Dullard Buddy-kun: Heading Reluctantly to School Again Today - Episode 49

“Huh? Who on earth are you?”

(Hmm? Who on earth are you?)

I knew it, I feel like I messed up in various ways…

Impulsive as I am, why am I getting involved with them like this? It’s not like me at all.

For now, right in front of me is the red-haired man I was just watching up close.

“Huh, Mamiya?”

I’m sorry, Shibuya-san.

I might have just made a mistake. Why did this person suddenly jump into the conversation? I was thinking that, and then I really felt sorry…

If that’s the case, I’m just plain creepy. Me.

Just a loner who can’t read the room…

Why the hell did I come out?

“Someone she knows”

(Well, let’s just say she’s an acquaintance of hers…)

For now, leaving without saying a word after coming all this way is even more nonsensical and creepy, so I might as well use the Korean I’ve been studying.

“Oh, I’m surprised. Glasses-kun, you can speak Korean.”

(Oh! I’m surprised. Glasses-kun, you can speak Korean.)

Glasses-kun…

Well, I’m the glasses guy. But, you know, when someone actually calls me that on the first meeting, it’s kind of…

“Hahaha! Sure enough, you seem like you can only study!”

(Hahaha! Indeed, you seem like you can only do well in studies!)

No, who the hell is this guy…?

Even though I’m being humble, aren’t they really provoking me? Did I make a mistake in the translation? No, it should be almost correct, right?

“Then, let’s get to the point. I have something to discuss with that woman over there. You should go somewhere quickly.”

(Well, that was quick. I have something to discuss with that girl over there. You should hurry and go somewhere else.)

As I thought, I’m being provoked…

“Or should I say I’m that woman’s boyfriend? Hahahahahaha!”

(Or are you saying you’re that girl’s boyfriend over there? Hahahahaha!!!)

What the hell is this guy…

No way someone like me could be her boyfriend, but seriously, that’s just too much.

His personality is way too bad. Is he the Korean version of Sakaki? This guy…

I wonder what it is. Since this is Korea anyway, no one around here at school will understand what I say in Korean. As far as I can see, there shouldn’t be anyone I know around here except for Ms. Shibuya… I think.

This red hair has started to remind me of Sakaki, and I too have begun to lose my patience with various things.

“Then, how?”

(What if that were the case?)

Yeah. It’s not the kind of answer I’d usually give, but Shibuya-san over there shouldn’t know what I’m saying to him. No problem.

“Hahaha! Earlier, I had a match with a Japanese frog, but this time it’s a dango bug!”

(Whoa, I just had a match with a Japanese frog, and now it’s a pill bug or something!)

This guy knows that I roughly understand Korean and still talks behind my back. Seriously, Sakaki?

Basically, the Korean people I met here yesterday were very kind to me, so I thought everyone was nice, but there are still people like this here too. It might be obvious, but it’s probably the same in both Japan and Korea.

“Alright. Then let’s do this: we’ll play a simple game, and if you beat me, I’ll give her up. If I beat you, you’ll be my slave. I’ll record it.”

(Alright, alright. Then let’s do this. We’ll play a simple game, and if you win, I’ll completely give up on her. But if I win, you’ll be my slave for the day. By the way, I’ll be recording it, okay?)

A simple game… Well, anything is fine.

Apparently, I’m the only one who loses out even if I lose.

“Alright, no problem.”

(Ah, got it. No problem.)

Even I don’t understand how I ended up in this situation now.

I’ve been accumulating stress lately. I don’t know if I can win, but even if I lose, I’ll go all out and release all my daily stress here.

Even if you call me a slave, it’s just the kind of thing where you tell me to go buy juice or something, right?

“Then let’s settle this with a language sumo match.”

(Then, let’s settle it with a language arm-wrestling match.)

Language arm wrestling?

I wonder what it is. The red-haired person in front of me keeps rambling on about the rules, but I’ve got the gist of them.

Yes. The rule is that while doing arm wrestling, you ask each other simple questions in a language other than Korean or Japanese. If you can’t answer the question within 5 seconds, or if you simply lose the arm wrestling match, you lose the game.

The point is to type the question in English, haha. If you can use another language, go ahead.

(Well, it’s basically a clash of questions in English. Haha, if you can handle any other languages, go ahead, use them as much as you want.)

And in front of me, there he was, still grinning at me with that filthy smile, as always, with his red hair.

Then, the scene where the red-haired man sitting next to the glasses-wearing translator, who had been silent until just now, suddenly speaks in Japanese.

“Hey, you over there. You’ve been filming with that video camera the whole time, haven’t you? Please stop.”

Saying that, the man points behind me.

Huh?

“Eh? Why? You guys are going to take pictures too, right? Then there’s no problem. I’m on this side, you know. Haha, Mamiya-kun. I just barely made it. Finally, I was able to escape from that guy… no, I mean, clear up the misunderstanding.”

Huh?T-Tanaka…kun!?

“Come on, you’re going to do something, right? It’s dangerous, so instead of glasses, switch to contacts. And your bangs are in the way, so pin them back with a hairpin. Hey, that guy over there just took off his shirt and is half-naked. Is that the rule? Well, if that’s the case, then fine. Come on, Mamiya-kun, take yours off too!”

Hey, that’s so forceful… I mean, huh? Huh?Since when have you been there…?

Then, from behind, the voice of the red-haired person could be heard again.

“This time, it’s a match against a Japanese child who can actually speak Korean.”

(This time, I’m up against a Japanese kid who can speak Korean.)

That’s amazing. I wonder if they’re filming for a video; being able to switch their attitude on and off like this is, in a way, admirable…

“Alright! Perfect, Mamiya-kun!!! Come on, go!!!”

Wait, not so hard on my back…

“Then let’s hear his name… what?”

(Well then, shall we ask for his name…?)

Well, this is how things have turned out…

Let’s just give it a try.