episode_0005

“Ah, haha… Is Ijin the freshman representative? That’s really impressive! Um, yeah! So, what’s Ijin’s hobby?”

Despite Teacher Jung Chaeyeon’s efforts to lighten the mood, tears welled up in my heart.

I’m sorry for being awkward.

As I tried to answer while seated, I stood up again.

“Um… My hobby is drawing, and I also enjoy exercising as much as others do.”

“Oh~ You’re good at studying, and you have a hobby in that area too. Let’s give a round of applause!”

– Clap clap clap…

Fortunately, it seemed like we smoothly got through without ruining the atmosphere.

Following me, the main characters and heroines introduced themselves.

Especially noticeable was Seong Yurin.

Seong Yurin gave a formal self-introduction with a cold mask on, making me wonder if the person I talked to at the field was the same person.

With the intuition of a veteran nerd with over 20 years of experience combined from past lives, it’s clear that this guy is definitely one of us.

A personality that struggles to express what they want to say. Surely, that guy is a nerd too.

Perhaps Seong Yurin also noticed this and wanted to become friends by gathering the courage to approach me?

After that, Yoon Jiwu, at this point, with a more lively personality than the original, expressed a desire to get along with everyone with a humorous greeting.

When it was Isea’s turn, as soon as Isea stood up, everyone, regardless of gender, couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

Isea subtly brushed her hair behind her ear and smiled shyly, receiving everyone’s admiring gazes.

Look at her, acting cool and mischievous!

Although I know it’s not intentional, to my eyes, filled with the ugly adult inside my head, Isea looked different.

That kind of appearance is charming too.

But when I was young, I had a timid personality that found it difficult to stand in front of others, but thanks to Yoon Jiwu’s influence, Isea has become more confident since middle school.

Anyway, the self-introduction time passed without incident.

If it were as in the original, there was an incident where Yoon Jiwu stuttered during the self-introduction, but now he confidently finished his self-introduction, right?

I guess it was a good thing to help him so that Yoon Jiwu wouldn’t develop a trauma.

The main character of the romantic comedy looks so lively, doesn’t he?

Well, praise the past me.

“…So, if there’s a handball competition, please come and support us!”

– Wow~

As Hong Yeonseo, who was the last in order, sat down, Teacher Jung Chaeyeon spoke.

“Good job, everyone! Take a 10-minute break, and we’ll have an interim class president election~”

With the homeroom teacher’s break announcement, the classroom quickly became noisy.

Some students tried to get closer to those from the same middle school they learned about during the self-introductions, while others tried to approach those they were interested in.

A few students gathered around the teacher’s desk to chat with Teacher Jung Chaeyeon.

Due to the past few years of school life, my body automatically relaxed during break time, and I lay down alone on my desk.

Normally, I would have scribbled in the textbook corner, but since I hadn’t received the book yet.

“Hello?”

…

“Hey! You there!”

…What’s going on?

“Hey? Wake up~”

With a ‘don’t touch me’ aura, I unfolded my absolute territory, daring anyone to invade my world.

I discreetly lifted my head that was resting on my arms to peek outside the world.

And then, I locked eyes with the crimson eyes and face that were leaning on my desk, half crouched.

…Oh.

“Oh! You weren’t sleeping after all~”

My virtual sweat, reflecting my mental state, trickled down my neck.

Hong Yeonseo…?

Why is she…

“Why are you so tense~ on the first day of school! We might be able to get along for a year, or even longer, so let’s be friends!”

I glanced to the side to see Lee Saeah and Lee Soyun.

Both of them had widened eyes and were covering their mouths with their hands in surprise.

Why are they like that again?

Turning my gaze to the other side, wasn’t Sung Yurin also giving me a side glance?

Why is she like that again?

After responding that I understood to Hong Yeonseo, who kept insisting on being friends despite being ignored, I escaped to the restroom.

I organized my thoughts.

First, I compared the original work that I knew with the current situation.

There were three major changes.

The changed personality of Yoon Jiwu, the changed relationship with Lee Soyun, and the changed target of Hong Yeonseo’s approach.

Next, my goal is to get close to the world of romantic comedy, laugh, and enjoy it.

I don’t really care about going back to the original world, and I don’t really have any intention of going back.

If the original work ends in any form, I will probably stay in this world and somehow live on.

Alright. Let’s think about it again.

Does the changed original work have anything to do with my goal?

The answer is No.

“Then it doesn’t matter.”

If Lee Soyun, who was originally indifferent, is already close to Yoon Jiwu, what does it matter? They were going to become friends anyway.

What does it matter if Hong Yeonseo, who should be approaching Yoon Jiwu, comes to me? We were going to hang out with Yoon Jiwu anyway.

If the time comes, it will naturally return to the original development.

Even if it doesn’t, this world is already the world I live in, and will live in.

Whether the original work progresses as it should or not, life is about enjoying it when you can.

Although my intervention twisted the original work a bit, there was really no point in gaining any advantage from my knowledge of the original work, and there was no plan to do so.

My mind, which was confused, quickly cleared up, and after finishing my business, I washed my hands and face to freshen up before turning back to the classroom.

When I turned back, everyone was already seated except for me.

Oh. Am I a little late?

“Lee Jini is here. Take a seat. Then, as I mentioned earlier, we will temporarily appoint a class president and vice president.”

Teacher Jung Chaeyeon called my name familiarly as if she had already memorized my face and name with just one introduction.

“Yes.”

As I took my seat, the teacher’s explanation continued.

“Although it’s temporary, if nothing special happens, the class president and vice president will remain in their positions for a year. I hope they are responsible students!”

Hmm. Class president and vice president, huh.

In the original work, Lee Saeah was supposed to be the class president and Hong Yeonseo the vice president.

As expected, the students who were candidates for class president were Lee Saeah and Hong Yeonseo.

Hmm, Saeah had already been a class president for 3 years in middle school, so she was reliable.

I wrote down Lee Saeah’s name on my ballot and submitted it.

After a close vote, Lee Saeah became the class president.

The situation was a little different for the vice president.

“Yoon Jiwu! A veteran with 9 years of experience as a class president and vice president!! The vice president who will support the class president of 1st year C class, dawn high school. Let’s have a candidate for vice president!”

…Yoon Jiwu, who ran for vice president with great momentum.

As expected of a veteran with 9 years of experience as a class officer.

With the support of several male students who had become friends and the majority of female students in the class, Yoon Jiwu managed to snatch the vice president position that was originally Hong Yeonseo’s.

“Oh. I can’t do both the class president and vice president…”

I felt a strange sense of guilt towards the dejected Hong Yeonseo.

In a way, it was my fault for changing Yoon Jiwu’s personality.

But still, I voted for you, Hong Yeonseo…

I became interested in how the snowball effect of the change in the vice president position would unfold.

It might even have a meaningful impact on the love line with Lee Saeah.

“Let’s give a round of applause to the class president Saeah and vice president Jiwu, and cheer them on~”

There are many things to applaud from the morning.

Watching Lee Sae-ah smiling neatly in front of the classroom, and Yoon Ji-woo laughing heartily with his hands on his waist.

I clapped mechanically twice.

Somehow, the sensation of my palms burning was vivid.

* * *

After the election, we were assigned lockers along with our seating arrangements.

The seating arrangement, a clear intervention from the world of romantic comedies, was determined as a setup to facilitate the progression of the romantic comedy, through the obvious results of a lottery.

On the left corner seat by the window in the classroom, it was me and Lee So-yoon. In front of us, Yoon Ji-woo and Lee Sae-ah.

On the right side of Lee So-yoon next to me, was Sung Yoo-rin, and in front of her was Hong Yeon-seo.

Because of Lee So-yoon’s petite figure, all the heroines were visible at a glance.

Anyway, I was happy to be able to sit in the corner seat that I love.

The gaze of the male students in class C, who surrounded Yoon Ji-woo with hot eyes, was uncomfortable.

…Because I was in the same situation, receiving the same gaze.

I send my sympathy to the bored male students in class C who will continue to eagerly watch the unfolding romantic comedy novel.

Still, it’s not easy to witness a romantic comedy novel firsthand anywhere.

Enjoy it like me, in the same situation.

…Stop staring at me, guys…

The blatant gazes of others are still intimidating.

* * *

In a world line where the original story can no longer be realized.

In fact, it was Yoon Ji-woo who caught Hong Yeon-seo’s attention.

In the eyes of Hong Yeon-seo, who cannot bear to see children who are naturally excluded.

Yoon Ji-woo, who couldn’t finish his self-introduction properly and exuded a gloomy atmosphere, caught her eye.

But the wheels of history have long been off track.

It has been a long time since they deviated from the path they were supposed to take and ended up on a completely different path.

Towards a new ending at the end of this path.