Academy Heroine’s Right Diagonal Back Seat

Chapter 386

In prison, it is said that those who have committed crimes are punished by being locked in solitary confinement.

I’ve been feeling deeply how much of a punishment that really is over the past few days.

Not only am I stuck inside, but with no one else around, time just doesn’t seem to pass at all...

So, while I was struggling with the unbearably slow passage of time, hugging a cushion on the sofa in the living room all alone,

I wonder if it was because I asked Yoon Si-woo this morning to come back early today instead of being late?

For the first time in a while, I heard the front door open earlier than usual.

“Ha...!”

The appearance of my savior who would finally put an end to my solitary confinement.

I silently cheered in my head at the sound of the door opening, then quickly threw the cushion aside and rushed to the front door to greet Yoon Si-woo, who had returned home earlier than usual, more excited than ever.

“Welcome back, Yoon Si-woo! You came home early today! Did your work finish quickly?”

“Hmm? Yeah, well…”

As I welcomed him so enthusiastically, he looked a bit awkward.

Anyway, with the thought that I wouldn’t be alone and bored anymore today, I beamed with happiness as Yoon Si-woo took something out of his bag and called my name.

“Uh, Scarlett?”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“This... the magic tool I mentioned before. It’s finished, so I brought it.”

“Oh! So, it’s the bracelet with the disguise magic on it?”

The item Yoon Si-woo pulled out was the magic tool I had been eagerly waiting for, the one that would free me from the curse of being stuck at home.

After receiving the bracelet from Yoon Si-woo, I quickly slipped it on my wrist and asked him, “How do I use it?”

“You just press the central part of it, I think.”

At his words, I lightly touched the gem in the middle of the bracelet, which clearly seemed to indicate “press here.”

A faint light began to emanate from the bracelet, and as the light enveloped my whole body, I glanced at the mirror hanging near the entrance.

In the reflection, a brown-haired woman with an innocent look appeared, staring back at me.

I marveled at the performance of the magic tool that transformed my appearance so thoroughly and muttered to myself, “Wow... with this, no one would recognize me as me.”

Well, except for Yoon Si-woo.

Yoon Si-woo could see through this kind of magic because of his Holy Sword of Radiance.

Anyway, after confirming how the magic tool worked, I asked Yoon Si-woo with a racing heart, “So, can I go outside now? For real?”

Yoon Si-woo nodded in response.

Hearing that the long period of being confined indoors was finally over, I raised my hands in the air and shouted, “Yahoo! Finally, freedom!”

The long, humiliating, and oppressive time was finally over... Now, I could return to being free!

Having been freed from my confinement, I quietly cheered to myself and immediately started making plans for where to go and what to do starting tomorrow.

But just then...

“...Hey, Scarlett?”

I heard Yoon Si-woo call me.

“Hm? What is it?”

“Since you’re allowed to go out now, in celebration or something... Anyway, I was thinking...”

I was curious about what he was going to say, but he seemed to hesitate for a moment, then, as though making a decision, he closed his eyes tightly and said,

“...How about we go on a trip together tomorrow?”

“A trip?”

It was such an unexpected suggestion that I tilted my head in confusion.

Then Yoon Si-woo, who had suddenly turned bright red, hastily added as if making an excuse.

“Ah, it’s just... Do you remember the promise we made before? That once everything was over and there was no more fighting, we’d go on a trip, either to the mountains or the sea... I said that before...”

...Ah, that was when we were supposed to go fight Beatrice together, right?

I did indeed make such a promise with Yoon Si-woo.

At the time, I thought he might die while fighting and asked him to survive, which is probably when that promise was made. I didn’t expect that I would be the one almost dying instead...

I almost couldn’t keep that promise.

Relieved that I had managed to come back to life, I nodded at Yoon Si-woo and said,

“Yeah, sure. A trip.”

“...Huh? Really?! You’re really going to go on a trip with me? Is it okay?”

After I nodded, Yoon Si-woo, who had looked like he made a huge mistake a moment ago, suddenly became flustered, and he asked again in surprise.

Why is he reacting like this when he was the one who suggested the trip in the first place?

I couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction, which seemed completely out of place, and teased him,

“You’re the one who said it. But what about you? Are you okay with it? Isn’t your work busy?”

“Uh...? I can take a day off... But is it really okay? I haven’t even told you where we’re going yet.”

Ah, so he was worried about the travel destination.

I guess he was concerned that if he chose somewhere I didn’t like, the mood would be off for the whole trip.

But at least with me, there was no need to worry about that.

I’ve always thought that for a trip, the people you’re with are more important than the place. Besides, after being stuck inside for so many days, I was confident I’d enjoy wherever we went.

So, I smiled at Yoon Si-woo, to let him know he didn’t need to worry, and said sincerely,

“It’s fine. I’m happy to go anywhere as long as it’s with you.”

“…Mm.”

After I said that, Yoon Si-woo seemed a little dazed for a moment, then nodded with a big, happy smile on his face.

...This guy, how busy has he been that he’s so excited about taking a day off and going on a trip?

I looked at Yoon Si-woo, who seemed more excited about the trip than I was, and couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him.

After a good night’s sleep, we got ready to head out early the next day for our trip.

“...Scarlett, that outfit. It really suits you.”

“Really? You look good in it too, Yoon Si-woo.”

“…Huh? Th-thanks.”

As we were checking in front of the mirror just before leaving, Yoon Si-woo complimented me on my outfit, which made me smile.

I returned the compliment, then I casually took a look at what Yoon Si-woo was wearing.

Since he’s often recognized outside, he also used the magic tool to change his face, but his outfit was casual and perfect for someone going out for a trip.

Meanwhile, I had ended up wearing a white dress, wondering if it was okay to wear it for a trip. It was the same dress I wore when we went to the zoo with the orphanage kids.

I remembered that I had gotten all covered in blood from self-harm right after returning from the amusement park, but somehow, Yoon Si-woo had managed to restore it to its original state.

Anyway, the reason I was wearing this dress was mostly because of Yoon Si-woo.

This morning, when I was thinking about what to wear, he suggested, “How about that dress? The one you wore when we went to the zoo.”

At first, I wondered if it was okay to wear it for a trip, but honestly, I couldn’t be bothered to think much about what to wear. Plus, it was surprisingly comfortable, so I just went with Yoon Si-woo’s suggestion.

It was a very feminine outfit, and I used to feel a bit awkward wearing it, but now, it didn’t bother me at all.

At least, it was an actual, normal outfit.

After all, there were times when I had to wear a latex-like full-body suit because of my powers during battles. Compared to that, this dress was nothing.

“Anyway, shall we get going?”

“Yeah.”

And with that, our one-day trip was set in motion.

After getting ready simply, Yoon Si-woo and I walked out.

I stood next to Yoon Si-woo, following him, and asked,

“Aren’t you going to tell me where we’re going until we get there?”

“Yeah, I think it’ll be more fun if you don’t know until we get there.”

Since Yoon Si-woo didn’t tell me where we were going, I had no choice but to follow him wherever he led me.

Was I curious about where we were going?

Honestly, yes. But like Yoon Si-woo said, it would be fun not knowing until we got there, so I didn’t press him.

Besides, I trusted Yoon Si-woo not to take me somewhere strange.

...Right? I believed he wouldn’t.

Anyway, as we followed him, we arrived at the teleportation gate near our house.

“Wait here for a moment.”

When we arrived, Yoon Si-woo told me to wait and approached the gate staff, pulling something from his pocket and saying something to them.

Seeing what Yoon Si-woo was holding, the staff member suddenly froze and began to hurriedly adjust the gate.

That’s strange; adjustments like that usually only happen when leaving the city.

I started thinking about possible places he could be taking me, but before I knew it, the preparations were finished, and Yoon Si-woo waved me over.

Curious beyond control, I walked over to him and asked,

“…Where are we going that requires such special preparations?”

“Haha, you’ll find out once we get there. Now, let’s go since it’s ready.”

And with that sly answer, Yoon Si-woo reached out his hand to me.

So, he really wasn’t going to tell me, huh?

I smiled and took his hand, closing my eyes briefly to avoid dizziness, then stepped into the portal that was glowing with a blue light.

And,

“...Wow!”

As soon as I opened my eyes after stepping through the portal, I couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.

Under the bright sunlight, before me stretched a soft golden sand beach and an emerald-colored sea.