The preparation for the study trip starts the evening before.
Wallet, water container, small snacks, charger, power bank, a foldable umbrella for any unforeseen disasters, and some medicines including a band.
Additionally, there are clothes to change into, underwear, socks, toiletries, toilet paper, and wet wipes.
…Finally, a few black plastic bags for trash.
After cramming the supplies into the bag, I straightened my back.
With a sense of achievement knowing that I managed to fit everything in.
“Is this enough?”
Thinking whether I left anything out, I borrowed not just my head but also Shiyeon’s thoughts to ask the question almost to myself.
Next to me, Shiyeon was putting items into her bag for the study trip as well.
Upon hearing the question, she stretched her neck towards her room and mine, then turned back with a bewildered expression.
“What about Gomtaengi and Bae-mi?”
Her puzzled expression made it clear that I was forgetting something essential.
Two mascots that one would naturally think would follow along.
Realizing their presence a bit late, I stretched my neck back like Shiyeon and shouted towards each room.
“Right, they are here… Hey! Jin-su, gather up!”
A thin, sharp voice echoed through the house.
Here, the only sentient beings were two middle school girls and two mascots.
In a household without any pets, it’s evident that the only beings worthy of being called Jin-su are those two mascots.
One by one, they crawled out.
“Did you call for us?”
“What’s up?”
The first sentence was uttered while keeping the two mascots at the same height.
“Now, as you Jin-su know… tomorrow we are going on a study trip.”
The obvious statement caused them to look at each other.
It was as if they were asking, ‘So what are you saying?’
The gathering time is by 7 AM.
That means I need to wake up much earlier than usual, when I usually go to school around 8:30 to 8:40.
With the excitement of the study trip and the earlier school start time,
The overlap of these two factors makes it seem like I’ll have to move quickly to have breakfast.
I know it well, but I also have to wake up early, eat breakfast, and hurry to school before 7 AM—a busy first schedule.
I quietly let out my apprehensions.
“There’s a chance we might forget to take care of you, just saying…”
Saying that, I glanced at the backpack that looked like it could burst.
When it comes to bags, the first thing that comes to mind for the two mascots is sharp pain.
The puzzled expressions of the two mascots following my gaze stiffened coldly.
It seemed they roughly understood what I meant, and I offered them a choice.
“From now on, you can either stay in the bag or be in your room and smartly join us in the morning. Choose.”
They might recall the agony from the time at the convention, but the situation mandates they must go inside if they don’t want to be treated like keychains.
Still, most of the stuff inside is clothing to change into, so if they squish in, there should be enough space for one plushie.
After all, they have to stay inside the bag while on the bus.
“Eh, well, I’ll just stay in the bag.”
The one who spoke first in front of the two choices was Gomtaengi.
Nonchalantly, he chooses to join us in the morning and goes back into the room with a wave of his arm.
He seems quite confident.
In contrast to the boastful Gomtaengi, Bae-mi.
“Um, then… I’ll stay in the bag.”
He timidly said that, then bit the zipper of Shiyeon’s bag, opening it slightly and smoothly slithering inside like a snake.
As the day of the study trip dawned, the alarm rang earlier than usual.
In fact, it was just 6 AM, with the blue hues of night still lingering in the sky.
I had to go through three steps: eating, washing up, and leaving the house, all in just half an hour.
Breakfast consisted of simple soy sauce scrambled egg rice, so I placed some cooking oil in a small frying pan and turned the induction up before heading to the bathroom.
The hair that had grown wildly during the night was sprayed with water as I pressed it back with my palms.
Taking out the plastic rice bowl that had been left in the refrigerator for two days, I put it in the microwave, setting it for 3 minutes and 30 seconds for two servings.
“Shiyeon, wake up! We have to go on the study trip! If we’re late, it’ll be a big deal!”
Entering Shiyeon’s room, I knocked four times in succession.
Trying to rouse her from sleep, I tapped her body.
“Ugh…”
She murmured briefly but tried to stretch and lift herself at the mention of the study trip.
Remarkably, even those who usually struggle to wake up managed to get up on a special day like today.
As the frying pan heated up, I cracked one egg after another. The clear sound pierced through the sufficient preheated heat.
It sounded as refreshing as a bird fluttering its wings, as the bottom of the egg cooked in oil and sizzled.
As I adjusted the white gently with the spatula, I turned down the induction heat to zero to let the residual heat cook it further.
Beep, beep—
The microwave screamed, saying it had finished its job.
Pulling the handle, I heard the sound of a spring bouncing as I opened it.
Taking out the two plastic rice bowls, I lifted the lids and placed one on each of our spots.
I placed the well-cooked eggs on the spatula and gently set them atop the steaming white rice.
As I set a soy sauce bottle on the table, Shiyeon emerged just in time.
I checked the clock—it was already 6:20.
Considering I usually leave at 8 and arrive by around 8:20 to 8:25, I figured we had to leave by at least 6:40 to reach school on time.
“Quickly eat and wash up, it’s already been 20 minutes.”
“Okay…”
Urging Shiyeon who had just woken up, I moved faster myself.
I filled a spoon with soy sauce twice.
The moist yolk and the stiff white mixed with the black soy sauce, forming a sticky yellow rice.
The familiar and comforting taste of soy sauce and egg.
After finishing the meal a bit quicker, I took the clothes I had hung up in my room the previous evening off the hanger and brought them straight to my body.
It was the same outfit I wore last year— a shirt and pants that slid on comfortably.
Evidence that I hadn’t grown much at all.
Even though I tried not to be conscious of it, the very act of thinking about not being conscious was a sign that I somewhat was.
“Sigh.”
Exhaling a short breath, I waited for Shiyeon for 30 minutes, tapping my feet anxiously.
To arrive leisurely, we should have left home by now.
“I’m all ready!”
Shiyeon emerged from behind the firmly closed door.
At her unexpected appearance, I was momentarily speechless, my mouth slack.
We were going on a study trip, yet she had decided to wear her uniform.
Of course, if going to school on a weekday, she’d naturally be wearing her uniform…
That’s how terrifying familiarity can be.
“Shiyeon? Not in your uniform.”
“…Ah!”
After pointing out her attire, she suddenly turned back into her room, glancing at my clothes.
Ultimately, the time for a leisurely departure at 30 minutes was gone, and we left at 35 minutes.
Although not completely leisurely, it was still a time we could arrive on time.
Carrying a large, inflated bag, we set off for school.
Among the students in casual clothes heading the same direction, I noticed one friend pulling a travel suitcase along with a backpack.
While it can hold many items, thus being convenient…
It still felt like overdoing it for the scale of the trip.
Arriving at the school playground filled with students radiating the vibe of a trip,
At the promised hour of 7, the travel buses were lined up on the playground.
Finding my class after spotting familiar faces, we began to fill the bus seats as the teacher called the roll.
After only seeing uniforms and gym clothes normally, it was refreshing to see friends in complete casual wear.
As ten minutes passed without the bus departing, I looked out at the school playground.
I couldn’t help but let out a snort at the sight of several students rushing through the school gate.
There are always students who are late on days like this.
“Fill in from the back-”
I heard the teacher’s instruction to fill in from the back, but…
Those sitting alone would use their bags as companions, while those who get along would sit close together, even if it’s cramped.
Nowadays, classes have fewer than 30 students, so there were quite a few empty seats on the bus.
On the other hand, Shiyeon seemed to have already reserved the seat next to me.
After placing her heavy bag between her legs on the bus floor, she finally relaxed against the chair.
As the tension eased and relaxation came, the thought crossed my mind.
“It was said that you would just be in the bag….”
I grabbed the zipper of the bag that looked ready to burst, pulling it to one side.
Through the sound of the zipper sliding, Gomtaengi was nowhere to be found.
Such a foolish Gomtaengi…
