Chapter 1: The Bunny Blunder
Joon Woo shifted nervously outside Sooyeon's house, the morning sun casting long shadows across the quiet Seoul suburb. Cherry blossom petals drifted lazily onto the sidewalk, and the air carried the faint scent of dew and coffee from a nearby café. His phone glowed 7:40 AM—twenty minutes until school, and Sooyeon was nowhere in sight. He tugged at his crumpled school uniform, muttering, "Where is she? It takes exactly eighteen minutes to get to school, and she's always whining I make us late. Now she's the holdup!"
He glanced at her pastel-blue gate, picturing her bright smile. She texted me this morning: 'I'm going to school, don't be late!' So why isn't she here? His stomach twisted. Should I ask her parents? Nah, that'd be weird. 'Hey, where's your daughter?' Real smooth, Joon Woo. He sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets. I only drag myself to school for her. If Sooyeon's not there, what's the point?
Joon Woo's heart did that annoying flutter again. He'd been crushing on Sooyeon for nearly a year—her laugh, her habit of helping everyone, even the way she teased his messy hair. This is the year I confess, he thought, clenching his fists. Her family's pushing her to study abroad. If I don't tell her soon, she'll be gone forever. The thought made his chest tighten, a flicker of something desperate in his eyes before he shook it off. Just a few more minutes.
A soft rustle broke his trance. A fluffy white rabbit hopped out from behind Sooyeon's gate, its fur shimmering like fresh snow under the sunlight. Its big brown eyes locked onto Joon Woo's, and for a moment, they just stared, the morning breeze ruffling its ears.
"Whoa," Joon Woo breathed, his face lighting up. "You're a cute little fluffball, aren't you?" He crouched, grinning. "Where'd you come from, buddy? Sooyeon doesn't have a rabbit. She's got that yappy dog, Tommy, who barks like I'm a thief." A flicker of unease crossed his mind. No forests around here. No pet stores. So where's this rabbit from?
Inside the rabbit's mind, Sooyeon was fuming. This is NOT happening! she thought, her tiny paws trembling. I'm Sooyeon, you moron! I don't know how I turned into a rabbit, but you're just grinning like an idiot! She'd tried shouting at a jogger earlier, but all that came out were squeaks. Now, facing Joon Woo's goofy smile, she thumped her foot in frustration. The second I'm human, I'm decking him.
Joon Woo tilted his head, noticing the rabbit's twitching nose and narrowed eyes. "You look kinda mad. Hungry, maybe?" He rummaged in his pocket, pulling out a half-melted chocolate bar. "No carrots, but how about some chocolate, Fluffy Marshmallow?" He waved it, making kissy noises. "C'mere, you adorable bunny ball! Who's a good rabbit?"
Sooyeon's ears flattened. Fluffy Marshmallow? I'll kill him. She hopped closer, not for the chocolate, but because Joon Woo was her best shot at help. He's clueless, but he's not a stranger. Maybe he'll figure this out.
Joon Woo's grin widened. "That's it! I'm an animal whisperer!" He held out the chocolate, but the rabbit lunged and nipped his finger. "Ow! Pfft, that's nothing, you little biter!" he laughed, shaking his hand. Feisty little thing. He scooped her up gently, cradling her against his chest. "Where do you think you're going, Fluffy? You're coming with me. It's not safe with cars and Tommy roaming around."
Not safe? Sooyeon thought, her heart racing. Fine, I'll go with him. Better than getting run over. She squirmed but settled in his arms, her tail twitching.
Joon Woo glanced at Sooyeon's gate, a shadow crossing his face. She has to be okay. She's not gone yet. He pulled out his phone, dialing her number. Voicemail. His shoulders slumped. "Great. No answer. What's up with you, Sooyeon? You mad at me?" He looked at the rabbit, who glared back. No, you dolt, I'm right here, Sooyeon thought, wishing she could scream.
"Forget school," Joon Woo declared. "Let's get you safe, Fluffy." He carried her through narrow streets, past cramped apartments and flickering streetlights, to his small, rundown house. Weeds choked the front yard, and the paint peeled from the walls. "Welcome to my palace," he said, kicking open the door. "Mom's visiting Grandpa, so it's just us."
He set the rabbit on his unmade bed, surrounded by K-pop posters and a desk buried under manga and snack wrappers. "You didn't like chocolate, huh? Let's try something else." He dashed to the kitchen, returning with a carrot. Sooyeon stared at it, her stomach growling. I hate vegetables, she thought. But… why does that look so good? She hopped over and nibbled, the sweet crunch surprisingly delicious. Am I actually enjoying this? she thought, horrified, devouring it like she hadn't eaten in days.
Joon Woo plopped onto the bed, watching with a goofy smile. "Wow, you were starving. So cute when you eat." Sooyeon's ears twitched in annoyance. Stop staring like I'm a zoo exhibit! She wondered if pets felt this way under human gazes.
As she finished, Joon Woo reached to pet her. "Good bunny." Sooyeon growled—a tiny grrr—and bared her teeth. He yanked his hand back, laughing. "Okay, no petting! You're adorable even when you're mad." He leaned closer, eyes sparkling. "Time to name you, Fluffy. But first, are you a boy or a girl?"
Sooyeon panicked. Pervert! Don't you dare! She let out a squeak that sounded like a human scream: "Don't come near me!" Joon Woo froze, eyes wide. "Did you just talk?!" Sooyeon, just as shocked, shouted, "Stop yelling, you idiot!" Joon Woo kept screaming, "A talking rabbit!" until Sooyeon snapped, "Shut up already!"
He stopped, pinching himself. "Ow. Not a dream." His voice softened, a mix of confusion and recognition. "Wait… your voice sounds like Sooyeon's." Sooyeon's ears perked up. Finally, he gets it. She nodded, her brown eyes glaring. "Because I am Sooyeon, you moron."
Joon Woo's jaw dropped. "What?!" Sooyeon thumped her foot. "Stop shouting!" They both took a breath, calming down. "Okay," Joon Woo said, "so you're Sooyeon. But how'd you become a rabbit?"
Sooyeon's eyes welled up, her tiny body trembling. "I don't know," she squeaked, voice breaking. "I was waiting for you outside my house, then—poof!—I turned into this. I tried telling people, but no one understood me. Even Tommy, my dog, chased me like I was a stranger!" She let out a tiny sob, her ears drooping. "How could he do that to me?"
Joon Woo's heart melted, his eyes sparkling. She's so cute, even crying. He shook off the thought, a flicker of intensity in his gaze. She needs me now. "Don't cry," he said, forcing a smile. "Maybe you turned into a rabbit because you're too cute! Haha!" Sooyeon sobbed harder. Wrong move, he thought, rubbing his neck. "Okay, bad joke. Look, I'll help you turn human again. Promise."
Sooyeon sniffled. "Why can you understand me when no one else could?" Joon Woo frowned. "Beats me. Maybe we're just… connected?" His voice softened, a hint of something deeper—almost possessive—in his tone.
Before she could respond, a glowing blue screen materialized between them, its text pulsing with an eerie light. A snarky, mechanical voice echoed: "Joon Woo, agent of the quest. Sooyeon, bearer of enhanced potential. Quest 1: Restore Sooyeon's humanity. Enter the Beast Realms. Reward: Her human form and a brief return home. Failure: Eternal bunnyhood. Ready?"
Joon Woo's eyes widened, a grin spreading. "A System? Like in those isekai novels?" Sooyeon's ears twitched, confused. "A screen's in front of me, too. It says 'Perfect companion for Sooyeon' and something about missions. You see it, Joon Woo?" He nodded, a tear of joy slipping down his cheek. The System knows I'm perfect for her. His heart raced, a shadow of obsession in his smile. "Yeah, I see it."
The screen flashed again, the voice colder: "Teleportation in 10 seconds. Get ready." A countdown began—10, 9, 8… A glowing portal swirled open, its edges crackling with strange energy. Joon Woo scooped up Sooyeon, her tiny body trembling. "Guess we're in this together, Fluffy."
Sooyeon thumped her foot. Don't call me that. But as the countdown hit zero, the portal swallowed them, and the world went white.
Chapter end.