Because We're Watching a Movie This Weekend (4)
"No-rae-bang! Just hang out a little and go! Do-youngie, you're abandoning me too, you jerk? Back in the day, you were always the one saying let's go first!"
"That was then, this is now...! I've been reborn!"
"Nooooo! I'll die if I can't go to karaoke right now!"
"Fine, I get it! We'll go together, okay!"
After parting ways with Do Ha-min and Hye-rang, I'd planned to head straight home, but I couldn't resist Sa-hyung's threats and ended up at the new karaoke spot.
"Hehe, Do-youngie, whatcha gonna sing?"
"I'm good. I don't really know many songs anyway."
The Ban Do-young in Half Half Island seemed to love karaoke, but the reality-weary office drone now inside her didn't. Back in my cafeteria days as a high-note fiend, I'd go often enough, but after getting older, I naturally started avoiding it. Coordinating schedules with friends got tricky, too. After starting work, it wasn't just that I couldn't go—it was that I straight-up hated it. For a corporate slave, karaoke wasn't a place to enjoy singing; it was just an extension of after-work drinks. You'd croon some trot for the boss, and when it wasn't your turn, you'd shake the tambourine like your life depended on it. It stopped being fun a long time ago.
"Hmm, then let's start light with 'Addiction'? Sing it with me."
"I can't do girl group songs—they're too high."
"What're you talking about? You've nailed them every time!"
But this girl with her sparkling eyes couldn't possibly understand that old man's pain. Ignoring my protests, Sa-hyung shoved a mic into my hand and started reserving a ton of girl group tracks.
"Okay, we sing the start together, and Do-youngie does the highlight?"
"You picked it, you finish it!"
"Here we go, one! Two!"
"Cue! Trem! Ble! All! Done!"
Sa-hyung, hyped up on her own energy, belted out the intro with glee. It was a familiar tune I'd heard plenty, but singing it myself? No confidence there.
"Do-youngie, your part's coming up soon!"
Singing girl group songs at full pitch in karaoke? Hadn't done that since getting drunk with college buddies. I hadn't hit a note like that in ages.
"Pouring... huh?"
"What? You were doing great—why stop?"
For a split second, I froze at the sound of my own voice, eyes locked on the mic.
What the—why do I sound so good?
My voice slotted perfectly onto the melody's line, hitting each note crisp and unwavering, like striking the sheet music itself. Clear, bright, precise. A sensation I'd never felt in my whole life.
"You sing great every time—why play coy? Keep going!"
"Oh, right."
I'm a virgin now.
"Amazing! Virgin power of the fruit!"
"What'd you say? Repeat that."
"I like you so much—♪!"
According to the setting, Ban Do-young had real talent for singing too. She captivated the whole school at the entrance ceremony with just her voice alone, so it wasn't that far-fetched.
"Huh? Do-youngie, I'm doing the second verse?"
"Every day, pondering and practicing my maaaagic—♪!"
I belted out the ideal high note for the first time, stealing Sa-hyung's part without thinking and finishing with full passion.
"Next next, can I do Moon Tak-i sunbae's song?"
"S-send me home. Do-youngie... it's been four hours already. I only meant to stay an hour... and now I'm broke."
My first time at karaoke in a girl's body opened up a whole new world. Sa-hyung and I only escaped that world once our pockets were empty. Four songs for 1,000 won? We didn't spend much, but time flew by.
"Get home safe, Do-youngie."
"Bye! Let's hit karaoke with Hye-rangie tomorrow!"
"No way!"
Hmm. Maybe drag Do Ha-min along...
....
It was late evening, pitch black outside, by the time I made it back to the Ban house. I'd have to get used to calling this Ban Do-young's place my home for a while.
"I'm home, Dad."
"Yeah. You're late."
Calling the Ban Family Kendo Dojo's master, Ban Do-che, "Dad" would take some getting used to too.
"Hanging out with Sa-hyung and Hye-rang?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"You girls are always glued at the hip. Weirder if I didn't know."
I figured him for the tough-love, distant dad type, but surprisingly, he knew his daughter's friends' names and daily routines spot-on. Moms might, but dads who memorize multiple kids' friends? Rare. Definitely not the zero-interest father type.
"You eat?"
"Yeah, grabbed something near the station with Sa-hyung."
"That mala tang, tanghulu, tteokbokki, dunkalong crap again?"
"Ugh, what? How...?"
"It's what you get every time you meet Sa-hyung and Hye-rang. Gotta chase it with chocolate pistachio boba to feel full, right?"
Menus that sounded like they'd boil my gut just hearing them. High school girls in their prime scarf that down like nothing.
"Nah, just sundae gukbap. The one under the station."
"Hmm... okay. Huh? Wait, Do-young, you eat sundae gukbap now?"
"Hic."
Original Ban Do-young must've hated stuff like sundae. Pretty face, pretty food only, huh.
"Last time I said let's go together, you refused."
"S-Sa-hyung and I tried it recently, and it was fine."
"Yeah, you don't know till you try. Next time, go with Dad. I'll show you how to eat it right."
"No pickled radish broth."
"Eek?"
Yep.
"Heading up to my room."
"Yeah, shower and sleep. Don't mess around and sleep in like this morning."
"Too tired for that."
As Dad said, I tossed my uniform on the bed and headed to the bathroom for a shower.
"Phew...!"
Showering means undressing—no way around it. Even if I showered in underwear, changing meant confronting the nude body eventually. Ban Do-young's bare chest. An unavoidable fate.
Clap clap clap. Standing before the mirror, I couldn't help but applaud involuntarily. No standing ovation down there, so applause it was.
Ban Do-young's body was incredible. All-ages webtoon, so no explicit high school growth details, but trust me—phenomenal. Terrifying potential for more growth still.
"Magnificent, Sister Ban Do-young."
"Quit yapping and get out once you're done—Dad needs to shower too."
"Yes."
After ritually bathing Ban Do-young's body, I slipped into the bed where I'd first woken up.
"Phew..."
Steamy white mist rising from my freshly showered body. Pull the covers over and I'd sleep straight through to morning.
"10 PM... kinda awkward."
Checked my phone. Two hours till bedtime. Tricky time. Too early to crash—feels like wasting the day—but too late to start anything with this clean, relaxed body.
"Oh yeah, that Do Ha-min kid. Hope he got home safe."
Far from home. First day of school, maybe not familiar with the route. A quick text checking if he made it? Harmless courtesy.
"Do... Ha... what."
Scrolling through contacts in Messenger, it hit me. No number for the most important guy: Do Ha-min.
"You fucking idiot, Ban Do-young."
Ah, if she'd been a sensible modern girl, she'd have swapped numbers and business cards first. Skips the textbook she's supposed to carry, stuffs in makeup and that thrift tumbler instead. Never asked for his number.
"Nah, that's on Do Ha-min."
Ask the school's top beauty, middle school goddess, total socialite heroine for her digits when she plops down next to you? World-shaking risk, dude. I played my role perfectly. His fault for not asking the girl sitting right there.
"Whatever. I'll ask tomorrow."
Do Ha-min's the protagonist of this webtoon world. One night missing? He won't die. Probably fine. Closed Messenger, fiddled with my phone more. Maybe peek at old Ban Do-young pics in the gallery for backstory.
"Oh, Marihuana."
The novel I'd snapped a pic of this morning from Do Ha-min's bag. Locked eyes with the Magical Girl Marina★Harina illustration.
He likes this type of girl, huh.
....
Just read one chapter. Common ground for chatting with Do Ha-min? Not a bad idea. Light heart, I searched online. Cheaper than expected—out for a while, anime-adapted, some event discount. Snagged the ebook for peanuts.
Won't suddenly get isekai'd into a magical girl story mid-read, right? Nah, no way.
A dark joke born from experience. But hey, what's the worst? Scrolled into Magical Girl Marina★Harina.
**
It was just past 7 AM, early as ever. Ha-min arrived at school same time as yesterday, unpacking his bag.
"Oh, can't leave it there."
About to set it on the side chair like before, he caught himself and hooked it on the left desk instead. His neighbor seat now had a rightful owner—no bag.
Clatter! The classroom back door rattled sharply. Ha-min didn't turn, but he knew exactly who kicked it open.
"Haa... haa..."
As expected. It was Do-young, his seatmate.
"Huff... you bastard!"
Even faster and more out of breath than yesterday, Do-young rushed to Ha-min's side.
"Eek...! W-what?"
In Ha-min's eyes, Do-young looked worse—deeper shadows under her eyes, like she hadn't slept a wink.
"Huff... figured you'd be here by now, so I bolted straight over."
"Uh...?"
"Fuck, you were hogging something that fun all to yourself?"
"W-what do you mean?"
Clueless, Ha-min got his shoulders grabbed and shaken by Do-young.
"Whatever—just scan this quick."
"Scan what...?"
"Your phone number, dumbass."
Do-young thrust her smartphone at him. Then it clicked for Ha-min—they hadn't exchanged numbers.
Swapping numbers with a girl. First time for Ha-min.
"Oh... number. But why all sudden?"
"Because we're watching a movie this weekend."
"Huh?"
Do-young lifted her phone, opening the theater site he'd left on.
Magical Girl Marina★Harina The Movie / Tale of the Coup
Opening This Week!
"Got time this weekend?"
"Uh, well..."
"Make time. I'm watching it no matter what, this week."
Do Ha-min, age 16. His first-ever date promise.