episode_0232

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After all classes had ended.

I stopped by home briefly, changed into more appropriate clothes, and sent a message to Han Sua.

Nothing grand—just an ordinary message saying I’d like to meet if she had time now.

Yet, even for something so simple, Han Sua replied in less than thirty seconds, as if she had been waiting for my message.

[Han Sua] – I’d like that, Teacher.

The sentence felt oddly plain, perhaps because of its brevity, and she awkwardly tacked on a cute lion character emoticon that clearly showed whose influence it was.

…Probably Yozora’s doing.

She spams emoticons all the time, and Han Sua doesn’t have anyone else she could call a friend.

Judging by her usual antics, she deserves a flick on the forehead, but this time, she did well.

Smiling lightly as I descended the building stairs, I immediately headed toward Han Sua’s place.

It wasn’t a short distance, but thinking of it as a light stroll made the time pass quickly, and before I knew it, I arrived near her home.

I guess you could call it the aura of an affluent neighborhood.

The kinds of cars driving around, the caliber of people visible—everything felt noticeably elevated.

Is it really okay to judge people’s worth by money? The thought crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it.

Philosophical musings for smart people aren’t my thing.

Still, just in case, I checked my white sweatshirt before turning the corner, and a familiar head of blonde hair came into view a few steps ahead.

…Except,

“What’s this? Why’d you come out to wait? Your legs must hurt.”

“I-I wasn’t waiting! I just came out….”

The Han Sua before me didn’t look like she had dressed up to look pretty—

More like she had rushed out the moment I called.

Even so, dressed like this, she was still…

If that’s the case, then the person with the lowest standards around here is…

A pointless thought crossed my mind as I briefly lowered my gaze.

A plain black T-shirt stretched taut just below her chest, despite its generally loose fit.

Dolphin-print pants, similar to the ones Lee Hayoon used to wear.

No accessories—no watch, rings, or earrings in sight.

Finally, white socks and comfortable-looking sneakers.

Honestly, it didn’t look like she had dressed up to meet someone—at best, like she was just running to the convenience store near her place.

At least she was wearing sneakers. If she had shown up in slippers, I don’t know what I would’ve thought.

But this outfit… It felt familiar somehow.

Was this what she was wearing that time we got physical?

Trying to recall further, it didn’t take long to figure out where I’d seen it before.

Han Sua’s paparazzi shots.

It matched exactly the outfits she wore in the photos circulating online.

The only difference was that, in those pictures, her expression was consistently blank, making her look rather intimidating.

But now…

“You could’ve just waited inside and come out when I messaged you.”

“…Well, that’s….”

“….”

“…I just… wanted to see you sooner….”

The tips of her ears flushed faintly pink, and though her expression was just as blank as in the photos, it didn’t look intimidating—just shy.

The guys who’ll become her fans later for her looks won’t get to see this expression. This tone.

Feeling a subtle sense of conquest, I smiled softly and guided Han Sua back into the officetel to avoid drawing attention before continuing.

“So. You’re happy to see me sooner?”

“….”

Even I cringed at my own words, but Han Sua just nodded silently, fiddling with the hem of her T-shirt.

Given how she looks, you’d expect her to snap at me for saying something embarrassing in public, not react like this.

Anyway, what now?

Taming Han Sua to my tastes right away was an option, but I’d prefer if we grew closer first…

…

…Ah.

Pulling out my phone briefly to check the time, I lightly took Han Sua’s hand—still hesitating with her gaze lowered.

“You said you had a lot of time today, right?”

“Y-Yes….”

“Then let’s catch a movie later. But first…”

Late April.

If this were my childhood, it would’ve been full-blown spring, but now it felt more like early summer.

Walking under cotton-candy-like clouds with Han Sua, who was subtly holding onto my hand, I spoke up.

“Should we go pick out some matching clothes or something? I’m not great with fashion.”

“I’m not either… Oh, wait, I have my card….”

“It’s fine. I’ll cover it today. You can treat me to dinner next time, okay?”

“…O-Okay….”

—

232

Messages from Yozora weren’t uncommon.

To be precise, they usually came with the unspoken tagline: “Only when she needs something.”

Summarizing her usual messages, they went something like this:

1. I’m at a bar, and my card’s out of money. 2. I’m at a bar, and I don’t think I can walk back. Ughhh. 3. Shiro-chan, Shiro-chan, listen. A good man, by definition… 4. What are you up to? You’re free, right? No? Well, I’m gonna go drink soon…

…Anyway.

The message from Yozora now was definitely in the same vein.

Since it was almost dinnertime, it was most likely #4.

Lately, she’d been quiet—maybe she found someone else to drink with.

But it seemed like after crossing paths at the academy again, her attention had swung back to me.

Annoying. Really.

“I’ll be back after taking this call.”

“A call? An older boyfriend?”

“…What boyfriend? You know I don’t have one. Just a friend.”

“I know. I do, but I just wanted to hear you say it in your senior voice one more time.”

“You’re sick… Ugh….”

“Ah, you were about to curse, weren’t you, senpai? Is the mask finally slipping?”

“Shut up. I’ll finish the call and come back. …And take a break from standing….”

“Pfft….”

Sighing at Yoo Siwoo’s antics, I grabbed my phone from the desk and stepped into the hallway.

Better this than indulging Yozora’s nonsense over text.

If needed, I could just shut her down and wrap things up quickly.

Glancing around just in case, the academy was quiet, likely because classes had ended.

Not that I planned to carelessly discuss villain-related matters, but…

This much should be fine.

Leaning against the windowsill across from the student council room, I tapped Yozora’s number and waited for the call to connect.

– …Yah!

“‘Yah’? What’s with ‘yah’? Why’d you message me?”

Yozora’s voice was annoyingly cheerful.

At least there were no drunken slurs (“Nyeh,” “Ughh”) in her tone, so she probably hadn’t started drinking yet.

Good. At least we can talk human-to-human.

Just as I was about to ask why she’d messaged me—

– I just had the best idea!

“…The best idea?”

– Yeah! Remember that favor I asked you before?

“…The one where you told me to find you a good man?”

– Oh! You do remember! I thought you were ignoring me since I hadn’t heard back.

What if you skip class again to protest?

Biting back my words, I sighed deeply and chose a different response.

…Is Yoo Siwoo eaveshing from behind the student council door?

“Okay. What’s this ‘best idea’?”

– Giving up!

“Giving up?”

– I checked all the first-years at the academy, and there wasn’t a single guy who was completely bastard material.

“Bastard…?”

– Sure, Seo Woojin doesn’t quite meet my standards… but hey, his dick’s huge!

“….”

– I was looking to buy a similar-sized dildo, and they have stuff like “Definitely hung” or “King size”…

That damn dick.

What’s so great about a big dick anyway?

Even a finger hurts—how much worse would it be if…?

Imagining Seo Woojin’s ridiculous bulge, I lowered my voice and continued.

“…So ‘giving up’ means you’re going back to him? Not finding someone better, but just settling for him…?”

– For now? I mean, if some trashy guy with a huge dick suddenly broke into my house and—”Hey, you fucking masochist bitch, shut up and spread—”

“Stop. I get it. That’s enough.”

– Ehh? But the next part’s fun…

“Ugh… Anyway, why’d you call? To tell me to stop looking?”

– That, and…

As Yozora dragged out her words, the sound of gulping and a glass clinking came through the phone.

Followed by a refreshed “Ahhh~”

Still drinking, huh? Just as I thought that, she continued.

– Our adorable Shiro… no, Seo Yeon, there’s something you need to help me with.

“….”

Help?

With what?

Just go ask Seo Woojin to sleep with you. Why drag me into this…?

…Wait.

Is she too embarrassed to ask directly and wants me, a gumiho, to lure him in for her?

Like, “Seduce him with your body and tame him so he can’t refuse my request” or something?

If that’s the request, I’m absolutely not—

– As student council president, you have access to all sorts of info, right?

“….”

– Seo Yeon?

“…Y-Yeah.”

So that’s not it.

– There’s something I wanna know.

“…What?”

– There’s this girl in my class, Lee Jiyoon. You know her?

“Lee Jiyoon?”

– Yeah, yeah.

I do.

Every year, standout freshmen are quietly marked as special cases behind the scenes.

This year’s first-years included Han Sua and Lee Jiyoon (both top practical scorers),

And Yozora, who initially posed as an ordinary freshman with falsified records but gradually earned high marks from teachers.

Should I tell her?

Debating briefly, I decided to keep the conversation short and swallowed the details.

It’s not like being a “special case” means much—just things like recommendation letters to famous hero agencies.

I’d prefer if she behaved, given the attention, but she’s not the type to listen.

“I know the name. …You just want info on her?”

– Where she lives, family background. And I heard she has an older sister in second year—info on her too… Oh, and hobbies, if possible?

“There’s a section for that in the enrollment forms… Want me to check?”

– Yeah.

“…I have copies at home. I’ll message you in two hours. Need anything else?”

– Hmm? Just Lee Jiyoon and her sister’s info should be enough.

Lee Jiyoon and her sister’s info…

Lee Jiyoon and her sister’s info…

No need to jot it down—I repeated it in my head, but a question popped up.

If she’s giving up and going back to Seo Woojin, why does she need this girl’s info?

The first thought: sacrificial offerings.

Like, throwing Lee Jiyoon and her sister at Seo Woojin as sex partners or something.

If I recall correctly from glancing at her file, she is pretty.

No idea about the sister’s face, though.

…Well. Not my problem.

Seo Woojin’s got a decent body and face, so it’s not like they’d hate it…

“….”

Was it because of that weird incident earlier?

I was having pointless thoughts.

Shaking my head briefly, I ended the call with, “I’ll message you later.”

…I just hope this doesn’t lead to something strange happening to me.

A slightly ominous thought—just a tiny one.