Ch.126Equipment Shutdown (9)

“Scarlet… S-Sword Master?”

“Hmm, I suppose it would be inappropriate to call myself a ‘Sword Master’ without carrying a sword, even on my day off. Little shorty, just call me Scarlet. That’s what my friends call me.”

“But… Scarlet isn’t that comfortable either.”

“Fine, even though you’re shorter than me, since you’re older, I’ll allow you to call me ‘Scarlet-chan.’ We’re both Korean, but we are in Tokyo after all.”

“…”

Hamin was momentarily dumbfounded, but he couldn’t say anything more to the girl.

He thought that this girl, who shared the broader intersection of being the same age as Doyoung, might be better at finding a gift that suited Doyoung’s taste than himself, who only knew the tip of the iceberg about Doyoung’s preferences.

Lacking confidence in himself, Hamin inwardly reasoned this way.

“Well then, let’s go in. I’ll recommend some things for you to choose from.”

“Ah, okay. I’ll be in your care, Scarlet… chan.”

With the somewhat unreliable girl, Scarlet Sword Master-chan, Hamin entered the souvenir shop she had recommended.

“いらっしゃいませ, 大切な思い出を記録する場所、To. My Dearistです。”

(Welcome. A place to record precious memories, To My Dearist.)

“Wow… it’s more spacious inside than I expected.”

The shop the girl had taken Hamin to was, contrary to its exterior appearance, a large establishment with various types of merchandise neatly arranged throughout the interior.

There were neatly packaged local food sets, which had been one of Hamin’s initial gift considerations, uniquely designed T-shirts and hats with regional flair, and rather expensive local cosmetics—a wide array of versatile souvenirs that didn’t particularly favor any specific genre.

“This is primarily a shop that sells souvenirs for giving to others. I remember coming here quite often when my parents were heading back to Korea.”

“Ah… so you live with your parents. Being with family rather than alone must make it less lonely.”

“What are you talking about? Having someone constantly nagging about every little thing when you could be living comfortably alone is exhausting. They nag about academics and exercise as a given, but even about the most trivial matters.”

As the girl glanced over the products displayed inside the store, she sighed complainingly and poured out her grievances to Hamin.

“I could manage perfectly fine on my own. They say they’re worried and follow me around… A while ago, my parents had to return to Korea briefly without me, and those few days were absolute heaven.”

“Ahaha…”

Hamin awkwardly smiled and let the girl’s complaints slide as she voiced her dissatisfaction.

The tumultuous adolescent period of fifteen—a time when parental interference feels more annoying and bothersome than ever.

Of course, for Hamin, who had lived his entire life with just his mother without ever knowing his father’s face, this was a feeling he had never experienced, but he knew he wasn’t in a position to judge whether the girl was right or wrong.

“So on days off like today, I escape from home in the morning to avoid hearing any nagging. That’s how I ended up meeting shorty oppa here. I did like you, but maybe I was also just trying to avoid going home early.”

“Yet when it comes to choosing gifts, you first look for stores your parents frequently visited.”

“W-well… just because my parents are annoying doesn’t mean I have to dislike the stores we visited together, right?”

Fortunately, the girl’s rebellious spirit was within the acceptable range for adolescence.

Hamin vaguely sensed this in the girl’s actions—complaining about parental interference while recommending a store filled with memories that could be considered shared with her parents.

“Still, it’s good. Your relationship with your family and you…”

“Hmm?”

“S-Scarlet-chan doesn’t seem to have such a bad relationship with your family. I mean, it’s better for families to be harmonious if possible, right?”

At the girl’s threatening expression in response to being addressed as “you,” Hamin unconsciously used the girl’s nickname, which felt awkward on his tongue.

Only after hearing the name “Scarlet” did the girl seem satisfied and turn her head back toward the display shelves.

“Shorty oppa, you’re a completely obedient son at home, right? The type who never—no, can’t—talk back to your parents.”

“…It’s not that extreme.”

“That’s exactly what real filial sons say. ‘It’s not that extreme.'”

“…”

As the girl snorted dismissively, thinking he was being modest, Hamin shook his head, believing he truly didn’t deserve such a title.

He could accept, a hundred times over, failing to get into his first-choice high school—these things happen.

But what he couldn’t forgive was how, during exam period, without even asking his mother’s permission, he had devoted all his energy to helping his desk mate study, sacrificing his own grades in the process. Looking back, it was truly an action that made him feel solemn remorse toward his mother.

And what about now?

Even part of the pocket money his mother had given him to enjoy himself, he had decided to spend on a gift for his girlfriend who had confessed to him here, rather than on something for his mother.

Good son, filial son, model student.

None of these titles fit Hamin anymore.

Perhaps the girl’s nickname for him, “shorty oppa,” though wounding to his pride, was more honest and therefore better.

“I might have been like that before, but I’m really not anymore.”

“Yes, that’s exactly the template for real filial sons.”

“…What?”

“Usually, people don’t make that ‘Mom, I’m sorry, boo-hoo’ face while reflecting on their actions.”

“I-I wasn’t crying!”

“Hehe, if you say so. You said food wasn’t an option because there’s nothing left, right? Let’s look at clothes or accessories then.”

“Nothing too expensive…! I only have 2,000 yen left!”

Following the girl’s strangely familiar snicker, Hamin entered the corner where clothing items were displayed.

“These are souvenirs, but from a fairly well-known brand. And they’re not that expensive.”

The first thing the girl recommended was a kitchen apron that combined both classic and sophisticated elements.

“Does your girlfriend like cooking? Seeing how much she’s given you, she seems like the type who would. She’s the motherly type who likes taking care of others, right?”

“Calling her the motherly type isn’t quite right… but she has been learning to cook recently. She’s the type who puts her all into everything she does, so her skills improved quickly. Her rolled omelette was… d-delicious.”

“Why are you stuttering about rolled omelettes?”

“Ah, no… just other memories coming back along with it.”

Remembering more vividly the sensation that had touched his lips after the omelette, Hamin unconsciously touched his mouth and gave an evasive answer.

“A girlfriend learning to cook for her boyfriend—how romantic. The more I hear about your girlfriend, the more different she sounds from my sister.”

“…Sister?”

“Yeah, I have one. Unfortunately, she’s part of my fate. She’s probably the only one in our house who’s never worn an apron. I wonder if she even knows how to properly cook instant ramen.”

This peculiar but kind girl who wanted to be called “Scarlet”—Hamin found himself naturally drawn to listen to her stories as she spoke of her family, calling them annoying yet naturally bringing them up in conversation.

“It sounds like… you’re a bit estranged. Did something happen?”

“…”

Upon hearing Hamin’s words, the girl lowered her head and stroked the frills of a pink apron displayed on a mannequin.

“I think we were okay when we were younger… but as I grew up, it’s like… we just don’t match anymore, no matter what. My sister has a bit of a difficult personality.”

“Ahaha… but still, she’s your sister.”

Hamin couldn’t bring himself to ask if the sisters were perhaps similar in temperament.

“It’s a bit harsh to describe a human that way, but please understand—I have no other way to express it. My sister is just like that. Greedy, hates to yield, and absolutely despises losing.”

“I-I see…”

“After we had a big fight when I was younger, I started attending school here and we rarely contact each other. We definitely don’t meet to talk. Well, I guess that’s easier for both of us.”

“…”

Unlike when she talked about her parents, the girl’s face became slightly solemn as she spoke about her sister.

For some reason, Hamin found himself particularly affected by the girl’s slightly melancholic gaze.

“Ah, we were in the middle of choosing a gift. What do you want to do? Decided on this one?”

“…Let’s look at a few more options first.”

After a moment’s consideration, Hamin explored a few more sections of the store with the girl.

“By the way, is there a store that sells accessory-type souvenirs? Since she gave me these glasses I’m wearing now, I think an accessory might be a nice gift.”

“Ugh. Those incredibly unfashionable glasses were a gift from your girlfriend? She has quite the unique taste. Well, I guess her taste was already confirmed unique when she started dating shorty oppa.”

“I don’t mind you making fun of me, but don’t say anything about the glasses she bought. They’re the most precious thing to me, and I promised her I’d always treasure them.”

Hamin said this to the girl while cleaning the dust off his glasses. As promised on the Ferris wheel, he might take them off occasionally, but he would never let them out of his sight.

“When you say accessories, what kind do you want? Necklaces or earrings? Or maybe a proposal ring?”

“I-I never said anything like that! Not something flashy, but something light that can be worn casually… Like a charm that can be carried around!”

Hamin shouted at the girl, his face reddening.

“B-besides… she doesn’t need to wear flashy accessories… she’s already pretty without them.”

“Hmm… judging by the fact that she gave such unfashionable glasses to her boyfriend, she doesn’t seem like someone with much aesthetic sense.”

“No matter how little sense she has, at least she’s better than Scarlet Sword Master…”

“What did you just say?”

“Nothing, nothing at all.”

Hamin quietly diverted the girl’s attention.

…

“ありがとうございます、またのお越しをお待ちしております！”

(Thank you, please visit us again!)

About two hours later, Hamin emerged from the store with a wrapped gift box, having received the girl’s help.

Although it had taken some time, a satisfied smile spread across Hamin’s face, suggesting he had found a gift he was pleased with.

“I’m sorry it took longer than expected.”

“It’s fine. Thanks to you, I managed to stay out of the house until noon, which is good. By now, I can just say I took a walk around the neighborhood.”

“Wait a moment, Scarlet-chan, take this.”

“…Huh?”

The girl tilted her head slightly. It seemed like Hamin was holding one more wrapped gift box than expected.

“What’s this?”

“It’s small, but consider it a thank you for helping me choose a gift. Fortunately, the gift wasn’t too expensive, so I bought one more while choosing hers.”

“…You’re giving this to me?”

Hamin nodded quietly in response to the girl’s question.

“Actually, I had a bit of trouble with her, similar to how you fought with your sister. I lost my temper for a moment when she played a prank and raised my voice without meaning to.”

“Ah, I often did that when fighting with my sister too. My sister has a talent for getting on people’s nerves.”

“But you never forget to put ‘our’ before ‘sister.'”

“…Well, she’s not someone else’s sister.”

The girl avoided Hamin’s gaze slightly as she answered.

“Today, I’m going to try to reconcile with her using the gift I bought with Scarlet-chan’s help.”

“Then what’s the meaning of giving me the same gift?”

“I hope Scarlet-chan will reconcile with her sister too.”

“…”

Hamin placed one of the gift boxes he was holding into the girl’s hand, who hesitated briefly before reluctantly accepting it.

“I don’t think one small thing like this will improve our relationship after all this time.”

“Then I guess both of us need to start with one small thing like this. Me, and Scarlet-chan too.”

While the girl was looking at the gift she had received from Hamin,

“Hey, Do Hamin!”

“Ah, it’s the vice class president.”

Hyun Myungsu, the vice president of Class 1, called out to Hamin who was standing in front of the souvenir shop.

“They want us to gather at the bus for a quick headcount at lunch! You should hurry too! And if you see any classmates on your way, tell them to go to the bus!”

“Ah, got it! I’m sorry, Scarlet-chan. I have to go now.”

“…That’s fine. Take care, shorty oppa.”

“Thank you, you too, Scarlet-chan!”

As Hamin gradually disappeared from the girl’s sight, she waved until he was completely gone, then stared intently at the gift box he had given her.

“Tsk, whoever she is, I envy shorty oppa’s girlfriend.”

The girl clicked her tongue, slightly regretting not having told him her real name.