Chapter 30: Domestic Incest Gallery

Humans are creatures of adaptation.

Lately, I’ve been acutely aware of this.

From the sudden change in the world to my own gender transformation…

Humans adapt.

Why am I saying this?

“So, I was going to this new café, and some idiot blocked my way and started a fight. I was so annoyed.”
“Oh, yeah.”

I blinked.

Maybe it’s adaptation that makes me unfazed by someone I’d usually avoid out of fear now chattering in front of me.

I half-listened to Jihyun, lost in thought.

“Kim Jia. Are you listening?”

“..Yes.”

“We have some time before class; let’s go to the vending machines.”

“..I’m not really in the mood.”

I think I can express my opinions now.

Kim Jia. Good job.

“…What?”

“No! Um, I just want to go to the vending machines quickly.”

“Right?”

Thinking about it, I don’t think so.

How can I adapt to her sharp eyes and expression?

I turned away, following Jihyun to the vending machines.

Jihyun seems wealthier than I expected.

She buys me hot chocolate every day.

I sipped my hot chocolate and asked Jihyun,

“Is it okay for me to keep accepting your treats?”

Jihyun looked bewildered.

“You’re enjoying it too much to question it now.”

66

“..I guess you’re right.”

I fell silent.

But I still felt awkward.

Awkwardness…

“…Me too.”

“Huh?”

“I’m buying it because I want to. Don’t feel awkward. Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

“Hehe… yes!”

Good.

It was a little embarrassing, but I liked it.

I smiled and nodded.

Jihyun’s expression hardened.

…O?

“Don’t smile like that at others.”

“Wh…what do you mean…?”

We’re friends, right? Why?

“I mean, just now, the way you smiled.”

“Ah… I shouldn’t smile?”

“No, it’s not that. Ugh.”

A mysterious figure appeared, separating Jihyun and me.

The scent of her flowing brown hair was nice.

Mesmerized, I stared at her.

“Don’t bully our Jia!”

It was Yejin.

“What do you want from this little girl? You’re trying to extort her?”

“I’m not little…”

“I bought that hot chocolate, you know?”

“Aha!”

She appeared suddenly, and their banter flowed naturally.

Jihyun was clearly annoyed, but Yejin was smiling, unconcerned.

This was a common pattern lately.

Whenever I’m with Jihyun, Yejin appears and they start bickering.

I’d been terrified of them at first, but recently, it’s become less intense.

Have they adapted, just like me?

I fiddled with my empty hot chocolate cup.

“That… hot chocolate was from Jihyun. Thank you.”

“No way…”

“See?”

I could practically hear Jihyun say, “I won.”

Yejin looked at me like an abandoned puppy.

It was time for mediation.

Their argument could have continued indefinitely.

So, please stop looking at me so pitifully.

I avoided Yejin’s gaze.

Hmm, this hot chocolate is delicious.

The bell rang, and Yejin darted out the back door.

She ran excitedly, like a puppy.

A golden retriever, perhaps.

“Haaam…”

I stifled a yawn and slumped onto my desk.

It’s all the teacher’s fault for making the lesson so boring.

I ignored the fact I’d been up all night and closed my eyes.

“Kim Jia.”

“Huh…”

I opened my eyes at the sound of my name.

I was just about to fall asleep. I resented it.

I looked up to see who it was.

Jihyun.

“Ah! Why’d you call me?”

This changes things.

I lowered my eyes.

“Let’s go eat.”

“Eat?”

“01.”

“Why…?”

She also has a group of friends she eats with.

I wondered why she’d left them to come to me.

I raised an eyebrow; Jihyun spoke lightly.

“They skipped school.”

“Oh… really?”

“Why.”

That’s not something to say so casually, right?

I blinked blankly.

Her short, dyed blonde hair and short skirt caught my eye.

Jihyun still looked oblivious to what she’d done.

Hmm, I understand.

We live in different worlds.

I didn’t understand, but I decided to let it go.

“No. Let’s go eat!”

“Okay.”

Ignoring the chill down my spine, I left the classroom.

There weren’t many people downstairs for lunch.

Lines would’ve been a problem, so I was thankful.

Lunch was chicken curry rice, tortillas, shrimp skewers, pineapple, and strawberry cake.

The food was buffet-style.

Of course, this led to incidents.

“Why did you take so much cake…?”

“Uh… I don’t know?”

One person taking a large amount of food is a common occurrence.

There was plenty of food, and it was an all-girls school, so it wasn’t easy to hoard food.

I looked at the pile of strawberries on my tray.

What is this?

When did this happen?

I shook my head, avoiding Jihyun’s strange gaze.

“I didn’t take that much.”

Jihyun looked even more confused, but I ignored her.

I had to stay focused.

“Let’s eat quickly.”

“…Okay.”

Is it over?

Jihyun sat opposite me without complaint.

Time to eat.

The school lunch was surprisingly delicious.

If I had friends, I’d eat here all the time.

I was eating quickly, forgetting about Jihyun, when I looked up.

I felt awkward eating alone.

Thankfully, Jihyun was on her phone, ignoring the food.

Her crossed legs screamed, “I’m a delinquent.”

Frowning, she started typing intensely. She didn’t notice me watching.

Why is she doing that? Is she fighting with her friends?

Humans are curious. Even though it didn’t concern me, I was curious.

I leaned closer to see her screen.

I could almost see…

“..What are you doing?”

“!!?!?”

Jihyun was looking at me.

Her emotionless gaze chilled me.

“I… I’m sorry.”

Even if I was curious, it was wrong to snoop. I’d briefly lost my mind.

“Whatever.”

“..Huh?”

“Why are you sorry?”

Jihyun began her interrogation. Her raised eyebrow was intimidating.

I stammered,

“Uh…

I was looking at your phone without permission… and… your…”

“Pfft.”

Jihyun suddenly laughed.

I stopped and raised an eyebrow.

“Okay. Ji-a.”

“Huh?”

Was she forgiving me?

I listened intently.

“What do you think about incest?”

“…What?

“Incest. Incest.”

I blinked.

Do girls normally talk about this?

I hadn’t expected Jihyun to mention incest.

“Do you not know what incest is? Incest is…” Ah.

“No, no. You don’t need to explain.”

“You didn’t know? Inc… ugh.”

“Jihyun, keep your voice down…”

I covered her mouth, feeling it was inappropriate to mention incest loudly. I looked at her.

“I understand; keep it down. Okay?”

Jihyun nodded, clearly surprised by my action.

“Why did you suddenly ask about that?”

“Oh, that.”

Jihyun held up her phone.

“You were curious.”

“..What?”

“About the incest conversation.”

I felt like I’d stumbled upon a forbidden truth.

It’s good they weren’t fighting.

I felt relieved, when Jihyun said,

“We were fighting.”

I covered my mouth in shock.

What? Did I say that out loud?

“Jia, your face shows everything.”

“Me…?”

“Yes.”

“No way.”

“You’re thinking that’s impossible, right?”

“Oof.”

“Oof my ass.”

Jihyun, already intimidating, became even more so.

She clearly had mind-reading abilities.

“Stop overthinking. So, what do you think about incest?”

“Is this too difficult? Incest: yay or nay?”

Someone suddenly came to mind.

A sister who’d been outed by her sister…

I should still respect her, right?

“Neutral.”

“So boring.” Ah.