School Trip (9)
"......"
What the hell just happened?
Choi Gahee pulled her hand away from my head, where she'd been stroking it, and said,
"Is it that good?"
"Uh... yeah."
Did she just... make me take it like that?
"You're treating Taeyang like such a kid."
"But he's cute."
"Keep it up, and Taeyang's gonna get mad."
Min Iri, sitting next to me, chimed in like it was no big deal and started teasing me.
"See? Taeyang's pissed... Huh? Why're you just sitting there? Taeyang? Gasp! No way, did you fall for Gahee...?"
But her words didn't even register.
All I could see were Gahee's eyes, clouded over with worry.
Yandere Stage 1... I got that much.
But... what the fuck was that power just now?
"I, uh, gotta hit the bathroom."
First things first, I needed to splash some water on my head and sort my thoughts.
I tried to calmly piece it together.
WhatdoIdowhatdoIdowhatdoIdo...
Nope. Not working.
Lee Yuyeong had just been a pain in the ass, but Choi Gahee? I couldn't even deal with her.
Was Gahee noona scarier than Yuyeong...?
"Haa~ I remember now."
Cooling my head helped—it started turning again.
Right, those Love Chain devs, those bastards.
They gave each yandere heroine her own special trait.
It was the first time Yuyeong's yandere mode had kicked in, and since heroine traits don't really show until Stage 2 at the earliest, I'd been ignoring it.
I was dead set on stopping it before it hit Stage 2 anyway.
In the game, Stage 1 was mostly just romcom-level obsession—maybe creepy enough to give you mild cancer at worst. And they snapped back to normal quick.
From Stage 2 on, though? They start thinking light crimes or screw-ups are fine if it's for the one they love. And good luck snapping them out of it—you're in for a world of hurt. Plus, that's when their unique traits really kick in.
"Gahee noona's was that charisma command thing, huh."
Like the dignity of a ruling-class noble lady.
She pressures her obsession into obeying with sheer presence.
But it's not sustained hypnosis or anything. Just a brief 'Don't resist, do what I say.' Like scolding a puppy.
In the game, for example, she'd invite Seonwoo over, stuff him with deluxe desserts till he was torture-level full, and he couldn't refuse.
Though she'd stop once he begged enough.
Makes sense—if she could control someone indefinitely, no need for that deserted island route.
Fucking devs and their horny-ass settings. Driving me insane.
And what's even more insane?
"Fuck, what were the other heroines' traits again?"
I needed to prep for if this shit happens again, but I couldn't remember the others' specials for the life of me.
"Hoo~ From now on, no more raising yandere levels."
And I needed to keep an eye on Gahee noona.
Since her trait showed at Stage 1, better to observe up close than blindly distance myself.
I had to figure out the triggers and conditions for when it activates, at least.
With that sorted, I headed back to the table.
"Taeyang, you're back? Huh? Your hair's wet?"
"It's nothing. The showerhead was leaking over by the sinks."
"Huh? Shower in the restaurant bathroom?"
I bullshitted my way through it and sat down.
Gahee noona's eyes were less cloudy than before, but still off. Still in yandere mode.
Was this visible only to me?
"Anyway, I'm already stuffed. You sure you can eat more?"
"What? Already?"
I quickly changed the subject, scared she'd command me to stuff my face.
"We've got the next schedule. Too full and you won't move right."
"Then don't overdo it!! I'm still starving over here!"
Iri noona said, scooping up some pilaf with her spoon.
Gahee noona asked worriedly,
"You sure you can handle that?"
Tell me about it. I was still hungry but holding back.
If Gahee noona wasn't yandere, I'd have enjoyed this. Such a shame.
The food here was right up my alley too.
"Anyway, if you can't finish, let's share."
"Yeah, Yuli, you eat some too."
"Eh? B-but..."
Cho Yuli hesitated before poking at a single french fry with her fork.
Even now, she picks the cheapest shit to be polite.
I sighed inwardly and glanced at the other table.
They'd ordered a variety and were sharing.
Hayan noona chatting with Seonwoo bugged me, but with Yuyeong there and Seong Juyeon too, no flags would stack.
The awkward meal finally ended, and everyone filed out of the restaurant.
As we left, I spotted Seonwoo's wallet on the floor.
Teddy Bear Museum split Cho Yuli and Seong Juyeon, so now it was Hayan noona and Gahee noona's turns, huh.
Pick it up and return it, and the choice event vanishes completely.
Everyone oblivious, heading out—I went to grab it but froze.
Should I use this as an excuse to bail?
Sounds crazy, but I could say I'd help Seonwoo hyung look for it and dip.
Get away from Gahee noona, block Seonwoo hyung and Hayan noona flags too.
But Gahee noona would just tag along. Pointless.
Plus, I had to handle her Stage 1 somehow.
Couldn't leave it like this—too unstable.
"Seonwoo hyung, you dropped this."
"Oh? Ah, thanks."
"Get your shit together when you're out."
"Yeah yeah, sorry about that."
Seonwoo, after a quick spat with Seong Juyeon, said,
"Thanks. Lemme buy you something later?"
"Nah. Just happened to see it."
I didn't want payback—just take Gahee noona and go.
Swallowing my real thoughts, I smiled and waved it off.
Day 2 free time flags? All cleared.
"Good thing Seonwoo found his wallet."
Gahee noona said to him, then plastered herself against me.
"Uh, noona?"
"Yeah?"
No more hesitation or glancing around—she boldly hooked her arm in mine.
Her eyes still a bit cloudy.
That command-mode Gahee flashed in my mind, but I spoke up.
"Uh... my arm's uncomfortable. Can you give me some space?"
"Oh, sorry."
She let go easy, thank god.
But she still leaned in close.
"Taeyang!"
I tried to pull away, but Yuyeong claimed the other side.
Probably 'cause she sat at another table for lunch—making up for it now.
"They say there's an ice cream spot at our next stop!"
"Yeah, sure."
"Looks yummy. Want noona to buy you some, Taeyang?"
"No need. You got lunch too."
Gahee noona had paid for my lunch in one go.
I tried to pay, but her eyes clouded up, so I dropped it—didn't wanna poke the yandere.
"Taeyang, when we get there, let's take this path."
Yuyeong had whipped out a tourist map, pointing at a spot.
Next up: the beach at the end of Vitamin Street. Famous tourist spot with sculptures and photo zones.
I half-listened to both sides as we headed to the beach.
Kept an eye on Gahee noona, but nothing new.
Just... her Stage 1 was dragging longer than usual.
Normally it'd flare and fade quick, but her eyes were still a tad cloudy, actions bolder.
Gotta resolve this somehow... Can't just yell "snap out of it."
No clue what's keeping her stuck either.
Lost in thought, we arrived.
Vast ocean view, salty breeze, blinding sun.
Gahee noona said worriedly,
"Hmm... strong sunlight here. Taeyang, you put on sunscreen?"
"Yeah, already did."
She shook her head firmly.
No, I said I did—why?
"You gotta do it right."
"What? Slap it on and done."
"Here, noona'll do it properly."
"No, I'm good."
Gahee noona, don't look at me with those eyes, damn it.
"Unnie, it's fine. Taeyang put it on."
Yuyeong replied in a somehow subdued tone.
"Yuyeong?"
Did she notice something?
Yuyeong smiled bright like a close unnie, but her eyes weren't smiling.
"Yuyeong, better to do it right though."
"Then I'll do it. Taeyang."
Gahee noona's smile froze as Yuyeong said that.
Hey. You two...
What's with suddenly poking each other's yanderes?
"Both of you, chill. If you insist, ask Hayan noona."
"Hayan?"
I glanced back.
While we bickered, they were peacefully enjoying the beach view behind us.
Like I asked, Haen noona was chatting with Yuli, keeping an eye on her.
Seonwoo talking with her bugged me a bit...
"Hayan!!"
Gahee noona waved and yelled.
"Yeah? What's up, Gahee?"
"Can I put sunscreen on Taeyang?"
Hayan noona tilted her head like wtf?
It was my bullshit excuse, after all.
I signaled her with a look: help.
"......Yeah! Do whatever!"
"E-unnie! Me too!!"
"Heh, Taeyang's so popular."
"Taeyang's always surrounded by girls. Really... the future scares me."
Zero help.
Fine, straight-up reject then.
"I'll do it myself. Both of you, stop."
"Noona'll... put it on you?"
"........."
Commanded.
After that, I meekly let her slather my hands and face.
Then she said, "Now your thighs too~," and I snapped awake, bolting into the beach crowd.
"Sorry, Taeyang."
Gahee noona clasped her hands and apologized.
"Really, that was too much earlier."
"'Cause you're cute..."
"Don't say that either. Embarrassing as fuck. Hate hearing it."
"Eek..."
Beside her, Hayan noona smiled bitterly.
"Haha, maybe I should've stopped it midway."
I glared at Hayan noona and sighed.
I'd heard the full story by now.
Gahee noona's rampage had a specific trigger.
While I stepped out for a call at lunch, she and Hayan noona had talked.
-Hayan. I wanna get closer to Taeyang, so... can I play 'noona' for today?
-Sure. Just watch—he gets mad if you baby him too much.
-Got it. I'll take good care of him.
Then, thrilled at the idea of monopolizing me like a little brother, her Yandere Stage 1 triggered.
If Gahee noona had a real little brother, she'd probably be a massive brocon and exhaust him.
Thank god I wasn't born her brother.
"You too, Hayan noona. Next time shit like this happens, tell me. At least I'd understand."
"Yeah. I'll make sure to next time."
No, I still wouldn't get it, but forewarned is forearmed.
Anyway, Hayan noona probably wanted to give Gahee a shot like with Yuyeong.
Gahee noona was back to normal, her Stage 1 cleared, so we wrapped up without poking it further.
And no more getting close to her.
Day 2 free time wrapped up without much gain.
Nah—defending flags was a win in itself.
Pulled Yuli from Seonwoo, and at the Teddy Bear Museum, he picked Juyeon.
Just couldn't lower Yuyeong and Gahee noona's affection, though.
Gahee noona seemed genuinely sorry, hanging back awkwardly instead of closing in.
Yuyeong grinned at our photo on her camera.
Whatever—my rejection ends it there.
Time nearing 5 PM, we headed to the bus stop to regroup.
One thing left: Seonwoo's nighttime dorm event with the heroines.
Especially Kim Hayan—my sister's event.
She was supposed to ask him for advice about me.
But did she have any worries about me now?
Unlike the Love Chain game, we hadn't fought once this whole trip.
Flag basically shattered already, right?
I glanced back.
Seong Juyeon, Cho Yuli, Iri noona, Gahee noona chatting in a group.
No Hayan noona or Seonwoo.
They'd vanished—freaked me out, but then I saw Juyeon peek back.
Behind them: Hayan noona and Seonwoo, talking alone.
What the? Another chat?
No way it's the counseling request...?