Survive! Foolish Bottom!

 

Haeun scoffed in disbelief, a sound that was surprisingly weak considering his feelings, and Junwoo pretended not to hear as he headed toward the kitchen.  

 

“Aren’t you going to have breakfast?”  

 

It was unusual for Junwoo to ask something like that; it didn’t seem like him at all. His stomach had been growling for a while, but there wasn’t anything edible in the dorm.  

 

“Healthy grain cereal is just fu..… too bland.”  

 『“Pro idols don’t curse and then try to change their words! (｀Д´)』   

Once again, he swallowed the swear word that had been on the tip of his tongue. This time, though, it seemed a little too obvious. Following the system’s warning, Junwoo, who had been rummaging through the shelf, casually asked.

 

“Hyung, do you curse too?”  

 

“…No? What kind of curse would I say?”  

 

Haeun replied shamelessly. Based on his original self, he was someone who couldn’t speak without swearing in this day and age, but Idol Park Haeun was more of a saint who couldn’t even say anything rude.  

 

“You’ve been trying to curse since earlier and then changing the subject.”  

 

“That must have been a misunderstanding.”  

 

“Let’s say that’s true. But it really looks like we only have healthy grain cereal here.”  

 

Junwoo quickly changed the subject, seemingly uninterested. Haeun nodded vigorously in agreement.  

 

“Exactly! How are we supposed to live on that?”  

 

Since their activities were over and Ilhyun wasn’t around to nag them, couldn’t they just order delivery? With that thought in mind, Haeun tried to gauge the situation to bring up the idea. After a moment of contemplation, Junwoo casually opened his mouth.

 

“Then let’s go out to eat.”  

 

***

 

“You actually came.”

 

Haeun said, looking around in amazement. Junwoo replied while sipping water.

 

“Was I supposed to come out as a fake?”  

 

“You always have to say something like that.”

  

Haeun teased, but there was no crack in Junwoo’s facade. As he took a sip of water after him, she continued.

 

“I thought you might be the kind of person to say I should go eat by myself.”  

 

“They only take reservations for two here.”  

 

The two of them had arrived at a traditional Korean restaurant close to their dorm. When Junwoo asked what they would eat, Haeun replied that anything was fine as long as it wasn’t healthy grain cereal. When she asked if he liked traditional meals, Junwoo vaguely said it was nice to have a reserved seat.  

 

Surely, regardless of their popularity, celebrities would find it more comfortable to eat in a reserved room like this. The antique pottery and decorative items next to them, along with the elegant hanging scrolls with beautiful calligraphy, seemed rather out of place for someone in their early twenties like Stone Cherry.  

 

Anyway, if Junwoo liked places like this, he must have needed someone to accompany him. But Junwoo was acting friendly on the outside, so he should have had at least more friends than Seongjae. Even someone like Seongjae, who struggled with social interactions, had gone out for some plans alone today, so it seemed unlikely that Junwoo had brought Haeun along just for that reason.  

 

“It seems like you really can’t understand jokes.”

  

Junwoo said with a smile. Haeun was left dumbfounded, replaying what he had just said in his mind. It was frustrating that he had the talent to make a joke seem like a statement, and even after hearing it, he couldn’t tell which part was supposed to be funny.  

 

“You were joking? Then does that mean reservations can be made alone?”  

 

Feigning ignorance, Haeun asked, and Junwoo made a face that seemed to mock him, narrowing his eyes while still smiling. 

 

Haeun shrugged and added,  “Otherwise, why did you bring me along?”  

 

Junwoo replied with a grumpy expression.

 

“What do you think?”

 

“It’s nothing special but why are you suddenly lowering your voice like that?”  

 

Haeun grumbled. Junwoo’s smile faltered slightly, perhaps due to his unexpectedly calm reaction. 

 

“There is no other reasons, but your reaction is just too boring. I’m wondering if I need to come up with a new reason.”  

 

“Sorry for being boring, then.”  

 

Haeun replied in a flat tone again. To be honest, he felt drained, likely due to his hunger. As he observed Haeun’s face, Junwoo continued to explain nonchalantly.

 

“Well, it’s not really anything special. If I go out alone, you’ll just be at home rolling around, and when the others come in, they’ll ask me why I left you alone in your room, and I’ll get scolded too.”  

 

At his words, Haeun, who had been resting his head on the table because of his hunger, lifted his gaze slightly. When their eyes met, Junwoo asked, ‘Why?’ with his unwavering expression, 

 

Haeun asked back in a soft tone.

 

“You don’t treat the other members like this?”  

 

“What do you mean by ‘like this’?” 

 

He didn’t answer right away, as expected. Haeun had already sensed that Junwoo was particularly picky when it came to her but acted all sweet and friendly toward everyone else. Even in the game, he’d been snappy with him, but his favotibility had risen quickly, and he hadn’t been this annoying before.  

 

“I mean, it’s obvious. Something like this.” He had to dance around the words because he couldn’t outright say, ‘You being a real jerk.’ 

 

Junwoo shot back with a cold and firm response.

 

“Well, it’s all about interpretation. If you can make it fit somehow, it’s just fine.”  

 

“Exactly! That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”

 

Haeun snapped his fingers, or rather, he attempted to. It seemed that in Park Ha’s body, he couldn’t even manage a proper finger snap. After trying to snap his fingers a couple more times to make a sound, Haeun eventually gave up and lowered his hands under the table.

 

Junwoo made an openly mocking expression before answering calmly, “I don’t consciously treat you any differently.”

 

“Then are you unconsciously discriminating against me?”  

 

“Discrimination? That’s going too far.”

 

At that moment, the door opened, and a staff member entered. Haeun’s eyes lit up as he looked down at the food placed on the table. He felt relieved that he didn’t have to respond right away in this situation.

 

After the staff finished serving and left, Junwoo, who had seemed to be deep in thought, spoke again.  

 

“Don’t you think comfort and familiarity are somewhat different?”  

 

Haeun didn’t quite understand what he meant. He wasn’t someone who typically thought deeply about such topics. As he buried his face in the appetizers, Junwoo didn’t say anything further.

 

Junwoo wasn’t particularly talkative while eating. In fact, he was so quiet that it felt awkward. However, in the suffocating atmosphere, Haeun didn’t back down and continued to eat his meal enthusiastically. Junwoo, while not eating as passionately as Haeun, didn’t eat slowly either, so they finished their meal in a reasonable amount of time.

 

Usually, when Haeun went out to eat with friends, paying the bill was his responsibility. However, the wallet he had now wasn’t Park Haeun’s original one but that of Mangdol Park Ha. 

 

He remembered being shocked the first time he checked Park Ha’s balance after entering this body, as the amount was disappointingly low. Moreover, since it wasn’t time to settle the accounts yet, paying at such a fancy restaurant felt burdensome. On the other hand, he didn’t want to let pride get in the way of being treated to a meal.  

 

“I―”

 

As Haeun was about to say, “I’ll send you the money later,” Junwoo interrupted him.  

 

“I’ll pay since I brought you here.”  

 

It seemed that Junwoo had enough money, probably because he was a celebrity. Then again, Park Haeun was a celebrity too, so that thought was a bit odd. Still, good is good, and despite feeling a bit uneasy, he didn’t argue further.  

 

As they opened the restaurant door to leave, Haeun asked, “Are you heading back to the dorm? Or to the practice room?”  

 

Even though he asked the question, he really didn’t think of any other answer. Normally, Haeun felt like going to the practice room when Junwoo went to the dorm and vice versa. However, today he had been treated to a meal, so it wouldn’t be too bad to hang out together.  

 

But Junwoo shook his head, as if it were obvious, and replied, “No. You go in first.”  

 

“You have somewhere to go?”  

 

Haeun asked, surprised by his answer. Was it really possible that everyone except Park Ha had plans on such a rare day off? Of course, it was strange for Park Haeun, who had been dragged around by the system since entering this game, to have many plans on a day off. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the members were being unreasonable.  

 

Just as he turned his head to ask, Haeun’s foot caught on a stone at his feet. It was an unfortunate mishap that would likely result in her falling backward and hitting her nose. 

 

“Ouch!” He exclaimed, instinctively making a familiar sound as he stumbled. Junwoo quickly caught him.  

 

“Be careful.”  

 

“Ah, thanks.”  

 

“Even though it’s a break, it doesn’t mean there’s no schedule at all. It would be troublesome if you broke your nose.”  

 

“Seriously… you’re so annoying even after helping me…”  

 

Haeun grumbled, and Junwoo’s hand quickly dropped away as if he had grabbed something that shouldn’t have been held. It was a talent of his to receive a bad reputation even after helping someone.  

 『‘Junwoo’s favoribility has increased by 2!’』 

In the midst of all this, it was an unexpected gain. Today was unusually free of any deductions from her affection points, and now they had actually increased. Haeun wondered what point he had suddenly found endearing. When he turned to look at Junwoo, he had a subtle expression on his face as he faced him. Haeun decided to ask again, hoping he might answer since his favoribility had just risen.  

 

“Where are you going?”  

 

But as he was about to ask, he suddenly felt a tickle in his nose. He sneezed uncontrollably.

 

“Achoo!”  

 

The unexpected sound made him freeze for a moment. Junwoo, who had been looking at him in surprise, cautiously asked, “Do you make that sneezing sound on purpose?”

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