Chapter 29: Go cook.

I, who had been diligently explaining about pain receptors.

‘…I give up.’
In the end, I completely gave up on making the Japanese Angel understand.

From the start, I lacked the knowledge or eloquence to make the Japanese Angel understand something she had never experienced.
Moreover, even I, who was explaining, was gradually becoming numb to such sensations.

What I had explained so far was simply memories from my past life.
Perhaps I was speaking based on fragments of what remained?
At this point, it was akin to relaying a story I had heard from someone else.

‘Well… maybe it’s natural that she doesn’t understand….’
For that reason, giving up on the topic of pain perception,
I decided to focus on jealousy itself again.

‘Hmm… but seriously, what should I actually do….’
I found myself pondering again, in a hopeless situation.

‘When did the Japanese Angel feel jealous again…?’
So, as a quick measure, I rummaged through my memories,
The first thing that came to mind was what happened recently on the uninhabited island.

It was the reason I fought with the Japanese Angel there.

‘At that time, she definitely seemed jealous because… I was taking care of other people….’
Well, whether someone’s ability was stronger.
Or even if someone was shorter, she somehow got jealous.

‘Since that’s unavoidable, I’ll just pass on that for now….’
The least I could do to help the Japanese Angel was,
To dote on the Japanese Angel far more than others.

To be so good to the Japanese Angel that she would feel boredom,
Instead of jealousy, towards me.

‘Hmm… not bad?’
No matter how much she liked me, if I clung to her to the point of obsession, wouldn’t she eventually get bored?
After coming up with a plan, I felt a strong sense that it was quite good.

Once attention became boring,
Her obsession with other people would surely decrease.

Therefore, full of confidence, I asked Lee Hyejin.

“Is there a place I could go with the Japanese Angel… no, I mean, my, my sister…?”
“A place to go? There are many, but… do you have anything specific you’d like to do?”

Hmm… something I’d like to do?
Not really….

Even after tilting my head for a moment, nothing came to mind.
Since it was a schedule for the Japanese Angel anyway, I asked her directly.

“Sis… don’t you have anything you want to do?”
“Me!? I want to make food!”
“……?”

…Huh?
This is… a completely unexpected answer…?

Well, it wasn’t particularly strange.
Still, it was so unexpected that I was a little surprised and asked again.

“Uh… have you ever made anything…?”
“No!”

The Japanese Angel smiled confidently and cheerfully.
At her expression, I also smiled awkwardly and nodded.

“…O-okay? Well… that’s fine anyway.”
Since a course of action for the time being had already been decided.
And it wasn’t something that would bother others, so it seemed there would be nothing bad about it.

So, under Lee Hyejin’s lead, we immediately booked a cookie-making baking experience.
Then, suddenly feeling an emptiness, I asked.

“Hyejin, where did Kyutae go?”
“Oh, Senior went to inspect the Angel Church construction. He’ll be busy for a while, probably?”
“…Oh, really…?”

Ah, right. Come to think of it, that was a thing, wasn’t it?
I slept too deeply and completely forgot….

Suddenly, Hwang Gilsu’s sparkling eyes came to mind.
At that terrible sight, goosebumps ran all over my body, and I shivered.
I saw the Japanese Angel, who was holding me, looking at me quizzically.

‘Come to think of it, being popular isn’t necessarily always good….’
The sudden side effect of popularity came to mind.
While I was wondering whether I should explain this or not, Lee Hyejin suddenly spoke.

“But Angel…. Do you really need Senior when I’m here?”
“……?”

Huh…? What is this about?
As I tilted my head at the sudden, very out-of-the-blue remark, Lee Hyejin continued to speak.

“I’m a little disappointed…. Oh, not at you, Angel, of course. At myself. I never thought you’d look for Senior when I’m right here with you, no matter what….”
…What? No… I wasn’t looking for him, I just asked because I was curious….

“That must be proof that I’m not as good as Senior…. But what could it be…? What do you feel I lack compared to Senior, Angel? Come on, tell me without holding back! Please?”
…No, what’s wrong with this person all of a sudden?
The Japanese Angel is being quiet, so what happens if you get jealous…?

Feeling a little flustered, I stared intently at Lee Hyejin.

Nevertheless, she continued to mutter.
After a long time, she finally seemed to calm down and tilted her head.

“Huh…? Oh…? Uh… s-sorry, Angel. I said too many unnecessary things, didn’t I? Wh-why did I do that?”
Her reaction was as if she couldn’t understand herself.
It looked, at a glance, as if the Japanese Angel had somehow influenced her.

However, to talk more here,
Those watching through the cameras were too distracting.

Also, if I were to talk about uncertain information unnecessarily,
I was afraid it might create prejudice against the Japanese Angel, so I subtly changed the subject.

“That’s fine. More importantly, when are we leaving? I think it’s about time we went….”
“Right! Let’s go quickly~!”
“Oh, oh yes! Let’s go!”

And so, we followed Lee Hyejin out of the room.

Click.
“…Huh?”

This time, the Japanese officials and researchers were sprawled out in the hallway like seaweed.
Startled by this, I immediately asked Lee Hyejin.

“Uh…? Wh-what are these people?”
“These people? They say they can’t leave because the Japanese Angel hasn’t returned. Even though all the rooms were prepared for them, they’ve been doing this here every day.”
“……Oh?”

Oh, because the Japanese Angel hasn’t returned…?
Then… that’s because of me, isn’t it?

Knowing the reason, I felt a little sorry about the situation.

“Sh-shall we go…?”
I pretended not to see them and tugged on Lee Hyejin’s sleeve.

“A-Angels… it’s an honor to serve you!”
After arriving at the baking experience place near the lab by car,
A large male teacher, built like a bear, came out to greet us in front of the building and bowed.

“Wow, the Angels really do look alike, don’t they…?”
“The Japanese Angel is cute too….”

Amidst this, the murmurs of a crowd gathered nearby could also be heard.
And so, we instantly became the focus of many people’s attention as we moved to the second floor.

“Oh, Angel. The cookie making is scheduled to be broadcast, is that okay?”
Lee Hyejin asked while we were waiting for the elevator.

“B-broadcast…? I’ve never made cookies before?”
Well, in fact, it wasn’t just cookies that I was making for the first time.
Anyway, I was in a situation where I didn’t know what I would even create myself.

Because of that, I cautiously asked again, feeling worried.

“Don’t worry! Anyone who says strange things about it will all be thrown in jail!”
Lee Hyejin declared very resolutely.

For some reason, the baking teacher standing in front of us visibly flinched.
I figured he must have thought he needed to be very careful with his words.

‘Well… indeed, surely no one would watch expecting us to make them well…?’
Anyone who had been watching me all along.
Would surely know that I had no talent other than sleeping.

For that reason, I figured it would be fine if the Japanese Angel didn’t mind, so I asked her.

“Sis… are you okay with it?”
“Me? Yes!”

She nodded very readily.

‘Ah… right. She said I was the only one who cared about people’s gazes, didn’t she…?’
That’s something to envy, somehow….
If I could learn it, I’d like to….
Somehow, the Japanese Angel felt a little more mature.

Ding—
Anyway, we finally arrived at our destination.

“Uh… the ingredients are… over there, on the table… no, I’ll bring them to you…”
The teacher started stammering terribly, as if he were broken.
Seeing him even bump into the corner of a table as he passed,
He seemed incredibly nervous.

‘…Perhaps it’s because Hyejin mentioned going to jail earlier…?’
It was a shaky sight, making me wonder if things would even proceed properly.
Moreover, the broadcast seemed to have started, as Lee Hyejin’s voice could be heard from nearby.

“Hello everyone, this is XX Baking Class in XXX, Seoul. Today, our two Angels will be making cookies.”
Ah… so this was an advertisement…?

A situation that felt like a complete disaster.
Nevertheless, the Japanese Angel seemed simply delighted, rummaging through the ingredients laid out before her.

“Uh… Angels? Sh-should I melt the butter first… no, should I melt it for you…?”
The teacher’s somewhat strange remark continued.

…What?
Uh… if you melt it for us, aren’t we not doing it ourselves?

My head tilted on its own, filled with bewilderment.

It was then.
[– If that’s the case, why not just bake all the cookies and give them to us?]
Suddenly, a person’s voice was heard from the broadcast Lee Hyejin had turned on.
Even though I had broadcasted two or three times before, this was a fascinating feature I was completely unaware of.

‘Huh? Wow, sounds come out too?’
Because of that, feeling a sense of wonder, I found myself looking at the chat window.

‘Ah, but if that were the case, it definitely would be convenient.’
Suddenly, what I had just heard seemed plausible, and I found myself giving a small nod.

Of course, I didn’t actually want to do that.
It simply meant it would be like that if only convenience were considered.

But naturally, the teacher had no way of knowing that, and wore a look completely unsuited to his large stature.
He asked me with an incredibly hurt expression, one that evoked overwhelming pity.

“…Uh, co-cookies… shall I bake them… for you…?”
Because of that, I belatedly flinched in surprise.

“Ah, no…! No! I-I’ll do it…! Wow, wow… this looks fun…!”
I hurriedly ran to the Japanese Angel’s side.