Chapter 515: Three-way Battle
Ever since Jang Chae-yeon left, I have no idea what she could have possibly said, but Manual kept staring at me intently and repeatedly blushing.
Finally, unable to hold back any longer, I asked her what she was so curious about, but Manual just evaded the question, mumbling without giving a proper answer.
But sometimes, the way she looked at me was so… impure that I was starting to get scared, wondering what on earth Jang Chae-yeon had told her.
Manual usually tells me everything, so what could she have heard that made her clamp her mouth shut like that and refuse to say a word?
I was so curious that I even messaged Jang Chae-yeon to ask, but she just sent back a few emoticons without any real answer.
Fine. Let's drop it. I'll just ask Song A-rin when she comes over later.
And so, the next day arrived.
Song A-rin only left a message saying she'd come in the evening, without any additional comments.
"So, Yu Daon in the morning, Jang Chae-yeon at lunch, and Song A-rin in the evening. Does that mean the other two are coming at dawn?"
"..."
Manual muttered under her breath, arms crossed.
"Nice, real nice."
"Does this really look nice to you?"
"It looks nice to me?"
She's clueless, utterly clueless.
Receiving emotions from others means, conversely, that I also have to respond to the emotions they give me.
Of course, I know that.
No one expects me to return their feelings.
Even so, maybe it's because I feel more at ease if I do return their feelings.
"..."
Hearing my answer, Manual pouted her lips.
"...I have a lot I could say... but still..."
"But still?"
"...But still, I guess that's just like you. So, it's nice."
When she's being this honest, I never know what to say.
"...Should I make you some food?"
"Won't that be uncomfortable for you?"
"What's there to be uncomfortable about?"
Jang Chae-yeon said that Manual mentioned wanting to eat a meal I cooked, so why not.
It's not like it's difficult.
Thinking that, I started making a meal for Manual.
Not that it compares to the meals Jang Chae-yeon makes.
But of course, Manual...
"...You're not going to throw up, are you?"
"It's delicious."
She was shoveling food into her mouth like a woman possessed.
Anyone seeing her would think she hadn't eaten for days. Even though Manual ate just fine yesterday without any issues.
"I'm glad you like it."
"The taste is important, but..."
Manual, who had practically buried her head in the bowl, looked up at me.
"What's more important is who made it."
"..."
"If it's food you made, I can eat anything."
"Should I make you some seasoned eggplant?"
"I'd rather not..."
She's got the taste buds of a child, completely.
But that thought was short-lived.
I looked at the clock.
Song A-rin will be here soon.
Looking at Manual, who was still face-down in her bowl, I repeated what I'd been earnestly telling her since morning.
"You got it, right? Don't pick a fight with Ms. A-rin. She's a good person."
"As long as she doesn't start with the rude comments first, I won't fight either."
"But Ms. A-rin will say something rude."
"Do you have absolutely no trust in her at all?"
It's not a lack of trust, but an absolute conviction.
An absolute belief that Song A-rin would definitely say something rude.
Thinking that, I finished feeding Manual.
"You're good at housework too?"
"Of course Manual includes how to do housework."
"Then can you cook too?"
"That's not included."
"You wrote down how to make braised beef short ribs in the manual last time."
"I could if I had to. But the pot is too heavy."
While doing the housework and waiting for Song A-rin,
A knocking sound came from the door.
"You got it, right? Absolutely-"
"I said I got it."
I gave Manual, who answered calmly, one last worried look before opening the door.
"Look at this, just look."
Song A-rin flipped her hair as she came inside.
"Doing the laundry together and everything. Are you going to set up a newlywed nest? Huh?"
"..."
I shot Manual a look telling her to absolutely keep her mouth shut. Manual pouted for a moment.
"And I heard those two bragged a lot yesterday."
Song A-rin let out a deep sigh and looked at me.
"The black-haired one was going on like she's the main character of a romance drama, and the white-haired one..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
As she said that, Manual and Song A-rin's eyes met for a moment. Both of their faces turned bright red, and they quickly looked away.
At this point, I'm really curious what kind of bomb Jang Chae-yeon dropped before leaving.
What kind of terrifying thing did she say?
"...Anyway."
Ahem. Song A-rin cleared her throat and looked at me.
"I came to see you too."
"I see."
"Can't you be a little nicer to me?"
"The others got similar answers. I can't show favoritism."
"At least if you'd said something, I wouldn't be so upset."
Song A-rin grumbled and plopped down onto the bed. Manual stared intently at her.
"What."
"That's Kim Jae-heon's bed."
"I know. So what?"
"It's not a place for you to lie down."
"It's not a place for you to lie down either, so why are you butting in so much?"
"..."
"..."
The two of them glared at each other again.
"Let's stop fighting, please."
Every time they meet Song A-rin, everyone just seems busy fighting.
At this point, there's no doubt Song A-rin is the problem.
But by the time I realized that, it was already too late.
"...Ahem."
Song A-rin cleared her throat, looked at me, and crossed her legs.
"What have you been up to lately?"
"What are we, people who haven't seen each other for months?"
"Even if it's only been three days since I've seen a face I see every day, it feels like a really long time! Time is relative, you know."
Song A-rin crossed her arms, went 'Hmph!', and turned her gaze away.
"What about the Troupe Master?"
"Don't even mention her. She lost one ring finger and is acting like she lost both arms, trying to just rest at home and do nothing."
"But she did lose a finger."
"When I see her slurping down ramen with her eyes rolling back in her head, she looks perfectly fine to me."
Grumbling, Song A-rin crossed her arms.
"She didn't come with you?"
"Are you crazy? What's in it for me to come with a woman like that?"
Song A-rin muttered as if it were absurd.
"I don't know. That, what's-her-name. The other version of the white-haired girl said she was coming to see you with her."
"This is the first I'm hearing of it."
"Guess she didn't tell you."
Where, exactly, are my own opinions and will in all of this?
Muttering calmly, Song A-rin looked at Manual again.
"But why is she hanging around here taking up space instead of staying in her book?"
"You could just live as a soul, but you're planted on that bed, aren't you?"
"I haven't forgotten that you used my life force? Soul? Something like that to use some strange ability."
"I haven't forgotten you throwing me and breaking the window either."
The two of them glared at each other as if they wanted to kill.
"Please stop fighting. I mean, you're going to be seeing each other for the rest of your lives anyway—"
I trailed off and closed my mouth.
Seeing each other for the rest of our lives?
Why am I saying such a dreadful thing?
Well, it's not dreadful, but it's a bit much. Sounds so self-important.
While I was lost in self-reproach,
"...Tch."
"How annoying."
The two of them turned their gazes away from each other and muttered as if displeased.
Did that work?
I couldn't tell whether I should be happy or sad about it.
"Anyway."
Song A-rin muttered, still with her arms crossed.
"Do you know why we've been taking turns visiting since last time?"
"...I don't."
"Right. I thought those two wouldn't have explained it to you. Scheming brats."
Song A-rin muttered and looked at me.
"As you probably know. You're ours now."
"..."
"And just so you know, there are no options."
I see.
"Anyway."
Song A-rin continued without uncrossing her arms.
"Based on big data analysis of what kind of human you are—how clueless and unnecessarily considerate you are—we concluded that if the three of us fought, you'd probably live and die as a lifelong bachelor."
"There's no way that would happen as long as I'm here."
Manual raised her hand and muttered as if it were absurd.
"..."
Song A-rin looked Manual up and down, snorted a laugh, and continued.
"Anyway."
"Did you just laugh at me? Can I kill you? I'll list you as a containment object in the Management Bureau database right now."
"So, we decided to join forces for now instead of checking each other, but it's hardly the best solution. It's just what we have to do."
"..."
"So."
Clap. She clapped her hands once.
"We decided to each have a day of personal time with you."
"Why? Why not just rotate me to a different house each day and use me as a daily substitute?"
"That was the first idea, but we unanimously concluded that you'd find it bothersome."
Giving an answer that made it unclear whether she was considering my human rights or not, Song A-rin spoke.
"And this feels like one of the few moments of personal time we'll get."
"..."
"...Just so you know, don't get the wrong idea. We're only doing this because we like you."
I'm not sure which part of that I'm supposed to get wrong.
That thought was also short-lived.
"So."
Song A-rin stood still and looked up at me.
"..."
"..."
For a moment, my eyes met Song A-rin's.
"What are you doing?"
"Huh?"
"No, I heard you did a 'po-'... no, a kiss with the black-haired one and the white-haired one!"
With her face bright red, Song A-rin stamped her foot.
"You have to do it for me too!"
"But I was the one who received it?"
"Hey! If the black-haired one got the first kiss and the white-haired one used tongue, then at the very least, you should let me be the first to receive one from you!"
Is that how it works?
Wait. Is that really correct?
"Hurry up!"
Song A-rin stamped her foot until tears started to well up in her eyes. In a panic, I bent down and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
"..."
"..."
Our eyes met for a moment.
"...I-I-I-I'm leaving!"
And with that, she ran out the door.
Well, she said they were going to meet amongst themselves for a day.
Thinking that, I watched the door through which Song A-rin had left.
"What kind of amazing gift are you planning to give me that you're wagging your tail like that?"
I pretended not to hear Manual's question and started cleaning the dishes.