I found this app. And it’s just so, so, SO adorable.
Search this in your phone’s app store: 랑이와 나
It’ll give a few minutes of entertainment. Check it! There’re multiple backgrounds and costumes so it’s nice.
It's hot. It's strangely hot. Considering that I locked the door because of the uninvited guests, it's strangely hot. I even have the fan on. I feel like a heater was placed on my chest. In the end it was too hot so I woke up.
The morning sunlight shining through the window blinded my eyes. If I had heard sparrows chirping this would have been a classic morning.
I scratched my itchy head and got up.
"U—nya—ah."
I can hear a weird sound. What was that? I found the answer when I rubbed my eyes and looked down. It's Rangii. Rangii was stretched on my belly like a dog on one of the hottest days of the year. (tn: the word for hottest day of the year is literally "dog days." Does anyone even know what that is? I didn't). From above, she'd look like a 十 character (tn: 十 is the Chinese symbol for 10). But the real question is why she's sleeping here. Even though I definitely had her sleep iin my room?
On the topic of bothering someone while he's sleeping, with Rangii sleeping deeply on me I poked her in the side to wake her up.
"Hm—nya."
She's sleeping. She's sleeping well. Again, poke, poke.
"Nya—nyaii."
Even though she's flinching she's not opening her eyes. Sigh. This just makes me want to try harder. I moved my fingers, loosened my joints, and lifted up Rangii's shirt.
The door opened.
"……"
"…….hahaha, this is a misunderstanding."
Seeing Narae's face freeze as she opened the door and saw me try and tickle Rangii in the sides, I gave the best excuse I could.
"Perveeeert!!"
Don't try this at home. Please do not try to imitate a flying knee kick as it is dangerous.
In the end Narae carried Rangii out of the room, so I went out into the living room to go to the bathroom and wash my face. I was going to the bathroom when I saw Rangii sitting on her knees in the living room, frowning, and Narae sitting on the sofa, speaking fiercely to Rangii.
What're they doing?
"And so! That's why you can't thoughtlessly go into a boy's room at night!"
Narae was teaching common sense to Rangii. Good job, Narae. Teach her human common sense. …….especially because I can't teach her.
"I know that. But isn't Sunghoon an exception?"
"How could there be an exception! No, you especially can't do that with Sunghoon!"
"But why not?"
"—uk."
Narae stopped talking. Normally she'd have grabbed her by the collar, shaken her up and down, and said if I say you can't then you can't!, but she's talking to Rangii. Even if it's just her appearance, she looks like a kid.
"Because he's a pervert lolicon! He might attack you!"
I also want to become a kid. Then Narae might be a little more caring to me.
Living room on the third day of summer vacation after eating breakfast.
I wanted to give myself up to the wings of freedom and experience the feeling of so this is how it feels to just laze around~. But because the number of residents at home suddenly increased, I had to face reality before I could feel such happiness.
"Sunghoon!"
"What?"
I answered while maintaining the pose of a king lion, with my back deep against the sofa and exuding a sense of are there any fun shows on cable right now~ with the remote control.
"Play with me."
Was that a command and not a request? I turned my gaze to focus on Rangii. A happy smile. Seeing such a bright smile, it seemed like she expected me to listen to any of her commands. It seems like she doesn't think she'll be rejected, not even this much.
Of course, I'm a man who goes against expectations.
"Play with Narae."
Is this what it means to be a husband having his wife take care of the kids on a weekend?! Although Narae isn't my actual wife. But based on what just happened, I found that if Narae looks after Rangii then she can teach Rangii all kinds of unmentionable things that I'd have trouble with.
Narae will view me not just as a lolicon, but a pervert, sexual harasser, degenerate; but that's what it takes for Rangii to get a proper education, I can bear it.
"Narae said she's going back to her home so she can't play."
"What?"
"No I'm not."
Narae came out of the kitchen, sat next to me, and denied Rangii's words.
"Who's going back home? And you. Are you that happy that I'm going back home?"
"I am not."
"Really?"
"Really."
"I need to be able to believe you."
Rangii looked blankly at the two of us having a conversation and spoke while shaking her tail slowly from side to side.
"Hm? Didn't you say you were going home?"
"I said I was going then coming back, you little tiger."
"I'm not little!"
I have to object to that.
Moving on, it seems like Narae is extremely adaptable to reality. I mean because of what she went through yesterday. If she were like me, if she had been put in a situation that she tried to escape from for three days, although she'd be confused, when I see Narae playing so kindly with Rangii, I definitely feel like Narae would do that.
In other words, I'm still trying to escape reality.
"But why are you going home?"
Narae blushed slightly.
"Th, the heck. What does that have to do with you?"
"I'm just curious."
"There's just something I need to get!"
Huh?
"Then like yesterday you could……"
In the middle of saying then like yesterday you could have someone bring it for you, I realized that Narae's face was turning red. In short, it's not something she can ask on the phone, or it's something she wants to trust to a stranger. The conclusion has appeared.
It seems like Narae has sensed what I was thinking.
"What're you thinking right now, you pervert! I, I'm gonna kill you?!"
"But what did I do?"
Right now I, ah. It's not like I was even thinking then does that mean Narae's wearing the same underwear as yesterday?
"Y, your eyes look evil!"
"Aren't these the eyes of an innocent child?"
I gave a light joke to change the mood.
"……"
"……"
"……"
I don't know when even Saehee came here, but these feminine three stared wordlessly at me, leaving an irreparable wound on my delicate emotions.
"Sunghoon, I don't think that's right."
Shut up, tiger.
While Narae left, I decided to clean the house. Rangii and Saehee are here too, but this is a pubescent boy's desire to clean the house as long as Narae is staying here. I clean the house everyday anyway, so today I'm going to go out of my way to clean under the sofa, the windowsill, the windows, the bathroom, and the sink. This much should be enough. But there's a person, no, a phantom, who was going to against my plans.
Who do you think it is?
"Play with me—."
Rangii had been lounging on my legs, using them as a pillow since earlier. You brat. Is there a ghost that never got to play stuck to you? Although the truth is that there is a ghost-like brat stuck to me.
"You appear to be in a bad mood, young master."
"…….that's your misunderstanding."
You sure notice things well even though your eyes are glued to the TV, watching an anime.
"Can't you watch TV with Saehee?"
"I have the most fun when I play with you."
That's an appreciated, yet useless, statement. If you go as far as to say that, then I have no choice but to play with you; but I already already made up my mind to clean so I'll have to postpone playing with you until after that.
"I'm still busy right now. Because I have to clean."
At the same time, the phantoms reacted as if I had said some kind of tabboo.
Rangii's jaw dropped, and Saehee looked at me with wide eyes. The heck's up with this reaction? Is it that weird for me to say I'll clean?
"Isn't that what Saehee does?"
"Please tell me directly to clean instead, young master. There is no need to change the subject through such sly means."
I decided who to argue with first.
"I'm not trying to change the subject. And these days, men are able to clean too."
Should I just clean? There's even the case where all the chores are done. Like me. This isn't even an era when women have to raise cows, so anyone can do this much?
"I'm the one who normally does the chores here."
[Rangii] "Uwa—. Amazing."
Something about seeing Rangii look so genuinely awed made me feel great.
"Anyway, that's why I can't play with you. Okay?"
"Then I'll help clean too."
As Rangii was saying Aren't I good? Aren't I nice? Then please rub my head. Or hug me! with her whole body, I decided to give her a mistrustful look.
"…….why're you doing that?"
Yeah. I feel like with a bit of polishing she'll grow up to be a good person to talk with. ……no. If she grows up wrong then she might end up like Saehee. Just stay like this.
"Have you ever cleaned before?"
"A long time ago I was trying to lie down to sleep, but a hill was in my way so I swept it away with my tail."
The scale is too big! Uselessly big!
"That is not called cleaning."
"Then I haven't. But I'll work hard to learn if you teach me."
What should I do? It doesn't seem like using this opportunity to teach Rangii how to clean is a bad thing. And it seems like this brat will learn well if I teach her once. Hm…… Great. It might take a while, but I'll think of it as an investment for the future.
"Then let's do it together. Since I'll teach you how to clean. Are you going to keep watching TV?"
I poked at Saehee who was intensely watching an anime.
"I believe that learning more about modern society would be good."
Your common sense is so different from other people's that it's scary.
"Then shouldn't you watch the news?"
"It is boring."
"A drama?"
"It is the day time."
"How about a variety show?"
"Are you talking about playing house?"
Apologize, dammit. Apologize to all broadcasters.
"What is it? Do you want to say that my tastes are childish? So the young master is a completely senseless human unable to accept cultural diversity."
I shouldn't argue. Since I don't think I can win.
Unlike Saehee, who was busy playing around, Rangii was even more help than I thought. All Rangii did was move stuff so it wouldn't get in the way of the vacuum cleaner, but at least she was better than Saehee who said it was too loud, took out headphones from somewhere, and had her eyes glued to the screen (not 100% sure). I also got a rag I'd cleaned and when I started wiping the floor, I thought that in comparison to Saehee who has her feet on the sofa, Rangii is a really, really good kid.
"What is it? With those shining rotten pollock eyes?"
You're quite hurtful.
With the laundry all done, I finished all the cleaning I suddenly planned to do so I decided to stop. Rangii and I were on the floor of the cleaned floor, catching our breaths.
"Cleaning is harder than I thought."
Rangii said this happily despite her words, and I patted her head.
[Sunghoon] "But it's nice because it's all clean."
[Rangii] "I feel like I've expelled all the noisy annoyances from the front yard."
Your example is strange, Rangii. But anyway, after moving around from cleaning, it's a little hot. No, rather than a little hot, at this level it's extremely hot. There's even sweat on my back. Normally I'd turn on an electric fan and dry my sweat with that, but Narae will be here soon. I don't want to stink of sweat when I'm with the girl I like. I should just take a shower.
"I'm going to go take a shower and come back."
"What's a shower?"
"He is speaking of washing his body with falling water."
So you can give such good explanations even while watching TV with headphones on.
"So you're saying you're going to wash yourself? Then I'll wash with you too."
"I taught you how to wash yourself yesterday."
She had an expression like she was going uwa! and looked shocked.
"……I can't remember."
She looked away and said something that was clearly a lie. Hey, you brat. Trick the person you're trying to trick. But still, wouldn't it be good to wash with her once? After moving so much, cooling ourselves off with cold water would help us stand the heat.
So I called out the name of the phantom who originally took care of Rangii.
"Saehee."
"If I get water on me……"
I cut off Saehee.
"I'm going to wash first so do whatever you want."
Before Saehee could say anything, I went into the bathroom and closed the door. Thank goodness I always keep spare underwear stored in the bathroom. I took off my clothes and comfortably washed my body.
It wasn't that long since I left the bathroom to Rangii, who was disappointed, and Saehee, who was glaring at me, that Narae came back with a suitcase. Rather than simply bringing some underwear, it looks like she's about to go on a trip. Along with the bags from yesterday, is that 3 bags in total? …….how long do you plan on staying here? I'd welcome you with open arms, but I don't know how long my sanity will last given the shoujo-filter situation when I'm living with Narae, a girl whom I view as a member of the opposite sex.
"What. Got any complaints?"
Narae was looking at me fiercely, so I could only give a false answer.
"I don't."
"You're eyes say you do."
"It must be your imagination."
"But I don't think it is."
She's skilled at reading my mind since we're childhood friends. And the moment when I thought it'd be okay if you found out that I like you.
"I forgot to bring clothes to change into."
I was surprised by Saehee's strangely loud voice and turned my head.
"S, stupid! Don't look!!"
Narae grabbed my head with her hands,
—crack?!—
She forcibly turned my head. Even while feeling the pain of having my neck broken, I saw her. I saw Saehee without even a pair of panties on, not even trying to hide her body. But more than Saehee's naked body, I too busy with the descent of the god of death, Yama.
"You saw."
"Wha, what are you saying?"
"Don't look at another woman's naked body as you please!!"
Seeing the bag flying at me, two thoughts came to my head. Why the heck are you getting mad, Narae? And…….
"My apologizes, Narae-nim. This was my mistake."
Was this all your plan?
"Could you please go grocery shopping for dinner?"
I closed the book I was reading at Saehee's words. Although it was the scene when Kinkotsuman was giving a love confession to a little sister, I can read the book later (tn: This reference is vague and confusing to me so I gave up and just translated it as vaguely as I could. Sorry). Because at least a book won't dig a trap because I didn't listen to it.
"What should I buy?"
"I wrote it down for the young master who has terrible memory."
Saehee-nim, with her excellent memory, spoke kindly to me and handed me a note. Let's see…… Green onions, onions, garlic, lettuce, peppers, 9 pounds of pork.
"Oi."
"What is the problem, young master?"
"How many people do you think there are for me to buy 9 pounds of pork? No, before that didn't we eat meat for lunch too?"
"And that is why you are complaining?"
I took a step back.
"No, that's not what I mean. I guess I mean only eating meat will make a nutrient imbalance and be bad for our health."
I'm feeling a little scared. (probably not right)
"I am matching the balance of nutrients. This is not something for the young master to worry about."
Ah, is that so.
"But if we only eat meat then we might have indiges……"
"Are you unaware of meat that is easily digested?" (tn: apparently a reference to the Naver Webtoon "The Sound of Your Heart" which is actually being officially translated)
That's not what that means.
"Master likes it more than anything."
Of course the tiger phantom would like meat. There's no helping it. It's lame, but I'll tell her a realistic problem.
"I don't have money. Eating like this will use up all the living expenses until the end of the month."
"Is that so?"
I'm extremely aware of the fact that if I keep wasting the living expenses I have left I'll go be in trouble by the end of the month. Since I don't know when my parents will come back, it's best to save money. It's definitely not because I'm tired of eating meat.
Saehee suddenly took out a wallet from a scroll and handed me two 50,000 won bills (tn: about 85 USD total).
"If you require money please tell me; young master who is unable to maintain his life."
I will ask.
"Where did you get that money from?"
"Long ago I bought some land in Myeong-dong." (tn: an area in Seoul)
So you're a rich landowner?
"Please use the rest as pocket money, beggar-nim."
"……really?"
The corners of Saehee's mouth rose.
"Yes. Please buy a dirty magazine with that money and please use your energy to the fullest."
Shut up.
I got a shopping basket and talked to Narae and Rangii who were playing a boardgame in the living room.
"I'm going to go shopping for a bit."
"Are you leaving?"
Seeing Rangii's shining eyes, I had a bad feeling and took the initiative.
"Don't follow me."
Of course, if that had worked then she wouldn't be Rangii.
"No! I want to go too~. When I went yesterday I had fun because there were lots of interesting things."
While saying that, Rangii clung on to and rubbed her cheek on my leg. I want to bring you too, but while you're having fun, I'll be trying to hold in my shame.
Bringing Rangii outside with me isn't a huge problem, but it's a different story for my sanity. I'm saying that I'm sorry to tell a charming yet not charming Rangii that she can't follow me. Can't you just be cute in a normal way?
"Stay at home today."
"Uu—."
Rangii's ears drooped and she sucked on her finger.
"Then how about I go?"
Even now, Narae-nim's fully beautiful words sparked in my brain. I, I, I'm going shopping with Narae? Isn't that romance between newlyweds?! Walking arm in arm, saying What should we do for side dishes today? I'm having you. Oh my…… uwa no! What in the world am I thinking right now?! While I was busy with my shoujo-filtered delusions, Rangii puffed out her cheeks and sprung at Narae.
"You can't!"
"Rangii?"
Narae was embarrassed. With Rangii approached Narae from behind, wrapping her legs around Narae's waist and grasping Narae's breasts with her hands, she probably would be embar…… puhak! This is enough to make me have a nosebleed. The stimulation from seeing Rangii's hands unable to grab all of Narae's breasts, with their shape constantly changing and sticking out, was too strong!
"If I can't go then Narae can't go!"
"Wait, Rangii! Let go for now…… ahh!"
This seems like a scene restricted for those 18 years and over. I overcame my desire with my overflowing consideration and turned around.
"I'm going to go."
"Okay."
"Ahu, Ra, Rangii!!"
Putting on my shoes as if I was running away,
[Rangii] "……hueh? Something seems strange."
I ran away before Rangii realized.
I had 40,000 won left after buying all the groceries Saehee wrote down (about 34 USD). Although to a high schooler like me this could be called a huge amount of money. Because I take care of all our living expenses, this sadly doesn't feel like a lot of money. Of course, compared to my pocket money this is huge. I guess this could be called the feeling a bank teller gets his paycheck. Something's vague.
Anyway, the fact is that I got some unexpected money. While thinking about how I could spend this money so that the rumor that the Kang's son is wise, a doll store that I normally would have just walked past caught my eye. There was the disgusting sight of couples looking at dolls in the store.
Couple Hell, Single Paradise (tn: apparently a Korean Internet meme).
Even though someone is unable to properly confess to the girl he likes because of a tiger, two others are sticking to each other in this hot weather. The man bought the woman a doll, and the woman gave thanks and smiled happily as they walked out of the store.
I sighed, feeling sorry for myself as I thought when will my youth arrive? but while walking home I stopped.
Yeah. What if I use this money to buy a doll as a gift for Narae. She didn't play with dolls even when she was young, but she's still a girl. At the very least she won't hate it. Even if this is a bit sudden, it should be okay. Great. I'll buy her one. Maybe Narae will say she's thankful and give me a light hug……
It was then.
Rangii appeared, had her arms up in a hurray, and clung on to me.
……no, why're you bothering me even when I'm in the middle of my delusions. I shook my head and tried to erase Rangii's sudden appearance. But, as is just like her, she stuck around. Okay. I can just buy you one. Well, since you also helped clean this morning. If you do something good then I should give you a prize.
I went inside the store. I answered the store clerk's greeting with a slight bow and looked around at the dolls. What kind of doll should I buy for Narae and Rangii? Hm. Yeah. Since Narae's a member of the Bear Clan I'll buy her a bear doll; and since Rangii is a tiger phantom I'll buy her a rabbit doll. It's not because a tiger doll is expensive. I found reasonably priced dolls and got it gift-wrapped plainly and……
"To get gift-wrapping you need to give 5,000 more won." (about 4.30 USD)
"Please put them in a bag."
No, I put them in the bag and left.
……but the thing is. I feel like I've forgotten something, but could it just be my imagination? I felt like something was off while heading home.
"I'm home."
"You're back!"
"Good work."
……this is a taste of the happiness that I'll feel when we get married. Wouldn't life be worth living if a wife like Narae and a daughter like Rangii came out to see me?
"But what is that?"
Rangii pointed at the white bag in one of my hands and spoke.
"A present."
I answered shortly, put down the groceries in the kitchen, and gave the dolls to Narae and Rangii.
"Oh……"
"Uwa!"
Narae held the doll and looked happy yet surprised, and seeing Rangii smile so widely, I unconsciously had a mile on my face as well.
"Wh, what is this all of a sudden?"
'No, I mean. I thought of you on the way and……"
I'm sorry I couldn't think of anything cool to say.
"It's a present! It's a wedding gift!"
"It's not a wedding gift."
Even though I'm saying this kind of stuff so easily. Seeing the two of them so glad, I also felt good. Ah, how nice and……
"Do you have nothing for me?"
"He—ek?!"
Even while I freaked out when Saehee suddenly appeared, I thought to myself crap! Yeah. The reason why I felt something was off. It was Saehee. I carefully gave an excuse while large drops of sweat formed on my back.
"That's……"
"I know. I know that such cute things do not fit me. I will prepare dinner."
……in the end, to try and Saehee less mad, I took care of preparing dinner and cleaning the dishes.
[Saehee] "This tastes awful."
It was impossible.