episode_0427

.

“You should’ve been careful since the road was wet.”

“Ugh… Of all times, I had to trip in front of everyone… I’ll never get married now…”

“Then just marry someone who didn’t see you fall?”

“Ah, like the health teacher?”

“Let’s not make dangerous jokes.”

I thought the first day of school would be a relaxed one, but it turned out to be a somewhat busy morning.

Not overwhelmingly hectic, but there were enough odd jobs to keep me occupied—that’s the best way to describe it.

Someone caught a summer cold that hadn’t healed even after a week…

Another had an injury from training that still wasn’t better by the start of the semester…

One thought their friend had gotten way stronger and dragged them straight to the sparring grounds before class, only for both to end up hurt…

That kind of vibe.

Especially since four patients came in with colds they’d caught during the break.

Most of the time was still leisurely, so a little busy spell didn’t matter, but personally, I wouldn’t have minded if some pretty girls had shown up instead.

But with no more memorable heroines left, that kind of expectation was probably pointless.

Just as I was stretching my stiff neck after finishing up with the last chatty patient—

A short vibration came from the smartphone I’d tossed onto the desk.

“Ugh…”

Wonder who it is.

Stretching my arm to check the screen, the name displayed wasn’t one I’d expected.

Baek Seo-yeon.

Normally, she never texts first unless she’s annoyed, only reaching out when she’s in heat and needs me.

So, is it another sex-related issue this time?

Wanting to get it over with quickly during this relatively chaotic morning?

Leaning back in my chair, I opened the message while mulling it over.

[Baek Seo-yeon] – Do you need info on Seol Da-bin’s boyfriend? – It’s just stuff from when he was at the academy, though.

Baek Ji-ho’s info.

Having it would be nice, but it wasn’t like I needed it.

Besides, it’s outdated data anyway, so where could I even use—

Yeah, nothing comes to mind.

If it were before I got my hands on Seol Da-bin, I might’ve needed it to gather more intel, but not now.

At this point, it’d just be clutter, so I politely declined.

[Seo Woo-jin] – Unless there’s something unusual about him, probably not.

[Baek Seo-yeon] – Hmm… Nothing unusual, but… – What about Seol Da-bin’s side? – Don’t need this either?

[Seo Woo-jin] – I might’ve taken it a couple months ago, but now’s not the time.

[Baek Seo-yeon] – …Hmm. Got it.

That aside, has Baek Seo-yeon always been this eager to help me?

I tried retracing my memories but still couldn’t tell.

The only things that came to mind were her cursing at me or how, during sex, she’d turn into a meek lamb, hesitantly accepting even the most embarrassing requests.

Maybe she’s repaying me for the coffee last time?

Or did I wrong her somewhere without realizing?

As I was attaching random reasons to this unfamiliar kindness, another message arrived.

[Seol Da-bin] – What are you doing? Still at home? – Ugh, why’d it have to be here… – Pretend you didn’t see this. It was meant for my boyfriend. – Should’ve picked a profile pic that stands out more… Why’s it uselessly at the top of the chat…

It wasn’t just one message—several followed in quick succession.

And the sender wasn’t Baek Seo-yeon but Seol Da-bin.

[Seo Woo-jin] – It’s at the top because we recently talked. – Seems your boyfriend’s back from Paju for a bit?

[Seol Da-bin] – Stop digging into personal info. – Last time, you spoke casually the whole time, and now you’re back to formal speech? – Pick one.

[Seo Woo-jin] – I’m more comfortable with casual, honestly.

[Seol Da-bin] – …I’m still a year older. Shouldn’t formal be more natural?

[Seo Woo-jin] – You and Ha-yun react exactly the same. – So let me ask—do you want me to treat you like a noona?

[Seol Da-bin] – …Wow, hold on. Just imagining it is disgusting.

[Seo Woo-jin] – Is calling someone disgusting the right thing to do?

[Seol Da-bin] – Well, you are kinda disgusting. – People who blackmail others the moment they find a weakness are usually called disgusting, teacher.

[Seo Woo-jin] – And the one who moaned ahh~ ahh~ under that disgusting person from start to finish?

[Seol Da-bin] – Hmm? Definitely not me?

Every time I bottomed out, you flinched and whimpered.

When I pressed down on your cervix to make you cum, you stuck out your tongue, panting hick, hick— should’ve recorded it.

While Baek Seo-yeon stayed silent, I exchanged a few messages with Seol Da-bin, who replied at lightning speed.

Didn’t know she was this fast at typing.

Though, given how modern people are glued to their phones, it’s not that special.

As I stared at the screen with idle thoughts, something Yozora once said resurfaced.

That there’s a genre where people get off on having their girlfriends stolen—a drunken rambling I’d tried to forget.

NTR, apparently. Looked it up, and it’s a real thing.

Giving away what’s yours for free—the exact opposite of my tastes—is beyond me, but more importantly…

Does Baek Ji-ho really still not know?

Or is he pretending not to?

Recalling that last phone call, I asked.

Not Baek Ji-ho directly, of course.

But Seol Da-bin, who was yapping away in my phone like a Chihuahua.

[Seo Woo-jin] – That call last time—did he not notice?

[Seol Da-bin] – If he had, I’d have been dumped already. – You’d do the same in his place.

Well, yeah, but…

If it were Baek Ji-ho instead of me.

If Baek Ji-ho had weird tastes.

The outcome might’ve been different, no?

Resting my chin on my hand, I mulled it over before eventually ending the conversation and turning off the screen.

…I’d only seen her in photos, so I was curious about the real thing.

She’s definitely pretty.

I also kinda get why Yozora said she resembles me.

Our appearance… has a similar vibe, I guess.

Though our personalities seem completely different.

But you can’t really know that without talking to someone.

Still, one thing from that café conversation still doesn’t make sense.

Seo Woo-jin outright said his type was women like me.

That’s just forcing a square peg into a round hole.

Between Sua, me, and even Seol Da-bin, whom I just met, I can kinda see a common aesthetic.

But then what about Yozora, who’s always giggling nonstop?

Or Lee Ha-yun, who also has a cute vibe?

Even Lee Ji-yun, who usually acts stiff, supposedly smiles a lot around Seo Woo-jin.

And if you think about it, Sua’s usual tense expression around others versus when she’s with us—

And her expression when she’s tangled up with Seo Woo-jin—are all different. Better to reconsider.

“Sigh…….”

…Anyway, here’s what I’m saying.

That man just likes any woman.

Thinking you’re special? Unless you’re an idiot, you wouldn’t believe that nonsense.

If—if—he had even a milligram of interest in treating me special…

When I casually mentioned “I’m not so busy that I don’t have free time,” he’d have called me over every single day.

Plus, last time, riding the mood…

…I even said something that embarrassing.

If Seo Woo-jin had any feelings for me—

This break would’ve been full of overnight stays. Definitely.

But instead, he acts like he’s avoiding me in case I go into heat—what the hell is that?

So in the end, me having to say “Shouldn’t we meet before I go into heat?”—what’s that about?

And then suggesting we do it with Sua again, or even Yozora—three people? Ugh. No, after that nonsense, I said let’s just keep it to the two of us.

“You really get off on multiple people, huh?”

Making me say that out loud—is he doing it on purpose?

Or is he just that clueless…?

No. Whatever.

If I were the one wanting to go into heat, fine. But that’s not it.

Being treated considerately is comfortable. Yeah, yeah. So comfortable. Keep it up forever.

After mentally cursing Seo Woo-jin for a bit—

I knocked my hand against the stair railing and headed straight back to the student council room.

Early September. The start of the second semester.

Soon, the student council president’s seat will pass to someone else.

Until then, I’ll gather as much material as I can.

So things keep running smoothly even after I’m gone.

Honestly, I’ve grown fond of this academy, so it’s not like I can’t do it.

But there’s some work to be done. Not too much.

If I handle things like last semester, it should be fine.

As I walked, watching a pair of starlings flitting through the rain outside—early autumn, after all—

“…Ah. Sunbae.”

“…….”

Yoo Si-woo.

Given the system is basically a popularity contest, I ran into the next student council president in front of the council room.

This guy being here before me is rarer than the sun rising in the west.

…Separate from that, though.

He’s definitely become more docile than I remember.

Last I heard, Seo Woo-jin mimicked my voice, spliced it onto some porn audio, and sent it to Yoo Si-woo for personal use.

Did that actually work?

Well, Seo Woo-jin made me swear not to say anything after showing me the original porn, so I’ll play dumb.

At least he’s stopped being as clingy as before. That’s a relief.

…Is he really using that shoddy recording as my voice?

Disgusting.

But what can I do?

“Move aside so I can enter.”

“…J-Just a second.”

Stop staring and get out of the way.

After politely rephrasing that, the path cleared immediately.

In the past, he’d call this meeting fate and ramble about grabbing lunch together. This is a massive improvement.

Entering the council room, a few diligent underclassmen I’d memorized the names of were already there.

At this hour, they’d usually be hanging out with friends since there’s nothing to do.

Whatever their reasons, they’re putting in effort.

Exchanging generic greetings about their break, I smoothed my skirt with both hands and sat down.

“…….”

Then, my gaze drifted to the ever-present sofa in the corner.

The one Yoo Si-woo always used for gaming.

Now, for once, left empty without its owner…

Staring at it for a moment—

I let out a pointless cough and picked up a pen.

…The delusion that just crossed my mind.

Made me look really stupid.

As stupid as that man—the one in the infirmary right now who gets off on cuckolding others.

So stupid.