Chapter 73: Muggy Winds and Vacation Schemes
The season of muggy, humid winds had arrived.
"Ah, it's hot."
"So damn humid."
I was fanning myself with my hand to cool off when a voice from beside me made me turn my head.
"Looks like the Earth's really in trouble. Don't you think so, Taeyang?"
"……"
"Or maybe it's just 'cause the sun's right next to me?"
She was trying to beat the heat with a lame pun, but it had zero effect. Anyway, with the discomfort index skyrocketing, I forced my mouth open despite feeling too drained to bother.
"Hey, Yuyeong."
"I was just messing around. No need to get all serious~"
"Why are you even next to me?"
On the way home from school. If we'd bumped into each other heading to school by chance, fine—but we always went separately after.
Yuyeong just smiled even under my glare.
"What's wrong with that~? No one's around anyway."
"That's not the issue..."
"Don't worry, I 'get it' too."
Her voice turned grave for a split second. It meant she wouldn't cross the line anymore. She quickly hid the seriousness, flashed a beaming grin, and explained why.
"Once summer break starts, we won't see each other much anyway."
"True enough."
Summer break was right around the corner. To be precise, tomorrow was the closing ceremony. Not just hard to see—we wouldn't cross paths at all.
"Plus, I've gotta go to the soccer team's final training camp. Sad, but two weeks without seeing you."
"Wow, that sounds tragic."
"You feel the same, right, Taeyang?"
I said it with zero soul, as flatly as possible, but it went in one ear and out the other—or maybe she had some sarcasm filter on.
"Gotta endure it just a bit longer~"
"Who the hell are you even talking to?"
And it wasn't two weeks—we wouldn't meet until school reopened, but she talked like we'd hang out for sure.
We bantered like idiots all the way to the crosswalk where I split off from my sister and the others.
"But your house isn't this way."
Remembering when we'd met on the way to school, this was where we'd part. But Yuyeong stood there like she was crossing with me.
"Just a bit farther, what's the big deal~?"
She'd whined about heading straight to soccer camp right after tomorrow's ceremony.
"If you wanna hang more, go with your friends."
"I checked the clubroom quick—only you were left~"
Of course, today was my cleaning duty, so I left late. And that's how Yuyeong popped up on my way home. Well, this was the last time for a while—no Yuyeong worries anytime soon. Thinking of it that way, I could let today slide.
"Hey, it's Taeyang."
A voice from the side mid-convo with Yuyeong made me flinch. These days, just hearing that voice terrified me.
"Oh... you guys done for the day too, noonas?"
Coming from the high school direction: my sister, Seonwoo, and the others. Weird—they usually split before here. And Cho Yuli was trailing behind Seonwoo too.
"Everyone together today? Hey, Seonwoo-hyung."
"Yeah, good to see you."
Seonwoo-hyung raised a hand casually, flashing a bright smile. Felt a bit like a sales pitch. Not my business, though. I exchanged quick greetings with the noonas behind him.
"How was school, Taeyang?"
"Fine, noona."
Hayan noona approached and naturally draped a hand on my shoulder.
"Hayan-unnie! So great to see you!!"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, Yuyeong."
Yuyeong grabbed Hayan noona's hand off my shoulder like it was a lifeline, greeting her super enthusiastically. Was she heatstroke-dazed? Way too over-the-top.
"Unnies! And Seonwoo-oppa too—hi!!"
Everyone gave awkward chuckles in response to her bubbly energy. Except one gentle smile—Choi Gahee noona.
"Yuyeong seems in a good mood. Excited for break tomorrow?"
"Yeah, but I've got soccer camp training right after, so no rest for me."
"Aw, that sucks."
Gahee noona listened with perfectly timed sympathy. Mid-chat, her eyes flicked to me. I tried dodging the gaze, but she finished up and called me over.
"Haha, been a while, Gahee noona."
"Um... Taeyang."
"Yeah? What?"
I could guess what was coming.
"When are you free next?"
"Dunno. Probably not for a while."
"Oh."
Ever since that day at Gahee noona's house, it was always like this. That's why I'd been avoiding her, but here we were. Quick topic switch time.
"So, where you all headed?"
"Hehe, planning our break fun!"
Min Iri noona answered energetically. Figures—she got the most hyped for playtime.
"We're going to the beach together. Jealous? Super jealous, right?"
"Nah. Just makes you look dumb bragging about it, Iri noona."
"Gah... Taeyang!!"
Iri noona fumed. I ducked behind Hayan noona to dodge, but she just sighed heavily.
"Hmph, whatever!"
Iri noona seemed different lately. Back then, she'd charge for a headlock on sight and definitely punish me for that. Now she kept her distance, no touching.
"Whoa, I'm so jealous!!"
Iri noona's bragging worked—Yuyeong squeezed right between me and Hayan noona, eyes wide with envy. The walk signal lit up; as we crossed, Yuyeong wedged herself firmly in the middle.
"Hey, Yuyeong, you're squishing us."
"You can walk on the side, Taeyang. I wanna walk with Hayan-unnie."
"Tch."
I shifted back a bit, and right behind were Seonwoo and Juyeon noona.
"Hey, don't be like that—come with us, Taeyang!"
"What?"
Juyeon noona suggested it first.
"Huh?"
"What's wrong, Seonwoo? It's fine."
"Well, it's not not fine, but..."
"Great idea!"
Gahee noona chimed in from the side, beaming. Seonwoo-hyung looked flustered for a sec before recovering his smile at Juyeon noona's nudge. He checked with me again.
"T-Taeyang, wanna come along then?"
"Sure, I'd love to hang with you, hyung, and the noonas. Everyone cool with that?"
Sorry, but no way I'd pass. Planned it from the start. Beach trip's a top event in Love Chain's second-year season. Can't miss it.
Juyeon noona, Gahee noona, Hayan noona—no reason for them to object. Iri noona grumbled like she was miffed but nodded.
"F-Fine, it'd be fun together."
Her sudden tsundere vibe was kinda funny. But Cho Yuli behind Seonwoo looked thrown by the twist.
"Uh... um..."
Seonwoo noticed and whispered to her.
"Yuli, you okay with this?"
"N-No, it's... fine."
Juyeon noona caught it sidelong and let out a soft sigh.
"When are we going?"
Yuyeong jumped in, asking Juyeon noona with sparkling eyes. Weren't you just whining about soccer camp?
"Peak season, so barely snagged spots for the third week."
Yuyeong got lucky as hell.
"Then I can make it! Can I come too??"
Everyone agreed, naturally. If I was going, no reason to nix her.
"But make sure your guardian approves properly."
Hayan noona cautioned, but Yuyeong waved it off.
"I'll get it for sure!"
"Then let's head to a café and chat?"
Following Seonwoo's lead, we set off.
We settled around a big table at the café.
"Let's kick off the first Summer Vacation Meeting!"
Everyone clapped at Seonwoo's opener. Not some formal event or anything. In the game, this scene played for laughs too. Just roll with it and enjoy.
Though my head was spinning over future flags.
"First off, despite peak season, Seong Juyeon's big uncle in the pension business sponsored two rooms."
Juyeon noona stood for a bow; we all clapped. Same pattern for costs, gear, then spreading a map to pick 2-3 spots each and narrow 'em down.
"BBQ party at night!"
"Yayyy~"
Cheerful vibes flowed. Seonwoo occasionally checked on Yuli, who sat silently head down.
"I... wanna go here! Heard... the sunset's pretty."
"Oh, nice pick, Yuli!"
Surprisingly, Yuli piped up. In the game, she'd just nod along wordlessly. But that one suggestion just nuked her flag.
On the trip, she sneaks off alone to her spot and gets caught by Seonwoo. He goes, "Why didn't you say something?" and they end up alone together. She'd just blown that chance herself.
Recent counseling was working. Her SNS advice was "try voicing small opinions." Yuli sighed in relief, mumbling it was good—then our eyes met.
"Eek!"
"Ah, I was eyeing that spot too—looks great."
"Oh, um..."
"Thanks. I'd picked two already and couldn't speak up."
I dipped my head slightly in thanks.
"Uh... y-yeah."
"Nice one, Taeyang."
"Yeah."
I replied curtly to Yuyeong beside me, gauging Yuli's mood. Couldn't spook her too much or she'd regress pre-counseling.
Just enough vibe like, 'Gotta up the courage to speak—scary, but he took it well.'
"Ah, gotta hit the bathroom quick."
Mid-meeting, I stepped out. Finished up and bumped into Juyeon noona on the way back.
"Noona, you're good."
I smirked.
"Huh? At what?"
She grinned back, playing innocent.
"Seonwoo-hyung's wary of me, so you suggested coming along on purpose, right?"
His face gave it away. Even in the game, Seonwoo eyed Kim Taeyang oddly—but just for gags. Didn't expect Juyeon noona to leverage it.
"With me there, it pulls Hayan noona and the others' eyes off him. If he tries approaching you, he'll be all guarded and attentive instead."
"Eyes everywhere, huh."
She chuckled and owned it clean.
"Whatever. He started the jealousy game first. I just tag along—unless you hate it?"
"Nah, I'm in knowing full well. Leave it to me."
"Thanks, always."
She nodded satisfied, heading in—but paused.
"How'd you know? Or just paranoia?"
"You and Seonwoo-hyung were obvious."
"Really?"
Super obvious. When Juyeon noona invited me too, Seonwoo's fluster and "Any issue?"—her eyes were already clouded. Seong Juyeon's yandere shift toward Seonwoo was progressing smoothly.