episode_0124

“What are you doing here at this time… ! What about morning training… ”

Even while he was saying pitiful words, he was struggling desperately.

However, the arms raised upward still did not move.

She was exposed, defenseless, like prey being violated.

The shame that rose up before I knew it made Yeon Myeong-ha’s face turn red.

“Then, if you get disciplined… ”

“It doesn’t matter.”

The masked male student cut off her desperate words of persuasion.

“There is something more important.”

“More, more important… ?”

“Yes.”

Then he let out a very angry voice.

“Why do you avoid it?”

“No, I didn’t avoid it… ”

“Why are you avoiding me?”

“So I didn’t avoid it… Hmm… ”

In response to her pitiful denial, the hand that was grasping her tightened its grip even more.

The attitude is that they do not treat you like a senior, but instead forcefully put you down as if you were a subordinate.

However, instead of feeling sad about the treatment, I somehow feel a sense of pity and a full sense of security.

The breath that was exhaled roughly regains its normal speed. My excited mind calmed down.

Yang Yeon-ha, who regained her senses, calmly examined his complexion.

A pair of eyes staring at you from behind the mask.

She could see all of that pale sky blue drawing paper.

A sticky obsession that fills the surface area. And even the anxiety and sadness stirring behind the scenes.

“… ”

I remembered that Lee Hyun, who felt pity for me, was quite obsessed with ranking points.

With the intention of not causing inconvenience to Heukryeon and his benefactor, he basically showed himself to be closer to a model student throughout the new semester.

In order to catch up on the insufficient amount of study, I diligently study and review. And unless you get caught up in something like a red-light incident, you must attend the lecture.

Of course, I never miss morning training.

That’s why he says that what he does with himself is more important.

The attitude is that it doesn’t matter if you get points deducted for not attending without permission.

“… Calm down.”

Yan Yanha looked up at him slightly and spoke in a calm voice.

“I’m angry… ?”

“Yes.”

He gave a prompt answer to Yeongyangha’s question.

I had to do my best to ignore the burning sensation that came to my face out of pity.

“Why, why… ?”

“You avoid people for no reason, so don’t you get angry?”

“… ”

A feeling of full satisfaction. And feeling sorry for no reason, I cast a pitying glance down to his chest.

Then what caught my eye was his tie, which was still tied slightly crooked to the left.

It looked pretty good now, but he still seemed to be having a hard time getting used to it.

After checking him out, the corner of Yeon Myeong-ha’s mouth was slowly turning upward.

“… I didn’t avoid it.”

“Keeps doing that… ”

“It’s true. When people talk, you should listen.”

Due to Companion Ha’s calm attitude, his momentum, which had been spreading wildly like wildfire, finally slows down.

Lee Hyeon asked Yeon Min-ha in a slightly hesitant voice.

“… Then why?”

“Ugh… therefore… ”

Yeon Myeong-ha spoke as long as possible, giving herself time to come up with an excuse.

“Yo, I’m not feeling well these days… I was sensitive… I’m tired… So, I wanted to get some rest… ”

“Tired… You said you did it?”

“Uh, uh! that’s right… know? that… Women have times like that… once a month… ”

A belated sense of shame comes to Yeon Myeong-ha, who spewed out gibberish without thinking. My conscience pricks me like a needle.

She took comfort in the fact that it wasn’t a complete lie. Still, the timing was roughly similar…

“… Ah.”

Now he looked embarrassed. The grip that had been so cruelly holding on to Yeon Myeong-ha had long since completely lost its strength.

Without missing the opportunity to feel pity, I quickly pulled out my wrist.

Then, I calmly checked my clothes as if nothing had happened and glanced at him slightly.

“True… What is this? At best, I left it neatly organized… ”

“That… sorry… ”

I had to hold back the laughter that threatened to burst out in sympathy at the visibly flustered tone of voice.

Before we knew it, the food chain had flipped to the opposite direction.

Yeon Myeong-ha shook her head with a lighter heart.

“No. that… I’m also sorry for not speaking properly… I’ll be sure to let you know next time… ”

The fact that Yeon Myeong-ha said she was sorry was also part of the other side, but he had no way of knowing.

“There’s no need to even say that… ”

“What if I don’t say anything? Are you going to treat me so harshly again?”

“That’s… therefore… ”

“Hmph. That’s it.”

Yeon Myeong-ha pretends to be angry and glares at Lee Hyun with sallow eyes.

Then he walked closer to him and started to loosen his tie.

“You’re crooked again. When are you going to fix it? Huh?”

“I tied it properly… ”

“Anyway… So what would you really do if it weren’t for me… ”

As always, Yeon Myeong-ha tidied up his appearance with a skillful touch.

He finished by patting his hard chest.

“That’s it. Now go quickly. Isn’t there a ranking draw today?”

“That’s right.”

“Even though I missed morning training, I still have to attend the lottery ceremony. Go quickly. If this continues, it will be late.”

“That… ”

“Ugh. I said it was done. Go quickly. I really have to go now too.”

Feeling pity for him, he kicked out Lee Hyeon, who was still embarrassed.

Perhaps because he thought he had made a mistake, he seemed reluctant but obediently left the dormitory and disappeared.

Now, I was standing blankly for a long time, alone and pitiful, in the dormitory where there was really no one else around.

“Huh… ”

She finally breaks down and leans against the wall and sighs.

He looked down at his wrist in pity.

Bright red handprints were still clearly visible on both of her wrists.

Like the lingering effects of violence inflicted upon him.

The handprints bound her like strong shackles, but she found strange comfort in them.

“Ugh… How did I end up like this… ”

Yan Yeon-ha, who was looking at it silently, let out a small sigh.

But he immediately shook his head.

‘anyway… What would you really do if it weren’t for me… ‘

Compassionately, I remembered what I had just said to him.

“… After all, I have to be there.”

‘Not Baek Seo-yeon.’

She, who was helpless, suddenly blinked.

When Lee Hyun inquired earlier, a question rose up in his throat.

In the end, I couldn’t spit it out and ended up swallowing it.

“Now to you… Nothing will be taken away.”

Sitting down, Yeon Myeong-ha gently stroked the bright red handprint as if it were a treasure.

***

For the second ranking match, all first-year students were crowded into Hwayang Hall.

“Hyuna~Here!”

As I entered Hwayang Hall, swept away by the crowd, I heard a shout calling me from somewhere.

I found a female student with bleached hair waving her hand and walked towards her.

“Hello.”

“Hello~”

“Ah, hello… ”

And I sat down with Sarah, Yeoreum, and Yena, who had arrived first.

As soon as I sit down, Sarah starts talking to me.

“Did something happen this morning? Yena was really worried. A child who was never absent is suddenly no longer visible.”

“Sera, you again… !”

Yena glares at Sarah, who is giggling with an expression full of resentment.

“… It was just because I wasn’t feeling well.”

“Really? Come to think of it, I think my ears are a bit red… Is it hot?”

“Really… ? Don’t you need to go to the medical center?”

“It’s okay. Because it’s not that bad… ”

I shook my head in response to Yena’s worried question.

The emotions that had subsided rose and I began to feel a burning sensation in my face again.

What kind of expression am I making right now? Have you ever felt fortunate to be wearing a mask like today?

It’s like he got upset after suffering alone over something that was nothing special. Even to the point where I completely lost my footing…

It is truly an embarrassment that I will remember for the rest of my life.

“… ”

Only after barely catching my breath was I able to check my surroundings.

Rather than students with a relaxed expression, you can see more people biting their nails as if they are nervous.

The ranking match score accounted for the highest proportion of the individual score.

Moreover, it is a time when the gap is slowly widening depending on each person’s natural talent.

In some ways, it may be more natural to feel nervous.

As I look a little further away, I see the group of people who always crowd together.

Sehwa’s sister’s younger brother Seungheon, his fiancée Moon Yeoul, the muscular and short-haired Choi Woojin, and Guk Jae-ryong, who has a scraggly look that can’t be seen as someone from a prestigious family like them.

“… ”

It felt like something was missing, and Jin Ye-seo, who was always with them, was nowhere to be seen.

Have you not been discharged from the clinic yet? ?

“Now! Everyone be quiet!”

At the hour mark, Professor Shin Jae-yu, who took the podium, clapped his hands and called for attention.

And just for a split second.

Suddenly, the female professor who made eye contact with me had a fierce expression on her face, like a wild beast.

“… ”

At that moment, I feel goosebumps rising on my back.

Was it her turn to train this morning? He was definitely a professor who hated it when students got distracted the most.

If you don’t think of an excuse in advance, it can be quite annoying…

“Then, the ranking draw ceremony will begin… ”

-bang!

When she turned her gaze again, she was just about to draw an opponent.

Everyone’s attention is suddenly drawn to the door that opens with a loud noise.

A blonde female student with bandages all over her body and one arm in a cast was pushing the door open with her whole body and coming in.

“Heo Eok… omg… late… sorry… ”

Jin Ye-seo, who appeared late, said out of breath.

“It’s okay. Because it hasn’t even started yet. Come on in and sit down.”

“… Yes.”

Professor Shin waved his hand as if it was no big deal.

“… Hmm. Then, we will begin the ranking draw. What are the rules… Since everyone knows, I’ll skip it, right?”

In response to Professor Shin’s words, ‘yes~’ responses were heard sporadically from all over the place.

The order is from lowest to highest. A random drawing is conducted among students in the rankings above and below you.

The person selected as an opponent is not given a lottery ticket and moves on to the next ranking, and the more he or she defeats an opponent ranked higher than him/her, the more points he or she can earn. The same goes for when you lose.

What is certain is that, as I maintain first place, I will not have to participate in the lottery this time either.

Because before then, someone will pick me out.

“Next. Se-ra Hong. Please come forward.”

“I’ll be back~”

After hearing her name, Sarah stands up, waving her hand, and heads to the podium.

When the ID card is recognized by the mechanical device installed there, a ball that was swimming in a vacuum suddenly rolls out.

Sarah blows in particles with a confident expression and waits for the name to be engraved on its surface.

And I could soon see her decaying expression.

“Hong Se-ra. The opponent… Shin Mooyoung!”

“… Ugh.”

Ga Eul and Yena, who were sitting there, frowned as someone’s name rang out.

Come to think of it, Yena had dealt with him in person before. The image of Muyoung walking around the ward with bandages all over his body comes to mind again.

“Oh, indeed. Even if it gets caught… Ugh!”

The delinquent girl with bleached hair grumbled for a long time even after returning to her seat.

“State fall… The opponent… ”

“Hayena… The opponent… ”

The lottery will continue thereafter.

Before we know it, the students in the top 10 take their turn, and a girl with a fresh-faced appearance, who looks like a young lady, goes up to the podium and stands in front of the mechanical device.

Moon Yeo-ul caught a ball floating in a mechanical device, pulled it out, and waited for his name to be engraved on it.

And before long, he suddenly looks surprised.

“Moon Yeo-ul. The opponent… Jinyeseo!!”

“Isn’t this a mentoring group like theirs? that… Senior Baek Seo-yeon’s side… ”

“So… ”

Sarah and Ga Eul were excited when they saw that strange encounter.

Murmurs can be heard here and there in Hwayang Hall.

Jin Ye-seo was sitting in her seat with an incomprehensible expression.

Moon Yeo-ul narrowed her eyebrows slightly, as if she didn’t like something.

Perhaps the ranking match between the two may be delayed a bit. Yeon Myeong-ha said that mine could also be postponed due to health reasons.

But Jin Ye-seo doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would make that choice.

If that were the case, I wouldn’t have bothered to drag my body all the way here.

This is a woman whose pride is as high as the sky…

“… ”

Anyway, I’m glad I didn’t meet Jin Ye-seo again.

Anyway, hitting someone whose body is wrapped in bandages like that is quite an unpleasant feeling.

“Ryu Seung-heon. The opponent… Ansol!”

And then I heard two familiar names and I turned my head.

As I quickly look around, I see a familiar female student with short hair and rimless glasses burning with fighting spirit.

An uncommon foreign name. If it’s Ansol… Isn’t he the student council secretary?

Like a secretary, she stayed close to the president and assisted him the entire time.

The voice that asked the chairman to be confident comes to mind again.

Seungheon is a strong player, ranked in the single digits among first-year students.

Being matched up with him means that she is also quite capable.

But then who is my opponent?

I turned my gaze straight ahead again.

Just in time, a muscular, short-haired male student was just sitting in front of the machine.

Now there was only one ball left in it.

Then what does that mean… Just one.

“Woojin Choi. The opponent… Jinhyeon Yoo!!”

The moment your name rings out.

A muscular male student looks at me and shows his teeth.