He draws the line at Discord and KoTalk but has no problem calling me. I got a little tense, wondering if it might be the guy I’d talked to earlier.
“Yeah.”
— It’s me.
『rainfall』’s voice came through a moment later. I relaxed again, put him on speaker, and shook the soup powder into the pot.
“You’re supposed to be sick, so why’re you calling.”
— I felt bad for suddenly not being able to log in.
“You’re sorry about weird shit. Be sorry about all the shit you’ve put me through instead.”
— I’m not sorry about that.
An awkward silence followed. 『rainfall』 was the one to break it.
— Sorry for leaving you waiting without a word. I don’t think I’ll be able to log in tomorrow either…
His obedient tone sounded deflated. He’s a lunatic, but when he’s sick and down like this he’s… kind of pitiful.
— We can do that quest later, so you can do other quests first if you want…
“Are you in a lot of pain?”
— I’m okay. My body’s just not great, so once in a while this happens.
When I asked, worried, 『rainfall』 answered in a bravely cheerful way. But if you’re “once in a while” laid up in the hospital, that doesn’t sound like just “not great.”
Could it be some incurable disease? The thought crossed my mind, but… if it were that bad, he probably couldn’t no-life games like this.
Instead of making things heavy, I decided to keep it light.
“Maybe you’re sick because your personality’s fucked up like that.”
— Maybe.
He agreed so readily that I felt a little embarrassed.
“…That was a joke.”
— I know.
Whether he really knew or was just saying something to say something… I couldn’t begin to guess how a lunatic’s brain worked. Before I gave him any more openings to snipe at me, I changed the subject.
“Want me to visit you at the hospital or something?”
— I’ll pass.
It was just a throwaway line, but he refused so firmly that I grumbled on reflex,
“You’re harsh. I’m a high-value guy, you know.”
— I’m getting discharged tomorrow. I won’t be able to play right away even after I’m out, I should rest a bit…
“Yeah, you should. I’m not trying to chain some sick guy to the game.”
— That doesn’t sound like you.
“…What doesn’t.”
— I mean you’re not as much trash as I thought.
“You wanna die?”
He laughed softly at my half-joking threat. It was a clear laugh that didn’t sound like him at all.
— Anyway, I’ll hang up. See you, Seojin.
“Uh…”
He suddenly called me by name and then hung up. Goosebumps prickled up my arms. Why the hell was another guy’s name coming out of his mouth that sweetly…
I scrubbed at my goosebumped arm for no reason and turned off the gas.
******
『rainfall』 hung up and came back two days later.
Lunatic (Han Yesung)
[What are you doing]
Along with nagging.
I’d just gotten back from swimming and my messages were blowing up like crazy. They kept coming in one after another.
Lunatic (Han Yesung)
[Don’t sleep in, get up]
[Wash your face and log in]
How long has it been since he was sick, and he’s already raising hell because he wants to grind.
[At the gym;;]
[I’ll log in when I get home]
Lunatic (Han Yesung)
[Got it]
A brief window of free time… I was too lazy to fuss with breakfast, so I just choked something down fast and hopped straight into the game. The moment I logged in, 『rainfall』 sent me a party invite like he’d been waiting.
[Party]『rainfall』: Hi.
[Party]kk1234: yo.
[Party]『rainfall』: I didn’t know you were working out, thought you were sleeping.
[Party]『rainfall』: Sorry.
[Party]kk1234: it’s fine.
For someone who’s supposedly a functioning human, he apologizes in all the wrong places and never in the ones that actually matter.
[Party]kk1234: You don’t work out?
[Party]『rainfall』: My body’s not in great shape.
[Party]kk1234: That’s exactly why you should work out more.
[Party]『rainfall』: You sound just like my brother.
If he’s hearing that kind of thing, that means he normally doesn’t exercise at all. If he just kept it up a bit, the constant sickly thing might get better. Unless he really is some serious invalid… but he’s got enough energy to sit at a computer for hours, doesn’t he?
[Party]kk1234: Work out a little.
[Party]『rainfall』: I go for walks sometimes.
[Party]kk1234: Don’t “sometimes,” make it a habit.
『rainfall』 didn’t answer. I took the opening and started nagging him.
[Party]kk1234: That older brother of yours is probably saying it cuz he’s worried.
[Party]kk1234: You gotta exercise to get healthy, or you’ll just get sicker.
[Party]『rainfall』: That doesn’t sound like you.
[Party]kk1234: ? lol
[Party]『rainfall』: Healthy mind in a healthy body.
[Party]『rainfall』: Your mind’s not healthy, unlike your body.
[Party]kk1234: You wanna die?
[Party]『rainfall』: lol
[Party]『rainfall』: I should exercise, but if I overdo it I end up bedridden again.
He admitted it honestly. I felt a little bad for giving him shit.
[Party]kk1234: Are you really that sick?
[Party]『rainfall』: When I was little, yeah, pretty bad. I’m better now.
[Party]『rainfall』: I can’t do intense workouts, but walks are fine.
[Party]kk1234: Then at least do that regularly.
[Party]kk1234: Gotta stay healthy if you wanna game every day.
[Party]『rainfall』: lolololol
[Party]『rainfall』: I’ll try.
[Party]kk1234: Don’t just “trryyy,” actually do it.
[Party]『rainfall』: Okay.
He answered more readily than I’d expected. Since he’s not the type to make empty promises, he might really go for a walk tomorrow.
[Party]『rainfall』: Anyway, let’s run a dungeon.
He changed the subject. I considered teasing him some more, but the game came first, so I just answered, [yeah].
[Party]kk1234: You don’t do party runs?
[Party]『rainfall』: I do.
[Party]kk1234: No, I mean… if you’re okay with it, we should run with a full party.
[Party]kk1234: Levelling’s faster that way.
[Party]『rainfall』: Sounds good.
[Party]kk1234: Let’s do Fior.
[Party]『rainfall』: Yeah.
The [Fior’s Cave] that 『rainfall』 and I had first discovered gives a 10% EXP boost to the whole party in that dungeon if you equip the title. It was perfect for grind levelling.
[Party]『rainfall』: Should I call in a healer?
[Party]kk1234: Which healer?
[Party]『rainfall』: RibulleMilkTea.
A familiar name. It’s not like 『rainfall』 has some huge social circle. He’s the guy who stuck with a guild that said they’d kick him out whenever they felt like it.
From what I’d seen, Ribulle’s control was decent enough, so I had no real reason to refuse. When I said okay, RibulleMilkTea joined the party right away.
[Party]RibulleMilkTea: Hello!!
[Party]kk1234: yo.
[Party]kk1234: What level are you?
[Party]RibulleMilkTea: 93.
[Party]kk1234: Hurry over.
[Party]RibulleMilkTea: Running full speed, whooosh.
Ribulle’s main, RibulleMilkTea, was a Bard. A healer/buffer class, and since Fior’s Cave wasn’t exactly a dungeon where you suffered from heal shortage, it was a perfect fit.
When Ribulle arrived at Fior’s Cave, they set off fireworks.
<‘RibulleMilkTea’ does a joyful dance.>
[Party]RibulleMilkTea: It’s been so long since I ran with Nagi.
[Party]RibulleMilkTea: I’m sooo happy.
[Party]『rainfall』: ^^
『rainfall』 smiled and welcomed Ribulle like a normal person — just not with me. It was annoying, but I let it go.
[Party]RibulleMilkTea: Let’s gooo!!
Ribulle, all hyped up, charged ahead. We entered the dungeon.
From there, everything went really smoothly. Ribulle stumbled a bit at first… Normally I would’ve started flaming, but under 『rainfall』’s watchful gaze I couldn’t, and soon enough Ribulle adjusted and started handling heals and buffs just fine.
We ran for a few hours, ate, then ran for a few more. By the end of it we’d gained two levels.
『rainfall』 said he had to log off, and now that I knew how fragile he was, I let him go without a fuss.
[Party]RibulleMilkTea: Bye-bye T_T
[Party]『rainfall』: See you next time.
[Party]kk1234: later.
<‘rainfall’ has left the party.>
<‘RibulleMilkTea’ flops on the ground and throws a tantrum.>
『rainfall』 left coolly no matter what Ribulle did, and Ribulle rolled across the floor over to my side.
[Party]RibulleMilkTea: Are you logging off too, K?
[Party]kk1234: You wanna keep going?
[Party]RibulleMilkTea: Wanna level your alt?
Running the main all day and then the alt, huh.
Not bad. Doing only one thing gets boring… not that I actually get bored. But it wasn’t like there was a downside.
[Party]kk1234: ok.
I agreed and logged into my alt right away.
[Party]RibulleBubbleTea: Your IDs are really consistent lol.
[Party]hh1234: lol.
I checked the [Sunset] guild tag floating over RibulleBubbleTea’s head.
[Party]hh1234: You’re the one who’s consistent.
[Party]RibulleBubbleTea: I am, huh. lol
[Party]hh1234: Not just the nick, the guild too.
[Party]RibulleBubbleTea: Ah…
[Party]RibulleBubbleTea: I’m thinking of transferring, though.
[Party]hh1234: Why.
[Party]RibulleBubbleTea: The mood between Nagi and our guild master’s not great lately…
In a way, it was the most obvious thing in the world. 『rainfall』’s guild master had told ours that if push came to shove, they’d just kick 『rainfall』 out.
If he was ready to toss a guild member the moment there was trouble, there was no way his relationship with the person at the center of that trouble was going to be good.