Pension Getaway (Part 2) – Splashes, Sizzles, and Streams
The inside of the pension was absolutely amazing. It had a loft structure with a total of four rooms, plus capsule rooms, and since it was tucked away in the mountains, there was even an outdoor pool and a barbecue area. It was the perfect spot for fun.
"Whoa..."
Everyone except Sun-woo gaped at the unexpectedly nice place, unable to close their mouths.
"Wow... Is it really okay for us to crash here and have fun...?"
"It's cheaper than you think. I know the owner personally... haha."
Sun-woo really drove home the point that the world runs on school ties, regional connections, and blood relations.
"How should we split the rooms?"
"Four rooms for nine people... tricky to divide evenly."
"Girls take one room! No need to split us up awkwardly..."
Se-rin said energetically, and Ye-rim and I agreed.
"Perfect. The three ladies get the biggest room... I'll room with Si-hwan, Dae-je hyung with Si-gang hyung, and the other two together."
(Oh, and the one suggesting was Sun-woo; Si-hwan was Nerah's real name.)
"Whoa! They even have a karaoke machine? This'll be fun... Anyone wanna sing a song with dinner later?"
"Unpack first, explore the pension, kill time however. Free until dinner."
"Got it."
"Okay~"
Ye-rim and I started wandering the pension. Se-rin, being super active, was already darting room to room.
"This is gonna be fun, right?"
"Yeah... looks like it."
I wonder if Asella would enjoy a place like this.
I absentmindedly pictured hanging out with Asella. It was a thought I'd had before, even now.
What am I thinking? She's just a game character.
We reached our room. Two double beds, wardrobes, sofas—cozy furnishings everywhere.
Se-rin was already sprawled on one bed.
"Oh, you guys are here?"
"Yeah. Nice room~"
Se-rin shrugged like it was her own place, grinning.
"Right? Come lie down! The beds are so soft..."
Ye-rim flopped onto the other bed. I smiled and perched on Se-rin's.
"Pretty comfy..."
As I said that, Se-rin looped her arm around my waist from where she lay.
"Eek?!"
I toppled onto the bed without resistance, and Se-rin giggled, lying beside me.
"Told you to lie down?"
"You..."
Since we got close, I'd switched to casual speech with Se-rin. Same age, and she pushed for it.
Ye-rim, from the other bed, puffed her cheeks, got up, and dove onto ours.
"Kyaa?!"
"Whoa?!"
"Excluding unnie and getting cozy just you two?!"
...Trapped in unfamiliar feminine scents—perfume? Body odor?—I just spun my eyes dizzily.
We spent a while cuddling on one bed, bonding closer.
"Wanna hit the pool?"
Ye-rim suggested from beside me.
"I'm in, unnie!"
Se-rin accepted eagerly, and...
"Ahaha... the pool's a bit..."
I gave a sheepish smile, weakly refusing, but it wouldn't work on them.
"Aww, come on~ Please? Pretty please?"
They pressed close, begging cutely.
"Juwon~ You're gonna ditch us and chill alone..? For real..?"
"O-okay..! Stop already..."
Dazed by the intensifying mystery scent and body contact, I had no choice but to cave.
They finally pulled away, giggling as they stood.
The pension pool was great—spacious, changing rooms, even swimsuits on display...
Wait, swimsuits?
Bikinis and rash guards in various designs stared back at me.
"...Gotta wear one, huh?"
Behind me, Ye-rim and Se-rin grinned mischievously, eyes gleaming.
Chills shot up my spine.
"Th-that's really a no!"
"Aww... can't you wear this..?"
"No! Absolutely not!"
They pleaded with sparkling eyes, but I couldn't yield on this.
Bikinis—barely-there fabric meant for showing off. Exposing my body like that? No way.
"F-fine, I'll use the favor coupon! So... wear this, please..?"
Se-rin invoked the favor I'd owed her from before. That desperate?
Her pleading upward gaze softened me.
"Ugh... uuu... F-fine! Okayyy..."
I can't easily refuse close friends, so I couldn't ignore her coupon.
Five minutes... ten... as I started feeling off in the changing room...
I emerged in the frilly bikini they'd given me, cheeks burning.
"..."
Ye-rim and Se-rin beamed, showering compliments.
"It suits you so well! Insane..!"
"Wow... I've always thought your figure was killer..."
I blushed furiously, head down.
"...Y-you two change quick.. It's embarrassing alone..."
"Hehe, got it! Be right out~"
"M-me too!"
Soon, two stunning women emerged in bikinis.
Having seen my own body while changing, theirs didn't embarrass me. Relief that I wasn't alone hit instead.
"Let's dive in!"
We splashed around joyfully for a while.
"Aqua Variant Chant: Dance of the Waves."
I slapped the water hard, sending a small wave crashing over Ye-rim and Se-rin.
"Pfft! Wh-what?! How?!"
"Hehe, secret~"
I kept dunking them with variant chants. Revenge for earlier.
"Si-hwan, shall we hit the pool...?"
"...Nah, can't."
The guys watched from afar, some excuse keeping them out.
After pool time, we changed into spare clothes as dusk fell. Barbecue for dinner.
Sizzle— Pork belly grilled over charcoal, mouthwatering smells.
Si-hwan, with BBQ job experience, manned the grill.
"Wow... great vibe."
Dae-je gazed at the sunset from the next table, mellow.
Grilling and eating amid sunset scenery felt more romantic than I'd imagined.
"Yeah, atmosphere's perfect."
"Meat's up~"
"Yum! Thanks!"
"Dig in, Si-hwan."
Happy faces as plates filled. I smiled softly at my guildmates.
This vibe is the best.
Coming to the offline meetup was the right call. Sure, the bikini fiasco was awkward, but kinda fun too.
"Everyone, mind if I go live? Those who don't want faces shown, let me know."
Sun-woo asked suddenly. Mood was good, worth streaming.
I still wasn't showing my face, so excluding me, Se-rin, and Si-gang, others were okay.
Soon after.
"Can everyone see okay?"
"Ahaha, today's an offline meetup stream with the Dolmu Party folks."
"Including Noel-nim, tournament folks from last time... Cheongwol-nim and Miltoon-nim. Nine total."
Faces of those okay with it popped up one by one.
"P.S., Noel-nim, Serinsel-nim, and Si-gang-nim don't want faces shown... Sorry if you were hoping. Kekeke."
"No matter how much you beg today, can't do it. Too much spam and ban."
As the stream heated up.
I snuck up to streaming Sun-woo, off-camera.
"Sareah-nim, eat something. Meat's piling up."
"Ah, yeah... I'll eat while streaming."
My voice hit the mic, chat exploding for me again.
I smirked, angling so only my hand showed, waving.
I leaned close off-camera, soothing softly.
"Not yet. Viewers are good, you'll understand, right?"
I felt Sun-woo's baffled stare, but whatever—not my problem.
Se-rin and Si-gang greeted off-camera too, keeping the wholesome vibe going.
Time flowed... until night fully set.
Those leaving started heading out.
"Had a blast today."
"Fun times. Hope to see you next."
Stream off, late hour. Left: me, Se-rin, Ye-rim, Sun-woo, Si-hwan, Si-gang—staying overnight.
"Drinkers~ I can mix cocktails!"
Ye-rim beamed, arms full of liquor and beer, offering to all.
"Fun together. Great mood."
Alcohol. Post-change, I'd never tried. Pre-change, I'd drowned sorrows often—average tolerance.
Now? Same?
Curious, I joined; everyone did.
Ye-rim's bubbly grin as she cracked bottles looked oddly ominous.
...Tonight might drag on.