Chapter 53: Day 2 (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 53: Day 2 (2)
Snap!
“Thank you so much!”
The cosplayer gave a polite bow and hurried off.
That was the last photo. Once the shoot was over, I headed back to my original spot.
“...”
I sat there alone, scrolling through short-form videos while waiting for the others to return.
“There are so many people...”
A weary-looking Ji Nuri trudged over. I took a look at her outfit; it was slightly different from what she’d been wearing earlier. Yesterday, she was in a pink tracksuit, but now she wore a black T-shirt and a school skirt. A guitar was slung over her shoulder.
However, it seemed she had only changed her clothes. She wasn't wearing a wig yet, leaving her natural brown bob exposed.
“...Where’s the wig?”
“I’m going to put it on later. It’s still a while before I go on stage.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, it’ll be too hot if I put it on now.”
Nuri fidgeted, unnecessarily smoothing down the ends of her hair.
— “...It’s embarrassing, so I’ll only put it on when he’s not around.”
Ji Nuri’s Mini-Me blushed furiously and looked away.
That was her true feeling. It seemed she was still incredibly shy about me seeing her in full cosplay. It was understandable, I suppose.
“Where’s Seung-ah?” Nuri asked, glancing around.
“She went to change with the others. Didn’t you see her on your way here?”
“No, I didn't see her.”
We must have missed each other. There were plenty of changing areas, or perhaps she just hadn't spotted her in the massive crowds.
“...”
Clunk—
I grabbed a cola from the vending machine while we waited. Might as well have a drink. I was originally just going to get one for myself, but it felt awkward to drink alone, so I bought one for Nuri as well.
“Here.”
“Oh, what’s this?”
Nuri looked surprised as she caught the cold can.
— “...Did I ever mention I like cola?”
The Mini-Me clung to the can with an excited expression.
— “I think I might have mentioned it at some point... He actually remembered. He’s surprisingly attentive.”
Actually, no. As far as I could recall, she had never mentioned it. I didn't even know she liked the stuff.
— “Kaaaah...”
Despite her inner self putting on a whole one-woman show, she went quiet once she actually started drinking. She seemed busy savoring the taste.
— “Wait, wait.”
The expression on Ji Nuri’s Mini-Me, which had been lost in thought, suddenly brightened. A lightbulb popped up over her head as if she’d just had a brilliant idea. She began to mutter to herself.
— “...Now that I think about it, there’s no need to worry, is there?”
The "worry" she was referring to was likely her performance. She had been agonizing over it since yesterday.
— “I saw the line for the booth was huge yesterday... If I just finish the performance quickly while he’s busy working...”
I see. Was she planning to finish her set while I wasn't looking? I wondered if it would be that simple given the set program schedule, but since her mood had improved, the feasibility didn't really matter.
'In the first place...'
I had no intention of watching Nuri’s stage anyway. Performances are only fun if you know the song, and there was no way a song I knew would be played here.
“Nuri-unni!”
Lee Seung-ah appeared out of nowhere.
“Oh, you’re here?”
She was already in full cosplay. Normally, she had a very calm, composed aura, but with her hair turned light blue, her more innocent and playful side seemed to shine through.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Huh? What is it?”
“Is it okay if I go watch your performance?” Seung-ah asked with an innocent face.
“...Huh?”
Nuri’s expression froze. She tried to stay composed by folding her hands demurely, but her interlaced fingers were fidgeting nervously.
“U-uh... I don’t mind, but... aren't you busy, Seung-ah? You have to look after the booth, too.”
“Oh, it’s fine.”
Seung-ah jerked her thumb back, pointing at me.
“We can just leave everything to Oppa.”
“...!”
Nuri, who had been struggling to deal with Seung-ah just a moment ago, suddenly did a complete 180. Her eyes sparkled.
“Then, shall we do that?” Nuri nodded eagerly.
— “This is way better than letting Lee Seung-ho see it.”
It was a classic case of choosing the lesser of two evils. She clearly viewed this as a golden opportunity to avoid performing in front of me.
— “That settles it!”
The Mini-Me danced around with a grin.
“...”
I watched the spectacle while sipping my cola. She really was entertaining to observe.
*
At the bus stop on the way home.
“...”
Lee Sol’s expression was somewhat vacant. She was often told she looked dazed, but she was even more out of it now. She looked more disheveled than usual, her head tilting up and down restlessly.
The cause was simple: she couldn't stop thinking about the photo she had just received.
“...”
Sol’s eyes darted around. She stole a glance at Shin A-young, who was holding a hand mirror and busy fixing her makeup. A-young looked preoccupied—a perfect opening.
'Now’s my chance.'
Sol carefully pulled her phone out of her pocket. She opened Instagram and checked the DM Seung-ah had sent again.
The photo of Lee Seung-ho was still there.
'...Haaah.'
Sol let out a soft breath, her round eyes blinking repeatedly. Whether it was because the photo was taken well or because the makeup suited him so perfectly, she couldn't take her eyes off it. She found herself staring down at the screen in silence, her long hair sliding over her shoulder.
'...First, I need to save it.'
Tap. Tap. Tap. She carefully stored it in her gallery. She checked twice to make sure it was saved properly before sliding the phone back into her pocket.
'Uuuugh...'
Unable to contain her emotions, she squeezed her phone with both hands. If she could, she wanted to pat Seung-ah on the head and tell her she did a fantastic job. If Seung-ah were standing there, Sol would have bought her anything she wanted.
“Hmm...”
However, she felt a tiny, lingering spark of desire. Since there was only one photo, a small seed of greed for more began to stir.
“...”
She picked up her phone again, hesitated for a moment, and then...
'...Should I just ask?'
Gathering her courage, she tapped on the screen.
— [Lee Sol: By any chance...]
— [Lee Sol: Are there any more?]
She sent the message to Seung-ah. There was no harm in asking, after all.
“...Oh.”
She caught the silhouette of a bus in the corner of her eye. When Sol looked up, a bus was approaching from the distance. It was the number Shin A-young usually took to go home.
“A-young. Your bus is here.”
“...Ah, I’m not going straight home today.”
Shin A-young didn't budge. She sat on the bench and waited quietly. It seemed she was waiting for a different route.
“...Is that so?”
Sol nodded slightly. After waiting a short while longer...
“The bus is here.”
This time, it was Shin A-young who spoke. Looking at the number, it was the bus Sol usually took to go home.
“...”
Sol didn't move either.
“...Aren't you going home? You said you had to study.”
A-young added another comment, reminding her that final exams weren't far off.
“...Today is a rest day. I worked hard this week. You need to rest sometimes.”
“Is that so?”
A-young nodded and turned her gaze back to the road.
“...”
Sol secretly observed A-young, pretending to look elsewhere. When she peeked to see what the other girl was doing, A-young had a map app open and was looking for directions.
Sol couldn't see the destination clearly because of the distance, but she just knew. It was a gut feeling. She was almost certain.
A-young had the exact same goal as her.
“......”
Sol bit her lip.
“...Ah.”
Sol’s voice grew louder. Finally, the bus they were both actually waiting for arrived. The two girls stood up naturally and boarded the same bus at the same time.
“...”
“...”
They exchanged silent, knowing glances.
'I knew it...'
Suspicion had turned into absolute certainty. Shin A-young was moving with the same purpose. And, as if she felt it too...
“Sol, where are you going?” A-young asked with a pointed look.
“...Well, I just have somewhere to stop by.”
Sol squeezed out a vague excuse.
“...”
“...”
A heavy silence followed. Soon, they both realized that excuses were pointless. Their destination was, naturally, the same.
The two of them got off at the same stop. In the distance, they could see the large plaza serving as the event venue.
“...”
Sol made a decision. This wouldn't do; she needed a plan.
“...A-young.”
Sol tugged at A-young’s sleeve.
“What?”
A-young looked back with an innocent, questioning gaze. It was a bit mean of her, considering she knew exactly what was going on.
“...Right now. You’re going to see Seung-ho, aren't you?”
Sol asked directly. She felt like she would lose ground if she didn't confront it.
“...”
A-young didn't answer, but she didn't look flustered either. It was likely because they both understood each other's goals perfectly. Instead, she simply turned her head aside in shyness—which was an answer in itself.
'If we go in like this...'
If they ran into him inside, Seung-ho would probably be shocked. Both of them had come without saying a word. Seung-ho was only participating to help his sister, so they worried they might be a nuisance if they just showed up.
'Besides...'
Sol looked at A-young. She didn't want Seung-ho to see A-young in her current state. Unlike when they went shopping, it was obvious she had put a lot of effort into her makeup. Her appearance was striking enough to catch anyone's eye. She had really done herself up.
So, instead of talking to him directly...
“...Should we just take a quick peek?” Sol proposed a compromise.
“...”
After a brief moment of thought, A-young finally nodded.
“...Fine.”
She seemed to judge it as a reasonable plan. The two exchanged looks, reaching a silent agreement. They would just watch him secretly and then leave.
Soon, the two of them moved toward the entrance of the event venue.