"Hey, aren't ya Kim Yusin!" a man sitting at a small arcade machine in the corner called out cheerfully. He hadn't changed a bit over the years.

I greeted him back just as warmly. "Winning much?"

"Lost it all again today! The owner said he loosened up the machine a bit, but look at this!"

"Haha, you never change."

"Anyway, yer super famous! I told my daughters I see ya all the time at my regular comic book cafe, but they don't believe me!"

"Hahahaha!"

After exchanging greetings with the regulars, Yeon and I resumed our search for a spot. I wondered if my usual prime location was open.

"Oh, it's empty!"

Excited, I grabbed a bookshelf and pushed. The movable shelf rumbled to the side, revealing a hidden space. We squeezed through the narrow passage into an area completely enclosed by bookshelves. Inside were two sofas and a small table.

"This is the prime spot. You can sometimes find these little nooks, but this one is the best."

She stared at me with wide eyes. "What if people need to get a book while we're in here? It's so narrow."

"The rule is, you just move aside for a moment while they grab their book, then you move it back."

She tilted her head, confused.

"Why go through all that trouble? There's no need to put seats here in the first place…"

"Hahaha! That inconvenience is part of the charm. You step aside, say hello, maybe chat about books for a minute and share some info. Most of the people who come here are regulars who all know each other."

I stacked the new releases I'd grabbed on the table. Then I reclined my sofa as far back as it would go and lay down comfortably. Ah, this was it. This was the cozy feeling I loved. Surrounded by classic comics, breathing in their scent, reading as long as I wanted under the dim, cheap lighting, and being able to doze off whenever I felt like it. This was paradise.

Yeon, who had been standing awkwardly, cautiously sat on the edge of the other sofa. She immediately jumped up in surprise and swiped at the cushion with her hand.

'Haha! What is she doing?'

Finally settling down, she sat stiffly with her hands on her knees. She glanced my way, then, as if imitating me, leaned back.

"Ah," she breathed out, a look of surprise on her face. More comfortable than you expected, right?

"Yusin."

"Yeah?"

"How do you lower the backrest like you did?"

"There's a lever on the side."

She followed my lead and reclined her sofa until it was nearly flat. She lay back, a faint smile playing on her lips. She seemed quite satisfied.

"…Hmm." Getting bored of just lying there, she picked up one of the comics I had stacked and opened it. A moment later, she yelped and dropped the book.

"What's wrong?"

"The book! There's something strange on it!"

I picked it up and saw a dried-up stain of black bean sauce, likely spilled by someone ages ago.

"That's part of the authentic experience. This is nothing."

"…This is nothing?" Her face was a perfect picture of culture shock.

"Be careful, sometimes you'll find dried boogers when you turn the pages."

Yeon shuddered. She was definitely fun to tease.

"But this one might be a bit much for you." The page depicted a naked, dead woman with blood trickling from her mouth. Older comics were often filled with provocative scenes like that. "Since you're here, you have to read at least one. Come on. With this many books, there's got to be something you'll like."

"Ah, okay."

I asked about her favorite genres and recommended a few titles. I occasionally read romance, so I knew some of the all-time masterpieces. She examined the cover of the one I handed her.

"The title is unusual. 'The Ever-Green Tree'…"

"Want to try that one?"

"Yes. It's been a while since I've seen an art style with such huge eyes, not since Sailor Moon."

"That's shoujo manwha for you."

We returned to our spot. She pouted slightly, turning the first page with an anxious expression. And then…

'Flip.'

She devoured the first volume in a flash and was already on the second.

"Is it any good?"

Yeon shyly half-hid her face with the book. "I-It's interesting. The story is kind of a mess, but… I can't stop wondering what happens next…"

"Where are you?"

"The part where the rebel who fell in love with the heroine starts doubting his cause. They try to escape in a helicopter, but a missile comes, so he gives her the only parachute and falls into the sea."

"That part's good. But actually, that rebel is alive… Ah, sorry! It just slipped out."

"R-Really? He's alive? What volume does he reappear in?"

As we were getting lost in our comics, the owner appeared with two bowls of ramen. The smell of freshly boiled noodles in a nickel-silver pot was incredibly appetizing. The chewy noodles looked irresistible.

"I ordered it when I went to get the new books. Ramen is a must at a comic book cafe."

"So I'm eating ramen after all," she sighed.

"Heh, just try a bite. The owner here makes it really well."

Yeonsnorted. "Ramen is just ramen, no matter how well you make it."

"I'm serious."

I placed some kimchi on my noodles and shoveled a large bite into my mouth. I slurped down a spoonful of the hot broth and crunched on a piece of pickled radish.

"You still have a good appetite after that big dinner."

"Yep. This is half the reason I come here."

After watching me inhale my food, Hong Yeon finally picked up her own chopsticks. She lowered her head slightly, pushed her hair back, and carefully lifted some noodles.

'Slurp!'

A single strand disappeared between her pink lips.

Without a word, she bent over her bowl. A moment later, two empty ramen pots, without a single drop of broth left, sat on the table. She blushed and muttered softly.

"…It was delicious."

"Right?"

Just then, her phone rang. She put it to her ear and spoke in a low voice. "I understand."

She ended the call and looked at me. "He's here."

"Good timing. We killed two hours perfectly. Let's go."

"Okay."

She glanced wistfully at the third volume of 'The Ever-Green Tree' before getting up. As soon as we stepped outside, a sleek black import car was waiting.

"I had fun today."

"Me too. What did you think of the comic book cafe?"

"…Ahem. It was surprisingly nice. You took me to a place I'd feel hesitant to go to alone. And the classic comics were fun, too."

"I'm glad you think so."

"Well then."

She started toward the car, then stopped and looked back at me. I was puzzled. She whispered, "You were pretty cool back at the restaurant."

'Oh?'

"I'll text you." She got into the car. I gave an awkward laugh and waved as it pulled away.

* * *

The Magic Tower's next large-scale, long-term project, following the potion specialist and Oracle, was codenamed: 'Magic School.'

"Alright, Mr. Kim! Please get ready!"

I was the one in charge, getting my makeup done backstage while three stylists fussed over my hair.

"Hey, Seojin. Do we really have to go this far?" I rolled my eyes toward the man responsible for all this.

He just smiled gently. "It's a public appearance. This level of preparation is to be expected."

"I know, but you prepared a whole set…"

"Mr. Kim! Please don't move your head!" a stylist scolded.

"Ah, yes! Sorry!"

Seojin chuckled as he watched me suffer. 'Just you wait.'

"All done!"

After the makeup was finished, I stood before the mirror. My first thought was, 'Money really is great.' They called it natural-looking makeup, but my features looked unbelievably sharper. It was less like makeup and more like a CG enhancement.

"Mr. Kim? Are you ready? If your makeup is done, please come to the set!"

"Coming!"

I hurried onto the set. It had the distinct atmosphere of a lecture hall, but without walls, it was open on all sides and surrounded by filming equipment.

"I'm the producer, Ilseok Choi."

"Kim Yusin."

I shook hands with a neat-looking man in horn-rimmed glasses.

"My, you're looking sharp! Alright, please stand right over there!"

I stood in front of a large screen. On the lectern was a pre-written script.

"Okay, let's do a quick vocal warm-up. Try this! A lip trill, like 'prrrrrr'!"

…Why was he making me do that? Still, he was a professional, so I figured he had his reasons and did my best to follow along.

"Next, a telephone! You know the old rotary sound? A tongue trill, like 'trrrrrring'!"

"Now a clock! Click your tongue to make a 'tick-tock'! 'Tick-tock'! Oh, you're good! Now a little faster! Grea-at! Now slower!"

After the speech warm-ups, we went straight into script practice.

"Mr. Kim, please read the script! Yes, look at the camera! Treat it like the real thing!"

Ah, man. I was actually getting nervous.

"Okay, Mr. Kim, your expression has stiffened! Loosen up! That's right. A natural smi-le! Ah, the smile! The smile is awkward!"

Now my smile was the problem. I smiled when he told me to, but he kept saying it was awkward.

"Is it difficult? Okay, imagine a huge pile of cash in front of you! Stacks of fifty-dollar bills! Hundred-dollar bills! A mountain of it! And you get to take it all home after the shoot… Ooh! That's it! That's the smile!"

To think I needed to imagine money to produce a natural smile… I apologize for being such a materialist.

"Alright, now hold that smile! Speech starts now! Begin!"

There was some trial and error at first, but strangely, once I started talking, it came easily. PD Choi nodded in satisfaction and gave the signal to start the actual filming.

The lights on numerous cameras turned on, all pointed at my face. I could see them to my left, right, above, and below. The pressure was immense. I was beginning to have a newfound respect for how celebrities handled their eye contact on screen.

"Alright, we're rolling! Standby!"

Filming began. I looked at the script on the teleprompter.

"Go!"

'Ah, what the hell. I just have to man up and do this.'

* * *

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