I Became a Member of My Favorite Group! - Chapter 59

The day after moving into my new place I arrived at the meeting spot, nervous as a cat on edge, constantly glancing around.

Why is my heart racing?

Honestly, I’ve talked with the members countless times.

It’s silly to be this nervous just because it’s a one-on-one meeting.

But the reason I’m so tense about meeting Ra-hee unnie is probably because, among all the members, she’s the one who feels the most opposite to me.

In many ways.

Ring ring ring—

I wonder when unnie will arrive.

As I waited, half excited and half anxious, my phone rang loudly.

『Da-jeong, where are you?』

As soon as I answered, Ra-hee unnie’s voice came through.

I quickly scanned my surroundings to figure out where I was.

There’s nothing particularly distinctive around here.

The only notable thing is the store I’m standing in front of.

“Ah, unnie. I’m in front of a store that sells dolls or something.”

『Huh? I don’t see you… Where’s our youngest?』

“You don’t see me?”

Huh?

Did I mix up the meeting spot?

That can’t be…?

I definitely showed the taxi driver the address and said, “Please take me here!”

“Where’s our youngest? I really don’t see you.”

“Ah, unnie. Maybe I should come to you… Huh?”

If that’s the case, I can’t inconvenience unnie.

I was about to ask her to tell me her location so I could go to her when I suddenly felt something strange.

I blinked and momentarily took the phone away from my ear.

Didn’t I just hear unnie’s voice really close by?

Of course, since we’re on the phone, it’s natural to hear her voice clearly but it felt like she was muttering right behind me.

Like in a horror game.

As if wary of a shadow approaching from somewhere, I slowly turned my head.

If it’s not my imagination, I definitely heard her voice just now….

Whoosh—

“Gotcha, Da-jeongie!”

“Kkyut…?!”

Just as my guard was at its peak, something suddenly pounced on me.

I let out a sound like a rabbit being poked with a needle and was completely caught off guard.

“Kuhuhu, ‘Kkyut!’ Even your scream is cute. How is our youngest so adorable?”

“U-unnie…!”

The one who had pounced on me was, of course, Ra-hee unnie.

I pouted at her laughter over my silly scream, but she didn’t seem to care at all, patting my head in her usual carefree manner.

“It’s our first time meeting one-on-one, so I thought I’d play a little prank. You’re not mad, are you?”

“A… a little….”

I’m usually willing to tolerate anything from the members.

But this time, I could clearly feel the mischievous intent behind her actions.

I pouted and looked up at her.

“Are you really mad? Sorry. Unnie just loves our youngest too much, you know?”

“Ugh, saying that is cheating.”

“Huh? If we’re going there, our youngest’s cuteness is cheating too.”

“I, I don’t know…!”

She’s trying to get out of it again!

But… I’ll let it slide just this once.

After all, today is the first time I’m meeting Ra-hee unnie one-on-one, I can’t act like a child and get upset on a day that’s supposed to be fun.

Yeah, yeah, I’m so mature.

“By the way, it’s getting pretty chilly. Aren’t you dressed too lightly?”

The first thing unnie said after letting go of me was about my outfit.

Now that we’re well into autumn, the weather has definitely cooled down compared to summer.

But this kind of weather is nothing to me!

“It’s fine. I’m really strong against the cold!”

“Even so, wearing just a short-sleeve T-shirt and these pants in this weather….”

Oh, really?

Should I have worn more?

Honestly, even if I wanted to, I don’t have many clothes at home.

The ones I’m wearing now are the same ones I wore all summer.

“Well, it’s a good thing. Unnie will dress you up pretty today.”

“Dress me up?”

“Yeah, I’ll make you the cutest girl in the world, so don’t worry.”

I wasn’t aiming for that…?!

I mean, I knew we were going shopping, but I just wanted to buy a few plain T-shirts and pants to wear every day…!

And what’s this about being the cutest girl in the world? I don’t think I’d ever want that!

“Alright, let’s go? Unnie already scouted out some stores you’ll like.”

“Huh…?!”

As she grabbed my hand, the screen of her phone showed an endless list of what I assumed were clothing store names.

If we go to all of these, I might not make it home today.

*************************

How did things end up like this?

No matter how much I try to remember, I can’t figure it out.

I definitely came to the clothing store with Ra-hee unnie.

And then she picked out some clothes she thought would suit me.

Yeah, that part was fine.

But how did it turn into this…?

“Kyaaa! Da-jeong, you’re so cute! Next, try this skirt! And then how about this hoodie? Oversized hoodies are really in right now, so this style would work well….”

…Where are all these clothes coming from?

Just a moment ago, there were only three or four outfits.

What’s the point of going into the fitting room?

Every time I come out after changing, the number of clothes doubles.

At this point, I feel like a doll being dressed up but I know unnie isn’t doing this with bad intentions.

She’s just trying really hard to find clothes that suit me.

I keep telling myself that as I put on the next outfit she picked out and step out of the fitting room.

The top is a slightly pale pink hoodie, the bottom a white skirt with a bit of pleating.

However the hoodie is so oversized that it practically swallows the skirt and me.

“Unnie… isn’t this too big? The sleeves are so long….”

“No, no. It looks perfect! The fact that your hands are hidden is the point!”

“R-really?”

“Yeah.”

What does she mean by “the point”?

I don’t really get it.

But since Ra-hee unnie knows way more about fashion than I do, I’ll just trust her and wear it.

“Da-jeong, next try this! It’ll look amazing on you!”

“A… a hat too?”

“Yeah! This beret is the key.”

Ugh…?!

I’ve never really worn hats before.

I had one at home, but it got moldy on the buckle, so I threw it away.

But since unnie recommended it, I should try it, right?

It doesn’t seem like my style, though….

‘Skirts are still awkward.’

As I reluctantly take the clothes and head back into the fitting room.

After taking off what I was wearing and changing into the new outfit, I despair when I see it’s another skirt.

Ugh, why are there no pants?

Pants are the most comfortable.

Skirts feel like wearing clothes full of holes—it’s weird.

Swoosh— Swoosh—

Alright.

It’s not like it’ll suit me anyway.

Maybe unnie will realize it doesn’t look good and stop making me wear it.

“Da-jeong, are you done changing?”

“Yes, yes. Just a second….”

I put on the sweater, fasten the belt on the skirt, and place the beret on my head.

“Ugh, there’s no mirror, so I have no idea what I look like right now.”

No matter how much I think about it, I’m sure it looks weird.

“Unnie… should I open the door?”

“Yeah, come on out.”

Fumbling with the doorknob, I push it open with a bit of force.

Until now, my outfits have been pretty normal, so it was fine.

But the thought of showing off this cutesy, girly outfit I’ve never worn before makes my head spin.

“U-unnie, how do I look…?”

“Where, where…?!”

Gathering my courage, I cautiously asked Ra-hee unnie as I stepped out.

She had been looking at some clothes behind me, but when she turned her head and saw me, she froze.

Huh? D-does it not suit me?

I knew this cutesy style wouldn’t suit me, but seeing Ra-hee unnie react like this made me feel a little hurt….

Squeeze—

“Huh?”

“Da-jeong, it looks so good on you!”

“Ugh, unnie…!”

…Just as I was thinking that.

Ra-hee unnie rushed over and hugged me tightly.

I can’t breathe…!

“You’re seriously so cute! Especially that beret! My fashion sense is flawless!”

“D-does it really suit me…?”

“Yes, really. Absolutely. So much!”

I can tell she’s being sincere even without her saying it three times.

Anyway, I’m glad the effort unnie put into picking this outfit wasn’t wasted.

Honestly, I still feel awkward when people call me cute, but compliments from the unnies make me happy.

And having my head patted feels really nice too…

“Alright, what should we try next…?”

After letting go, unnie started looking around at the clothes again, clearly planning to dress me up in something else.

I almost blurted out, “No!” but managed to hold it back.

Instead, I grabbed the sleeve of unnie’s arm and cautiously spoke up.

“U-unnie….”

“Hmm?”

“C-can I pick out some clothes for you too?”

“You want to pick out clothes for unnie?”

“Y-yes….”

Pressing down on the beret on my head, I nodded shyly.

Ra-hee unnie blinked at me, looking a bit stunned.

D-does she not like the idea?

Well, I don’t have any fashion sense, so it’s probably a bad idea.

Even if I pick something out, unnie might just laugh at it.

But I don’t want to be the only one doing this.

Since we’re at the store together, I want to see unnie try on different outfits too.

Of course, I also want to escape this endless loop of trying on clothes.

Just… a little bit.

“Really? You’d do that for me? Of course, I’d love that.”

“Huh? R-really…?”

After a slightly awkward silence, Ra-hee unnie agreed with a bright smile, leaving me more surprised than anyone.

R-really? Is it okay?

I-I don’t really know much about clothes….

“I-I know I’m the one who brought it up, but… I don’t really know much about fashion….”

“It’s fine. Just tell me if you think it looks pretty or not. That’s what fashion is all about.”

Patting my head over the beret, unnie added that she wanted to try on whatever I picked out.

If that’s the case, it’s not too hard.

After all, I do have some sense of aesthetics.

And if unnie doesn’t like it, she doesn’t have to buy it.

In other words, I can just enjoy the guilt-free pleasure of picking out clothes!

But first….

“U-unnie, your hand….”

“Huh? Oh, sorry. Did it bother you when I kept patting your head?”

When I pointed to her hand patting my head over the beret, unnie misunderstood and quickly apologized.

“N-no, it’s not that…!”

“It’s not?”

“Y-yeah, I mean….”

Too embarrassed to explain properly, I quickly moved my hand from the air to my head and took off the beret.

Then I grabbed unnie’s wrist and gently placed her hand back on my head.

“I meant I like it better like this.”

With my cheeks red, I honestly expressed my feelings.

After all, patting over the beret doesn’t feel the same.

“…Pfft, so you like it when unnie pats your head?”

“Y-yes. It feels like being praised….”

It’s embarrassing to admit that I get happy from being praised, even though I’m not a kid.

But, hey, adults can enjoy praise too!

Besides, the members are my favorite people.

Being praised by them is one of the happiest things in the world.

Yeah, that’s right.

So this isn’t embarrassing.

It’s just me being honest with my feelings!

“Then unnie should pat your head more often, huh?”

“J-just once in a while is fine. Really, just once in a while.”

Honestly, I’d love it if she did it more often.

But saying that out loud is too embarrassing, so I added a little white lie at the end.

And so, Ra-hee unnie completely forgot about picking out her own clothes.

Instead, she spent a long time patting my head, pinching my cheeks, and hugging me tightly.

She showered me with affection.

I love all the unnies, but Ra-hee unnie feels especially like an older sister who takes good care of me.

W-well, sometimes she goes a little overboard, though.