Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Busan Summer Beach Festival (5)
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A long-time resident of Busan, an elementary school kid, finally visited the local arcade.
With a cheeky voice full of his lively personality, the kid bounded up the stairs toward the arcade.
'They're all waiting for me.'
Recalling the texts from his friends, the kid quickened his pace.
As he opened the arcade door, the familiar beeping sounds of games filled the air.
The kid scanned the room for his friends. He spotted some familiar backs in front of the basketball game.
'But why are they all gathered there?'
It wasn't a huge crowd, but oddly enough, a bunch of onlookers had clustered around the basketball machine. Tilting his head, the kid headed over to his friends.
"I'm here!"
"You made it."
"But what are you guys doing all huddled up here?"
"Check that out."
The kid stared where his friend pointed. Some blond guy was intensely playing the basketball game. Double eyelids, high nose bridge—super handsome, like he was straight out of a foreign country.
"What about it? A foreigner? First time seeing one?"
"Nah, look at his shooting form."
At his friend's words, the kid turned back to the blond guy and the basketball he was tossing.
"Whoa......"
His jaw dropped in awe. Because every single shot from the blond guy swished right into the hoop.
'Is there a magnet in there or something?'
The boy recalled the science lesson on magnets and magnetism from just the other day. Of course, he knew that was impossible, but the accuracy was so insane it sparked that suspicion.
"I never got shots like that when I played."
"Right?"
"Whoa, that's crazy, mister."
And every time the ball sank in successively, the guys behind the blond dude let out gasps of admiration.
"Whoa, Teddy, you're actually good."
"Teddy-hyung, what gives?"
"How are you so good at basketball?"
"I was on the middle school basketball team. This is child's play!"
The kid glanced at them and gasped again.
"Whoa, and those guys behind him are seriously handsome too."
"Totally. They look like celebrities."
The kid nodded at his friend's words. These were the best-looking guys he'd ever seen in person.
Right then, the blond guy started nailing shots into the hoop as it moved freely up, down, left, and right—like some kind of magic trick.
The kid burned that image into his mind. And,
'I wanna grow up to be a super handsome adult like that someday.'
He clenched his fist, secretly vowing to himself.
* * *
I stuck out my tongue recalling Teddy's basketball game extravaganza.
No way was middle school basketball club enough to get you that good?
I was on the cross-stitch club in middle school, but I couldn't even do the "cross" part.
'Guess the guy's just got insane athleticism.'
Dancing well means mastering body control effectively, after all.
Teddy flawlessly cleared the final stage, the fourth quarter. His score was...
"520 points? Insane."
"N-New record."
High enough to shatter the arcade's high score. The onlookers gasped in unison.
"Thanks!"
Teddy flashed a big grin and waved brightly at the crowd. A group of elementary kids yelled, "Bro, you're awesome!" and thumbs-upped him.
His already sky-high nose soared even higher.
Can't blame him. I'd be smug too.
"Teddy, that was seriously impressive."
"Heh heh. Basics."
I praised him while watching the other members take their turns.
Jae-oh kept up decently, and the rest beat the average.
After basketball, they moved on to other games.
"What next?"
"Table tennis?"
"Call."
With their stamina, they favored games that got you moving.
Table tennis, rhythm step games...
I diligently filmed them playing.
Just as Park Su-rim finished a rhythm game and stepped down, he asked me,
"Jae, you gonna play? You've just been filming."
I nodded. Truth is, those games... total disaster for me.
I flashed back to getting dead last with college clubmates once.
"I'm no good at those."
"Aw, come on. Give it a shot."
"...Hmm, how about this instead?"
I strolled over to a claw machine piled with plushies.
Anything else, maybe not—but this? Piece of cake.
'Learned from family.'
My sister, obsessed with grabbing cute plushies back then, taught me all her secrets.
I handed the camcorder to Kim Kwang-myeong and fed coins into the machine.
"What should I grab for you?"
"Jae! That one. The bear."
"That yellow bear?"
"Yeah! So cute."
"Okay."
Perfect position.
I gripped the stick lightly, tapping it side to side.
Positioned it just right, then hit the button.
"Whoa!"
"It worked?"
"No way."
Moments later, the bear Teddy eyed landed in his arms.
He looked thrilled and hugged me tight.
"Thanks, Jae!"
"Three more tries left. What's next?"
"Then me, that black cat!"
"Hyung, get me that snake!"
After a few attempts, I got everyone their requested plushies.
"Whoa, Jae's a claw machine pro."
"Impressive."
"Seeing you in a new light, High-Jae. Bro."
Getting praised for this... feels nice. I smiled, eyeing the plushies in their arms.
Then, a golden crown notification popped up bright in my vision.
[New! Acquired new title!
『Claw Machine Master』
Achieved outstanding results in claw games.
Title reward: +10% chance to draw good options in 'gacha' draws.]
'Here? This title?'
Totally unexpected. Kinda threw me.
And the reward... boosts good picks in draws?
'Does that include raffles?'
[The title's reward effect applies to all 'gacha' draws.]
I nodded at the system's clarification.
Anyway, good is good.
Unexpected haul at the arcade.
* * *
After fun times at the arcade, we headed to the nearby beach.
Peak summer vacation season? Even after swimming hours, the shore was packed.
'Crowded as hell.'
Not just me—other members marveled too.
"Whoa, so many people."
"Yeah."
"Gathering for the sunset?"
At Jae-oh's words, Teddy tilted his head.
"What's a no-ul?"
"No-ul? Nah, no-eul."
"No-eul. So what's a no-eul?"
"The sunset when the sun sets."
"Ah, sunset."
Teddy updated his mental Korean dictionary.
Kim Kwang-myeong, holding the camcorder, chimed in.
"Gonna film the sunset."
"Go for it."
I watched him hit record, then turned to the sinking sun over the sea.
Crimson sun slowly descending toward the deep blue ocean.
Sunlight rippling on the waves, sky turning purple.
Breathtaking.
"Love the sound of the waves."
"Feels so calming."
"Cool breeze too!"
"Not some fake healing. This is real healing."
"Tae-hee-hyung's right."
They all melted into relaxed faces, gazing at the sea.
After staring awhile, we started strolling the sand.
Soft sand felt great underfoot.
Suddenly, Teddy bounced excitedly.
"Let's build sandcastles!"
"Sandcastle?"
"Nice. One each? Can't swim, so this instead."
Everyone nodded at Su-rim's agreement.
"Prize for the prettiest one."
"Call."
So, in the evening glow, we built sandcastles.
Kwang-myeong filmed us.
'Toad house, maybe.'
Recalling kid days making toad houses with sis at the playground, I piled sand high.
Tried shaping it nicely. Prettier the better.
Added shells, twig horns...
Soon, all members finished, including me.
We toured each other's creations in order.
"Teddy-hyung's a bear?"
"YES! Made a friend for my new buddy. Whaddya think?"
"Cute enough."
"But Tae-hee-hyung... what even is that?"
"Modeled after a 10,000-won bill."
"It's just a square."
"Whatever."
Bear, self-proclaimed 10,000-won square, and standard castles including mine.
One stood out massively.
"...Jae-oh. Yours?"
"Yeah."
"How'd you think to make a face?"
"Just kinda happened..."
Jae-oh's castle.
Sandcastle? Debatable—but it was a human face.
Uncannily well-made, weirdly unsettling.
"Still, well done."
"Yeah."
We all nodded admiring his.
Jae-oh's charm: surprise skills now and then.
After viewing all, we circled up to vote best.
"Who do you think made the coolest? One, two, three—point!"
"Okay."
"Yup."
"One, two, three."
At Su-rim's cue, fingers pointed.
Most votes to...
"No surprise. Jae-oh-hyung unbeatable."
"No beating that."
Jae-oh. I voted him too. That impactful.
Post-castles, we wrote "EverPlanet" huge in the sand nearby.
"Photo here before we go!"
Gotta do this at the beach.
Asked a passerby to snap it. Members lined up behind the letters, Jae-oh and his epic castle center.
"Ready! One, two, three!"
Click. Perfect sunset memorial shot. Beach time done.
First beach with the guys—made heading back super fun.
* * *
Vlog footage complete, back to Jae-oh's family home.
Check time: 8 PM already. Prep for bed, tomorrow ahead.
Showered in turns, then assigned rooms.
Plenty spares—pairs and a trio.
Separate from usual: try new roommates.
Drew lots for pairings.
"Oh, me and Jae same room."
"Yeah."
Fate's pick for the night.
First time rooming with Tae-hee.
High-fiving Tae-hee lightly, Su-rim sighed.
"Sigh... Jae-oh of all people. Snores loud."
Su-rim's sensitive; light sleeper.
Snaps awake from outside junk piano deals mid-nap.
Jae-oh sheepishly scratched his head.
"It's not something I can control."
"I know it's not your fault. But..."
"...Earplugs?"
"Got any? Please..."
Su-rim begged desperately, hands out.
Jae-oh dug through his old desk, handed orange earplugs.
Roomie crisis solved.
Now, my room with Tae-hee.
Great roommate, but...
'Bed issue?'
Problem: single bed.
'Sharing bed? Nope.'
One-person size—one takes floor futon.
Changed to pajamas I packed, asked Tae-hee,
"Tae-hee-hyung, you take the bed?"
"Nah, floor's fine for me. Just thick futon."
"Help you set it up?"
"Thanks. Jae's the best."
Helped lay thick futon, then I hit the bed.
Soft, cool—sleep tugging already.
Phone in hand, asked Tae-hee,
"Hyung, bedtime?"
"Dunno, hour or two?"
"Me too then."
Light stays on a bit.
Started L-Tube song surfing.
'Gotta log tons of songs.'
Producing research lately—thought I knew plenty, but daily realizing gaps.
Listen, analyze existing tracks.
Widens my path.
'Wave-riding perfect for this.'
Unearth hidden gems often.
Mid-jazz tune by French singer-songwriter, dug his discog.
Glanced down at Tae-hee.
'Whatcha doing?'