Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: True Friends
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"So, you were too embarrassed to eat alone?"
Anis nodded.
I knew she was a bit introverted, but not being able to eat by herself? It was hilarious.
"Hahaha."
"...Don't laugh."
Anis shot me a glare while shoving her face into the bowl to eat. It was like a small animal on guard, wary of someone stealing its food, and I couldn't help but chuckle again.
"...Damn it, I said don't laugh!"
"Haha. Sorry."
Anis had started wolfing down her fried rice the moment it arrived at our table in the cafeteria.
She didn't seem to care that it was piping hot straight from the kitchen. Looked like she hadn't eaten in a while.
"...You skipped breakfast today?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Too much hassle."
...Too much hassle?
Her cool response left me speechless for a moment.
"...You came to the cafeteria to eat too?"
"Oh, yeah. Training at the field made me hungry."
"Training on the weekend?"
"Yeah. Can't slack on training."
"...Does that mean I'm slacking?"
"N-no! That's not what I meant!"
Han U-sol panicked at her sharp reaction. As Anis focused solely on her meal, he quietly started eating his too.
"Thanks for eating with me. See ya."
"Uh, yeah... Take care."
Anis said her goodbyes right after leaving the cafeteria and walked off.
Hmm... She's tricky.
This wasn't how I'd imagined things going. I wasn't expecting some sweet date vibe or anything, but just eating and parting ways like that?
Did I mess up...?
Anis had seemed off the whole meal, like she was in a bad mood. Maybe even from the moment we walked in.
"Ugh..."
Han U-sol grumbled and pondered the whole way back home.
My mood had tanked.
Why? Well.
Meeting Han U-sol had made me happy at the thought of finally eating.
So what soured it?
Was it the lady at the counter giving us this delighted look when we walked in?
Nah, not that.
I'm not narrow-minded enough to get upset over something so minor.
It was a little annoying, sure, but understandable. A young guy and girl entering a cafeteria alone together? Bound to raise eyebrows.
Of course, I swear on my life nothing shady was going to happen.
So why, then?
Han U-sol had approached me so friendly-like. Compared to how he used to treat me, it was a huge improvement. Maybe I'd even gotten a bit excited inside.
First time in my life someone who hated me suddenly turned nice.
Natural to get a little thrilled, right?
Yeah. That message.
The text that scrolled by on the TV in the corner of the cafeteria.
Yeah. That was the culprit.
And it wasn't just this once.
Having never received kindness from others in my life, starved for affection since arriving in this world, I'd been firing off happy circuits at the smallest gestures.
Maybe I could live a normal life, finding joy in the little things.
Maybe I could laugh over nothing with people, building connections.
Maybe I could settle here, doing what I want.
Maybe I could.
Be happy here.
Every time those thoughts bubbled up, that sentence appeared before my eyes, crushing my hopes.
Drawing a line: This is a novel world, and you're not one of its people.
Like it was saying I could never be happy.
Felt like pure malice, wishing only misery on me.
It got worse when mingling with novel characters.
Maybe it hated a non-character like me messing with the plot's causality.
Then why?
Why bring me to this world?
My chest tightened.
Tears welled up. Ha, damn it. Embarrassing.
Back in my dorm, I locked the door, flopped onto bed, and pulled the covers over my head.
Yeah.
I get it.
No more getting my hopes up.
Won't tangle with the characters anymore either.
So stop it.
The weekend passed, and Monday rolled around again.
Entering the classroom, I spotted Yoon Na-rin already seated.
"Anis! Why didn't you pick up your phone..."
"...Sorry."
I cut her off and sat far away.
"Anis...?"
Yoon Na-rin looked worried from afar, but I ignored her.
"Anis!"
"Oh, Reisi."
"Can you teach me some dagger moves again today?"
Reisi approached with a bright smile.
"Ah... Sorry. Not today."
"Oh... Yeah? Okay."
Reisi left with an awkward expression. Sorry, Reisi.
Yoon Na-rin kept glancing at me worriedly since I'd been keeping my distance all morning. She seemed torn about approaching, occasionally whispering with Han U-sol.
"Anis... Wanna grab lunch?"
"...Sorry. Eating alone today."
"......What's wrong? Something happen?"
"...Nothing."
"...Okay."
She gave up on my stubborn response. Han U-sol watched me worriedly from afar too.
The kid who'd been fine last week suddenly acting like this must be frustrating for them. Felt bad for no reason.
I went to the corner of the cafeteria and ate alone.
Mmm. Delicious.
Tasty.
...I'm fine. Really, I am.
I'm used to being alone.
Oh, that line just now was kinda cool.
Something's off with Anis.
Last week she was cheerfully challenging me to spars with Reisi, all smiles. Now suddenly her attitude flipped.
And it wasn't just me—Han U-sol too. She clearly liked him, yet treating him so coldly overnight? Weird.
She doesn't hate us...
Didn't seem like she'd suddenly grown to dislike us. More like... she wanted to talk but was anxious about it.
Even while chatting, her eyes darted around like she was watching for someone.
......
My gut screamed.
Something external was at play.
Anis was pure and kind. No way she'd push away approaching friends without reason. Someone must've fed her weird ideas.
I whispered to Han U-sol where no one could hear.
"Someone said something weird to Anis."
"Who?"
"That's what we're gonna find out now."
"How?"
His parroting annoyed me, so I headbutted him.
Thwack!
"Ow!"
"Figure it out however!"
I headed to the bathroom, leaving Han U-sol clutching his head.
As I reached the door, voices leaked from inside.
—...She's kinda annoying, right?
—...Yeah. Even last time...
Gossiping about someone. My least favorite type.
—Acting all quiet and superior as a special admit...
—And cozying up to U-sol? Gross.
...Special admit?
Only Anis in our grade fit that.
—So last time I dropped a hint passing by. Not sure if she heard.
—Really? What'd you say?
—Told her to quit acting superior and stay low. That Yoon Na-rin and U-sol secretly hate her guts, so keep quiet.
—No way? Total mic drop.
"......"
—Thought she didn't hear 'cause I said it soft, but seeing her distance from Na-rin and U-sol this morning? She heard alright.
—Hahaha. Finally knows her place.
—Finally no annoying bitch hovering near U-sol.
—Just gotta deal with Na-rin and I'm...
—But Na-rin's got a strong vibe. Tough, right?
—There's ways.
Ah. Aha. It was you bitches.
The ones who said nasty shit to Anis.
That level of gossip? Nothing to me. I'd dealt with jealousy plenty. Numb to it.
But for sensitive Anis? Could've hurt deep.
Imagining timid Anis bottling it up at home, maybe crying under covers alone? Heart ached.
Rage boiled toward the girls who'd said such cruel things.
Yoon Na-rin kicked open the bathroom door and glared at the three girls by the sinks—ones always buzzing around Han U-sol.
"Y-Yoon Na-rin!?"
"You fucking bitches!"
She grabbed the front girl's hair.
After lunch, with nothing to do and no friends, boredom hit. Classroom felt stuffy, so I headed to the rooftop.
Kill time here till lunch ends. Familiar routine from my past life. Pro-level at passing time unseen. If there was a certification, I'd have the top national license.
Sky's so blue.
Sat on the floor, staring blankly upward. Hurry up, time.
As I wasted time, the rooftop door slammed open. Yoon Na-rin burst in.
"Anis!!"
"Uh, yeah?"
Her hair was a mess, face scratched up. Han U-sol followed, looking worried.
...What happened to her? Fight?
"I handled all the bitches who badmouthed you!! Don't worry anymore!!"
"......?"
What? Didn't compute.
"Any assholes talking shit from now on, I'll beat 'em for you!!"
"Uh, thanks...?"
...Why's she barging in all hyped, saying embarrassing stuff? I ducked my head, flushed.
Still, didn't feel bad.
"So ignore any weird crap!!"
"No matter what they say, we're 'friends'!!"
"......"
...Friends.
Can I really be that?
A non-novel character with zero ties to you guys.
Anxious, I looked up into Yoon Na-rin's eyes.
She stared back with unwavering conviction in her gaze.
For some reason, it was blinding.
Like, for a moment, I'd been accepted as one of this world.
Chest tightened.
Tears welled. Ha, damn it. Embarrassing.
"......Really?"
I blurted it out. Voice watery.
"Of course!!"
Yoon Na-rin beamed.
"...Thanks."
I smiled brightly too.
...Na-rin. Get this message away from me.