Peninsula: Please, I only want to talk about ordinary people.

Chapter 6 The Forced Agreement

"Yongtai-san still knows to log on! He didn't disappear. What a miracle!"

Mina sat cross-legged in front of the screen, wearing loose loungewear, her hair casually clipped behind her head, and Bluetooth earphones plugged into her ears.

She spoke in Japanese, with a drawn-out, somewhat sarcastic tone at the end of each syllable.

This guy made her wait for a whole hour!

On the screen, the Splatoon lobby interface was still lit up, and her little squid was practically growing mushrooms in the corner.

"Isn't Jihyo in her room?"

Jiang Yongtai's voice came through the earphone, also in Japanese, as if he hadn't noticed the barb in her words.

"No, he's out on a date."

"No wonder, that's how you talk right from the start, what a miracle!"

Mina rolled her eyes. If the other members saw her expression at that moment, they would probably be shocked.

Mina, the Mina who speaks softly and only laughs when her sisters are noisy, is actually speaking to a man in this tone.

"Hurry up and get ready, it's rare for her to be in the mood to play games with you."

"Okay, are you still in Japan?"

"No, I'm already in Seoul, and I'll join them when they make their comeback."

"It seems you've recovered. Congratulations."

"Yes—thank you for your belated concern, Yongtai-san~"

She deliberately emphasized the words "late," and Jiang Yongtai chuckled softly on the other end without offering any explanation.

Mina didn't launch any further attacks; she had known Kang Young-tae long enough to be used to it.

The two of them had worked together as gaming partners, so their tacit understanding was genuine, and they could speak without beating around the bush.

The game started, the screen lit up, and ink sprays from both sides exploded on the screen, while the vibrations from the controllers traveled up to my palms.

Mina was maneuvering her character to contest for territory in the midfield, her eyes glued to the screen, but her mouth was never idle.

"How did I suddenly end up meeting with Sana?"

Jiang Yongtai's character slid past her, sprayed a row of paint, and said indifferently.

"We met by chance when she went to record a radio program at KBS."

"and then?"

"And then?"

"Of course, it's about what you guys talked about."

Mina said while pressing down on the right analog stick, her hand movements were perfectly steady, but she slowly drifted into memories.

"Even though you've been broken up for so long, I'm the only one who knew the whole story from beginning to end. Shouldn't you satisfy the curiosity of your mutual friend?"

Two years ago, in the corridor of Music Bank.

The day's performance had just ended when she saw Sana sneak out of the dressing room again, her steps light and quick, unlike someone who had just been leaning on Tzuyu, panting for breath.

She didn't know what had gotten into her, but she didn't say anything and followed behind.

Then, at the entrance to the fire escape, she saw Sana jump onto a staff member with a big smile on her face.

She almost cried out. Sana, the most career-driven member of the team, was the first to fall in love?!

She tried to quietly retreat, but her hand accidentally touched the door of the fire escape. The iron door made a muffled sound, and the two people inside turned their heads at the same time.

She tried to run, but before she could even take a step, Sana recognized her.

"Mina!"

She stood in front of them, so embarrassed that she didn't know what to do with her hands and feet.

"I didn't actually see anything... Do you... believe me?"

Sana, on the contrary, was not flustered at all. Instead, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, took her hand, blinked, and looked at her with a wronged expression.

"Mina~ You'll help me, right?"

"Well……"

She looked up at Jiang Yongtai and found that he was just as at a loss as she was, so she instinctively made an assessment of him in her mind.

Well, he's not bad looking, so it's normal that Sana would like him.

Jiang Yongtai looked up at her, and then his expression became even more awkward.

That reaction made her certain that he had seen through her thoughts.

So sensitive?!

She was somewhat surprised by Jiang Yongtai's reaction, but she still became the "tool" for their date.

Sasha wanted to see Kang Young-tae, so she said, "I'm going out for coffee with Mina." Her manager asked a couple of questions at first, but then got used to it.

Later, as they spent more time together, she discovered that Jiang Yongtai also played games. Since she needed someone to play games with, she naturally extended an invitation.

Jiang Yongtai hesitated for a moment, then she bluntly said, "It's very necessary to build a good relationship with your girlfriend's best friend."

He agreed.

The days that followed passed quickly. She covered for them, acted as a third wheel on their dates, and occasionally relayed messages when they argued.

Until one day, Sana cried to her in the dormitory. After crying, she said that they broke up without even seeing each other. It was a clean break.

Mina remained silent for a long time after listening, and then blocked Kang Young-tae's Kakao Talk account.

Although she knew that Sana was also at fault in this matter, at that time she thought that no matter whose fault it was, she had to take a side.

Later, she fell ill and returned to Japan to recuperate.

One day, when she opened the game, she saw a team invitation from Jiang Yongtai. She stared at the screen for a while, her finger hovering over the reject button, before finally pressing accept.

During that game, Jiang Yongtai didn't ask her how she was feeling, didn't mention Sana, and didn't say anything unnecessary.

Just like before, I watched the left flank for her, covered her as she climbed to the high ground, and threw her a lifebuoy when she fell into the water.

Mina watched the silly character on the screen climb out of the water and suddenly thought that having such a simple gaming partner wasn't so bad.

After that, the two resumed their previous relationship, no longer talking about the past or feelings, only about which weapon was nerfed and which skill was buffed.

……

The game results screen popped up, and she was still the MVP.

"Actually, we didn't talk about much."

Jiang Yongtai's voice finally came through the earphones, followed by a pause.

"That's embarrassing."

"Then why did you suddenly ask me to relay a message again?"

Mina's finger stopped on the handle, and she asked curiously.

"That's not right, Yongtai-san~ This isn't like your style of cutting ties cleanly back then."

There was a moment of silence in the headphones.

"...Yes, there is a bit."

Then his tone relaxed again, returning to the familiar one.

"But you promised to help me, so are you going to back out, Nan-chan?"

"Okay, okay, when have I ever not kept my promise to you?"

Mina paused for a moment, "It's just that someone promised to come to my comeback concert, but didn't show up."

"Yes, I'm sorry. I'll kneel down and apologize to you next time we meet."

"You'd better be."

Mina pulled her leg out from under her buttocks and changed her position.

"But there's no need for next time, let's do it tomorrow night."

She paused for a moment after saying that, "I've been back for so long, but because of COVID-19, I can't go out freely. Take me out for a walk tomorrow night."

"Minami-chan, you're an otaku! How can you just go out like that?!"

Jiang Yongtai said with "deep sorrow".

"Otaku do go out occasionally~ Do you agree?"

"Sure, but why me? Ask your teammates, they'd be happy to help too."

"If you say one more word, I won't tell Sana tomorrow night. Instead, I'll bring her to you and let you tell her yourself."

Minami casually dropped a bombshell.

The headphones went silent instantly.

Mina raised an eyebrow at the screen.

"Very good, I like your attitude now, Yongtai-san, that's enough, you can rest."

"Yes, I understand, 'Young Miss'."

Jiang Yongtai gritted his teeth and agreed to the appointment for tomorrow night.

Mina paused for a moment, then shouted, "I told you not to call me by that nickname!"

What do you mean "Young Miss"?! She still doesn't know why Jiang Yongtai calls her that!

When they first met, he saved her name on Kakao. When she asked why, he just smiled and didn't answer. Later, every time he called her that name, he did so with a self-righteous air, as if she had chosen it herself.

That sounds awful!

Bye-bye, see you tomorrow night.

Jiang Yongtai ignored him and simply logged off.

Mina stared at the now-darkened profile picture and angrily slammed her fist on the penguin pillow next to her.

The penguin's head was knocked to the side by the hammer, and it lay there silently, already used to this kind of sudden violence.

But... in the end, he broke down, didn't he?

Thinking of this, Mina's mood improved again.

She packed up the game console and glanced at the time.

Sasha should still be awake. I'd better go and do what Jiang Yongtai asked me to do now, so he won't ask me about it again tomorrow.

As I stepped out of the room, I heard hushed laughter coming from the living room.

Mina walked over, and Sana was leaning against Tzuyu, her head resting on her lap, watching a variety show on TV with a grin, while holding a bag of potato chips in her hand.

Before she could even speak, Sana noticed her.

"Mina, come watch this with me! It's hilarious!"

Minami smiled quietly, without saying a word, thinking about what Jiang Yongtai had told her.

How should I bring it up...?