Ch.100100 – Girlfriend 3

# 100 – Girlfriend # 3

“What’s going on, son? Why are you fussing with your hair so much?”

I was struggling to dry my neatly cut hair with a blow dryer and apply wax, but it wasn’t working out well at all. I tried following a MeTube video, but my hair looked nothing like the person in the video. My mom seemed to find this amusing.

“Looks like a magpie could build a nest in there.”

“It’s not easy.”

“Are you meeting your girlfriend? Why are you getting all dressed up?”

Mom knew me too well.

She immediately noticed that a girl must be involved since I was actually trying to look good when normally I just aimed to look presentable. As if I wasn’t already anxious, tense, and curious about the upcoming date. I thought about asking Mom what girls liked but decided against it.

“You don’t need to know, Mom.”

“Wow, that hurts. After raising you so well, you throw your mom away as soon as you get a girlfriend? Come on, tell me! Who is she? Is it Juhui? Or is it this modest-looking girl?”

Mom showed me her phone gallery with photos of Yang Juhui, Yu Dahui, and Bong Jiyeon in swimsuits, stretching their legs and making V signs. I was extremely embarrassed and irritated.

“It’s not them!”

“Not these girls? Then who? Tell Mom. I was quite popular until high school, you know! I could even plan your date course for you!”

A date course planned by my mom?

While I did have a lot of concerns, having Mom plan my date seemed… wrong. What am I, a mama’s boy?

Soon, Mom spoke with a serious face.

“Actually, you don’t need to overthink it. And this is important—you don’t need to be too nice to girls. At your age, if you really like someone, just holding hands while walking around the neighborhood can be thrilling.”

Was she suggesting I take my date for a walk around the neighborhood holding hands?

That seemed a bit too simple.

“What do you know, Mom! Kids these days are different!”

“Hey, you think I didn’t have high school days? I had you when I was your age!”

She had a point.

This must be Mom’s personal experience.

Mom must have dated Dad by holding hands around the neighborhood.

Of course, they probably did more than just hold hands.

Ugh.

These were thoughts I’d rather not have.

Pop!

Feeling flustered, I washed my hair again and rushed out of the house.

I had plans for the afternoon anyway.

Buzz-buzz-buzz.

Cicadas were singing loudly during this summer vacation.

I arrived at our meeting place early and waited for my friends.

It was a playground-slash-park near my house.

With the sun blazing high in the sky at lunchtime,

I was bored just waiting, so I manipulated the Status Window.

「Name: Yang Juhui Lv.4

Traits: 《Tool Expert》 《Strong Legs》

Disposition: Brave

Quirk: None

Possessions: Yeongwon’s Cutter Knife, Zippo Lighter, Princess Magic Wand

An unstable street girl with many secrets. Her personality is bold, adventurous, and proactive. This girl will generally be a reliable companion on dark and sinister journeys.」

「《Tool Expert》: You can enter the corridor with up to 3 tools. Tool durability increases by 2x. You can handle acquired items more effectively.」

「《Strong Legs》: Your leg strength is enhanced, allowing you to run 1.5 times faster for 20 seconds.」

Yang Juhui had reached level 4 thanks to our recent experiences.

As a result of reaching level 4, her original trait 《Fast Legs》 had evolved into 《Strong Legs》.

The effect allowed her to run 1.5 times faster for 20 seconds.

If Yang Juhui wanted to, she could easily become an Olympic athlete.

「Name: Jeongseok Lv.4

Traits: 《Computer》 《Fast Reading》

Disposition: Romantic

Quirk: None

Possessions: Multipurpose Room Key

A young master who has lived without hardship. He seeks stability and upholds order. However, he also dreams of adventure and tries to challenge himself with difficulties.」

「《Computer》: Superior trait to 《Calculator》. Thinking speed increases by 3x. You can discover hints to puzzles and secrets more easily. This trait is locked when the subject falls into great fear.」

「《Fast Reading》: You can read text at least 1.5 times faster.」

Jeongseok’s trait had evolved as he reached level 4.

It was a trait that made his thinking speed three times faster, which clearly meant he had become smarter.

“Both at level 4. I’m level 4 too. But my traits haven’t changed.”

As a side note, Jeong Sojin, whom I’d been repeatedly sending into the corridor, had also reached level 4.

「Name: Jeong Sojin Lv.4

Traits: 《Mind’s Eye》

Disposition: Cunning

Quirk: None

Possessions: Class President’s Glasses

A popular and energetic girl who serves as Class D’s president. Her crisis response ability is low, but her versatility may compensate for this. She’s difficult to handle as her outside and inside are different.」

「《Mind’s Eye》: Superior trait to 《Attentiveness》. Increases the probability of discovering the bizarre and taboo. Can see hidden bizarre entities. Easily detects lies.」

《Mind’s Eye》.

It seemed like an extremely powerful trait.

Easily detecting lies?

Dealing with Jeong Sojin would become even more difficult.

Anyway.

I checked my name in the training ground.

『Ha Yeongwon – Training List!』

『Reach Level 3 4/3 Lv – Achieved!』

『Achieve 5 Level 5 Players 0/5』

『Reward: 《???》』

『《???》: ???』

I needed to raise five players to level 5.

Then I could receive 《???》 as a reward, which, judging from Yang Juhui and Jeongseok’s cases, would clearly be a new trait unlocking.

Whatever it was, it must be good. Given the difficult achievement conditions, its performance would surely be impressive.

“Me, Jeongseok, Yang Juhui, Jeong Sojin. That’s four at level 4. Teacher Hong Miri was also level 4. I haven’t checked Dahui, but she’s probably level 4 too…”

“Boo!”

Someone shouted from behind me.

I was so startled that I jumped about 5 meters into the air from the bench.

“Holy mother of—!”

It felt like my heart was ascending to heaven.

When I turned around, Yu Dahui was hiding her hands behind her back, leaning her head toward me and giggling mischievously.

“What were you saying about my level? I heard you muttering my name.”

“Um… nothing.”

I decided to calm my startled heart first.

Soon, Yang Juhui appeared in the distance.

Today was the first meeting of the Ha Yeongwon Pirates since summer vacation began.

It was a meaningful day in its own way.

“Dahui, where’s Jeongseok? I thought he’d come with you guys?”

“Seok’s father was re-elected as mayor, right? So he can’t come today because of a family event.”

Jeongseok’s father had been re-elected as mayor in the recent local election.

Considering the connection between Jeongseok’s father and the Cheon family… it would have been strange if he hadn’t won.

So there really were families that had “family events.”

Though he didn’t show it, Jeongseok was actually from a wealthy family.

“What about Bong Jiyeon?”

“She’s busy flirting with some guy these days. Flirting at such an important time. That crazy girl.”

Yang Juhui was quite openly badmouthing Bong Jiyeon.

She must have been annoyed that Bong Jiyeon was flirting with some guy when they needed to conquer the Nightmare Corridor, uncover various secrets, and defeat heroes.

However, Yu Dahui seemed to have a different opinion.

“I think it’s fine. Even during wars, babies were still born. Romance is always the most important thing for people in any situation. Thomas Mann also said that love is stronger than death.”

Love is stronger than death.

I didn’t know who Thomas Mann was, but it sounded like something the literary Yu Dahui would say, and it sounded plausible. Yang Juhui snorted.

“They’ll break up soon anyway. Bong Jiyeon has never dated anyone for more than two months. All her relationships end quickly. She gets disappointed fast. She always finds something lacking or insufficient in guys and starts criticizing them.”

Anyway, Jeongseok and Bong Jiyeon were absent from this pirate crew meeting.

So it would be just me, Yang Juhui, and Yu Dahui conducting the meeting.

# # #

The summer café was cool.

We each ordered a drink and sat on sofas that were so plush they were actually uncomfortable. I brought the drinks on a tray and distributed them to everyone.

“Wait, let’s take a picture before drinking!”

Yu Dahui stopped me as I was about to sip my drink.

She seemed to have developed an interest in taking photos and posting them on Instagram.

It was a simple hobby befitting an ordinary girl.

“Ah shit, how annoying. Why take pictures?”

Of course, Yang Juhui disliked such things.

She didn’t use Instagram much either.

“Anyway, as soon as our entry cooldown is over, the four of us will enter the corridor. We’ll go in fully armed with plenty of items and push all the way to the second floor.”

Me, Jeongseok, Yang Juhui, and Yu Dahui.

In other words, an elite squad.

Jeongseok and Yang Juhui each had irreplaceable roles, and in Yu Dahui’s case, she had the highest potential that I was expecting.

With powerful ghosts collected and plenty of points, my goal for this summer vacation was to thoroughly explore the second floor.

During random matchmaking, we had no items and the party compositions were consistently terrible, so we got wiped out. But with proper preparation and a planned expedition, we might get good results.

“Actually, I was planning to draw items today.”

I had planned to use my accumulated 788 points to draw items.

The items from the Status Window were all fascinating objects that would likely help with corridor exploration.

But with Jeongseok and Bong Jiyeon absent, it seemed we should postpone using the points.

Yu Dahui asked:

“So what about your date tomorrow? I heard from Juhui! You got confessed to by the idol Kwon Sua!”

Yu Dahui also seemed excited about my date news.

Actually, one reason I called my friends today was to consult them about the date.

“…We’re meeting tomorrow, but what should I talk about and how?”

Thinking about going on a date alone with a girl, honestly, my heart was constricted with tension.

What should I talk about when I’m alone with a girl? What should we eat? What should we do?

Soon, Yang Juhui spoke somewhat curtly:

“Hey, what’s the big deal? Just act like you do when you’re with us. Even if she’s an idol, she’s still human who eats, poops, and sleeps like everyone else. Do you think she’s some fairy who lives on dew?”

Idols are human too.

It was a somewhat profound statement, but it made me more confused.

What do I usually do?

While I was reflecting on my behavior, Yang Juhui added a few more words.

“And there’s no need to make a big deal about dating. We’re only first-year high school students, so just walking around the neighborhood and eating cup ramen and kimbap at a convenience store—that’s a date.”

Unexpected.

Yang Juhui’s concept of dating was similar to what my mom had said.

Mom always said Yang Juhui reminded her of herself when she was young, and maybe that wasn’t just empty talk.

Clap!

Yu Dahui clapped her hands.

“Then since we’re gathered today, why don’t we check out what you’re planning to do tomorrow? I’ll grade it! From a fellow woman’s perspective!”

“Oh.”

Yu Dahui, being a woman herself, offering to grade my date plan.

It seemed like a pretty good idea.

“Then let’s all go to the zoo together.”

There was a zoo in this Gaeryong Metropolitan City.

I saw in a MeTube video that Kwon Sua said she liked animals. All kinds of animals.

She even had a Shiba dog.

But Yang Juhui disliked zoos.

“The zoo in this hot weather? Hey, if that’s the case, just go to an air-conditioned PC room. Playing games and eating ramen at a PC room is much better.”

Wait, take an idol to a PC room for a first date?

I wasn’t sure if that was right, but Yu Dahui also chimed in.

“She’ll definitely dress up beautifully. With makeup and heels. Spring or fall might be different, but sweating at the zoo seems a bit much. The animals will all be sprawled out from the heat too.”

With the sweltering heat averaging 34 degrees,

I had focused only on her liking animals and hadn’t thought about the weather, makeup, or heel considerations.

It was due to my three years at an all-boys middle school that I knew nothing about the female mind.

“I think a PC room is better too. Her makeup won’t smudge or fade because of sweat.”

Even Yu Dahui was nodding.

I was glad I had asked Yu Dahui and Yang Juhui about dating.

“Then what about lunch? There’s a pasta place near the zoo that I was planning to go to.”

“Hey, who eats pasta for lunch? Since you’re going to a PC room, just eat ramen.”

Yang Juhui was openly annoyed.

Was my menu selection that bad?

Yu Dahui nodded too.

“I heard ramen at PC rooms is really delicious. Girls don’t really get many chances to order ramen at PC rooms. If it were me, I’d definitely enjoy it as a novel experience.”

“Really? I thought all girls liked eating pasta.”

“Hey. Let’s say you two hit it off and start dating. Can you buy her pasta every day? Take her to the zoo or aquarium for every date? You can’t, right?”

Yang Juhui sighed deeply.

“So a normal, student-like date is enough. She knows you’re not rich or a celebrity, so what special things would she expect? Huh? If she doesn’t like a student suggesting a student-like date, then she’s the bad one.”

She had a point.

Indeed, women understand women’s hearts best.

But that created a problem.

“Then what about the zoo tickets? I already bought two in advance.”

“Then let’s go to the zoo today! It’s my first time going to the zoo with friends!”

Yu Dahui clapped like a seal.

Then she cleared her throat.

“We can prove how underwhelming the zoo is by going there ourselves.”