Min Chae-ah from the Next Class

Monday lunch period.

The classroom was a little noisier than usual. The buzz from the weekend's Double Star Trial still hadn't settled — even students who didn't play the game were talking about the championship video, and a few kids who'd recognized Kang Tae-jun's username kept glancing over at his desk between classes.

Tae-jun himself was doing his best to ignore the stares, eating a bun he'd bought from the school store. His phone was open to the Origin Fantasia community.

Posts like that had been going up all weekend. Tae-jun scrolled for a while, then finally flipped his phone face-down.

Lee Hyun-woo, eating a hamburger beside him, grinned.

"Why'd you turn it off?"

"It's the same stuff over and over."

"It's all people praising you. Isn't that a good thing?"

"It was, at first."

"And now?"

"It's getting a little much."

Hyun-woo nodded like he understood completely.

"That's the life of a celebrity."

Tae-jun gave him a look of pure disbelief.

"And you'd know this how?"

"I'm a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠celebrity's friend."

"I'm only famous inside the game."

"Still, there are quite a few kids at school who know your username now."

Tae-jun's hand stopped.

"Who told them?"

Hyun-woo slowly looked away.

"Rumors just... spread naturally, you know."

"You told them, didn't you."

"There's no proof I started it."

"So you admit you helped it along."

Hyun-woo took a huge bite of his hamburger instead of answering. Tae-jun picked up the empty bread bag, and Hyun-woo hurriedly leaned back.

"You can't throw trash in the classroom."

"I was going to put it in the trash can."

"The trash can is in the opposite direction from me."

"The wind might pick up a little."

Just as the two of them were bickering, a small stir rose from the front of the classroom.

A girl from another class was standing in the open doorway. Ash-brown hair fell past her shoulders, and her eyes were a vivid, striking red. Her skin had the healthy, faintly sun-kissed look of someone who spent her time outdoors.

She looked around the room as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She'd walked into a class that wasn't hers, but there wasn't a trace of nervousness about her, nor any awareness of the stares she drew.

A student passing in the hallway spotted her and waved.

"Chae-ah, what are you doing here?"

"Looking for someone."

"Who?"

"Found them. See you later."

Min Chae-ah smiled lightly as she greeted them. Students inside the classroom who'd recognized her called out just as easily.

"Min Chae-ah, is there athletic club practice today?"

"Yeah. After school."

"Did you bring the thing I lent you last time?"

"It's in my bag. I'll give it to you later."

Chae-ah answered each one without missing a beat as she walked into the room. She mixed easily with anyone, equally comfortable starting a conversation or being approached.

Hyun-woo muttered under his breath.

"That's Min Chae-ah."

Tae-jun turned his head.

"Who?"

Hyun-woo looked at him like he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

"Min Chae-ah. From the next class over."

"Okay, and who is that."

"You seriously don't know anyone from other classes, do you?"

"Am I supposed to?"

"It'd be harder to find someone at this school who doesn't know her."

Chae-ah was good at sports and had an easygoing personality, which made her well-known throughout the grade. Students knew her even across different classes and clubs, and people would greet her just walking down the hallway. But to Tae-jun, she might as well have been a complete stranger.

Chae-ah's gaze stopped at Tae-jun's desk. She didn't hesitate. She walked straight over.

"You're Kang Tae-jun, right?"

Tae-jun blinked.

"Yeah."

"Hey."

"Uh... hey."

Chae-ah smiled a little at his reaction.

"Did I startle you, showing up out of nowhere?"

"A little."

"This is the first time we've talked. It's normal you wouldn't remember me."

"Oh. Okay."

Tae-jun answered briefly, still having no idea why she'd come looking for him. Hyun-woo set down his hamburger and watched the two of them with open interest.

Tae-jun asked first.

"So... did you need something from me?"

"I heard you're really good at Origin Fantasia."

Tae-jun's expression shifted, just slightly. Hyun-woo picked up his drink like nothing was happening. Tae-jun slowly turned to look at him.

"Lee Hyun-woo."

"What."

"Did you tell her?"

"Why am I the first suspect?"

"You just admitted you were spreading rumors."

"I said they spread naturally. I didn't say I spread them."

Tae-jun glared at him for a moment, then looked back at Chae-ah.

"How did you even know I play?"

Chae-ah answered like it was nothing.

"I overheard it by accident."

"Where?"

"In the hallway a few days ago."

Her gaze drifted toward Hyun-woo.

"Hyun-woo was talking about it with his friends."

Hyun-woo flinched. Tae-jun said it immediately.

"I knew it was you."

"Hold on. Is it a crime for friends to talk in the hallway?"

"How loud were you that someone from the next class overheard?"

Chae-ah added, completely unfazed.

"Hyun-woo's voice carries. Always has."

"Chae-ah, if you pile on too, I'm in real trouble here."

"It's true, though?"

Hyun-woo looked wounded but couldn't argue. Tae-jun set the crumpled bread bag on his desk.

"You throw this away."

"How did we arrive at that conclusion?"

Chae-ah looked at the two of them and smiled quietly. Even talking to Tae-jun for the first time, she didn't let the atmosphere turn awkward. She slipped into the conversation as naturally as if she'd been part of it all along, trading light jokes with Hyun-woo.

She looked at Tae-jun again.

"Anyway, you are good at the game, right?"

"I do okay."

Hyun-woo jumped in immediately.

"It's not 'okay.' He's a ranker."

"You, be quiet."

"He took first in the event, too."

"Lee Hyun-woo."

"And he partnered with the number one player in the overall rankings."

Tae-jun wordlessly picked the bread bag back up, and Hyun-woo hurriedly shut his mouth. Chae-ah's red eyes lit up with interest.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"So the Arc Saber from the community is you?"

Tae-jun hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Yeah."

"Then I found the right person."

"For what?"

Chae-ah pulled out her phone and opened her character info screen.

A female character with ash-brown hair and red eyes stood on the screen, wearing beginner equipment. Tae-jun studied it, then frowned. It was a swordsman-type character, but the gear was a complete mess.

"This is your character?"

"Yeah."

"How long have you been playing?"

"Four days."

"Then why are you dressed like this?"

Chae-ah tilted her head.

"Is it weird?"

"You're a swordsman wearing gloves with magic attack."

"It said the attack power was higher."

"That's magic attack power."

Chae-ah checked the screen again.

"So that's why my damage was so bad."

"Did you not read the description?"

"I did read it."

"And?"

"It was too long."

Tae-jun's mouth closed for a moment. Hyun-woo's shoulders shook as he tried not to laugh.

Chae-ah opened her skill window too. Points had been dumped one at a time into attack, defense, and movement skills — and even into support abilities she couldn't use yet. Tae-jun finally let out a sigh.

"Why did you spec it like this?"

"Don't you end up using everything eventually?"

"You might use them later, but early on you have to invest in one thing first."

"Which one?"

"Depends on how you play."

Chae-ah thought for a moment.

"I like hitting things up close."

"Yeah, I could tell just from your combat log."

Her damage taken was unusually high. On the flip side, her successful attack count was higher than other players at the same level.

"You don't dodge incoming attacks?"

"I try to."

"Then why did you get hit this much?"

"I figured I could land one more hit."

Tae-jun's eyebrows went up. Hyun-woo finally burst out laughing.

"She's just like you."

"How."

Hyun-woo deliberately dropped his voice into a low, cold imitation.

"Don't get greedy."

Tae-jun threw the bread bag at him. Hyun-woo caught it, grinning. Chae-ah tilted her head.

"What's damage greed?"

"It's when you refuse to back off even though it's dangerous, just so you can get one more hit in."

"You have to attack to kill things."

"You can't kill anything if you're dead."

Chae-ah closed her mouth for a moment. It wasn't wrong, which made it hard to argue — her expression said as much. Tae-jun found the reaction somehow familiar and let out a small laugh.

Chae-ah didn't put her phone away.

"So there's something I wanted to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Teach me the game."

Tae-jun blinked.

"Me?"

"Yeah."

"You know a ton of people. None of them play?"

"Plenty do."

True to her reputation as one of the most social kids in school, she had several friends who gamed.

"Then just ask them."

"I did."

"And?"

"All they say is to hit a high level first and get your gear set up."

"That's not completely wrong."

"When I say I don't even know how to level up, they tell me to do quests."

"Then do the quests."

"They're boring."

Tae-jun looked at her, incredulous.

"You've only been playing for four days."

"It just keeps making me take items from one person and deliver them to someone else."

"That's how the early game works."

"So I went to fight a boss instead."

Chae-ah showed him her combat log. It was a field boss with a recommended level of 18.

"You tried to fight this at level 11?"

"I was level 8 the first time I went."

"Why did you go?"

"It was nearby."

"You lost, obviously."

"Yeah."

"And it didn't occur to you to level up first and then go back?"

Chae-ah said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I lost once, so I have to keep going until I win."

Hyun-woo pressed a hand to his forehead.

"Yep. She hasn't changed at all."

Tae-jun asked.

"You two know each other?"

"Same middle school."

"I asked if you're close."

"We were in the same class a few times."

Chae-ah added, matter-of-fact.

"We weren't close."

Hyun-woo clutched his chest.

"You didn't have to say it that fast."

"You weren't the one who asked."

"People still have feelings, you know."

Chae-ah ignored him and kept her eyes on Tae-jun.

"Can you teach me?"

Tae-jun thought it over for a moment. He was planning to log on this evening anyway. Lately he'd been doing something with Shopsop almost every day, but there wasn't a set schedule. Teaching her the basics probably wouldn't take long.

"The basics, at least."

Chae-ah's face lit up.

"Can you do today?"

"Today?"

"Yeah."

"That's soon."

"If we can do it today, there's no reason to wait until tomorrow."

Tae-jun couldn't argue with that. The logic was simple, but it wasn't wrong.

"Alright. Eight o'clock tonight."

"Got it."

Chae-ah immediately typed the time into her phone.

"Your username is Arc Saber, right?"

"Yeah."

"I'll send a friend request."

"Once you log in, wait in the beginner village."

"What should I prepare?"

"Don't do anything."

"Why?"

"If you buy more gear or put more points into skills, there'll be even more to fix."

Chae-ah checked her character again.

"Is it that bad?"

"Yeah."

"Okay."

She put her phone in her pocket without protest.

"Thanks."

"I haven't even taught you anything yet."

"You said you'd make time."

Chae-ah started to turn, then looked back at Tae-jun.

"You look more ordinary than I expected, though."

Tae-jun's expression froze.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"From the community posts, I figured you'd look a little sharper."

Hyun-woo burst out laughing.

"You have to look sharp to be good at games?"

"I just got that vibe since you run around with Shopsop."

Chae-ah gave Tae-jun a playful smile. Before he could even respond, someone called for her from outside the classroom.

"Chae-ah! We were supposed to go to the store together!"

"Coming!"

Chae-ah waved back naturally. Two students from another class were waiting for her by the door. Even a student passing by struck up a conversation, and she traded a quick joke with them before raising a hand toward Tae-jun again.

"See you tonight, then."

"Yeah."

Min Chae-ah left the classroom with the friends who'd been waiting. Even in the hallway, a few students greeted her, and she slipped among them as easily as breathing.

Once the door closed, Hyun-woo's mouth curved up.

"A popular girl came all the way here to ask you to teach her how to play."

"She said she doesn't know the game."

"She's got plenty of friends who play, and she still came to you specifically."

"She heard we won the event."

"And she locked in an evening appointment on the spot."

Tae-jun looked at him.

"We're meeting in the game."

"Right. The two of you, meeting at night."

"Why would you phrase it like that?"

"I only stated the facts."

Tae-jun picked up a drink lid. Hyun-woo hurriedly raised both hands.

"Okay, okay. I'll shut up."

By the window, Seo Ha-yoon was looking down at the workbook she'd spread open. But she hadn't solved a single problem in a while. Her eyes kept drifting toward Tae-jun's desk.

Min Chae-ah. A student from the next class over who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠knew practically everyone. Good at sports, easygoing personality. She fit into any group without effort, and walking down the hallway was enough to collect greetings from every direction.

Ha-yoon knew Chae-ah's name and face too. But she'd never heard that Chae-ah was close with Tae-jun. In fact, Tae-jun had looked like he was seeing her for the first time.

And yet Chae-ah had walked right up to him without hesitation. She'd asked him to teach her the game, and right then and there they'd set an evening appointment.

What? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠That's Min Chae-ah from the next class. Why is she with Tae-jun...?

The pen in Ha-yoon's hand stopped above the workbook.

She'd just come because she wanted to learn from someone good at the game. Tae-jun had taken first place in the weekend event with Shopsop. The video had spread through the community, so of course people would take an interest. That wasn't strange.

And yet something in her chest felt oddly unsettled.

The way Chae-ah had stood in front of Tae-jun's desk, looking at a phone together. The way Tae-jun had smiled checking her character. The conversation where the two of them set a time for the evening. Scenes that shouldn't have meant anything kept lingering in her mind.

And Min Chae-ah had already left the classroom. Hyun-woo was still teasing Tae-jun, and Tae-jun looked annoyed — but not entirely unhappy about it.

Ha-yoon pressed her lips together, just slightly.

There was nothing strange about Tae-jun teaching someone else the game. He'd gotten good enough now that he could actually help people. It was a good thing. It was definitely a good thing — and yet seeing him with Min Chae-ah left her strangely restless.

Ha-yoon hadn't admitted to herself yet that what she felt was jealousy.

But one thing was clear.

The fact that Tae-jun would be playing with Min Chae-ah tonight bothered her far more than she'd expected.