Ch.127Equipment Shutdown (10)

“Ha-min, how could you run off alone like that? You could’ve bought Do-young’s gift right before we finished, you know.”

“Sorry, I just got anxious. Before I knew it, I was circling around the souvenir shop.”

After the headcount check during lunch break, Ha-min finally joined Sa-hyang and Hye-rang.

“If you’re rushed for time, you might not be able to choose a good gift within your budget.”

“Then you could have chosen with us. We know Do-young’s taste better, and if you were short on money, we could have lent you some.”

“…Oh. I… I didn’t think of that. Sorry, it didn’t cross my mind at all. I thought I had to do it alone.”

“What’s with that? Like you have some responsibility to buy her a gift. Anyone listening would think you two just started dating yesterday. Heheh.”

“…Hic.”

Ha-min silently bowed her head.

Unlike the girl she’d just met today, telling these two longtime friends of Do-young about their relationship required considerable courage.

“For a model student, you’re not very bright when it comes to these things.”

“B-but…! Thanks to that, I found a really nice gift…! That’s what matters, right?”

Ha-min held up the gift box wrapped with a green ribbon that she had carefully chosen for Do-young after much deliberation, showing a slightly nervous smile.

Her expression was a mix of excitement to give Do-young this gift as soon as possible and a desire to apologize for the trouble they’d had the day before.

“A simple snack would have been fine too. She smiles even at a zero-calorie cola.”

“Though if it’s mango flavor, that smile turns into a death glare real quick.”

Seeing Ha-min like this, Sa-hyang and Hye-rang couldn’t help but let out small chuckles and faint smiles.

“Then let’s hang out together this afternoon. Since we’re on a school trip, we should see everything worth seeing. And then we can help you pick out another gift for Do-young.”

“Ah, that would be helpful. We need to make sure our gifts don’t overlap.”

“Yeah, leave it to us.”

Ha-min nodded readily, accepting Sa-hyang’s proposal.

Due to her limited budget and the gift she’d given to the girl who helped her out of gratitude, there were several gifts she had to give up on despite liking them.

If Sa-hyang and Hye-rang could give the gifts she couldn’t, nothing would make her happier.

“Then we should revisit the shops Scarlet recommended. There were many other good gifts besides what I chose, so let’s go together later.”

“…Huh? Scarlet… who?”

Suddenly, Sa-hyang and Hye-rang’s gazes turned toward Ha-min, doubting their ears.

“Ah… there was a girl who helped me choose a gift earlier. She was Korean. But she asked to be called ‘Scarlet Swordmaster’…”

Despite flinching slightly at the sudden attention, Ha-min steadfastly talked about the girl who had helped her.

“What kind of weirdo is that?”

“Ha-min… you chose a gift based on advice from such a strange person? I’m a bit worried.”

“H-her name might be a bit odd, but she was a nice and kind girl! She runs fast too!”

“Your standards for nice and kind are way too low.”

Even they couldn’t bring themselves to react positively to the name “Scarlet Swordmaster.”

…

“Due to traffic on the way back, we’ll have dinner assembly right after arriving at the lodging! Once you go up to your rooms and unpack, please gather on the first floor! Everyone needs to be there by 6:35 at the latest!”

“Understood~!”

The Bulsa High School first-year students returned to their lodging after completing all afternoon activities.

After unpacking their belongings and changing into comfortable clothes, they immediately gathered on the first floor for dinner.

The students, who had been walking around tourist spots all day from morning to afternoon, clutched their hungry stomachs and gathered in front of their homeroom teachers, lining up according to their class order for moving to the dining hall.

“Ha-min, over here, over here.”

“Ah, today’s the day Class 1 eats first again.”

After briefly separating to their respective rooms, Sa-hyang, Hye-rang, and Ha-min reunited on the first floor.

Since dinner on odd-numbered days was scheduled to move to the dining hall in order of class numbers, the three from Class 1 gathered in the left area of the lobby closest to the dining hall.

“Ha-min, you’re planning to go straight to Do-young’s room after dinner too, aren’t you?”

“H-how did you know?”

“How? It’s sticking out of your pocket.”

Sa-hyang pointed to the green ribbon peeking out of Ha-min’s tracksuit pants pocket.

It was Do-young’s gift box, purchased with the help of the nameless girl, Scarlet.

“Who brings something like that to dinner?”

“You must be really desperate. Do you miss Ban Do-young that much?”

“Ugh… y-you two brought gifts too, just like me.”

Of course, Sa-hyang and Hye-rang also had gifts they’d chosen with Ha-min in their hands or pockets.

“W-we’re different from you, Ha-min. We’re, you know… her group members. It’s our duty to take care of her.”

“Besides, that Ban Do-young probably hasn’t eaten anything properly. Unlike you, we chose edible gifts, so we want to bring them to her as soon as possible.”

The three of them blushed and averted their gazes, embarrassed by the gifts in their hands.

“A-anyway, I already got permission from Teacher Miso. She said she’ll be late because she has to supervise dinner, so let’s go check on Do-young first.”

“L-let’s do that. That Ban Do-young, her already weird personality gets even weirder when she’s starving. We need to bring her something to eat before she starts spouting nonsense.”

“Y-yeah… okay.”

So the three quickly finished their dinner and headed to the old lodging building where Do-young was resting, bringing their gifts with them.

“Do-young! Are you feeling better?”

*Slide*

Sa-hyang opened the door to Do-young’s room with a cheerful tone that masked her inner concern.

“We’re not sure if you’re feeling really sick or not! We just had dinner and came right away! We brought snacks and gifts from Asakusa because we thought you might be hungry…”

“Status window!”

“…Huh?”

As soon as the door opened, Do-young’s boisterous voice hit Sa-hyang’s ears.

“Hmm… maybe I’m calling it the wrong name.”

“…”

“Stat screen! Quest log!”

In the room was Do-young, looking slightly pale from being confined all day, reaching her hand toward the air and shouting things that made no sense to Sa-hyang and Hye-rang.

Despite yelling these meaningless words, Do-young’s face looked so serious that it only amplified their sense of discomfort.

“Not achievements, not menu… not Q either… Ah, I should try that one!”

“…Do-young?”

“Virgin window!”

“Stop it, you crazy girl.”

*Bonk*

“Ow.”

Unable to take it anymore, Hye-rang threw the senbei set she was holding, bringing the situation to an end.

…

*Crunch*

*Crackle*

“Mmm! Delicious! The texture and saltiness are perfect for my taste!”

“I-I’m glad you like it.”

Do-young tore open the senbei set she received from Hye-rang and took a hearty bite right there.

A crisp sound like ice breaking echoed through the room, and crumbs fell all over the tatami floor.

“She’s eating so well. And dropping crumbs everywhere.”

“Yeah. She’s eating so well it makes all our morning worries seem silly. I almost wish she were actually sick.”

Seeing Do-young looking so perfectly fine despite their concerns since morning, Sa-hyang and Hye-rang frowned in annoyance.

“Oh, this senbei Hye-rang bought. It’s so good. The saltiness makes my appetite soar. Where did you buy this? It’s totally my style.”

“…Do Ha-min recommended it. She said this would be good if we were buying something to eat.”

“Oh, nice choice, Do Ha-min. How did you know my taste so precisely?”

Do-young picked off the large crumbs around her mouth one by one and put them back in her mouth.

The snack must have really suited her taste, as she even licked the seasoning left on her hands.

“I-I actually got the recommendation from someone else… but here, drink this so you don’t choke on just snacks.”

Ha-min opened a cola she bought with her change and handed it to Do-young.

“Ah, thank you. Mmm… nothing beats washing down this saltiness with cola in one go.”

After drinking the cola Ha-min gave her, Do-young patted her stomach in satisfaction.

“Ah, that was good. My mouth was thoroughly ravaged by the large, hard senbei.”

“…This girl still doesn’t have a filter in her brain.”

“What are you doing? Aren’t you eating? It’s delicious even though it’s a bit hard. Do Ha-min, come here and try some too. Experience the big, hard texture of Senbei Senpai. You won’t be able to fit it all in your mouth at once.”

“I-I already tried some when I was choosing it, so I’m good…”

“Really? Then Choi Sa-hyang and Yoo Hye-rang, you try some.”

Do-young cheerfully offered the senbei she took from the box to the three.

“…Do-young, don’t you have something to say to us before eating?”

“Umm…”

At Sa-hyang’s sudden question, Do-young held the senbei in her mouth, crossed her arms, and thought for a while before speaking.

“Itadakimasu?”

“I swear I’m going to kill you.”