Chapter 113

Ha-eun’s goal for this Japan trip was ‘rest.’

Ha-eun wanted to relax during the trip, alleviate the accumulated fatigue, and more clearly organize various thoughts about his future.

Decisively, this trip to Japan was Ha-eun’s first overseas travel.

Just facing a landscape completely different from what he had seen before was enough to heighten his anticipation for the journey.

However, the first button of the trip, filled with expectations, ended up being a minor mishap caused by his friends’ mischievous prank.

Because of that prank, Ha-eun, who was still a minor, kept catching sight of the explicitly graphic covers of adult magazines that he shouldn’t have been looking at.

“Still, I need to do what I need to do.”

Unlike Ha-eun’s friends who were browsing the unique items in Japanese convenience stores, Ha-eun also started observing many new products, whether this way or that. After all, “browsing a Japanese convenience store” was one of the things Ha-eun had been looking forward to.

Most importantly, the fact that Ha-eun could actually purchase items that were until now visible only in anime momentarily weakened his restraint.

“Hey, Ha-eun, are you really going to buy every kind of pudding?”

“Yep.”

As a result, Ha-eun’s convenience store basket ended up being twice as heavy as the others’ baskets. This was thanks to his literal sweep of certain collaborative products only available in Japan.

Among these products, the variety of items that collaborated with the famous VTuber group ‘Prism Live’ was particularly high.

This was why, subconsciously, Ha-eun also hoped that Diah could one day release collaborative products with the outside world like Prism Live.

“Well, that’s a distant story.”

Right now, what was in Ha-eun’s basket were the items from the dreams of those who had already achieved them.

Honestly, it still felt vague, but for now, Ha-eun decided it would be enough to know that his dreams were realizable.

Still.

“あの、もしかして芸能人ですか?”

“…?”

While the convenience store clerk was calculating the items placed on the register one by one, he approached Ha-eun and said something.

In the meantime, Ha-eun pulled out his phone from his pocket and activated the voice recognition translator, using the limited Japanese he knew. Eventually, what was conveyed through the translator on Ha-eun’s phone were somewhat familiar sentences.

“Are you perhaps a celebrity? I think I’ve seen you on TV.”

Because the situation itself was somehow familiar, the novels Ha-eun had read in his previous life naturally came back to mind.

Particularly vivid was the scene where the characters living as women had an encounter in a convenience store.

The exquisite appearance granted by the privileges of reincarnation, and the various reactions of convenience store or PC café staff when faced with such beauty, were now unfolding before Ha-eun’s eyes.

The only difference was that this was in Japan, not Korea.

It was strange in its novelty. What made it even stranger was that this was happening in Japan, where Ha-eun’s name and face weren’t as well-known.

However, Ha-eun still had no idea how to respond to the curious-looking convenience store clerk.

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“No, but they are asking if you’re a celebrity.”

“Huh? Really?”

Ha-eun first started a conversation with Gong Hye-yeon, who was behind him. Fluent Japanese then came from Gong Hye-yeon.

“An extremely famous actress from Korea. She’s truly an incredible person.”

“A Korean actress? Really?”

After that, the conversation was filled with only Gong Hye-yeon and the convenience store clerk’s voices, all of which Ha-eun still couldn’t understand.

But as Gong Hye-yeon’s conversation continued, the clerk’s eyes grew wider. The moment Gong Hye-yeon showed something from her phone to the clerk, the atmosphere changed.

“Is this really Yeom Wol? I’m a huge fan of the Cloud and Moonlight drama!”

“Huh? Ha-eun, this person is a big fan of Cloud and Moonlight.”

Surprisingly finding out this fact, it turned out that Ha-eun was having a photo session with the convenience store clerk.

“Did you know Cloud and Moonlight was popular in Japan too? I’m not really sure about that…”

Following a brief photo session, what came next were the heartfelt words of a fan who had deeply appreciated Hayeon’s performance in Yeom Wol. Hayeon awkwardly responded with a “Thank you” after hearing the translated words via Gong Hye-yeon, who had become today’s interpreter.

In the immediate aftermath, came a question about Ha-eun’s next work.

“ハウンさんの次の作品は何ですか？ 教えていただけますか？”

“What is your next work? Can you tell us?”

Through Gong Hye-yeon’s interpretation, they asked what Ha-eun’s next piece would be.

Though it might have been natural for the convenience store clerk, who appreciated Ha-eun’s acting, to ask about the next work, there was an issue: Ha-eun’s upcoming piece ‘[The Sunshine]’ was a work that could uncomfortably affect Japanese audiences.

“…Should I say it or not?”

Complicating matters, Kim Jeong-hyun’s role in ‘[The Sunshine]’ was adversarial against most of the Japanese characters, and there were a few scenes where he directly fought with the Japanese.

Thus, ‘[The Sunshine]’ remained undisclosed. Instead, Ha-eun handed over his Instagram account, requesting that they keep up with his recent activities.

Finally, after shaking hands with the convenience store clerk, Ha-eun could finally leave the store. Once outside, Gong Hye-yeon and the other friends began referring to Ha-eun as a global star.

“Our Ha-eun is now a global star.”

“Too shy at 18, but maybe he’s popular because of that?”

“You’re on a different level from us.”

“…They’re all so excited.”

The chatter continued as they returned to the hotel, with voices mixed with envy and playful teasing lingering around Ha-eun for quite some time.

Finally, with the appointment time with the homeroom teacher approaching, they placed the items they had bought in the hotel room refrigerator and headed back to the lobby.

About 10 minutes later, they boarded the shuttle bus, heading for Tokyo Skytree, the first stop of their field trip.

Riding a spacious elevator to the top floor, Ha-eun broke his usual composure, busy finding landmarks he had only seen in pictures.

“Is that Shibuya Station? It does look right on the map.”

Engrossed in discovering the famous spots he had only seen in pictures, especially those from well-known anime backgrounds, Ha-eun categorized the photos, setting them aside for the storytelling broadcast a few days later.

Wanting to share this fresh and exciting feeling with his fans, Ha-eun’s camera didn’t stop.

***

Time had passed, and it was now when all students in class 2-B had finished their dinner.

“Mr. Na and I, along with the guide, will make surprise visits alternately. Don’t do anything strange and go to bed by 10.”

The homeroom teacher’s warning to prevent students staying up all night gossiping was delivered.

Most of Class 2-B responded verbally that they understood.

However, almost all students were not ready to give up the biggest allure of the field trip — the secret parties in the hotel abroad.

The importance of conserving energy for the next day’s visit to Disneyland seemed neglected by everyone. The present moment was all that mattered.

Ha-eun, too, had similar secret thoughts.

The difference was that, unlike the others’ intentions of truth or dare games, Ha-eun was more interested in exploring the hotel facilities.

“Let’s say I leave at 9:50. Hmm, just in time.”

Class 2-B students, including Ha-eun, were allowed free time until 10 PM. Leaving the hotel premises was not permitted even before that time.

This meant, as long as they stayed inside the hotel, there was no significant issue.

With the vague memory of some facilities on the top floors of the hotel, Ha-eun headed towards the elevators alone.

“Oh.”

“Oh?”

He met Gong Hye-yeon in the elevator, who turned out to be headed to the same destination.

Gong Hye-yeon inquired why she chose that particular place next.

“They say the hot spring water here is very good for the skin. What about you?”

“Um… me too….”

Strictly speaking, Ha-eun didn’t really care about the hot spring effects. His curiosity came from the cultural fascination and common depictions of hot springs in various subcultures whenever Japan was mentioned.

But Ha-eun didn’t share this fact with Gong Hye-yeon for some personal reason, imagining certain words starting with ‘o’ and ending with ‘ro’ could appear.

Still, as the elevator had already arrived at the top floor, and considering he needed to return to the room before exceeding the free time given by the teacher, a quick visit was inevitable.

“Wow, no one’s here!”

“Really?”

Accompanied by Gong Hye-yeon, they arrived at the vast outdoor bath.

Gong Hye-yeon skillfully fashioned a towel into a lamb-horn hairdo on Ha-eun, then did the same for herself before both entered the hot spring.

“…Not hot enough.”

The lukewarm temperature of the water was somewhat disappointing, far from the fiery expectations Ha-eun had set after reading several comics in manga cafes.

However, noticing that Gong Hye-yeon kept occasionally glancing at him,

he turned his head inquisitively, only to meet her curious and amazed gaze switching between Ha-eun’s eyes and abdomen.

“Hey, Ha-eun. Can I touch your abs?”

The moment he hesitantly agreed, Gong Hye-yeon’s fingers explored over Ha-eun’s six-pack abs, like examining a high-quality spring mattress.

“Wow. Incredible elasticity!”

“It itches…”

Gong Hye-yeon’s fascination with Ha-eun’s clear musculature persisted, leading to a few more inquiries about which exercises resulted in such defined muscles. Eventually, he had to explain the workout regimen.

However, when Gong Hye-yeon, unable to resist her curiosity, suggested an arm-wrestling match, the situation turned more serious. As soon as her hand met Ha-eun’s, a realization that she was outmatched led her to engage with both hands instead of one.

“Ughh—!! Uhghh—!!”

With her face turning bright red from putting in all her strength, Ha-eun could only withstand her efforts without pushing back, considering the potential injury from a forceful counterattack.

Eventually, Gong Hye-yeon was completely exhausted, uttering “Hulk” three times, which seemed not to be a misheard expression.

After cleansing themselves upon returning to the room, Gong Hye-yeon immediately fell asleep, much like the other roommates who had already conked out on their respective beds.

“When did they want to have a midnight feast and party?”

Perhaps today’s schedule from the Skytree onward had been quite exhausting. Alone, Ha-eun took out his phone and earphones, looking for Cream’s broadcast that was ongoing across the sea.

And, within less than five minutes,

– creek

“!!!”

A slowly opening door allowed the shadow of the homeroom teacher to enter Ha-eun’s room, forcing him to pretend to be asleep immediately.

Would a horror game like Siro Oni in VR feel like this?

Even though being caught awake would result in a brief reprimand, it felt extremely tense for some reason.

The shadow of the teacher, leaving without saying anything more from the doorway, allowed Ha-eun to let out a small sigh of relief. Attempting to reconnect to Cream’s broadcast,

-ding

[Teacher] – Good night.

The chat message from the teacher, received just after turning on the phone, sent a sinking feeling in Ha-eun’s heart.

It wasn’t until later that he realized his earphones were leaking Cream’s voice.

Eventually, like the other friends, Ha-eun had no choice but to comply and sleep quietly.

With over a decade of experience managing students from Narae Arts High School, Ha-eun was still too young to outwit such a seasoned veteran.

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