No Way, I Can't – Akihabara Night Out
"No way, I can't do it."
While the girls were wiping off their makeup and changing clothes after the event wrapped up, I pulled out my phone to check people's reactions.
"Oh, there's some buzz back home too."
We'd announced our participation in the game show, but I hadn't expected fans to actually follow us here and snap pics of the girls... And there were even tweets from Koreans living in Japan who made a special trip to see them. Just knowing we had such dedicated fans made it all feel worthwhile.
Soye will love this.
I had to tell the girls right away. Especially Soye—she gets a fresh wave of joy every time she sees stuff like this, so there's real satisfaction in sharing it.
"Hmm, no clue how to type in Japanese."
I tried to look up reactions to GPiF—Game Party in Forest—within Japan too, but gave up since I couldn't handle the keyboard. I searched based on the #GPiF_7th tag, but there was just way too much content to sift through. Plus, people weren't using the girls' names—they were only referring to the cosplay characters—which made the info total chaos.
Better to check what the company promo team compiles later.
Or just make Yu Ga-hye do it. She speaks Japanese well and came along to help me out, so it should be fine to ask.
"There you are."
Speak of the devil—she showed up the second I locked my phone screen.
"Good work out there, Chief Secretary."
"You too, Manager Lee. Anyway, about tomorrow's schedule..."
"Chief Secretary, you can search in Japanese too, right?"
"Uh, yeah... I can handle the basics."
"Perfect. The girls got a great response today, so I want to check online reactions right away. But I can't type Japanese. Could you search SNS and the web for Japanese fans' takes? Evaluations, what they liked, what got reactions... everything."
"Everything?"
"Yep, all of it."
We exchanged a quiet glance. I kept a straight face and pressed on.
"Oh, uh, Japanese folks love Twitter, so start there."
"Got it, but..."
"We can review the reactions before tomorrow's event and chat in the morning about anything to watch out for or tweak."
Tonight I've gotta hang with the girls—no time for work stuff. And if I'm stuck with you, I can't sneak in any hypnosis mode either. No way, I can't.
"Ah, there they are. I'll grab the girls—you head to the car first and check reactions on your phone."
I left it at that and bolted to the girls. I could feel Yu Ga-hye glaring daggers at my back, but I didn't turn around.
"Great job, everyone."
As I greeted them, Minji's eyes lit up and she latched onto me right away.
"Oppa, we're heading out now, right?"
Her usual timid tone was nowhere to be heard—pure excitement.
"Yeah, promise is a promise."
"Ehehehe...!"
She looked thrilled to pieces, whipping out her phone and checking off a memo list she'd prepared.
Minji, you already had the whole plan ready, huh.
"That lady... wanna come too?"
"Am I just baggage?"
"Sorry, no, that's not it. Unnie, you've got something else tomorrow night..."
"Hehe, it's fine. Just kidding. Let's go together. I'm curious what kind of place has Minji this hyped."
Soye's bright smile was a relief. Good thing—not that I wasn't worried the spots might flop...
It'll be okay... Seeing new stuff should be fun, and worst case, I can pivot to some nicer spots.
"Hey, what about me?"
Haeun called out, totally out of nowhere.
"Huh? You?"
"Yeah. You ditching just me?"
"Not exactly..."
I hadn't promised to take Haeun along, so I hadn't given it much thought. But leaving her behind would look weird.
"You sure it'll be okay?"
"What?"
"Well... that place, it's really not your vibe."
Soye seemed adaptable enough for somewhere like Akihabara. But for Haeun? Total strikeout.
"What kind of place is that? Isn't it famous? I wanna check it out too."
"Alright, whatever... should be fine. Let's all go."
It wasn't like we were heading to some demon cave. If it sucked, I could peel Soye and Haeun off to nearby decent spots and just let Minji shop.
"Chief Secretary, I'll take the girls for some... uh, local research and head back to the hotel. We'll cab it—you take the car."
Yu Ga-hye, already waiting by the car alone, tilted her head slowly.
"Local... research?"
Her eyes screamed she didn't buy it a bit. But I remembered what she'd said to me. She was my assistant manager for this trip. So it was fine—no need to feel guilty, Lee Sejin...!
"See you later!"
I bowed quick and fled to the girls.
***
"Whoa, tons of people."
We stepped out of the taxi onto the main drag, and bam—huge crowds everywhere. Commuters, shoppers, foreigners of every stripe. Total chaos.
I double-checked the girls' masks.
"Disguises on tight—no slipping. We're starting to get known, so extra careful."
"For real...?"
"In two days? Nah, probably just talk."
"No, it's legit. At least here. We did a gaming event, and this neighborhood's super sensitive to that stuff."
"Oh yeah. Otaku central, right?"
Haeun glanced around with a bored shrug.
"Doesn't look that fun..."
"So much...!"
Minji, right beside her, was sparkling with excitement.
"...Minji, stick close to me. If you wanna check something out, tell me first—no wandering. You'll get lost."
"What is she, a kid?"
"She is."
"Yup."
"R-Really...?"
We all eyed Minji as we said it, but she was too busy gawking everywhere to even hear us.
"From the look on Minji's face, she didn't catch what you said, Sejin."
"Sigh... I'd love to just hold her hand the whole time."
Can't, though—that's the problem.
"Haeun, can you keep an eye on Minji?"
"Me? What about you?"
"I'll be right there too. Just insurance."
"What am I, your pack mule...?"
"Tomorrow, we'll hit wherever you wanna go."
"Forget it."
Haeun grumbled but turned to Minji anyway.
"Hey, aren't you hungry? Minji, any good eats around here?"
"There are...! What do you wanna eat, unnie?"
"Me? Uh... what ya got?"
"Oden, steak, curry..."
"Stomach's iffy—no steak. Oden was yesterday, so curry it is."
"Yes! Map's..."
Minji checked her map in a flash and led the way. We followed to a curry joint with a massive gorilla sign plastered on it.
"Here!"
"...For real?"
Haeun eyed the place skeptically. Tiny and cramped—not her scene.
"It's super famous... Players brought characters here in the Grand Ragnarok Real Return event... And it's where they ate in episode 1 of Gamers Gate..."
"...So it is a food spot?"
"C'mon, let's go in. Eating at hole-in-the-walls like this is the charm of travel."
At Soye's nudge, Haeun quit griping.
"Cramped..."
"This for the order?"
"Minji, just get four portions however."
"Got it!"
We punched it into the retro kiosk, then squeezed into the one four-top they had.
"Feels like everyone's staring. We really that recognizable?"
"Less that, more... this place is mostly dudes."
And you three are unreal beauties to boot.
"(Japanese) Here's your Gorilla Curry Mix Katsu!"
Barely sat down and the curry arrived. Giant silver bowl piled high with rice, a massive cutlet, all smothered in thick, dark brown curry...
"Uh... this is a legit food spot, right? Minji?"
"Yesss!"
Minji beamed and shoveled a bite. I tried some too.
Mmm, tasty. Tasty, but...
"This curry's thick."
"Japanese-style, huh. Not bad, but..."
"Not my thing."
Haeun's reaction said it all—meh. Figured. Way too heavy and huge, like something a high school boy would go nuts for. Not girly at all, even beyond Haeun.
"Hey, Minji... what about the oden and steak spots?"
"Oden was... CanOden..."
"...CanOden? Weird name."
"Nooo, from a vending machine... canned oden."
Haeun stared at Minji, stunned. That's a food spot?
Her face said it all without words.
"...Steak?"
"Super Steak—famous for one-pound steaks... The Choice Strike protag loves it and..."
"No, wait... what you're calling food spots are more like..."
Haeun finally facepalmed.
"I asked for places where people eat well..."
"'Cause people think it's good... so they put it in games and anime...? This place is delicious too..."
"...Unnie, you?"
"Yeah, it's good~"
"If you're cool with whatever Minji picks, why ask me?"
Haeun sighed self-mockingly and took another bite.
"Fine, it is tasty..."
But not thrilled. Her eyes screamed it.
This gonna be okay?
This was probably the most "normal" spot on tonight's list, and she was already like this.
...This is gonna be hilarious.
Looks like a fun evening ahead. Minus Haeun.