episode_0014

First of all, the counseling department has been successfully established on a temporary basis. Since we managed to knock down the four female students who were trying to hinder us, there is no one left to disrupt us.

The reason it’s “temporary” is that we didn’t have enough members.

Clubs in the same “miscellaneous” category as the counseling department require a minimum of three members, but for now, there are only two of us, me and Kim Noeul.

Kim Noeul couldn’t take her eyes off the club activity form. She seemed oddly fascinated by seeing her name listed under president.

“Is it really that great?”

“…I have to work hard.”

Although Kim Noeul tried to hide her emotions, it was clear from the slight upturn of her lips that she liked it.

Despite our cheerful atmosphere, the mood of the two girls staring at us from a distance seemed rather unpleasant.

One was a cat-like girl chewing gum aggressively, while the other stood awkwardly with long hair almost covering her face.

“Jin Hee-young and Na Yuna.”

Jin Hee-young is the head of the counseling department, and Na Yuna is a member.

However, Na Yuna was different from the other counseling members.

She was far from being a part of the elite group and was more like an outsider. In the webtoon before the TS, she was called “Eumchimnam.”

Na Yuna is naturally passive, so she postponed her club selection until the end and ended up joining the counseling department, which had available spots.

The reason Jin Hee-young accepted Na Yuna was simple. With more people, they receive more funding.

Moreover, Na Yuna was easy to handle, making her a suitable candidate from Jin Hee-young’s perspective.

Jin Hee-young quickened her pace and approached us. Na Yuna followed hesitantly behind her.

“Hello, Kim Noeul, and Kim Maru.”

“What’s the matter, senior?”

When I casually asked Jin Hee-young, she furrowed her brow.

“Well, someone made a mess of our members. I was so furious I almost lost it. But even so, there’s no need to be sincere with our juniors, right?”

“You can lose it if you want.”

I adopted a nonchalant attitude.

Kim Noeul sighed as if this was nothing new, and Na Yuna looked at me openly defying Jin Hee-young, as if I were insane.

Actually, I can’t do anything here. They’re the ones who started it, and I can’t force them physically. Jin Hee-young is just here to vent her frustration on us.

“Haha… Are all second-year students like this these days? Acting all timid in front of seniors?”

“If you have nothing to say, then leave.”

Kim No-eul seemed to want to avoid further conversation as she passed by her. When I also passed by Jin Hee-young, she muttered quietly.

“You guys really have some nerve. Lin seems very interested in my situation.”

“Jegal Hwa-rin?”

As I called out the full name without hesitation, Jin Hee-young’s eyes narrowed.

“You know well. It’s not too late to back off now. Since you won’t treat me as a man.”

“Jin Hee-young.”

Kim No-eul called Jin Hee-young’s name. When a junior calls your name, Jin Hee-young’s face turned red with disbelief.

“What? Did you just call me?”

“The polite language I used earlier was the last courtesy I showed to you as a senior. I don’t intend to be more courteous from now on.”

Kim No-eul glared sharply at Jin Hee-young.

“Don’t talk too much. Submit your withdrawal application to the office yourself.”

“…Unbelievable. Do I have to do what you tell me to do?”

The bystanders’ faces turned pale with their quarrel. To Yu-na, a herbivore, Kim No-eul and Jin Hee-young were top predators that she couldn’t even look at.

“Kim No-eul, let’s go now. She’s just a girl who can’t do anything anyway.”

At my urging, Kim No-eul relaxed her expression and passed by Jin Hee-young. As I passed by, I discreetly slipped a note into Yu-na’s uniform pocket.

Yu-na noticed it and stared blankly at my face.

*

*

*

Yu-na couldn’t focus on the lesson. It was because she had received a note with a phone number from a guy for the first time in her life. Her mind was filled with all sorts of fantasies.

“Why did he give me the note?”

She racked her brain, but the only conclusion she could come up with was that the note was related to love.

Her world was based on anime, manga, and 2D culture, so there was no other reason for a guy to secretly pass her a note in that kind of creation.

“Ah, of course, from Hitomi’s perspective, it does make sense to interpret it in a suggestive way.”

With that thought, Nayuna felt her cheeks flush. She vaguely recalled Kim Maru’s face.

Even among celebrities, it was hard to find someone as good-looking. He was like a male character from a dream, jumping straight out into reality.

He was already famous in the school. The transfer student possessed an unprecedented level of beauty.

Numerous female students took an interest, but Kim Maru, with his stern expression, only focused on studying and spent his free time with Kim Noeul, leaving no opportunity for other girls to approach him.

That top-tier handsome guy from their school had secretly passed her a note.

“What could it say… If it’s about this or that…”

“Uh, heh.”

Unintentionally, a displeased chuckle escaped her. The male student sitting next to her discreetly moved his desk away.

Seeing his reaction, Nayuna felt a pang in her heart and buried her head in her desk.

“Yeah, it’s probably just for practical purposes related to my topic.”

“Alright, review what we learned today. Trigonometric function limits are included in the test scope.”

After finishing his sentence, the math teacher left the classroom. It was now lunchtime. Nayuna headed to her usual spot, carrying her packed lunch.

Leaving the main building, she entered the auxiliary building and locked herself in a pleasant restroom stall where no one was present.

She set up her lunch and began to eat on the toilet seat cover.

The Vienna sausages and fried eggs she had prepared early in the morning at home were delicious. As she lived alone, her cooking skills had improved over time, making the taste excellent.

Like a hamster, she munched on her food and then skillfully accessed the school community site.

“Today’s posts…”

[Academic Rankings Update]

“If I see this, I’ll eat lunch”

[Jegal Yeonhwa, signs contract as model for a new school uniform company]

[Two perfect scores in the mock exam at Shinsung High]

“Ranking update…?”

Realizing that there was a change in the knowledge she had, she became intrigued. Upon opening the post, she found the rankings of academic battles.

“Wow, Kim Noeul is at this level? Well, she never loses to Jin Hee-young anyway.”

Eating a spoonful of rice, I scrolled through the comments. Just by looking at the usernames, it was quite amusing to see those “am-saeng” people fighting among themselves.

“Idiots.”

I chuckled and moved on to other posts. However, there wasn’t anything particularly interesting.

“There’s no substance today.”

At that moment, my phone vibrated, startling me. When I touched the screen, the sender’s name read “Editor.”

[Editor: Yuna, I edited the video as per the length we discussed last time. What do you think?]

The thumbnail sent by the editor displayed a woman boasting beautiful looks and an explosive figure. The caption on the thumbnail read, “Want to date a guy? I’ll tell you everything.”

[Yuna: I like it. Just upload it like this.]

[Editor: Okay.]

After sending the text, I stretched and absentmindedly gazed up at the ceiling.

“I thought at least one person might recognize me, but no one did. Is the gap really that wide?”

It seemed unbelievable even to herself. She turned off her phone and just as she was about to head back to the classroom, she remembered the contents of the note Kim Maru had given her.

“Oh right, I asked him to contact me.”

As it was her first time texting a guy, she pondered over how to send it. In the end, she sent a simple message.

[Me: Is this Kim Maru’s number?]

A moment later, a reply came.

[Kim Maru: Who is this?]

“Wow, he actually replied!”

Her hands trembled, and she couldn’t concentrate. Exchanging messages with the incredibly popular and handsome Kim Maru during lunchtime had made her feel somewhat naughty, causing her to nervously rub her thighs.

[Me: It’s Yuna…]

[Kim Maru: Ah, you contacted me. I’m Maru.]

[Me: Can I ask why you wanted me to contact you?]

“Am I being too formal?”

Even so, based on his tone, it seemed like she was groveling to a superior. Apparently, Kim Maru felt the same way and sent another message.

[Kim Maru: You can relax.]

[Me: Okay.]

[Kim Maru: The reason I asked you to contact me is regarding the Counseling Department.]

“Ah, as expected. Spring doesn’t come for me.”

Feeling suddenly depressed, Yuna hugged her knees and continued texting. The overwhelming size of her thigh pressed against her phone, where she rested it.

[Kim Maru: Are you planning to join our counseling department?]

[Me: To your department?]

[Kim Maru: Yes. We are short of one person, and I happened to notice a senior who might fit the bill.]

‘What kind of signal is this?! Am I being noticed?’

Nayuna’s breath grew heavy. She quickly typed out a message at the speed of light.

[Me: Why me?]

[Kim Maru: Because you’re in the counseling department. We think you could be helpful to us.]

‘Right… that must be the reason.’

[Me: But I think the director will oppose it…]

Nayuna, feeling down again, sent a negative response. However, Kim Maru immediately replied as if expecting it.

[Kim Maru: That’s the point. If you notice anything unusual about Director Jin, report it to me, and I’ll handle Jin Hee-young.]

Nayuna’s expression turned grim as she read Kim Maru’s message. The use of the word “handle” made her uneasy about what he might do.

[Me: Handle…?]

[Kim Maru: ?]

[Kim Maru: You seem more hesitant than I thought.]

[Me: No, it’s just…?]

[Kim Maru: We’re just trying to prevent the closure of the old counseling department. We feel sorry for seniors like you who would have nowhere to go, so we’re encouraging you to join our new counseling department.]

Now she understood. It meant they would make her a new counseling department member and wanted her support for the closure of the existing department.

‘There’s nothing wrong with that.’

It was truly a surprising turn of events for Nayuna, who had been enduring Jin Hee-young’s bullying. She wanted to break free from this gloomy outsider life by sticking with these two popular individuals.

‘Plus, if I’m in the same department as Maru, I’ll get to see his face all the time….’

She sent a text with a forced, unpleasant laugh.

[Me: Leave it to me. I’ll even tell you what you eat and when you go to the bathroom.]

After sending the message, Nayuna walked unsteadily to the counseling department after school. When she opened the door, she found Jin Hee-young sitting alone.

“You clueless bastard… doesn’t even know his place…”

Jin Hee-young, muttering curses while biting his nails, scowled when he saw Nayuna enter the room.

“Oh, for real! Open the door gently, you nerd!”

“Sorry….”

Nayuna shrugged and quietly took a seat in the corner.

“The damn brat’s already pissing me off, and now this.”

Grumbling, Jin Hee-young irritably took out his phone and made a call to someone.

[Hello.]

“Rin? Is it time already?”

[“Huh, what’s up that you’re calling at this hour?”]

Jin Hee-young blatantly spoke as if she wanted Na Yuna to hear their conversation even if she wasn’t paying attention.

“Does she not think I’d betray her?”

How lowly must she have thought of herself to not even consider such a possibility. Na Yuna widened her ears, even sinking into self-loathing, in order to fulfill her deal with Kim Maru.

“Our members fell victim to those newcomers trying to establish a new counseling department. If we don’t carry out our activities properly, the money coming to you will decrease, won’t it?”

[Oh… they’re just clueless fools poking their noses where they shouldn’t be.]

“They’re not just fools.”

[Huh?]

“One fool and one jerk. Those brats made up their minds to encroach on our department.”

“So practically, it’s just one fool, right? What are they believing in to confront you when I’m right behind you?”

“I don’t know either, it’s so annoying. Anyway, rather than our useless members, I should borrow your guys. I’ll make an advance payment.”

[It doesn’t matter but…]

“Why?”

“Lately, your patrol leader has been constantly patrolling around the rotary near Haneulgo.”

“No, it’s not because of that. He’s completely absent from school due to family circumstances. He even submitted long-term absence documents.”

“Then he must be working near the rotary, I’ll send the kids over there. Sort out the details among yourselves.”

“You’re the only one… But did you get permission from Yeon-hwa for this?”

[Geez, I don’t even have that much authority, do I?]

“Well, it’s not that…”

“And you said ‘one jerk.’ Then I guess sending two or three should be enough. With that scale, there’s no chance of it getting leaked to Unni.”

Jin Hee-young pondered.

The girls led by Jegal Hwaryeong are ultimately students under Okjakgyo. And since the area near Korea High is Jegal Yeonhwa’s territory, it’s appropriate to see them as Jegal Yeonhwa’s people.

“Jegal Yeonhwa won’t cause a fuss again, will she?”

She was worried because she heard that her younger brother, Jegal Hwaryeong, doesn’t get along well with her.

But if she leaves Kim Noeul, Kim Maru, and those brainless juniors alone, she won’t be able to sleep peacefully.

“Then I’ll ask for your favor.”

[Since I’ll be sending capable girls, providing accommodation for one girl won’t be a big deal.]

After ending the call, Jin Hee-young got up from her seat with a sly smile.

As she left the classroom, Na Yuna glanced at Jin Hee-young.

“Hey, cow. Keep watch until club activities are over, then clean up and go home.”

“…Got it.”

Thud.

As Jin Hee-young closed the door and left, Na Yuna muttered quietly to herself,

“Darn it, she’s making more noise when she closes the door.”

Grumbling, she immediately took out her phone and texted Kim Maru about what she had heard.