Chapter 253: Lunchbox of Support
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 253: Lunchbox of Support
The egg soup was coming along one way or another, made with broth tablets, diagonally sliced green onions, and eggs.
I had Park Ju-woo do a taste test, and after he commented that the seasoning was a bit strong, I turned off the heat immediately. If it tasted a bit salty to Ju-woo’s palate, it meant it was just right for the average person.
The rice cooker signaled it was finished just as I was wrapping up the dishes from the lunchbox prep. I felt a sense of satisfaction seeing the perfectly fluffy rice.
“……You’re really fast at this,” Park Ju-woo remarked quietly, watching me move busily.
“It’s nothing difficult.”
I did live on my own for several years, after all. While I might not be a gourmet chef, I can at least follow a recipe.
“Hyung.”
“Yeah?”
After calling out to me, Park Ju-woo remained silent for a long moment.
Then, he finally spoke up with some difficulty.
“……Did you pack your own CSAT lunchbox too?”
?
What kind of question was that to hesitate over?
“I just bought kimbap.”
“……Really?”
“During the CSAT season, if you tell the snack shop the day before, they’ll have it packed for you. I just took that.”
Park Ju-woo went quiet at my words. He silently began fluffing the cooked rice with a paddle.
“……I’m adding this just in case you’re overthinking it.”
“Yeah.”
“You don’t have to think it was because of my family situation. It’s common in households where both parents work.”
I went out of my way to explain, fearing Park Ju-woo might start feeling unnecessarily sorry for me again. He gave a small nod in response.
“……Yeah. I get it.”
After that, we both spent a long time in silence, just making the Inari sushi. The delicious aroma filled the kitchen.
I watched Park Ju-woo as he carefully opened the fried tofu skins and asked, “Aren’t you tired?”
“No.”
Ju-woo nodded as he answered. His long, fair fingers deftly pressed the rice into the skins.
“Hey.”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
“Hyung…… don’t you want to take the CSAT again?”
It was a sudden question. Despite being the one to ask, Ju-woo couldn't even meet my eyes.
“Not really.”
“Truly?”
“Yeah. I don’t have the confidence to study all over again.”
I wasn't joking; I really didn't. The fans seemed to believe that our I-wol could do anything, but the rookie idol Kim I-wol didn't have the nerve to even attempt problem number 30 on the CSAT math section anymore.
“……I think you’d do well if you tried, though.”
“You think so?”
It was rare for Park Ju-woo to be so talkative. I wondered if he really wanted to see me go to college that badly, but then something occurred to me.
‘That’s why I’m waiting for my turn. Until we can be in a band together and do intense songs.’
‘…….’
‘I can wait until then. It’s not that I don’t have ambition or can’t be greedy…… so you don’t have to worry.’
This guy had loved rock music since before our debut, and even though he hadn't realized that dream yet, he continued to stick to his tastes.
To Park Ju-woo, perhaps university was to me what rock was to him. Something desperately wanted, something that couldn't be grasped right now, but something to be achieved someday.
“If you really wanted to go to the Business Administration department…… let’s look for a way to balance it. My aunt says life starts at forty.”
I almost burst out laughing at Ju-woo’s clumsy attempt at encouragement.
I’m sorry, Ju-woo, but I didn't want to go to business school that badly.
I just went because they said it was easy to get a job. Because they said there were plenty of openings.
That’s why I don’t think those days were particularly happy. I just tried my best to live each day to the fullest.
However, if there ever comes a day when I truly want to learn something…….
“I’ll think about it.”
……Then, I’ll use the money left over after paying back my sister to enroll in a prep academy or something.
“What is all this?”
Jeong Seong-bin, who had woken up right on time for his alarm, was startled. It was the moment the three-tier lunchbox prepared by Park Ju-woo and me truly shone.
“It’s a lunchbox of support. The bottom tier is egg soup, the middle is Inari sushi and stir-fried kimchi. For fruit, I packed bananas because I was worried high-moisture fruits might make you need the bathroom in the middle of the exam.”
“There’s also crab meat Inari sushi……!”
Park Ju-woo added with a proud face. He had been so meticulous, separating the crab meat layer by layer because his friend was going to eat it.
“It shouldn't leak, but I wrapped them in plastic one more time just in case. Still, there’s soup, so don’t shake it too much.”
“When did you do all this……?”
“The two of us finished it in no time.”
Jeong Seong-bin looked back and forth between the chaotic kitchen and the neatly packed lunchbox.
The kitchen was in that state because…… we hadn't done the dishes yet so we could make our own meal. It wasn't because we lacked time.
Seong-bin took the lunchbox with both hands.
“Did you pack your pens?”
“Of course. I’ll really enjoy the lunch.”
“Right. Don’t just eat the lunch and walk out, though. The manager’s pickup time won't match up.”
At my words, Jeong Seong-bin let out a bright laugh.
“I can’t get all 1s like you, Hyung, but is that okay?”
“Your vocals are in the top 4%, so the rest doesn't really matter.”
Seong-bin smiled and tucked the lunchbox into his bag. He looked so serious as he rearranged his pencil case and water bottle to make sure the box wouldn't tilt.
“Well then, I’m off!”
Seong-bin shouted from the front door. The other members, who had somehow all set their alarms, stumbled out rubbing their eyes to see him off.
“Yeah. Watch your face, and solve the problems you know well.”
He smiled at my words. Now, the only thing left for me was to make Inari sushi with the remaining ingredients to feed these guys.
Was it yesterday afternoon? Kim I-wol had sent a Bubble Pop to the fans.
I-wol
[By any chance, have you decided on tomorrow’s lunch menu?]
[How about Inari sushi?]
[If you need soup, egg soup!]
[Let’s have bananas for dessert. :)]
Will I even be able to wake up by lunchtime tomorrow? I-wol, high schoolers can sleep for 18 hours a day.
Even so, Baek Hae-won had dragged herself to the grocery store. Since it was CSAT day and school was out, it would be a blow to her pride not to eat the menu her bias had suggested.
Thinking of her brother, who would likely be lounging around like a jobless bum, she bought enough Inari sushi for four people. That jerk does nothing but eat a ton.
When lunchtime comes, I’m going to brag that I ate exactly what I-wol recommended.
With that single-minded determination, Baek Hae-won woke up at 11:30.
Instead of going through the trouble of neatly stuffing the rice into the tofu skins, she just mixed the rice with all the ingredients in a large bowl and shredded the tofu skins on top. As long as the tofu and rice enter the stomach together, isn't it the same thing?
Baek Hae-won took a photo of her masterpiece. Then she attached it to a post on social media.
≫ I-wol, this is the right way to eat Inari sushi, right?
I woke up at 11 just to do this, it was so hard
I must really love you
On Hae-won’s timeline, other people were also starting to post their Inari sushi certifications.
≫ Mi-heon, they have really good pre-made Inari sushi these days.
└ If I had time to go out and buy that, I would have already finished making an I-wol cotton doll.
└ You’re making an I-wol cotton doll, Mi-heon? Thank you!
└ How did it turn into that?
≫ Mi-heon, look at the Inari sushi I bought. Jealous?
└ How is there salmon on Inari sushi?? How?????
└ Ah, I should meet up with our Mi-heon to feed her some Inari sushi.
└ Do you think I’d meet you just to eat measly Inari sushi? You’re truly a funny person.
Aside from them, there were people who went to sushi restaurants and picked up plates of Inari sushi, and even someone who finally pulled out a pack of tofu skins that had been neglected in their house for two months…… everyone was losing their minds.
Baek Hae-won scooped her portion out of the mixing bowl, set out some kimchi, and sat at the table. She had no intention of waking up Baek Hae-in to eat together harmoniously.
Just as Hae-won was about to take her first bite, Spark’s real-time CSAT lunchbox mukbang live started without warning.
≫ @spArk_official
Time for our leader taking the CSAT to have lunch!
Let’s eat together!
[Spark] 2X11XX Today’s lunch is a CSAT lunchbox
What.
You guys are eating lunch to match Seong-bin’s break time?
Five members, excluding Jeong Seong-bin, appeared on the live stream. The floor of the practice room was covered with a delicious spread of Inari sushi.
This was the first time since the ‘Idol Dynasty Annals’ group retreat that Spark had been seen eating such a large spread.
『Did we have this many Tupperware containers in our dorm? Why did we pack so much?』
Lee Cheong-hyeon said, looking surprised. The containers of all shapes and sizes were filled with Inari sushi. Kim I-wol answered as he opened a lid.
『Our moms send us side dishes often. This is the container Gi-yeon’s mom used for the fried seaweed chips.』
『Oh, right. My mom told me to bring that container back.』
『When was that?』
Lee Cheong-hyeon asked his friend. Kang Gi-yeon looked into the air as if searching his memory and muttered.
『……Early this year?』
A conversation ensued that would have made Kang Gi-yeon’s mother lose her mind if she had seen it.
『But is it okay to broadcast without Jeong Seong-bin?』
Choi Je-ho asked, picking up the largest container in front of him. Who put that there? I’m going to rewatch this later.
『True. It’s rare for just the five of us to do a broadcast.』
An awkward silence followed Lee Cheong-hyeon’s words. While they often did lives in small groups, a five-member broadcast usually only happened if someone was sick or had a conflicting schedule.
Even then, Spark didn't have many individual schedules yet, and they made an effort to coordinate for group broadcasts.
Perhaps that was why a five-member broadcast felt awkward for both the members and the fans. Kim I-wol skillfully handled the lull in conversation.
『Seong-bin is probably eating right now too, so even if we can’t be with him, let’s at least eat our meal together. That’s the idea.』
『The fact that this is my future a year from now makes it hard to swallow this rice…….』
Kang Gi-yeon looked at the gloomy Lee Cheong-hyeon and said, 『For someone saying that, you’re already on your third piece of crab meat Inari sushi.』
『You were counting?!』
Lee Cheong-hyeon covered his mouth and shouted in horror. Kang Gi-yeon moved away from him with a look of disgust.
『What are you all eating?』
Choi Je-ho asked the camera. One of his cheeks was bulging, likely stuffed with Inari sushi.
The chat window was flooded with "Inari sushi." While there were a few trap answers like regular sushi or tofu hot pot, most were the same.
『Is today some kind of special day? Everyone says they’re eating Inari sushi. Are we totally in sync?!』
Lee Cheong-hyeon’s excitement was short-lived as Park Ju-woo read a chat explaining the situation.
『They say I-wol Hyung spoiled the menu yesterday……?』
『Yeah. If we eat the same thing, it feels like we’re having a meal together.』
At Kim I-wol’s words, Baek Hae-won looked down at her bowl of mixed Inari rice.
I’m sorry, I-wol. I don’t think we have the same menu.
More importantly, you guys really don’t search yourselves online, do you? We’ve been talking about nothing but Inari sushi all day yesterday.
As Kim I-wol and Park Ju-woo’s cooking story was winding down, a new chat message popped up.
It was a question asking Kim I-wol, the only one who had actually taken the CSAT, for his exam review.