chapter_0061

61 – It Shouldn’t Be Like This?

61 – It Shouldn’t Be Like This?

Komari was a fist, and Maru was a cloth.

The outcome was clearly decided, so Maru shouted, but wasn’t something being forgotten?

“Wait, wait a minute. Do it again. Rain and Dora haven’t gone yet.”

Soon, Dora smiled brightly and extended her fist forward.

It was a huge relief for Komari.

“Do it quickly. That’s so unfair.”

Maru said with a smug look.

“Seriously. It’s not easy to indulge the youngest. It’s because I’m nice that I’m letting it slide.”

“If you’re an older sister, be a bit more sisterly—.”

“So, what about Rain?”

The travel time was only 2 hours.

We would have to stop at a rest area once, but still, it would be about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

And even if we decided on the seats next to each other, Majiya’s seat would ultimately be in the middle of the 2×3 arrangement.

It wasn’t a problem to play with Jia even if it wasn’t right next to her.

Among the four, Rain, who was the least greedy for Majiya, brushed her hands off.

“I’m going to attack the passenger seat. I needed someone to put behind after taking Jia out.”

“Huh? Are you really going to sit in the passenger seat, Rain? Without rock-paper-scissors?”

“Anyway, I can’t sweet-talk Jia. You guys do it. I’ll take the Boss’s hits.”

As Rain slipped back, Dora, Maru, and Komari looked at each other and shouted as if they had made a promise.

“Rock, paper, scissors!”

Komari chose rock, while the other two chose scissors.

Victorious Komari proudly mimicked a recent opera shorts she had seen.

“Women are definitely fists~.”

The Boss’s commuting vehicle was an MPV also used as a company car.

It was a nine-seater vehicle well-known as “Dad’s car.”

Of course, the three seats in the back row were cramped and uncomfortable, so they were rarely used and mostly for carrying various luggage.

So, there were six seats left.

Originally, Team Leader Kang should have been sitting in the passenger seat, but today he decided to drive his own car, so I was sitting there.

“Jia, let’s swap seats with Mi.”

However, as soon as we arrived at the meeting point, Rain threw open the passenger door and demanded I get out.

“Suddenly?”

“My back. Go back. Today, I was the DJ.”

“Ugh.”

I didn’t want to get out, but Rain suddenly unbuckled my seatbelt and lifted me out effortlessly.

I tried to get back in, but the door was already firmly closed.

Reluctantly, I had to move to the back seat.

Rain often became the car’s music box, but still, in the passenger seat?

When driving, the Boss talked non-stop as if broadcasting, creating a situation close to a one-on-one interview with the person sitting in the passenger seat.

I could respond to the Boss’s words, and that was fun, so I sat in the passenger seat.

But seeing Rain voluntarily sitting in the nagging spot was adorable. Why would she do that?

I naturally ended up sitting behind the Boss, and soon Komari, who took the seat next to me, rummaged through her small bag and handed me a individually wrapped foreign snack.

“Do you want to eat this, unni?”

“Oh. Sure.”

Next was Dora, sitting behind me.

“Try this too, Jia.”

“Oh. Okay.”

A gummy bear shaped like a bear.

Lastly, even Maru, diagonally to my right, joined the gift relay with none other than chocolate snacks for soldiers.

Having given it, it felt wrong to just leave it, and since I had skipped breakfast, I started to unwrap and eat one.

I was glad the drink I bought earlier at the drive-thru was cappuccino.

It paired perfectly with the chocolate snacks.

Munching quietly, I started with the chocolate snacks when Komari, watching me from the side, asked.

“Do you like chocolate, unni?”

“No. I skipped breakfast.”

“Ah….”

Soon, Maru boasted,

“I knew this would happen, so I prepared it sensibly.”

Komari couldn’t hold back and chimed in.

“Just giving one chocolate snack and acting all proud….”

After last week’s “I’m Wolf” collaboration, it seemed like the two had calmed down, but now the argument reignited.

“What, what! Then why don’t you roll up some kimbap or something!”

“I just barely woke up at 9 AM after waking up at 2 PM every day, how could I prepare that?”

“Is that something to brag about? Huh?”

It was common to see these two bickering on the show, but seeing them do it in private was surprising, so I asked with concern.

“Are you two still not getting along? Did you really fight during ‘I’m Wolf’?”

“Ah, no. It’s just the usual WWE.”

“Nowadays, WWE seems to be throwing real low kicks.”

“No, I was just joking. Maru unni. Calm down. Maru, calm down.”

“Hey!”

Since it was Komari’s back seat, Maru’s hand shot out and tugged at Komari’s cheek.

“Ugh.”

“I held back last week, but not today!”

Thanks to the ruckus in the back seat, the Boss had to step in.

“Hey, if you keep that up, I might just send you all back home?”

“I’ll be quiet.”

“I’ll be quiet….”

Indeed, the Master of calming down the chaos was the Boss.

But that was only a temporary calm.

When we stopped at the rest area, Dora followed me as I tried to sneak off to the bathroom. When I came out, Maru and Komari were growling at each other like chihuahuas.

Later, when I laughed at Rain, who was shaking her body to the Korean pop music flowing from the stand while ordering drinks at the coffee shop, Komari and Dora slyly approached and started dancing weirdly, competing over who danced better.

Worried that someone might recognize us, I grabbed the two by their collars and pulled them back to the car, only to hear more growling.

Normally, if I were a viewer, I would have thought they had great chemistry, but since I felt like I had stirred things up between them during the “I’m Wolf” collaboration, I was unnecessarily concerned.

My coupling with the first generation members was indeed diverse.

Among them, I preferred the Komari-Maru pairing the most.

In other words, if my presence was a hindrance, I felt it was right to step back.

Anyone who enjoys watching the girls’ antics would probably agree.

Thus, I naturally gravitated towards Team Leader Kang, who had joined us at the campsite.

“Did anything happen before I arrived?”

I shook my head with a smile, as if nothing had happened.

I’m sorry, Team Leader.

Just bear with me for today.

–

As Majiya stuck close to Kang Ji-ho, the members naturally had to hold a reflection meeting.

“Honestly, it’s because of Maru unni. If you lost at rock-paper-scissors, you should have given in.”

“That was only in the car! Didn’t I say it would be all day?!”

“No. Even if that’s not the case, whenever I try to spend a little time with unni, you always come running to bother us, so Jia unni ran away thinking she was a nuisance.”

“Ah, that’s not true?! You were the same, Komari!!”

“… I didn’t do that.”

“Wow. At least change your expression when you say that.”

“What are you talking about!”

Dora, putting her arms around both Komari and Maru, asked.

“You two aren’t really fighting, right~?”

“Of course not.” “Definitely not.”

The timing of their rebuttals was too synchronized.

It’s no wonder fans always pair them up during collaborations.

“But Maru unni is serious.” “Komari takes it too seriously.”

This time, their words were so similar that Rain burst into laughter.

“Puhaha! Are you two copying each other? This is hilarious.”

“Don’t laugh….” “Why are you laughing? This is serious!”

“Kyahahahahaha!”

Dora sighed and muttered.

With the eldest sister, who should mediate, acting like that, the second sister had to step in.

“If this keeps up, we won’t be able to do anything, including our plans~. Jia needs to feel comfortable being with us so we can do the hidden camera later, right?”

For the birthday surprise operation for Majiya, two steps were essential.

First, stick close to Majiya and care for her like the first generation members.

Accept whatever she says positively. Bring her food. Whether holding her hand or putting an arm around her shoulder when going somewhere, guide her.

This way, she would naturally blend in with the first generation and feel a strong sense of belonging.

The next step would be the hidden camera in the evening, where all the situations from the day would feel like a dream.

At dinner, for some reason, only Jia’s plate wouldn’t be set.

Everyone would be pouring drinks for each other and toasting, while Jia would be left out.

Jia’s belongings would suddenly disappear, and everyone would pretend not to notice or care.

Just when Majiya would start to regret, thinking, “Did I come along without realizing it…,” the prepared cake and the first generation’s birthday song a cappella would ring out, starting a touching beach party.

So, if things are already going awry like this, we won’t be able to execute any plans.

“Maru, you planned this hidden camera. So, until it’s over, you can’t act emotionally, okay?”

Maru’s eyes were rapidly moistening.

“But I just ran to Jia every time I saw her….”

“The problem is that you argue with Komari when you go! Komari, it’s the same for you. If you agreed to do the hidden camera together, at least until we sleep tonight, let’s stop arguing with Maru, okay?”

“Tch. It’s because Maru unni keeps bringing it up….”

“Komari.”

The two had never truly fought.

They always bickered, arguing who was right, but without anyone needing to apologize first, they would end up making up warmly.

But while that might be fine on the show, if it continued in real life, it could genuinely worry them.

Majiya would feel the same.

Anyone who can distinguish between broadcasting and reality would be concerned.

“Then, how about we try to hold back on picking at each other’s words until the hidden camera later?”

Eventually, the two, who had been cautious, hugged lightly as if they had made a promise.

This kind of mutual embrace was akin to a promise to reconcile.

It was a rule they had established early on during their intense training.

“Now you two go and say or show that you didn’t really fight. That way, Jia will come back.”

“Okay.” “I’ll do that.”

The first generation members were determined.

After all, Team Leader Kang and Cheon Do-hee were on their side today.

Although it was a one-year anniversary trip, they had already received plenty of congratulations through broadcasts and concerts.

They decided to support the first generation’s desire to celebrate Majiya’s birthday, who had contributed greatly to that grand concert.

So, they just needed to warm up Majiya.

By showing a friendly demeanor and refraining from fighting, they would bring Majiya into the fold of the first generation.

However, the first generation was under a misconception.

That Majiya was always kind to the members was not true.

Majiya was extremely friendly only when it involved the first generation’s broadcasts. In her usual demeanor, she was more of a strong-willed lone wolf.

“Is it okay if I don’t play with the kids? I came to have fun, but if I play with someone like me, what will happen to them?”

Thus, even when Kang Ji-ho tried to persuade her to play with the kids.

Seeing the members fighting because of her, Majiya didn’t feel the need to return to them.

“I’ll be fine without me. Or Team Leader, will I disturb you if I’m here while you’re filming a vlog? Should I go to the Boss?”

“Hmm~ No, no! It’s not like that. Don’t worry about it.”

The first generation members kept glancing at Team Leader Kang from a distance.

Maru’s message to Team Leader Kang contained the desire to “explain to Jia.”

Team Leader Kang wanted to send Jia back to the kids somehow.

The first generation’s impatience indicated that their plans were going awry.

Fortunately, Team Leader Kang knew the best way to persuade Majiya. It was to give her a work-related request.

“Jia, I need to go to the bathroom for a moment. Can you take some pictures of the kids for me?”

“Oh. Sure. Give it to me.”

“Be careful not to capture the kids’ faces. I can always edit them out, but it feels awkward to leave a video behind. So, try to focus on the ground as much as possible, okay?”

“Okay.”

After handing over the camera, Majiya walked briskly back to the members.

The members sighed in relief.

Komari and Maru approached Majiya to explain.

However, perhaps because of what happened earlier.

Majiya instinctively took a step back.

As she walked quickly, her pace gradually increased until it turned into a run.

“Why are you running away?!”

“Why are you chasing me?”

An unexpected sprint on the sandy beach began.

With short legs and even holding a gimbal, Majiya surprisingly ran lightly on the sand, and Komari, who had decent athletic skills, was the same.

But Maru was not.

She couldn’t just play games; she couldn’t do any physical activities properly.

So, it wasn’t long before she fell into the sand.

Maru, face and clothes covered in sand, began to sob.

At least it was dry sand on the surface, so it was a relief, but still, she turned beige.

“Ugh.”

Komari, startled, stopped running and turned back.

She rushed over and used the sleeve of her hoodie to wipe off the sand around Maru’s eyes, nose, and mouth to avoid scratching her skin.

“Are you okay, unni?!”

“Ugh. Hic… I’m fine. Huh….”

“Wait a minute. Ugh. I’ll have to change my clothes….”

Despite often acting like she would eat each other when bored, when problems arose, these two were the first to take care of each other.

As the temporary vlogger, Majiya couldn’t miss capturing such scenes that fans would love.

Quietly approaching, she filmed Komari embracing Maru, paused the recording, and said.

“This scene is good. I’ll keep filming.”

It was only natural for Maru’s tear ducts to burst at those words.

After all, it was because of someone that this happened while running.

“Ugh, heeheehee, ugh!!”

Author’s Note (Author’s Postscript)

The next episode will be uploaded at 11:30!