Chapter 42: Ergonomics of Desire

“Oh, look over there, friends! Our arcade game hideout is having an opening event, would you like to participate? The prizes are quite impressive.”

The host, dressed as a clown and holding a microphone, pointed exactly at Chaewoo’s group. Gu Isol was the first to show interest and approached them.

“Welcome, come quickly. How about it. Would you like to challenge the game?”

“What are the prizes?”

“Prizes? There are tons! Mini air purifiers, waffle makers, coffee makers, even air coolers! If you win the game, you can choose and take one from here.”

“I’m not very good at games, though….”

“Ah! Don’t worry even if you’re bad at games. We give cute character dolls as participation prizes. Our boss is crazy!”

“Whoa, a waffle maker. That’s something I’ve wanted.”

“Student, your eyes are sparkling. Would you like to try?”

“I’ll do it.”

“Let’s watch 9292 do it before we go. I’m looking forward to how bad she’ll be.”

Kim Seoko also went and stood in front of the event area.

Somehow, all the group members ended up in an atmosphere of watching the event.

Gu Isol, whose mind was set on the waffle maker, stood in front of a mini basketball hoop after familiarizing herself with the game rules.

The game was simple.

You win if you make more than twenty-five goals with thirty small basketballs into the hoop in the game machine within the time limit.

However, the distance to the hoop was far, so the game itself didn’t look easy.

“Now, get ready. Then we begin!”

As music came out of the hoop, the game started. Simultaneously, Gu Isol picked up the basketballs rolling out of the machine and threw them diligently.

“Oh dear. Student, you succeeded with two out of six balls! It seems like getting a good prize is already out of the question, but try to focus a bit more.”

The clown broadcasted Gu Isol’s score while holding the waffle maker.

“Augh, this is hard.”

“Do a bit better, 9292.”

Despite the cheering, the accuracy was poor. A sound effect indicating the game had ended came out of the hoop.

“Fail!”

Gu Isol only put eight balls into the hoop. It was a score nowhere near the prizes.

“Now, it’s a shame, but. I’ll give you one doll here. Come back to challenge again tomorrow, student. Who’s next to challenge?”

“I’ll do it.”

This time, Kim Seoko jumped out. Chaewoo checked the time while glancing at Euigeon standing next to him.

‘Is it okay to keep staying like this? Should I be the one to say let’s go first even now….’

Euigeon, who he thought would find it very bothersome, unexpectedly showed interest in the game.

Unless he stepped forward and led the way to the studio, Chaewoo decided to just stay still for now. Since it would be awkward for him to urge to go first.

“This friend’s speed is impressive. Oh dear, it missed as soon as I spoke!”

Kim Seoko had a better result than Gu Isol who went before, but the result was a failure. Instead, he got three dolls.

“Is there anyone else in the group who wants to challenge?”

As even Shin Minbyeong stepped forward, Chaewoo, who was just watching, was also tempted. It was because he coveted the mini air purifier.

These days the fine dust is continuously bad, but in the narrow studio apartment, there was no room to put something like an air purifier and he couldn’t afford it.

‘If it’s that small, isn’t it worth using on the desk?’

When his family lived together, they put a large air purifier in every room, but now such a thing is something he can’t even dream of.

“Is there no more?”

‘Should I challenge?’ Chaewoo was conflicted.

“Euigeon-oppa, you haven’t done it yet, right? Hurry!”

“Let’s go once, Hyung!”

Just as Chaewoo was about to step out, Gu Isol and Kim Seoko approached and pulled Euigeon forward. Euigeon, who he thought would refuse, rolled up his sleeves and approached the clown.

“Wow, why is this friend so tall. Are you a physical education student? I feel a bit of a special move vibe among these friends.”

The clown handed the ball to Euigeon.

“You know the rules, right? We’ll start!”

‘Since he’s a guy who only sang, I don’t think he’ll be good.’

Chaewoo predicted Euigeon’s score while watching his back as he threw the balls. Although based on his physique alone he looked like he’d be good at basketball, he had only been in the arts and physical education field all his life due to his parents’ influence.

It’s surprising that he went out there on his own feet, but for some reason, Euigeon was very focused on the game itself.

“Wh-what? Look at this friend. Are you from a basketball team? Why are you so good!”

The clown admired and made sound effects like ‘Ack, Hut, Woah’ every time Euigeon made a goal.

Surprisingly, every ball Euigeon threw went into the goal. Excited group members went forward and cheered for Euigeon.

“At this rate, he’ll succeed. He’s made seventeen so far.”

“Hyung, just a bit more!”

“He’s going to win the waffle maker at this rate.”

As he gradually approached the target number, Chaewoo unconsciously stepped toward the machine one step at a time like the other group members being sucked in.

And without any big surprises, Euigeon made all twenty-five balls.

“Last one, goal! Congratulations! You succeeded in the mission. This friend is not ordinary.”

“Waaaa. Insane, Euigeon-oppa! He’s just swishing them in?”

“But wasn’t Euigeon in the vocal department?”

Shin Minbyeong grumbled, asking if he’s really a singer. Although he said that, his hands were busily clapping.

“Now, student. Which prize do you want?”

The clown handed the microphone to Euigeon and pointed to where the prizes were displayed.

Euigeon’s gaze was directed toward the end of the display case, not toward good prizes like the air purifier.

“Waffle maker! Waffle maker!”

“Augh, 9292, stop being so thoughtless. Did you win it?”

“I’ll buy it from Oppa. That thing is sold out so you can’t even buy it now.”

‘No, it’s the air purifier. A mini air purifier is more useful for a student living alone than a waffle maker.’
Chaewoo busily appealed for the air purifier inwardly so it wouldn’t be heard.

“Then give the waffle maker to that friend.”

“What should we do with this friend…. Even his heart for his classmates is a perfect score.”

“Waaaaack! Oppa, I’ll definitely give you the money!”

“The mini air purifier….”

Chaewoo muttered hollowly. ‘No, isn’t it obvious? How can he choose a waffle maker over an air purifier?’ Chaewoo glared at Euigeon while swallowing the shock he received secretly.

A waffle maker is quite a cumbersome item because you have to make the batter separately and need toppings like jam, whipped cream, or fruit. You can’t even eat it every day like a meal.

To think he chose such a troublesome item specifically to give to Gu Isol. He lost all his energy from the disappointment.

Wait. …Disappointed? Me, with Beom Euigeon?

Chaewoo was flustered by his own thought that suddenly crossed his mind. And he looked back and forth between Euigeon and Gu Isol with surprised eyes.

“Now, who’s next to challenge? Is there no more among the group? There are still air purifiers and air coolers left.”

“Is that a prize too?”

Euigeon pointed to a plush cushion set placed in the prize display case.

Since it was such an unexpected question, the clown personally went in front of the display case and picked up the cushion.

“You mean this? A sofa cushion?”

“Yes.”

“Of course. However, since the student already won a prize, you can’t challenge the same basketball game. You can only re-challenge through shooting.”

‘Is he planning to do shooting too without going to the studio?’

But why a cushion among so many things. Thinking it’s a strange event, Chaewoo stared intently at the prize in the clown’s hand. It didn’t seem like it had anything special.

“If Euigeon-hyung even wins this, it’s legendary.”

“Are you confident? Going for shooting, student?”

“I’ll do it.”

Unlike during the basketball game, Euigeon slowly received the shooting gun the clown handed over.

Before long, people who were in the university district gathered around and were watching the game.

Actually, it wasn’t such a great event, but since the group members led by Gu Isol were so overly excited, it drew too much attention.

Shooting has the same rules as basketball.

Among thirty dolls set up in front, if you knock down more than twenty-five with bullets, you can choose the prize you want.

Chaewoo watched with his arms crossed and felt frustrated as he couldn’t understand why Euigeon wanted something like a cushion.

The result was twelve hits out of thirty shots. It’s a score where he can’t even get a single large doll, let alone a cushion.

“Oh my! It seems even a perfect student has something they can’t do. It’s a shame, but fail!”

The clown took back the gun. Euigeon continued to fix his gaze on the cushion even while walking toward where the group members were. As if it was quite a shame.

‘Does he want that that much? Even more than a mini air purifier directly related to health?’

“Should I win that for you?”

Chaewoo asked Euigeon reflexively.

“Are you good at shooting, Senior Seol?”

A suspicious gaze returned.

“I received three reward leaves for shooting training in the army.”

At that, Euigeon’s expression changed oddly.

“Whoa, Chaewoo-oppa, try it. Just go for it even if you fail! Go for it even if you fail!”

“It seems someone else is coming out from that group. Come quickly.”

At the clown’s urging, Chaewoo went out and received the gun. For a toy gun, it’s quite heavy.

“Which prize do you want, student?”

“…The cushion.”

“Ah, it seems the knight in shining armor of the student from a moment ago has appeared. I wonder?”

The dolls that were knocked down on the target board were set up again. Chaewoo looked over the long gun here and there and after checking the distance to the target, he immediately pulled the trigger.

Bang! With the sound, the doll in the center was knocked down.

“Headshot! Bear headshot!”

The clown shouted frantically. It was loud enough to hurt the ears.

However, since there was a time limit, he didn’t hesitate and fired the second and third bullets in succession.

“Porori headshot, Chordi headshot! Hey, this person is also unusual. What’s your major?”

“That oppa is from the vocal department!”

“There are truly many talented people at Yeonseo University. Ah, meanwhile, the rabbit, Ryan, and even Pengsu are all down. It’s a hundred percent accuracy!”

Chaewoo hit everything without missing a single shot. And he designated the cushion Euigeon wanted as the prize.

“Chaewoo-hyung was insane.”

“Senior Seol… why are you so good at this?”

Euigeon asked while quickly receiving the cushion from the clown. He was scanning Chaewoo up and down with surprised eyes as if he really hadn’t expected it.

Although he didn’t want to, seeing Euigeon with the cushion tucked under both armpits, an unknown sense of pride welled up. As if this was a big deal.

****

So Gu Isol took the waffle maker and Euigeon took the cushion as the gathering dismissed. It was a boisterous day.

Chaewoo asked as he walked side by side toward the studio apartment with Euigeon, who had a satisfied expression.

“But why a cushion of all things?”

‘Leaving aside the mini air purifier which is perfect for a student living alone.’

He swallowed the latter half of the sentence bitterly. However, before he could hear an answer, Euigeon’s phone rang.

Handing the two cushions he was holding to Chaewoo, Euigeon answered the call.

Listening to it, it seemed to be a call asking Euigeon to also come to where his classmates were hanging out.

Chaewoo inwardly hoped he would go over there, but contrary to his expectation, Euigeon immediately stated his refusal.

“I can’t go out today.”

The call ended in less than a minute. And Euigeon belatedly answered the question Chaewoo had asked.

“Ah. Since the sofa in the studio apartment is uncomfortable for s*x, I bought a new bed for the living room. But the pillows I ordered haven’t arrived yet. It’s good to have even cushions beforehand, right?”

“…….”

‘What did I just hear?’
Chaewoo, who was walking well, stopped abruptly.

“Since you whine about not being able to hold out every time I pound you from behind, Senior Seol, I was going to put even this under you as a makeshift measure.”

Chaewoo stared at the plush cushion he had won instead of the mini air purifier.

‘Oh, shit.’
‘What on earth have I done?’
He was so dumbfounded that words wouldn’t come out. Once he learned the reason Euigeon was obsessed with the cushion, he wanted to throw it on the road immediately and leave.

“I think the cushion feel is decent. Plus it’s waterproof. It won’t get wet even if Senior Seol drips water from below….”

“Shut up, you crazy bastard!”

Chaewoo shouted with his face turning bright red. Being so angry, he swung the cushion and hit Euigeon with all his might. Since it was so soft, the impact feel was close to zero.

“Then shall we go?”

“You…!”

Euigeon took back the cushion and smirked annoyingly.