GRR 83

At first, he naturally assumed Jion must have been confused. How could a human possibly come to like a grim reaper? Besides, he’d never even done anything that might have made Jion take a liking to him. In the beginning, their opinions differed so completely that they argued over every little thing.

All he’d done was look out for him a few times, simply out of a sense of responsibility and protection, but he wondered if that kind of behavior held a special meaning among humans. No matter how much he replayed the events with Jion in his mind, he couldn’t make sense of it.

No matter how much he thought about it, Jion was definitely confused, but he said he wasn’t. He didn’t avoid his gaze and spoke each word with conviction.

‘It’s not like you’re leaving right now. While we’re together, it’s okay to like each other, right? I’ve barely even confessed yet… I don’t want to give up out of fear before I’ve even had a chance to fully enjoy liking you. You didn’t say you hate me.’

In that moment, Jion felt far more mature than him, someone who only brought up age in conversation as if he were his ancestor. Jion knew how to express his feelings honestly. Unlike him, who already backed away with the end in mind, Jion said he didn’t want to give up without even trying.

‘So please, think about this seriously. I’m not confused.’

Are all humans these days this bold? As Kwon Chasa chuckled to himself, his gaze fell on the stack of registers piled in one corner of the study. The once heaping stack had dwindled considerably, leaving only about twenty remaining. Unless Yeomra handed over more registers, once he resolved all of these, he could return to the underworld.

After all, the dwindling number of registers meant the day of his return to the underworld was approaching.

‘…I’m going to make you fall for me too, Chasa-nim.’

That was why, when Jion made that bold statement, he should have immediately rejected him. Instead of trying to persuade him by invoking his status as a grim reaper, it might have been better to simply tell him he didn’t like him and hurt his feelings. He knew in his head that that would have been the much simpler approach.

So why, in the end, did those words never come out of his mouth?

From the very beginning, he could have simply ignored Jion’s feelings, whether he liked him or not. If he had treated it as something completely unrelated to him, whether he was hurt or cried in sorrow, everything would have been easier. After all, he was going to leave, and once he left, he wouldn’t be coming back to this world.

It should have been a simple matter, but in the end, he came back without saying a word. It was because he could all too easily picture the expression Jion would make if he said those harsh words.

That day when Jion, who had been chattering away happily, suddenly grew somber and fled home. That day when he turned away in a hurry, his lips trembling as if he might burst into tears at the slightest touch.

It felt as though he was about to face that very same expression from that day once again.

‘That’s why I keep… getting the wrong idea…’

As he traced his memories, Kwon Chasa recalled Jion’s words, closed his eyes, and let out a sigh. He supposed it started then. That was when Jion began to look at him with different eyes. Up until then, Jion had even doubted whether he was just confused. For some reason, as time passed, that doubt had gradually turned into certainty.

Everything was a mystery, but the thing he understood least of all was not Jion, but himself. Here he was, being swayed by Jion’s words.

Unwelcome thoughts swirled through his mind. To escape this whole situation quickly, the only way was to send the wandering souls to the underworld as soon as possible and wrap up his own affairs here.

Kwon Chasa leaned back in his chair and let out a dry sigh. He wished that every time he exhaled, those heavy thoughts would be swept away with it.

***

Once the college entrance exams were over, Jion’s daily life became much more relaxed. He could leave school ​Read on​after just getting through the morning classes, and his part time job, which he had started again, was moved to the afternoon to coincide with his school schedule. Now, even on weekdays, he could make time in the evenings to help the grim reapers.

“Hmm…”

But he hadn’t heard from them for several days. Jion stopped sorting the snack shelves. He sighed and paused his work. Just sitting there waiting, with no idea when he’d see Kwon Chasa again, made him anxious.

Jion pulled his phone out of his pants pocket and tapped the screen repeatedly to type a message.

[What are you doing?]

[Are you really busy? I’m free now, hehe]

[I’ll help you.]

Although he sent the message, he didn’t have high hopes of hearing back. There was a good chance Kwon Chasa didn’t carry his phone with him, and if he was at home or in the underworld, he wouldn’t be able to see his text anyway.

But he didn’t give up hope. Just as he finished organizing the shelves and returned to the counter, a customer walked in. As soon as the customer, who had bought a pack of cigarettes and a can of coffee, stepped out of the convenience store, Jion immediately checked his phone. He wondered if a reply might have come in the meantime, but, as expected, there was no response. Jion tapped the screen with his fingertips and let out a sigh.

What’s the point of saying so confidently that I’ll make him fall for me? We barely even have a chance to meet… Feeling sad and hurt, Jion pouted.

No matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t seem like Kwon Chasa was avoiding his confession because he disliked him. Considering the reality of the situation, his reaction might have been natural, but he still wished he would take his feelings seriously at least once. Instead of just dismissing it as confusion.

Just as his shoulders were about to slump, Jion bit his lip and shook his head. Since Kwon Chasa had returned to this world, there wasn’t absolutely unauthorized copy no hope. He also had the wooden plaque that could summon him.

If he called him whenever he had a chance, wouldn’t he come at least once? After all, Kwon Chasa had appeared before him in the end, even though he’d complained about him bothering him by calling him so often. There was a possibility.

Feeling more positive and regaining his energy, Jion finished his part time job without incident. On his way home with a cup of instant noodles for dinner, Jion fell into deep contemplation.

I miss him… Should I try calling him, or not?

He couldn’t rule out the possibility that Kwon Chasa might be avoiding him, but you never know. Since he’d already confessed his feelings and declared his intentions, there was nothing left to be shy about.

To do that, he had to hurry home. He couldn’t very well summon Kwon Chasa right in the middle of the street.

Jion walked briskly with hunched shoulders to shield himself from the cold wind. Just as his home came into view and his pace quickened, a familiar figure caught his eye.

Under a streetlight whose glow had dimmed, perhaps because it was broken, stood two people. Dressed in identical black suits, they looked like twins, none other than the grim reapers.

Startled, Jion froze for a moment, but then he smiled brightly and ran straight toward them.

“Kwon Chasa-nim!”

The two grim reapers, who seemed to be arguing, turned their heads simultaneously at the cheerful voice. Although he had clearly called out to Kwon Chasa, it was Yu Chasa who spoke to him first.

“Jion, can’t you see me…?” ”

As he approached, Jion noticed Yu Chasa’s sullen expression. To be honest, Kwon Chasa had caught his eye first, and in his excitement, he hadn’t even noticed Yu Chasa.

But sometimes, it’s better to make up a little white lie than to be completely honest. Worried that Yu Chasa might feel left out, Jion waved his hands dismissively and made a lighthearted joke.

“Oh… of course I saw you! It’s just that Kwon Chasa caught my eye first… I definitely saw you too. Haha…”

Fortunately, Yu Chasa seemed to believe Jion and let it go. Relieved, Jion turned his gaze toward Kwon Chasa. He wore his usual expressionless face. Just by looking at his face, there was no way to tell what he was thinking.

It was nice to see Kwon Chasa the very moment he thought he wanted to see him, but he felt a little disappointed that he hadn’t replied to his text. Jion puffed out his cheeks in a pout and let out a short sigh.

“Kwon Chasa-nim, did you see my texts?”

“Texts?”

“Yes. I sent three of them.”

Jion pulled his phone out of his jacket pocket and showed him the messages he’d sent. He watched Kwon Chasa glance at the screen and asked again.

“Don’t you have your phone with you right now?”

His question, asked just in case, was met with a half hearted nod. Just as he’d expected. What good would having a phone do? He didn’t even carry it around. It might even be lying dead [visit our site]in a desk drawer somewhere. Jion decided to make his intentions clear once and for all.

“From now on, whenever you’re in this world, make sure to keep it with you. And answer when I call.”

“…….”

“If you don’t feel like talking, just nod your head like you did earlier.”

When Jion raised his gaze. His eyes brimmed with determination, it was clear that Kwon Chasa was trying to hide his embarrassment by looking away. As Jion stared at him almost menacingly, he sighed and gave a half hearted nod.

Although it wasn’t a genuine gesture, Jion decided he was satisfied with that much. After all, he had given a positive response. As Jion smiled brightly, Yu Chasa glanced back and forth between him and Kwon Chasa, who wore a displeased expression.

“By the way, why are you here? Is it for work?”