Your Commander-in-Chief – Chapter 280

Clank—

I stumbled into the room.

The spacious interior and tidy decor were impressive, but I wasn’t in the mood to appreciate such things right now.

A small noise came from behind me.

The door had been locked.

“Why are you so tense?”

“M-me…?”

Tensed? No way.

I turned around and awkwardly smiled.

Sohee, holding onto the doorknob, started to slowly turn her body with a faint smile.

Was it just my imagination that there was something off about her usual demeanor?

“The room. It’s neat, right?”

“Yeah…”

“I picked this place carefully… Well, the teacher did.”

After completely locking the door, Sohee slowly walked towards the side of the large bed.

“So there’s just one bed…?”

“There were no other empty rooms like this. Ellie and Seongsin’s rooms only have one bed too.”

“I see…”

Now that I thought about it, how many people had gathered here?

The number of people I could see on the way to the stadium was easily in the hundreds.

There probably weren’t any empty rooms.

Sohee placed her bag on the small table next to the bed and cautiously approached the wall to start knocking.

Knock knock- knock knock-

I tilted my head, wondering what she was doing, and Sohee slightly inclined her head.

She placed her ear right next to the wall.

Could she be eavesdropping on the next room?

“The soundproofing seems solid.”

Oh, she was just checking the soundproofing.

Nodding at Sohee’s words, I headed towards the bed.

The soft mattress and the spread of the plush blanket.

Knock knock—

The texture of the blanket passed the test.

The softness of the mattress was also a solid win.

As I nodded in satisfaction with the bed, Sohee, who was standing beside me, started to change her clothes.

She took off her uncomfortable uniform and put on more comfortable training gear.

I also pulled out my training clothes from my bag and got changed.

“Give me the laundry.”

“Sohee’s doing the laundry?”

“No. A staff member will take it later tonight.”

Is that how it works?

Nodding at Sohee’s explanation, I handed her the clothes I had just taken off.

The uniform and black stockings that had been worn all day.

The stockings, rolled up, emitted a faint warmth.

“Ahhh~”

Taking off the uniform made me feel completely free.

I couldn’t believe how just changing one piece of clothing felt like this.

I chuckled and laid back on the bed.

My body relaxed, and my mind calmed down.

The faint discomfort I felt earlier seemed like a mere illusion; everything was comfortable now.

“What should we do until dinner?”

“Well…”

Sohee, who had arranged the laundry, smiled lightly and took out a small incense burner from her bag.

It had a familiar appearance; how could I forget? It was the same burner I used every day when falling asleep.

Having used it, I could tell that the important part was not the burner itself but the scented candle burning inside.

Sohee looked at me with a light smile as she held up a small box of a familiar brand.

It was certainly a scented candle that helps you enjoy a good night’s sleep.

That was clear.

It was something you couldn’t find online, appearing out of Sohee’s possession.

Sohee started to unwrap the packaging of the box as if she were going to light the candle.

But was it really time to light the candle already?

It was still too early to be going to sleep.

“Sohee.”

“Yeah?”

“Isn’t it better to light it when we’re about to sleep?”

Sohee finally turned her head at my words.

She looked at the terrace visible beyond the room’s window.

The bright sun was shining, marking that it was still daytime.

Sohee stared at it blankly, her mouth slightly agape.

It seemed she was mistaking the time for evening.

“You have quite a while till dinner.”

“Well, but… I could take a nap… Yeah, I could take a nap.”

“A nap? I don’t want to sleep right now!”

Since we were already here.

And with friends, no less.

I shrugged and smiled lightly at Sohee.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“I’m not tired.”

She wasn’t tired. That made sense, since I didn’t play in the match today.

But even if she had played, I didn’t think she would be exhausted.

With her overwhelming talent and skill, the match would’ve ended in less than five seconds.

“Ellie and Seongsin might be tired, though…”

“Yeah… That could be true. I’ll go ask.”

“Wait, hold on!”

“Why?”

“I’m… I’m tired too.”

“Oh really? Then just sleep.”

Being tired is too bad, but what can you do?

I nodded at Sohee and turned my body.

I was going to call Ellie and Seongsin in the next room.

Then it happened.

Sohee, standing beside the bed, hurriedly blocked my way.

A huge chest filled my field of vision.

I swallowed hard, trying to gauge Sohee’s expression.

Her desperate look, with slightly unfocused eyes, was directed at me.

She really did look tired.

I looked at Sohee with concern and said,

“Isn’t it better to sleep?”

“I will…”

“Then go ahead and sleep.”

“But…”

If you’re tired, just sleep.

What’s the problem?

I stepped back and crossed my arms, waiting for Sohee’s response.

After a long hesitation, Sohee finally spoke.

“Sleep… with me…”

Sleep together?

Sohee’s unexpected request.

Was she scared of sleeping alone?

Or maybe it was fear of being left alone in this unfamiliar space.

Really… seeing her like this makes her seem quite childish.

I smiled brightly and nodded.

“I’ll sleep with you.”

“R-really…? You’re not lying, right?”

“Have you ever seen me lie?”

My answer seemed to satisfy her.

Sohee’s slightly unfocused eyes curved into a lovely smile.

But I was worried. If I fell asleep now, how would I manage to sleep tonight?

I awkwardly smiled as I looked up at the towering chest approaching me.

“Uhh…”

Sohee came closer and hugged me tightly.

My entire face was buried in that large chest.

While I appreciated Sohee’s affection, sometimes her hugs felt like a life-threatening experience.

I turned my head to peek over the ample chest.

“Are we sleeping right now?”

“Yep!”

Well then…

I twisted my body, still wrapped up in Sohee’s embrace, and pulled out my phone from my pocket.

I had to at least let my companions know what I was getting up to.

I drafted a text to Ellie.

[I’ll take a little nap with Sohee. Don’t be surprised if you don’t hear from me, just have fun with Seongsin. Got it?]

Having drafted it, it sounded more like a message to a younger sibling than a friend.

Beep—!

“What’s that? Did you send a text?”

“Oh, I sent it to Ellie. I told her we’d be sleeping, so don’t be surprised if we don’t respond.”

“Mm…”

Sohee narrowed her eyes at my words.

She smiled brightly, as if it didn’t matter.

Then, she effortlessly picked me up!

Wow. How could such power come from such slender arms?

Even though I was a high school girl, there was no way I’d be light enough for Sohee to lift me so easily.

Or maybe…?

I wiggled my feet while still in Sohee’s arms.

My short legs didn’t touch the floor.

Carefully, I glanced at Sohee, trying to gauge her expression.

Could I be too heavy? Considering my usual lack of exercise, I might have gained some weight.

“Am I heavy or…?”

“Not at all. You’re as light as a feather.”

“Oh, phew…”

Good to know.

Feeling a bit uplifted, I couldn’t help but smile.

Sohee gently put me down on the bed and started preparing the incense she had brought.

She opened the cap of the burner and dropped the scented candle inside.

Even though it wasn’t lit yet, the rich aroma began to waft out, and my body responded immediately.

My arms and legs relaxed a little, and the tension in my face faded away.

“You said you weren’t sleepy, but your expression looks like you’re about to doze off, huh?”

Sohee teased, half-laughing as she prepared the incense.

I awkwardly chuckled and replied.

“It’s the scent I associate with sleep. Guess my body has conditioned itself.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yep, it’s a gift you gave me. I burn it every day without fail.”

Sohee beamed at my words.

Soon, she lit the incense, and white smoke began to rise.

The familiar aroma spread out comfortably.

It became impossible not to drift off.

I had barely been lying there for 5 minutes, and my mind was already languid.

“Hayun?”

“…”

“Hayun?”

“Yeah…”

“Good night.”

Right. Sleep well, Sohee.

The large chest next to my head felt just as soft as a pillow.