Ch. 119 Why Are You All Here…?
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 119: Why Are You All Here…?
This time, we had dinner together at a restaurant recommended by Chae-yoon unnie.
After patting our full bellies, we left the building.
It was a restaurant Chae-yoon unnie went to treat her parents to celebrate her first paycheck.
It was a fine dining-style Korean set menu restaurant, and the food was incredibly delicious.
However, there was a slight lingering discomfort in my heart.
【I wanted to treat Linne-chan…】
【It’s okay. Thanks to you, Da-jeong, I had such a great time today. This is just a small way to repay you.】
【Ugh, still…】
Linne-chan, who had excused herself to go to the restroom, ended up paying the bill without me knowing.
Being in the position of a guest who got treated made me feel really uneasy.
Moreover, that restaurant wasn’t exactly cheap, to put it mildly.
No, in fact, it was a price range that I wouldn’t have even dared to imagine in my past life.
It was the kind of high-end omakase place that the CEO would occasionally take us to.
Of course, I know Linne-chan earns much more than I do.
But still, I feel so sorry.
【Since you became Santa for the kids this Christmas, I decided to be your Santa today. Don’t worry too much about it.】
【Huh? L-Linne-chan, you knew about that?】
【Of course I knew. That news was all over Youtube.】
Oh, I see.
So Linne-chan also found out that I donated to the orphanage.
I guess the director really spread the word far and wide.
【Actually, I’m so busy taking care of the people around me that I’ve never really thought about donating to somewhere. That’s why I really admire you, Da-jeong.】
【I-I’m not that great…】
Being praised directly made me feel a bit embarrassed.
I scratched my head awkwardly, letting out a sheepish laugh.
【By the way, it feels a bit unsatisfying to end it like this… Should we go somewhere to have some fun?】
【Sure! Oh, do you like dolls, Linne-chan?】
【Dolls? I do. In fact, I have quite a few babies on my bed in my room.】
By “babies,” she probably means dolls, right?
I had heard that Linne-chan collects dolls, so I had a rough idea.
That’s why I decided on this place for the last course in our date together.
【Then, should we go in there and have some fun? It’s a claw machine arcade. I think you’ll like it.】
【Oh, I love it. Actually, I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t been able to get any new family members for my babies.】
When I pointed to the claw machine arcade near the restaurant, Linne-chan’s eyes sparkled, and she grabbed my hand, immediately breaking into a run.
I guess she likes dolls even more than I thought.
【Da-jeong, what’s this?】
As soon as we entered the claw machine arcade, what caught Linne-chan’s interest wasn’t the claw machines.
It was the large photo sticker booth in the corner.
【Ah, that’s a photo sticker machine. Have you ever taken one, Linne-chan?】
【Hmm, I don’t think so. Maybe just photos for my passport. But it does seem interesting.】
Linne-chan stared at the machine for a while, then glanced at me.
I guess she’s hesitant to suggest it outright because she saw me being shy when we took photos together earlier.
She doesn’t need to worry so much.
【Then, should we take one together? As a keepsake.】
【Really?! Thank you, Da-jeong. I’ll put it in my phone case and wallet and treasure it.】
【Y-You don’t have to go that far…】
Just keeping it in a drawer would be enough.
That’s almost like a photo you’d take with a lover.
Anyway, when we went inside the booth to take photos together, I was slightly surprised by the machine’s appearance.
Are photo sticker machines always this flashy?
I thought it was just about putting our faces together and taking a photo.
There are so many controls.
Well, I guess I just need to put in the money, right?
I took out a bill from my wallet, straightened it out, and inserted it into the machine.
The price seems surprisingly affordable.
Beep- Beep-
Set the number of people to 2…
Don’t overdo the editing.
Let Linne-chan choose the background.
- “Think of your favorite pose and press the shoot button!”
At the cute voice coming from the machine, I immediately pressed the shoot button.
As the 5-second countdown began…
Thud-
“Nyaah…?!”
Linne-chan suddenly hugged me from behind as I was sitting alone on the chair.
Caught off guard by the unplanned pose, I let out a cat-like scream.
Click-
The shutter sound went off, capturing my startled expression perfectly.
Fortunately, there were still three more shots left.
I turned to Linne-chan, who had startled me, and let out a frustrated cry.
【L-Linne-chan…! Why did you scare me like that? It turned out weird!】
【Why? I like it. You look so cute when you’re surprised.】
【T-That’s not the point…!】
Ugh, what is this?
I look like a startled cat.
Meanwhile, Linne-chan looks so pretty in the photo.
【Okay, okay. I won’t scare you this time, but can you do one pose I want?】
【O-Okay, as long as it’s not too weird…】
After that, Linne-chan brought over a prop cushion as part of her negotiation.
It was a giant heart-shaped cushion.
It was so big that when placed on my lap, only my face was visible.
【Hug this and make a slightly angry face. Okay?】
【Ugh, this feels weird…】
【No, it’ll definitely be cute. Trust me, Da-jeong.】
It’s not like I’m aiming to look cute.
But since we’re making memories together, it would be too much to refuse such a small request.
So, following Linne-chan’s request, I placed the heart-shaped cushion on my lap.
I hugged it tightly with both arms.
Then, with a slightly pouty expression, I looked at the camera.
…No matter how I look at it, it’s weird.
But since it’s what Linne-chan wanted, there’s nothing I can do.
Snap-
As I made the expression she asked for and looked at the camera, Linne-chan hugged me from the side.
This pose makes it look like I’m a sulky younger sister being scolded by her older sister.
Click-
【See? My judgment is perfect! You’re so cute, Da-jeong!】
【R-Really…?】
It looks weird to me…
But at least Linne-chan seems satisfied, so I guess it’s fine.
【This time, let’s wear these headbands together and take a photo!】
【…….】
At this point, I’ve pretty much given up.
When Linne-chan brought over some animal ear headbands from the props, I obediently put one on.
We both struck a “V” pose and took the photo.
My eyes look a bit lifeless, but…
This is all Linne-chan’s fault, yeah.
【Great! Now, for the last one, let’s do a cute heart pose!】
【Ugh…】
For the final shot, we each made half a heart with our hands.
We pressed our faces together and struck a perfect idol pose.
Whirr-
【Huu, so cute…! Da-jeong, look at this! It’s the cutest thing in the world!】
【R-Really…?】
Linne-chan was jumping around with joy as she looked at the printed photos…
But I was already too mentally drained to care.
I was completely worn out even before we started playing the claw machines.
By the way, taking photo stickers is way harder than I thought.
Now I kind of understand why it’s considered something only popular people do.
【Should we go check out the dolls now? Oh, by the way, are you good at claw machines, Da-jeong?】
【Hmm, I’ve never tried.】
【Then I’ll win one for you! I’m actually pretty good at claw machines!】
Wow, that’s cool.
From what I know, Linne-chan isn’t particularly good at games.
She often gets teased by viewers for it.
But I guess she’s confident about claw machines.
【Oh, Da-jeong! There’s a doll here that looks like A-chan!】
【Huh? Really?】
While I was looking around the machines, wondering which doll to go for, Linne-chan urgently waved me over.
When I went to check, there was indeed a doll that looked like A-chan, the axolotl sitting on my avatar’s head.
Wow, I kind of want that one.
【I’ll get A-chan for you! Just trust me, Da-jeong.】
【O-Okay. Go for it, Linne-chan.】
With the determination of a hero rescuing a princess from a demon king, Linne-chan rolled up her sleeves and inserted the money.
Whirr-
With skillful hands, she maneuvered the joystick, moving the claw over the Axolotl doll’s head and pressed the button.
Surely, it’s impossible to get it in one try, right?
Clank- Whirr-
“Huh…?!”
But just as I thought that, the claw firmly grabbed the doll’s body.
It lifted it up, moved it to the exit, and released the claw.
The Axolotl doll fell helplessly into the prize chute.
【W-Wow…! Did you really get it in one try, Linne-chan?!】
【Hehe, see? I told you. I’m pretty good at claw machines.】
【T-That’s amazing…】
To think she got it in just one try.
Maybe Linne-chan is more serious about claw machines than I thought.
【Here, this is a gift for you, Da-jeong. Think of it as me and take good care of it.】
【Hehe, thanks, Linne-chan. I’ll keep it next to me during my streams.】
As Linne-chan handed me the Axolotl doll, I hugged it tightly.
From now on, I’ll call it A-chan #2.
I couldn’t help but smile.
Hehe, it’s so cute.
I’m not usually into dolls but since it looks like A-chan, it feels extra adorable.
【Alright! Now it’s my turn to win a doll for Linne-chan.】
【Oh, are you sure? It’s not easy.】
【Of course! I’ll get at least one!】
Watching Linne-chan do it gave me a boost of confidence.
I immediately went to the next machine and inserted a bill.
I even put in 10,000 won, so I should be able to get at least one!
Thunk-
Thunk-
Thunk-
Plop-
Plop-
…Huh?
Wait, what’s going on?
Is there some kind of bug?
No, since it’s a machine, maybe it’s broken or something.
Otherwise, this doesn’t make sense.
I definitely grabbed it!
How can it just drop like that when it reaches the top?!
Okay, let’s try five more times.
It’s a bit of a waste to spend 20,000 won on a claw machine, but…
I have to give Linne-chan a gift!
It’s not like I’m doing this because I’ll feel like a loser if I can’t get it!
Thunk-
Thunk-
Thunk-
But despite my brave attempts, the machine refused to cooperate.
It kept missing the doll I was aiming for.
You stupid machine!
How can you not give me that one doll?!
Okay, it’s a bit far, but…
You should be able to handle that!
【Da-jeong, it’s okay if you don’t get it.】
【Ugh, but…】
Linne-chan tried to comfort me as I vented my frustration, but honestly, it didn’t help much.
It’s just too sad to end like this.
“Excuse me… Is there a problem?”
As I pouted and glared at the machine, a store employee approached and asked.
I must have looked so gloomy that he got concerned.
“This… this thing ate 20,000 won from me…”
“Huh? It’s not working?”
Like a little girl tattling to her dad, I pointed at the machine and whined.
The employee looked surprised.
Oops.
I must have phrased it wrong because I was so upset.
“Oh, no. I just meant that the doll isn’t coming out.”
“Haha, I see. Which doll are you trying to get?”
“That one over there. The black one with the spiky hair…”
“You mean Kuroi?”
Kuroi? Is that the doll’s name?
I’m not sure, but I nodded anyway.
The employee told me to wait a moment, then reached into the machine.
He stacked some dolls near the prize chute to create a small support and placed Kuroi on top.
“Want to try now?”
“Wow…! T-Thank you.”
With the doll now much easier to grab, I tried again.
Whirr-
Grab it, grab it.
Please don’t miss.
Clunk-
Maybe my desperate wish reached the machine.
The claw firmly grabbed Kuroi, carried it to the exit, and dropped it into the prize chute.
Finally, it was in my arms.
Even though I needed the employee’s help, I still won!
Yeah, that’s what matters!
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you…!”
As the employee congratulated me, I held out Kuroi to Linne-chan.
【Linne-chan! Here’s your gift!】
【Oh, you’re giving me something you worked so hard to get? Thank you, Da-jeong. It’s such a lovely baby.】
【Hehe…】
I felt proud seeing Linne-chan so happy.
Even though Linne-chan had already won four dolls while I was struggling with one.
If I think about that, I’ll just get sulky.
For now, I’m satisfied that I could give Linne-chan a gift… Huh?
“Didn’t they say they were coming here?”
“Yeah, they should have been here by now…”
“Maybe they already left?”
“We should have checked inside the photo booth earlier.”
While Linne-chan was cheering me on, I noticed four women approaching from behind.
Huh?
Wait, aren’t those our members?
They were wearing masks and scarves, so I couldn’t be sure…
“Uh, unnies? Yuna?”
“…Ah.”
When I called out, the four of them stopped and stared at me.
From their reaction, it’s definitely them.
Wait.
But why are the members here?
LegoMyEggo
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