episode_0350

.

Convenience Store.

As ordinary a place as any, there was nothing particularly special about it.

To describe the current situation plainly, it was just a coincidence that I happened to see someone I knew going into a convenience store.

Convenience stores are as ubiquitous in South Korea as the term “convenience store zone” suggests, a phrase that emerged years ago.

There’s no reason to be surprised just because someone frequents one.

Had it been a building more associated with entertainment, it might have been a fleeting topic of conversation—”Oh, so you go to places like that too~”—but

it was just a convenience store.

“…”

Right. Just a convenience store.

If it had been any random convenience store, Yoo Si-woo wouldn’t have given it a second thought. But of all places, it had to be that one.

The same convenience store where he had tried to strike up a conversation with his sunbae, who had been sniffling as if she had a cold, only to get lightly scolded before parting ways.

And of all people, that rude bastard had to walk into that very store.

To dismiss what he just saw as an utterly mundane, everyday occurrence,

or to write it off as a simple coincidence—

…didn’t it feel off somehow?

“…Annoying.”

His sunbae was acquainted with the school nurse.

Perhaps the nurse lived near his sunbae, which could explain how they became close. Maybe they ran into each other often as neighbors.

So, the nurse stopping by the convenience store where his sunbae had been seen wasn’t as far-fetched as it seemed…

Piecing together the information he had, the picture roughly formed in his mind.

But still,

didn’t it feel off somehow?

A man who had never been seen before, despite trailing his sunbae all this time,

had started appearing far too frequently lately.

“…Tch, damn it…”

That uneasy feeling, like the kind you get when encountering a superstition.

Don’t write people’s names in red ink, skip the fourth floor in buildings, consider black cats ominous—that sort of thing.

It’s fine to ignore it, and believing it is entirely up to you. Just that nagging discomfort.

In the end, Yoo Si-woo quietly stepped out from the alleyway.

“…”

He’d just strike up a casual conversation.

Oh, hello, Teacher. What’s up? Do you live around here?

Really? Wow, what a coincidence. I live just up ahead.

He’d keep the small talk going like this, then part ways neatly in front of the convenience store.

Or,

No? Then why are you here?

Ah, to treat sunbae~

Now that you mention it, she did seem a bit off at the academy too.

He’d keep the chatter going like this, then tail the teacher to pinpoint sunbae’s house.

Either way, he’d gain useful information—no loss here.

Especially the latter, as it would significantly narrow down the address of his wary sunbae, which had been vague until now—just knowing which neighborhood she lived in.

“Phew…”

Having made up his mind, Yoo Si-woo briefly scratched his head.

This would make it seem more like he had just popped out to the convenience store near his place.

The clothes he was wearing were perfectly casual, nothing too deliberate.

Slippers would’ve been better, but with that thought, he adjusted his collar and firmly gripped the convenience store door handle.

-Ding, ding

“Need a bag?”

“Mm… Yes. Ah, a pay-per-use bag, please. 10-liter.”

“…”

The first thing he saw upon entering was

a can of that famously caffeine-loaded drink placed on the counter.

“…What the hell. Running into you here, Vice President.”

And next to it, three boxes of condoms toppled over like dominoes.

350

It’s not like we’ll be at it all night, so this should be enough.

Other things aside, exhaustion is something even I can’t do much about, so drenching my brain in caffeine should help.

If, by some chance, this isn’t enough, I can always take a break and come back later.

There’s nothing else I need to buy.

After tapping my phone on the terminal to pay, I grabbed my items.

Without delay, I stuffed everything into the bag, the rustling sound accompanying me as I headed out.

-Ding, ding

“…”

…Or so I intended.

What an unfortunate coincidence—a familiar face pushed open the convenience store door just as I was about to leave.

“…What the hell. Running into you here, Vice President.”

Yoo Si-woo.

A guy who’s been working hard to get a shot at Baek Seo-yeon,

though at this point, he’s hardly worth noticing.

“Ahaha… Hello.”

Not exactly a warm welcome, though not quite hostile either.

If anything, I was suspicious—had he started stalking me too after seeing me with Baek Seo-yeon last time?

More than that… I felt a twinge of pity.

Poor bastard.

Before that snake of a girl ruined me, I was just like Yoo Si-woo—unable to touch the woman I wanted.

Something like that.

Still, his obsession with Baek Seo-yeon makes me wonder—does he have a thing for fox-like beastkin?

Or has he been around her so much that he’s been bewitched, like some legendary nine-tailed fox?

Briefly, I looked down at him with sympathetic eyes during this chance encounter.

Only then did I notice the peculiar expression on Yoo Si-woo’s face.

…His gaze, too.

Rather than looking at my face, he seemed fixated on the bag in my hand.

“……”

Ah,

that’s what it is.

…The condoms.

“Ah, thanks for ringing me up. Have a good one.”

Swallowing the urge to ask, “Something on your mind?”—I stared at Yoo Si-woo’s face with a faint smile.

But contrary to my expectations, his expression remained perfectly composed.

Pretending not to be shaken, pretending not to care.

Acting like he had no interest in what was inside that bag.

A perfectly, utterly calm expression.

Even if Yoo Si-woo is slightly shorter than average, he’s not so short that he couldn’t see over the convenience store counter.

…So, that expression could only mean he saw something.

It couldn’t be because of the drink…

Obviously.

It’s the condoms.

Honestly, it’s a little ridiculous that the atmosphere turned like this over something so trivial.

It’s not like buying condoms is strange.

If a kid in uniform bought them, it might raise some eyebrows,

but even that’s legally fine, and I’m an adult.

What could Yoo Si-woo be thinking to maintain such a stiff expression?

Last time we met downtown, I clearly told him I was helping Baek Seo-yeon pick out a gift for her girlfriend.

So, logically, he’d assume these condoms were for that girlfriend—Lee Ha-yoon, whose name must have reached his ears by now.

What the hell is he imagining?

Why hasn’t he moved an inch from the entrance?

“……”

Just how far can he go without saying anything?

Maybe I should poke a little.

“I’ll head out first. Can you move aside instead of just standing there?”

“…Wait a second.”

As I approached and spoke to him, Yoo Si-woo finally looked up at me with a professional smile.

Even when he’s not in the mood, he can pull off such a natural expression. I almost envy that talent.

“So, uh… Do you live around here, Teacher?”

“No. The housing prices here are pointlessly high—felt like a waste of money.”

“…Ah.”

The quickest way would be to just ask why I bought the condoms.

But instead of a direct question, Yoo Si-woo circles around it like a girl, asking indirectly.

“Do you live around here?”—the obvious intent behind his words is almost laughable.

And because I’m feeling a little mean,

I play along without dodging.

“So you live somewhere else.”

“Not too far, but I’m mostly near the academy.”

“…About a 30-40 minute walk from here, then.”

“Yeah. Around that.”

Yoo Si-woo probably knows Baek Seo-yeon lives around here. Maybe he even has a rough idea of her address.

If I reassured him with a lie that I’m a local, he might cling to that delusion for a while.

“Ah, so Baek Seo-yeon and Seo Woo-jin really are just acquaintances.”

“And the condoms I just bought must be for my girlfriend…,” or so he’d think.

But honestly,

if he hears I’m not a local—

“Then why… are you at this convenience store?”

“Meeting someone. Stopped by on the way.”

“…”

Wouldn’t the first thought that comes to mind be—

“We’re screwed”?

“Meeting someone… You mean that girlfriend you mentioned last time? Lee Ha-yoon? The one you said you were dating.”

“…Why bring that up all of a sudden?”

“Because you just… bought condoms.”

“…Ah, that’s why.”

Honestly, the truly creepy one might be me, arbitrarily guessing others’ thoughts.

As self-deprecating thoughts began to surface, I tightened my grip on the rustling bag and lifted it slightly.

Peering at the faint outline of the condom boxes inside the white bag, I glanced at Yoo Si-woo, who was also staring at it.

Then, clearing my throat unnecessarily, I added:

“Should we step outside first? Let’s not do this inside the store.”

“……”

“Wait, you came here to buy something too, right? Maybe we should just part ways here—”

“No. …There’s something I wanted to ask you, Teacher. Let’s go out together.”

Yoo Si-woo, who now seemed to have changed his mind, walked out with me.

Though I still doubted whether I’d hear what he was truly curious about.

Outside, the bright daylight had grown noticeably warmer and sweeter than before entering the store.

Beneath a crimson sky where the sun had sunk, a low-flying plane cut across, humming with the sound of summer.

As we walked, Yoo Si-woo suddenly turned to me and spoke.

“First, can you answer me? Were you really meeting Ha-yoon?”

At this point, it’s almost pitiful, but I had no reason not to answer.

The very question I wanted Yoo Si-woo to ask—dripping with suspicion—was now in the open.

The thrill of conquest, of handling a woman admired by everyone as I please.

The exhilaration of openly deceiving her most ardent fan, someone who can only watch from afar…

A rush of superiority I never expected to feel from Baek Seo-yeon.

Swallowing that pleasure whole, I delivered the answer Yoo Si-woo least wanted to hear.

“No. Ha-yoon doesn’t live around here.”

“…”

Yoo Si-woo’s brows furrowed deeply.

Just moments ago, he had been wearing a well-practiced smile.

But now, without even a chance to smooth his expression, he fired the next question.

“Then why did you come all the way here?”

“Seo-yeon noona said she was sick. …Ah, no. The Student Council President.”

“…”

“The Student Council President lives around here. As the Vice President, you’d already know that, right?”

“…I know. Of course.”

There was none of the threatening behavior from the midterm exams.

His hands were in his pockets. His posture hadn’t changed.

Only his lower lip curled inward briefly before loosening, his eyes blinking rapidly as he stared holes into me.

His pale lips parted, and his voice slipped out.

“So… you came to treat sunbae. Seo-yeon sunbae.”

“Yeah. She’s always been reluctant to accept my treatment… So I had to come in person.”

“Then, Teacher.”

Quietly.

Though there weren’t many passersby around.

Almost inaudibly.

Softly.

“…Why did you buy condoms?”

“I have a use for them.”

That woman who must be filling Yoo Si-woo’s imagination—

I’ll defile her.

“What are you going to use them for?”

“You already know, don’t you? …For contraception.”

“…Contraception?”

“Yeah.”

Defile her.

“…But you said you’re going to treat sunbae now. Why contraception?”

“Yeah. Contraception.”

“…Ah, you’re not making sense. You just said Ha-yoon doesn’t live here, so what—”

Defile her.

“…Are you dating sunbae too?”

“We’re not dating, so don’t worry. Seo-yeon noona hates me anyway.”

“Then what? If you’re not dating, why the condoms, and the contraception talk…”

“They could just be for Ha-yoon later. Your reaction is a bit…”

“Shut the fuck up. Don’t play word games. You just said you weren’t here to meet Ha-yoon…!”

“…Yoo Si-woo-ssi. …No, ‘Yoo Si-woo student’ might be better.”

“……”

“…Are you that curious about why I bought condoms?”

Thoroughly,

defile her.

“…Tell me. Now.”

“Whether it’s me or Seo-yeon noona, it’s our private lives. …Can you keep a secret?”

“Don’t fuck with me. Why would I keep that kind of—”

“If you can, I’ll show you a little of what you want to see.”

“……”

“…Just the sound. Very briefly.”

“……”

“If you listen well for a long time… maybe in the distant future, a short clip with no faces.”

Drop dead.

Obey.

“……”

“…Can you keep it?”

“…J-just tell me why you bought the condoms first…”

“You already figured it out. …Can you keep it or not? That’s all I need to hear.”

“……”

“…Not interested?”

“……”

“If strange rumors spread… Baek Seo-yeon would be in quite a bind.”

“……”

“Maybe she’d even have to leave the academy.”

Defile her.

Crush her.

Lure him in.

“…F-fine, I’ll keep it, you bastard…”

“……Good.”

“……”

“Then, do you need the sound?”

“……”

“Since it’s purely for sunbae’s sake, you don’t need it, right?”

…Know the truth, but gain nothing.

Stay silent, become a worthless fool.

Just as I was about to defile her completely—

“Hyah…!”

“…?”

“…”

Something crashed into me from behind, hugging me tightly with a thud.

Naturally, my gaze turned toward it.

“…What are you doing, Yozora?”

“What does it look like~? Duh, we’re locking ourselves in a manga café again…?”

“So what’s this about?”

“This is how you greet someone when you’re happy! Fist bumps, high fives! Haven’t you read manga?”

“…Don’t use manga as an excuse. Get off.”

“Pfft…”

Her deliberately pressing breasts slid off my back.

Then, leaning slightly, Yozora stepped in front of me.

Holding a large paper shopping bag as if she’d been out shopping, she grinned as usual, her red eyes sparkling.

“But why are you here? Shouldn’t you already be at Seo-yeon’s place with Sua?”

“…How did you know to come here?”

“I knew Seo-yeon was sick too. …But I got rejected last time, remember?”

“…”

“I thought about leaving you to have your fun… but after rolling around in bed thinking, it didn’t feel right.”

“What do you mean ‘not right’?”

“Come on, you know? ……Why does it have to be fair? The one who wants it should fight for it and win~…”

“…”

Even with Yoo Si-woo right in front of me.

…As if she hadn’t noticed him at all.

Speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear,

“Anyway, Sua’s at Seo-yeon’s place now, right?”

“…Probably.”

“Okay, okay, then let’s hurry—”

“W-wait…”

Only after hearing Yoo Si-woo’s flustered voice did she seem to notice him,

turning to ask me, “Someone you know?”

The sense of superiority that Baek Seo-yeon alone had been enough to fuel—

…grew even larger.

“…What’s your relationship?”

“Our relationship? Well……. …Uh, can I say it?”

“…Go ahead. Doesn’t matter.”

“Up to what point?”

“As far as you want to say.”

“…You won’t regret it?”

“…Skip the weird stuff. Keep it simple.”

My head throbbed with heat.

Yozora’s voice, now deliberately small and sweet, slipped out:

“We’re sex partners~”

“……”

The most crucial thing—

the nature of my relationship with Baek Seo-yeon—

…was left entirely to Yoo Si-woo’s imagination.