Chapter 169
Chapter 169
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 169
Chapter Title: The Headband Bet
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A whopping seven people.
I randomly picked them and asked what food they wanted to eat at graduation: tonkatsu or jjajangmyeon?
The result? Five chose jjajangmyeon, and the remaining two eyed me nervously before picking tonkatsu.
'What do I do?'
I could already picture my defeat.
I'd dressed up sharp in a suit for Yu-na's graduation...
But adding animal ear headbands? It'd be pure comedy.
"......"
"Jun-seo? It's not too late yet. Want to call it off? I'll give you a special chance."
God, I wanted to.
But a man doesn't go back on his word.
"...We don't know yet."
That's right. Not yet.
Even in dire straits, miracle comebacks happen in real life all the time.
Just like that, if the last person picks tonkatsu over jjajangmyeon, I might avoid total defeat.
I clenched my fist tight.
A sigh came then.
"Fine, then bring back three at once. Let's wrap this up and get some tonkatsu."
"......"
"Yu-na, you're super hungry, right?"
"Yeah, Auntie... I'm hungry."
"Hear that? Hurry up and go."
I silently turned and headed toward the crowd.
I swept my gaze over the onlookers snapping photos of me on their phones.
Perfect—three girls right there.
Earlier, some girls had eyed me before choosing tonkatsu, right?
Yeah, these kids'll do.
I approached them.
"Hey, you girls got a minute?"
"...Yes! Yes! We've got tons of time!"
One girl finally reacted, shouting loudly. The others avoided my eyes but nodded.
"Then, mind coming over there for a quick chat? Won't take long—just a minute."
"Yes! Sounds good!"
"...Me too."
"M-Me too!"
"Alright, then. Over there."
I brought the girls back to our spot.
Time to ask fast.
"Ahem! Girls? Mind if this big sis talks casual?"
"Yes! Big sis! Totally fine."
"Me too!"
"Kyaa! What do we do? She's so pretty!"
I froze.
'What the—this reaction?'
These the same shy kids from before?
The girls couldn't tear their eyes off singer Yusia.
"Yu-na's so cute too!"
"Hi, Yu-na!"
"Hee hee hee. Hello."
The kids beamed with pure bliss at Yu-na's greeting.
"Anyway, quick question: If you had to pick one must-eat after graduation, what'd it be?"
Yusia's question.
The girls answered without hesitation.
"Obviously jjajangmyeon."
"Yeah! My brother just graduated, and Mom took him out for jjajangmyeon."
"Hmm, really?"
"Yes! A year ago after elementary graduation, Mom got me jjajangmyeon."
"Hee hee. Thanks. That's it."
She smirked, thanked them for their help, and sent the girls off.
My defeat was sealed.
"See?"
"...When do I start with the headband? Just nothing too flashy, please."
She shrugged, scooped up Yu-na, and started walking ahead.
"It's fine. You don't have to. I'm hungry—let's grab tonkatsu quick."
We scarfed down delicious tonkatsu for lunch and were crossing the city.
I kept feeling worried glances from beside me.
"...Why?"
"Jun-seo, you sure you're okay?"
Okay?
Not... at all.
Everyone we passed stared at my head and burst out laughing.
Black cat ear headband.
Sharp black suit with cat ears—hilarious combo, huh?
Yusia said it was fine earlier, but this was about my pride.
A man's word is his bond.
Plus, we were filming [Dad, I Love You!]. If I bailed on the bet, viewers would judge me later.
Most would say it's fine.
But some would nitpick and tear me apart.
"...Why so quiet?"
"It's okay. We're matching with Yu-na, so I can bear it."
Yeah.
Yu-na was wearing one too, matching me—that made it tolerable.
Look ahead.
Yu-na waddled along in her bear ear headband.
Unlike my ridiculous getup, she looked adorable.
"Jun-seo, what now? First time on a show like this—I have no clue."
I cleared my throat and shrugged.
"Just let Yu-na do whatever she wants. Simple, right? Stop her if it's dangerous, though."
"Hmm... okay?"
That's when it happened.
Yu-na, ahead of us, waved vigorously from afar.
"Auntie! Daddy! Come here quick! There's a singer!"
With that, she darted into the crowd.
Even with the cameraman nearby, that tiny body plunging in was risky.
"Isn't that dangerous?"
You think?
Of course it was.
Getting shoved or stepped on in there could be fatal for little Yu-na.
I bolted without answering Yusia, worried sick. She sped up to follow.
Tadak tadak!
We reached where Yu-na went. Everyone faced forward, oblivious to us behind.
A familiar, mellow melody.
Yusia's new single, released recently, played from up front.
"Someone up there covering my song?"
"...Looks like it."
No time to stand around.
I tapped the guy in front's back.
Tap! Tap!
"Excuse me? Mind letting me through? I want to get up front."
"I got here first, so..."
The guy met my eyes, eyes widening in shock, frozen.
His neighbor reacted the same.
Slowly.
People noticed us, glanced around sheepishly, and parted.
Like the Red Sea.
"Jun-seo, is that... Yu-na up front?"
I nodded.
"...Yeah."
There she was, bear-eared Yu-na's back in the direction Yusia pointed.
'Worried for nothing?'
Oblivious, Yu-na had snagged prime seats and watched the busking chill.
Cameraman too.
"How can I—change your heart from back then—just give me one more chance—woah yeah."
Yusia and I strode forward, stopping right behind Yu-na.
By the way.
'Singing in falsetto sounds pretty good?'
The guy's raspy voice gave Yusia's new track a fresh vibe.
"Hmm... Someone's already covering my new song. Lots of awkward bits, but not unbearable."
Harsh critique.
Sounded good to me.
"That day, I'll do even better—hoo—hooo—yeahh."
The chorus ended the guy's song. Silence crashed down, the crowd dead quiet.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
Amid stares our way, only Yu-na clapped and jumped.
"Wooow! Yu-na knows that song! It's Sia Auntie's song!"
"Huh? Uh... huh!"
The guy, gulping water, finally spotted Yu-na and us. He shot up. The mic hit the ground—screeech!
Screeech—!
"Ow! My ears!"
"S-Sorry, everyone."
He fumbled the mic, cranked down the speaker volume, and flashed an awkward grin. Then spoke again.
"Ahaha... This is embarrassing. If I'd known the original singer was here, I wouldn't have sung it. Everyone? How'd it sound?"
No one spoke.
Except one.
Original singer Yusia.
"...Smooth out the breaths, ditch all those pointless flourishes, and it'll be better than mine. The key is singing with real regret."
"Th-Thank you!"
"But why that vibration at the end? Habit?"
"Ahaha..."
"It kills the emotion."
"Got it. Thanks for the advice."
Warm vibes as Yu-na dashed to me.
"Daddy! You sang with Yu-na last time, right? Sing together again!"
"...Nah, Daddy's good."
"It's not hard—just do it. It's Yu-na's birthday!"
What now...?
Everyone's staring.
The guy approached, handing me the mic.
"...Wanna do a song? Got most MR tracks. Spare mic for your daughter too."
"Woooah!"
"Lee! Jun! Seo! Lee! Jun! Seo!"
Onlookers chanted my name, voices rising.
And Yu-na.
Her pleading eyes stung extra hard.
I sighed deeply.
"Fine... Yusia's new song."
We shopped and rushed home for Yu-na's birthday party.
But.
Yusia kept cracking up since earlier, grating on me.
"Ahahaha!"
"...Why keep laughing?"
I finally asked.
She wiped tears from laughing and answered.
"Never dreamed you'd sing that bad. Seeing tone-deafness live? Novel experience."
I clamped my mouth shut.
"Hee hee hee. No way. Daddy sings good. Not as good as Sia Auntie, but Daddy sings well."
"Really? Sings well... ahaha!"
Yeah, laugh it up.
I grumbled inwardly, focusing on driving. Sky darkened fast, streetlights twinkling bright.
How much time passed?
Pulling into the apartment lot.
"By the way... Jun-seo?"
I scanned for parking while answering Yusia.
"Yeah?"
"Meant to say earlier... You like that headband? Still wearing it."
Only then did I realize the cat ears were still on my head.
Face burning.
I yanked it off, tossing it to the back seat. Yu-na sighed right beside me.
"Aw... It was pretty! Daddy! Can't you keep it on?"
"...No. Not pretty at all. And I'll never wear it again."
I parked neatly, vowing: No more bets from strangers.