episode_0100

[huh. I will go with the driver at that time.]

“Okay. I’ll post it in the group chat room.”

[okay.]

after school.

I returned home right away, finished the phone call with Seong Yu-rin, and shared my schedule in two group chat rooms.

After confirming that everyone had checked, I stretched out and sank into the bed.

It’s really over now… .

Tomorrow, Saturday, all you have to do is rest comfortably without anyone disturbing you and prepare for the festival on Sunday.

When I say preparation, I mean preparation of the mind.

I lay down and watched a video of a cosplay contest that the manager once shared.

The sight of cosplayers smiling with confidence as they receive numerous stares.

It might be unreasonable for me to do something like that, but… .

I reflected on the time I spent practicing with the manager, club members, and course players who were introduced to me by the manager.

The preparation period of about a month seemed long, but felt too short.

In addition, with the sports day schedule in the middle, I feel like the amount of practice is even less.

However, I did not forget the words my seniors in the industry told me.

Ultimately, it is a matter of mindset.

… I can only hope that I am the type that is strong in actual combat.

* * *

It’s been a long time since I had a free Saturday without anything happening.

Since I was always hanging out with people regardless of whether it was weekdays or weekends, this time was very precious.

Except for Hong Yeon-seo and Seong Yu-rin, whom I met briefly while jogging in the morning, I rested without meeting anyone until the sun was setting.

… I wonder what it would be like to feel this way, but for the first time in a long time, it was a life that reminded me of my past life.

What has changed is that I feel more at ease at home now that I have peace of mind.

Staying at home with no peace of mind is really painful, like being in prison.

Let’s stop with these drab thoughts… .

ah. Come to think of it, I went to my work SNS account for the first time in a while and there was a lot of DMs piled up.

Even though I wrote that I would not be receiving messages for the time being due to personal reasons, I received many requests ranging from small personal commission requests to large outsourcing requests from companies.

Hmm… .

After this is over, I don’t really have anything special to do until the final exams, so I think I’ll be free.

If it’s an easy commission, I might be able to work on it occasionally.

It’s okay if you just earn some pocket money in your spare time.

The allowance I receive from my parents right now is by no means insufficient… When it comes to money, the more money, the better.

This kind of thinking may seem ridiculous to a subject who is still a minor, but from my perspective as an adult at one time.

It’s better to earn money when you can.

After such a long time, I spent a lazy Saturday reviewing my future plans, and it was finally the day of the final battle.

Even though it is early in the morning, I can feel the early summer sunlight slowly dissipating the coolness.

It’s an important day, but I have to do what I have to do.

As I went out to the meeting place, I warmed up by saying hello to the now all too familiar red-haired and blonde-haired girls.

“Hi.”

“Hello… .”

“Hello.“

For some reason, Hong Yeon-seo looks listless.

“What is it? Why are you so droopy this morning?”

“Everyone goes to have fun except me.”

You were paying a lot of attention to that.

I couldn’t help but make a troubled expression.

Because it was a problem for which I couldn’t really offer a solution.

… … No, did you say that in times like this, comfort and empathy are more important than solutions?

I think I saw it somewhere.

“I can’t help it. I’ll take a lot of pictures, so work hard today and make sure you win.”

“Ugh.”

I wonder if it would be okay to do it like I did when comforting Lee So-yoon… .

It seems to be okay as I gently pat its head and it accepts it calmly.

“… I need to finish it quickly and go get ready. Let’s go quickly.”

“Hmph. I got it, well.”

Seong Yu-rin, who was warming up alone, urged us on.

There’s quite a bit left until our appointment time.

Should Hong Yeon-seo go quickly?

Thanks to Seong Yu-rin’s fast pace, we quickly finished jogging around the neighborhood.

“Well, see you tomorrow.”

“Yes. I will win too, so you will win too.”

“… I’ll try my best.”

In response to Hong Yeon-seo’s words, I couldn’t bear to make a rant.

* * *

I left the house with about 30 minutes left until the appointment time.

It took about 15 minutes to walk to the downtown station, so I had plenty of time.

I sent a message to Lee Se-ah and Lee So-yoon saying that I left home.

It was because we met each other on the way to the city and decided to go.

Seong Yu-rin decided to come separately with tea.

After receiving a call at a familiar intersection, I came out and joined Lee So-yoon, who was waiting, and after walking a little further, I was able to safely join Lee Se-ah.

Both of them were wearing civilian clothes that I had never seen before.

what… It seems like it’s a new outfit every time I see it, but girls tend to have a lot of clothes.

Even though my closet is full of neutral-colored clothes.

Lee Se-ah was wearing a white one-piece dress that looked like it would fly in the sky, with accents here and there.

Lee So-yoon… .

“Uh. That.”

“Hehe. Do you recognize me?”

“Of course. I gave it to you as a gift.”

On her birthday, she came out dressed up in the cute, girlish clothes I had given her as a gift.

also. I thought it would fit well.

When I made eye contact with Se-ah Lee, who helped me choose clothes, she also gave me a smile.

We arrived at the final intersection that divides the downtown area from the old town residential area.

… Although this isn’t a place where an accident could almost happen, the mere sight of Lee So-yoon standing at the intersection makes me startle.

Not only me, but Lee So-yoon himself seemed to be aware of this, and after that, he often looked around and stood at a distance from the road.

“I feel a little nervous for some reason.”

When it wasn’t long until the station, Se-Ah Lee spoke up.

“Don’t worry, they’re all good people.”

“Yes. I guess it’s because they’re close to Jin, but I’m also nervous about meeting strangers. Especially since you’re not even a classmate but a senior… .”

“Me too… … .”

This can be happen.

I also fully understand this.

Meeting new people is really scary… .

They were the two who naturally came behind me.

I understand how you feel, but I get goosebumps when I take the lead.

After walking some more, I reached a place where I could see the station, and three people with a familiar composition caught my eye.

… huh? Three people?

I rubbed my eyes and looked again and there was nothing there.

Did you at least go to the bathroom?

I walked forward with some doubt in mind.

The manager seen from a distance was wearing civilian clothes that I had not seen in a long time.

Well, of course it is. It’s the weekend.

Perhaps in order to save time while cosplaying today, she had already set her hair in fluffy, soft waves like Irina’s.

The manager, who noticed our approaching presence, waved his hand and at the same time, his fingers entered both sides of my waist.

“Keuok.”

“Ji, Jina. That person is a club senior?”

“Department, I’m the manager. Crush.”

“I didn’t say you were such a pretty person… !”

I almost died because their small whispers and attack came at the same time and at an unexpected moment.

It’s very blood-piercing. Kill, kill.

… When and where did I have the opportunity to explain the appearance of a senior member of the club to me?

“Junior~ And your friends?”

The manager I had become close to greeted me in a friendly manner.

“Jin’s friend is Lee Se-ah, a first-year student… .”

“This is Lee So-yoon. Seo, senior.”

“I am Yuara, a third grade student! Please feel free to call me sister~”

The manager responded politely to the introduction of the two with elegant gestures.

After seeing the manager’s self-introduction, which seemed somewhat high-ranking, the two looked at each other and blinked.

At that moment, the manager approached me.

“Junior! I never told you that these friends are so pretty and cute!”

“Keuok.”

The manager puffed out his cheeks and poked the area near the solar plexus.

No, why does everyone keep pricking my blood…? … .

After that, we had an awkward exchange with the vice-president and the secretary-general, and waited for Seong Yu-rin to arrive for the last time.

… … No, one person is missing.

“Manager. What about Senior Yoo Seol?”

“Ah! I got a call telling me to go first because Seol would be a little late. He asked me to meet him at the festival venue. He said he was sorry and said he would go with me when he returned.”

The manager picked up his cell phone and showed me the contents of the conversation he had with Yoo Seol.

Looking at the time we chatted with each other, it doesn’t seem like we overslept or anything.

I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but it seems like something urgent has happened.

“It’s a big deal.”

“Hehe, maybe I couldn’t sleep at night because I was so excited?”

“Isn’t that too much of treating a senior like a child…? .”

The manager just laughed at my words.

This is totally being treated like a child.

Meanwhile.

“… Rumors?”

“A girl’s name again… … .”

hmm… . I think I can hear some cold murmur from behind.

* * *

Just as the male Jin, including myself, was barely able to resolve the slightly awkward atmosphere caused by our first meeting, through small talk, I received a call from Seong Yu-rin.

“Hello.”

Seong Yu-rin’s calm and intelligent voice, which I heard this morning, came through the phone’s speaker.

[huh. it’s me.]

“Why? We’re all in front of the station.”

[Ah, because it is inconvenient for the bus to enter the main street. You know the parking lot behind the station, right? I want you to come there.]

The station where we gathered was quite large, so it bordered several roads, but Seongyurin seemed to be on the other side.

“Ah. there. okay. I’ll take everyone with me.”

[huh. I’ll hang up.]

From the moment the call came to me, I informed the people around me who had been quiet about the call.

Since you said it was a bus, I was imagining a bus with a familiar appearance.

A stylish black bus with a luxurious, modern and sleek design… bus… ?

Well, it’s a bus.

Let’s exaggerate a bit and say that it looks like a spaceship with wheels.

Anyway, I saw a bus that looked very expensive.

Perhaps because she saw me and the group behind me, the bus door opened and Seong Yu-rin, dressed like an adult, got off the bus with a confident gait.

Unlike usual and in the morning, her golden hair was curled and wavy, which was impressive.

The color is different, but the style is similar to the manager.

Like Yuseol and Bujang, the contrast between white and black was noticeable, but the contrast between gold and black was also nice to see.

“Huh?”

“… … Huh?”

And, the manager and Seong Yu-rin made eye contact and raised a question mark at the same time.