Chapter BONUS - Side Story. Return Of The Stars (13)

# It Was Just an Ordinary Day Like Any Other

I woke up in the bed of the large house, and seeing that Ha-ru wasn't beside me, I got up with a yawn.

Wondering what was going on, I went to the kitchen and saw...

"Oh, Da-in. You're awake?"

It was Celeste, wearing an apron and cooking.

With her silver hair flowing down, she stood in the kitchen with her eyes slightly open, looking domestic in a way that made it hard to believe she was once the priestess of the Sun God.

"Yeah. Did you sleep well, Celeste?"

"Of course. Did you sleep well too, Da-in?"

"Haha, naturally."

I greeted her with a natural kiss on her cheek and looked around, asking her:

"By the way, Celeste. Where is everyone?"

"Don't you remember? They all went to the forest to determine who's the best at badminton. Everyone left first because you looked tired."

She said she stayed behind to prepare the picnic food, and I nodded in understanding.

After the final battle with the Sun God, most people lost their abilities, so they couldn't play supernatural badminton like before... but that made it more fun in a way.

"Then I'll help you too. Let's prepare together."

"Ahaha. Thank you, Da-in. Could you cut this for me?"

"Sure. Then..."

Together, we prepared ingredients for the picnic.

It was a good day, with warm sunlight filtering through the windows on this peaceful morning.

And as that warm atmosphere lingered in the kitchen.

Celeste, who was stirring the soup with a smile, casually asked Da-in:

"By the way, Da-in. When can we see our baby?"

"Kuhek."

...It was an unexpected surprise attack.

"Hahaha... Celeste. What are you saying?"

As I awkwardly cleared my throat, Celeste puffed her cheeks, crossed her arms, and said:

"It's true. We've been married for quite a while now. Honestly, I know you're waiting to have one with Ha-ru first."

...The conversation was heading in an increasingly dangerous direction!

Before I could say anything, Celeste had already moved next to me and whispered in my ear:

"If waiting is too hard... would it be okay if we got ahead of them?"

To her, who spoke with narrowed eyes and a smile.

I simply resigned myself and answered honestly.

"...I think there will be good news soon."

"Oh my!"

As she said that, hitting my arm repeatedly while laughing and asking what happened... that was the last thing I saw...

* * *

"Huh!"

I woke up from the dream.

"...What on earth was that?"

The first thing I did after getting out of bed was unconsciously looking around to see if Ha-ru was nearby.

With a strange feeling of having cheated, I broke out in a cold sweat and was startled, wondering if Stardust had seen it.

...Come to think of it, it's not like she can peek into dreams anyway. So it doesn't matter, but still.

"That was really a weird dream..."

I muttered to myself.

No, why did Celeste appear in that role? In the first place, she and I only have a professional relationship, and we've barely had any personal conversations. Stardust handled all the Sun God-related talks on my behalf.

How far does my delusion go? It's even frightening to think about. I don't know why I had such a dream. It was such an unrealistic dream.

But.

'Somehow...'

Even though it was clearly a delusion.

Somehow the dream felt vivid, as if I had actually experienced it.

Why is that?

"...I don't know."

So I decided to just let it go.

Honestly, rather than worrying about such a weird dream, I had other things to think about.

In this life, I only have Stardust.

"Sigh..."

With that thought, I folded the blanket to organize my mind.

During the past time... the days had flown by like an arrow.

After deciding to be with Stardust. After stopping pretending to be a villain and deciding to share everything with her... everything flowed quite smoothly.

All of this was possible because of her overwhelming power.

Thanks to that, we were speeding toward the original ending, breaking all the doom clichés.

Seeing Stardust's power like this, I think it was a good decision not to waste time trying to be a villain to make her stronger, and instead decide to collaborate.

...Of course, it was all her suggestion anyway.

As a side note, on the first day we decided to work together in the basement of Han-eun Group, when I revealed myself as Da-in... she wasn't particularly surprised.

She said she had already been certain of my identity and approached me at the ice cream festival and the café... hearing that gave me goosebumps. I mean, how much had I been in the palm of her hand all along...

'Really, I don't understand why she goes that far for me...'

I quietly thought, recalling those memories.

Honestly, quite some time has passed since I've been with Ha-ru. And I'm not stupid... I know now.

That Stardust, Ha-ru, likes me.

Romantically.

"...Ahem."

...And. Well. Who wouldn't like it when their favorite person likes them back? Honestly, I was happy... no, from the beginning, I was always someone who wanted to live only for Stardust...

But the reason I'm still not confessing and dragging this out...

'...It's because I'm an idiot, that's why.'

I thought with a bitter smile.

...Only now am I confident that she likes me. Honestly, I wasn't sure for quite a long time. It seemed too good to be true. I didn't want to make a fool of myself with a misunderstanding.

But.

'Da-in~'

It was Ha-ru who constantly approached me first.

So, at the very least, I should be the one to confess...

"...When the timing is right."

After dismissing such complicated thoughts irresponsibly again, I got up from my seat and went outside to start my day.

"Oppa. You're up?"

"Yeah. Did you sleep well, Seo-eun? Hello, Ms. Su-bin. By the way, Seo-eun, where's Ha-ru?"

"Wow. Look at you looking for Ha-ru unni as soon as you wake up. Hehe... Ha-ru unni said she went to the association? Said she had something to do."

"Ah, I see."

As I was about to pass by after naturally answering, Ms. Su-bin spoke to me in a kind voice... with a bit of playfulness:

"Fufu. Da-in, you're going to the association to see Ha-ru later, right?"

"...What? What are you saying? You're misunderstanding."

...Do they think I'm obsessed with Stardust? I have my own things to do, I'm a busy person. It's almost the final chapter of the original story. There's a lot to do.

Anyway, looking at me like that, Ms. Su-bin smiled as if she understood everything.

No, aren't you being too distrustful?

After saying that, I just shook my head and went to wash up.

'...Of course, I am going to the association.'

I have to do what needs to be done...

* * *

So I headed to the association.

Since I genuinely had a lot to do, it was already afternoon by the time...

"Are you Mr. Egostic? Stardust is on the rooftop. You can go there~."

"Ah, yes. Thank you."

Following the association agent's guidance, I headed to the rooftop.

Now that we've entered the final chapter of the original story and everything has been revealed, I was essentially treated the same as a hero. Of course, it had been like this for a while...

Anyway, I reached the rooftop.

"...Da-in? You came."

There, in her hero suit, looking at the sunset cityscape... I could meet Stardust, beautiful as always.

"Ms. Ha-ru, what were you doing here?"

To my smiling question, Ha-ru simply smiled and quietly answered:

"Just thinking about this and that. The final battle with the Sun God is coming soon. Thinking that it's practically the end... makes me feel a bit mixed up."

"I see... Indeed, the real end is not far away now."

I answered like that and looked down at the scenery with her.

...Even the purpose for which I fell into this world is finally coming to an end.

Actually, I didn't do much... but I helped plan with Stardust, humanity's savior, so I can say I did at least my part, right?

Then, after the ending.

What should I do with my life?

As I was thinking that.

"By the way."

Suddenly, Stardust, who was next to me, spoke to me in a playful voice with her hands behind her back.

"I'm the one going to fight the Sun God, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Then, don't you have anything to say to me before I go fight a battle for humanity's fate? In movies, they usually make promises about what to do after the war ends."

At those words, I felt like my mind suddenly cleared.

Right. Is it now?

The sunset backdrop, right before the final battle. Isn't this the perfect time to confess?

As soon as I realized that, I instantly started composing lines in my head.

Yes. If not now, there might never be another timing. Honestly, if a man hesitates even in this situation, that's truly being a foolish pushover.

Having made up my mind, I immediately took action.

"Ms. Ha-ru."

"Yes? Kyaak!"

I called Ha-ru, grabbed her shoulders, and turned her face toward me.

Naturally pulled by my gesture, she was pressed against me, facing me.

...Somehow her body seemed relaxed, making her easy to pull, and her scream sounded somewhat excited.

Ignoring that, I spoke to her in a deep, serious voice:

"Then Stardust. Ms. Ha-ru. I have something I want to tell you."

What should I say? What would be good to say?

"Mmm. What is it?"

What should I say to move her? What's the perfect confession line?

As I desperately racked my brain while looking into her eyes, which held a vague expectation:

"When this final battle is over."

And so, feeling pressured by time as movie scenes rushed through my head too quickly, I made a small verbal mistake.

"Will you marry me?"

Uh.

Wait, that's not it.

I froze with a smile on my face even after saying it.

You idiot. This isn't a proposal. You should say let's date, let's try being together, why is marriage coming up here?

...The situation did feel very much like a proposal. Honestly, while speaking, I was half thinking we were already dating anyway. And the thought of wanting to marry her... I had occasionally had it by myself! But still. Was I too flustered by random thoughts?

No. How do I fix this?

While I was frozen like that.

Stardust, who heard my words, widened her eyes, and with a reddened face, laughed and said:

"Hahaha! Da-in, we're not even dating yet, are we? You want to go straight to marriage?"

"Haha..."

As I stood there awkwardly frozen.

Ha-ru, who had laughed so much that tears welled up in her eyes.

Soon wiped her tears and said to me with a slight smile:

"But... I'd like that."

"What?"

"Let's do it, let's get married."

Ha-ru's appearance, saying that so confidently, rather boldly.

At her response, I was the one who was dumbfounded.

"...Why. Don't you like it? Didn't you mean you like me?"

"What? No. I mean, not 'no'. Yes, I'd like that. I love you."

"Haha... Yes. I love you too. So I'm Da-in's bride now?"

Ha-ru's appearance, smiling broadly as she said that.

To me, she looked so dazzlingly beautiful.

"Then, isn't there something you should do for your bride? For example... mmph!"

I unconsciously kissed her.

She seemed momentarily surprised, but then closed her eyes and hugged me back, returning the kiss.

...And so, we kissed for a long time for the first time.

It happened one week before the final battle, with humanity's extinction at stake.