Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: From a Relaxed Daily Life
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Ugh...”
Another morning arrived without fail.
I woke up in a hazy daze as usual and headed to the kitchen.
Prepared some toast and brewed coffee.
Once everything was ready, I plated it up and sat down in the chair by the living room window.
Ate brunch while taking in the view and carefully read through the latest webtoon uploads.
'New chapters even on non-release days.'
I was starting to worry about the author's wrist at this rate.
At this pace, they'd catch up to the total backlog before the year was out.
Good thing I'd emailed the author.
If I hadn't even tried, the webtoon I'd been reading would've just faded into obscurity.
'And the comments have picked up a bit.'
Even on a personal blog serialization, other readers were starting to show up.
Hard not to be thrilled.
After those brief thoughts, I headed straight to the bathroom.
Washed up, got ready, then moved to the dressing room to slip into some outfits I'd bought a few days ago and finalize my coordination.
'Yeah, the ivory shirt was the right call.'
I flashed a satisfied smile at the mirror, grabbed my gym bag with workout essentials, and headed right out to Ji-su's yoga studio.
“Keeping at it consistently has made you way more flexible.”
“Argh... don't pull... so hard...!!”
After the workout, I had a light chat with Ji-su before parting ways and heading home.
Tossed my sweat-soaked clothes straight into the laundry bin, grabbed a change of outfit, and went to the master bathroom shower.
Gazing at my now-familiar body.
I rinsed off the body wash as quickly as possible.
'Still feels off, no matter what.'
Familiar, sure—but not fully adapted.
Much better than before, though.
I roughly dried my hair with a towel, squeezed out the water, twisted it up into a bun.
Then blow-dried it simply for about thirty minutes, and my daily schedule was done.
Lounged comfortably on the living room sofa, killing time with YouTube.
Today's picks: spoiler-filled movie reviews and mystery story compilations.
'Gotta set up a home theater sometime.'
Munching on easy snacks like bananas and apples to curb the munchies while watching, evening rolled around before I knew it.
I got up, pulled out one or two of Na-yeon's prepped side dishes and set them on the dining table, then scooped some perfectly steamed rice from the cooker with a ladle.
Pulled out the dishware set I'd bought at the mart before and laid it all out neatly, dragged over the wheeled portable TV I'd gotten last time and parked it in the kitchen, then dug in.
'Hmm... maybe ask for some seasoned veggies as a side next time.'
I jotted the sudden idea down on my phone, gathered the empty dishes, and set them in the sink.
Did a light stretch, then headed to the computer room.
My time to play whatever games I wanted—and if there were no plans tomorrow, sometimes I'd pull an all-nighter.
This was how I lived: regular and stable.
Stable, if you called it stable.
Boring, if you called it boring.
'Even games are starting to feel stale.'
I'd hustled so hard back then just to achieve this kind of stability, and now it felt dull after how short a time?
Human greed really knew no bounds.
Today.
And tomorrow.
Unless I went out of my way to stir things up, this routine would repeat forever.
A life fully under my control.
Which meant, in other words, nothing special happened unless I made a move.
'Not bad...'
It wasn't even about good or bad.
Most people worked their asses off and earned money precisely for a life like this.
So it wasn't just "not bad"—it was the pinnacle of the stable life everyone chased.
The textbook model life.
But it didn't quite click for me.
Maybe because I'd stumbled into it so easily, while others struggled for it.
'Yeah, that's probably it.'
I closed the game, stared at the brightly lit default wallpaper, and let out a small chuckle.
So whenever I started feeling this bored and reflective...
'Time to check the remaining bucket list...'
I'd pull up the bucket list on my phone.
Scrolling through the items I'd diligently added whenever something popped into my head, one word jumped out.
Overseas travel.
When you wanted to escape this laid-back routine, nothing beat an overseas trip.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next morning.
No yoga today.
Unlike usual, I plopped down at the computer right away and searched for flights to nearby Japan.
'Peak season right now.'
The heat and typhoons had passed.
Perfect weather for travel, they said.
'My schedule's free, but...'
Staring at the flight tickets brought a flood of thoughts.
They say you should travel solo.
Drop yourself into an unfamiliar world, wander lost, and you'll meet a grown version of yourself.
But heading out solo with zero overseas experience? That was pretty damn risky.
Even Japan was supposedly sketchy outside the big cities—how could anyone navigate that?
'But no one to go with.'
I knew solo travel was risky, but knowing and doing were different beasts.
No one to invite.
'Who could I ask...'
The first person who came to mind when thinking of doing something together was one obvious pick.
Yoo Yeon-a.
'Yeon-a's swamped all month—pass.'
But she already had a packed schedule.
And when she was busy, the other models usually were too.
Ji-su, Eun-a—all posting about their chaos on SNS, so some big event must be brewing.
“Guess I'll have to go solo.”
I muttered to myself while eyeing my pathetically empty contacts list.
Back in the day, I'd have had one or two otaku buddies to drag along on the spot.
Lost in those tangled thoughts over coffee when the doorbell lit up.
And at the same time...
'Ah!'
A lightbulb went off in my head.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Japan?”
“Yeah. An acquaintance is hooking me up with cheap tickets, but going alone feels off... It's my first time heading abroad.”
Na-yeon’s eyes sparkled for a moment at my words before she pulled out her phone and started checking something intently.
“Hmm... next month should work.”
Fortunately, a positive response.
Next month—right on the edge before winter hit.
Fewer crowds by then?
Perfect weather for onsen too.
“Tickets to where?”
“Oh, they said anywhere I want as long as it's Japan.”
I brushed it off with an excuse I'd whipped up on the fly.
Pre-buying tickets and insisting felt too pushy, so this way.
'Brain turns on when it counts.'
I smirked inwardly, satisfied.
Na-yeon nodded vaguely, gazing at me with envious eyes.
“Must have connections at the airline.”
“Y-yeah.”
That pure gaze pricked my conscience a little.
Still, better than her feeling burdened and turning it down.
This was a spotless white lie.
Mixed with a dash of my own greed.
“Have you been to Japan, Na-yeon?”
“Me? Yeah... went with friends after high school graduation. Nothing since.”
Prime age for overseas trips.
What had I been up to then?
'Part-timing, I guess.'
Not the fondest memory, so I didn't dwell.
“Where'd you go?”
“Osaka, I think? Just ate like crazy there. Anyway, Yeon-bi, you've really never been abroad?”
I nodded at her question.
Na-yeon stared at me like it was unbelievable.
I got it.
A young person living in a place like this, never once abroad? Who'd buy that.
I wouldn't have believed me either, in her shoes.
“Tell me some Japan stories. Kinda like a preview experience before I go.”
That got her chuckling softly—nothing special, just tales of grub with friends.
Then she paused a beat and launched into a bunch.
Almost missed the airport, sprinted, suitcase wheel popped off—suffered the whole trip.
Dropped a snack at the deer park feeding them—all the deer in the area swarmed.
Even got hit up by a Korean asking to grab drinks—in Japanese—while walking.
“...Wow, I talked way too much by myself, huh?”
She trailed off with an awkward laugh, scratching her head. I shook my head gently.
“Nah. I was hooked.”
“G-good... well, anyway, it was a blast.”
Me too, back then.
If I'd scraped together a trip with friends somehow, would I have racked up fun like this?
Not blaming my sick mom or anything.
Just... a little bittersweet.
Regret? Sure.
But I still think my choice was right.
'She told me to just go have fun, but I bet I'd still be regretting it now if I had.'
If every path led to regret anyway.
Better to spend that time with the person who mattered most.
“Ah, time's flying. I'll get to cleaning.”
Na-yeon stood up.
I watched her bustle off, deciding to shake off my sudden gloom.
'Fun. The most fun ever.'
Headed to my room, fired up the computer.
Time for the most fun Japan trip ever—with Na-yeon.