A Racing Heart and Sudden Wings to Fukuoka
"Why."
"Sis is giving you a special knee pillow."
"Pass. You think I'm a kid?"
"Ah, come on. Let our genius puppy get some pets."
I hesitate, and Sea yanks my head down by force. The back of my skull thuds onto her bare thigh. The soft touch of her bare skin presses against me. She gently sweeps my bangs aside with slender fingers. Her face, gazing down at me with lowered eyes, is way too close. My throat goes dry from the way her fingers tousle my hair.
Sea fiddles with my earlobe and opens her mouth.
"No one's home right now but us."
Her drowsy voice drizzles straight down onto my face. I hold my breath and look up into her dark eyes.
"So what if no one's home."
Sea stretches her lips into a long grin at my gruff reply.
"Wanna do something that feels good?"
"Here we go again..."
I'm already trying to wriggle free and sit up when—
Beep, bzzz.
Suddenly, a blaring alert rings from Sea's wrist. A stiff artificial intelligence voice booms through the room.
Current heart rate exceeds 130. Please take deep breaths and relax.
It was the monitoring function we'd left on from gaming earlier—still active. Sea's heart, which had been so coolly provoking me, was pounding like mad. And now it was exposed for all to see. Her face flushes crimson in an instant. Her hand, stroking my bangs, freezes stiff in midair.
I cough awkwardly, beyond baffled, and sit up. Then, fortunately or not, my phone buzzes.
"Hello."
It was the guy from the ad agency I'd just talked to.
"Dojin! Any chance you could do an interview?"
His voice comes out urgent, straight to the point.
"If it's not too much trouble, we'd really love to scout you."
Caught off guard by the sudden offer, I scratch the back of my head.
"Nah, I'm still a student, so that'd be tricky."
"Then how about freelance work with us? Hit us up anytime if you're interested."
I mumble something about thinking it over and hang up. Meanwhile, Sea—who'd been cooling her flushed face—widens her eyes.
"Scouted?"
"Yeah. Happened during my field placement too—stuff like this pops up sometimes. But I have my target company in mind, and I gotta graduate first anyway."
"Ooh, Yoon Dojin, making moves?"
"Plenty of people at my level."
"Then why scout you?"
"Well..."
I trail off, and Sea stretches her legs out on the bed, smirking smugly.
"Dude, our YouTube views are insane, right? We're hitting ten million on the next vid no matter what."
It was the Chaebol 3rd Gen Han Sea's Gaming Life channel we'd started out of boredom during her runaway phase. Sea firmly believed it had blown up purely on her own merits.
"Channel revenue's enough now—I could live off my money alone."
She clenches her fist, declaring it proudly. Her beaming smile keeps me from saying a word. Truth is, while tweaking the page earlier, I'd snuck a peek at the access logs. They were flooded with traces from suspiciously identical locations. Someone was pumping in masses of fake traffic to boost the event page views from behind the scenes.
"Take this. Pack your bags—we're leaving tomorrow."
Sis tosses two scraps of paper onto the dining table. I set down my chopsticks and pick them up. Two tickets to Fukuoka.
"What? I'm swamped chasing credits. Assignments are piled sky-high."
"Tomorrow's the weekend. Time to chill."
"Real chilling is lounging at home. What's with the sudden flight?"
"No backtalk—just go. Snagged these on crazy staff discount from the airline."
Sis smacks my back.
"Specially booked for you and Sea to have a cozy couple's trip."
"Still, tomorrow out of nowhere..."
"Already told Sea. She's thrilled you're going."
I stare blankly at the tickets on the table. A few days ago, just Sis and me at a café.
"Sea, that idiot Dojin's still being a pain, huh?"
Sis chews her iced Americano straw hard and asks me.
"Huh? Oh, no."
I flail my hands in panic, and she thumps her chest in frustration.
"Don't lie. My brother's a pain, but man, he gets under your skin. Once he gets all rigid and starts drawing lines, it's hopeless."
Sis reaches across the table and grabs both my hands.
"So I'm setting the stage. This weekend, drag him to Japan, no excuses."
"Japan?"
"Yeah. Nothing sparks atmosphere like being alone in a strange place."
Sis meets my eyes with a playful grin.
The plane's wheels screech on the runway. In the end, we end up in Japan on a whim. Stepping out of the airport gate, unfamiliar air hits my skin. Sea, walking beside me, has just a tiny carry-on.
"Packed super light this time, huh?"
I take her carry-on as we walk.
"Yeah. Short trip—no need to lug a ton."
Sea shrugs casually. Last Jeju trip was just one night, two days too. Sure, that was for filming, so more clothes needed. Guess she prefers traveling light normally.
We'd landed in Fukuoka. Short flight made it perfect for a one-night, two-day jaunt. Korean-like yet foreign air brushes our skin. Tiny cars zipping on roads and Japanese signs hit the eyes first. Thanks to Sis the flight attendant, I'd tagged along briefly to Vietnam or Thailand before. But Japan? First time stepping foot here.
"So, where to now?"
"Hakata first—grab food."
Sea lights up her phone screen and shoves it in my face. A meticulously scheduled itinerary pops up, hour by hour.
"Park stroll, check out the bustling streets, then street food stalls for skewers tonight."
No matter how I look, it's less touristy and more classic couple date course. I glance between the screen and her face.
"When'd you plan all this?"
"Sis gave me the tickets and the full itinerary."
Sea blames Sis oh-so-naturally. But the cute emojis plastered in the notes? Pure Sea.
We hop the airport line into the bustling city. "Hey everyone. We're in Japan now."
Sea holds her phone at face height, mumbling awkwardly.
"What're you muttering alone for."
"Shh. Vlogging for the channel."
Taste of success had her motivated. But her filming form? Total mess. I glance at the phone shaking wildly in her hand.
"Hey. Camera's just getting my chin."
"That's how you do it. Gotta mosaic faces anyway."
Her walking shots bounce between floor tiles and empty air. This okay...? We head underground to the subway. Just two stops to Hakata Station. Afternoon rush—train's packed. Pushed by the crowd, Sea presses tight against me. I grip the swaying strap, staring at the closed doors. Dark tunnel whooshes by, then Japanese arrival announcement.
Out the gates, a massive, chaotic station sprawls ahead. Sea alternates between the throng and signs, then stops dead.
"Hold up. Which exit?"
She pulls up the map app, scanning around. Shoves the screen—blue dot blinking—at my face. I lean in naturally to check. She spins the map frustratedly.
"Dude. Why's the arrow keep going backward?"
"'Cause you're spinning in circles—can't lock direction."
"Signs are all Japanese—confusing."
I take her phone and lead. She lightly grabs my bag strap, sticking close behind. A few alley twists past the maze of exits, and we spot restaurant signs. Inside, corner seat—order food. Starving, we devour silently, bowls empty, chopsticks down. Warm, salty udon broth fills my gut satisfyingly. Noodles chewy—better than expected.
"Ahh, stuffed."
Sea pats her belly happily, then yelps short.
"Forgot to film!"
"Food's gone—what now."
"Even empty bowls for vlog. Daily life's the soul."
She grabs her phone defiantly, filming the bare udon bowl with care. "That's... nah... whatever."
I start to protest but trail off. The video I thought would flop last time? Hit ten million. No room for me to critique her instincts now.
Filming done, we hit the lively shopping street. Midway, we pass a dangō shop lit with flashy lights. Sea spots the round rice cakes on display and halts.
"Hey. Dangō before we go."
"Weren't you just full?"
"Dessert stomach's separate. Wallet out."
The girl who'd been bursting seconds ago shamelessly holds out her hand. I sigh short, open my wallet. End up handing her two sauce-drizzled skewers.
"Oh right, almost forgot again."
About to bite, Sea snaps on the camera. Twirls the skewer to fill the frame, then suddenly jams the lens right in my face.
"Say hi to the subscribers."
"Ugh, move it. Mosaic, remember."
"Just once. Hurry."
I recoil, palm over the lens— she grabs my wrist tight. Tugging over the camera, our fingers tangle. Suddenly, we're locked in a proper pinky swear grip. Bet the video caught us looking like playful lovers. Palms too hot—I yank free quick.
Bickering as we walk, we're smack in the shopping district middle. Dead center: a huge prize capsule machine.
Sea stops at the sight, eyes lighting up.
"Ooh, lemme give this a spin."