Solo Panicking

Getting the Hang of it

｡⋆｡˚ ʚɞ ˚｡⋆｡

You 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. you had spent the last few days wandering the streets, looking for some way to ground yourself in this new reality, and finding a job seemed like the best way to do that.

After mustering up the courage, you had walked in earlier that morning to ask about any open positions, and to your relief, the owner, a kind middle-aged woman called Mrs. Kang was happy to give you a chance, despite having a sketchy looking resume. The bakery wasn't huge, and Mrs. Kang mentioned that she could always use an extra pair of hands, especially during the morning rush. Your only real work experience back in the other world had been a mixture of odd jobs, thankfully a bakery was one of them so you weren't totally going in blind.

Now, you stood behind the counter, the apron Mrs. Kang had given you, and was already lightly dusted with flour from kneading dough. The job was simple but oddly comforting. You were mostly in the back baking pastries and sometimes going up front to replace any that were running short. The tasks felt repetitive in a good way, almost therapeutic as your hands moved, not giving your mind a chance to wander.

The hours flew by as you worked, and you found yourself 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 grandmotherly figure, would occasionally pat you on the back, praising her for learning quickly.

"You're a natural," Mrs. Kang said with a grin, handing you a Bungeo-ppang 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."

"Haha thanks, I worked in a bakery before, so this is nice." you reply with a similar grin.

Working here will be a good distraction, keeping you from overthinking about the dangers looming in the near future. For now, you could focus on blending in, making yourself useful, and building a life that felt somewhat real, even if it wasn't the world you had known.

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

｡⋆｡˚ ʚɞ ˚｡⋆｡

The morning sun filtered through the curtains of your apartment as you sipped your coffee, mentally preparing for the day ahead. It had been a few weeks since you moved into this world and, somehow, you had settled into a comfortable routine. Your interactions with Jinwoo 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 your mind was constantly plagued with thoughts about Jinwoo's dangerous lifestyle as an E-rank Hunter. It didn't sit right with you. You know about the hardships Jinwoo would face before his reawakening, but being sort of there while it happens makes you uncomfortable.

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

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

"Of course," You said, slightly exasperated, still tired from waking up. "Come on in."

Jin-ah set her pink bag 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 might be another long raid."