My Japanese Childhood Friend Is Too Flirty

63. August, as time passes, growing bolder…. My childhood friend. (3)

Roughly a week later, it’s time for 4th period – PE.

We were taking a break after a basketball game when a message popped up from Aki.

The message read: [The maid outfit I ordered last time is arriving via 택배 today. I think it’ll probably be there when you get home after school!]

“Oh…”

It would take a week because it’s overseas delivery, and it really did take exactly that long.

After checking Aki’s message, I clenched my fist in secret. The anticipation and excitement, the expectations arising from knowing I’d soon see Aki in her maid outfit, surged like dopamine.

“I wish school would end already…”

“Yeah, me too.”

“…Ah, you startled me.”

Surprised by the sudden female voice, I spun around. An unexpected person stood behind me.

Ham Ji-eun.

A girl in my class, and a veritable influencer with 300,000 subscribers now, ever since that cosmetics ad we filmed together hit the YouTube algorithm.

People around her keep saying she should drop out of school and just focus on YouTube, but she steadily keeps coming to school, and she held two cans of drink in her hand.

“Here, drink up.”

Ham Ji-eun shook the cans in her hand.

The aluminum can had the brand name ‘Sol’s Eye’ written on the surface.

She really must like this drink…

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“Why? Don’t you want to drink it?”

“Well, it’s not that…”

I didn’t really want to, but she was offering it as a kindness. So, accepting it, I tossed out a joke.

“You’re not trying to settle things for appearing in that broadcast back then with this, are you? You said you’d repay me later, separately.”

At that, Ham Ji-eun chuckled, popped open the can of drink for herself, and sat down a little ways away from me.

“What nonsense is that? Of course not. Actually, I came specifically to talk to you about that.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“Woojoo, have you ever considered joining our agency and starting a YouTube channel?”

“YouTube? Out of the blue?”

“Yeah, my manager said it. He said it’s a real shame to let you be, that if we worked at it properly, you’d easily rack up hundreds of thousands of subscribers.”

“I don’t know. I’ve never thought about anything like that…”

*Tsssk.*

I popped open the can of drink and took a sip.

The unique, subtle sweetness of Pine Bud Dew flowed down my throat, and an indescribable feeling washed over me, making me unconsciously furrow my brow slightly.

“…Wow.”

Ham Ji-eun glanced at me, impressed.

“See? That’s why my subscribers keep asking if they can’t have you on…”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Basically, my subscribers, and the ones who came in from the makeup ad video we did last time, keep commenting, asking if you can be on the video or a live stream. They just want to see you one more time.”

“What good is my face to those people?”

It was the first time in my life I’d been on anything like that, I couldn’t even speak properly, and I couldn’t even follow the script.

Utterly confused, I tilted my head, and Ham Ji-eun snickered as if to say, “You don’t even know?”

“It’s not that you *can* become something if you appear, it’s that they want you to appear *because* you’re handsome. Apparently, just looking at someone good-looking makes people feel good.”

“What’s with the sudden compliment? It’s not like I can do anything for you in return.”

“It’s not a compliment, just stating a fact? One hundred percent objectively.”

*Glug.*

Ham Ji-eun emptied her can in one go.

“Anyway, me telling you to come to our agency and do YouTube isn’t a joke, so think it over carefully. My manager said if it’s you, the company will do everything they can. Here.”

“What’s this?”

“My business card, newly minted. My manager’s number is written down at the bottom. If you ever feel like doing YouTube, or if you’re curious about anything, contact them. They said they’d welcome your call anytime, even in their sleep.”

Wow, am I really that something…

Even as I questioned my own worth, I took it anyway, since she was offering, and tucked it into my wallet.

“I thought that was the end of it after I turned down the couple modelling gig, but I guess not?”

“That and this are separate, right?”

“Ah. I see…”

“Say, but why’d you turn that down? If the two of you went on TV and did a bunch of things, you’d have gotten, like, a hundred or two in basic pay and incentives per person.”

“Erm, well…”

Like Ham Ji-eun said, a hundred or two for a single TV appearance, you could close your eyes and try being a commercial model.

But, Aki drew a firm line, saying she wasn’t interested in that sort of thing.

Back then, I didn’t quite understand Aki’s decision…

But now, I think I might.

Since her family home is so grand, there’s no need to bother with TV shows or cosmetic commercials, just for a bit of extra cash when she has no interest in them.

That thought reaching me, I fretted over how to explain this.

“Well, there’s no real big reason… I guess she was uncomfortable showing her face. She said, not wanting to do it, that showing her face makes her a little uneasy.”

I just mumbled vaguely.

“Really? That’s a shame. She’s pretty, so if she did modeling with you, it would’ve been a hit.”

“Yeah, I know. Aki’s super pretty….”

“…Pfft.”

“What?”

“No, it’s just funny. You were lukewarm when I said you were handsome, but you’re right on board praising your girlfriend.”

“……”

Huh, did I do that?

It was a gut reaction, so I don’t quite remember.

I scratched my cheek sheepishly, and Ham Ji-eun, as if finding me amusing, giggled and subtly changed the subject.

“Speaking of which, are you and her childhood friends? How long have you been dating? Who confessed first?”

“We are childhood friends, but we’re not dating. And no confession….”

It’s a ridiculous thing to say, even to my own ears.

Truly a ridiculous thing to say.

Aki and I have k*ssed, traveled together, and slept together, but we’re not officially dating.

Of course, practically speaking, it’s not much different from dating… But still, strictly speaking, we aren’t. Strictly speaking.

“Come on, no way. You two make it so obvious you like each other, you’re not dating? Are you just saying no because you’re embarrassed?”

“No, really…”

“Really for real? Should I go ask your girlfriend directly? ‘Your boyfriend said you two aren’t dating, is that really true?’, huh?”

“……”

“See, it’s a lie, isn’t it?”

“…Yeah, it’s a lie.”

“Heh. Figures.”

Ham Ji-eun, pleased as punch that her hunch was right on the money, puffed out her chest, beaming.

I set down my half-finished Pine Bud Drink, lips puckering.

“So, is that all the questions?”

“Not yet. What are you two doing after graduation?”

“After graduation, well… We’ll go to whatever university fits our scores from senior year? It’s not like Akina or I have bad grades now, so if we can go to the same university, great, and if not, too bad…”

“Yeah, you’re both good at studying, so of course you’ll go to university. But that’s not what I’m asking!”

“Then what is it?”

“Let’s say you both get into the same university. But it’s too far to commute. Then you’d get a place, right? So, would you two live together?”

“I haven’t really thought that far ahead…”

“If you haven’t thought about it, then think about it now. What would you do? Huh? Huh?”

As if proving with her entire being that the most entertaining thing in the world is someone else’s love life, Ham Ji-eun tilted forward, eyes sparkling like stars.

Under that burdensome gaze, I pondered for a moment.

If Akina and I went to the same university, and it was deemed too far to commute, so getting a place was better…

What should I do then?

Live alone? Or live together, like Ham Ji-eun was saying?

“…”

“Oh? Your face is red.”

“Whatever…”

It’s red because I just finished playing basketball, and she’s smearing me with weird stuff.

Feeling unnecessarily hot, I gulped down the Pine Bud Drink and wiped my mouth, as if nothing had happened.

“…I’ll figure it out myself.”

“Figure it out yourself? What does that mean? Gasp, does that mean you’ll figure out how to live together…?”

“No, that’s not what I mean…. Ugh, never mind.”

Even just looking at Ham Ji-eun’s expression, I could sense her intention to tease me was abundant.

I waved my hand dismissively, as if I had nothing more to say, and Ham Ji-eun, grinning like a mischievous imp, crept closer.

“Hey, it’s not like I’m asking this for no reason. I overheard something, so I’m asking because I’m worried about you, okay?”

“What kind of worry would make you ask something like that…?”

“No, think about it. You’re going to meet tons of people when you go to university, right? That will definitely include girls, yeah? Half the world is women, after all.”

“Well, I guess so…”

“Yeah, but do you really think those girls will just leave you alone?”

“They will… because of Aki.”

“Aish, this kid is so naive. What’s so wrong with having a girlfriend?”

Ham Ji-eun clicked her tongue.

“When girls see a really handsome guy, they don’t care if he has a girlfriend. How many are okay with being the second, third, or even more?”

“Isn’t that a bit much…?”

“A bit much? Didn’t you see that 1-to-6 harem incident a while ago? There were reviews and proof shots plastered everywhere, do you think it was all fake?”

“……No.”

“Right now, all the students at our school know that you and your girlfriend are super lovey-dovey, so it’s fine. But, will it really be the same when you go to university…?!”

“What are you trying to say…?”

“What else? When you go to university, a ton of girls will be fawning over you, so keep your wits about you!”

“Don’t worry, I’m already keeping my wits about me…”

Aki’s advances are getting bolder and bolder, so if I don’t stay sharp, I’ll fall for it. My mind is sharper than ever.

“Seeing you, I suddenly thought of a line from a poem.”

“What is it?”

“Ah, how can a mere human stop the natural flow from above to below?”

“……”

What is she even saying.

I flicked Ham Ji-eun on the forehead.

We used to be awkward with each other, but after becoming friends with Kim Seung-woo and her working as a commercial model for the broadcast, we became close and now it’s possible to act so freely.

“Ow! Hey, why did you hit me?!”

“Why do you think? Because you keep talking nonsense.”

“Tsk, you! I’m going to tell my manager everything! Tell them not to treat you well even if you join our company later…!”

“……Want another one?”

“Ahhh, no! I’m sorry…!”

I feigned a flick at her forehead to threaten her. At that moment, *vvvrrr*.

The phone I had in my pocket vibrated.

I took it out and checked it, it was a message. The sender was Aki.

[Uju-chan, can I come over to your house around 7 pm tonight?]

“Huh? Who’s that? Your girlfriend?”

I pretended not to hear Ham Ji-eun’s words as she craned her neck.

I tapped out a reply on my phone.

[Yeah, it’s fine. I’ll clean the house before you come.]

[Okay, I’ll see you then. Oh, but don’t clean the house!]

[Why?]

[Because your personal Uju-chan-exclusive maid will come and do the housework for you ♡]

“……Uh.”

For a moment, I s*cked in a breath.

That’s because those words…

“Ooh, your face is red again!”

“……”

I flicked my own forehead.