episode_0382

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Wednesday.

The festival was scheduled to start today, likely because Wednesday sits right in the middle of the long stretch of weekdays.

I heard it’ll last for three days. Given that, having everything wrapped up by Friday probably played a part in choosing these dates.

“…”

But even so.

I didn’t expect the infirmary to be this empty.

“…Well, it’s nice and peaceful, I guess.”

Maybe today, instead of sparring to improve their skills, everyone’s in the mood to just enjoy the festival.

Leaning back comfortably in my chair, I stretched lightly and pricked up my ears to the sounds outside.

Not outside the infirmary door, though—the exact opposite. The noises drifting in through the window.

The most noticeable among them were the high-pitched laughs distinctive to groups of girls.

Frankly, it wasn’t the most pleasant sound to listen to, so after sitting still for a while, I let out a short sigh and sluggishly got up to lift the blinds slightly.

Even though the main building sits on relatively high ground, the view from the first-floor infirmary wasn’t exactly spectacular.

The most I could see were the intense late-May sunlight, outsiders milling around the fountain at the foot of the hill, and small groups of students in academy uniforms who seemed to have conveniently skipped class.

A few food trucks that must’ve come from outside, and finally, various booths I’d heard were extensions of club activities—that was about it.

But well, so this is what a festival feels like.

Leaving that brief observation aside, I found myself staring intently at an unidentified popular figure surrounded by students—recognizable only by their bluish-white hair—when—

Knock knock knock

The third time today.

Normally, there would’ve been at least ten knocks by now, but today the sound was sparse and distant.

“Come in.”

Come to think of it, greeting someone while holding up the blinds with a finger might seem unsettling from their perspective.

It’d look like I was secretly spying on people or something.

Not that it mattered, but no need to present a shabby image either, so I let the blinds fall back and naturally reached for the coffee pot.

I might as well, since I was craving caffeine anyway.

“…Huh? Nobody’s here?”

But the voice from the door was unmistakably Yozora’s.

I didn’t even need to turn to confirm—her voice was that familiar. As I tore open the coffee mix, I answered without looking.

“Nobody? I’m right here.”

“I mean other students. Other students.”

Maybe because her tone was laced with amusement, her voice sounded more mischievous than usual, echoing through the infirmary.

Without even asking, she prattled on about how stuffy it was before stepping closer to the window and sliding open one of the tightly shut panes with a clatter.

The voice of some idol’s song, unnoticed while the window was closed, floated in on the summer breeze.

Since celebrity performances were scheduled for the evening, that must’ve been a recording playing somewhere.

Following that came the laughter of the girls that had been bothering me this whole time, along with awkward greetings blurted out as if they were filming a vlog.

Well, festivals are like that, I guess.

The rapid inflow of hot, muggy air—replacing the cool AC breeze—was a bit unpleasant, but I kept quiet.

I’d spent the last decade learning that speaking up wouldn’t change a thing.

“…”

…Wait.

Now that I think about it, maybe she’d been doing stuff like this all along just to get my attention.

Staring at the sugar lightly dusted over the coffee granules, the thought crossed my mind, and I deliberately decided to play along—even if it was a nuisance.

“Close the window. The AC air’s escaping.”

“Ever heard of ventilation? If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have even thought of airing this place out~”

“You can do that by opening and closing the infirmary door.”

“Pff… You’re hilarious. I hope you straight-up catch 冷房病 (air-conditioning sickness).”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Listen to my pronunciation and look it up yourself~”

“…Judging by the name, it’s some kind of illness, right?”

“Eek!”

Wishing an illness on me, huh.

Should I take that as spiteful malice… or just a joke?

Recalling Yozora’s simple brain structure, I poured hot water into the cup—just as a thud signaled the window closing.

Seems like she really was just airing the place out because it felt stuffy… or, more likely, just fishing for attention.

As I turned toward Yozora, warm cup in hand—

There she stood, dressed in the same gym uniform I’d seen a few times before.

Unlike her school attire, this one emphasized her active side.

The thin jersey clung tightly to her perky chest, stretching crisp fabric taut beneath her raised bosom.

Catching my gaze, she smiled prettily—looking far more fitting in this outfit than expected.

“…”

The infirmary likely wouldn’t get many visitors today.

…Still, better to resist the temptation just in case.

Recently, Yozora had been subtly teasing me like this more often.

Every time, my cock would twitch insistently.

But an animalistic urge to mate with her wasn’t an option either.

“…What brings you here?”

“Me? Sparring!”

“Someone actually agreed to do that on a day like today?”

“Hehe~ I pestered Jiyoon until she gave in!”

“Jiyoon?”

“Yep. The younger sister of that girl you publicly dated~”

“And you sparred with her…?”

Now that I think about it, hadn’t Jiyoon punched me before demanding to know what I’d done with Yozora?

Thinking they might’ve gotten closer since then, I almost asked—but Yozora only giggled and plopped onto the bed, patting the spot beside her.

Sunlight exposed every speck of dust floating in the air, but I didn’t point it out as I settled beside her.

“Totally lying~ It was actually Sua-chan! Ugh, she’s gotten so strong I can’t even beat her seriously now. She looks so naïve, but she’s actually crazy good at kendo…”

“……”

Well.

Even this effortless stream of lies—

Was very much a Yozora thing to do.

I let out a faint sigh.

“Why lie like that?”

“I just wanted to see your reaction!”

“You already told me everything—right down to the three-way you two had with Hayun. Because you wanted me to hear it.”

“Hmph~ …Shimaidong.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Korean slang for a ‘sister sandwich’? You know oyakodon, right? Derived from that.”

“…Something like that, sure. Shimaidong.”

“Pff… Pervert.”

Pervert. Do Japanese people actually use that word?

Amused by these occasional foreign-sounding phrases slipping into her speech, I tipped my cup—only for a soft flutter of hair to brush against my shoulder.

Glancing down, I saw long, dark locks spilling over me.

Without thinking, I switched from trying to slip an arm around her waist to running my fingers through her hair.

The same hair she’d always complain about—how long it was, how hard to dry—glided smoothly through my fingertips.

“Hey, hey~ You’re spending today with that second-year girl, right?”

“Probably. Or maybe all three of us, if Jiyoon joins.”

“What about tomorrow?”

“You already know. You and me walking around together would look weird.”

“Weeell, true~”

“…Though I might have free time the night the festival ends.”

“…”

“…”

“…Hmm~”

A short hum.

I toyed with interpreting it myself but eventually gave up.

I might know Yozora best—

But I also knew myself least when it came to her.

What followed was a silence stretching just under a minute.

With Yozora delicately tracing my palm like she was reading fortunes, rustling sounds briefly filled the space—until she spoke.

“So can I come find you tomorrow night? With Seoyeon?”

“…Why leave Sua out? You always bring her along.”

“Sua-chan already did it a few days ago… But with Seoyeon, she’s been too busy lately, so we haven’t gotten to meet~”

“…Ask her first. If she’s fine with it.”

“Kay, kay~ Tomorrow night— Oh, right!”

Yozora, who had been leaning against my shoulder, stomped her feet lightly and stood up.

Then, leaning over me, still seated, she whispered one last thing.

“…Got a festival pro-tip for you.”

“Pro-tip? How would you even—? It’s your first festival too.”

“No, just listen! There’s a pro-tip!”

“…Fine.”

“………”

“……”

After murmuring something under her breath, she flashed a playful grin and slipped out of the infirmary.

“…Haah…”

While everyone else is out there making noise and having fun…

She really thinks nobody’s inside the buildings?

That both the infirmary and student council room would be empty?

…As if security and staff just lazed around all day.

Leaving behind those utterly foolish words…

“It’s not as crowded as I expected.”

“Huh? This is still pretty packed.”

“I mean, compared to what I’d heard—people bumping into each other at every step—it’s not quite that bad.”

“Nah~ The sun’s still up. Once classes are done, it’ll get way busier.”

“…Unnie. Water.”

“Yo, over there—Hayun and the infirmary teacher. Who’s next to them?”

“…Her little sister, I heard. Hayun’s sibling.”

“Ohhh, the sister~ Now that you mention it, I did hear she had one. Genetics really blessed them—she’s pretty too…”

Before meeting up with my boyfriend after his last class, I wandered around the festival booths with friends—overhearing their chatter as I looked toward the distant figures.

Maybe because the phrase “match made in heaven” fit too perfectly.

Seo Woojin, tall enough to stand out easily.

Hayun, smiling brightly beside him.

Even Jiyeon, though her expression was colder than last time.

Even from this far away, they were impossible to miss.

A mundane kindness—handing over a portable fan plugged into a power bank.

Playfully pressing a cold water bottle to her cheek before giving it to her.

All of it drew the eye even more.

“Maybe I should wait at a crosswalk too? Until I can save some handsome ahjussi from an accident.”

“Ugh, ffs… One of you’s into teen boys, and the other’s got an ahjussi fetish…”

“No, but seriously—how can you resist it when some ultra-hot ahjussi puts himself down, going, ‘What’s so good about someone like me…?’ Isn’t that the hottest?”

“Shut up already, you’re embarrassing me!”

“……”

And naturally, I ended up—

Unavoidably comparing my own relationship dynamic to theirs.

Things like that—Baek Jihyo had done them for me too, long ago.

Jihyo oppa as well.

Granted, when he held the cold bottle to my cheek, I probably complained instead of laughing like Hayun was now…

Those three over there were shrieking—but clearly enjoying themselves.

…What’s the difference, really?

Was it just that ten years together had snuffed out any excitement between us—

While theirs was barely two months old?

That sort of thing.

“……”

Anyway.

I still hated—refused to acknowledge—Seo Woojin as a person. But seeing couples getting along like that made me think I ought to learn something from them.

Recently, I’d even bought my boyfriend expensive alcohol as a gift… only for things to end up awkward between us.

If I wanted us to keep going smoothly like before, it’d probably be better if I tried changing something myself instead of leaving it as-is…

“Dabin-ah?”

“…Hm?”

Once my boyfriend’s last class ended, maybe I should try teasing him like that too.

Unlike Hayun—whose face naturally suited cute expressions—I wasn’t sure something like that would even fit me.

Lost in thought, my friend’s voice snapped me back to reality.

“Your ice cream’s melting.”

“…Ah, thanks.”

…Well.

Baek Jihyo and I would figure it out eventually.

Leaving behind that usual nonchalance, I—