episode_0060

“Japan is indeed too expensive.”

I’m not sure if it’s because it’s a love hotel, but one thing’s for sure, it’s more expensive than motels in Korea. Going there twice left me with less money than I thought.

“Dad, I’m all ready.”

“Yeah.”

Yoo-hee and I checked out of the love hotel and returned to our accommodation. Honestly, my back was aching a bit, so I lay down on the bed.

“Are you going to sleep?”

“No… my back hurts a bit…”

“My back hurts too…”

“….”

Well, it’s natural for Yoo-hee to be in pain after the kind of sex we had yesterday because of my greed. I really overdid it…

As I stretched out my arm, Yoo-hee took off her bag and came into my arms, resting her arm on me. Hugging her while crouching down felt just like holding a baby.

“Dad’s smell…”

“It’s probably Yoo-hee’s smell…?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Haha.”

We joked around while the warmth between us gradually increased. Even though we turned on the air conditioner, it wasn’t cold at all. Maybe it was because it was morning, the sound of cars starting outside, and motorcycles passing by, but it soon quieted down.

“I want to live like this forever.”

“We have to work.”

“…That’s true.”

For a moment, even lying down, I imagined the great people who were making money while doing nothing. I wish I had bought some coins when I was young. It’s almost in a downward trend now.

“What are we going to do today?”

“Well… what does Dad want to do?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. I’ve only done what I wanted so far.”

“Well…”

Coming to Japan and traveling as Yoo-hee planned, I was satisfied. So now, even if I wanted to do something, I didn’t know what to do, and we had already done all the sightseeing, but nothing specific came to mind.

Well… when I think of Japan…

“Oh.”

“Do you want to do something?”

“I haven’t been to an onsen.”

“Really?”

Yoo-hee got out of my arms and started searching on her phone. It seems there’s a famous onsen in Odaiba.

“That sounds good.”

“Should we go there?”

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s go– Agh!”

As Yoo-hee tried to get up, I grabbed her hand and laid her down next to me. Yoo-hee looked at me with a mischievous expression.

“…Dad, are you being lazy?”

“But I want to stay like this with you a little longer…”

“Ugh… just words.”

“That’s not true.”

“Yeah…”

And after about 15 minutes in that state, Yoo-hee woke me up forcibly as I was about to fall asleep.

It was the first time I got scolded.

~~~

Before going to the onsen, we stopped by Shinjuku again. Yoo-hee seemed to have something in mind.

“I’ll be on the 6th floor. Dad, look around a bit.”

“Yeah.”

I felt excited for no reason, thinking she might buy some cosplay costume to surprise me like back then. Even if it wasn’t a gift for me, as long as Yoo-hee was satisfied with her shopping, I was content.

A plaza with a staircase-shaped layout, with buildings divided into A and B wings. Inside, there were escalators extending longways, not in a zigzag pattern but straight from the 1st to the 7th floor. Seeing it stretched out like that, it felt like a stairway to heaven.

“They sell luxury goods too.”

Brands like X Chanel, X Louis Vuitton, and various famous Japanese brands were also being sold. Among them, what caught my eye was the fountain pen.

“Oh…”

There was even the fountain pen brand that Director Choi used. According to Director Choi, it’s one of Japan’s top three fountain pen companies or something like that. But looking at the design and the staff, Director Choi didn’t seem to be exaggerating for no reason.

“いらっしゃいませ. (Welcome.)”

“Uh… hi.”

My brain turned blank when the neatly dressed staff greeted me. Communicating in a foreign language is indeed difficult.

“May I help you?”

“Ah, no thanks.”

Fortunately, the clerk seemed to understand my dilemma and spoke in English, allowing me to browse without worry.

Starting with a brown, round pen decorated with gold, there were many uniquely shaped pens. I thought about getting one, but after seeing that the basic price was over 10,000 yen, I quickly gave up.

There were also many stylish and sharp regular pens. Personally, I liked the black matte pens the most. Of course, they were cheaper than the fountain pens, but still quite expensive compared to regular pens.

“As expected, luxury is luxury.”

After enjoying the luxury eye candy, I went up to the 6th floor where there were games. Looking around, all I could see were wallet brands. They seemed to be famous brands in Japan.

As I walked further in, I saw Yuhee talking to the clerk.

“Yuhee.”

“Oh, Dad. Are you done browsing already?”

“Yeah. Nothing special except for the different brands?”

“Oh, okay, then wait for me outside…”

“Got it.”

Yuhee seemed surprised and stood awkwardly. If I had known, I would have come up a little later…

While I was outside stretching, Yuhee came out holding something.

“What did you buy?”

“This…”

Yuhee handed me a black matte box tied with a white ribbon. It was a slightly long rectangular box. Yuhee avoided my gaze, and I untied the ribbon and opened the box.

“This is…”

“How is it…?”

A long wallet made of black leather. The leather seemed to be of good quality, soft and closed well. Moreover, my initials, K.C.H, were written in English on the outside.

“Why did you…”

“Oh, I saved up money from my part-time job to buy it. Since I’ve never given you a gift before.”

“….”

Receiving a gift directly from Yuhee, on top of this trip itself being a gift, made me feel deeply touched. Receiving a gift I’ve never received before…

“Thank you.”

“Is it okay…?”

“Yeah. A lot.”

I immediately took out my wallet and put everything in the new wallet. There was plenty of space, and even after putting everything in, there was still room left.

“Dad!?”

I hugged Yuhee tightly. It might seem cheesy to others, but if I didn’t express it now, it wouldn’t mean anything.

I thought I would cherish the first gift I received from my daughter even after I died.

“Thank you, Yuhee.”

“Let’s go to the hot springs!”

“Okay.”

Yuhee’s face as she said that was redder than ever.

~~~

Taking the Yamanote Line to Shinbashi Station, you can take the Yurikamome train to Odaiba.

“Wow…!”

Riding a train running above the city like in a sci-fi movie or amusement park was a first for me. If our neighborhood had a subway, would it feel like this?

The train had two cars and, like the Sinbundang Line in Korea, seemed to operate completely unmanned, moving automatically without a driver.

The train ran on the city rails, passing between high-rise buildings, and our train reflected on the glass of the buildings we passed by.

“Isn’t it amazing?”

“Men can’t help but be fascinated by this kind of thing.”

Most men would be amazed by robots and machines. When they see something moving and working together, they involuntarily immerse themselves as if they had made it themselves.

After marveling for a while, we arrived at Odaiba already.

“Is that it?”

“Yeah.”

Perhaps intentionally, as soon as we got off the train, we saw what looked like a hot spring. With a roof, it exuded a traditional atmosphere.

“Let’s change into the clothes.”

“Okay.”

The inside was similar to a Korean jjimjilbang, but the clothes were different. Yukata for travel. I made sure to wear underwear underneath, as it seemed like it could easily come off.

Watching others put on clothes and awkwardly trying to follow suit, is this the right way to wear them…?

“Wow….”

Exiting the dressing room, it felt like stepping into another city with a festival atmosphere permeating the air. Lights hung from the ceiling, various food stalls were bustling, and there were tables to sit at. I was surprised by how they managed to recreate such a spacious feeling indoors.

“Dad.”

“Oh, you’re here?”

Yoohee also emerged from the dressing room, approaching me with a shy gesture of covering her chest.

“Yoohee?”

“…There wasn’t any.”

“What…!”

Yoohee clung to me tightly. As I lifted her up to take a closer look, her collarbones, accentuated by the bra she was wearing, were quite noticeable. It was an exposure level that could be misunderstood as provocative by others.

“Yoohee, your clothes…”

“They didn’t have the right size…”

“….”

What am I going to do with this…