Chapter 114: Chapter 113

Ha-eun’s goal for this trip to Japan was simple: rest.

She wanted to unwind, clear away the lingering fatigue, and take the time to reflect on her future with a clear mind.

Most importantly, this was her first-ever trip abroad. The thought of experiencing landscapes so different from what she was used to filled her with excitement.

Of course, the first steps of her trip were marred by her friends’ playful antics. And yes, the explicit covers of adult magazines—which she absolutely shouldn’t have seen as a minor—kept flashing through her mind.

‘Well, I’ve got things to do.’

Like her friends, who were enthusiastically exploring the unique items at the convenience store, Ha-eun turned her attention to the shelves, her curiosity piqued. After all, “exploring Japanese convenience stores” was one of the experiences she’d been looking forward to.

What really broke her self-control, though, was the opportunity to purchase items she had only ever seen in anime.

“Ha-eun, are you seriously buying every flavor of pudding?”

“Yup.”

As a result, her shopping basket ended up significantly heavier than her friends’. She had scooped up nearly every collaboration item exclusive to Japan.

Among the products, the ones featuring the famous VTuber group Prism Live took up the most space. Looking at them, Ha-eun couldn’t help but daydream about her VTuber persona, Diah, one day having her own collaboration merchandise.

‘It’s a long way off, but who knows?’

For now, the items in her basket were a testament to people who had achieved the kind of dreams she aspired to.

While it still felt like a distant possibility, the items served as a small reminder that her dreams weren’t entirely out of reach.

But then…

“あの、もしかして芸能人ですか?”

“…?”

As she placed her items on the counter, the cashier suddenly spoke to her.

“S-Sumimasen!”

Scrambling to reply, Ha-eun uttered one of the few Japanese phrases she knew and quickly pulled out her phone to activate the voice translation app. The translation revealed words that felt oddly familiar:

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

The familiarity of the situation brought to mind scenes from novels she had read in her past life. Particularly those where characters like her—living as women—found themselves in similar encounters.

‘Hmm, this feels like déjà vu.’

With her striking looks, a perk of her reincarnation, she’d had plenty of moments like this back in Korea—whether it was convenience store clerks or internet café staff reacting to her appearance.

But for this to happen in Japan, where she was relatively unknown? That was new.

Still, she wasn’t sure how to respond to the cashier’s curious gaze.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“They asked me if I’m a celebrity.”

“What? Really?”

Gong Hye-yeon, standing behind her, took over effortlessly, her Japanese fluent and smooth.

“かんこくのすごく有名な女優さん. 本当にすごい人です.”

“かんこくの女優さん? ほんとうに?”

The conversation between Hye-yeon and the cashier filled the air, leaving Ha-eun clueless about what was being said.

However, as their discussion continued, the cashier’s eyes widened in recognition. When Hye-yeon showed something on her phone to the cashier, the reaction became even more animated.

“本当に寧越ですか? あの雲が分かれた月光の大ファンです!”

“Ha-eun, they said they’re a huge fan of Moonlight Split by Clouds!”

This unexpected revelation caught Ha-eun off guard. Before she knew it, she was posing for a photo with the cashier.

‘I didn’t realize Moonlight Split by Clouds was popular in Japan… Interesting.’

After the impromptu photo session, the cashier enthusiastically expressed their admiration for her performance in the drama, with Hye-yeon translating every word. Feeling both awkward and flattered, Ha-eun managed to respond with a simple, “Arigato.”

The next question was inevitable.

“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？”

“They want to know what your next project is.”

Given how much they enjoyed her acting, it made sense that the cashier was curious. The problem was, her next project, The Sunshine, was a historical drama featuring her character as an adversary to Japanese forces—something potentially controversial.

‘Should I tell them or not?’

To make matters worse, her role as Kim Jeong-hyun involved direct confrontations with Japanese characters.

In the end, Ha-eun decided against mentioning The Sunshine. Instead, she shared her Instagram handle, asking them to keep an eye on her updates there.@@novelbin@@

After shaking hands with the cashier, Ha-eun finally exited the convenience store. Not long after, her friends began teasing her relentlessly.

“Our Ha-eun is a global star now!”

“Too shy for an 18-year-old, but maybe that’s why you’re even more popular!”

“She’s outgrown us—totally different league!”

‘Geez, they’re way too excited.’

Their playful chatter, equal parts teasing and admiration, continued all the way back to the hotel.

Once there, they stowed their purchases in the room fridge before heading to the lobby to meet their teacher.

About ten minutes later, a shuttle bus arrived to take them to the first stop of their trip: the Tokyo Skytree observation deck.

Inside the spacious elevator, they ascended to the top floor, where Ha-eun—typically composed—couldn’t contain her excitement.

‘That must be Shibuya Station. Looks like it matches the map.’

She scanned the sprawling view, eagerly identifying famous landmarks she’d only seen in pictures before.

Her primary focus, of course, was spotting locations featured in her favorite anime.

Each time she identified a familiar spot, she took a photo, setting it aside for her upcoming trip recap stream. Sharing the novelty and wonder of her experience with her fans, the Noeul community, felt important to her.

Her camera didn’t get a moment’s rest.

***

By the time all the students of Class 2 had finished their dinner, their homeroom teacher addressed the group with a stern warning.

“I, Mr. Jung, and the guide teacher will be checking your rooms at random, so don’t even think about pulling anything funny. Lights out by 10 PM!”

Despite the teacher’s authoritative tone, the students of Class 2 responded with feigned agreement. None of them, however, were willing to forego the highlight of their school trip—a late-night party with friends in a foreign hotel.

No one cared about conserving energy for the next day’s trip to Disneyland. The thrill of the moment was far more important.

Ha-eun was no exception. Though, unlike most of her classmates who were planning games or gossip, she was more interested in exploring the hotel’s facilities.

“If I leave by 9:50, I should make it… just barely.”

The students were allowed to roam freely within the hotel until 10 PM, though leaving the premises was strictly prohibited, even before curfew.

This meant Ha-eun was free to explore anywhere within the hotel. Recalling the various amenities on the top floor, she made her way to the elevator.

“Ah.”

“Huh?”

There, she unexpectedly ran into Gong Hye-yeon, who was already inside. Curious, Ha-eun asked where she was headed, only to hear the same destination she had in mind.

When Hye-yeon asked why Ha-eun had chosen that spot, Ha-eun hesitated for a moment before answering.

“I heard the open-air bath is great for your skin. What about you, Ha-eun?”

“M-me too….”

In truth, Ha-eun wasn’t interested in the bath’s benefits. Her curiosity was more rooted in how often open-air baths appeared in Japanese pop culture.

Of course, she couldn’t admit that to Hye-yeon. She was worried that doing so would earn her teasing comments involving an infamous anime studio starting with O and ending with -ku.

Either way, they reached the top floor. Knowing that time was tight and they needed to get back before curfew, they both moved quickly.

“Wow, no one’s here!”

“Really… this place is empty.”

The open-air bath was spacious and serene, and the two entered together. Hye-yeon, with an adept touch, began wrapping towels around her hair and Ha-eun’s.

“Ta-da! Sheep head, complete!”

After styling her own towel into a sheep-like design, Hye-yeon slid into the bath. Ha-eun followed suit shortly after, settling into the water beside her.

“...It’s not as hot as I expected.”

The lukewarm temperature disappointed Ha-eun, who had envisioned something akin to a boiling cauldron from the comics she had read. The difference between her imagination and reality left her feeling a little deflated.

But her disappointment was soon interrupted by Hye-yeon’s subtle glances.

“Hey, Ha-eun… can I, um, touch your abs?”

Hye-yeon’s eyes darted between Ha-eun’s face and her midsection, her curiosity apparent. Reluctantly, Ha-eun nodded, and Hye-yeon immediately began poking at her well-defined abs.

“Wow, amazing! The elasticity is insane!”

“That tickles….”

Hye-yeon seemed utterly fascinated, treating Ha-eun’s abs like a high-quality mattress with perfect springs. She couldn’t stop asking how Ha-eun achieved such a sculpted physique, prompting Ha-eun to reluctantly explain her workout routine.

However, things escalated when Hye-yeon, unable to contain her curiosity, insisted on arm wrestling Ha-eun. The moment their hands clasped, Hye-yeon realized the immense challenge ahead, resorting to using both hands.

“Ugh—! Nngh—!!”

As Hye-yeon turned red from exertion, Ha-eun merely held her ground, careful not to overpower her friend. One wrong move could result in someone getting hurt.

Eventually, Hye-yeon collapsed in exhaustion, utterly defeated. When the nickname She-Hulk escaped her lips, Ha-eun couldn’t help but wonder if she had misheard.

After finishing in the bath and washing up, they returned to their room. Hye-yeon immediately fell asleep, joining their other roommates, who were already snoring in their respective beds.

“So much for the late-night party they were so excited about….”

It seemed the day’s activities, which began with the Skytree, had thoroughly drained everyone.

Left alone, Ha-eun pulled out her phone and earbuds, tuning into Cream’s livestream, which was being broadcast from across the ocean.

But mere minutes later…

Creak.

“!!!”

The sound of the door opening made Ha-eun freeze. A shadow stretched across the room as their homeroom teacher peeked inside. Ha-eun immediately pretended to be asleep, heart racing.

“This must be what it feels like to play a horror VR game….”

Although getting caught wouldn’t lead to anything worse than a brief scolding, the tension was still nerve-wracking.

The teacher, satisfied, left without a word. Ha-eun exhaled in relief, ready to return to Cream’s stream.

Ding.

[Teacher] - Go to sleep.

The notification on her phone made her heart drop. She quickly realized that Cream’s voice had been audible through her earbuds.

Outmatched by a teacher with over a decade of experience handling students, Ha-eun had no choice but to follow her roommates’ example and go to bed.