Looking back now, as is often the case with these things, the catalyst itself was incredibly trivial.
It was right when we had just arrived at the Shopping Center and were gathering items we thought would be necessary for the party.
I had expected that since everyone's personalities were so different, their shopping styles would naturally differ as well, and I was fully prepared to deal with the difficulties that might arise from those differences.
Contrary to my expectations, though, while there were minor disagreements here and there, nothing major had surfaced.
So I thought things would continue smoothly, but...
"Come to think of it, Do-geon, aren't you interested in clothes?"
Perhaps she didn't like the peaceful atmosphere?
That one question from Bora's mouth instantly flipped the relatively calm mood.
Foolishly, I didn't notice what was happening at that moment.
"Huh? Why do you ask that all of a sudden?"
I couldn't help it—I was so busy answering the unexpected question that I had no attention to spare for anything else.
"Well... it's nothing really... but you helped me a lot when I was preparing for the contest."
Did I?
That's what Bora said, but honestly, I wasn't sure if what I'd done had actually helped her creative work.
I couldn't be certain because while I enjoy reading manhwa, I'm not an expert.
And obviously, enjoying manhwa and knowing about manhwa are clearly different things.
Given that reality, all I could offer Bora was amateur-level feedback at best.
Even that was hard to be confident in since my tastes differ quite a bit from what's popular in this world.
"Ah, well..."
So when Bora's words reached my ears, I couldn't help but mumble my response... but I decided not to think too deeply about it.
After all, if she said so, then it must be true, right?
So I just nodded vaguely, and it seemed like she had been waiting for my reaction.
Bora's slightly nervous face suddenly brightened, and she immediately continued.
"So I was thinking...! As a thank you, I'd like to buy you some clothes... would that be okay...?"
"...Right now?"
"Y-yes..."
To be completely honest, I didn't really mind.
I didn't mind, but... as I was about to nod, I became conscious of the other three people.
So I hesitated slightly, and then...
"This works out perfectly. I've been wanting to thank Do-geon for something too."
I don't know when she had come over, but Senior, who I had last seen examining small light bulbs one by one from a distance, naturally slipped in between Bora and me.
"I can just buy mine along with yours. Right?"
And that was just the beginning.
With Senior smoothly joining Bora and me like that, Yoon-seo, who secretly considered Senior her rival, must have decided she couldn't just stand by.
"Hey, what are you three talking about?"
With a grumbling voice that seemed to demand why she was being left out, Yoon-seo joined us.
The next to join was none other than Chae-rim.
And once all four women shopping with me gathered in one place, the atmosphere began to shift in a strange direction.
Just a moment ago, everyone seemed focused on thinking about "what items we need to make the party more fun."
But somehow, that atmosphere had completely evaporated, replaced by one that seemed to ask, "What style would look best on Do-geon?"
Maybe that's why.
From that exact moment, I could feel an indescribable sense of foreboding crawling up my spine.
It was roughly like... someone whispering in my ear, "You're doomed now."
"Um, we came here today to buy things for the party, right? So shouldn't we focus on that first...?"
So I tried to prevent the situation from continuing in this direction by presenting what I thought was a reasonable argument, but...
"Why can't we do both?"
My attempt was completely shattered as soon as Chae-rim stepped forward.
And that casual remark from Chae-rim?
Surprisingly, it achieved complete unity among the women.
"Yes, that would work."
The first to agree with Chae-rim's plan was none other than Senior.
"But... will it be okay? Most stores will probably be closed by the time we finish buying things for the party..."
Following Senior, Bora expressed some mild concern.
"If you're that worried, let's just finish this quickly first."
As if responding to Bora's comment, Yoon-seo's words seemed to ignite a fire among the women.
If my memory serves me right, until now, whenever we bought something, we would discuss whether it was right or if something else might be better, but now that process had vanished without a trace.
Thanks to that, the items that were still on the checklist I had prepared just in case began to be deleted at an incredible speed, incomparable to anything we'd seen so far.
Perhaps because I witnessed this amazing sight with my own eyes.
*Wait... if they could do this all along, why until now...*
That thought naturally came to mind, but I didn't voice it out loud.
It wouldn't change anything anyway, so why create unnecessary trouble?
*But wait a minute...*
Does this mean I really have to... go shopping?
With these four?
Perhaps because I harbored such thoughts in my mind.
I suddenly felt as bleak as a new private who had just been assigned to a unit and was getting to know the senior soldiers he'd be living with.
I couldn't help it.
I couldn't help it because, to be precise, what we had been doing until now was shopping but not really "shopping."
True "shopping" inevitably involves a very annoying and cumbersome process.
Especially if it's for clothes... there's no need to even mention it.
And now, the women joining the shopping aren't just one or two, but four?
And they're only buying things for me?
*Wow...*
Just imagining it made me want to escape already.
But I couldn't show it because they were all doing this to thank me.
So what could I do?
I had no choice but to close my eyes and accept my fate.
And the moment of destiny arrived much faster than I had anticipated.
"I think we've bought pretty much everything we need... should we put these in the car first?"
"Let me carry them."
"No, Do-geon, you take a break, even if just for a moment."
"But still..."
"You've been working hard pulling the cart around, haven't you?"
Was it just my imagination that Chae-rim's words sounded like, "You'll work even harder from now on, so rest while you can"?
I hope it was...
*But, but we agreed to buy just one item each...*
So that's just four items in total, right?
So it shouldn't take that long.
...Probably.
I was in the middle of desperately trying to convince myself of this happy scenario while sitting in the lounge with Yoon-seo and Bora.
Chae-rim and Senior, who had briefly left to put the luggage in the car, rejoined us.
"Well then, shall we go?"
And as soon as the five of us gathered again, it was none other than Chae-rim who took the lead.
"Which floor has the men's clothing section?"
"I saw earlier that they're mostly on the 5th floor."
"Really? Then let's go to the 5th floor first."
With Chae-rim's voice, which somehow seemed a bit excited, the real "shopping" began...
"Bora was the first one to bring this up, right? Then let's have Bora choose first."
And so, as shopping began, the first batter naturally became Bora, who had mentioned it before anyone else.