Solo Panicking

Getting the Hang of it

3rd person pov change

Y/N stood outside a cozy little bakery, its warm, buttery scent drifting out through the open door. It was a small place, tucked between a café and a bookstore, with pastel-colored walls and a large display window showcasing rows of freshly baked pastries. The bakery, which is called "Sweet Crumbs," seemed inviting. She had spent the last few days wandering the streets, looking for some way to ground herself in this new reality, and finding a job seemed like the best way to do that.

After mustering up the courage, she had walked in earlier that morning to ask about any open positions, and to her relief, the owner, a kind middle-aged woman named Mrs. Kang was happy to give her a chance. The bakery wasn't huge, and Mrs. Kang mentioned that she could always use an extra pair of hands, especially during the morning rush. Y/N's only real work experience back in her world had been a mixture of odd jobs, but she figured working at a bakery would be manageable.

Now, Y/N stood behind the counter, her apron already slightly dusted with flour from handling the fresh loaves of bread. The job was simple but oddly comforting—taking orders, wrapping pastries, occasionally helping to decorate cakes. The tasks felt repetitive in a good way, almost therapeutic as her hands moved automatically, not letting her mind wander and adjust to her new surroundings. Customers came and went, offering her polite smiles or small talk about the weather, none of them knowing that she didn't belong to this world.

The hours flew by as she worked, and Y/N found herself growing fond of the bakery's atmosphere. The soft hum of the ovens, the clink of coffee cups, and the warmth of the freshly baked goods brought a sense of peace. Mrs. Kang, who was a cheerful and motherly figure, would occasionally pat Y/N on the back, praising her for learning quickly.

"You're a natural," Mrs. Kang said with a grin, handing Y/N a croissant to snack on during a quiet moment. "Most of my other hires usually struggle a bit, but you've got the hang of it already."

Y/N smiled gratefully, feeling a small surge of pride. Working here was a good distraction, keeping her from overthinking about the dangers looming in the near future. For now, she could focus on blending in, making herself useful, and building a life that felt somewhat real, even if it wasn't the world she had known.

And maybe, just maybe, she could carve out a little corner of peace for herself—away from hunters, dungeons, and the chaos that was soon to come.

~♡♡☼♡♡~

The morning sun filtered through the curtains of Y/N's apartment as she sipped her coffee, mentally preparing for the day ahead. It had been a few weeks since she moved into this world and, somehow, she had settled into a comfortable routine. Her interactions with Jin-Woo and Jin-ah had become more frequent, especially with it being summertime and Jin-ah out of school.

Life had become a little less daunting, but her mind was constantly plagued with thoughts about Jin-Woo's dangerous lifestyle as an E-rank Hunter. It didn't sit right with her. She knows about the hardships Jin-Woo would face before his reawakening, but seeing it unfold right in front of her made it hurt more.

A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. Setting her coffee down, she padded over and opened the door to find Jin-ah grinning at her with a familiar spark in her eyes.

"Unnie! Can I come in?" she asked excitedly, already stepping past Y/N without waiting for an answer.

"Of course," Y/N chuckled. "You know you don't need to ask."

Jin-ah set her pink backpack down on the couch and plopped down next to it, her energy seemingly endless. "Oppa's working late again today," she said with a sigh. "He said it's going to be another long raid."