“Hey, um… you’re not supposed to put knives in your carry-on, right? Huh? You know that? Uh… I just thought I’d mention it. Ah! You’re not allowed to take it on the plane, right…? You know that, right…?”
“I see…”
I stared blankly out the window.
The silver wings of the airplane sliced through the sky, gliding smoothly.
Beyond the window, all I could see was endless blue sky and scattered clouds. From this height, the ground seemed small and insignificant, like mere dust.
But my mind was anything but calm.
The plane to Japan.
The window seat.
And next to me…
“Sis! The in-flight meal is here! What do you want to eat?”
When did we start talking?
A cheerful voice came from the seat next to me.
Her slightly long bangs and soft golden hair. Her clear, bright green eyes sparkled.
Hanasaki Yui.
No, Seo Ahyun.
She held a tray with the in-flight meal menu and slightly leaned toward me, looking expectantly. Her movements were cautious and graceful, like a heroine from a movie.
But on her face was a smile full of anticipation.
“Do you like chicken, or beef?”
I stared at her blankly, then slowly shifted my gaze to the menu.
Chicken or beef.
“…Chicken.”
“Me too, chicken!”
Yui smiled brightly, as if she had been waiting for my answer.
Then, she tapped the table in front of her, sending me an excited look.
“I wonder what the chicken will taste like on the plane? It must be delicious, right?”
Honestly, everyone knows that in-flight meals are pretty much all the same, but seeing her so eagerly excited, I couldn’t bring myself to say that out loud.
I turned my gaze slightly and looked at the person sitting across from me.
There,
“I want chicken too!”
A bright voice and a small hand shot up.
Her purple twin tails shook lively, and her bright yellow eyes shone with curiosity.
Yoshida Misa.
No, Ju Arin.
“Three chickens! People just love chicken!”
Arin nodded vigorously, waving her hand enthusiastically.
She looked like an elementary school kid waiting for their picnic lunch.
I stared at her blankly, then suddenly realized.
What did I expect?
These two were acting predictably from start to finish.
Ahyeon was quietly and gently smiling with a hopeful look.
Arin was excitedly waving her hand and chattering away.
In the middle of these two, I…
What am I doing?
Why am I even on this plane?
“Ugh…”
I don’t even know what’s going on.
I quietly messed with my hair.
This wasn’t a plan from yesterday.
I had just been relaxing at home as usual, dividing ramen into three parts to cook, lying on my bed, enjoying the aftertaste…
Then…
Knock. Knock.
“Sis!!! Let’s go to Japan!!!”
“…?”
That’s how it all started.
Yui and Misa suddenly came over, shaking flight tickets in front of my eyes.
They started talking about the trip, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Sis, it’s time to get some fresh air, travel, eat delicious food, and do that sort of thing!”
“Right, time to escape from being a hikikomori! You’re going with us!”
“Actually… we already bought the tickets!”
“What.”
“Yes! So now, you can’t not go, right?”
I was dumbfounded right then and there.
Wait, you already bought the tickets?
Before I even said I was going?
I looked at the two of them with a dumbfounded face.
But then…
Ahyeon, her green eyes shining with excitement, grabbed my hand.
“Let’s go together, sis.”
Looking into her eyes, I finally…
Sigh.
Yeah. As you can see…
Here I was, sitting on a plane to Japan.
I looked out the window again.
The airplane was gliding smoothly above the clouds.
Now that I was on board, there was no turning back.
I reluctantly took the in-flight meal tray.
“Let’s eat.”
Ahyun smiled happily.
“Enjoy your meal, sis!”
“Wow~ It’s chicken! It’s chicken!”
Arin shook her shoulders, excited.
When the cute little girl raised her voice excitedly, a few passengers nearby stared at her, but she didn’t seem to care at all.
Really, she’s loud and exhausting… but she’s cute, though.
I picked up a piece of chicken with my chopsticks.
Now, it was time for the trip to Japan.
It was definitely going to be hectic.
I quietly, very quietly, took a bite.
There probably wouldn’t be many chances to eat like this in the future.
“Um… you’re not supposed to put knives in your carry-on, right? Huh? You know that, right? Uh… I just thought I’d mention it. Ah! You’re not allowed to take it on the plane, right…? You know that, right…?”
“I know.”
What do you think I am?
“Are we there yet…?”
Ugh. I’m so sleepy.
As the plane smoothly landed, the noise inside the cabin started to grow.
It’s wide… though not as big as Incheon Airport.
It’s definitely an airport…
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at Tokyo Haneda Airport. Please remain seated until the seatbelt sign is off, and carefully open the overhead compartments for your carry-on luggage.”
The stewardess’s announcement echoed through the speakers.
Passengers slowly started to stand up, gather their things, and those sitting by the window looked outside, getting ready to disembark.
I, in the midst of all this, quietly put on my mask and pulled down my wide-brimmed hat.
I lowered my head, slightly tilting the brim of my hat, and zipped up my hoodie all the way.
“…Perfect.”
I thought to myself, adjusting my bag tightly and straightening my back.
But then…
“Sis, what are you doing?”
Crap. Did I get caught?
Ahyun, who was sitting next to me, looked at me with a puzzled expression.
Her blonde hair and green eyes sparkled.
When I turned my head, Ahyeon leaned in slightly, inspecting my face with curiosity.
I turned my gaze away, looking out the window.
“Uhm… well…”
“Sis?”
Now, Misa poked me.
Her purple twin tails swayed energetically, and her yellow eyes were full of curiosity.
“What’s this? Why are you all geared up?”
I stayed silent for a moment, then slowly opened my mouth.
“If I don’t, you know… men will start coming up to me. It gets tiring.”
“Huh?”
Yui and Misa both widened their eyes in surprise.
“Really?”
Ahyun blinked, unable to believe it, and Misa giggled, covering her mouth like she heard a joke.
Damn, this is so embarrassing…
I casually readjusted my bag, stood up, and said,
“Let’s go quickly.”
“Okay, sis…”
“Hehe…”
Yui and Misa stared blankly for a moment, then almost in unison, followed me from behind.
The cabin was still bustling.
The captain and crew greeted passengers with warm smiles.
Travelers seated nearby were chatting excitedly about their plans in Tokyo.
We walked slowly along the aisle.
As the airplane door opened, the air of Tokyo brushed against my nose.
Neither cold nor hot, just pleasantly cool air.
It was strangely refreshing yet unfamiliar.
As we stepped into Haneda Airport, the familiar yet foreign sounds of Japanese filled the air.
Everywhere, airport staff welcomed passengers with kind smiles.
The electronic signs displayed Japanese, English, and even Korean.
“Welcome to Tokyo.”
I took in the familiar air of the airport.
I had been here several times before, but maybe because I had no memories of it, it felt oddly unfamiliar.
“Hmm…”
Is it because of me?
I feel like people are staring a little.
It’s something I always experience when I go outside.
No matter how much I cover my face or body.
The feeling of being watched always pricks like a needle.
With my mask and hat pulled down as much as possible, I quickly walked toward immigration.
“Um, unnie.”
A careful voice called from behind.
I stopped and turned around.
Ahyun was looking at me with worried eyes.
“Really… that happened?”
She’s always so thoughtful.
I hesitated for a moment, then quietly nodded.
“G”
“Yoo~!”
Arin still had a playful expression, but Ahyun looked more serious than I expected.
Her expression bothered me, so I added casually, pretending to be unfazed.
“Well, it wasn’t that big of a deal. Just…”
Saying this out loud myself felt embarrassing.
I slightly averted my gaze and pulled my hat down further.
“It just gets a little tiring, that’s all.”
Ahyeon bit her lip slightly.
I shrugged lightly and kept walking.
“Let’s go quickly. We need to get our luggage.”
She looked at me with a subtle expression but didn’t ask any more questions.
As we walked through the airport, I let out a quiet sigh.
The problem is…
“Hey, hey! Suhyun unnie, why are you so popular with guys?!”
Sigh. Arin always has to bring this up.
I shot her a sharp glance and turned away.
“As you can see, I’m just pretty, Arin.”
Then, I winked.
Lowering my hat slightly, I playfully looked at Arin.
In that moment, only she reflected in my blue eyes.
“…Oh.”
As soon as Misa heard my words, she blinked in surprise and froze.
And then…
“Puhahahahaha!”
Laughter echoed through the corridor.
“Who says that about themselves?! Puhaha!”
Was it really that funny?
Her purple twin-tails bounced as Misa clutched her stomach laughing.
Her golden eyes sparkled as she looked at me.
I casually shrugged.
“It’s the truth. Can’t help it.”
Misa laughed for a while, then looked at my face again, as if she couldn’t believe it.
“Wow, unnie is really something. Saying that so naturally!”
“There’s no need to be embarrassed. It’s just how I look.”
I deliberately raised a hand and ran it through my hair, turning my gaze like a CF model.
“…Yeah. You’re pretty.”
And behind me, Ahyun covered her mouth in disbelief.
“Gasp…!”
I heard a quiet breath being swallowed.
Resting my chin on my hand, I added,
“Just don’t get too jealous.”
“Ahhh! No! If this keeps up, my stomach…!!”
Arin was about to roll on the floor laughing.
She lightly tapped my arm while laughing uncontrollably.
I casually pulled my hat down again and sighed.
“What can I do? This is my life.”
“Pfft… Unnie, that’s not really how you feel, right?”
Arin wiped away her tears while looking at me.
I put on a serious expression and whispered,
“It’s more embarrassing if I say it seriously, so I just joke about it.”
“You just admitted it!”
Arin burst into laughter again.
At that moment, Ahyun, who had been quietly listening, gave a small smile and murmured,
“But Suhyun unnie really is beautiful.”
I was momentarily speechless.
Arin was still laughing, but Ahyun had a slightly serious look.
I couldn’t say anything for a moment.
Misa was still laughing, but Ahyun’s eyes were sincere.
It wasn’t a joke—her expression showed genuine feelings.
I slightly turned my head and lowered my hat, murmuring softly.
“That’s… just a joke, Ahyun.”
But Ahyun was firm.
“It’s the truth, though. Really… You don’t even wear makeup, but you’re prettier than idols on TV.”
Her words made my fingertips feel strangely tingly.
“…Ahyun.”
I looked at her.
Ahyun smiled gently, carefully studying my face.
In her green eyes, there was no trace of a joke.
She really meant it.
“Why do you say it like a joke? I don’t think you realize how beautiful you are.”
“You know why people keep approaching you. You know why you have to wear a hat and mask.”
For a moment, I had nothing to say.
And neither did Arin.
She still had a playful expression, but after hearing Ahyun’s words, she nodded a beat late.
“Now that I think about it, yeah. Unnie, sometimes your beauty doesn’t feel real. Like a character from a manga.”
“…That’s too much pressure.”
I scratched my head and sighed.
“It’s not that extreme. It’s not like I’m an idol.”
“But you’re prettier than idols.”
Ahyun quietly reaffirmed.
Feeling awkward, I quickly turned my head.
“Enough. Don’t make this weird.”
“Pfft, unnie, your face is turning red!”
Misa burst out laughing again.
I instinctively pulled my hat lower to hide my face and sighed.
“Ha… Seriously, how did things end up like this?”
Under the bright lights of the airport, I slowly walked with the two of them.
Glancing sideways under my hat, I saw Ahyun still smiling warmly.
Ugh.
Seriously.
“This kind of thing… is embarrassing…”
“Whoa! Unnie! Your expression is super cute right now!!!”
“Eh, unnie! Let’s take a picture!!!”
This lively atmosphere…
This kind of affection, I’m not used to it.