episode_0079

That evening.

Yuju and Lina went to the convenience store to get some ale, but Ale refused to come out, groaning in pain.

“I’m on my period.”

With that one sentence, the two of them had no choice but to understand and quietly retreat.

After dinner, the atmosphere at the academy was free and relaxed, much like the routine hours of a normal army barracks. Some people were singing at the karaoke room, some were playing billiards, and others were sweating it out at the physical training center, preparing for the next quarter’s tier measurement.

Of course, there were also cases like these two, simply spending time eating.

“Wow! Bon appétit!”

“I’ll enjoy it too!”

The convenience store inside the academy, serving as PX, where the two high-energy individuals expressed gratitude to each other as they started their dinner.

“Mmm, it’s so delicious!”

“Try this too. It’s the new fried mandu.”

“Wow, it melts in your mouth!”

With ecstatic expressions, holding hands and swaying shoulders, Yuju’s ponytail danced above her head. Lina laughed in disbelief as she mixed her stir-fried ramen.

“Although the mandu is a new product, stir-fried ramen just isn’t the same without mandu.”

“I’ll buy one!”

“Oh, thank you!”

“Of course, meat mandu, right? And for dessert, ice cream?”

“As expected, you’re a learned person.”

Seeing Yuju give a thumbs up, Lina rushed to the frozen food showcase.

As she calculated the items, Lina watched Yuju energetically open the bag of steaming mandu, emitting a satisfied sigh.

“Wow! Now it feels complete.”

“Mandu is a must with stir-fried ramen!”

“Indeed.”

“Bon appétit!”

As if questioning when they ever looked serious, Lina cheerfully exclaimed again, starting their fourth meal of the day.

Between the two of them, who had been quietly eating for a while, Yuju was the first to break the silence.

“But Chloe must be pitiful. Becoming incompetent overnight and getting kicked out of the academy, and hearing such harsh words…”

“I understand Dakota’s feelings, but it was a bit too much.”

“No, it was too much! How can people speak like that in front of so many others?”

Yuju expressed her anger as if it were her own problem.

After all, Ale Chloe was a character that Yuju really liked before coming here.

The fact that she had to watch Chloe being humiliated in front of others in such a helpless state was extremely unpleasant and painful for Yuju.

“Is there no way we can help?”

“I don’t know. If Lager handles it well, it would be great. But, it’s not easy.”

“I don’t like Lager’s attitude either. Saying he likes her, proceeding with the marriage on his own. If it were me, I would have sided with Chloe without questioning or hesitating. It’s really frustrating.”

Lina nodded silently and mumbled as she ate her mandu.

“Anyway, it’s a big problem. If things continue like this, Ale will really end up as nothing more than Lager’s incompetent wife.”

“Is there no way out? Does she really have to live her whole life as an incompetent person?”

“Hmm.”

Instead of answering, Lina let out a soft sigh and asked.

“By the way, when is Youngchang coming back?”

“He’s coming back on Monday.”

“Is Lager going with him? Are they going together and coming back together?”

“Yes. They both have a 15-day full-time sentence.”

Feeling down at the thought of entering Yeongchang, or perhaps frustrated by not being able to use PX while there. Either way, Yooju pouted and whimpered, “Hing,” tears welling up in her eyes.

“I feel so wronged. What is this all of a sudden? I didn’t run away, but there’s no way to prove it.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“No, it’s not. Even if I say I was there when I came to my senses, no one will believe me. Sigh…”

“But if you endure this one time, you’ll settle in the academy. Hang in there and come back safely.”

“Yeah… There’s no other choice.”

Yooju mumbled weakly, her fingers fumbling with her cane. Lena smiled bitterly and placed a dumpling on top of Yooju’s stir-fried ramen.

“Don’t be too upset. I’ll figure something out while you’re at Yeongchang.”

“Is there any way?”

“What are you talking about? Is it about Eil living as a skilled person again?”

“Yes! That’s the only thing I care about. I want to see Chloe defeating monsters in a cool way. Wearing an apron and saying ‘Master~’ doesn’t suit Chloe!”

“Isn’t it quite nice for Eil to wear an apron and say ‘Master~’?”

“Well, it’s true, hehe… Anyway!”

Yooju, barely avoiding getting lost in her daydream, asked again.

“Can Chloe really regain her abilities?”

“It depends on her will, but it’s possible.”

“Wow!”

The issue of how to use abilities without a tablet was secondary. Nevertheless, just knowing that Lena had a solution made Yooju happy.

“You almost finished eating? Get some ice cream. Take it out in advance so it melts and is perfect for dessert after finishing the meal.”

“Do I really have to buy it?”

“Of course. Are you hesitating?”

“Actually, now that I’m about to buy it, a little…”

Lena chuckled as Yooju hesitated and fumbled with her wallet.

“Geez, hey. I’ll treat you to ice cream instead. Did you say you have a visit on Monday? I’ll go on Saturday, on Saturday for the visit.”

“Just for a visit…”

“Just for a visit? Oh my. If you don’t want to, just say so.”

“No, no! I’ll go, for now.”

Punk. Lena finally smiled and patted Yooju’s shoulder.

Seeming to be at a loss, Yooju faithfully finished paying for the ice cream while muttering.

“Do you really have to come for the visit?”

“Okay, okay. Don’t worry. Should I bet a finger?”

“Yes. Promise.”

“You really take this kind of thing seriously, huh?”

“If I break the promise after betting a finger, I have to cut that finger.”

“…So you’re doing it with your fifth finger?”

Yooju’s expression as she held out her finger seemed oddly eerie today, causing Lena to hesitate before cautiously betting her finger.

“Okay. I’ll really take your finger!”

“Got it, got it.”

Yooju smiled brightly as if relieved, and headed to the convenience store ahead of Lena.

The outside air was cold.

Lena suddenly exhaled a white breath and watched Yooju’s back as she hopped ahead like a puppy for a while.

“You’re like an oblivious ‘guy.’”

“Well, thanks to your obliviousness, you might have escaped from that wretched place.”

Despite almost deliberately giving away information, Yooju never seemed to feel any sense of unease.

Deciding to abandon the plan she had through Yooju, Lena thought to herself.

If she was going to be so clueless, it would only be a bother to ask for anything.

“Tsk.”

Pretending to regain her appetite, Lena also followed Yooju’s lead.

Walking through the dim campus, Lena made up her mind.

Even though it didn’t sit well with her, she knew that the original author, Lager, wouldn’t want a ‘massacre ending.’

To prevent any more brain freezes.

It was time to intervene.

*

And so Monday arrived.

Today, the dining atmosphere was unusually somber.

Lager and Yooju’s last meal before their performance added to the melancholy.

I, too, had to move out of the dormitory after today, coincidentally.

“The timing is really terrible. How could new students enroll at a time like this?”

Lager angrily shoved a sandwich into his mouth.

In reality, even without the new students, it was starting to feel uncomfortable.

Not even Academy students.

Just let them eat their food.

How long do we have to endure in the dormitory?

No one said it out loud, but everyone’s silent glances felt like a subtle jab.

It’s better this way.

“I’m fine. Hey, and eat slowly. Do you want to catch a cold on the way to the performance?”

“I won’t catch a cold. Don’t you know I’m not joking about food?”

“Anyway, don’t listen to me.”

Lager’s continued frustration towards the food.

I let out a heavy sigh and got up from my seat.

I went to the food counter, grabbed a coffee, and nervously handed it to Lager.

“Either eat it or don’t.”

“Hey, how can I eat something this hot?”

“If you don’t want it, give it to me. I’ll eat it.”

“You can’t drink coffee.”

“I’ll find a way to drink it.”

“Fine. I’ll just drink it.”

Lager sipped the coffee with a grumble, why did his actions feel so annoying?

“Just say thank you. What’s the harm in that?”

“…Why are you so sensitive lately? Are you on your period?”

“It just ended yesterday. Want to have a celebration party?”

“Sorry. But let’s not be like this after I come back from the awkward place.”

Listening to Lager’s words, the slight disappointment I felt just disappeared, and thoughts of ‘was I too harsh?’ filled my mind.

“Okay, I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry too. You finally cared about me.”

“I’ve been acting strange lately. Please understand. I keep getting upset over nothing… I feel like I’m becoming a brat.”

Complaining to Lager and resting my chin on my hand, I suddenly saw Yooju sitting next to me.

Looking at her with a smile, she raised her eyebrows like antennas and whispered with her mouth shaped like ‘that’s love.’

I secretly hid my hand in my armpit and extended my index finger to express a strong denial.

Yooju seemed quite shocked, but it wasn’t untrue.

But suddenly, Lena made an unexpected suggestion.

“Hey, Ale. Can I come over to your house after school?”

“Let’s have a housewarming later. There’s probably nothing much there.”

Since the request came in and I wasn’t prepared to receive guests, I politely declined.

“Not a housewarming. I’m coming to help with something. There must be something to do, right?”

“Is that so?”

Lena probably knew more about the Academy than I did. There must be a reason she wanted to come.

Maybe she wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to have a drinking session with her new place.

“Alright then. Let me know before you come.”

I decided to invite her over.