Ch.100Step Aside, I Have Something for You to Do (2)

After finishing my shower and changing clothes, I grabbed the umbrella from home and went outside.

It was to see off Doha-min, who was heading back for night study after kendo class.

“You don’t need to come along on a rainy day. Isn’t it uncomfortable walking on these wet paths right after showering?”

“It’s lonely going alone on such a gloomy day. You took my side in front of my mom’s son earlier, so I should at least do this much.”

“…I was on your side today, but if you do something that reckless again, I’ll have to side with Solyoung hyung and the master.”

“What? Why are you taking someone else’s side instead of mine? And after I walked with you through all this muddy water.”

“I-I have to do that so you won’t do dangerous things. Even if I have to take someone else’s side, that’s what I’ll do next time.”

“…Alright, I’ll pass that message along if I get a chance to talk to this body’s original owner.”

“Huh…? What did you just say?”

“Nothing, nothing at all.”

Doha-min seemed to be dwelling on the fact that he couldn’t stop me earlier.

Just like Solyoung, he must have been worried about the traffic accident that Jeong-gyu had suffered.

I didn’t feel too bad knowing that his affection for Ban Do-young was steadily growing.

“Ah, it’s a shame. At my age, I want to drive a car but can’t. At least the school is close, so I can manage this pedestrian lifestyle.”

“D-driving, if it’s about driving…”

“Huh? What about driving?”

“If it’s driving, I’ll get my license right after my birthday in senior year, so just wait until then.”

“…Oho. That sounds promising. Will you make me your first passenger?”

“If you’d like…”

“Hehe, that’ll be fun.”

I’ll make sure to pass that promise on to the future Ban Do-young as well.

That you’ve appointed her as the first person to sit in the passenger seat of the car you’ll drive.

“Get home safely. Study hard. You need to be first in the school for the next finals, right?”

“I-it’s not just my effort that matters. Ban Do-young, you’re at an age where you should be studying just as hard as me.”

“I’m the type of person who’s not really diligent. I can’t study unless exams are right around the corner. Besides, I don’t have the same motivation for the next exam as you do, right?”

The next finals were urgent for Doha-min, not for me.

After the midterms ended, our new deal was about Doha-min achieving first place in the school for the finals.

I just needed to think about what wish I’d grant him when he achieved that.

That’s why I wasn’t planning to focus much on the next finals.

If I said I was going to concentrate on studying,

Doha-min would surely forget his own goal again and try to help Ban Do-young with her studies.

I knew painfully well from his past actions that he was that kind of person.

“This time, focus on yourself, not me. I haven’t completely forgotten the study tips you taught me.”

“…If you ever forget, make sure to ask me again. I’ll tell you right away.”

“How could I not, sensei?”

“Well, I’m going in now. See you tomorrow.”

“Get home safely! And don’t fall asleep during night study because you’re too relaxed!”

Only after watching Doha-min enter the main building

did Ban Do-young’s daily routine truly come to an end.

Seeing him off had somehow become one of the things I had to do each day.

“…Ah, my feet are all wet. I should have worn Crocs.”

On my way home alone after sending Doha-min off.

Even though it was just a short five-minute walk,

walking alone in the rain did feel lonely.

“I’m home. Ah, Dad must be teaching evening classes.”

The silent living room where no one answered my greeting.

I quietly climbed the stairs to the third floor where my room was, taking off my rain-soaked clothes during that brief moment and entering my room.

“Ah, should I wash my feet again? Soaping up is such a hassle though.”

“They’re covered in muddy water, so rinse them with water and dry them with a towel.”

“Ah, that’s right. If I just wipe them without rinsing, sand might come off… Holy shit! You scared me!”

Right, there was one reason why I couldn’t let my guard down even in a quiet house.

Solyoung had finished his shower and, as if it were perfectly normal, entered my room and was sitting on my bed like it was a sofa.

“Why do you keep coming into other people’s rooms without saying anything!”

“…Ban Do-young.”

“W-what? Why are you suddenly lowering your voice?”

Solyoung’s words resonated low and heavy.

His expression, and the way he was strangely shaking his leg,

something about Solyoung’s behavior seemed off.

Like someone who had seen something they shouldn’t have.

Some part of his movements or tone seemed stiff and frozen.

“What’s wrong? Did Ms. Miso ask to break up?”

“T-that’s scary in its own way. Fortunately, nothing like that came up.”

“Then what is it? I need to change clothes, so get out. If you want to watch, pay 50,000 won and squeeze into that corner.”

“Why would I pay money to ruin my eyes? Anyway, you. You said you were dating that Hamin kid who teaches you kendo, right?”

“…I never said we were dating.”

“Ah, you said it wasn’t ‘yet’ at that level. Then I guess it’s still safe for now.”

I didn’t understand why he was talking to himself and feeling relieved.

At that point, I still didn’t know the reason.

“Just tell me what you want.”

“As long as it’s not yet, it’s fine. That’s a relief… or maybe not. Anyway, since it’s the guy you chose, Ban Do-young, I won’t say anything.”

“What? Did Doha-min tell you about how he knocked out Jeong-gyu at the hospital today? That was just to protect me and Ms. Miso from danger, he’s not actually violent.”

“You really don’t know yet. Well, maybe it’s better that way.”

-Tap

Solyoung’s hands patted my shoulders.

As if to comfort or encourage me about something.

“Anyway, fighting, my sister.”

“…Huh?”

“Since you said it’s not yet, this is all I can say. No matter how painful and hard it might be, it’s the man you chose. Endure it with grit and determination.”

“What are you talking about… Wait.”

-Grab

I caught Solyoung’s collar as he was about to leave after saying those incomprehensible words.

If it weren’t for his final remark, I probably wouldn’t have understood until he closed the door and left.

“What? Don’t tell me you saw it. Doha-min’s…”

“No, I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything.”

“Saying you’ll pretend means you did see it! You really saw it, didn’t you…?”

“Let’s end this conversation here. Hamin seems like a really good kid. You shouldn’t be scared off by something like that. I’m going now.”

“W-wait! Sit down and let’s talk about this, oppa…! Aren’t you thirsty? Want some Zero Lime?”

For the first time, I willingly pulled Solyoung into my room.

.

.

.

On the morning of the first day of a new month.

As if the gloomy weather that persisted until the end of April had been a lie,

the sky of <Half of Half-do> in May was high and blue, just like in children’s songs.

“Late on the first morning of May? You’ve got some nerve, Ban Do-young.”

“Ah, Teacher Lee Hak-ju. Good morning. The weather’s so nice today, can’t you let it slide? It’s too beautiful a day to be punished.”

“I’d like to, but you don’t give me that option. Your brother never once made me raise a cane during my school days.”

“Then can’t you let me go without hitting me too? I think there’s a problem with hitting Byuji when you didn’t hit Juji.”

“Ms. Miso is monitoring the back gate. Should I call her over?”

“No, I’ll take my punishment from you, Teacher Lee. The sky should be blue, but I should prevent my legs from turning blue with bruises, right?”

“Very well, I’ll make sure they turn red instead. Get down and stretch.”

Of course, in this new month,

I started by being late again.

It was unavoidable if I wanted to perfectly act as Ban Do-young.

I had prided myself on not being late while Solyoung was staying at home,

but humans are adaptable creatures, aren’t they?

Having quickly adapted to being possessed in Ban Do-young’s body,

I no longer felt any particular aversion to Solyoung coming to wake me up every morning.

“Ah, I ended up serving my punishment until just before first period started. Yawn… I’m sleepy.”

“What happened last night?”

“Nothing. I was just playing by myself. Under the covers.”

“Ah, I see… Then could you move your legs now?”

“I want to, but my legs hurt from being punished for being late. Let me rest them on your knees for a bit, Doha-min.”

I sat down with a yawn to compensate for my unfinished sleep.

Next to me, as always, sat the short protagonist of this world, Doha-min.

Still with the same timid face of a nerd.

“J-just for a bit… until when?”

“Hmm… what’s our next class?”

“…P.E. We need to change now.”

“Okay, then I’ll borrow your knees for a nap during P.E. class. Doha-min, come to the second floor of the gym after you finish running.”

“Why are you acting like it’s a given that you can use me, without even asking permission?”

“Because we’re on the same side, right?”

As long as I live as Ban Do-young,

I will always be on Doha-min’s side.

Then naturally, Doha-min should be on my side too, shouldn’t he?

.

.

.

“Alright, since I’m busy with hockey team coaching today, just do two light laps around the field, and then you can do individual physical activities. Now, boys and girls, line up in two rows by height. Everyone to your positions!”

“One, two, hey!”

The students of Class 1 began to form running formations, spreading their arms as the P.E. teacher instructed.

Whenever P.E. class came around, I would marvel at the height settings that the author of <Half of Half-do> had created for Doha-min and Ban Do-young.

Ban Do-young, being the tallest among the girls, would stand at the very back of the girls’ line,

and Doha-min, being the shortest among the boys, would stand at the very front, naturally bringing the two together in the same line during P.E. class.

Normally, with an even number of students of each gender, they would have met from front and back,

but since Ahn Seong-gyeong, the class president, had volunteered to be a military-style escort instead of the P.E. captain after the previous gym uniform incident, the girls’ line always had an odd number, allowing me to always have Doha-min beside me during P.E. class.

“Hey, Doha-min. You didn’t forget my promise from earlier, right? The stairs on the second floor of the gym. By the back door.”

“Um…”

“What, you don’t want to come? Did other kids ask you to play basketball? You know they won’t take you anywhere because you’re too short…”

I turned my head toward Doha-min, who should have been my partner.

But Doha-min wasn’t there.

“What? Lee Dan-cheong, why are you next to me? Where’s Doha-min?”

Standing next to me was not Doha-min,

but Lee Dan-cheong, the second shortest boy in Class 1 after Doha-min.

“Doha-min is behind us.”

“Huh?”

“I’m here.”

Doha-min, who should have been beside me, was oddly standing in the row behind me, keeping in line.

“Why are you there? Aren’t you coming to the front?”

I gestured to Doha-min to return to his place, but…

“Hey, Ban Do-young. Don’t change the order of people in line as you please.”

-Slap!

Ahn Seong-gyeong, who was in charge of escorting, approached and swatted away my gesture.

“Ouch, why did you hit me! I was just telling Doha-min to come here because he’s in the back!”

“Why are you trying to put Doha-min next to you? The P.E. teacher said to line up by height, so we did.”

“That’s why the shortest Doha-min should be next to me… Huh? By height?”

I turned my head and looked down at Doha-min standing behind me.

As my eyes scanned from his head to his toes, I felt a strange sense of dissonance.

“W-why are you looking at me like that…?”

I approached Doha-min, who was standing behind me, keeping a distance in alignment.

“Stay right where you are.”

And then I used my whole body to confirm

the identity of that dissonance I felt.

“W-wait… Do-young, what are you suddenly doing?”

“This guy… Did his head always reach up to here?”

“B-Ban Do-young is hugging Doha-min!”

May was blue,

and Doha-min was growing.