“Haap! Shinozaki Ichiro! Goldfish scooping!”
Rin shouts energetically as she lifts the net.
Is there a skill name even for goldfish scooping now?
Rin’s the one shouting, but my face is all hot.
How embarrassing.
At that moment, I spot two goldfish in the paper net.
Not one, but two?
“What do you think, Kim Deok-Sung? My skills. If you want more goldfish, just say the word. I’ll catch as many as you want!”
With a smug smile, Rin puffs out her proud chest.
Wow.
How did she do that?
“You’re awesome.”
Admiration slips out of me.
[Partner. Aren’t you the one who’s being pathetic?]
Of course, the Black Prince chimes in with a jab.
Pathetic? What are you talking about?
This is hard work, you know.
Rin’s face turns red from the compliment.
She bites her lips.
“Th-thank you… for the compliment.”
Rin clenches her fists.
“Finally, I’ve accomplished something. I won’t stop until I conquer you, Kim Deok-Sung!”
Honestly, Rin has a knack for saying things that don’t need to be said.
I’m getting tired of this.
I mean, I’ve already rescued goldfish.
Rin hands me the two goldfish she caught, wrapped in a clear plastic bag filled with water.
“Here, think of these goldfish as me and take care of them…”
She hands me the goldfish with a flushed face.
Wishing me to treat them like her?
Sigh.
“Sure.”
I guess I should take them, feeling sorry for the goldfish.
But these aren’t those pitiful little chicks sold in front of elementary schools, right?
Suddenly, memories from elementary school pop up.
I bought a chick and buried it a week later after it died, in a sunny spot.
Later, Mom scolded me for bringing those home.
Thinking about that makes me feel a bit mixed up.
I hope they live for a long time.
‘I should tell Han Seo-Jin to buy an aquarium and some food.’
[Partner. Even if you pretend not to care, it seems you’re all worried? Excellent. You show the qualities of a Harem King.]
Harem King?
What nonsense is that?
Just stop talking.
Inside the bag, a red goldfish and a white goldfish swim around.
“Eeeh… I’m like… like… like that…”
Rin bites her lips as her eyes spin around.
Just then, her face turns bright red up to her neck.
“Wait a minute, Cow. Why are you the only one scoring points with the Master? Nishizawa will catch a goldfish too! Hey!”
“Right! Shinozaki! I’m confident I can scoop goldfish well too!”
“I’m confident I can do well!”
“I want to catch a goldfish too! I’m going to gift it to my master!”
“Junior! If I catch a goldfish too, will you take care of it?”
Watching from the sidelines, Eri, Olivia, Makoto, and Senior Kasumi rush towards the goldfish tank.
“Hmph. I accept your challenge at any time. However, you won’t be able to surpass my goldfish catching skills that I have trained every summer festival since I was a child.”
Rin, with her impressive chest highlighted as she crosses her arms, speaks with an arrogant expression.
Anyone who sees it would think it’s the match of a lifetime.
Seira, observing the scene, turns to Aris who is beside her.
“Aris, aren’t you going to join us?”
“Me? There’s really no reason for me to participate. Isn’t the president not joining?”
“Hah? Why would I, of all people, participate in such a childish competition?”
Despite her words, Seira and Aris are stealing glances at the four girls catching goldfish.
Or rather, they now openly watch the chaotic goldfish gathering.
“Wow, wow, wow. Goldfish…”
“Why can’t I catch any?!”
“Yap! Goldfish, you better get caught!”
“Hueh…”
Witnessing the mess that has turned into a complete disaster, I sigh.
My instincts learned since falling into this crazy world tell me that this isn’t going to wrap up in just a couple of minutes.
As I watch the chaos unfold, I buy some shaved ice from the stand next to me.
It looks impressive with red syrup drizzled over finely shaved ice.
Mmm.
It’s not bad, but in my opinion, the patbingsu from Korea is tastier.
By the time I finish my cup of shaved ice, the goldfish catching farce finally concludes.
“How can I not catch even one…?”
Olivia, dressed in a hanbok, shakes her hands in frustration.
“Eri, I totally lost…”
Thud.
Eri grips a torn paper net.
“I’m sorry, Master…”
Makoto unexpectedly apologizes to me.
“Ugh…”
Even Senior Kasumi, with her flushed face, is fanning herself.
In the end, no one caught a goldfish.
Except for Rin.
“Hmph. This time, it’s a complete victory for me. Did you see that, Kim Deok-Sung? From now on, I’ll be the top bride who helps you in more than just goldfish catching!”
Rin confidently laughs and places her hand on her sizable chest.
Top bride? What a joke.
‘See? Goldfish catching is tough. I’m not the only one embarrassed here.’
[Yeah, partner. I’ll say that. It sounds pitiful enough.]
The Black Prince seems to be giving me a pitying remark.
Just when I was about to ignore his words.
“Hey, you. What’s the next game going to be?”
Olivia looks at me and asks.
The next game? I already have something in mind.
A game where I can redeem the humiliation of failing at goldfish catching.
That is:
“We’re going to shoot.”
It’s shooting, which will allow me to fully utilize my military experience.
Heading to the shooting booth with my entourage,
the rules are somewhat similar to the Korean prize shooting.
Aim and knock down the prizes placed on the shelf using BB bullets, and they become mine.
After paying the fee, I pick up the gun.
It’s been a while since I held a gun, and the gripping feel is refreshing.
Its shape and texture are different, but it reminds me of the K2 rifle.
It’s not too bad.
Condition reflexively kicks in as I shoulder the stock and take aim like I did back in the army.
“Master! Wow, your shooting stance looks like a pro!”
“You’re totally a pro!”
“Junior, I didn’t know you could handle a gun.”
I can hear mindless praises from Eri and Hoshino Kasumi behind me.
This is embarrassing.
[Oh. Not bad posture. Partner. You’re really confident in shooting, right?]
‘I will redeem myself from the humiliation of catching goldfish.’
Thinking of the goldfish I couldn’t catch after more than 20 tries still makes my blood boil.
I can’t suffer the same humiliation in shooting.
I carefully aim at the stuffed bear and pull the trigger.
Click.
The bear doesn’t budge.
[Missed? Partner?]
I hear the annoying voice of the Black Prince.
I pay the fee again and shoot.
Click.
[Oh, you hit the eye. But it isn’t moving?]
What do you mean it’s not moving after hitting it?
‘Isn’t this cheating?’
[Partner, it’s not good to suspect others carelessly. How about trying again?]
One more time.
When the bullets fired exceeded ten, I started getting really frustrated.
[Partner, I think it’s better to stop now before you get more embarrassed.]
‘Embarrassment, what…?’
I’ll keep going until I succeed.
I can’t go through another humiliation after the goldfish incident.
Just when I was about to pay the fee again…
Thunk.
Someone grabs my wrist.
I turn my head.
“Junior, would it be okay if I try? Shooting…”
It’s Hoshino Kasumi.
Blushing, she twists her purple hair with her other hand.
Kasumi is going to shoot?
I can’t gauge her shooting skills since it wasn’t mentioned in the original work.
“Go ahead.”
I pay the fee and hand her the gun.
“Okay! I’ll definitely win a prize for you!”
Kasumi hugs the gun tightly, takes her shooting stance, and pulls the trigger without hesitation.
Click.
The BB pellet hits the black bear and falls to the floor.
‘Wait, why did that fall over? I shot it so many times and it didn’t budge!’
So unfair.
Even in the army, I always hit 18 out of 20 shots.
[Maybe the cumulative shock from you shooting made it fall over?]
The Black Prince throws out a plausible theory.
Fair enough.
That makes some sense.
Was Kasumi just lucky?
Whatever it is, the prize went to Kasumi.
As disappointing as it is, it can’t be helped.
“Here’s the prize. Wow, a pretty lady shoots really well. Your boyfriend will love this.”
The shop owner laughs heartily and hands the black bear to Kasumi.
But wait? Boyfriend?
“Wh-whaaaat…?”
Kasumi’s cheeks turn bright red.
She hugs the bear tightly.
“My boyfriend… My boyfriend… My boyfriend… Him…”
Kasumi keeps repeating the same word like a broken record.
I sigh.
“It’s not a boyfriend, just a senior.”
“When it matters, Junior suddenly draws a line. You’re a bad guy.”
Kasumi pouts upon hearing my words.
Bad guy, what?
[Partner, you’re clever.]
“Ah, ha ha ha. I must’ve misunderstood. Then enjoy the festival!”
The shop owner awkwardly laughs along with the Black Prince’s nonsense.
Kasumi hands me the bear.
“Here. This is a gift from me to you. A bear as black and cute as your dark heart, Black Beast Junior. I hope you take good care of this bear that resembles you.”
“It’s a cute little bear plushie that’s as black as the dark heart of the pervy junior. I hope it turns out just like the junior.”
“Oh, yes…”
As I receive the plushie, I hear Hoshino Kasumi’s voice, which always throws out dizzying remarks just when I’m getting used to things.
The black bear plushie, surprisingly, looks quite adorable.
“Hehe. I’m glad to be of help to the junior.”
Just then, while Kasumi was covering her mouth and giggling, she said,
“I heard the fireworks are starting soon?”
“Let’s go watch the fireworks!”
“Tama-ya!”
The sounds of people buzzing around fill the air.
Fireworks, huh?
Looks like the festival is wrapping up around this time.
As I thought about this,
“Alright, everyone, clear out!”
Dressed in her hanbok, Olivia passionately unfurls her folding fan and stands in front of me.
“Now that it’s time for the fireworks, I, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, the dedicated maid, will be accompanying him! So please, step aside as promised!”
Olivia hides her face behind the fan while giving a noble lady’s smile.
“Tch, a promise is a promise, so I can’t help it. Master, should I play with Eri-ring next time?”
Eri clicks her tongue and steps back.
“Next time, I’ll definitely win, Bonaparte.”
Rin bites her lip.
“Hey, junior, will you look at me if I wear a hanbok next time? You will, right? Just so you know, you’re a bad but sweet junior.”
Hoshino Kasumi walks away softly with a light smile.
“Master… I will make sure to impress you next time… No! Nothing at all!”
Makoto, startled, waves her hands as she follows Eri.
“Young ones playing and an oldie like me shouldn’t intrude. Looks like the festival’s fun ends here. Let’s go, Aris.”
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung and Miss Bonaparte, absolutely no behavior that could disrupt the peace! Keep that in mind.”
Lastly, Seira flutters her fan while pretending to be mature, dropping a remark as she supports Aris.
The only one left beside me is Olivia.
“So it’s just the two of us now. Hmph. I didn’t particularly want to be here with someone like you!”
Olivia blushes, fussing with her folding fan, then snatches the bear plushie from my hand.
“Hand it over! W-Well, I don’t particularly want to… but it’s my job as your maid to carry your things!”
I was already struggling to hold both the goldfish bag and the plushie, so this works out.
“Thanks.”
“Y-You don’t need to thank me! It’s not like I’m particularly grateful or anything?! D-Don’t get the wrong idea!!”
Olivia shouts, her face turning red.
Seeing her tsundere tendencies still intact makes me feel slightly relieved.
“Ugh…”
Olivia groans, her face flushed as she clutches the black bear plushie tightly, resting her chin on its head.
“F-Follow me for now!”
Whoosh.
The place we arrive at is a small park.
Unlike the bustling, crowded streets nearby, this spot has an unnaturally tranquil scenery.
It looked familiar.
Ah, this is the park where Olivia and Yuji watched the fireworks together in the original story.
I remember seeing it in the anime background.
“You.”
Olivia calls me.
I turn my head.
