Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 100: Arts Festival (4)

"Phew..."

Heavy breaths escaped my lips. I was in the middle of a grueling set of push-ups in my room.

Since I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hadn't been able to make it to the gym lately, I’d resolved to at least get some bodyweight exercise in at home.

"Phew..."

Even without weights, I could really feel the burn. When you're short on time, this was a solid alternative.

Just a few more sets like this—

"Oof—!"

Thud!

The door swung wide open and slammed right into my head.

I clutched the crown of my head and rolled backward. Of all the places to be, the door had to fly open right while I was holding my posture directly in front of it.

"Oh."

Lee Seung-ah let out a short, startled sound. She stood frozen, looking down at me with the door pushed halfway open.

She scanned me up and down to see if I was actually hurt.

"Uh... hey, are you alright?"

"Ssshh..."

The throbbing pain in my scalp made me hiss through gritted teeth. I looked up at Lee Seung-ah with a sharp glare.

"...Hey. Seriously. Knock before you come in."

"...Um, sorry."

Seung-ah’s eyes darted around guiltily.

— "I mean... who would've thought he'd be working out right there...?"

Her Mini-Me puffed out its cheeks. Its lips were pouting a mile out, seemingly upset that she’d been scolded.

If I got any angrier, she’d just end up sulking. She really was a high-maintenance younger sister.

I took a shallow breath to calm myself and asked why she’d come in.

"What is it? Why are you here?"

"...Mom told me to bring this to you."

Seung-ah held out a plate of sliced fruit.

"Oh, thanks."

I took it and set it on my desk. I’d eat it later after I finished my workout.

Thinking her business was done, Seung-ah turned to leave.

"Ah, also."

She stopped dead in her tracks.

I looked at her, wondering what else she had to say.

"That festival at your school tomorrow. I'm going too."

It was a completely one-sided declaration.

I tilted my head.

"Huh? How are you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠getting in?"

"I heard outsiders are allowed after 4 PM."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah."

Seung-ah nodded.

— "He doesn't even know what's happening at his own school's festival."

Her Mini-Me let out a mocking giggle.

Hey, I could miss a detail or two.

"...But is there even anything for you to see if you come that late?"

"Nuri-unni told me she’s performing then and said I should come watch."

"Ah—"

No wonder she was suddenly coming. Ji Nuri must have brought it up first.

"..."

I nodded.

It didn't really matter to me whether Seung-ah came or not. If she wanted to, she could. There was no reason to stop her.

"...By the way, aren't you supposed to be preparing for entrance exams?" I asked, genuinely curious.

She was a middle schooler, but she was already in her third year. It was September, so in just a few months, she’d be a high school freshman. Since she was an art student, this should be her busiest time for exam prep.

"If I can't pass just because I missed one day, then I was never going to pass anyway," Seung-ah said nonchalantly. She didn't seem worried at all.

She leaned against the doorframe with a confident, relaxed posture.

"..."

Well, she had a point.

I nodded, accepting her logic.

— "I thought it might be fun to just show up without saying anything, though..."

Her Mini-Me tilted its head, crossing its arms.

So she had decided to tell me after all.

"Anyway, just so you know."

— "Ah, I shouldn't tell the other unnis, though."

With that, Seung-ah headed back to the living room.

It looked like she was planning to surprise them.

I wondered if I should give them a heads-up... but honestly, it did seem like it would be more fun that way.

In moments like this, Seung-ah and I were surprisingly on the same wavelength.

"..."

I arrived at school early.

Even from the hallways, I could see people moving about busily.

Of course, it was only the first and second years. The third years didn't have to come to school today.

Apparently, when they made them do self-study in the classrooms last year, there were a lot of complaints. This year, they changed the rules so they could study at home instead.

'I wonder if everyone's here.'

With that thought, I opened the door to the club room.

"Ith thith okay—?"

I saw Lee Sol with her cheeks puffed out, round and full.

There was a bowl of popcorn in her hands.

It looked like she had been doing a "quality control" taste test.

Our eyes met exactly in that state.

"..."

Lee Sol whipped her head away, chewed frantically, and swallowed hard.

"...Y-you're here?"

She dabbed her lips with her hoodie sleeve, trying to act like nothing had happened.

"...You were already here preparing?"

I played along and walked inside.

Everyone had arrived early.

Popcorn was popping away in the background.

It was the microwave kind you buy at convenience stores, but one bag made quite a lot, so we could split it into several bowls.

It was very cost-effective.

[Win a 10,000 won gift card for just 1,000 won!]

A sign made of taped-together A4 paper was posted in front of the Counseling Office.

With that, the preparations were complete.

Once we set up the low floor desks and cushions in front of the Counseling Club, everything was ready.

The reason we chose low desks was specifically because it made it easier to sneak a peek at the cards from behind.

The event was set to start at 9 AM, so we just had to wait a bit.

...

After a short wait, the festival officially began.

I started seeing students wandering around to look at the booths or carrying snacks.

"..."

— "What's this place...?"

A female student peered toward the Counseling Club.

She seemed interested because it was labeled as a "game."

"Would you like to try?"

At my question, she cautiously approached the desk.

Our first customer had arrived.

"The entry fee is 1,000 won. If you win at Indian Poker, we'll give you a 10,000 won gift card."

Since I didn't know her, I spoke as gently as possible.

Thinking she’d just give it one shot, she readily handed over a 1,000 won bill.

I took it and continued.

"Do you know the rules? Or should I explain them?"

"...Please explain them once."

"Then I'll teach you while we play."

I placed the coins on the desk and began the explanation.

"Alright. You start with 10 coins."

I picked out ten and handed them to her.

"When the game starts, we each get two cards."

I shuffled the deck and dealt two to her and two to me.

"One card goes on your forehead so you can't see it. You're the only one who gets to look at the other card."

— "Is this how I do it...?"

She awkwardly mimicked my actions.

"You have to bet one coin as an entry fee for each round."

"Like this?"

"Yes."

I also placed a coin on the desk.

She ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠followed along well.

"If you think the sum of your cards is lower than your opponent's, you can 'Fold.' That means you give up the coins you bet, but you can move on to the next round."

I added a tip that it's better to fold early if your hand is bad.

I glanced down at my card and spoke.

"I'll bet one more. Do you want to fold?"

"I'll call."

With that, there were four coins on the table. We had each bet two.

"When the bets are equal like this, we show our hands."

I took the card off my forehead and showed the card in my hand.

Her total was higher.

"The person with the higher sum takes all the coins on the table."

I pushed all the coins toward her.

With that, I had 8 coins and she had 12. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Her lips twitched into a small smile as she looked down at her winnings.

"We repeat this until someone runs out of coins. Got it?"

"Yes—"

She nodded lightly.

Having won the first round, she started the game with newfound confidence.

"Then, let's go straight to the next round."

I shuffled the cards and took a quick look around.

— "Let's see... a 6 came out, so..."

I could faintly hear the voice of Lee Sol's Mini-Me, who was naturally blending into the crowd.

She placed her hand on her left cheek. She sent a small signal toward me.

Lee Sol, who was relatively short and good at staying inconspicuous, had taken on the role of the signaler.

— "Hmm, it's a bit ambiguous... Should I bet? Or not?"

The girl in front of me fell into deep thought.

Since my total was actually higher, it would be troublesome if she folded.

"I'll just put in one coin."

I took a passive stance and invested little.

— "...I guess his hand isn't that great."

The Mini-Me in front of me muttered.

"I'll bet two."

Thinking she was in a good spot, she added more coins.

"I'll make it three."

I raised the stakes.

She hesitated for a moment at the sudden jump in the pot.

— "...It's worth calling at least once."

Perhaps feeling it was a waste to lose the money she’d already put in, she followed the bet.

The result was, of course...

"Looks like I won."

I swept up the coins.

Her expression stiffened slightly.

— "...I still have coins left. I just need to win the next round."

...

"That's a 10, and this side is 11 total. I win again."

"Wow! No way...!"

Her voice rose. She seemed incredibly frustrated that she’d lost by a margin of only one point.

— "Nice!"

Lee Sol's Mini-Me pumped its fist.

It looked proud, as if it believed we won entirely because of its help.

"..."

In this manner, the game business proceeded smoothly.

I looked around to see how the others were doing, and everything seemed to be going well.

"Here you go. Enjoy~"

Shin A-young was selling popcorn with a beaming smile.

Business was quite good. Or maybe people were just drawn in to see her.

Lee Sol was in charge of signaling. Shin A-young was in charge of sales.

And Ji Nuri...

— "Kaaa... This is why people go into business, huh?"

Her Mini-Me was fanning itself with a wad of cash. In its mind, it was no less than the daughter of a billionaire.

She wore a wide grin as she organized the earnings they’d made so far.

It probably wasn't even that much money.

'Is she just enjoying the vibe?'

I started to think she should have gone into business instead of music.

"Huh?"

Ji Nuri’s voice went up as she suddenly jumped out of her seat.

"Where are you going?"

"Just a sec!"

With nimble movements, she darted through the busy crowd.

A moment later, she reappeared from down the hallway, walking arm-in-arm with someone.

"Nuri-unni? I'm really fine...!"

"Ayy— it's fine. It'll only take a second. I'll get it for you right now."

The person Ji Nuri had brought back was none other than Ha Seo-rim.

The other band members were trailing behind them.

"Wait right here."

Ji Nuri tossed out that one sentence and ducked inside the Counseling Office.

"...Oh, h-hello."

"Hey."

Ha Seo-rim bowed awkwardly.

I nodded back in greeting.

— "This is exactly why I didn't want to come...!"

Her Mini-Me went stiff, its eyes surreptitiously avoiding mine.

True to her word, Ji Nuri returned quickly.

"Here."

Ji Nuri handed the popcorn to Ha Seo-rim.

Maybe she wanted to play the part of the generous senior. She was always being treated by Senior Min-ji, and it seemed she’d learned from the best.

"Oh, um..."

"It's okay— eat up. It's on me."

"...Thank you. I'll enjoy it."

Ha Seo-rim glanced around tentatively before accepting it.

Since it had come to this, she seemed to have decided to just eat.

"Since you're here, want to play a round? It's a chance to turn 1,000 won into 10,000."

Ji Nuri rubbed her hands together with a faint smirk. It was the gesture of a true hustler.

She coaxed her, saying it would be fun.

...Wait, was this her plan all along?

"...10,000 won?"

Ha Seo-rim’s eyebrows twitched. She looked intrigued.

— "...Maybe I'll just listen to the explanation."

Was she hooked by the mention of 10,000 won?

Man, she really was easy to sway.

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