate performance.

Because of that, Im Jinwoo met many influencers, actors, and idols. But he had never met someone so… distracting with their mask and hat.

‘How can she have such an aura even though she’s completely covered up…’

It was awkward when he first sat next to her, but since she was holding the original novel of the drama he appeared in, he was able to start a conversation. Her voice was incredibly soft, she stuttered, and there were many pauses, but…

How can a voice be so pretty? Im Jinwoo continued to be impressed throughout the conversation. He thought it would be great if she became an actress, and he was curious about what kind of work she did.

“I’d rather not… How about a different topic instead of my life story?”

It failed miserably, just like his idol career. Im Jinwoo was disappointed but didn’t show it. There were plenty of other conversation topics besides life stories.

Food preferences, favorite seasons, weather, favorite books…

Except for food, seasons, weather, and books, everything else overlapped. Meaning nothing overlapped. Still, he was relieved that the conversation flowed smoothly.

***

Rumble.

Handing her light suitcase to Soohyun-ssi, Im Jinwoo thought he must have left a good impression. He wasn’t trying to hit on her, but he thought it would be nice to have a friend like her.

Flash! Flash!

“Im Jinwoo-ssi! Who is the woman next to you?!”

“Weren’t you going to Japan to film a new movie?!”

Every flash was directed at Soohyun-ssi, and an ordinary person wouldn’t be used to such a barrage of cameras.

“…!”

Soohyun-ssi trembled, covering her face. Im Jinwoo cursed inwardly. Nothing had gone his way since his idol debut.

Soohyun’s resentful gaze, her beautiful blue eyes revealed by her slightly askew sunglasses, pierced Im Jinwoo.

“…F*ck. You are a famous actor.”

“Yes…”

Im Jinwoo hated the world.