Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Tenshi-san's Surprise Course
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"Yes, I'm Suhyun."
Tenshi-san, the internet friend I'd met for the first time, was a petite and cute girl who matched her clear voice perfectly.
"Hek—."
But then she clamped her mouth shut as if she couldn't believe it, her reaction no different from how she acted online.
Her lively movements, now with real-life gestures added to our phone calls, made me chuckle a bit as I pointed outside the station.
"Shall we head out first? Show me around."
"Uh, umm— y-yes!"
And so, I walked through Japan with Tenshi-san, who was still a little stiff.
We'd met today to talk about the song, but we decided to have some fun first.
Tenshi-san said she'd planned the whole course, so I had high expectations.
With that mindset, as we walked along, Tenshi-san, who'd been tense, asked,
"C-Cafe okay!?"
"Cafe sounds great."
"Th-Then let's go."
Following Tenshi-san, who took the lead, we arrived at a place that looked a bit different from the cafes I knew.
The sign with pink hearts and lettering was one thing, but there was even a group photo of girls in maid outfits hanging above it.
"Ta-da! Maid cafe!"
...She must've prepared this as her surprise course, but with how nervous she was, I had no idea how to react.
"Wow, whoa."
When I reacted awkwardly, Tenshi-san looked a bit downcast but guided me inside, saying she'd made a reservation.
...Sorry, I'm just not the type with big reactions.
I prefer receiving over giving.
Is that too selfish?
Anyway, the maid cafe was definitely a novel experience.
When in life do you get to see women in maid outfits?
And with a bunch of cute girls in those outfits swarming out to greet us, I had to give points for that.
The interior was pretty nice and clean, too.
We sat at our reserved spot, and soon a maid came over with the menu.
Since my basic Japanese wasn't up to par, Tenshi-san handled the ordering after getting my input. Once the order was placed and the maid left, it was just me and Tenshi-san at the table.
Hmm... what should we talk about?
Even trying to act normal was hard with her so tense right in front of me.
"Um, excu—...."
Then Tenshi-san, who'd been rolling her eyes around, spoke up first.
"Um... Suhyun, were you an idol by any chance?"
"...Pardon?"
She knew I was already a VTuber, so it wasn't that. Was she asking about real idols?
"No way. I went to college."
"Eh, really?"
"Yeah, I was studying design, but I dropped out to audition for VTuber."
"Eh—eh?"
Did she think I was a real ex-idol? I could see why she'd assume that.
"You just look so much like those K-pop idols I see... no, even prettier...."
That gaze was burdensome but familiar.
"I know. I'm pretty exceptional, right?"
I could relate, and honestly, I'd been shocked the first time I saw myself in the mirror.
Anyone meeting me for the first time probably felt the same.
It was just a matter of whether they showed it like Tenshi-san or not.
"Yeah... exactly...! Did you see the maids freak out earlier?"
"I did. They were staring."
They were professional about it, but I caught them sneaking glances.
Well, I probably would've stared too, so no big deal.
"But are you just gonna keep complimenting me? You're pretty too, Tenshi-san."
"Eh—eh? But compared to you...."
She seemed bright on the outside, but her self-esteem was lower than expected.
Or maybe she was just humble.
"Beauty is relative; there's no end to it. You gotta look subjectively."
I meant don't put yourself down in front of me, but did she get it?
Her Korean was so good sometimes that it felt like she understood everything, but nuanced words might be tricky....
"Oh, uh— yes! Thank you!"
Her expression told me she'd gotten it, so I relaxed.
The mood lightened a bit as we kept chatting.
"Are there that many Koreans?"
Since I was in Japan, I shared my impressions from wandering around yesterday. Tenshi-san was surprised at how many Koreans there were.
"Yeah, at tourist spots, it was like one every three steps."
"Eh— I don't go there much, but yeah, tons of Koreans come to Japan!"
True... Japan felt like super easy overseas travel—no visa, short distance.
Plus, if you've seen anime, it's even more approachable.
Probably more Koreans visit Japan than Japanese visit Korea.
"So I'm really looking forward to today. A local's guiding me, right?"
"Eek— don't pressure me! I half-jokingly planned this."
"Really? Still sounds good to me."
As I said that, I glanced at a maid approaching with a tray of drinks from afar.
When else would I see this? They were all so cute; if I'd come as a hot-blooded guy, my energy would've spiked.
Or maybe I'd have been too embarrassed and deflated.
Anyway, the drinks that arrived were, well, cute.
Strawberry drink topped with heaps of pink cream—super sweet-looking.
Then came the classic omurice....
"Oishikunare~"
As the maid drew on it with ketchup and said that, a scene from an anime in my—woman Kim Suhyun's—memories flashed up.
...Do I have to say it too?
No way, with all these people around—did everyone do it?
But....
"Oishikunare~ onegaishimasu!"
Tenshi-san in front of me did it without hesitation.
Hmm, cute though.
But with her doing it first, it was my turn next.
The maid prepping to draw on my omurice met my eyes.
...She really wants me to? Can't Tenshi-san do it again for me?
As I hesitated, Tenshi-san finally stepped in, unable to wait.
"Come on, Suhyun! Say 'Oishikunare~ onegaishimasu!'"
"No, uh...."
Tenshi-san, I get you're excited, but don't you see the people around?
I already stand out, and yelling like that draws all the stares.
Plus, woman Kim Suhyun is kinda cool-beauty type—making me do this?
I started feeling the growing anticipation in the surrounding gazes.
Am I really doing it? That girl? I squeezed my eyes shut amid those looks.
Come to think of it, this jerk... no, Tenshi-san, did she know and bring me here on purpose?
Eyes closed now, but the stares on my shoulders weren't going away.
To break this awkward vibe smoothly, I had no choice.
Fine, I'm technically(?) an actress with a shooting schedule, even if minor. Can't I tough this out?
I steeled my face with iron resolve.
"—!"
And belted it out.
Sigh, the embarrassment's all mine.
***
"Suhyun! So mecha kawaii!"
Right after leaving the maid cafe, super hyped Tenshi-san bounced around giving me her review.
Good... if you enjoyed it.
Even after that weird "make it delicious" chant, trials kept coming my way.
Whether fascinated that I actually did it or wanting more, the maids kept suggesting stuff to do together. Having done it once, I let go and went along with everything.
"Look, check this out!"
Tenshi-san, fully pumped, took souvenir photos and videos and showed them to me.
"...Don't show those to anyone else."
"Only for me!"
Fine... she's not the type to leak them, and looking back after surviving, it wasn't that bad.
...Probably.
"So, where to next?"
"Hmm... karaoke!"
Karaoke? Sounds good. Haven't been in ages.
"Sure."
Plus, I was curious about Japanese karaoke.
How different would it be?
"This way!"
Well-planned route—we arrived soon. It didn't look much different from Korea, surprisingly. The neat part? The machine had Korean song options.
Made searching Korean tracks easy.
At karaoke, I showed off my skills big time.
With vocals shaped by my parents, polished by my vocal coach, and perfected by composer Kang Woo-hyun—this Kim Suhyun voice stunned Tenshi-san in the front seat.
"Why are you so good?!"
"Result of hard work."
"Heh— cool!"
Tenshi-san sang too, picking cute songs that suited her voice.
Honestly, way more fun than the maid cafe—pure ear candy.
After a solid session, we headed out.
But was the soundproofing too good?
Shwaaa—.
Unlike the clear skies earlier, heavy rain poured outside—we only noticed leaving.
"Eh—eek!"
Tenshi-san's reaction said this wasn't planned.
More like a downpour? It's intense.
A few others huddled under the building like us.
Hmm... what now?
"Eh—umm...."
Beside me, Tenshi-san looked bummed.
Made sense—whole plan wrecked by unexpected weather.
Anyway, not staying here all day; we need umbrellas....
Spotted a convenience store diagonally across.
Japanese stores sell umbrellas too, right?
"Tenshi-san, do convenience stores sell umbrellas?"
"Umbrellas? Yeah, they dooo...."
"Wait here."
Rain's heavy, but close enough—dash and back?
"Eh? Run? You'll get soaked!"
"It's fine."
A little wet, towel it off.
And dashing back for a down friend? Total hero move for my Japanese pal.
Decision made, I bolted.
"Suhyun?!"
Ignoring Tenshi-san's panicked call behind, I sprinted like school sports day.
Splat!
Foot tangled—faceplanted.
"Suhyun??"
...Fuck.