Chapter 142: Kim Ga-eul’s Counterattack. The Aquarium Date Operation. (End)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 142: Kim Ga-eul’s Counterattack. The Aquarium Date Operation. (End)
Kim Ga-eul was fully prepared today.
It went without saying that she had poured her heart into her outfit and makeup. More importantly, she had analyzed her opponent’s strength and chosen a battlefield where she could neutralize their specialties while highlighting her own.
Knowing she couldn’t win in a place requiring high physical activity, she ruled out parks and amusement parks. Since she saw no immediate hope of winning a culinary battle if they had to eat packed lunches, she naturally chose a location with an indoor restaurant where they could simply buy a meal.
Finally, she needed a place with a mystical atmosphere—somewhere that would make them feel less like platonic friends and more like a romantic couple.
An aquarium was, in her own estimation, the perfect choice.
Though there had been a few unexpected hiccups before the date even began—like being teased by two older women—those were minor issues. They wouldn’t interfere with her showdown against her rival.
Yes, it was somewhat pathetic that all of this was a calculated strategy just to beat a “guy,” but even so, she desperately wanted to feel a sense of superiority.
Thirsting for victory after a string of defeats and memories of being pushed to the sidelines, she was determined.
Her plan seemed to be working; So-hyun had prioritized her opinion over Han-hee’s. She thought she had seized the upper hand.
Or so she thought.
The moment she saw two guys interlocking their fingers—a sight that defied all common sense—she had an intuition that things were starting to go sideways.
* * *
To be honest, Kang Ha-ni hadn’t put much thought into today’s outing.
Ga-eul had invited her, and she figured hanging out together once in a while wasn’t a bad idea. Since So-hyun was coming, she thought the three of them would have a fun time.
That was the extent of her expectations.
However, from the moment they met, Ga-eul’s behavior began to grate on her nerves.
To put it bluntly, it was annoying.
It felt like Ga-eul was trying to use her as a buffer to subtly close the distance with So-hyun.
Normally, Ha-ni might have found Ga-eul’s timid approach cute and even helped her out, but she was now fully aware of her own feelings for him. Furthermore, she didn’t like how Ga-eul was trying to snatch a victory through such passive means, especially since Ga-eul presumably viewed her as a man.
Thus, she concluded that her timid friend needed a bit of a wake-up call.
Just because she was dressed as a boy didn’t mean she had to concede in the charm department, right?
And frankly, even if he did see her as a guy, she didn’t feel like she would lose.
* * *
How should I put this?
Despite acting like they were about to go to war, the two of them enjoyed the aquarium quite normally.
We saw the sea otters near the entrance, passed by various colorful starfish and jellyfish, and by the time the actual fish started appearing in earnest, I found myself genuinely enjoying it too.
I particularly liked the sight of sharks and rays gliding across the ceiling of the first floor; they looked like fish flying through the sky.
The kids would love this. I’d like to bring them here if I get the chance.
The only unpleasant thing was that the air conditioning felt a bit weak, perhaps because it wasn’t quite July yet, making it feel a little stuffy. It wasn’t unbearable, though.
But just as that thought crossed my mind, something cold brushed against my cheek.
“Whoa!”
Ha-ni was holding a cold towel to my face with a mischievous grin.
Even after wiping away the sweat, the towel remained cold, suggesting there was something inside it.
“I heard it was going to be hot today, so I froze some water and drinks. We’re not outdoors, but it’s expensive to buy water at aquarium snack bars, and it just messes up the walking route, right?”
“Oh, that’s some great preparation. Thanks.”
“It’s nothing.”
Wrapping a towel around a frozen bottle keeps the ice from melting too fast and provides a cold compress—truly killing two birds with one stone.
Actually, it keeps the bag from getting soaked with condensation, so make that three birds.
“Ugh…”
For some reason, Ga-eul let out a frustrated groan at Ha-ni’s display of practical resourcefulness.
Ha-ni offered a frozen water bottle and a towel to Ga-eul with a relaxed expression.
“What? Are you hot too, Ga-eul? I brought one for you, so just say the word.”
“…Thanks.”
After that, Ha-ni very naturally tucked the towel she had used to wipe my sweat into her waist bag.
I mean, I doubt it smells bad, but it’s a little embarrassing.
While I was staring blankly at the fish and thinking about that, Ha-ni grabbed my arm and gently pulled me toward her.
“So-hyun, come this way. You almost bumped into those people~”
“…Oh, right.”
Because of the sudden proximity, her signature cool scent tickled my nose.
Wait, isn’t there a bit too much skinship today? Ha-ni, are you trying to keep Ga-eul in check right now?
“Ugh…!”
Turning toward the sound, I saw Ga-eul staring at me with a look of utter despair, her arms frozen in a position as if she had been about to link them with mine.
It seemed like the distance Ha-ni had pulled me away was exactly the amount needed to prevent Ga-eul from grabbing my arm…?
By the time we found a restaurant for lunch after a series of similar incidents, Ga-eul was already looking completely tattered.
“I hate everyone… Go away.”
Hmm, I wonder what the final blow to Ga-eul’s spirit was.
Was it when the creatures in the petting zoo ignored the food Ga-eul scattered but swarmed the food Ha-ni gave them?
Or was it when the fish behind the glass acted cute for Ha-ni but swam away the moment it was Ga-eul’s turn?
Or was it when the person taking our photo coughed, causing the picture of her and me to come out blurry?
There were so many potential causes that I couldn’t be sure.
Surprisingly, Ha-ni had tried to help her out afterward, perhaps feeling a bit guilty for blocking the arm-link, but seeing Ga-eul fail to enjoy the aquarium due to a relentless string of bad luck was honestly quite pitiful.
“Ga-eul~ I’ll let you sit next to So-hyun, so cheer up~”
“…Hmph, do you think something like that will make me feel better?”
“Yes.”
“…Well, you’re right.”
“I haven’t gone anywhere, and I’m right here in front of you. Is it really okay for you two to talk like this?”
It was honestly a bit embarrassing to hear them talk as if the seat next to me was some kind of grand prize.
People nearby were staring.
“But I have a minor question. Is it really right to look at fish and call them cute and pretty, only to come and eat seafood right after?”
“…Hey, why would you say that out loud?”
Ha-ni touched upon a sensitive topic just after we finished ordering, causing both Ga-eul and me to flinch.
“…I hadn’t even thought of that.”
“Right? Some kids might actually cry.”
Well, it was a bit awkward, but not enough to stop me from eating. Ga-eul, however, seemed to find it difficult as she stared blankly at the fish cutlet she had ordered.
“Want to trade for my fried rice?”
It was seafood fried rice, so it still had seafood in it, but the proportion was much lower than a whole fish cutlet.
“Thank you…”
It’s not that big of a deal, really.
Watching this, Ha-ni’s expression turned a bit pouty.
Hey, honestly, this is your fault. Don’t look at me like I’m the bad guy.
“It’s good. Hehe.”
I guess the fried rice was easier for her to stomach. Good for you, Ga-eul. As long as you’re enjoying it.
“Hey, So-hyun.”
Ha-ni, who had been watching me with a huff, suddenly smiled mischievously as if she’d thought of something.
“Yeah?”
“Want to trade a bite?”
Ha-ni had ordered a regular pork tonkatsu, and since I had the fish cutlet, it was a reasonable suggestion to try different flavors.
Ga-eul looked at her fried rice as if realizing she’d missed an opportunity, but she didn’t have the courage to share a spoon, so she just kept eating her rice in silence.
Right.
“Now, open wide. Say ahh~”
Until Ha-ni said that with an incredibly playful face, that is.
“Hey, what do you mean ‘ahh’? I’ll just eat it myself.”
“Oh, you’re not closing your eyes? You’re rejecting this? My arm is getting tired, you know?”
Ga-eul is looking at me with such a wounded expression. How am I supposed to eat this?
“Wow, you’re rejecting tonkatsu from a friend? I’m really going to be hurt. After I gave you water, and a drink, and a cold towel~?”
But why are you trying to feed me tonkatsu too?
Wait, did you give up the seat next to me just so you could do this from across the table?
Looking at her beaming smile, I realized that might actually be the case.
“Eyes closed! Hurry up and say ahh!”
…Fine, I’ll do it.
If this makes her happy, it’s not like I can’t do it. I’ll make it up to Ga-eul with something else later.
“Ah.”
“Here it comes.”
I could tell the moment it touched my tongue.
This is definitely not tonkatsu…
The texture was squishy, with a slightly acidic taste.
Aha, a cherry tomato. Now that I think about it, there was one in the salad. Blegh.
“…You.”
“Haha! Oh man. You’re so cute! I can’t believe you fell for that!”
I should have known from the moment she looked so excited to feed me.
“Ah, seriously. You’re doing a great job as my designated cherry tomato eater.”
“I never agreed to that!”
Ga-eul hurriedly poked through her fried rice, but since it didn’t come with a salad, there were no cherry tomatoes—nor was there anything else she could easily feed me with chopsticks.
“Hey.”
After laughing heartily for a while, Ha-ni called out to me again.
“What now…!?”
The moment I opened my mouth to speak, something crunchy entered my mouth.
It was the tonkatsu.
“This is a reward for eating the tomato.”
…Good grief, look at that eye-smile. She’s not just in disguise; she’s a total temptress.
“Heeey…”
Oh, right. Dammit, Ga-eul. I’m really sorry, Ga-eul. But honestly, I don’t think this is my fault.
It’s not my fault Ha-ni is too powerful, is it…?
* * *
Fortunately, we managed to snag front-row seats just as a new dolphin show was about to begin.
A sulking Ga-eul gripped my sleeve, while Ha-ni waited for the show to start with a beaming smile, clearly having the time of her life.
The show began, and a pretty woman and a handsome man appeared one by one, hosting the event with microphones.
By the way, Ga-eul, who had insisted on the very front row, seemed to finally understand why I had insisted on sitting one block back.
Dolphins jumping and playing with balls are cute, but they turn the front row into a splash zone.
To be honest, I wasn’t incredibly fascinated by the show itself.
Rather, seeing the two girls beside me looking on with such bright, wonder-filled expressions was beautiful and a relief.
Watching them felt truly pleasant.
— Are you trying to atone?
Shut up. It’s nothing like that.
My heart, which had been warm, suddenly sank as if doused with cold water.
This had happened even before I regained my memories, but the frequency had increased significantly since then.
Still, it was okay.
“Hey, So-hyun! Look at that! It looks like it’s acting cute! So adorable!”
“Oh, that one! It’s splashing the people in the front row on purpose!”
“Guys.”
“Huh?”
“What is it?”
“Did you have fun today?”
“So suddenly? We haven’t even gone to the souvenir shop yet.”
“Yeah? What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. I just wondered if you were enjoying yourselves.”
“Of course. Teasing Ga-eul was fun, too. And the aquarium had more to see than I expected. This is actually my first time at one.”
“Wait…?! You were teasing me all day on purpose!?”
“Yep.”
“…That’s so mean. Ah, I had fun too. Eating delicious food and bickering. Why? Did you not like it?”
My cold, sunken heart began to regain its warmth and beat steadily again.
“No.”
How could I not?
“I had a great time today, too.”
Just having the two of you by my side is a miracle. There’s no way I wouldn’t enjoy it.
“…Whoa.”
“Hey, don’t you dare smile like that just anywhere, okay? You usually smile like a prankster, so why do you have to be like this now…”
“Ahahaha!”
“…Yeah, just laugh like that instead, So-hyun.”
“Pfft… Ah, you were so cool all day, but you look like such a dork at the end. Our So-hyun!”
Once the weekend passed, the Academy would start again.
It also meant it was time to harvest the various seeds I had sown.
* * *
“I can’t believe it…”
“May I consider the verification of my skills complete then?”
The private superhuman soldiers secretly raised by the Yuseong Group.
They were all currently kneeling, defeated by a single woman.
“My Master told me that as his escort, I should be able to take down people of this caliber with ease.”
…Kang Hyun-woo wanted to ask what her relationship with his son was, but fearing he would receive the same answer as the first time he asked, he kept his mouth shut.
The memory of that day was still quite shocking to recall.
“You have nothing to worry about. I intend to work hard to earn the trust of both you, Father, and my Master.”
Rose, the red-haired maid, gave a bright smile and bowed with disciplined grace.
“I have mastered everything you asked me to learn, and it seems my preparations are finally complete.”
Is it okay for me to go see him now?
I hope he likes the new jokes I’ve learned.