The Sudden Chance for Outdoor Day Off
A chance like this had always appeared out of nowhere.
I spent another ordinary day sprawled around the barracks, using the excuse of waiting for deployment as my reason for doing absolutely nothing.
Whether there was actual deployment or not, Han Jihye—sitting stubbornly in her seat like always—suddenly spoke up.
“Hey, everyone. I have something to say.”
Even though she usually called us by “ya” when she had something important to tell, her words as the top senior naturally drew every eye our way.
“I’m going on a trip outside.”
“Wait, a trip? Our barracks isn’t an outing zone, right?”
“I suddenly felt like going out, so I grabbed the chance.”
“Well… come back and forth. You have me, after all.”
Kim Heejin let out a chuckle as if mocking my assumption that she’d be leaving alone.
But Han Jihye added it without a shred of hesitation, completely unfazed.
“What kind of talk is that? We’re all going on a trip from the barracks!”
“Are you serious?”
“You seniors really have no comeback, do you. Absolutely none.”
“Fine, then who’s handling the deployment? Even if it’s just without any planning ahead, at least we should have some countermeasures, right?”
Kim Heejin, who always emphasized following rules to the letter, looked visibly irritated by Han Jihye’s freewheeling attitude. How had she managed to coexist with such an unorthodox personality for so many years? This had to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World, right?
“I never said we don’t have countermeasures. Did you seriously think I’d pull something without any backup?”
“Of course. We should’ve seen what Hero Jihye has done so far at least once or twice.”
I had the exact same thought. If it were really Han Jihye, she would’ve done something completely reckless without a second thought.
“Wow, total disappointment. You said you’d raise your juniors to make them useless, remember? Even Harang and Heejin. You treat the top senior like you’re staring at a rock. Seriously.”
Why me! I’m so annoyed! I was literally just sitting there quietly saying nothing!
“Why are you poking at Harang? She didn’t say a single word!”
*Sigh*… Seniors treat their juniors like neighborhood stray dogs just because they’re cute… and I live like this. I really live like this.
“Neighborhood stray dogs? At least consider them at the level of street mutts. What exactly were you thinking, then?”
“We worked out a compromise with the deployment side. They also said they wanted to go out on their own deployment days.”
I had never seen her move from her spot before, yet she somehow managed a compromise.
Well, it’s not like they couldn’t have done it over the phone.
“So when that barracks goes on deployment, we just take the day off as our deployment assignment?”
I raised my hand to prove my own smarts and said it anyway.
“Yeah. That’s right.”
“Then it’s fine. I was a bit worried it might be completely impossible, but it seems workable.”
“What exactly do you think I am? Do you really think I’d just lie around doing nothing? You? Back then, the moment anything happened, you’d cry out ‘Hero Jihye-nim!!’ and sob.”
“I didn’t cry.”
“You two are exactly the same now and then, Heejin. If you poke me, I won’t even bleed a drop.”
I felt a little deflated after she slipped past it so smoothly.
I hadn’t expected the seniors to cry and kneel in front of my deductive and wise judgment… but a little bit of surprise was at least what I wanted to see.
Still, I recovered my energy in no time.
Going on a trip outside meant we could relax rules for a short while, like taking a combat break.
And being able to use casual speech? It was a golden chance to put the experience I’d gained from Jeong Seung-a and Kim Heejin to good use.
I glanced at Yeon Byeori. She didn’t seem the slightest bit excited about the outing news and just kept fiddling with her phone.
I can do this. I clenched my fist tightly.
“Oh right. Harang, you’ve never gone out on a trip, have you?”
“Superhuman Seo Harang, yes. It was especially bad timing because a bunch of gates opened the day I transferred in.”
“Then I guess you haven’t heard. We don’t get permission for trips on deployment days.”
…My clenched fist relaxed.
Why? What was the difference between a trip and a combat break? Wasn’t it just a full day of rest? They were the same thing.
“…Should I tell you too?”
“Hey, Jeong Seung-a. Don’t do that. Once I get going, it’ll never stop.”
“…Okay, got it.”
“It’s fine. It’s not about that.”
“Are you holding back because you can’t use casual speech with me?”
It wasn’t that. Using casual speech in tandem was much more effective when I wanted to put the things I’d learned with two people to use.
I stole another glance at Yeon Byeori. She still showed no interest in what I was saying.
“Eh? Were you already gearing up to devour me? Hey, don’t do that. Even if it’s not Byeori, once she snaps, I won’t be able to stop her either.”
“You’re not stopping me?”
“Heejin, this isn’t the time to be saying that.”
“You’re not in a position to say it.”
“You’re just as empty-handed as ever. Who’s your match senior? You?”
“Hero Jihye-nim.”
Kim Heejin was completely immune to “who’s your match senior” and “you’re under me, I’m over you” attacks. Because she was directly under the top senior. I was envious.
“Anyway, tomorrow we’re all going on the trip. Got it? We’re leaving early in the morning.”
If that was how Han Jihye would casually drop big plans, I was ready.
Honestly, there wasn’t much to prepare. Just take a shower and dress like a normal person, and we’d be good, right?
“So we’re waking up at five tomorrow?”
Shortening sleep time.
Thinking about it, combat breaks had always been like that too. The ones going out started preparing early.
Back then, the seniors who weren’t leaving just went back to sleep, but this time, since the whole barracks was going out, everyone seemed to be getting ready.
I still couldn’t understand this kind of group dynamic.
Preparing for an outing took a full hour and thirty minutes! I was told that even that time was considered short. If so, it meant we were wasting nearly one-twelfth of an entire day just on preparations!
But that was how group activities worked. Once an opinion was set, everyone with dissenting views just followed along.
Of course, if Han Jihye had the dissenting opinion, the rules would change!
…
“Eh! I’m thinking we’ll all go out tomorrow. So let’s all go together sometime.”
One senior made plans to meet someone.
“No, we can’t drink. You know that, right?”
Another senior said we couldn’t drink. If it was just sleeping over somewhere, maybe, but since we’d have to come back in the evening, alcohol plans were out.
“Then I’ll head over there tomorrow.”
Yet another senior had already picked a meeting spot.
…Seniors going out separately were each making their own plans. I thought they’d all go together, but apparently not.
“Superhuman Jeong Seung-a.”
“Hm?”
“When we go out, do we just move on our own?”
“Usually, yeah.”
“Is that so? Superhuman Jeong Seung-a would…”
“I’d love to say I’m going with Harang no matter what…”
Jeong Seung-a lowered her eyebrows in disappointment.
“Just to show my face to my friends. I haven’t seen them for months. I’m really sorry.”
“Ah! I’m fine with it.”
Actually, that was good. No matter what, doing anything to Yeon Byeori in front of all the other seniors would have been awkward.
The best situation would have been just me and Yeon Byeori going out together…
“Superhuman Kim Heejin?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you have any plans, Superhuman Kim Heejin?”
“Do you wanna go together?”
“Yeah─ sure.”
“…Then let’s go together? I’m going to visit my sister. Since you’re already involved anyway, I can bring you along… but if it’s a hassle, I can meet my sister later and just you can come with me.”
“Ah! No, that’s not it. Family is important, right?”
“If you really want to go with me, I won’t be able to stop you.”
“What exactly can’t you do? Heejin is supposed to be with me by my side.”
Han Jihye rolled over and slid right next to Kim Heejin’s knee.
I was jealous. How casually she could cross senior beds like that.
“…What did you say?”
“We should ride your sister’s car together. We’ve always done that whenever we went on outings, right?”
“Well… I guess so… but what exactly were you planning to do on the trip, Hero Jihye-nim? Do I need to do something separate from you?”
“Just play games at a PC room.”
Kim Heejin frowned at Han Jihye’s words.
“Do I have to go with you too?”
“No? I’m just going alone.”
“Then why did we all get assigned to the same outing? Just take a solo vacation.”
“Since we’re going anyway, might as well all go together, right?”
“Seriously legendary.”
Even while saying that, Kim Heejin showed no genuine reluctance.
It seemed she had timed her sister visit perfectly.
In the end, everyone seemed to have made plans. So in this situation, what could I do? Only one thing!
“Superhuman Yeon Byeori? Do you have any plans tomorrow?”
“Plans?”
Yeon Byeori lifted her eyes from her phone and looked at me.
“Nothing special. I’ll just play on my phone at a cafe if I go out.”
“She probably would’ve worn glasses if she hadn’t awakened. For real.”
“I’ll honestly admit it.”
Yeon Byeori, who had answered honestly, looked me up and down—not just my face, but slowly scanning from head to toe like a scan.
“Well… even so, our cute little junior seems to have plans. I’ll have to follow you.”
I really wasn’t used to hearing that someone thought I was cute.
But since she said so, I’d go along with it. I quickly pressed my index finger against her cheek to prevent her plan from changing.
“Thank youuuuu~!”
“Just won’t go.”
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!! I’ll never do it again!”
“It was a joke. But seriously, don’t do that kind of thing. It’s a bit hard to handle in so many ways.”
I decided I’d never do that again. Honestly, I felt a little guilty doing it while it was happening.
Still, going out with Yeon Byeori was a success. Since other seniors had things to do, being able to go alone was pure bliss.
Jeong Seung-a and Kim Heejin both turned to look at me at the same time.
They were clearly thinking, “Who is this Yeon Byeori going out with?” They had heard that she showed no real desire to join groups even on outings.
If I showed my real feelings like this, I could move even the most stubborn senior!
“We’re looking forward to the outing.”
“Yeah? That’s surprising. It’s rare for someone to look forward to going out with me.”
“I won’t disappoint you properly.”
Great! I’ll show Jeong Seung-a and Kim Heejin the refined fox act I’ve been training!
…Wait, why did the direction suddenly shift to fox act?
I remembered setting my direction to appear harmless, but I had no idea why it had turned into fox act.
Whatever. Let’s just bump into each other and see. If it doesn’t work, I’ll find another direction.
I held that sudden chance in my arms and waited for tomorrow’s sunrise.
…
*Click!*
“Wake up!! Wake up! Everyone, prepare! Outdoor preparation!”
…Even before the sun rose, I was woken up.