Chapter 31: It’s getting annoying.

The long, long day came to an end.
As a result, I hadn’t learned much about the Japanese Angel’s jealousy.
From the start, I had no expectation that anything could be solved in just one day.

Because of that, the Japanese Angel naturally continued to stay in Korea for the time being.
Along with her, the Japanese officials and researchers were sprawled all over the hallway.
Every time I saw them, my feet tingled, and a corner of my heart felt a pang of guilt.

‘Wh-why don’t they just go into a room and rest comfortably….’
If only they weren’t visible, I’d feel a little less sorry.
But they were always sprawled out like this in the hallway outside my room, making it impossible to forget even if I tried.

‘Please, just bear with it a little longer! I’ll do my best…!’
Because of that, I always looked at them and burned with resolve every single day.

After all, they hadn’t been able to go home for over three weeks now, including the time on the uninhabited island.
Perhaps I needed to at least have this mindset to somewhat lessen my guilt…?

Of course, there was also the option of just giving up on the jealousy.
And sending the Japanese Angel back to her country quickly.

‘…But I’ve already made up my mind.’
This time, I wanted to prioritize the Japanese Angel above all else.
So, while she stayed in Korea, we were trying many things together.

For example, to widely publicize the Japanese Angel’s dexterity, I would ‘sacrifice’ myself….
Often appearing on broadcasts to create things together, even though I knew the results would be night and day, biting back tears.

Or going back to that strange zoo with the man-eating tigers, bears, and the crazy goat that worshipped Satan.

[– Wow… that’s amazing. Is this talent…?]
[– Wow, that’s unbelievable.]

But in any case, the broadcast ultimately had the best effect.
As she got recognition for her abilities and communicated with everyone, her interest in others began to noticeably decrease.

‘Hmm… at this rate, maybe I can send her back soon?’
Even now, she was extremely excited, hosting a paper-folding broadcast by herself.

‘…But how does she really know how to make them?’
As I watched, a question naturally arose.
After all, I’d heard that the Japanese Angel had never even seen the paper used for origami before.
Yet, surprisingly, if she just touched it for a moment, she would quickly create various things.

‘Is it really… talent?’
And so, as I was deep in such thoughts.

“Ta-da! This is the cookie Maknae made for me! It’s ugly!”
Out of nowhere, she made me feel incredibly depressed.

‘……I know there’s no malice, no malice….’
‘Uh… I don’t know. Just go home now… I don’t want to play anymore….’
Feeling utterly offended, I frowned deeply and pouted.
Then, voices were heard from the broadcast.

[– Japanese Angel, the Korean Angel’s feelings are hurt. Shouldn’t you quickly give her a kiss to comfort her?]
An incredibly outrageous remark that I absolutely couldn’t just hear and let pass.

“Th-that…! D-don’t say strange things!”
Startled by that, I shot up from my seat and shouted towards the chat window.
The Japanese Angel immediately and naturally leaned in towards my cheek….

Smooch.

“Gasp! Wh-what if you actually do it…!”
“Huh? Shouldn’t I?”
“N-no, you shouldn’t!”
“Why?”
“…Huh? Wh-why, you ask… well…”

“Uh… yeah, why shouldn’t she?”
Even with my eyes wide open in surprise.
I couldn’t bring myself to think of a rebuttal and ended up faltering.

All I could do now was,
Simply stare at the chat window with a flushed face.

‘L-lately, why have there been so many strange people…?’
Was it since after making cookies?
Suddenly, the number of people saying suspiciously strange things had tremendously increased.

Yet, strangely enough, everyone was accepting such words as perfectly natural.
Because of that, I felt as if I had become the strange one instead.

‘Everyone’s lost their minds….’
Why had everyone suddenly changed like this?
Unable to understand the situation at all, I let out a small sigh.

Snug.

This time, the Japanese Angel suddenly hugged me tightly.

‘……?’
A very perplexing situation, making me wonder what on earth was going on.
So, bewildered, I asked for the reason.

“Wh-why are you suddenly doing this?”
“She told me to hug Maknae like this when she sighs!”
It wasn’t anything special.
It seemed she had picked up another strange piece of advice from somewhere.

“……Uh, yeah… Th-thank you….”
However, it was purely out of good intentions.
And I couldn’t even argue with her doing something for me.

Because of that, I remained stiff as a stone.
Trying hard to distract myself to disperse the heat rising to my face.

[– Yes, this is it. With this, it’s possible…! World peace…!]
[– I believe this is true diplomacy. I support it.]
[– Denying the Japanese Angel’s feelings will all be considered blasphemy. Everyone knows that, right?]
Strange sounds began to constantly come from beside me.

A few more days passed.
I started to feel that it would be okay for the Japanese Angel to return soon.

This was because her personality had noticeably mellowed, no matter who looked at her.
And she had been sticking to me too closely all day, to an excessive degree.

Yes, to be honest, it was starting to get annoying.

‘Haven’t I done enough already…?’
Now, only one thing filled my mind.

‘I want to be alone….’
After quickly sending the Japanese Angel back to her country.
I just wanted to have some slow, leisurely time.

Molding, molding.

Just then, the Japanese Angel arbitrarily kneaded my cheek as I lay face down on the bed.
She probably intended to make me get up from the bed where I was lying face down.

‘Too bothersome….’
Perhaps because I had been so active recently without resting.
I didn’t want to move even a tiny bit.

So, I lay still like a corpse, with my eyes closed as if dead.
Then the Japanese Angel began to shake my body wildly, whining.

“Maknae~! Let’s go out! Okay?”
“Too bothersome….”
“Then, give me a kiss?”
“……Oh, no?”

Excuse me… who on earth is it? Who keeps teaching her such strange things?
If I find out, I really won’t let you off easy…?

I, who had been completely off guard, was startled, and my sleep instantly vanished.
As I unconsciously opened my eyes in surprise, the Japanese Angel already had her face right up to mine.

So, I frantically covered my face with my small, white hands and shouted.

“Ah, okay! Let’s go out! I’ll go out!”
“Yep! Good!”
Then the Japanese Angel smiled brightly and instantly got up from the bed.
I also slowly got up from the bed, almost in tears.

“Ugh… I’m in agony….”
“I want to rest….”
It felt as if trying to help the Japanese Angel was somehow making me go astray.
For that reason, I resolved to definitely send the girl back either today or tomorrow, no matter what, and as I left the room.

“Oh, that’s not it! Is that really all you can do?”
I saw Lee Hyejin getting incredibly angry at the Japanese official, who would normally be sprawled on the floor.
And even through an interpreter, who knew where she came from.

On the other hand, the Japanese official was.
Kneeling and bowing his head low, as if he had committed a great sin.

‘…What is this?’
At that sight, which raised immense questions, my head involuntarily tilted.
It was even more so because I had never seen them converse with each other before.

So, wondering if something big had happened, I cautiously asked.

“…What are you doing? Is something wrong…?”
“Huh? Oh, Angel! It’s not a big deal; I was just telling him that.”
“…That? What?”

For a moment, I heard a remark that made me wonder if I had misheard.

“Uh… excuse me, what is that?”
“How can you explain it like that…?”
Because of that, I lost my words and stared blankly at her face.
Lee Hyejin, who belatedly realized her mistake, flustered and quickly corrected herself.

“Oh, oh! I’m sorry! That, you know, how to compliment someone! I was teaching him that.”
“…How to compliment someone?”

“Huh…? What is that?”
Even though I had clearly heard the answer, I was still just as bewildered.

‘Was there some fixed method to complimenting, too…?’
In a continuous stream of completely incomprehensible words.
Again, tilting my head, I listened to their conversation for a moment.

“Now, since the Japanese Angel has also arrived, try it yourself.”
“She’s telling you to try it on the Japanese Angel.”
Lee Hyejin’s words and the interpreter’s words.

“What? Oh, oh… Th-but it’s a bit embarra….”
“Uh… he says he’s embarrassed?”
Followed by the hesitant Japanese official’s words, and again, the interpreter’s words.
At that, Lee Hyejin suddenly began to explode in extreme anger.

“Ha…? Excuse me. You’re embarrassed to compliment the Angel? That’s truly absurd, isn’t it? I, you know, I could boast about our Angel for three days straight without stopping, you know? This person truly doesn’t deserve to be in charge of care, does he?”

‘……These people.’
‘What on earth are they doing…?’
Thanks to that, I quickly realized that this was not a conversation I could understand just by listening.
Then a sudden question came to mind.

‘Why does it seem like there are so many incomprehensible things being said lately, even when I listen?’
I clearly understood all the words themselves, of course.
But it was a strange phenomenon where I couldn’t understand the sentences.

Somehow, I felt as if I had become a fool.
But trying to understand this now also seemed bothersome.

In the end, I decided to pretend I hadn’t heard anything.
And so, I slowly continued on my way.