episode_0048

Upon returning from her shower, Yujin found Lime sitting on the bed, deeply engrossed in something.

Once again today, her body’s contours were evident due to her revealing attire.

At the very least, how could she misplace just those pants?

Should she point it out… After contemplating, she eventually shook her head.

There’s no point in saying anything; she won’t listen anyway.

“What are you doing?”

Asking with a hint of curiosity, Lime turned her head without responding.

Instead, she silently stared at Yujin.

Her gaze resembled that of a cat eyeing its prey.

“Why again? Why?”

“Hmm, just… After showering, seeing your wet body made me feel hungry.”

“…I probably shouldn’t have said ‘cool,’ right?”

“Well~ What do you think?”

With a composed turn of her head, Lime shrugged off the awkwardness.

“Rather than that, take a look at this.”

Extending her hand, she presented a blob of green liquid.

Yujin blinked upon seeing it.

“Did you give birth or something?”

“This crazy one blurts things out without thinking!”

She kicked as hard as she could.

Tears welled up, but this time, she let it go, knowing she was partly at fault.

“Just kidding, just kidding. What is this?”

“You were disappointed about not receiving the training from that female leader, right?”

Yujin looked puzzled by the sudden mention of the leader.

Why bring up the leader now?

“I’ve been discreetly studying the principles of that female leader’s training. It involves blending one’s energy with the opponent’s to facilitate the flow.”

“Like how massage improves blood circulation?”

“It’s a weak analogy, but the principle is correct, which is frustrating.”

“So, what does this liquid have to do with the leader?”

“Hehe!”

Proudly puffing out her chest, Lime explained.

“This liquid contains my magic! When you consume it, your magical circulation improves, giving you the same effect as that female leader!”

“Oh, I see. Dispose of food waste properly in the trash bag.”

“Why! Swallow it quickly! Swallow it twice!”

“Am I supposed to ingest this suspicious liquid? And it looks like some kind of seaweed!”

Upon reflection, it didn’t necessarily mean she was part of Lime’s weird play.

She wasn’t a pervert.

Such suspicious acts were declined.

“If you dispose of that, it’s war! Strip naked and crawl into bed at night, unable to sleep!”

What a forced situation.

Despite resisting, Yujin succumbed to Lime’s absurd coercion and reluctantly swallowed the strange liquid.

“Hmm, surprisingly, it feels okay.”

“Hehe, right? Even if it takes a while, the effects might be better than that of the female leader, right?”

Saying so, Lime smiled triumphantly.

Seeing her like that, Yujin couldn’t help but chuckle involuntarily.

“Is this for me?”

“…Didn’t you see the expression when you saved the female leader?”

“The female leader’s expression?”

“I bet. That fox must have tried to stick close to you, right?”

A fox… Even though it was diligent assistance in training, the evaluation seemed too harsh.

“Well, Lime may have a point…”

The female leader seemed genuinely grateful for being rescued.

There also seemed to be a sense of guilt for not being able to assist in training from now on.

There was a possibility, even if forced, that she might help again.

“But there’s no need for that.”

Honestly, Yujin saw no reason to become stronger like a withdrawal.

She didn’t want to fight if possible, and she believed she was strong enough as it is.

If the female leader wanted to help, it would be better for her to do so.

“At least now, she doesn’t have to feel sorry.”

With a reason to refuse, there was no need for the female leader to push herself to help Yujin.

With those thoughts in mind, Yujin took out a drink and rinsed her mouth.

She didn’t mention it out of respect for Lime’s honor.

Honestly, the taste wasn’t all that great.

****

The next day.

The class president at the academy cautiously called Chulsoo.

“What’s going on, class president?”

A brief pause.

He only rolled his eyes and glanced at Chulsoo.

How should he start this conversation now?

With that thought, his head felt like it was about to explode all night long.

But he had to do it.

No… Was it really what he wanted to do?

“I… I decided to help Kim Yujin with her training.”

Chulsoo’s expression changed dramatically.

Momentarily stunned and unable to find words, he finally opened his mouth with a serious look.

“Are you telling me Kim Yujin threatened you too?”

It was a natural question and suspicion coming from Chulsoo’s perspective.

The class president bit his lip hard.

There was no way he could say it.

That he helped Kim Yujin, his enemy, with her training while you were absent.

That he fell for Kim Yujin due to the stimulation of magic.

‘How can I say such a thing in front of a friend…’

The class president was once a girl in her prime.

It wouldn’t be easy to confess an embarrassing story of falling for someone.

Especially when that someone is Chulsoo’s rival, Kim Yujin.

Just keeping that fact to himself would cause Chulsoo immense pain.

Yet he couldn’t hide these feelings either.

“…I received help from Kim Yujin.”

“Help?”

“Yeah, anyone would accept help from Kim Yujin. At the very least, I feel obligated to repay that debt. So, I plan to help Kim Yujin as a form of repayment.”

That was the excuse the class president somehow managed to come up with.

He knew it was a cowardly lie.

Of course, it was true that Kim Yujin had saved him.

But there could have been numerous other ways to repay that debt.

He just wanted to be with Yujin even if it meant using this as an excuse.

‘But I can’t help it…’

After the recent incident, he had completely realized his feelings.

There was no way he could escape from this emotion.

Even showering, lying down to sleep, or staying still, he kept thinking of her.

Going to school made his heart race at the thought of seeing Yujin,

And leaving school left him feeling regretful for not seeing her.

Initially, he thought they would disappear if he ignored them.

It was a foolish misconception.

His feelings simply wouldn’t vanish.

Instead, they kept growing, almost overflowing from his chest.

Continuing to deny them would drive him crazy.

‘I’m sorry, Chulsoo, but…’

This was the best course of action for him right now.

At least while he was at the academy, he wanted to be close to her.

“What kind of help did that guy provide?”

“He saved me from being attacked by a villain.”

The class president struggled to speak, suppressing guilt.

At least it was the truth.

“If it weren’t for Yujin, I would have been violated by a monster and might not be alive right now. I’m not heartless enough to just keep quiet about that.”

“Yujin… When did you become so close to her?”

At Chulsoo’s words, the class president’s shoulders trembled slightly.

The thorns of guilt pierced his heart.

The fact that he had betrayed his friend acted as an extremely fatal weapon against the sincere class president.

In other words, it also meant that he liked Yujin enough to overcome that wound.

“Anyway, it’s true that I received help.”

“That guy wouldn’t help without any reason! He must be hiding some suspicious plan behind it!”

“Don’t speak so recklessly without knowing anything!”

Unintentionally, he shouted.

Chulsoo looked genuinely bewildered.

His expression didn’t carry negative emotions like anger.

Worry, confusion, concern, sadness.

It felt like he genuinely cared about his friend.

Because that’s who Chulsoo was.

‘Oh, why am I getting angry at him for doing something good…’

From Chulsoo’s perspective, it must have seemed strange.

After a long absence, when I returned to school, my friend said they would join forces with the enemy.

If you don’t intend to tell the truth,

you should at least try to understand Cheolsu’s perspective.

“Sorry, I’m not trying to be mad at you.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“I know you’re upset and can’t understand. But right now, I feel like I have to be this way. Can you wait until I sort things out?”

Cheolsu’s lips twitched.

It was clear he wanted to say something unbearable.

But in the end, Cheolsu swallowed those words.

Instead, he let out a sigh, “Haha.”

“Honestly, I don’t understand why you’re hanging out with someone like Kim Yujin.”

“……”

“Is there some reason behind it? Did he threaten you or something?”

“No. I decided to do this on my own.”

“…So helping Kim Yujin with his training is solely your decision, right?”

“……Yeah, that’s right.”

“Okay then, that’s settled.”

“Huh?”

Cheolsu breathed out as if relieved.

No, it was more like he was reassured.

“I thought you were being threatened like Yeonghee. If that were the case, I would have been even more anxious. I’m really glad.”

“……Aren’t you mad at me?”

“I’m not. Of course, I can’t understand. You’re a smart kid, so you must have a reason.”

My heart felt uneasy.

It felt like guilt would suffocate me.

Indeed, Cheolsu is a ‘good friend.’

You might not meet such a person twice in a lifetime.

“Still, remember this. No matter what you think, I will bring that guy down. I have a duty to do so.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Alright, well, if this is the path you’ve chosen, give it your all.”

With a refreshing tone, Cheolsu turned and left.

The class president, who had been standing there dazed for a moment, covered his face with his palm.

‘Wow, I’m really trash.’

He likes Kim Yujin.

He feels sorry for Cheolsu.

These are undoubtedly his own emotions.

But between them,

He felt relieved that Cheolsu didn’t get seriously angry,

Which made him feel disgusted.

He might end up hating himself.

‘…….Idiot, it’s too late to act like this now. I’ve already disappointed Cheolsu. What am I pretending to be a victim for?’

The class president struggled to stand up.

In the end, he chose Yujin.

So he would just have to do his best from there.

With that determination, the class president went to the classroom.

‘There he is.’

Black hair and a tall stature.

A sharp, cold, and composed impression.

The man who unknowingly stole his heart was there.

“Yujin.”

“Yeah?”

Before speaking, he took a deep breath.

Like a girl confessing her love.

Suppressing his trembling heart and lips, he slowly opened his mouth.

“To repay the favor from last time and also to train with you instead of Cheolsu, I’ve decided. Will you practice together after school today?”

“Oh, sure.”

“What?”

The class president’s body froze in surprise.

Not just his body, but his heart as well.

It felt like he was turning into stone.

Something was wrong.

It didn’t take long for him to realize it.

His heart throbbed.

Slowly.

As if falling into deep darkness.

An unfamiliar feeling of despair crept up.

Ignoring such feelings,

Yujin casually said, “I found a replacement. You can just train with Cheolsu.”

“……What?”

Saying that, Yujin got up and left.

The class president stared blankly at his retreating figure.

What does that mean?

This can’t go on.

Why did I hurt Cheolsu?

I betrayed even my friend, why…?

And a replacement…who?

Unconsciously, the class president started biting his nails.

Jealousy and anxiety, feelings she had never experienced before, slowly crept into her heart.