Chapter 110: The Bet (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 110: The Bet (2)
A fast-food restaurant.
Perhaps because it was Friday, or maybe just because it was peak mealtime, the place was moving even faster than usual.
“I’m sorry, customer, but that menu item is no longer available.”
Ha Seo-rim was at her wit's end, struggling to manage the crowd in the lobby.
“What?! Since when?”
“It was a limited-time offer. If you’d like, I can take your order for a different item?”
“No, you were selling this just yesterday!”
“Yes, we were selling it until yesterday.”
Why are people like this?
After a long, exhausting confrontation, the customer finally stomped out of the store, huffing and puffing in indignation.
“……Phew.”
Only then could Ha Seo-rim finally catch her breath.
“……When did they say the kiosk would be back up?”
Ha Seo-rim asked Kim Bo-young, a fellow part-timer her age who was working the kitchen. The only reason she had to deal with such a headache was that the self-service kiosk was broken.
“They said they’re working on it… but it’ll probably be down for the rest of the week.”
“The rest of the week…?”
Ha Seo-rim’s expression stiffened automatically.
Did that mean she had to suffer through this for several more days? Just thinking about it made the future look bleak.
Kim Bo-young patted her on the back sympathetically.
“Go take a quick break. I’ll cover the floor for a bit.”
“Yeah. Just for a moment, please.”
Ha Seo-rim dragged her tired feet toward the exit. She was already drained from being pushed around by nightmare customers.
At least when Lee Seung-ho was around, he would step up and handle things for her…… but not today. It was his day off.
“……!”
Startled by her own train of thought, Ha Seo-rim lightly slapped her cheeks.
No, what am I thinking? Get it together.
No matter how well-behaved he’d been lately, he wasn’t someone she could afford to let her guard down around.
“Haaa…….”
Inhale— Exhale—
As she stepped out through the back door, the cool air filled her lungs.
The sky was high and a brilliant blue, without a single cloud in sight. It was the kind of landscape that made her realize autumn was slowly settling in.
Ha Seo-rim stood still, gazing up at the horizon.
“The weather is annoyingly perfect….”
It was the ideal weather for an outing. Feeling the breeze, her mood began to lift. At least it was better than being trapped in the cacophony of shouting people and clattering cooking utensils.
“…?”
Vibrate—
She felt a small vibration in her pocket. A notification appeared at the top of her phone screen.
Since she didn't usually get many messages, she wondered if it was something regarding the Band Club. She unlocked the screen.
“…Oh.”
[Yu Ha-neul]
That was the name on the screen.
An acquaintance she had known since middle school. They were the type to exchange messages only occasionally.
……And she was also the girl Lee Seung-ho had been involved with back in middle school.
While walking down the street after school, I spotted Lee Sol and Shin A-young’s Mini-mes going through a rigorous warm-up.
— “Vice President…….”
— “Now that I think about it, there was something like that.”
They were stretching diligently with their short, stubby limbs.
— “…I can’t lose to A-young.”
— “I’m definitely going to beat Sol.”
They shot silent glares at each other, burning with the determination to never lose.
“Hmm.”
Are they really that hung up on the Counseling Club’s jinx? In the end, it’s probably just a superstition. It’s not even that old of a legend. If you go back far enough, there must have been Presidents and Vice Presidents who weren't a couple.
On the other hand, Ji Nuri seemed busy in a completely different sense.
— “If I play my cards right, isn't this my chance to become President…?”
Ji Nuri’s Mini-me let out a low chuckle, revealing her naked ambition.
I watched her quietly. She’s interesting every time I see her. I never get tired of it.
I slowed my pace as we reached our destination.
“How about here?”
“An OTT room?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded at Ji Nuri’s question.
“Lee Sol isn't great at things like bowling, and if we go to a PC bang, we’ll probably end up playing LoL… and Shin A-young would have the advantage there.”
“Heh. I am pretty good, aren't I?”
Shin A-young shrugged her shoulders confidently.
That’s why I chose an OTT room. Everyone can play things like Dotendo comfortably here.
“It’s good.”
“Yeah.”
Everyone reacted positively.
Now that the location was decided, we went straight inside. I paid for the room and the time at the kiosk, then handed the paper slip with the password to Shin A-young.
“Want to head to the room first?”
“Where are you going?”
“The snack shop.”
I planned to buy some light snacks from the shop inside the OTT lounge. Ji Nuri and Shin A-young turned away to find our assigned room.
“Have you been here before?”
Lee Sol sidled up behind me.
“Once last year?”
At that answer, Lee Sol’s pace slowed for a moment. She quickly caught up and pressed further.
“…With who?”
— “Is it a girl?”
A dark shadow fell over her Mini-me’s eyes. I felt a sudden sense of pressure that made my shoulders twitch.
“I came with the Counseling Club.”
“Aha.”
Lee Sol nodded slightly. Having assessed the situation, she didn't say anything more.
Rustle, rustle.
I picked out a few small bags of chips from the shop.
“…Take a picture of me.”
While I was browsing, Lee Sol spoke softly. I turned my head while scanning the barcodes at the counter.
“Here?”
“Yeah, just a casual shot to post. Do you have your camera?”
“I mean, I have it.”
I always carry it with me, after all.
I pulled the camera case out of my bag. After making a few quick adjustments, I captured her image through the lens.
“Try a natural pose.”
“L-like this?”
Lee Sol moved her body, but she looked strangely stiff. It was odd. Since she’d done professional modeling work, she should be used to having her picture taken.
“Just be comfortable, like usual. Relax.”
“Even if you say that…….”
— “It feels different from a model shoot, so it’s awkward.”
The Mini-me fidgeted nervously.
“…….”
Lee Sol covered the lower half of her face with the bag of chips she was holding. Her trembling eyelashes and averted gaze expressed her feelings perfectly. Her expression laid her awkwardness bare.
Click—
I snapped the photo of Lee Sol exactly as she was.
“…Oh? You took it?”
“I thought this looked pretty good too.”
For an ordinary person, it would have been an awkward photo. But since the subject was Lee Sol, even that bashful pose was transformed into something fresh and youthful.
It’s almost cheating. I can see why people are desperate to have her model.
— Seung-ho! Hurry up and get over here!
Just then, Ji Nuri called out to me from down the hallway.
“What? What’s going on?”
I hurried back, wondering if something had happened.
“No, how do you connect this?”
Ji Nuri held up a controller. The two of them were struggling with the hardware and the remote.
“It’s written right there.”
“I followed it exactly, but it’s not working. No matter what I do, it won't switch to the Dotendo screen.”
“Let me see.”
I read the instructions on the wall and operated the remote step by step. A moment later, the screen glowed white and switched to the game menu.
“…It works fine?”
“No, it definitely didn't work when I did it!”
— “What is this total BS!”
Ji Nuri’s Mini-me jumped up and down, claiming it was unfair. She probably just didn't do it right.
“…….”
I shook my head. I picked up a controller and leaned back on the sofa.
“Bario Party is fine for the game, right?”
There’s no better game for a bet than this. Since it’s a board game format, the controls aren't difficult, and even beginners can play easily.
“Has everyone played this before?”
“No!”
“I’ve seen it, but I’ve never played it.”
“…Me neither.”
They all shook their heads. Good. Actually, I’d never played it either. It looked like it would be a fair game.
“…So the person who collects the most of these badges at the end wins, right?”
“Exactly.”
I nodded at Lee Sol’s question and started the game. What we had to decide was:
“One President. One Vice President. Two members. Let’s have the 1st place winner pick their desired position first.”
Tacit agreement. There were no objections, and the game began immediately.
…….
The game proceeded for quite a while, and the current rankings were as follows:
1st Place: Shin A-young.
2nd Place: Ji Nuri.
3rd Place: Lee Sol.
4th Place: Me.
The girls were surprisingly good. Since they were playing with a serious intent to win, I got rolled from the very start.
“…….”
However, I tapped my toes with a relaxed attitude. I had an ace up my sleeve. It was the reward I’d earned from the minigame we just played.
———
[Spinning Wheel!]
[Swap your badges with a chosen opponent.]
———
With this, a one-shot reversal was possible. Since it had to be used immediately upon acquisition, it would have been a terrible reward if I were in 1st place. But currently, I was in 4th. There was no item better suited for me than this.
“Hmm… who should I pick? The person with the most badges right now is….”
As I trailed off and scanned the group—
“…Shin A-young.”
“It’s Shin A-young! Shin A-young!”
Lee Sol and Ji Nuri sold her out without a moment’s hesitation. Shin A-young looked at me with an anxious gaze.
“W-wait, not me, right? There’s barely any badge difference between me and Nuri in 2nd place! Pick Nuri instead—”
“Getting a bit informal with your tone, aren't we?”
“……P-please let me off just this once, okay?”
Shin A-young immediately switched back to formal speech. She blinked her long eyelashes pleadingly.
“Hmm.”
As I looked at Ji Nuri while contemplating, she jumped up and started rubbing her hands together with a grin.
“Ayy— why are you being like this—”
She started massaging my shoulders. It was the movement of a total sycophant.
Press—
I pressed the button without hesitation. The target, naturally, was Shin A-young.
“Hey, heeeey! Seung-ho, you…!”
Shin A-young shouted with a tearful face. Don't feel so wronged. I’m just paying you back for the prank you pulled before.
“…….”
I narrowed my eyes and returned a faint smile, mimicking the one she usually wears.
“Ugh…!”
Heat rose to Shin A-young’s face, and she whipped her head away.
— “I-it’s okay! I can still make a comeback…!”
She said that, but Shin A-young’s Mini-me already looked like it was about to cry. It pressed the buttons on the controller with teary eyes.
“…….”
I let out a low chuckle as I watched my rank climb. At this rate, I’ll be able to safely escape the President position.
…….
[END]
1st Place: Ji Nuri.
2nd Place: Lee Sol.
3rd Place: Shin A-young.
4th Place: Me.
“…….”
I watched the results screen, my lower eyelid twitching.
“……No way.”
I still couldn't believe it.
“What is this luck, Ji Nuri……?”
I was in 1st place until just a moment ago. But in the final moment, the tables were turned in an instant. This really is a trash game.
“Nom nom! Lee Seung-ho’s badges are so delicious!”
Ji Nuri began her 1st place victory dance. Her Mini-me stood beside her, munching away with stuffed cheeks.
Haha.
I watched that with a hollow feeling.
“…….”
…Wait, but what happens now? I considered the variables in my head based on Ji Nuri’s choice. First of all, Ji Nuri…….
“From today, I’m the President!”
Ji Nuri declared, raising her hand high.
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(!Signpost!)
(Scroll down for illustration!)
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The Defeated Shin A-young