episode_0004

I have no friends.

It was so natural that I didn’t notice, but still, I had no friends.

The first half of the year went as expected, and I wasn’t even bullied, naturally.

I was still nothing more than acquaintances with Ma Yeon-seo.

‘Why did it turn out like this?’

It wasn’t until summer vacation that I keenly realized this fact and pondered over the past.

At the beginning of the semester, when most kids were still feeling awkward.

Like many others, I stuck with Ma Yeon-seo, a familiar face.

At best, we talked during breaks, ate lunch together, and studied things we didn’t know, then walked home together.

If anything, my time spent with her wasn’t much different from elementary school.

If anything, due to not having a set partner, the time spent together had significantly decreased.

As time passed and relationships within the class began to solidify,

I was still getting along with Ma Yeon-seo.

Just as I had been doing all along, quite naturally.

‘No way.’

Yes, that was the problem.

I had become so engrossed in playing with Ma Yeon-seo that I neglected interactions with other kids.

“No way!”

Finally coming to terms with the truth, I was shocked.

Not too much, just a bit.

After all, the time spent with Ma Yeon-seo was far more satisfying than feeling regretful for not making other friends.

To the point where I found it much more comfortable to play with Ma Yeon-seo than to make friends with new kids.

“Kang Yoo-chan… You’ve become weak!”

I suddenly felt pathetic about myself.

Doesn’t peace make people complacent?

Where did my initial determination to make lots of friends go? And now, here I am, content and settled.

I’ve really become pathetic.

“But still, I can make up for it.”

At least now that I’ve realized it, it’s fortunate. What’s truly important is from now on.

I still have two and a half years left in middle school.

A whopping two and a half years!

There are plenty of opportunities ahead to make friends.

Not too late, I can still do well from now on.

*Sigh. But suddenly acting all friendly now seems a bit off.

Yet, if I push too hard, I might just end up with the label of being a weirdo for no reason.

In human relationships, isn’t the first impression still the most important?

It’s probably better not to force my way into a relationship that’s already established.

“Oh well.”

Having come to a rough conclusion, I decided to get along with Mayeonseo this school year, albeit reluctantly.

It was an unavoidable situation.

“Since I thought of it, should I text Yeonseo?”

Absolutely not because I have any other feelings… absolutely not.

*

While waiting for the right moment, quietly enduring the first year passed.

Finally, it’s the second year.

“Wow. In different classes?”

“Yeah, seems like it.”

“This, even on different floors?”

“Maybe?”

“Unbelievable.”

Shockingly, Mayeonseo and I didn’t end up in the same class.

We were even on different floors, making it difficult to accidentally run into each other.

It had been 4 years since we got to know each other.

“We, we really got separated.”

I had vaguely anticipated that such a day would come.

But now that it’s actually happened, it’s a bit disappointing…

“No, no! Pull yourself together, Kang Yoochan!!”

Having momentarily lost my composure, I shook my head to regain focus and glanced at the cause of all this, Mayeonseo.

“…?”

She looked back at me with an innocent expression as if she knew nothing.

I almost fell for her again.

“She’s a scary one.”

And so, my second year began without Mayeonseo.

“Oh! We’re in the same class?”

“Thank goodness. All my close friends got split up, it would’ve been a big problem.”

As expected, unlike in the first year, some relationships had formed to a certain extent.

Despite that, there was still a strange awkwardness due to the haphazard mix of placements.

Soon enough, an opportunity came to me as well.

“Yoochan, do you play that game too?”

“Huh? Yeah, I do.”

“Oh, really? What tier are you in?”

“Even Yoochan plays?”

I was able to have a casual chat with the boys after a long time, all thanks to the game.

It felt awkward because it had been so long.

“I guess there’s a sense of accomplishment in playing games consistently.”

But that wasn’t the only thing.

“Yoochan, we’re planning to go to the PC room with some classmates after school. Do you want to come?”

“Me too?”

“If you join, we’ll be exactly five people. Let’s go together.”

I was completely taken aback by the unexpected invitation to the PC room!

“This is great!”

Internally cheering, I readily accepted the offer.

And then…

“Oh.”

I suddenly remembered that I had agreed to walk home with Mayeonseo.

I had inadvertently double-booked myself.

“…What should I do?”

Lost in thought before afterschool, I pondered deeply.

Walking home with Mayeonseo and going to the PC room with my classmates.

For a brief moment, the idea of “walking home with Mayeonseo and then going to the PC room” crossed my mind, but it didn’t seem like a good option.

“I should ask for understanding this time.”

After much deliberation, I could finally make a decision.

“That’s how it is.”

Afterschool, as usual, I went to Mayeonseo in the classroom to explain the situation.

I told her that I probably couldn’t go back together today due to prior plans.

“….”

She blinked silently as if she had misheard.

Feeling unnecessarily anxious, I began to add various excuses.

“Well, it’s an opportunity to get closer to our classmates, you know? You also know that this is new to me…”

At that, her tightly closed lips moved.

“Do as you please.”

“…Huh?”

“Do as you please.”

“Really…?”

“Yeah.”

Perhaps it was just my mood. Unexpectedly, Mayeonseo responded nonchalantly.

It seemed that I had been the only one taking it seriously.

“Thanks for understanding…!”

Thankful that the issue was resolved, I promised an apology and headed to the PC room with my classmates.

Thus began the brilliant school life of the genius friend Kang Yoochan!

“Alright. Shall we have the new students introduce themselves?”

I didn’t just stick with my classmates, but gradually expanded my interactions to include those outside of our group.

It all started with the ‘Book Club.’

“I’m Kang Yoochan from 2nd grade, class 3. Nice to meet you.”

Organized by the library staff, the Book Club was a means of building up one’s credentials.

Meeting biweekly to read books, engage in discussions, and if you participated well, you’d receive a stamp of approval from the principal along with some rewards, giving off that kind of vibe.

Naturally, only those who were initially interested would join such a boring club.

Thanks to being ostracized, I, who had become quite close to books, could easily blend in.

“Yoochan oppa, didn’t you say you like author Woo Jang-san’s works?”

“Did I?”

“Ta-da! Have you read this one too?”

“Oh, I haven’t seen that one before.”

Surprisingly, the closest friend I made in the Book Club was a girl named Kim Chabin, who was a year below me.

As the only freshman who came in with me, she seemed to rely on me more than anyone else.

“I heard a new book is coming out. Do you want to read it first, oppa?”

“I wouldn’t mind… But when did you manage to get it?”

“Hehe. I peeked at it in advance to give it to you.”

“Is it okay to do that in the Book Club…?”

“It’s the Book Club, so it’s fine, right?”

“Anyway… Thanks. I’ll read it well.”

“If you’re thankful, you’ll let me know later, right?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Just thinking?”

“I’ll consider it.”

“Give me the book back.”

“You’re kidding. Just kidding.”

Chabin was cute in appearance and had a lot of charm, so she was popular with everyone around her.

If only Ma Yeon-seo had half as much charm as Chabin, how great would that be?

“A Ma Yeon-seo with charm… Hmm, that’s unimaginable.”

So, I spent time with my classmates and also participated in the Book Club.

Naturally, the time spent with Ma Yeon-seo decreased significantly, but our relationship remained unchanged.

…Until that incident occurred.

“Hey, Yoochan.”

It was a moment when I was preparing for the next class as usual.

At that moment, a male student from the neighboring class, whom I only knew by face, suddenly approached and asked bluntly,

“Are you dating Ma Yeon-seo?”

It was a story I had never thought about before.

“Did I hear wrong?”

Taken aback by the unexpected question, I quickly regained my composure and calmly responded, “We’re not dating. Why do you ask?”

“Really? You’re not really dating, right?”

The boy in front of me suddenly brightened up and bombarded me with questions.

“Does she have a boyfriend?”

Starting from Ma-yeon’s relationship status.

“Well, then! Do you have someone you like or an ideal type? Like, a celebrity or something!”

Even her detailed preferences.

‘This guy…’

It was obvious to anyone that he had fallen in love.

‘Ma-yeon…?’

The fact that she had become someone’s secret crush came as a huge shock…

Upon careful consideration, it was truly surprising.

Ma-yeon, who had already achieved overwhelming physical development, was mature enough to be mistaken for a twenty-year-old. Moreover, possessing a stunning appearance unmatched by anyone in the school, she was more than capable of igniting the hearts of middle schoolers at the age when they start learning about love.

I simply hadn’t noticed her charm because I saw her too often.

“I saw earlier, it seems like some guy likes you?”

“Suddenly?”

As I walked home with Ma-yeon, I told her about the boy’s actions.

“That’s why I just pretended not to know.”

“You did well.”

I glanced at her, wondering if she showed any signs of hesitation, but she didn’t seem the least bit shaken.

“He likes you, yet you’re unfazed?”

Feeling oddly relieved by her reaction, I continued walking with lighter steps.

Then suddenly,

“…”

I stole a quick glance.

“Just curious, but do you actually like someone for real?”

In response, she gave me a sly look and countered, “And you? Do you?”

“I asked first.”

“If you tell me, I’ll tell you.”

“…Well, I mean…”

Unintentionally glancing in Ma-yeon’s direction, I shook my head and replied that I didn’t.

“Hmm… Is that so?”

She averted her gaze and casually responded in her usual calm tone.

“I’m here.”

“….What?”

I momentarily doubted my ears.