Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Trip Plans and Swimsuit Teasing
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#64 “Haah...”
The morning after I boldly decided to go on a trip and confess to Han Seo-ah.
Even as I ate breakfast, I kept sighing because of the worries that had been swirling in my head since last night.
From where we should go to how I should confess...
None of it was easy.
We'd gone on tons of trips together as families since we were kids, but never just the two of us.
I had no clue where Han Seo-ah would like or where the perfect confession spot might be.
Of course, I believed she'd be happy anywhere, but since this could be a special day, I didn't want to disappoint her.
Lost in those thoughts, the morning sun had already risen before I knew it.
I was groaning at the table like a dog desperate for a bathroom break when Mom noticed something off and asked curiously.
“Jun-woo, are you feeling sick?”
“...Does it look like it?”
Come to think of it, should I tell our parents about going on a trip just the two of us?
Far from solving my worries, the thought made my head throb even more.
What should I even say?
No, would they even allow it in the first place?
Mom and Dad might be fine, but what if Han Seo-ah's parents say no?
Her folks have always been close with our family and doted on me since I was little, but a trip alone together? They might just kill me.
After agonizing, I decided to tackle the easier target first and spoke up.
“...Mom.”
“Yeah~? What is it?”
“Can I go on a trip with Han Seo-ah?”
“With the Han family? Mom's totally fine with that~ Is there somewhere you want to go this time?”
No way did she think I meant a family trip, right?
She seemed to have no idea I meant just us two and naturally assumed it was a family outing, so I swallowed hard and told her the truth.
“...It's not with the family.”
“Huh? Then who with?”
Mom's eyes widened in confusion, her expression shifting from puzzled to outright shocked.
“Jun-woo, you don't mean just you and Seo-ah, do you?”
“......Yes.”
“Oh my.”
She kept going “Oh my, oh my, oh my—” flailing her hands like she didn't know what to do.
Seeing that, a wave of belated embarrassment hit me, and I hung my head.
Sweat was pouring down my whole body like a water park had just opened, but I couldn't even wipe it off as I waited for her reaction.
“Jun-woo, look at Mom.”
I lifted my head at her voice, which sounded a bit calmer now, and there was Mom gazing at me with a mischievous grin that made her seem annoyingly sly despite how much I love her.
“You want to go just with Seo-ah?”
“...Yes.”
“She's okay with it?”
“......Yes.”
“Where to?”
“Haven't decided yet.”
“Oh my, oh my, you haven't even picked a place but she's okay with it? When are you going?”
“Thinking after midterms.”
I desperately needed Mom's help with preparations and convincing Dad and her parents, so I had no choice but to answer her interrogation while she beamed at me.
“Hmm~ For a one-night, two-day trip, there's the cost, lodging... and we'd have to convince her parents too, huh?”
“...Yeah?”
“You tell Dad yet?”
“Not yet. You're the first.”
“For this?”
She smiled like she could read my mind completely.
—Argh.
“Help me out a little.”
Since she'd caught on anyway, I just came clean.
“You little rascal~ Our boy's all grown up, huh?”
“Ah, Mom, cut it out.”
She was gearing up to go on about how big I'd gotten, so I hastily changed the subject, and finally she backed off with an “Okay, okay~”
—Argh!!!
“Mom'll talk to Dad about covering the costs. But...”
“...But?”
“You'll handle finding the destination and lodging. You can do that much for your beloved Seo-ah, right?”
I got played.
I squeezed my eyes shut at the no-win question I couldn't deny.
It was basically the same as admitting it outright.
But saying it to Mom's face took real guts—my palms were instantly slick with sweat, and I could feel beads forming on my bangs, dripping down my forehead.
—Argh, I wanna die.
The embarrassment hit peak levels, like I might just die of shame, but I gritted my teeth thinking of Han Seo-ah's bright smile on the trip.
“...I can do it. No, I'll handle it.”
“Eek! Our son's so dependable!”
“Ah, enough! ...Anyway, thanks, Mom.”
One worry down, but if I stayed here any longer, the breakfast I'd just eaten would give me indigestion, so I hurriedly tried to get up.
“If Seo-ah's parents say no, tell Mom. I'll help convince them. Got it?”
Right. That was the final hurdle.
Just thinking about it was horrifying, so I let out a deep sigh.
“Hehe. Don't worry too much. That might turn out to be the easiest part. Got it, son?”
Leaving Mom's cryptic words behind, I rushed out and rang the bell at Han Seo-ah's house next door.
Tadak—
The cheerful footsteps approaching the door right away brought a smile to my face unbidden.
Along with a little hope that she'd greet me with that radiant smile again.
#65 Walking to school side by side with Han Seo-ah.
The usual scenery on the way to school.
But was it just my imagination that the distance between us felt like it was shrinking bit by bit each day?
It used to be about three handspans apart, but now...
We were walking less than one handspan away, so our shoulders and arms kept brushing, but...
Neither of us—Han Seo-ah nor I—showed any discomfort or pulled away.
We just pretended not to notice.
“So, is there anywhere you want to go?”
Our conversation had been nonstop about the trip since we met up.
“Hmm... What about you, Jun-woo?”
—The beach.
I wanted to say it, but I had a feeling it'd lead to some unfair misunderstanding.
No, mountains are tough, tons of bugs anyway.
Definitely no ulterior motives. ...Probably.
As I hemmed and hawed, Han Seo-ah seemed to catch on to something, narrowing her eyes and gazing at me intently.
“Jun-woo... looks like you have a place in mind?”
She looked just like a little devil whispering temptations in my ear, urging me to spill, and I swallowed hard without thinking.
“The beach... beach sounds good. May's perfect for it.”
“Beach is great! We can swim~ take walks on the shore. Yeah. But—”
Her teasing smile, as if questioning if that was my real reason, made me want to crawl into a hole.
“Hnn... Jun-woo, should I buy a swimsuit?”
“...Do whatever.”
She seemed delighted by my embarrassed reaction at having my thoughts seen through, her eyes sparkling mischievously, which was infuriating.
But even as I thought that, images of swimsuits that'd suit her perfectly flashed through my mind.
“Any swimsuit you want me to get?”
I jolted and looked at her—she was grinning like she knew everything.
“...You'd wear it?”
“We're going to the beach~”
She leaned lightly against my arm as she said it.
“If Jun-woo wants it, I'll wear it. Anything.”
“...Anything?”
“Yeah. Anything.”
—Not a little devil—a succubus.
I could've believed a heart-shaped tail was swishing behind her right then.
“In that case...”
“In that case?”
Drawn in by her genuinely curious stare, I let my honest desire slip out.
“How about something not too revealing...?”
“Not too revealing...?”
She blinked, as if my words were unexpected.
What does she think I am?
...13 years as friends—guess she knows me too well.
I couldn't deny the stereotype, so I felt awkward.
“Why~?”
Cold sweat broke out as she tilted her head innocently, staring at me.
She's usually so quick on the uptake—why now?
Or was it expert-level playing dumb?
“...Why? Other people would see.”
I knew it was selfish.
My face burned red-hot, on the verge of exploding from embarrassment.
But this was one thing I couldn't compromise on, so I met her eyes and said it flatly.
She looked completely caught off guard, her already big eyes widening rounder as her mouth fell slightly open.
She really hadn't realized.
Why?
I was thrown, but thinking how cute her expression was right now, her open mouth curved into a smile.
“Sorry... I didn't think of that.”
Huh?
“Of what?”
As I blinked in confusion at her apologetic gaze,
“I only thought about you... Sorry.”
She whispered softly that she didn't want others seeing her either, pouting cutely.
Now I got why she'd missed it, and the urge to scoop her up—succubus or not—was overwhelming.
This lovable creature was right in front of me.
“You've got nothing to be sorry for. I do.”
“No, it's my fault for not thinking right.”
Whatever had crossed her mind shifted her from pouting lost-squirrel vibes back to playful succubus, closing in with a mischievous smile.
“But instead, Jun-woo...”
Her aura was so sticky-sweet I instinctively stepped back.
“For this beach trip... you can look forward to my swimsuit.”
“...You forget what we just talked about?”
She shook her head firmly no.
“Nope. If revealing stuff is a problem because others see...”
She stopped tilting her head and looked up at me, her eyes gleaming and lips quirked in a subtle smile—like a predator eyeing prey.
“I just have to show it to you, Jun-woo. Right?”
Her gaze pressed for agreement, and I found myself nodding without thinking.