Chapter 317
Pepero Day
As Seira fidgets, our eyes meet.
“Ugh…!”
Seira gasps as our gazes lock.
Her face turns bright red, and she falls silent.
“Y-you little brat…”
Seira, looking flustered, pulls out a fan from her pocket and opens it with a flourish.
The lace fan covers her crimson face.
“Ahem. Did you sleep well? Good morning.”
She tries to hide her trembling voice while acting all casual with her morning greeting.
[Oh dear sister…]
In my mind, the Black Prince’s sigh follows.
“Hehe. Grandma Seira! What’s with the sudden act of modesty? You were just spouting all that lewd stuff earlier, and now you’re shy? Is that it? Hehe, so funny! I’m cracking up.”
Haru covers her mouth and insults Seira.
At Haru’s words, Seira’s face becomes even redder.
“W-wait! Lewd stuff?! When did I ever say such things…?”
“Hehe, but just a while ago, you called pure virgin JK Gyaru Haru that! It was ecstasy, reminiscent of climaxing as his fiery energy entered your body…”
“Haru! Stop! Just stop!”
Seira, unable to keep her composure, finally surrenders to Haru’s counterattack.
“Hehe. Grandma Seira’s blushing face is too much! Only pure kawaii JK Gyaru Haru looks cute when she’s embarrassed!”
Haru, having claimed victory, covers her mouth and laughs.
The metal bracelet on her wrist jingles.
“…Ugh….”
Seira, who attempted to strike back at Haru but failed miserably, mumbles with pouted lips.
What a mess this morning.
My head is starting to hurt.
[Partner, but where are the other girls? I don’t see them?]
The Black Prince comments.
At his words, I finally feel something is off.
The heroines I usually see every morning fighting over my bag are nowhere to be found.
Normally, besides Haru, there should be Rin, Makoto, Eri, and Olivia around here.
But aside from Haru and Seira, no one else is present.
What on earth is going on?
As I tilt my head in confusion…
“Hehe. Deok-Sung oppa.”
Haru calls out to me.
Turning toward her, I see her tugging at a pink bag filled with cute rabbit keychains and macaron keychains that clink together.
She opens the zipper with a flourish.
“Here! Gift! Today is Korea’s Pepero Day, right? Hehe. Super cute JK Gyaru Haru made a special limited LOVE♡LOVE Pepero just for Deok-Sung oppa! Hehe, savor it.”
From her opened bag, she pulls out a gift box wrapped in the shape of a heart.
Pepero Day?
How’s that possible?
Isn’t that a holiday that doesn’t exist in Japan?
“Isn’t that strange?”
I suddenly paused, barely recalling that Haru had shared my memories back in Seoul.
If she shared those memories with me, she might at least know about Pepero Day.
In that case, it wouldn’t be that weird.
But why do I feel so ominous about this?
[Partner. What’s Pepero?]
“Pepero Day…? What is Pepero?”
The Black Prince and Seira both react as if they’ve never heard of it before.
They don’t know what Pepero is.
Well, I guess they might not know.
It’s a Korean snack, after all.
Did it even get exported to Japan?
“Hee-hee-hee. Not knowing Pepero? Seira-chan must be like an ancient grandma who’s way behind the trends. Hee-hee.”
“Ugh…”
Seira trembles, fanning herself dramatically at Haru’s roast.
“Super cute JK gyaru Haru will educate the poor, unfortunate Seira-chan just this once. Seira-chan, Pepero is a stick snack like Pocky from Korea, and Pepero Day is a special day on November 11, where lovers exchange Pepero gifts because the date looks like the sticks. Hee-hee. It’s a special day like Korea’s Valentine’s Day or White Day.”
As Haru unexpectedly gives a thorough explanation, Seira’s eyes widen in shock.
“P-Pocky?! A day to exchange stick snacks? Between lovers?!”
Seira seems to understand now that I mentioned Pocky.
[Partner, is that explanation true?]
The Black Prince asks in my head.
“Y-yeah, it’s true.”
It’s so ridiculously spot-on that it sends shivers down my spine.
To think Pepero Day is even a thing here in Japan.
Aren’t these event stories supposed to be about Valentine’s Day and White Day?
The sudden occurrence of this event is bewildering.
“This can’t be. I had no idea… Ugh…”
Seira clutches her fan, quivering in shock.
“Hee-hee. Haru gets another win. Brother Deok-Sung, should we go to school together? You have to eat the love♡love homemade Pepero that I gave you all by yourself, okay? Hee-hee.”
With a victorious expression, Haru sticks to my side, linking arms with me.
Just as I was putting the heart-shaped Pepero box she gave me into my bag, Han Seo-Jin in a black suit appeared, pushing a hand cart.
The hand cart was piled high with cardboard boxes.
What on earth is that?
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. Good morning. Are you heading to school?”
Han Seo-Jin politely greeted me as our eyes met, still pushing the hand cart.
“Uh, yeah. But what are those boxes?”
“Oh, these?”
Han Seo-Jin pointed with a straight face at the cargo cart.
“They are Pepero gifts sent to you, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, to commemorate Pepero Day, from the public.”
Hearing that, I looked at the mountain of gigantic boxes piled high on the hand cart.
“All of that is Pepero?”
All of that?
I’d heard legends about entertainers receiving mountains of delivery gifts from fans on their birthdays and anniversaries, but I never thought that would be my situation.
I’m dumbfounded.
“Yes. This is only about 0.1% of the total gifts. There are also limited special Pepperos sent to you from the manufacturer, the Rote Group. Oh, it seems the president is here too. I’ve submitted the permission form to use the academy’s storage for receiving the delivery gifts, so please confirm that with the president.”
0.1% of the total gifts?
Is all of that Pepero sent from Korea?
Then how much would 100% be?
My head is spinning.
“A letter of encouragement supporting Mr. Kim Deok-Sung also came with it.”
Now I’m getting used to these encouragement letters, too.
It’s not like I’m an idol or anything.
It’s heavy with pressure.
“Once I get the permission to use the academy storage, I’ll take care of everything. For now, have a wonderful time at the academy.”
Han Seo-Jin said politely as she bowed and wheeled past with a cargo hand cart.
“······ What’s up with those Pepero? I’m a bit taken aback here.”
“I feel the same way······ To think Pepero Day holds that much significance in Korea······.”
Seira and Haru mumbled, stunned while watching Han Seo-Jin’s retreating figure.
[Hmm. Was Pepero Day actually a huge holiday in Korea?]
The voice of the Black Prince echoed in my head.
That’s not it.
What kind of holiday is Pepero Day?
My head is pounding.
This is feeling sketchy from the get-go.
*
Leaving the ruckus in front of the dormitory behind, I arrived at the entrance of the main building with Haru, seeing Seira off.
As I arrived and was about to place my shoes in the shoe cabinet to switch to indoor slippers, I found three beautifully wrapped boxes inside.
A box with my name written in katakana: Kim Deok-Sung.
Inside the box was a card.
[This is a dark chocolate stick treat for the naughty junior. Enjoy, junior. – The unfortunate senior Hoshino Kasumi who fell into your hands.]
[This is a loyalty stick treat. Nothing more, nothing less. Don’t get the wrong idea. I just recognized the Korean holiday for my Korean junior. – Student Council President Saionji Aris.]
[Kim! Enjoy your stick treat! ♥ – Your teacher.]
Saionji Aris, Hoshino Kasumi.
And the teacher?
This is definitely a Pepero from Mayuzumi Mayu.
But why are they putting Pepero in the shoe cabinet instead of homemade chocolates?
This isn’t a Valentine’s event from a Japanese school story.
[Oh, partner. Is this also that Pepero or whatever stick treat?]
The Black Prince commented.
‘Sounds about right······.’
Unless it’s Valentine’s Day, which is well-known even in Japan, how did they know and prepare for a not-so-famous Pepero Day?
I’m puzzled, but I appreciate it.
I’ve never actually received a proper Pepero on November 11 during my lifetime, and to think I’d get Pepero after reincarnating here in Japan instead of Korea—who would’ve imagined that?
I placed the Pepero made by Kasumi-senpai, Aris, and Mayuzumi Mayu into my bag and headed down the hallway to the classroom.
Creak.
As I opened the sliding door, the usual classroom scenery unfolded before me.
“It’s the Black Beast!”
“Ah! It made eye contact with me!”
“Eek! Save me!!”
As always, the extras shrieked as soon as I entered.
I sat down, getting used to their screams, and unconsciously reached into the desk drawer.
“What’s this?”
Something felt different in there.
Having gone through the shoe cabinet, I could guess what I’d find here too.
They probably hid some Pepero in the desk drawer like in a school event.
I pulled out the Pepero.
I saw a blue-wrapped Pepero box and an orange-wrapped one.
[Deok-Sung, this is a hand-made Shinazaki-style vision stick treat I’ve been preparing for you for days! Please accept it! – Your future devoted wife Shinazaki Rin.]
[Master! Here’s a stick treat filled with Eri’s love and affection. You’ll eat every last one, right? Eri! Just imagining you eating the stick treat is blissful! – Your forever slave, the most beautiful girl, Eri♡]
I looked at the cards attached to the boxes.
What in the world is a Shinazaki-style vision stick treat?
I can’t even guess.
As for Eri’s stick treat······. Putting aside the content of the card, it might actually taste good judging by her cooking skills.
At that moment, when I was holding the Pepero from Rin and Eri.
Once upon a time.
“Master······.”
A shy voice came from beside me.
Turning my head, I saw Makoto’s face fully flushed.
“This is······. I prepared it all night yesterday. It’s a stick snack······. Hehehe.”
Makoto rustled behind me, pulling out a gift box.
How many Pepero have I received today?
“Uh, thanks. Good job.”
“Ugh······.”
At my greeting, Makoto’s face turned even redder.
“Master! I got a gift from Eri-Ring! Eri-Ring made handmade stick snacks with love and devotion!”
“Deok-Sung, me too. I gathered everything I learned from Shinozaki-style cooking to make these stick snacks for you. Please······ accept it well.”
As if they were waiting, Eri and Rin approached me, their faces flushed, showcasing their homemade Pepero.
“Uh······. Right. You all did well. Thank you.”
I expressed my gratitude to them.
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting anything, let alone being treated like it was Valentine’s Day.
This is awkward.
[Partner. Isn’t it good? It is good. Just not honest.]
The Black Prince speaks in my head.
“Today is Valentine’s Day?”
“They say it’s Pepero Day.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a Korean holiday where you give Pepero, chocolate stick snacks resembling Pocky, to someone you love to confess your feelings!”
“Really? I didn’t know Korea had such a holiday.”
“So romantic!”
I hear the extras chatting nearby.
But it’s a different kind of ordinary conversation, extremely normal.
Why are they being so downright normal?
As the chill crawled up my spine, my gaze met Olivia’s in the diagonal back seat.
Blush.
Olivia’s face turned red.
“Hmph! Fool!”
Olivia turned her head away.
She crossed her arms, accentuating her curves.
This is the usual Olivia······.
Or maybe it’s not the usual Olivia.
She looks slightly anxious.
I hope nothing’s wrong?
*
‘Ughhh······. Everyone’s preparing Pepero······.’
Olivia’s insides were churning.
She bit her lip.
She thought today was the perfect opportunity.
What if she gave homemade Pepero on a day when the other heroines didn’t prepare anything?
In that case, she could solidify her lead.
‘How did they find out? How on earth······.’
Just then, Olivia fidgeted.
Bzzz.
Olivia’s smartphone buzzed.
[You don’t need to worry, Miss. Please lure the Master’s Master to the rooftop after school.]
[Then execute the secret plan, “Pepero Game.”]
That was Bella’s reply to Olivia’s earlier question about what to do since the other heroines had prepared Pepero.
After seeing Bella’s response, Olivia clenched her fist.
Passion burned in her blue eyes.
‘Right!’
The Pepero game was still on the table!
If she could lure him to the rooftop and play the traditional Korean Pepero game······.
‘Then Pepero Day would be a victory for me, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte!’
Her heart raced.
In her mind, images of Kim Deok-Sung and her lips colliding flashed.
Olivia’s face turned beet red.
‘Uh, how could I, um, such an embarrassing······.’
Feeling bashful, she covered her flushed cheeks with both hands and splashed cold water on her face.
Pepero Day was just getting started.
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