"By any chance, are you free this weekend?"
A certain weekday.
Just as always, Choi Yu-ra stopped by the cafe and asked me that.
'Here it comes.'
Why would she ask if I was free on the weekend?
To invite me to church?
Or maybe some volunteer work?
I'm not oblivious—how could I not know what she was getting at?
'It's a date invite.'
Sure enough, Yu-ra smiled and suggested we hang out if I had no plans.
"I heard the weather's supposed to be nice this weekend. If it's okay with you, how about a walk?"
"Yeah? Hmm..."
I had to go to barista certification classes.
But skipping one day wouldn't hurt.
Right before I opened my mouth, I remembered that lewd dream where she appeared.
Was that why?
I unconsciously put some distance between us.
"Sorry. I have classes on the weekend."
"..."
Disappointment and despair.
The moment I saw her expression, something boiled up inside me.
'This feeling...'
Like I'd eaten a hundred sweet potatoes.
Utter frustration.
"Jun-hyuk?"
I knew exactly where this frustration was coming from.
"But could I think about it until tomorrow?"
"Huh? Sure!"
"And we're pretty close, right? But there's still stuff we don't know about each other. So, with that in mind..."
My thoughts weren't fully sorted yet, so I didn't give an answer right then.
Instead, I held out my smartphone to her.
"Could you give me your number?"
＊＊＊
The moment I got off work, I went into the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face.
My mind cleared up, but to firmly organize the realization I'd had today, I cast hypnosis on myself.
[I coldly observe my own actions from a third-person perspective.]
Suddenly, everything that had happened felt like reading a novel, like it was someone else's story.
After reviewing all my recent actions, I released the hypnosis.
"What the hell was I doing?"
And I clearly understood where that hundred-sweet-potato frustration had come from.
"Goddamn, what the fuck? I'm not some whiny kid—why was I being such a pussy?"
Sorry for comparing to webnovels again.
But as a webnovel fanatic in my past life, my actions had been those of a frustrating, pushover protagonist.
"You talk about adapting to this era's men and all that? Can't do anything about your tastes, huh?"
Whine whine, I don't want to go full cuck.
But I do like Yu-ra, so part of me wants to date her.
But what if I end up corrupted?
Still, maybe keep hanging out and see where it goes?
"You idiot."
Can't do this, can't do that cleanly either.
Just passively waiting for some event to push me along.
A total passive personality.
"Man's Pride? Screw that—what kind of Man's Pride is this indecisive bullshit where you can't even decide?"
If I wanted to uphold Man's Pride.
I'd have clearly sorted things out with Yu-ra, who might corrupt me into a cuck, and then find someone whose tastes match mine through the internet or blind dates or whatever.
"Looking at it objectively, I see the problem now."
The reason I hadn't was because dating Yu-ra, whose tastes didn't match mine, felt iffy.
But I didn't want to let go of this pretty, capable woman either.
And if I met someone whose tastes matched mine later, I'd ditch Yu-ra for her.
Classic fish tank management.
"And I think I know the solution too."
No need for all this complicated thinking.
Just date Yu-ra.
"You can figure it out while dating, right?"
Why judge her by your own standards?
Curious about her tastes? Then date her.
You get to know each other after dating.
Being lovers means two people from different lives learning about each other, fixing flaws, and adjusting.
"Don't judge if Yu-ra and I match until then."
If we mesh well, including in bed?
Keep dating.
If not, unfortunately?
Break up.
"We're not kindergarteners. Dating doesn't mean you have to marry."
Is someone gonna come from behind with a knife yelling, 'You dated! So you gotta marry!'?
Breaking up might hurt a bit, scare me a little, but that's natural.
"People get stronger through adversity—can't be scared of it when it comes."
It'll suck right after a breakup.
But if I get through it, I'll harden like ground after rain, more mature.
"And above all, why was I so scared of that sex taste thing?"
Having one taste locked in doesn't mean you have to stick to it forever.
If we're at the sex stage, we're in love, so we can agree on positions and plays and enjoy them.
Do the sex from my dream with Yu-ra once.
Next time, 'Yu-ra, I want to take the lead tonight,' and do it my way.
Not forcing one person's taste on the other.
Getting used to each other's tastes.
That's what normal lovers do.
"The cuck thing will work itself out somehow. Honestly, it felt good, so enjoy it when enjoying, and after, use hypnosis to not get too deep and avoid corruption."
They say nothing beats self-objectification for solving problems.
The issue tormenting me since the wet dream resolved in an instant.
"And it's thanks to Yu-ra too."
When I indirectly refused the date, her world-shattering expression.
Seeing that, wondering why my chest felt so tight—it was because I subconsciously realized it was fish tank management.
"If you realize your mistake."
Fixing it and acting is what a real man does.
I pressed the call button on Yu-ra's number saved in my phone.
She picked up before three rings.
-Jun-hyuk?
"Yu-ra, you asked if I was free this weekend?"
-Yes!
"I am. So..."
Is it weird for the guy to say it first?
The thought crossed my mind, but no more dodging.
"Let's go on a date."
Thud-!
I heard her tumble over the phone.
"Yu-ra?"
-Yes! Let's! Date!
Her frantic voice didn't match her usual mature woman vibe, and I chuckled softly.
＊＊＊
"Jun-hyuk! Over here! Here!"
First date.
We'd agreed to meet at the park, and as I headed to the spot, a woman with red hair fluttering in the breeze waved at me.
"Yu-ra?"
"Yeah. It's me."
Maybe not wanting interruptions from strangers on our first date.
She was wearing that perception-blurring artifact I'd seen before.
Would this even count as a proper date...?
"Try wearing this."
She gave me a silver bracelet like the one on her arm.
Suddenly, as if it had never happened, Yu-ra's face came into sharp focus.
"It's an illusion-type artifact made by our guild. Perception interference doesn't apply to people wearing the matching one."
"Ah, cool."
"So, shall we... take a walk first?"
Yu-ra held out her hand to me.
Pretty bold for a first date, but now it felt like a real date.
'It's only the first date, but it already feels like we're a couple.'
A few other couples were strolling the park like us.
That just amplified the feeling.
"Jun-hyuk, I prepared something special this time. Want to check it out together?"
"Prepared?"
"Yeah. It'll be fun."
As expected of this era's women, she had a date plan ready.
What had she prepared?
Following her out of the park, a large building came into view after a short walk.
[Gate War History Museum]
"What do you think? It's super interesting, and luckily, hardly any reservations."
Hmm.
Gate War History Museum for a first date...
In my past life terms, like taking a girl you're seeing to the Korean War Museum.
War museums are for remembering history and honoring the heroes who protected the country.
But as a date spot? Kinda off.
"Yeah, looks fun."
"Right? Let's go in!"
I'd wanted to become a hunter, but honestly, not big on history.
Still, maybe it'd be fun approaching it with a learning mindset...?
"Wow! It's a model of one of the early gates that appeared! They say gates like this don't show up anymore. So cool!"
"Hmm."
"Look at that! It's an illusion reenactment of the battle when Belluga, the first S-Rank humanoid monster, crossed through a gate!"
"Yeah."
Honestly, boring.
But watching Yu-ra geek out like a kid was fun.
Especially when I'd pretend to be interested, and she'd excitedly explain on her own.
"Gungnir? Like the one from mythology?"
"Oh! You know Gungnir! Yes! Exactly! Gungnir, named after the myth! The exclusive artifact used by Erwin Charlotte, Europe's first S-Rank Awakener and Hunter. Among all existing artifacts, it has the highest output, but due to the recoil from that power, it hasn't found a new owner since Charlotte and is still stored in the European Union's warehouse..."
Just like this.
One moment shy like a teenage boy.
Next, mature like someone her age.
And now, purely excited like a kid over something she loves.
'Fun.'
So multifaceted it was enjoyable just watching.
And once again, I realized how stupid I'd been judging people by one side in the past.
"Had fun today."
"Good. I was worried you'd be bored."
Date over, Yu-ra drove me home.
We arrived, but she lingered, reluctant to part.
"If it's okay, could we do something like today again sometime?"
"Sure."
No hesitation in my answer.
Her excited expression from today faded, replaced by one like she was proud of a child.
"Promise?"
Yu-ra hugged me.
Her embrace was soft and warm, filling my lungs with sweet scent, and I relaxed into it without thinking.
"Yeah. Promise."
"Hee hee. You better."
She stroked my head a few times like that, then waved and left.
Feeling the ticklish warmth on my scalp, I waved until she was out of sight.
'This'll happen soon.'
How to proceed?
A few more dates and drop the formal speech?
Sex after that?
Imagining the future, I opened the door.
"You're back?"
A voice from inside the house that should have been empty.
"Sleep well."
Hiss-!
Before I could react, an unknown liquid sprayed my face like from a mister.
Drowsiness hit me all at once.
Couldn't hold my body up.
'Huh?'
My mind...
＊＊＊
"!?"
My head throbbed like it would split.
Not sleepy from oversleeping, but a headache pounding in my eyeballs, keeping me from coming to.
'What happened?'
I remembered coming home.
And then...
'Where am I?'
My body was bound.
Sat in a chair, arms and torso tied, legs too.
Dim fluorescent light.
Room full of computers and monitors, but no one else besides me.
"You're awake?"
No, there was someone.
Familiar voice from behind.
The unidentified one from right before I passed out.
"Woke up faster than expected?"
The owner stepped in front of me.
Tall and slender, maybe 180cm.
Short bob cut, blonde like a foreigner.
Tanned, healthy bronze skin.
And thug-like outfit showing off her defined eleven-pack abs.
"No grudge against you."
The woman with fierce cat-like eyes set up a tripod and camera.
"Just bad luck, sweetie. If dating that bitch is a crime, then that's yours."
That look.
This situation.
It felt familiar somehow.
"Now then..."
Huh?
No way, this is...?
"Shall we start with introductions?"
Fuck?