I Like You (1)

Step, step.

Ju Na-young unconsciously took a step back.

It was because she was worried that he might hear her heart pounding loudly.

Yu Seha sipped his coffee, looking at her curiously.

Slowly, he closed the distance.

‘…Yo-Yong-ah…’

Ju Na-young couldn’t think of anything.

She could only blush, staring at the handsome man approaching her.

“Oh~ What’s this? All dressed up nicely? We’re just here to hang out. Why did you dress up so much?”
“Yo-Yong-ah…”

Yu Seha teased her, speaking playfully.

Even though he knew she had consumed the [Siren] rune, he seemed completely indifferent…

His tone was as friendly as ever, no different from usual.

Ju Na-young finally snapped back to reality.

He had given her the chance to speak first.

She couldn’t keep trembling and just saying ‘Yo-Yong-ah…’ forever.

Clenching her fist, she barely continued the conversation.

“Th-that…y-you also… d-did…”

Of course, it was a barely audible whisper…

For Ju Na-young, this was the best she could do at the moment.

Yu Seha tilted his head at her tiny voice.

A very different side from the usual Ju Na-young.

Slightly puzzled, but since he understood, he chuckled and replied.

“Divine Light Garam helped me.”

The atmosphere instantly turned cold.

Ju Na-young’s heart, filled with sweetness like a sweet night jelly, chilled.

“…Why mention her name here?”

“Oh, huh? Ah! I didn’t tell you.”

Surprised by the unexpectedly cold response, Yu Seha hurriedly rummaged through his pockets.

He pulled out two tickets.

“This is something Senior Divine Light Garam gave me. She helped me with the appearance too, since it wouldn’t look good otherwise. That’s all.”

“…Ah. I-I see. Sorry for misunderstanding…”

“It’s okay. I don’t know what you misunderstood, but… Oh right…”

He handed her the coffee he had been holding.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Yo-Yong-ah?”
“Do you want to drink it? Or should I order another one…?”
“I-I’ll drink it!”

---

Chatter chatter.
Murmur murmur.

“The new ride that just came out…”

“Oh, I heard there’s an Air Viking too…”

Yu Seha’s voice rambled on with explanations, but none of it registered in Ju Na-young’s ears.

Thump, thump, thump.

She just stared at the coffee cup in her hand, taking small sips.

Deliberately focusing on the spot where he had touched the cup with his lips.

An unmistakable indirect kiss.

Ju Na-young trembled for a moment.

Then she glanced at Yu Seha.

‘……’

Everything seemed different around him.

It was almost laughable, but that’s how Ju Na-young felt.

Everything around Yu Seha was different.

Even the scent in the air near him was different.

‘…It’s sweet.’

A unique sweetness, like melted sugar.
She knew exactly what it was.

[Affinity].

A pure affinity specialized only for .

However, it was different from those with strong scents and unpleasant intentions.

It was on a different level from the trash who came to relying only on [Affinity] and spouted nonsense about taming her mother.

Pure goodwill.
And affection.
Whether it was love or admiration…
Yu Seha certainly cherished her.

‘Gulp…’

Saliva pooled in Ju Na-young’s mouth.

She felt an odd hunger.

She closed the distance a bit more to catch his scent.

Sniff, sniff.

“…Ju Na-young?”

Sniff, sniff.

“…J-Ju Na-young?”

Sniff, sniff, sniff…

“Hey, hey… you’re going to spill the coffee.”
“Yong-ah?!”

She snapped back to her senses at the call.

Only then did she realize what she was doing.

‘Cr-crazy…!’

Somehow, she had approached Yu Seha and buried her face in his neck.

The clavicle visible through his clothes.

Beneath that, faint traces of well-toned muscles from rigorous training gave off an even stronger scent.

‘Get a hold of yourself!’

Ju Na-young felt disgusted with herself for being unable to control her desires.

She hurriedly stepped back and bowed her head.

“S-sorry! Because of [Affinity]… I couldn’t regain my senses…”
“Ah, as expected, there’s an effect. I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to be so out of it. I’ll come back after learning how to control it next time.”
“Mmm…”

There’s no need for that, though…

“So, what do you want to ride first?”
“…Hmm?”

At the question, Ju Na-young looked as if asking, ‘What are you talking about?’

Yu Seha gestured around with a face that seemed to say, ‘Why is she so out of it?’

“…?!”

Ju Na-young was startled.

She was sure they were just in front of the fountain…

But she suddenly found herself inside the amusement park.

It meant she was so engrossed in him that she lost track of time.

---

‘…By the way.’

Ju Na-young glanced at Yu Seha.

She had heard…

“…Yu Seha. This is your first time at an amusement park, right?”
“Yeah! I’ve only heard about it. It’s my first time here.”
“……”

Ju Na-young scratched her chin at his bright smile.

‘Moon Bora said…’

Yu Seha lost his parents in .

Moon Bora had warned her in advance, in case she said anything that might accidentally upset him.

This meant…

‘The benefits I naturally experienced…’

He must have missed them all.

‘Alright!’

Ju Na-young made up her mind.

Clearing her throat, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

For a moment, the sweet scent from Yu Seha made her feel dizzy…

But thanks to it, she saw.

“……”

She noticed a fleeting moment—a small reaction. His face turned slightly red as her flame pouch pressed against him, and he averted his gaze.

‘Nice!’

Ju Na-young was secretly delighted by making Yu Seha conscious of her.

Looking at it this way, he wasn’t just a stone Buddha.

“Hey, Yu Seha!”
“H-huh?”
“Go wherever you want. I’ll ride everything with you.”
“…Really?”
“Of course! Do I seem like someone who’d go back on her word?”

Ju Na-young looked at Yu Seha, whom she liked, and smiled bashfully.
After a few minutes, she got somewhat accustomed to the smell.
Once again, the goal burning in her heart flared up into flames.

‘On this da-da-date…’

Yu Seha.

‘I’ll make you swoon!’

---

“…Hey, Yu Seha?”
“Yeah?”
“…A-are we really going to ride this?”

However, Ju Na-young’s resolve slowly crumbled in front of the ride they arrived at.

The identity was none other than a Viking ride.

And not just a boring Viking ride that makes you want to die…

It was the enchanted with [Levitation] and [Fly] magic.

Seeing it spinning high up, Ju Na-young’s complexion turned pale.

“I’ve wanted to try this.”
“…Uh, um…”
“Don’t worry.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll stay by your side. If you’re scared, just look at me. Got it?”
“Y-yeah…”
“Great! Then, let’s go right away! This is a VIP ticket, so we don’t have to wait!”
“W-wait a minute… I need to prepare myself… Y-yikes!!!!”

A moment later.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

“Aaahhhh!!!”

The wind blew fiercely around them.
Ju Na-young felt like she was about to burst into tears.

This cursed was spinning in all directions as if having a feast in the air.

“Na-young?”

She glanced down briefly.

Everything looked like tiny toys, and she felt dizzy.

Nauseous…
Like she might faint any moment…

“Ju Na-young!”
“Y-yes?”

And then, Yu Seha’s call came through.

Holding her hand tightly as if watching from the start, he shouted.

“Look at me!”

If you’re scared, just look at me.

“……”

Ju Na-young grasped his hand tightly.

She was scared and trembling…

Yet, there was a part of her that felt strangely reassured.

---

Even after ended, the rides continued.

All of them were either staying at high places or only going upwards.

Ju Na-young glared at Yu Seha with dagger eyes.

“Next is <Maha Speed, Flying Carousel>…”
“…Hey, Yu Seha.”
“Oh, yeah?”

Although Ju Na-young wasn’t particularly bright, she wasn’t oblivious either.

“…You’re doing it, right? Training me, right?”

“…You figured it out?”

“Figured it out? Of course, anyone can tell!”

“Ahaha…”

Ju Na-young sighed at his embarrassed demeanor.

This guy…

‘…He’s trying to improve my fear of heights.’

It wasn’t like he was doing this just for the sake of it.
If she were to guess his intention…

‘…Wings.’

The only power of the dragon that Ju Na-young had not mastered.

And for her, a power even harder to master than [Breath].

Yu Seha seemed to be training her for that.

‘…Can he also unfold [Wings]?’

Well, if [Breath] was possible, it would be stranger if [Wings] weren’t.

Ju Na-young felt a bit of gratitude and guilt…
And a strange sense of disappointment.

‘…It’s a date…’

A once-in-a-lifetime date, just the two of them…
Time that wasn’t even enough to simply enjoy being together…

Of course, she knew she was being selfish.
The fact that Yu Seha was doing this for her showed he cared about her.

Still, her faint dissatisfaction melted away the moment Yu Seha took her hand again.

“I’m sorry. But it will definitely be a great help to you.”
“……”
“Will you trust me and follow along?”
“…Wh-what are you saying…? It’s not like I said I wouldn’t. I… I trust you.”

A response as if it were no big deal.

Hearing it, Yu Seha’s expression shifted slightly—surprise, a hint of bewilderment, and finally, a warm smile.

“Thank you.”
“…Wh-whatever! Just lead the way already.”

To the next ride!

“This elder sister will ride it fiercely!”

-Yoooongaaaaaahhh!!!

---

“…Yooooongaaahhh…”

After enduring what felt like endless torture on the rides, Ju Na-young sat on a bench, catching her breath.

“Yooong-ah…”
“S-Sorry… I pushed you too hard.”
“N-no, it’s fine… It was fun. And I guess I’m a little less scared now.”

It actually worked.

Maybe it was because she was with him…

She could now tolerate a certain height without much fuss.

‘Could I really overcome it…?’

It was while she was resting for a bit.

“…Hmm?”

Ju Na-young’s eyes caught sight of a shop.

To be precise, it was the ‘animal ears’ sold inside that caught her attention.

“…! Hey, hey, Yu Seha. Let’s go in there.”
“Huh?”

Yu Seha looked at the shop with curiosity and nodded.

“Sure, why not?”
“Yonghehe…”

A little later.
Inside the shop, several couples were laughing happily while trying on things like headbands.

“……”

Ju Na-young watched them, fidgeting with her fingers.

To others, they must look like a couple, right? She thought.

She glanced around.
Then she spotted a puppy headband.

Oh, that’s cute, she thought for a moment.

“…!”

Ju Na-young froze like a stone at the sight of a ‘collar’ right next to it.

***-Master~ Na-young is here! ***

The embarrassing dream she had this morning came to mind.

In the end, she carefully placed the dog headband down.

Instead, she picked up something else and held it out toward Yu Seha, who was standing there blankly.

“Yu Seha! Try this on.”
“Huh?”

It was a rabbit ear headband.

Yu Seha was flustered, but seeing Ju Na-young’s eyes shining, he smiled wryly.

He thought.

‘…I should do at least this much.’

Sure, they were at an amusement park, but the truth was, he had been forcing her through a training regimen.

Yu Seha accepted his fate as he put on the headband and looked in the mirror.

It was more acceptable than he thought.

“Well, it’s pretty normal. Ju Na-young. How is it?”
“……”
“Ju Na-young?”
“…Oh, oh. Uh. Y-yes, it’s fine…”
“Huh?”

Ju Na-young slowly turned her gaze away.
White steam began to rise gently from above her head.

‘…What do I do?’

She had suggested the headband to tease him.
But now that it looked so good on him…
So cute and endearing…

What was she supposed to do?

Unable to endure any longer, she abruptly turned away.

“Le-Let’s just go!”

“Huh? Aren’t you buying the headband?”

*“M-My heart can’t take it…” *

“What did you say?”

“Nothing at all!”

In the end, the two left without buying anything.

A time of silence filled with a subtle sweetness ensued.

Unable to bear the embarrassing atmosphere, Ju Na-young spoke first.

“So, Yu Seha.”
“Yeah?”
“What are we going to ride next?”

Perhaps a simple merry-go-round, she thought.

But with one word from him, that mood was shattered.

“Roller coaster.”
“……”
“Shall we go?”
“…I-I’d rather… something else…”
“Let’s just ride this one. Please.”
“……”

---

Meanwhile, at the same time. Same place.

There was a suspicious duo secretly watching the two people.

“Meoww.”
“Meep.”

First was a nun, not in her usual habit of nun clothes but casual plain clothes, and had fake cat ears.

The second was a cat tribe girl with squishy cheeks and an appearance that makes one feel healed by looking at her.
A Myoin tribe cat-eared girl.

There was no hiding their identities.

It was Choi Mari and Ma Hana.

“Meow, those two really look good together!”

“Meep… Senior, I still think stalking is wrong.”

“Oh my, stalking? This is merely observing the greatest blessing bestowed upon us by the Lord!”

“Meep…”

Unable to contain herself any longer, Mari clasped her hands in prayer.

With a faint holy power, a poof echoed.

Something large appeared in Mari’s hands.

It was none other than a perfectly golden-brown popcorn.