Chapter 134
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Japan Trip (2)
Why do our trips always have to turn into battles like this?
In the taxi heading to the airport, I sighed while fiddling with my bangs using a portable hairdryer. Honestly, I thought it wouldn't matter if a guy like me went out with damp hair, but Myth insisted I dry it, so I had no choice.
"If you don't dry it, your hair will fall out."
"Whoa, that sounded a bit like an auntie—"
Crack. As Myth gripped the hairdryer, a weird noise came from it.
Hmm, yeah, better not tease her. I didn't mind if Myth acted like an auntie, but talking about a woman's age was probably a bit rude no matter what.
If I got caught again, I'd end up with broken bones. I had no intention of returning to a hospital bed, so I whistled and finished drying my hair.
Aw, come on, you've gotta dry your hair nice and quick, right? Of course.
"Is this trip just the two of us?"
"I'd love that, but unfortunately, DreamLive invited both me and Sara this time."
"Oh? So Sara and Uri are coming too?"
"Yep. I was a little worried about sending Sara alone anyway."
For some reason, lately whenever we went on trips or did anything, it always ended up being these four of us.
Traveling together is lively and fun, and we make sure to carve out some alone time in between, so it works out great.
"So you two are coming separately?"
"Huh? No, no. We're on the same flight, just arriving a bit apart. It's close, but the routes to the airport are a little different."
"Ah, got it. Makes sense."
I nodded.
Airports are built far from the city because of all the noise, so as we headed toward Incheon Airport, the towering buildings quickly vanished, replaced by quiet mountain roads.
Seeing this road again after more than half a year brought a fresh wave of emotion.
"What're you thinking about?"
"Hmm... nothing much."
Opening my eyes after seven years, reading the messages you'd left me over those seven years from my hospital bed.
That day I suddenly missed you so much that I snuck out of the hospital without my phone charged and raced to the airport—I must have sped down this very road.
From the hospital to the airport, wearing just a patient gown and a puffer jacket to meet you. Now here I was, with you by my side, closer than anyone. It felt surreal.
Of course, I didn't say any of that out loud.
Unlike Myth, who whispered sweet nothings whenever the mood struck, my own immaturity made me a bit shy about it. And hadn't I just bowed my head in apology to that taxi driver in Busan after getting too lovey-dovey?
"Just thinking how I never realized this road looked like this."
"Huh? Didn't you say you'd never been overseas before—oh."
Myth clapped her hands as realization dawned.
She turned to me, her eyes sparkling with a misty sheen—a look that made even my heart flutter.
Oh no, she's gonna kiss me again.
Not that I minded, but we had to consider where we were. Repeating the same mistake twice wasn't an option. I gently booped her nose.
"Eek?"
"Not here."
Myth gave me those sad puppy eyes, but no, we couldn't. Instead, I took her hand and linked our pinkies.
"This good enough?"
"...Hmph. I'll get ten times back later."
"Bring it on."
Man, what a cute girlfriend.
"Howdy! Everyone doing well? And Myth unnie, why didn't you eat dinner with me last time?"
"Hi Sara, hi Uri. You guys doing good?"
"Hello Uri, hi Sara."
"Unnie, didn't we see each other at the company three days ago?"
"Wah! Don't ignore me! Listen to me! Why didn't you have dinner with me?!"
"Check-in done?"
"All set nice and tidy. But seriously, is this right for just going to Japan—"
"Shh. We'll talk later."
"Waaah! Legend oppa, Myth unnie and Uri are ignoring me!"
"Hold on! Sara, no hugging!"
Stepping out of the quiet taxi to meet Uri and Sara, the serene romantic vibe vanished in an instant, replaced by the chaotic energy of a group trip with friends.
Hmm, quiet emotional exchanges are nice, but this is fun too.
"We'll go drop off the bags, so wait here a sec, everyone. Eaten lunch?"
"Do we have to? It's less than two hours to Japan. We can skip it. Heard there are tons of tasty spots on-site."
"Fair point. I've got a list of great places—let's hit a few."
"Umm? But those popular spots always have crazy long lines. That okay?"
Sara raised a valid point.
I wasn't great at waiting in lines for food either, so pretending to check my phone, I subtly perked up my ears.
"You're still so young, Sara. The places with lines are the budget-friendly ones. Real top-tier spots don't make you wait."
"Wow. Is this the leisure of the world's number one VTuber?!"
"Hehe, call it the grace of a world's top VTuber who's never splurged once in all these years. After all, for seven years, there was nowhere to spend it."
Whoa, is this what financial freedom in your twenties sounds like? Made Myth look even more impressive.
Sara doesn't earn that much? Nah, she might've forgotten, but after the Koron incident, she blew through almost all her cash and was starting from scratch now.
Of course, as the world's number two VTuber devouring the entire English-speaking pie, she wasn't hurting—probably raking it in already.
"Oh, conveyor belt."
"That's just like at the grocery store checkout."
Heading to the counter to drop off luggage, a black conveyor belt was carrying bags along. Nothing special, but we let out a "whoa" anyway.
"The principle's similar, but it's different. You just put your stuff there, and it carries it automatically."
"True, this is your first time at an airport since coming to meet me, right? Makes sense you wouldn't know."
Myth tiptoed cutely, ruffling my hair like I was adorable.
Flabbergasted, I pushed her hand away and tugged her cheeks. She'd said her Japan trip was her first and last airport visit— what was this now?
"Uwabwa... why'd you pull..."
"Isn't this your second time too?"
"No no. First overseas, but I've flown to Busan plenty."
"...Isn't that a waste of money?"
"If you find deals, it's cheaper and faster than KTX. Just a hassle with procedures."
Fair enough—domestic flights exist. My bad for assuming.
Quick check-in done, we passed the gate and started security.
"Whoa, feels super secure."
"Secure? Pfft. What kinda silly talk is that, Legend oppa?"
"I've just never seen so many guards around."
"Hehe, just trust your overseas travel vet here."
"You travel a lot? Oh, right, Korea was a sudden trip for you too."
"Here, check this out."
Sara flipped open her passport for me. I carefully skipped personal info and turned pages—bam, stamps galore decorating it.
"All these from trips?"
"Yes! They usually stamp it like this when you go overseas."
"You've traveled a ton."
"Traveling was top of my list before I got better. Had a bloody incident once, but squeezed in as many short trips as I could."
Let's see—Italy, France, oh Britain's one. China, Taiwan—
Sara's travel brag session kicked off. Europe, Asia, she'd hit everywhere. My eyes sparkled as I examined the stamps.
Scattered everywhere, but knowing each came from a different country made it fascinating.
I glanced at Myth.
"Hope we get a bunch like this in the future."
"...Where to next?"
"This trip's not even over yet?"
Security cleared, we entered the terminal.
"Ooh, duty-free. Gotta browse a ton. I'll take Uri around— you two enjoy your date."
"I just wanna sit and rest."
"Ehehe, Uri. Gotta move when you're traveling. It's been ages since overseas."
Sara dragged Uri off, leaving us to shop duty-free together.
"Huge place."
"Busan's smaller, but Incheon's pretty spacious. Want anything?"
"Hmm... everything's so fancy, hard to pick."
"Like I always say, just tell me if you want it. I wanna make up for those seven years you slept."
"Hearing that doesn't magically create desires. Let's see..."
I looked around. Unfamiliar luxury brands and big names I'd heard of— all pricey.
What to pick? As I dithered, Myth tugged my sleeve toward a store.
Tried some perfumes, tested cosmetics, picked some for her—time flew, boarding time already.
"Oh, boarding now?"
"Yeah. Can be scarier than you think, so be careful."
"...True. What if I'm scared of flying?"
"So what."
Myth grinned at me.
"I'll be right next to you."
"Yeah, true."
I smiled back and took her hand.