Then, it was Kasumi-senpai who spoke to me.
She flashed a smile.
“Hey, you! Why are you showing up now? I-I wasn’t exactly waiting for you, so don’t get the wrong idea!”
Beside her, Olivia puffed her cheeks.
With a red face, she averted her gaze, glancing at me occasionally.
“Master, I missed you!”
Makoto spoke up in a timid voice.
“Deok-Sung. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you in casual clothes.”
Rin laughed and casually chimed in.
“Hey, bro! Long time no see.”
“Kim. You made it?”
The protagonist, wearing casual clothes, received greetings from the golden sun duo, Yuji and Daiki.
After responding to all their greetings, I sat down.
It’s dangerous outside my cozy blanket, and I don’t want to go outside during summer vacation, but I have no choice.
It’s my fault, so I have to take responsibility.
Besides, the destination is obvious.
It’s either the beach or the valley.
“Well then, since all the juniors are present, let’s get this summer camp planning meeting started!”
Kasumi-senpai announced the start of the meeting with a smile.
Clap clap clap clap clap.
Awkward clapping echoed through the room.
“First, we should decide on a location for the camp. Any good ideas from the juniors?”
Kasumi-senpai smiled, scanning the room.
“How about Okinawa?”
The first to voice their opinion was Ishihara.
“But we already went to Okinawa. Ishihara,” someone pointed out.
“Oh right.”
Yuji interjected, and Ishihara nodded in agreement.
It’s been ages since we went to Okinawa; going again feels pointless.
“How about Hokkaido? Eri, since we’ve been to the beach, I want to go to the mountains this time,”
Eri chimed in next.
“That’s the place we went to during Imgan School, right? Washboard,”
Rin immediately rebutted after Eri finished.
“You can’t really go to the beach again, can you? Are you trying to seduce Master with that lewd and trashy swimsuit and body?”
Eri rolled her eyes.
She puffed her cheeks and pointed a finger at Rin’s chest.
With Eri’s gaze upon her, Rin smiled.
“Hmm, lewd and trashy, huh? The jealousy over the abundance you can’t have is still strong. How pathetic, Washboard.”
“What? Jealousy? No way?! This size is just right! It’s actually chunks like yours that are more burdensome. I read that in a magazine!”
Eri turned red from Rin’s words.
She slammed her hands on the table and shouted.
“Pathetic self-deception of a loser, it’s tear-jerking. Washboard.”
“Yikes!!”
In the end, Eri exploded.
That damn chest competition is dizzying even after seeing it for a long time.
I don’t understand why they fight over such a destructive topic.
I’m going.
Even if I want to get used to it, I can’t.
At that moment, while Eri and Rin were in a war of nerves,
“Um…”
Makoto timidly raises her hand.
“How about going abroad instead of Japan?”
Abroad.
Everyone’s gaze turns to Makoto.
Makoto’s face turns red.
Clap.
Kasumi-senpai claps her hands.
“I think that’s a good idea. I like it. Is there anyone here who opposes Kamiya-chan’s suggestion?”
Kasumi-senpai scans the table.
There was no one to oppose.
“Then where abroad should we go? Everyone, share your opinions.”
Kasumi-senpai says with a smile.
Abroad.
If we’re going to go anyway, I’d prefer somewhere like England or France.
Or since it’s summer, Hawaii would be nice too.
While I was thinking about that,
Everyone has a romantic idea of traveling abroad, and I’m no different.
There’s no way I would refuse a free overseas trip funded by the academy’s generous budget.
Is this what politicians feel like when they go on free overseas trips under the guise of study?
Since there are many countries I’ve wanted to visit, it’s tough to choose.
Just as I was about to think it through and speak up,
“Let’s go to Korea.”
A thunderous sound seemed to ring in my ears.
What? Where did you say to go?
Korea?
South Korea? Not North Korea?
I turned my gaze in shock.
There stood Olivia, wearing a smug expression.
That’s right. It was Olivia who made the disastrous suggestion of going to Korea.
What can I even say to that?
“You’re suggesting we go to Korea?”
My brows automatically furrow.
Korea, really.
Just from briefly seeing articles on the internet and YouTube clips, the state of Korea is quite clear.
The 2002 World Cup semifinals between Korea and Japan look like child’s play compared to the horrific self-delusion that is K-culture.
That must be what Korea looks like now.
The thought alone is terrifying and sends shivers down my spine.
Moreover, just recently I nearly passed out while watching a live broadcast about my goods shop in Akihabara and those reporting on it.
So I had sworn to never go to Korea, no matter what.
And now joining a training camp in Korea?
It must be stopped.
I absolutely must stop this.
I cannot be dragged back to this pathetic homeland.
“Yes. It’s the closest country to Japan… And more than anything, it’s your homeland, right? I—I’ve always wanted to see it at least once. This isn’t—it’s not a personal interest, so don’t misunderstand! Got it? Hmph.”
Olivia puffs up her cheeks with a face as red as her earlobes.
“That’s a good idea, Bonaparte. Deok-Sung’s homeland… I also wanted to see it at least once. As a future exemplary wife, it wouldn’t be bad to experience what your in-laws’ country is like in advance.”
Heh.
Rin looks at me with a faint smile and a flushed face.
“Eri-ling! Eri-ling is also curious about Master’s hometown, Korea! Eri-ling wants to go to Master’s country too!”
Following her, Eri raises her hand.
“I—I also support it.”
Makoto timidly agrees.
“Kim’s hometown… I’ve been curious, and if we get the chance to go this time, that’s great.”
“Oooh, my brother’s country, huh? I’ll definitely go!”
Yuji and Ishihara agree mindlessly.
“The junior’s country… the junior’s hometown… the junior… the junior… I’m also totally in favor of going to Korea!”
And Kasumi-senpai, with a flushed face, grins while mumbling about the junior.
Damn it.
This can’t keep going on like this.
Just as I was about to voice my opposition…
Just when I was about to lose it.
“So, shall we decide by majority vote? Raise your hand if you want to go to Korea for the training camp!”
Kasumi-senpai takes the lead.
Her words cause hands to shoot up from all directions.
Olivia, Rin, Eri, Makoto, Kasumi-senpai, Yuji, and Ishihara too.
It’s a horrific sight to see the entire cooking club, minus me, in favor of the Korea trip.
“Alright then! Let’s confirm that this summer’s training camp will be in Korea!”
Kasumi-senpai declares enthusiastically about going to Korea.
Do I really have to go to Korea?
Tears welling up, I can’t shake the images of the president fainting, the flashy thumbnails of ridiculous Korean hype on YouTube, and the flood of nationalistic articles and interviews surfacing in my mind.
This is tyranny of the majority, pure tyranny.
What the hell.
The world of girls.
Even after the destination was decided, various discussions were exchanged, but they barely registered in my ears.
Supposedly we’re going to rent a villa from the Shinozaki family for a cliché extracurricular camp, so why on earth Korea?
I still can’t believe it.
[So what was it again, partner? You said you’d end up going back, right?]
The Black Prince laughs in my head.
‘Shut up.’
Just what I needed, more turmoil in my already anxious mind.
Sigh.
Anyway, I can’t overturn this decision now.
I tried to subtly appeal that Korea wasn’t all that great, but everyone was so enamored with the idea of Korea that my pleas were swiftly dismissed.
This isn’t some foreigner invite for a Korean travel variety show or something.
I have no idea why they’re acting like this.
‘Since when did they become so interested in Korea…?’
Naturally, Korea doesn’t even exist in the original material.
Aside from Kim Deok-Sung, no Korean characters have ever appeared.
In a sense, Korea is a mysterious country that hasn’t been mentioned even once in the original, existing outside of it.
[Partner. Look on the bright side. Everyone’s just very interested in your motherland because they care about you.]
That’s not bad, but it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want to go.
“Okay, let’s wrap up the meeting here, and I, as the head, will submit the camp plan to the Student Council President. Great job, everyone! You too, junior!”
With Kasumi-senpai’s concluding remarks, the camp meeting comes to an end.
“I’ll take my leave first.”
Vroom.
I stand up, receiving farewells as I exit the clubroom.
Anyway, since the decision has been made, I guess I’ll go train with Aris.
*
After Kim Deok-Sung, Yuji and Ishihara leave, only the female members remain in the clubroom.
An unexpected hearing is taking place there.
“Nishizawa-san.”
Kasumi feigns a serious expression as she slaps a magazine down on the table.
A photoshoot featuring Eri in a wedding dress beside Kim Deok-Sung in a tuxedo.
Below it, comments noting them as the best couple of the year, claiming they felt real love.
“Can you explain just how this happened?”
At Kasumi’s words, Rin nods.
“Right. Washboard. Why are you in a wedding dress standing next to him? I’m supposed to be Deok-Sung’s bride!”
Rin’s eyes darken.
“Gah…”
She bites her lip.
‘I should have done this first…’
Rin swallows her words.
She vowed to become a model wife and serve him.
But no matter how much of a photoshoot it was, to have wedding pictures snatched away by ‘washboard’ Nishizawa Eri is just humiliating.
It makes her jealous.
She wants to wear a wedding dress too.
Just then, when Rin’s gaze was on Eri.
Tap.
Olivia places her hand on her chest.
“Hey, Shinozaki! Who decided you were his bride?! Hmph. This is something I should be addressing as his personal maid! How could you shoot this, this this shameless photoshoot without my permission?! I can’t believe this!”
“Excuse me?! Hmph. Isn’t this something I should be complaining about? How dare he do such a, a, a scandalous shoot without even asking his dedicated maid, me! I can’t believe this!”
Olivia clenches her eyes shut and screams, her face turning red.
‘G-geez, I should’ve taken a picture back then…’
Olivia recalls the time when they were having an engagement ceremony in France.
Back then, when she wore a wedding dress, she should’ve taken a photo with him or, even better, gotten engaged…
‘Ah, no! What kind of scandalous thoughts am I having…?!’
Olivia slaps her cheeks.
This is all that idiot’s fault.
A gust of air fills her cheeks.
Makoto, who witnesses this, mumbles quietly, “U-uwu. I want to take photos with my lord too. Just the two of us…”
Seeing the reaction of the four girls, Eri’s lips curl up into a triumphant smile.
At this moment, she could gladly accept any jealousy thrown her way.
The girl who was always in the back now is receiving everyone’s jealousy for the first time.
She fiddles with her dog collar and speaks, “Why is everyone like this? Eri just took a simple photo with Master.”
Hehehe.
Eri laughs.
Olivia then slams the table.
She flips through a magazine and thrusts it in front of Eri.
“Then are you saying you’re using this, this scandalous act as a pretext for a shoot?!”
Olivia’s face turns crimson.
What she revealed was a scene of Eri kissing Kim Deok-Sung on the cheek.
“Uuuu…”
Olivia lets out a groan.
It’s a kiss she has only done on the cheek, and though it’s not on the lips…
She still can’t accept it.
The only person allowed to kiss him is her.
‘Because I am his dedicated maid!’
Olivia chews her lip.
Seeing this, Eri turns her gaze away, her face turning red as she looks down.
A faint smile emerges on her lips.
“But it was just a shoot, Eri. I had no choice but to kiss him. Hehe.”
“W-what?! You scandalous…!”
Olivia’s face turns red at Eri’s shy response.
Eri laughs at the sight.
She lifts her head and addresses Olivia.
“Princess, are you, like, jealous…? Do you want to kiss Master too? It’s alright. If it’s you, I wouldn’t mind at all. I could even give you special permission.”
“W-who’s jealous?! How dare I, a noble French princess, kiss that idiot from the galaxy! U-unthinkable! This cannot be happening!!”
Olivia screams, her eyes closed, in response to Eri’s words.
That’s right.
It’s not jealousy.
She has never had any scandalous fantasies of wanting to kiss him.
The kiss she gave him in France was merely a situation she couldn’t avoid.
She didn’t do it out of her own desire.
She can’t even remember the feeling from that time.
Thinking thus, Olivia fusses with her lips.
‘It’s all that idiot’s fault! How dare he take a noble and beautiful French princess like me as his dedicated maid… to kiss some other random cat first…! Hmph, he must be one of those dumb guys who thinks all girls like him…!’
With such thoughts, Olivia bites her lip.
Her heart races.
Eri watches Olivia and smiles.
