Ch.101Step Aside, I Have Something for You to Do (3)

The turning pages of the calendar,

The fading magnolias and cherry blossoms,

And the school rules transitioning from winter uniforms to spring/fall, then to a mix with summer uniforms.

Even within the rigid, square confines of school,

There were countless mechanisms signaling the changing seasons

And the passage of time.

In fact, when you think about it, there’s probably no place

Where you’re forced to do so many activities in such limited time as school.

It’s just that we don’t notice because it repeats so monotonously.

“Ugh… Do-Doyoung. Can’t breathe…”

“Hold still. I’m sure before, you only came up to the tip of my nose. But now why are you up to my eyebrows…”

And now,

In May, I was feeling more acutely than ever that time in this world was truly passing.

Until now, whenever I hugged Do Hamin, his face would be completely buried in my chest.

That was probably what the author of “Half of Half Island” considered the ideal height difference between a tall heroine and a short protagonist.

After the midterms ended, I had hugged him to check, and the calculation was still accurate at that time.

But now, hugging Hamin, I noticed his forehead and eyes had subtly risen above my chest.

I could see his face, with his reddened philtrum, as his eyes darted around not knowing where to look.

‘…He’s grown.’

Like watering an onion you’re praising,

I’d casually wished for him to grow taller and become more handsome without really expecting anything,

But seeing it actually happening was truly a strange feeling.

Was this really working?

If so, could it be that not just “grow taller” but also “become more handsome” was coming true too?

“…That’s not the case though.”

Looking at the face poking out from my chest, that part didn’t seem to have changed yet.

His face was still the Hamin I knew.

“Is this really your height? Have you been deliberately bending your knees all this time because you wanted to bury your face in my chest? Or were you actually a bit taller than Lee Dancheong from the start, but you were hunching your back?”

“What’s this, what’s this? Bahn Doyoung and Do Hajin. What’s going on between you two?”

“It’s not Hajin, it’s Hamin. Are you going to keep getting Hamin’s name wrong?”

“Ah, was it? Anyway, why is Bahn Doyoung hugging him? Unless you’re about to pile-drive him into the ground, that kind of thing shouldn’t be happening.”

“Ah… well…”

“Do-Doyoung, please stop… everyone’s staring at us.”

“Just wait a moment… Could it be this stupid hair? Maybe it’s because you haven’t had a haircut and it’s making you look taller…”

-THWACK!

At that moment, someone’s leg with considerable weight behind it kicked Miss Bahn Doyoung’s backside.

Pushed forward by the sudden force, my body pressed against Hamin’s lower half while we were still embracing.

‘…That’s grown too.’

Height aside, I could definitely feel that something else had grown.

What he’d been desperately holding back since the hug began couldn’t be contained once our lower bodies touched.

“…!”

“It’s okay, I’ve covered it as best I can. Rub your arm or something to make it go down quickly.”

Feeling the sharp rise of Hamin’s lower half in that moment,

I quickly pulled down his gym uniform top to cover the waistband of his pants.

Thankfully it wasn’t noticeable since he wore a size larger than he needed,

But we nearly had the entire class appreciating that silhouette together.

“Phew… Who the hell kicked me from behind?!”

“It was me, you fucking bitch.”

As I’d roughly guessed,

The one who had kicked Miss Bahn Doyoung’s backside was our class president, Ahn Seonggyeong.

“Ugh, class president, it’s you again? I almost bumped into your little friend down there when we collided.”

-THWACK!

“Ow! That hurts! It hurts!”

“Just line up properly by height and run around the field, you little shit!”

“Ouch! This is abuse of power! Someone help me! Choi Sahyang, Yoo Hyerang, Do Haemon!”

Things I thought wouldn’t change were changing.

For me, and for Hamin.

.

.

.

“School trip…?”

“Yeah, school trip. It’s coming up soon.”

“Ah, was it? I’ve been so distracted by other things that I forgot about such a big event.”

May at school is full of events.

There are many public holidays, the weather is nice, and everything seems like a reason for an event,

But the biggest reason is probably the timing.

It’s the time when both the school and students can be

Most free from the harsh task of exams.

Even for high school students who need to focus on studying for college entrance exams,

If you just look straight ahead and push yourself mercilessly, you’ll never reach your desired destination.

As adults say, study when it’s time to study and play when it’s time to play,

Focus and rest always need to coexist.

May is one of the few times when schools can give students a chance to briefly forget about studying.

“Aren’t you excited? This will be my first overseas trip.”

“During Bulsa Middle School, we spent three days doing a temple stay at some temple I can’t even remember the name of. High school trips are definitely better.”

Bulsa High’s May event was none other than the school trip.

The destination: Tokyo, Japan.

Well, considering Miss Bahn Doyoung’s mother and younger sister

Were studying abroad for kendo, it made sense,

But I never thought I’d be going there like this.

I’d never been there in my original world either.

How ironic that my first overseas trip would be after being reincarnated into a webtoon world.

Should I be happy about this stroke of luck or not?

It felt somewhat ironic.

“The timing of the school trip feels a bit early, but I guess it’s all good.”

“It is early. Even in Bulsa Middle, didn’t we go in second year? Don’t other high schools usually go in second year too?”

“They used to go in the fall of second year, but apparently there were tons of complaints from parents. They said it was too close to college entrance exams to let students have free time. The principal got so fed up with the complaint calls that he decreed Bulsa High school trips would always be in the first semester of first year from then on.”

“Wow, the power of complaints is amazing.”

A flood of complaints can make even a still principal dance.

There was a reason why Bulsa High, which encourages a free academic atmosphere for students, scheduled the school trip so early.

Although there was a somewhat strict educational philosophy,

The school didn’t obsess too much over college admissions.

But even Bulsa High had to surrender to the malicious complaint calls from parents of students facing their senior year.

The school trip, arguably the biggest event of the students’ three-year high school life, was pushed this early.

First year, first semester, and May at that—barely three months after entering a new school.

Some might complain that the schedule is too rushed,

But fortunately, most Bulsa High students came from Bulsa Middle School next door,

So they adapted to the school quickly, and such problems were relatively few.

As a result, the school festival and sports day, which were originally held in May of the first semester, were naturally pushed back to September and October of the second semester.

“By the way, we still haven’t gotten the schedule. I wonder if they’ll give it to us today or tomorrow.”

“I’m sure we’ll go by mid or late May at the latest. Any later would be too close to final exams and tough for teachers too. That’s how it was in middle school. We could ask Ahn Seonggyeong later if needed.”

“Oh, right! Let’s prepare for the talent show in advance!”

“Why ‘we’? Only those who want to should participate. I don’t want to.”

“Come on, Hyerang! Why are you trying to back out now? If we put Doyoung in the center to sing and just be backup dancers, we could win for sure! Don’t you want to split the prize money?”

“Not really, I’m not interested.”

“Tch, what’s this? You only want to shake your butt in front of your boyfriend, is that it?”

“Yeah, obviously.”

“Tch… how boring. Don’t complain when Doyoung and I split the prize money.”

Rejected by Hyerang, Sahyang naturally slid her butt toward me, who was sitting on the lower steps.

“Hey, Doyoung…?”

-Tap tap

Like a baby chick pecking at feed,

Sahyang poked my shoulder with her finger.

“Our Doyoung who sings so well. Are you interested in the school trip talent show? Since it’s decided by votes, if you participate, we’ll definitely win first place.”

“…”

“Doesn’t seem like you’re interested.”

“Oh, right. Didn’t you say your aunt and Siyoung are studying in Tokyo? Maybe you could meet them during the school trip?”

“Not interested.”

“W-wait, isn’t that extremely unfilial? You’re saying you’re not interested in meeting your mom and sister…? That can’t be right. At least say you’re not interested in the school trip.”

“I’m not interested in either. That’s not what’s important right now.”

“Wow, she just called it ‘that stuff,’ this girl.”

That’s right.

Right now, neither the school trip—potentially the biggest event of high school life—nor

The subplot about Bahn Doyoung’s younger sister—one of the last remaining family storylines—mattered to me.

“Th-then what is important?”

“…Do Hamin, that bastard, has started growing taller.”

“This girl is seriously crazy.”

Right now, my only concern was one thing:

I had begun to change the preset settings given to Do Hamin.