Ch.116Good grief, Ojou-sama (9)

The start was good.

From the very first attraction, a live stage performance of [Mari★Wana].

I couldn’t help but marvel at the real-life quality of Mari-chan and Wari-chan, who looked like they had jumped straight out of the novel’s illustrations.

It was understandable why content creators in this area were all so obsessed with live-action adaptations.

“Now I get why they don’t allow cosplay outfits for entry.”

The real protagonists who proudly deliver dreams and fantasies to people are right here.

Clumsy imitations shouldn’t be running around freely.

“Come to think of it, the first thing I watched with Do Hamin was the [Mari★Wana] theatrical release. That was really fun.”

Of course, Do Hamin was so drained from donating blood that he fell asleep and didn’t properly watch it.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that [Mari★Wana] had somehow created a connection between Ban Doyoung and Do Hamin.

Even from the first day of school, I was able to approach Do Hamin more easily because I found a [Mari★Wana] novel in his bag that he thought he had thrown away.

I don’t know if we could have started a proper romantic relationship like in the original story, but at the very least, it became the catalyst that allowed me to take an interest in Do Hamin himself.

“Since Do Hamin was basically sleeping through the last part, he couldn’t properly watch the movie, so we couldn’t talk about it at all afterward.”

We promised to go see the movie together again later if possible, but that promise hasn’t been fulfilled yet.

It hasn’t been that long, but perhaps it’s because so many things have happened in between.

It seems we made a vague promise without really thinking about keeping it.

Well, animated theatrical releases like [Mari★Wana] have such short screening periods that even if we went to the theater now, we wouldn’t be able to see the same movie again.

“No, maybe there won’t be any more chances to watch a movie with Do Hamin at all.”

It can’t be helped.

If that’s the case, I’ll have to leave the promise of watching a movie together to the future Ban Doyoung.

Please, future Ban Doyoung.

Even if you think it’s not your taste at first, [Mari★Wana] is quite fun.

Even if you think it’s hard to indulge in otaku hobbies, please watch it together with him for a bit.

Whether you want to admit it or not, it was the Cupid that created the beginning of this webtoon world.

“Hey, Do Hamin. Where should we go next—”

“ねえ、イケメンのぼやも私たちと一緒に写真撮りましょう。そこで撮ってあげるだけじゃなくて。”

(Hey, handsome boy, take a picture with us too. Don’t just stand there taking photos.)

While I was briefly distracted, Do Hamin, who had been taking my picture, was now standing in front of the camera with his arm linked with the actress playing Mari-chan.

“…”

Mari-chan’s thin stage costume revealed her chest, which was touching Do Hamin’s shoulder.

“W-wait a moment… no, chotto matte…”

“せっかく素敵にしてきたのに写真で残さないともったいないですって？はい、チーズ！”

(You say it would be a waste not to capture how nicely you’ve dressed up? Okay, cheese!)

“Ch-cheese…”

“Hey, that’s far enough.”

“Huh?”

I barged right in front of the camera,

pulled Do Hamin away from the white cat-in-a-chicken-coop who was posing with a heart gesture, and brought him into my arms.

“Whoa!”

“何、何？”

(Wh-what?)

“He is my boyfriend. Do you understand?”

“E-eh…?”

“あ、はい。”

(Ah, yes.)

Mari-chan bowed her head and stepped back.

Indeed, the universal language was convenient for communication.

“Phew, I almost couldn’t go home in an awkward situation.”

“Ah… I, I also wanted a picture with Mari-chan…”

“Where do you think you’re going, trying to take a heart pose photo with another woman? Is this the time for that?”

“S-sorry… I didn’t want to go either, but she pulled me in forcefully…”

“You, who knocked out Lee Jeongkyu in one hit and even picked me up and threw me down, couldn’t shake her off? Were you secretly enjoying it?”

“…”

Do Hamin hesitated to give a clear denial.

You jerk. Even if I told you to enjoy this time, that doesn’t mean you should.

You shouldn’t be trying to take photos in a heart pose with another woman.

“Sigh… Fine, whatever. I did tell you to enjoy yourself.”

“どうするんですか？ 写真撮りますか？”

(What are you going to do? Will you take a picture?)

“I’ll take it. Give me the camera.”

“R-really…?”

“I’m the one who told you to enjoy yourself, so what can I do? But go tell her you won’t do the heart pose. I didn’t do it either when I took a picture with Wari-chan earlier.”

“Th-thank you!”

“Now, put on a handsome face for the photo! Cheese!”

-Click

Unlike how he had boldly exposed his forehead to show courage, Do Hamin’s face, which had been anxious the entire time at the amusement park due to the pressure of having to confess to Ban Doyoung, relaxed for the first time, revealing the smile hidden within.

“Pfft.”

“D-did I just make a weird face?”

“Yeah, you did. A face that’s unusually handsome for Do Hamin. I almost fell for you.”

Even in that moment, he was stubbornly making a V-sign instead of a heart with his hands to keep his promise to me, which made me laugh involuntarily.

‘Hey, hey, you shouldn’t look happier than when you’re with me. That’s cheating.’

Well, I guess it can’t be helped.

Just as [Mari★Wana] created an opportunity for me to connect with Do Hamin,

for Do Hamin, [Mari★Wana] was probably the story that created an opportunity to connect with Ban Doyoung.

If it’s a precious story to me,

it must be the same for Do Hamin.

Although I reluctantly allowed the photo, like a mother permitting a child throwing a tantrum in a store to put candy in the cart,

seeing Do Hamin’s brightly smiling face in the gallery screen made me smile without realizing it.

I suppose I brought this on myself.

The person who told him to enjoy this time can’t deny him the chance to take a picture with his favorite character.

“So, did it turn out well?”

“…”

“Doyoung…?”

“Yeah. The photo looks better than the real thing.”

-Tap

“Ow.”

“That’s the price for the photo. For happily taking a picture with another woman instead of me.”

“Y-yeah…”

I gave a light flick to Do Hamin’s bare forehead as he came closer to check the photo.

‘I’m letting it slide because it’s me. Don’t do this when you’re with the real Ban Doyoung in the future.’

After venting my unspoken complaint through my fingertips to his forehead,

I returned his phone that had taken the picture.

“Thank you for taking a picture with me… Arigato, Mari-chan.”

“ハハ、青春だね。二人を見ていると夫と初めて会った時を思い出すよ。”

(Haha, youth is wonderful. Watching you two reminds me of when I first met my husband.)

“Ah… I-I see… Huh?”

“What’s this, Do Hamin? You understand all the Japanese Mari-chan is speaking?”

Do Hamin’s eyes widened at Mari-chan’s words.

Anyone could tell he understood the meaning of what Mari-chan had just said.

Just like how he immediately noticed that the performance had well-compressed the original content,

he seemed quite proficient in the language.

“マリナちゃん··· 既婚者だったんですか？”

(Mari-chan… you’re married?)

“もちろん、子供も3人もいますよ。”

(Of course, I even have three children.)

“N-no way…”

“What is it? Why did Mari-chan hold up three fingers? Did you ask Mari-chan about her experience count? She’s done it three times already? Don’t just be surprised, tell me too!”

“D-Doyoung, it’s better if you don’t know…”

Do Hamin was shocked speechless when Mari-chan raised her right hand to indicate three.

What is it? Don’t just understand it between yourselves, tell me too.

.

.

.

“Hurry, hurry! We have a time limit, so we need to ride as many as possible! Next is the Star Trek bumper cars! Do Hamin, can someone unlicensed like you drive?”

“O-okay, just walk with me! Besides, you don’t have a license either!”

“I told you I do, a Class 1 regular!”

The amusement park exploration with Do Hamin that followed was purely enjoyable in itself.

After a light start with the [Mari★Wana] stage, we gradually conquered attractions from the closest ones, filling in the stamps on the pamphlet.

“Ooh, that store sells chocolate bananas!”

“Oh, you’re right… Wait. Let me get my wallet out of my pocket.”

“Huh? Over there they have frankfurters and sausages. And that big, hard ice candy bar next to it looks tempting too… I’m torn about what to eat. I know, let’s try one of each.”

“I-I think your criteria for choosing snacks is a bit strange…”

“Why? Holding something big makes for a prettier picture to send to Teacher Miso.”

Every time we took a photo to report our status to Teacher Miso,

we took pictures with different snacks under different attractions.

As we conquered the most popular representative courses in the amusement park one by one,

the stamps on the back of the pamphlet were almost all filled in.

“Phew, I think we’ve ridden almost all the most popular ones here. Maybe we can ride one or two more?”

“…Doyoung.”

As the blue sky gradually began to mix with orange hues,

Do Hamin pointed upward while speaking to me as I sat on the bench.

“There.”

“…”

“If we’re going for our last ride… how about that one?”

I looked up to where Do Hamin was pointing.

There, among the setting sun, stood the Ferris wheel, which could be called the symbol of all amusement parks, including this one.

‘…Ah, it’s finally time.’

The fun time seemed to be coming to an end, unfortunately.

“Have you found some courage now?”

“…Yeah.”

“Then let’s go. To enjoy the finale.”

It’s time for the clumsy fake to disappear.

To return dreams and fantasies to the real one.