A Perfect Score and a Cloudy Bet
"Hey everyone~ It's the thrilling day we've all been waiting for—midterm results are in~ Hurry up and take those report cards home to face your karma with your parents~"
As soon as she walked in that morning, Ms. Hye-na delivered the greatest gift the kids could ask for.
Still, unlike high school, middle school report cards didn't carry quite the same crushing weight.
"When I call your name, come up and get it~ Kim Min-woo!"
The students waited anxiously as names were called one by one.
Since my last name is Han, I was dead last in line.
That probably meant I'd end up with results similar to my desk partner, Han Ara, who was fidgeting nervously right beside me.
"Isn't it a bit much to be this nervous over middle school grades?"
"We always give it our best. That's our family motto. Besides, I guessed on a few questions this time..."
"Very class-president of you~"
"Noah, now that I think about it, didn't you only spend about ten minutes on each test before falling asleep? That habit really isn't good for you!"
True to her model-student nature, she immediately voiced her concern.
From Ara's perspective, it must have looked like I just scribbled nonsense and gave up before dozing off.
Even Seong-tae, who had basically given up on studying, managed to stay focused for twenty minutes. I couldn't stay awake longer than ten on any of the tests.
But there was a reason for that.
"Hmm... Want to make a bet, Ara? Class ranking, subject scores, whatever. Anything goes."
"Noah, I've never once fallen outside the top ten in the entire school...?"
"Heh, scared?"
"You think I'd fall for such a cheap provocation...? Ugh, fine! Let's bet on overall school ranking!"
"Good~ Bet accepted. Looks like they just called my name, so I'll be right back."
I stood up and walked to the teacher's desk, where Ms. Hye-na greeted me warmly.
"Our transfer student's turn, huh? How was the test? It must have felt a bit different from what you saw in America."
"You'll have your answer once you see my rank~"
"Getting cocky already. Well, with these scores, I suppose you earned it. Congratulations, Noah. Quite the flashy debut."
"Thanks~"
When I returned to my seat, Ara—who had gone up right after me—came back with her report card.
She kept tilting her head, clearly struggling to make sense of the results.
"Did you drop compared to last time?"
"Hmm... My school rank actually went up, but my class rank went down. That's strange..."
"Any idea why~"
I placed my own report card directly on my desk partner's desk.
Class Rank: 1 / School Rank: 1
Her eyes darted back and forth between me and the report card several times.
"Noah, does this even make sense? These scores after only ten minutes?"
Like the host of some cyberpunk game that would be released in the future.
With an utterly smug expression and tone, I delivered the teabag.
"Of course it makes sense~"
Turning the clock back a little—to the day before midterms.
It was a cloudy day, with low-hanging gray clouds covering the sky.
That afternoon, Cloudy approached the sofa I was leaning against and asked quietly.
"Noah, it feels weird for me to be the one saying this, but... aren't you going to study? The test is tomorrow."
"I didn't expect to hear that from you, Cloudy. Do you not like having me this close anymore?"
I hugged her waist while making fake sobbing noises. Yuri let out a sigh, as if she found the whole thing ridiculous.
Ever since the scar incident last time, she'd completely handed the lead over to me. It felt like our roles had fully reversed.
"Why do you seem more unhinged than me? You don't act like this when you're with the other personalities."
"It's called mirror therapy. Pretty effective, don't you think?"
"You talk a good game. Sigh, all that size and no real use."
Even as she complained, Cloudy turned around and fixed my bangs.
Her expression seemed to say, Who else is going to take care of you if not me?
...It almost felt a little like maternal affection?
Is that the kind of play today?
Ignoring the yellow one who was panting excitedly, I answered as gently as I could.
"I need to act spoiled sometimes too. If I only ever accept you all, it'll overflow."
"Out of all the many personalities, why me? Isn't my personality the clingiest one?"
"For some reason, you feel cozier than the others, Cloudy."
"Our chest sizes are the same, though?"
She deliberately brought her hands beneath her chest and shook them up and down.
Knowing I couldn't touch, she added a mischievous look on purpose.
"...You know that's not the kind of coziness I meant?"
"You don't like this kind?"
"No, I like it too much. So much I want to bury my face right now."
"You're the weird one. At times like this you should be more embarrassed. When your desires come crashing in, I don't know how I'm supposed to react."
Instead of answering, I adjusted my posture so she could lean against me more comfortably.
Cloudy leaned fully into my embrace, the angle dropping until she was looking up at me.
She pressed her finger hard into my cheek.
Hard enough that her finger sank in, slightly warping my expression.
"Tch. Still handsome even like this. It's unfair."
"I am, aren't I? I'm the number one handsome guy chosen by my mom, after all."
"To say that about yourself. Have you never been hit on while walking down the street?"
"Wouldn't hitting on a middle schooler be a crime?"
"Looking at your face, you seem like an adult... No. You have that slightly innocent, youthful look."
"Let's not casually roast your childhood friend~"
This time I pinched her cheek.
It was soft and springy, with a strangely addictive texture.
Way better than those liquid monsters they sold at stationery stores.
"And about being hit on, it did happen once."
"What?! You lied to me, Noah?"
Cloudy suddenly thrust her face close in surprise.
So close I could feel her breath completely, like that old cartoon dad.
Wait, did I step on a landmine again?
Cloudy narrowed her eyes like a yandere.
That sticky gaze, tangled with something dark—just like when we first met.
Dead eyes thick with obsession and anxiety, both named love.
It actually happened when I was an adult, studying for an assignment in the campus library! I never experienced it as a student!
But if I told her it was from before my regression, would she believe me?
Any excuse would have to be extremely convincing, or I'd just get cursed out nonstop.
Still, from my position—where I'd never even had a fling, let alone dated—it felt a little unfair.
"Explain. I'm being serious right now."
"Uh... There's not much to explain. I was studying in the library when someone touched my earphones. So I looked up."
"And?"
"This girl just said I was her type and gave me her Instagram ID."
"That slut."
Whoa... She went straight for such direct wording.
Before I could defend myself, Cloudy's interrogation stormed over me.
"So? What did you do? Did you exchange IDs with that cheap girl?"
"No... I didn't. Why would I?"
"It's rare for a guy to get hit on. You just let it pass?"
"I wasn't really attracted to her. Honestly, I thought it was one of those 'Do you know the way?' cult scams."
"Hmm... So they have those in America too?"
Ah, she interpreted it as something that happened while I was in America.
That was better. No need to reveal it was from before my regression.
"It's a metaphor. Cults exist in both East and West."
"Suspicious. If it was in the West, the girls would have much more mature bodies. You're saying you didn't fall for it, Noah?"
"Aren't you thinking of me too much as a beast driven by lust?"
"Last time you said you liked them big."
"That was just a question about preferences!"
Anyway, if I were that kind of person, I would have fallen when Jeong Ha-rin openly tried to seduce me last time.
But I believe physical pleasure should only come after emotional connection is established first.
"I'm not interested in just bodies. Emotions come first, touch comes after."
"Hmph. Whatever."
She leaned heavily against me, arms wrapped around herself.
Fortunately, her mood seemed to have improved just a little from earlier.
Now that it's gone from UFC to WWE, this is my chance.
I put my arm around Yuri's neck and started tickling her to soothe her.
"I made a slip of the tongue. I'm sorry."
"What are you sorry for?"
"For not living up to the faith you placed in me."
".....69 points."
"What's with that weirdly specific score? That was a perfect, full-mark answer."
"Prove the remaining 31 points with your actions from now on."
Seeing her face soften despite the grumbling, as if her mood had improved, I smiled wryly.
"I'll text my mom right now and say I'm staying out overnight."
"...I can't even with you."
Cloudy let out a small laugh and shifted her posture to look at me again.
I naturally wrapped my arm around her waist to keep her from falling.
If she leans back just a little more... isn't this a chance for a kiss?
I don't know why that thought suddenly crossed my mind.
The feelings I'd always kept tightly suppressed suddenly changed direction.
As if someone inside me had secretly taken the reins.
Was it because I'd let my guard down in the comfortable warmth?
Or had the yellow one secretly risen from deep within my heart?
My gaze slowly followed the line of her face downward.
To be exact, toward her pink lips.
Feeling the soft breath surrounding them, in that moment when I nearly had my first kiss.
Poke.
"You're really acting strange today. Is it reversal day, Noah?"
Cloudy pressed my nose, stopping my movement.
Firmly, so I couldn't go any further.
At that halted position, we could only feel each other's breath.
"...Sorry. I think I was possessed for a second."
"Jeez. Normally I should be the one doing that. Knowing how impulsive and affection-starved my cloudy personality is. Isn't it funny that I'm the one stopping you?"
"Like I said last time, we end up resembling each other. Guess it's true."
"...Still, you proved it with actions too. 100 points."
"What an honor. Then can I get even closer like this?"
Cloudy shook her head at my words.
Instead, like a mother soothing an elementary-school child.
With a voice full of sweet temptation.
"Hold back. It's true that I want to roll around with you right now, but I don't want to hold you back."
"Why would you be a shackle? You've always been—"
"Idiot. You have a test tomorrow. You should at least go home and make some minimal effort."
"....It's going to be full marks anyway."
Because I'm a regressor.
This kind of test is honestly too easy.
"Really...? Then want to make a bet, Noah?"
"What kind?"
"Since I have to take the GED to go to high school anyway, I'll need a tutor, right? I want to learn from an outstanding person."
"....."
"Get first place. Bring home the victory. Then the original personality says she'll give a reward. A very sweet one♪"
...How could I not get first place when she says it like that.
