Jeju School Trip: Security Checks and Sera's Beachside Talk
A few days after the school trip day when Sera and I shared that chocolate ice cream.
I, a first-year high schooler, set off on a three-day, two-night excursion to Jeju Island. The moment our class arrived at Jeju Airport on the first day, we went straight into security screening.
"Ugh, I just wanna get moving already. Why do we have to do this?"
"Don't complain too much. You heard about those Dark Hunters infiltrating Jeju, right?"
"Still, do regular students like us really need this kind of check?"
The security agents were rummaging through our class's bags. They weren't overly thorough, but the kids grumbled anyway, annoyed at having their stuff opened without permission. I just waited my turn patiently, scanning the area for my childhood friend in the meantime.
Where'd Sera go? I'd definitely seen her get off the plane with us. Earlier, when one of those glowing blue sticks—what they called a mana detection tool—brushed against her, it lit up like crazy.
-Student. Could you come with us for a moment?
-Me? Really?
And just like that, she was whisked away with them. Honestly, it seemed overkill to drag off someone as obviously normal as Lee Sera. But on the other hand, I got it.
Given the situation...
In this world, it's easiest to think of "Dark Hunters" as straight-up villains. They can wield mana just like regular hunters, but they use it for crime and antisocial crap. With the safety alert about them sneaking onto Jeju, there was no way they'd let someone with a Gift like Sera slide.
"All done, kid."
"Thanks."
By the time my turn was over and the last stragglers finished up, Sera came jogging back to me from afar. Her outfit was the same, but she looked a bit drained.
"Argh, seriously—they wouldn't believe me no matter what I said."
She immediately glued herself to my side and launched into a rant. Guess she hated getting pulled aside like that.
"You okay?"
"Nope, not at all. You wouldn't get it, Sihoo. Even when I told them yeah, I go to a regular high school, they kept going, 'But aren't you actually a student from Hunter High?' 'Your mana levels are way too high for a normal high schooler.' Like, come on."
"Yeah, that sucks."
It was the hassle of being the only student at our school with real hunter potential. From that angle, I was the weirder case.
Why didn't the detector pick up on me? Maybe because Ether is a whole different kind of energy from mana. Does that mean my mana stats are actually at normal human levels?
No clue. I'd never taken a hunter aptitude test, so who knew.
"Alright, everyone! They're done with us! Let's hustle to the bus!"
Our homeroom teacher's voice called from up ahead. I started heading that way, but suddenly Sera slung an arm around my shoulder.
"Hmph. I'm in a bad mood, so support me."
"Huh?"
"Ah, ah, no backtalk—"
Half-dragged, half-supported. I tried to shake her arm off casually, but she clung on stubbornly, so...
"Do whatever."
I gave in and let her tag along to the bus. I'd gotten used to it lately—Sera's playful antics, the casual skinship. As long as I didn't read into it, I could brush it off pretty easily.
But the tricky part was her possessiveness.
On the buses for student trips like this, people usually sat with their friends, and I was planning to join mine, naturally.
"Yo, Sihoo! Over here."
"Got it."
As I went to claim an empty seat, tug—someone yanked my sleeve from behind. No need to guess who. I already knew who it'd be trying to stop me at a time like this.
"......"
I turned, and there was Lee Sera, pouting with her lips pursed, staring at me. No words, but her eyes said it all.
-Don't go. Sit with me.
Her silent, sulky tantrum expressed through actions alone. And yeah, that was what made it hardest for me.
She has no problem bluntly turning down other girls...
Sera still hated seeing me hang with other girls. She'd express it outright and honestly.
But getting jealous of my guy friends too? Come on.
With guys, though, she'd drop these light, subtle hints of jealousy. Never enough to make me uncomfortable. What a crafty girl.
Keep that up and you're gonna get hit on for real. Watch out.
"Sorry, guys. Gotta sit with Sera."
No choice—I apologized to my friends and found an empty pair of seats with her.
"Hehe."
Sera flashed a huge grin and trailed right behind me. We settled in, and I leaned back comfortably. On long bus rides, I usually scrolled my phone or stared out the window. I was about to pop in some music when...
"Sihoo, what're you up to during free time?"
Sadly, Ms. Sera seemed eager for chit-chat. A light weight settled on my shoulder as she propped her chin and cheek against it at an angle, asking her question. A sweet fragrance wafted from her.
"Dunno. Probably chill in the room?"
"Hmm... with your friends?"
"Yeah, probably."
"......"
Sera's eyes turned thoughtful at my words. Watching her, I steeled myself a bit.
If she asks to meet up alone again, I gotta turn her down this time.
Sure, I was her childhood friend who rarely said no to her requests. But there were lines to draw.
It's rude ditching my own friends to hang with someone else all the time.
And on a school trip? Alone with a girl? That'd basically scream "couple" to everyone, no matter how much I denied it.
Her lips parted.
"Can't you meet up with me?"
Called it. Sera, you fell right into it.
"Sera, I don't think that's a good idea."
Alright, time to lay down the law a bit. Childhood friends or not, there were boundaries between guys and girls...!
"I've got my own friends, and if we're always together, people might get the wrong idea—"
"I have something important to say."
"......"
Her intensity shut me up instantly. She pressed her chin harder into my shoulder, like she was blocking any rebuttals upfront.
"It's something I really wanna talk about on this trip. Can you make time just for that?"
...Sera was sneaky. And way too clever. She always made requests that forced me to yield, but never in a pushy way—always soft, never making me feel burdened.
Maybe that's why I always ended up going along with her.
It's a matchup I can't win from the start. Popular girl vs. wallflower—that's how it worked.
I let out a small sigh and caved.
"Fine. Let's meet then."
"...Really?"
So stop making that face when you asked. Why look so relieved? If you're gonna boss me around, at least smirk playfully, you rascal.
"Thanks."
Fine, she said thanks, so I'll let it slide.
**
After unpacking at the dorms, we had free time straight until dinner. School trip rules meant we couldn't stray far from the lodging, but just seeing the ocean was enough to hype everyone up.
"Whoa, check out those waves!"
"I wanna step on the sand—"
"Smells so good here."
The walkway was alive with excited chatter. I waited a bit removed from the group, at the start of a quieter path.
"Wait long?"
Finally. She shows up. The one who said she had something to say first, yet kept me waiting.
She's gonna be a nightmare girlfriend when she grows up.
But one look at her outfit changed my mind.
"Sorry, took a sec deciding what to wear."
A fitted white short-sleeve tee. Breezy denim shorts. And a beige linen shirt draped over top for a touch of flair. For a casual school trip, it felt a tad too put-together.
"Nah, wasn't long."
"Heehee. Cool, let's go."
Sera overtook me with a wave, beckoning. I followed her brisk pace at a leisurely stroll.
Splash—splash—
Waves crashing on the sand provided the soundtrack as she hummed a tune.
"Hm, hmm~"
Quick steps, pulling ahead but always mindful of my distance. Thanks to that, I could walk easy. Classic Sera consideration.
"The view here's killer."
"Totally. First time for me, but feels like round two."
"Pfft, what kinda weird talk is that?"
"For real. No lie."
You feeling like it's your second Jeju trip?
"Sure. Then let's come again."
"What?"
"Next time, just you and me. Then it'll be my second too. Fair, right?"
"......"
Didn't see that counter coming.
We'd walked a fair bit, to a secluded stretch midway down the path from the dorms, when Sera glanced back.
"Sihoo, you still the same?"
"'Bout what?"
"That plan to pick your college based on mine. Still thinking that?"
Her eyes on me were serene, like it was fine whatever I said. Still, I nodded honestly.
"Yeah."
"I see."
She paused there. Took a soft breath, then spoke to me lightly—but clearly.