Chapter 21: School Trip (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 21: School Trip (1)
Midterms ended yesterday.
It was that brief window of reprieve after a hectic schedule, with a good while left before finals. It was the kind of season where the tension finally bled out of everyone’s stiff shoulders.
“You all worked hard studying for midterms,” the teacher said, standing at the podium. He began the morning assembly with a few words of encouragement for the class.
“...”
Meanwhile, I spotted someone who had returned to their natural state a bit too quickly.
As I let my gaze drift toward the back...
“...Gulp.”
I saw Lee Sol pop a jelly into her mouth. I wondered when she’d managed to sneak those in from the snack shop. Her cheeks bobbed rhythmically as she chewed.
“...”
She really made it look delicious.
At this point, it wasn't even surprising. This was the real Lee Sol, after all. Besides, I could understand why she was acting like this now. While the official report cards weren't out yet, her self-graded results were high enough to comfortably land her in Grade 3. She’d worked hard, so she deserved a break.
“...”
“...”
For a split second, our eyes met.
She blinked slowly. Her jaw slowed its movement, and she swallowed hard.
“...”
Lee Sol looked down at the jellies as if deep in thought, then sheepishly held out an orange gummy bear. Her eyes were asking if I wanted one.
...I wasn't asking for one. She must have interpreted my stare as a silent plea for a snack.
“...”
I kept an eye on the teacher and secretly took it from her. I felt like I’d been eating too many sweets lately. Maybe I needed to work out harder.
Unaware of our exchange, the teacher continued the assembly.
“Next week is the big day. You all know what it is, right?”
Now that I thought about it, he was right. The day every high school junior looked forward to.
The school trip.
“Make sure to take care of your health until then. I don't need to tell you where we're going, do I?”
““Nooo!”” the class responded vigorously.
Their volume was several times louder than usual. Their excitement was palpable, and for good reason. This school trip was to Japan. It was only natural for everyone to be hyped about going abroad.
...I only had to look next to me to see that.
“...”
Ji Nuri sat there with an indifferent, blunt expression, resting her chin on her hand. She looked like she was stoically listening to the teacher, her exterior practically radiating chic detachment.
On the other hand... if I looked at Ji Nuri’s Mini-Me perched on her desk...
— “Japan...! I don't know whose idea this was, but thank you so much...!”
Its eyes were sparkling more brilliantly than ever before.
— “What should I do first? According to the schedule, we arrive at Kansai Airport... Should I raid the convenience store first? No, I should take photos before that—”
In reality, she had been busy planning everything out in her head for a while now. Information about Dotonbori and all sorts of other tourist spots was pouring out of her mind.
The teacher continued while handing out the school trip guides.
“Lodging has been assigned by student number, and let’s see, what’s left...” The teacher pulled out a notebook and read from it. “Decide who you want to sit with on the way there and form your teams for the activities on-site. Submit the lists to the Class President before the end of the day.”
“...Oh.”
Wait a second.
“...”
I secretly scanned the room. I could already see groups of three or five starting to cluster together.
...This was bad.
Since I’d mostly been hanging out with these girls since the start of the new semester, I hadn't really gotten close to the other guys. I couldn't exactly wedge myself into their groups now.
“...”
It couldn't be helped. I immediately turned around to the three girls in my group.
“Let’s all hang out together.”
It wasn't common for a single guy to join a group of girls, but... please, just help me out this once. I don't have any friends besides you guys.
*
I knew it would turn out like this.
Shin A-young thought as she watched the relieved Lee Seung-ho.
He usually maintained a confident attitude, but he seemed to prefer natural relationships and found it difficult to intentionally approach others. He was the type who could talk well once the ice was broken, but felt awkward until then.
That was why she’d expected him to ask to join them. She had intended to ask him to join them from the start anyway, but seeing Lee Seung-ho make that kind of face was entertaining.
Scratch, scratch—
Shin A-young began writing down the names on a piece of paper.
“He said we need at least four people, right? This is perfect.”
She wrote down four names: herself, Ji Nuri, Lee Sol... and Lee Seung-ho.
“Hmm.”
A faint smile played on Shin A-young’s lips. This was good. She was quite satisfied with the team composition. Rather than being grouped with people she had an ambiguous relationship with, these four were people she felt comfortable around.
It was the best possible arrangement she could make.
...Now, the only thing left was the seating for the trip.
“...”
Shin A-young’s gaze shifted toward Ji Nuri and Lee Sol.
“Give it here.”
“Ack.”
Ji Nuri had just confiscated Lee Sol’s bag of jellies. She let out a low sigh as she interrogated Lee Sol.
“What if you get caught eating in class?”
“? That’s why I was eating them secretly.”
“...”
Ji Nuri’s eyebrows furrowed as she began poking Lee Sol in the ribs.
“Eek!”
The two naturally began to play around. They were perfectly in sync today, as usual.
“...”
Shin A-young sat still and watched the scene for a moment. As she thought... she felt those two were closer to each other than they were to her. It wasn't that they weren't close, but as long as she was hiding her true self to some extent, there was an instinctive distance. They would inevitably feel that she was hiding something from them.
...So, she thought it might be better to let those two sit together during the trip. Besides, it wasn't like she’d be completely isolated. There was someone else to sit with, after all.
Shin A-young subtly leaned toward Lee Seung-ho’s desk and spoke.
“Is there anything you want to do when we get to Japan?”
“...Anything I want to do?”
“Come on, you must have thought about it at least once.”
“I don't know...” Lee Seung-ho’s lips parted. He idly scratched the surface of his desk with his finger, and when he couldn't think of anything, he turned his gaze back to her. “...What about you?”
Hmm. It wouldn't be fun to just tell him. Shin A-young felt a sudden urge to be playful.
“Try to guess. I’ll give you five questions.”
Lee Seung-ho gave an incredulous laugh but went along with it.
“Is it a famous place?”
“Hmm... depends on the person?”
“Then, a convenience store.”
“Huh?”
She was slightly startled. She hadn't expected him to get it right so quickly. He was annoyingly quick-witted.
“...How did you know?”
“It’s obvious what you’d be thinking about.”
“...”
Lee Seung-ho’s teasing tone was irritating. She felt a bit frustrated. Next time, she’d give him something much harder—something he could never guess.
“If you haven't submitted your team list yet, do it now!” the Class President’s voice rang out through the classroom.
“We haven't turned ours in yet, right?”
“I’ll write it down quickly.”
At Lee Seung-ho’s words, Shin A-young picked up her pen. All that was left was the seating arrangement for the bus, so it would only take a second.
...Shin A-young. And next to her...
Shin A-young was about to write the name when she paused. She wondered if it was okay to just write it down like this. She held the pen still for a moment.
Well, she might as well ask. It was better to bring it up now.
Shin A-young turned toward Lee Seung-ho.
“Hey—”
*
A moment ago—
Lee Sol was rolling her eyes while being held by Ji Nuri. Behind her, Ji Nuri was poking her cheeks.
“They’re so squishy.”
“...”
Lee Sol stayed still, even though it was a bit annoying. She just figured Ji Nuri was really excited. Whenever Ji Nuri acted clingy like this, it was the only logical conclusion. She wasn't usually like this.
Was going to Japan really that great?
...Well, it wasn't that she didn't understand. To be honest, she wasn't particularly fond of traveling. It wasn't that she was too lazy to go out or anything.
“...”
Well... actually, that was part of it. But mostly, Lee Sol was the type to get motion sickness easily. Even a short ride on public transport left her exhausted. Planes were bad, and cars were even worse.
Perhaps because her memories of traveling were always tainted by nausea, she rarely got excited about trips.
“...”
Lee Sol idly rubbed the back of her neck. Was it because the group was good? Or was traveling with friends just different? Unlike usual, she found herself looking forward to it a little.
Just a little.
Lee Sol leaned forward to look down at the paper where the team members were listed. The only thing left was the seating arrangement for the bus.
“...”
Lee Sol glanced toward Shin A-young.
“Hmm.”
...Normally, she would sit with Ji Nuri as usual. But if she sat with Ji Nuri, Shin A-young would be left out. A-young had always been uncomfortable around guys. Even though she seemed to be getting along well with Lee Seung-ho... it wouldn't be as comfortable for her as being with Ji Nuri.
...In that case.
Wouldn't it be best if she sat with Lee Seung-ho? They were in the same club, and she had become the closest to him out of everyone here. It wouldn't be bad. He was quick-witted and took good care of things.
...And being with him was fun in many ways.
Yeah. If anything, it would be a good thing, not a bad one.
“Ahem.”
Lee Sol lightly cleared her throat and approached him. She figured she’d just ask. Lee Seung-ho might have a different idea, after all.
“Hey, Lee Seung-ho.”
“Seung-ho.”
Two voices overlapped at once.
“...Yeah?”
“Huh?”
Lee Sol and Shin A-young’s gazes locked in mid-air.
“...”
“...”
...Because they both seemed to know exactly what the other was about to say.
The two girls stared at each other for a brief, silent moment.