Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: The Outsider Revising Vacation Plans
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hmm... That's the face of someone lying."
Yoo So-mi was eyeing me suspiciously after I tried to dodge around my tastes in favorite characters in the most wholesome way possible.
Well, yeah, it probably does sound kinda weird...
A guy claiming he cares more about the story of a work than the physical traits of 2D female characters? Even I'd call bullshit if I heard that.
But you know what?
What are you gonna do about it if that's what I say?
What can you even do if I brazenly go, 'I don't look at bust or hip size with female characters, I look at the story, oh ho hong~'? Come on, So-mi.
Rather than admit my tastes in girls' characters in front of a girl from the same school, I'd rather be a liar!!
With my mind made up, I ignored her suspicions and pretended like nothing was wrong, cool as a cucumber.
Watching me act like that, she seemed a bit conflicted, pondering for a moment with a complicated expression.
But soon enough, Yoo So-mi smiled at me and spoke up.
"Alright then, Yi-an. Pick your favorite character from that game!"
Since I wouldn't spill directly, she was trying to fish it out indirectly.
Fat chance. No way I'm falling for that elementary school-level trick.
Heh heh. What if I just pick a male character instead of a female one? Topic closed!
"Haha. For me, it's gotta be the protagonist, the male character..."
"I'll draw the character you pick, Yi-an! Practice for my art skills."
"...!"
I immediately shut my mouth after hearing Yoo So-mi.
Oh man. A live drawing commission from Yoo So-mi right here next to me? I can't pass this up!!!!
I'd seen her skills at the last doujin event. Her digital work was iffy, but the painting she did by hand on canvas with paints and brushes? Top quality.
But to get her to draw a female character, do I really have to indirectly expose my tastes?
As I wrestled with intense internal conflict, she dealt the finishing blow.
"Hmm... The protagonist male character... the one with that chicken-crest bridge in his hairstyle, right? I wanted to draw a girl... but Yi-an won't be honest, so no choice~"
"Teacher Yoo So-mi. Instead of that dissatisfied guy from society, draw the white-haired main heroine next to him, please."
"Pfft!! Then no more lying to your bestie from now on!"
"Yep!"
I surrendered.
But this game, for all its female character monetization, barely has any character art.
And since I picked the main heroine, can they really say she represents my tastes?
She's pretty much my type, though.
Still, they could think I picked her just 'cause she's the main heroine, unrelated to looks.
...
But nope, that didn't happen.
"Hmm... So Yi-an likes this white-haired character with moderately big breasts and super wide hips, huh?"
"Teacher Yoo So-mi, sorry, but please don't say that so bluntly in a cafe like this..."
"Hmph, no way. You lied to your bestie, so you get punished! But seriously, looking again, her hips are huge. Face looks so innocent, though..."
"Arghhh!! Have mercy!!!"
Thankfully, Yoo So-mi finally dropped it and dove into drawing.
Still, I glanced around the nearby tables to check if anyone overheard us.
Hmm... The girls at the left table seem like they're talking about us?
"Whoa... That girl's super pretty... Are they dating?"
"The girl must not know how pretty she is since she's so young... The guy's meh..."
What, just the usual nonsense? Guess I can relax and play my game now.
Firing up the game, nostalgic BGM I hadn't heard in nearly 20 years and characters I hadn't seen in ages welcomed me back.
Well, not exactly welcoming—they all looked serious, staring off somewhere.
...
Playing it again, I realized something new:
How is this game's optimization so bad? My phone's overheating like crazy.
.
.
.
How much time passed after that?
Just as my fingers started aching from tapping my smartphone and the device itself got hot from the heat, Yoo So-mi's drawing was done.
...
Hmm.
Like at the doujin event, she still doesn't seem comfortable with digital work.
Even she, showing me the result, avoided eye contact, lacking confidence.
But I couldn't bring myself to say something like, 'Hmm, not great.'
"Uh... It's got personality. I like it..."
"Ugh... If it sucks, just say it sucks! Don't look at me like that all pitiful—it hurts more!!"
In the end, Yoo So-mi slammed her head on the cafe table in despair.
She's good at drawing overall, so with practice on the tools, she'll get better, I figured.
But man, did I really have to expose my female character tastes just to see this drawing?
I watched the whimpering Yoo So-mi, head on the table, with a subtle gaze.
Then a familiar voice came from the side.
"Hey, kids. Hi? Chatter too loud in a cafe and the staff sis'll scold you?"
It was Han Si-a.
Appearing with coffee in hand, she naturally joined our table.
She usually wore baggy hoodies or plain short-sleeve tees for comfort when meeting at the sandwich shop on weekdays due to cram school.
Today, though, she looked dressed up for going out, not comfy hoodie. Skipping cram school?
And of course, I never invited Han Si-a here.
No plans to meet here either.
...
Guess Yoo So-mi did.
Whatever, I'm free anyway. Not a bad deal.
.
.
.
From what Han Si-a said, she'd slipped out during a break between cram school classes.
During term time, she had no spare energy for outfits with school and cram school, but vacation meant she could dress in stuff she liked.
Sleeveless top with a thin short-sleeve shirt—cool enough but modest exposure. Good fashion sense.
After the clothes talk, Han Si-a lifted the still-slumped Yoo So-mi's arm, fiddling with it, and brought up summer vacation plans.
"Jeong Yi-an, I saw your summer break plans. Just working part-time and sitting in cafes? Don't you think it's a bit boring?"
I never told her my plans, so Yoo So-mi must've spilled.
Man, no such thing as secrets anymore. Not that I asked to keep 'em secret.
I was about to explain the 'dense way to spend summer break' when the whimpering Yoo So-mi suddenly bolted up and chimed in.
"I agree with Si-a! Summer break's for... sparkling, fun experiences to make memories!"
Ah... Sparkling... fun experiences and memories...
Her super 'youthful' words, delivered with a bright smile, triggered instant rejection in me.
Makes sense. Youthful summer stuff for young folks is either blowing cash on vanity or skimping to suffer.
So with trepidation, I asked Yoo So-mi what she wanted to do.
But her answer veered oddly from my expectations.
"Hmm... Go to the beach with friends, or if there's a rich friend, their villa. Or all-night hangouts at a friend's house!"
...What're these events straight out of foreign anime?
First and third could work with her class kids, but second's too detached from reality.
I could guess where Yoo So-mi's summer wishlist got inspired from.
...
Wait. Did she just say 'with friends'?
Yoo So-mi's definition of 'friend' is unique; as far as I know, only two people qualify right now.
Me and Han Si-a.
So she wants to beach, villa, and all-nighters with just us?
All three are awkward with a guy like me. You two enjoy that stuff.
I mentally deleted Yoo So-mi's wishlist.
Hearing it, Han Si-a seemed to think similarly and critiqued it.
"I don't think just playing all summer break is good, So-mi. Other kids are grinding self-improvement for a comeback right now."
"Really? What do you wanna do then, Si-a?"
"Cram school's basic, but stacking internships or extracurriculars sounds good. Extra time? Contests."
"Whoa... You're amazing, Si-a. I couldn't handle that much..."
Yoo So-mi looked a bit drained by Han Si-a's resume-padding, hope-crushing plan.
Fair enough.
Pre-regression, I was cram school-locked every summer, but even I was intimidated by her plan.
After everyone shared hopes, their eyes turned back to me.
Gazing like 'What do you wanna do?', but honestly... nothing much.
"Honestly, for me, doing nothing's best for summer break. No time to chill during term with school, homework, exams."
Then Yoo So-mi lit up and jumped in.
"Then come to the beach with me! Lie under a parasol at the beach or float on a tube in the ocean—perfect chill!"
No!!! High school guy going to beach with school girls is foreign fiction, not real life!!!
Recalling last time Yoo So-mi lured me out 'for food', I dodged immediately.
"...No time to chill studying for exams, but too much nothing's bad too, right? So maybe some extracurriculars."
Han Si-a leaned in quietly.
"If that's it, I got a good offer. Overseas volunteer program from a UN agency—solid extracurricular anywhere."
Overseas volunteering... If it's fake work with hotel stays and photos, I'm in.
"Where?"
"Africa."
"...."
At her absurd suggestion, I gave Han Si-a a cold stare.
She's messing with me for sure. Even extracurricular maniacs don't fly there to suffer!!
...Right?
Silence from me, and Yoo So-mi resumed beach nagging.
"Africa volunteer risking life VS beach with school girls."
Comparing like that, beach feels normal.
...But thinking it over, feels like they're steering me one way. Pareidolia?
Duh, Africa suffering vs. beach—beach wins. That's suspicious.
Like pre-deciding beach and blocking with crazy Africa option.
Han Si-a doesn't seem opposed to beach for a college-prep girl.
If I say beach, she'll join no questions.
.
.
.
...Wait. Why am I choosing between Africa hell and beach with school girls?
Just tell 'em to go yourselves.
Deciding my course internally, I eyed the two girls warily and declared.
"For me, this summer break's chilling at cafes..."
"So-mi. Wanna use command authority?"
"Approved~"
"At least hear it first!!"
No good. They know my plans, Si-a shows up here—coordinated for sure.
But girls to beach? Nothing but bad vibes...
Parents even okay it? If my daughter, I'd half-cripple any guy suggesting beach trip.
Super-regressor brain in overdrive to escape.
Right. Offer objectively better alternative than beach.
Yoo So-mi wants anime-event summer, Han Si-a agrees but worries college prep deep down.
So fun like So-mi wants, extracurricular like Si-a wants.
Not too hard, no shady boy-girl risks.
Tapping phone, scoured net, found 'Seoul Tourism UCC Contest'.
'Seoul Tourism UCC Contest'.
Kuh... Beautiful name alone.
Seoul = no travel far.
Tourism = sightseeing = fun.
UCC Contest = extracurricular. Friends entering gives youthful vibe. Anime fodder even.
Video under 5 mins—no extra hassle!
Sent info to Han Si-a and Yoo So-mi; they exchanged glances, nodded.