The reflection in the mirror wore a troubled expression.
For some reason, I started to feel awkward and absentmindedly scratched my cheek.
My skin was pale to begin with, so the blush on my face stood out immediately.
“This… this doesn’t seem right.”
The outfit I was wearing was a single-colored, pastel dress.
The fabric seemed modest, there was no unnecessary exposure—those were the reasons I had chosen it.
But the dress clung to my body in subtle ways, making me hyper-aware of my figure.
I should’ve been more careful when they said it was popular for its “new urban look.”
The dress had a well-defined waistline just below my bust, accentuating my midriff.
And from there, it flared, emphasizing my hips and creating an elegant curve.
Combined with my youthful face, wearing this gave me a strange sense of guilt.
“No. I can’t wear this.”
In the end, the solid-colored dress was cut from the list.
My room was cluttered with clothes, yet here I was, still in my underwear.
It was such an irony.
Since we’ve agreed to meet, I don’t want to show my worst side.
This is also a celebration for Gawol’s arena victory, and meeting people like this is something I haven’t done in a really long time.
I wasn’t planning to just throw something on and head out to the convenience store in front of my house.
But maybe it’s because I’ve been wearing loose clothes all the time.
Or perhaps it’s just been too long since I’ve looked at myself in the mirror.
When I stood in front of the mirror in different outfits, my confidence quickly disappeared.
When I’m at a loss like this, I can only rely on the internet for help.
But even with my endless scrolling, I couldn’t find anything that really resonated with me.
[Recent Search History]
…
– Neutral Coordination
– Neat Coordination
– Neat Coordination for Women
– How to Dress Well
– Meeting Coordination
– Women’s Meeting Coordination
– Boyish Coordination
After spending over two hours battling with clothes, all I had accomplished was a horribly messy room and a completely ruined search algorithm.
This is dangerous.
Now, no matter where I look, I see clothing ads popping up.
Even the video platform that was usually filled with game content began to show unfamiliar fashion channels.
It’s understandable that my fashion searches brought these on, but why are there also makeup ads appearing? I haven’t even searched for makeup.
But as a man, there’s no way I’m doing makeup. That’s my last shred of male pride.
As soon as I scrolled, up came a recommended video: “If You Were Your Crush’s First Love…” Blah blah blah…
I quickly gave it a “dislike,” marked it as “not interested,” and turned off channel recommendations.
I almost tossed my phone aside but stopped myself at the last second, remembering its cost.
“Damn it, I just want to sleep now.”
Originally, I planned to wear the clothes I bought from the shopping mall.
After all, I really liked them when I bought them.
If I hadn’t intended to wear them, I wouldn’t have bought them in the first place.
But as soon as I had more options, my desires grew.
I had to try on the gifts I received since it was only polite.
And if I found something even more attractive, I could wear that.
Seemed reasonable, right?
But when I started focusing on how I looked in the mirror, everything spiraled into confusion.
The problem was that my body seemed more stimulating than I remembered.
There was one time in the restroom where I checked between my legs.
It was eerie. A perfectly smooth gap without any flower petals.
I opened the soft, thick mound and had to acknowledge the changes in myself.
Whenever I wore something revealing, I felt the same strange discomfort.
Fully accepting my body was still difficult.
[Current Time: 02:43 AM]
I must’ve been overthinking it.
The time got much later than expected.
At least I narrowed it down to two options: a casual suit I bought myself and a beige knitted dress gifted by Luche.
I tried on everything else as well.
I’ll decide what to wear after I wake up tomorrow morning.
There’s bound to be something I’ll put on when it’s time to go.
With subtle anxiety and anticipation, I drifted off to sleep.
—
[Chat Room with Jeong Seok-won]
– Did you leave already?
– We’re going out for drinks.
– Have a good time and come back safely.
– [Map: Novel Samgyeopsal & Fried Rice]
– We’ll be eating here, so let us know if you need anything.
By the time I arrived near the agreed meeting spot on the bus, a message came from Master.
I tried to write a detailed response but ended up deleting it all when it seemed too disorganized.
Since I’m not great with words anyway, I simply sent my thanks.
Later, when the tournament prize money comes through, I should send him something as a token of appreciation.
I’ve been feeling a bit guilty for always receiving.
Maybe if I casually ask his wife, I’ll find out what I should send.
– Thank you.
– I’ll return safely.
He read my message but didn’t reply specifically.
Sometimes silence is golden, especially in these man-to-man conversations.
Even I, born a classic guy’s guy, didn’t press the matter further.
Thankfully, the agreed-upon barbecue restaurant wasn’t far from the station.
I could leisurely walk there with my cane without rushing.
It was still spring, and the weather was pleasant enough that I didn’t break a sweat.
As is typical for a bustling area, the street was full of people.
Affectionate lovers, cheerful crowds of high school students, warm families.
It felt strangely familiar, and I quickly remembered why.
There’s an aquarium nearby.
That must be it.
It must have been my second-grade birthday.
We went to a family restaurant for dinner that day.
There was certainly warmth in the family gathering.
Could I feel that warmth again?
I wanted not the sterile, medicinal smell of tap water but the warm embrace of people.
That’s why I’ve gathered the courage to come here today.
[Top-Grade Hanwoo Specialist, Mong (Dream)]
“Welcome, did you make a reservation?”
“Umm… was it under the name Yuserin?”
“Please follow me, I’ll guide you.”
—
Clearly, I wasn’t late, yet it seemed I was the last to arrive.
When I entered the private room, everyone was already there.
“Ah… I’m here because of Yuserin’s invitation. Is this the right place?”
Oh, my voice came out too quietly.
Still, from the moment the door opened, it seemed like everyone was paying attention, so they must have heard me.
“Is that Gawol? Really, is that really you? Wow!”
“Please sit here.”
There were two women and two men.
The exact composition of my regular party members—nothing has changed.
Especially the two men differed in age enough that I could easily recognize them.
Abujidolgyeoloroga, the warrior user, looked like a kind uncle.
He seemed like someone who might have one or two kids, while Soobin gave off a cheerful young adult vibe.
Every pair of eyes looked at my left leg at least once.
I instinctively withdrew, but fortunately, the gazes weren’t too obvious.
My brace didn’t look all that different from a half-cast.
My seat was between the two women—Elderlyn and Sansa.
But I couldn’t distinguish who was who.
One side was a woman only slightly taller than me—maybe just over 160 cm.
Her frilly blouse gave her a youthful, almost girlish aura.
She had a naturally smiling face that suggested she was well-loved wherever she went.
On the other hand, the other woman was unmistakably over 170 cm, a tall figure.
With shiny piercings in her ears, she seemed like someone who would enjoy life and exuded a strong energy.
Her bright smile made her look approachable.
If I had to generalize, one was an older sister type, and the other a younger sister type.
The tall one must be Elderlyn, right?
Even though her appearance differed somewhat from my imagination, her friendly vibe wasn’t surprising.
Just as I was about to thank her for the invitation, the smaller one waved her hand.
“I already ordered the meat. Please take a look at the menu if there’s anything you’d like.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Pushed by her encouragement, I glanced at the menu.
Could years of living frugally have made me unconsciously focus on the prices first?
Even though I knew I wouldn’t have to pay, I still felt uneasy about expensive items.
When I saw the prices, my eyes widened.
This was far pricier than I expected.
If I kept looking at the prices, I might not be able to eat properly.
I’ll just eat whatever they order.
Plain white rice is more than enough, isn’t it?
“Anything is fine for me.”
“Then let’s go with the flower rib?”
“Yes…”
“Still, you’re incredibly cute.”
“No, I’m not cute.”
By the way, no one is introducing themselves, huh?
For now, the younger sister type was easier to approach than the energetic older sister.
Perhaps from years of being a loner, I have an instinctive kind of fear.
When I think about the characters we grew in the game, this small one must be Sansa.
Sansa’s character was a small halfling bard.
Her character was small and cute too, so in real life, her preferences are probably similar.
“Excuse me, are you Sansa?”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Something doesn’t feel right.
Indeed, everyone began laughing, the two women, the old man and the youth alike.
What is it? Could I have guessed wrong?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, ominous premonitions always come true.
A mysterious smile from the taller woman, who then tapped my shoulder.
“I’m Sansa.”
“Eeeek?”
“Fu…don’t be so surprised. The image you imagined was different, right?”
Finally, the introductions began.
“I’m Elderlyn! Yuserin.”
“Kim Sin-a, Sansa.”
“Han Da-eun… my game nickname is Gawol.”
“Wow, Gawol, you’re incredibly pretty. I’ll have to show you off at the lounge later.”
“Right, why don’t we take a picture together later?”
Photos… I’m a bit hesitant.
Still, it feels wrong to accept all this and then refuse.
After a moment’s consideration, I nodded.
I had always intended to reveal myself eventually.
They’re not the type to act carelessly, and even if the pictures were leaked, it would only be a matter of sooner or later.
I’ll be fine.
“It’s okay to take photos… But please don’t post them online.”
“Of course! I’ll be the only one looking at them. No one else can! They’ll be my treasure.”
“I can take one too, right?”
“Yes…”
Ah, this is bad.
I already feel my energy draining away.
