Chapter 95 – D-Day (1)

Nothing unusual happened in the days leading up to the charity concert on Sunday.

I continued to encourage So-yul, and she devoted herself to practice.

Even as the day of the decisive battle approached, our daily routine remained unchanged, with each day simply flowing into the next.

As her boyfriend, I wanted to be more helpful, but So-yul insisted I was already doing enough, smiling as she said so.

She claimed I was already giving her plenty of strength. That I was fulfilling my role as her boyfriend perfectly.

She even grumbled that she was worried about me worrying about her. She truly was a virtuous girlfriend.

As we continued this warm and happy daily life.

Sharing our affection and nurturing our feelings for each other.

Our time gradually moved forward toward the future…

And finally, the day of the charity concert dawned.

◎

The actual performance was scheduled to begin in the afternoon.

Of course, the school had become bustling much earlier than that.

Such events typically double as school publicity opportunities.

This was why visitors were allowed to wander around the campus before the performance.

Had they all gathered in the main auditorium, it might have been less noticeable, but scattered throughout the school, their presence was palpable.

As it happened, others seemed to share my impression.

“Wow, it’s been a while since the school was this noisy,” Juho remarked.

On our way to lunch before the charity concert, he kept turning his head around, muttering in amazement.

“That’s to be expected. How often do outsiders get to enter this school?”

“No, but it’s just a performance by music students. This is almost like the arts festival. Isn’t it surprising?”

“…I guess.”

Now that he mentioned it, I had to agree.

The school crowded with all sorts of people mingling together.

I couldn’t remember seeing such a scene since the arts festival.

The arts festival was known as the “most important annual event for arts track students.”

Half the student body was mobilized, and even I had participated as a helper.

For such a labor-intensive event, it wasn’t strange to have many visitors.

But today’s charity concert was different.

It wasn’t a regular event, and there weren’t many participants either. Only a portion of the arts track would be performing. If I had to put it bluntly, it was on a different level from the arts festival.

Yet the reason so many people were flocking to the school…

“It means Han So-yul is that much of a superstar,” Juho joked, poking me in the side.

I deliberately turned my head away and retorted sharply, “Why are you telling me about Han So-yul?”

Juho burst into laughter as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“What? Are you still trying to play dumb with me?”

“Playing dumb about what? We’re really not anything to each other.”

“Oh come on, last time in the sports storage shed you were cover—”

I shot him a piercing glance, and Juho immediately shut his mouth.

After a moment, he awkwardly smacked his lips and said, “…Alright, alright. I promised not to mention it anyway.”

“I’m glad you remember.”

“Yeah. Han So-yul must be lucky to have such a handsome boyfriend.”

I shot him another glare, but this time he didn’t even pretend to notice. Instead, he just nodded his chin at me with a look that seemed to say “what are you going to do about it?”

He really had a nasty personality.

But what he said wasn’t entirely wrong.

I’d heard that the music world’s view of our school had changed since So-yul enrolled.

The school where the most promising prodigy of the future studied. A place already supported at the national level. It certainly had no shortage of qualities to attract attention.

For today’s charity concert, So-yul told me she’d been assigned the very last slot.

Despite the orchestra club organizing and planning the performance, they had yielded the spotlight to So-yul, who wasn’t even a club member.

I’m dating such an amazing girlfriend.

It was a realization that couldn’t help but surprise me anew.

◎

After barely finishing lunch, I headed straight to the main auditorium.

The performance was scheduled to start at 3 PM. Since it was only 1:30 now, there was still plenty of time. Student seating was assigned, so there was no need to arrive early to secure a spot or wait in line.

The reason I came to the auditorium early was to scout the venue.

During the arts festival, I at least had the title of helper, but this time I hadn’t been assigned any role. Naturally, I hadn’t been able to participate in rehearsals either.

If I were just going to sit and watch the performance, that would be one thing, but this time I wanted to observe So-yul’s mother’s reaction. I needed to look around beforehand to find a way.

And… if possible, I wanted to meet So-yul and give her strength.

As her boyfriend, I wanted to somehow encourage her before her important performance.

With this intention, I arrived early at the auditorium.

“…”

I felt my skin burning from an unexpected person’s piercing gaze.

I met the eyes of the source. They continued to stare at me as if they didn’t care.

I had no intention of participating in this childish staring contest. I took out my phone from my pocket and sent a message to the person.

The name was… ‘UNKNOWN’.

[I didn’t know you were in the orchestra club.]

The reply came shortly.

[You didn’t know?]

Why would I need to know the major of someone who had threatened me? …I kept that thought to myself.

I had wondered if they’d blocked me, but apparently not. After all, if they were openly glaring at me, it meant they had no intention of ignoring me. Whether that was good or bad, I wasn’t sure.

Well, what could I do? I decided to ask directly.

[Why have you been staring at me?]

The response was immediate.

[Just wondering if you’re treating So-yul well.]

[Do you glare at people because you’re curious if they’re treating someone well? You’ve got a great personality.]

[I wasn’t glaring. And I hear that I have a good personality a lot.]

[Yeah, I bet you do.]

It probably meant the opposite most of the time.

In the classroom, they’d pretend not to see me when we crossed paths, but when no one was watching, they’d stare like this. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it felt like being treated as some villain, which wasn’t particularly nice either.

Fine. I’d known for a while that this person viewed me with distaste. They’d warned me they would do anything if I made So-yul sad. There was no point in trying to be friendly now; it would only be more frightening.

Just then, a message arrived.

[So? Are you treating So-yul well?]

What an irritating tone this person had.

[I am, so don’t worry about it.]

[Who are you to tell me not to worry?]

This was ridiculous.

[Then who are you to worry about our relationship?]

I deliberately pressed the send button hard.

I couldn’t tell them not to interfere in my relationship with So-yul. I could overlook it since their meddling stemmed from concern for So-yul.

But if they were going to be unnecessarily sharp, I had to respond in kind. That was also why I had decided not to bow down to So-yul’s mother.

The other person must have been hit where it hurt, because after a while of silence:

[Because I’m So-yul’s friend.]

Oh sure, I bet you are. But what could I do? I snorted and replied:

[Then I’m So-yul’s boyfriend, so don’t worry about it.]

After sending the message, I shoved my phone back into my pocket.

Somewhere in the auditorium, I thought I heard the sound of someone kicking the floor.

That was the end of their messages. Either they gave up after losing our childish war of words, or they threw their phone in anger. Either way, I didn’t particularly care. I was just glad the troublemaker had disappeared.

But… perhaps I should be grateful to this person.

Was I truly making So-yul happy? What was I doing as So-yul’s boyfriend?

These were questions I had never properly considered. Because I was happy being with So-yul. Because So-yul also seemed happy. I had been living complacently, thinking that this was enough.

But after being lectured by this person, and after experiencing countless incidents since then, I began to agonize over what I could do for So-yul.

I wasn’t sure if it was the right answer, but at least for me, it seemed like the most correct choice.

What I could do for So-yul was…

“…You’re here early?”

A familiar voice from behind interrupted my thoughts.

Of course, this person would naturally be in the auditorium right now. It wasn’t particularly surprising.

I turned around to find So-yul’s mother standing there.

She was in all black again today. The thick makeup remained the same. And of course, the luxury bag and various accessories. At this point, it was as if she was trying to establish some kind of concept.

Anyway, there was nothing to be nervous about.

“Hello.”

As I answered with my eyes wide open, So-yul’s mother furrowed her brow.

“I asked why you’re here early?”

“Ah… was that what you were asking?”

I smiled lightly and said, “I’m a student at this school, so can’t I drop by the auditorium?”

At my slightly sarcastic remark, So-yul’s mother let out a mocking laugh.

“I didn’t ask because I know you didn’t come for that reason.”

So-yul’s mother countered in a biting tone.

It seemed she had no intention of hiding her hostility. Her behavior reminded me of someone I’d encountered earlier. Of course, in terms of intimidation, So-yul’s mother was far ahead.

But I had already prepared myself.

No matter what this person said, I had nothing to fear.

“Think whatever you want.”

“…”

The expression completely disappeared from So-yul’s mother’s face.

In its place emerged a fierce countenance.

It was a look so frightening that I wanted to avert my eyes just from seeing it.

But I decided to face it head-on.

If So-yul had decided to confront her mother, I shouldn’t back down either.

“So?”

After a moment, the word that came from So-yul’s mother’s mouth was surprisingly ordinary.

I had been expecting some sort of curse or insult… but then again, it would be laughable for a 40-year-old woman to curse at a high school student.

However, So-yul’s mother didn’t stop there.

“…It’s going to be a waste of effort anyway.”

A waste of effort.

Leaving behind these words with an unclear meaning, So-yul’s mother abruptly turned her back. She seemed to be heading toward the backstage area of the auditorium. She was probably planning to keep watch to prevent So-yul and me from meeting.

Well, we’ll see about that, won’t we?

I barely suppressed the urge to shout this at her retreating back.

There was no reason to provoke her unnecessarily. A conclusion would be reached soon enough. There was no need to create problems where none existed.

I looked up at the clock hanging on the wall of the auditorium.

Only one hour remained until our counterattack would begin.