Became an Observer in Love Company

I headed to the bookstore to buy a workbook.

I thought exams were a thing of the past, but here I was suffering through them again.

Since this was a world where magic existed, I had hoped we’d learn different things, and that we’d have less to study.

It wasn’t the case, however. The opposite, in fact.

Not only did I need the knowledge of the real world, but I also had to study magical knowledge.

The doubled amount of studying gave me a headache.

I just needed to study enough not to fail, but the anxiety wouldn’t leave me.

What if I couldn’t return to my original world? I’d have to keep living here.

So, it was my minimum insurance.

[Detailed Episode Discovered. Your perspective is locked.]

Upon entering the bookstore, a familiar head immediately caught my eye.

A platinum blonde head—small and round—caught my attention.

It was Lee Jian.

She was looking around diligently, as if searching for a book.

She reached out her hand, seemingly finding the book she wanted.

I couldn’t tell the title, but her face lit up with a cheerful smile.

It was one of those smiles that made you feel good just by looking at it.

As Lee Jian reached out to grab the book, her hand seemed to overlap with someone else’s.

But they hadn’t touched.

They picked different books.

Lee Jian started flipping through the pages of the book she held.

When the other person took their book and left, she sighed briefly, then put her book down.

She stared sadly at the empty spot for a while before leaving, muttering:

“It’s not like I wanted it that much anyway.”

[Your perspective has ended.]

It felt familiar. It was a scene described in the original work.

A scene meant to show the character’s personality.

Even while reading the novel, I felt sorry for her.

Her habit of giving in had become second nature.

It wasn’t because she wanted to, but rather out of sheer inertia. She wouldn’t easily express her desires or forcefully put forth her opinions.

She would naturally back down, prematurely giving up out of fear.

Her desire not to hurt anyone came back to haunt her, injuring herself instead.

“So, that’s her form.”

“That’s why she loses to Park Nayul.”

“She could just say what she wants if she’d just speak up.”

I quietly memorized the title of the book Lee Jian had been looking at.

It was a familiar title—”Pro Cutie.”

“Looks like she pretends not to like them, but she secretly enjoys manga, huh?”

I pulled out my phone and added the book to my cart.

I don’t know when I’ll give it to her.

But someday, I will.

“You fool.”

On my way out after purchasing the workbook, a message appeared.

[Main Episode Discovered. Directions provided.]

An arrow appeared in the air, urging me to follow.

Even though much of my vision turned red, as if prodding me to hurry, I couldn’t help but walk in its direction.

Most of the buildings here were low.

Apartments, commonly seen in Korea, were rare here.

It wasn’t just that this was a rural area; the setting of the original work reflected this too.

Apparently, mana interferes with the construction of high-rise buildings.

As a result, there were more standalone houses.

The fences were such that you could easily see into the yards by stretching up on your tiptoes.

[Destination Reached.]

The moment the system message appeared, the door opened.

And then—

“…Senior, is it okay if I just leave this here?”

“Yeah, you can just leave it there. You can handle it yourself.”

“No, no…”

Yoon Jihoo and Park Nayul were moving luggage on one side of the yard.

I quietly observed them.

“Ah…”

Yoon Jihoo and I made eye contact.

Just because I didn’t have a strong presence doesn’t mean he couldn’t see me.

If I were completely invisible, I’d be a ghost. As it stands, I don’t seem that different, but it just means Yoon Jihoo was paying attention to his surroundings.

Judging by his tense expression, it seemed like he was on edge.

Yoon Jihoo stiffened slightly.

“…Isn’t that Kim Dohyun?”

I nodded.

I alternately looked at Park Nayul and Yoon Jihoo, easily surmising the situation.

You see these kinds of scenes in romantic comedies all the time.

You suddenly end up living together with the person you’ve had a crush on.

A dreamlike scenario that doesn’t happen in real life but fits perfectly in fiction.

It was an episode already established in the original work.

I wondered when it would happen; turns out this was the timing.

Judging from the luggage, it looked like they’d been living together for only a short while.

Yoon Jihoo hesitated to speak, seemingly pondering what to say first.

Instead, Park Nayul spoke up first.

“Hey, Dohyun. How’s it going?”

I gave a brief nod.

“…What are you doing here?”

At that, Park Nayul answered right away.

“We decided to live together.”

“…What?”

Instinctively, I turned to look at Yoon Jihoo.

Though I already knew the situation, watching Yoon Jihoo flustered was somehow amusing.

“…You two… you’re together, huh? Then I won’t keep you.”

A small fit of jealousy.

Since he’ll end up being happy, a little jealousy like this shouldn’t matter, right?

I clenched my fists slightly because Lee Jian’s face from the bookstore kept flashing in my mind.

Yoon Jihoo sighed.

“Wait a sec! …I mean, it’s like this.”

He sighed briefly before adding an explanation.

“My senior’s parents are abroad for a long time, and they thought it would be better if they lived in a trustworthy home rather than alone.”

I quietly nodded.

“So our parents discussed it, and we decided they’ll stay with us for a while.”

Yoon Jihoo said this with an almost wronged expression.

“I didn’t know either. Who would’ve thought our parents and Senior’s parents were classmates?”

They weren’t living alone together. As mentioned earlier, Yoon Jihoo’s parents also lived with them, so nothing improper would happen.

“I see, that makes sense.”

When I said that, Yoon Jihoo looked even more flustered.

“Do you really believe me? So easily?”

“Why not?”

“No, I mean, it’s fine, but aren’t you being too trusting?”

“What do you want me to do? Doubt you?”

“Mi, trust me!”

“I trust you,” I replied.

Listening to my answer, Park Nayul chuckled and said,

“Man, you’re unique.”

She scratched the back of her head.

‘Am I truly that strange?’

Though Park Nayul seemed relaxed, she looked slightly concerned about Yoon Jihoo.

The early ‘awkward distance’ between them, mentioned in the original work, clearly existed.

It’s understandable since she was now living in someone else’s house and cohabitating with a guy.

I found the tense atmosphere unbearable.

I felt like I was disrupting them just by staying longer.

The system had already gathered the necessary scene.

“Well, I’ll be going then.”

Yoon Jihoo hastily responded,

“Should we tell the others…”

“I won’t tell anyone.”

A moment of hesitation.

For some reason, my feet wouldn’t move.

After a brief consideration, I asked,

“What about Lee Jian?”

“Huh?”

Yoon Jihoo tilted his head, confused.

“Should we keep it from her too? Aren’t you supposed to be friends since childhood?”

“Ah, if I tell her, she’ll definitely tease us. It’s better not to say anything. She’s surprisingly loose-lipped.”

“…I don’t think it’s that way.”

I muttered quietly under my breath. Fortunately, Yoon Jihoo didn’t seem to hear it.

I caught Park Nayul’s eye momentarily.

She wore a sly smile as if she had figured something out.

I felt uneasy, as if I’d been caught in my thoughts.

I turned my gaze away.

“Well, I’ll be off then.”

And with that, I left the scene hurriedly.