Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Chapter 5: The Borrowed Notes
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Chapter 2 had been updated.
There wasn't much to it. Just a summary of what Han U-sol had done that day. No particularly useful information.
'That's a bit weird.'
In Chapter 1, the latter half had shifted somewhat to Han U-sol's first-person perspective, but Chapter 2 was entirely in third-person.
It was just where Han U-sol went and what he did. That was all of Chapter 2.
There was nothing about what Han U-sol was thinking or why he acted that way.
'How is this even a novel? Did they get lazy writing it?'
It felt more like a report than a novel. Just what actions Han U-sol took and the results.
'But in the novel, this guy eats lunch with Yoon Na-rin.'
Just like in reality, Yoon Na-rin offered Han U-sol lunch in the novel too. The difference was that he refused in reality but accepted in the novel.
'Why did he refuse in reality, though?'
No psychological descriptions at all, so I had no idea.
Irritated, I opened the comments section and wrote one.
[Quit the novel. Just end it.]
The next day at school, as I entered the classroom, Han U-sol was laughing and chatting with some girl.
'This jerk coldly brushed off Na-rin yesterday, but he's giggling with another girl like it's nothing.'
I glared at Han U-sol and sat in the seat next to Yoon Na-rin.
Yoon Na-rin looked at me with slightly surprised eyes as I scowled at Han U-sol, then greeted me.
"Uh... good morning, Anis."
"Yeah. Good morning."
I returned Yoon Na-rin's greeting and sank into thought. Why had Han U-sol refused Yoon Na-rin's invitation yesterday?
In the novel, he definitely accepted it and ate together.
'But in reality, he refused. Why... The difference between reality and the novel...'
'No way... because of me?'
The difference between reality and the novel was that I was next to Yoon Na-rin.
'He felt burdened eating with two girls!'
It was a plausible hypothesis. Honestly, objectively speaking, Yoon Na-rin and I had considerable "combat power" in terms of looks. It's not for nothing they say a pretty face is intimidating—like a thug. For a teenage boy like Han U-sol, eating lunch with two pretty girls might have been a bit overwhelming.
'What a harem king face, yet so innocent in some ways.'
Turning down a chance to eat with two beauties. If that opportunity had come to me back then, I definitely would have...
'Definitely... hmm.'
I had no such experience, so I wasn't sure.
Lost in thought with my chin propped on my hand, the teacher entered and class began.
'But what if Yoon Na-rin and Han U-sol don't connect because they couldn't eat together yesterday?'
Yoon Na-rin, already rejected once yesterday, probably wouldn't approach Han U-sol again. If she fell out of heroine status and drifted away from him like this?
'N-No, that can't happen!'
If it did, my plan to cozy up to Han U-sol via the heroine Yoon Na-rin and get a weapon from him would be ruined.
'I-I have to fix this somehow. But how?'
Originally, Yoon Na-rin would have naturally grown close to Han U-sol over lunch. But now that was impossible.
'...For now, I'll try to get friendly with Han U-sol myself.'
If I befriended Han U-sol, Yoon Na-rin would have more chances to talk to him too. Then they'd naturally connect.
As I mulled this over alone, Teacher Silbi called my name loudly.
"Anis!"
"Yes!?"
"Did you take notes on what we just covered?"
"Uh... no..."
Teacher Silbi sighed.
"...How long have you been here, and you're already spacing out in class?"
"...Sorry."
"After class, ask a friend to show you theirs and copy it."
"Okay..."
I felt dejected. It was only day three since enrollment, and I already seemed marked as a problem student.
After class, I asked Yoon Na-rin next to me to show me her notes.
"Ah... haha. Sorry, Anis. I was sleeping too, so I didn't take any. I might have to ask someone else."
Seems Yoon Na-rin hadn't taken notes either. I must not have noticed her sleeping next to me while worrying about the future.
'Then who can I ask...'
I glanced at Han U-sol sitting farther away. Socially inept as I was, the only people I'd ever really talked to were Yoon Na-rin and Han U-sol.
I approached Han U-sol and spoke to him.
"Um..."
"Yeah?"
"Can I see your notes from class just now?"
"Oh, sure, here..."
"Thanks."
The moment I took his notebook and tried to open it, Han U-sol suddenly snatched it back in surprise.
"Wha-what?"
As I yelped in confusion, Han U-sol, face flushed, spoke up.
"Ah, uh... sorry. Borrow from someone else?"
"...Okay."
Don't offer it if you didn't mean to give it. A bit annoyed, I left the classroom and headed to the bathroom.
"Hmm..."
Pondering in front of the bathroom, I entered the girls' one, washed my hands at the sink, and looked in the mirror.
'This... that reaction just now...'
I'd worried this might happen before, but it was so awful I'd tried not to think about it.
'Han U-sol, that guy...'
This seemed to be that worst-case scenario.
'He hates me.'
Yeah, no matter how I looked at it, Han U-sol's reaction was clearly from someone who disliked me. He'd been friendly and smiling with others, but for my simple request to borrow notes, he got serious and refused. Even snatching the notebook back with an angry flushed face confirmed it.
'Why...'
Maybe he was mad about my request last time to make me a weapon. That could be it.
'Then refusing Yoon Na-rin's invitation yesterday...'
Not because it was burdensome, but because he hates me?
'What a petty jerk...'
Who'd have thought the worst situation—the protagonist hating me—would come. Depressed, I returned to the classroom.
As I opened the door, Yoon Na-rin and Han U-sol were laughing and playing around.
"N-Na-rin! Please! Give it back!!"
"Puhuhu. Hmm, what should I do~? I'll think about it if you show me your notes!"
"A-Alright! I'll show you, so give it back first!"
More precisely, Yoon Na-rin had snatched Han U-sol's notebook and was waving it around laughing, while Han U-sol panicked and begged for it back.
Were they protagonist and heroine after all? Like some fated attraction? In the few minutes I was in the bathroom, they'd apparently gotten friendly. At this rate, they'd confirm their feelings and get together soon.
'W-Wait, then what about me?'
Even if Yoon Na-rin and Han U-sol connected, if Han U-sol hated me, my plan to ride her coattails for a weapon was doomed. I felt like a duck egg on the Nakdong River.
In this harsh world, the protagonist hating me. Tears welled up thinking of the grim future. How would I survive?
Gazing glumly at Yoon Na-rin and Han U-sol, Yoon Na-rin spotted me entering.
"Uh, ah, Anis!! This isn't, uh, what it looks like!!"
What isn't, you idiot.
"My ability... is Weapon Creation."
Of all things, it was her turn right after his. Han U-sol inwardly sighed. Few people liked someone with a superior version of their own ability. Even parents or siblings could become objects of jealousy and inferiority, let alone a stranger.
And Han U-sol was used to receiving jealous, envious glares. But even so, getting one from someone on the first day at the academy didn't sit well.
Feeling sorry, he glanced at the front seat and met the girl's eyes. The one who'd introduced herself as Anis Harper.
'...She's pretty.'
The black-haired girl named Anis looking back at him was beautiful. Right in his strike zone of ideal types.
Contrary to expectations, there was no jealousy or inferiority in her eyes. Rather, they held interest or curiosity.
Gazing into her clear, spotless eyes, he suddenly wondered what kind of girl she was.
"Um... could you show me that weapon you summoned earlier, just once more?"
After mana measurement ended and as Han U-sol was about to head home, Anis stopped him.
Asking to see his superior ability again—wouldn't that just make her feel bad? Apparently not for her.
He summoned a weapon from thin air. Since it wasn't newly created, just a bit of mana summoned it instantly.
"Wow..."
Anis let out an exclamation and stared at the sword for a long time. A faint acacia scent tickled Han U-sol's nose. The subtly sweet aroma made him unconsciously take a deep breath.
Anis stared blankly at the sword with her small mouth slightly agape, face flushed. Han U-sol, intoxicated by the scent, suddenly felt something suggestive and quickly averted his eyes from her face.
"Could you... maybe make one like this for me too...?"
Anis asked, her face excited.
Even seeing a superior ability, not a hint of jealousy. Just from that, her kind heart and purity shone through.
He wanted to make one for her, but he had his own principles, so he had to lie.
"Um... sorry. Weapons I make can only be used by me."
Her eyes drooped in disappointment, corners of her mouth turning down.
She looked so fragile it made him impulsively want to protect her.
"Uh... you okay?"
"Yeah... see you tomorrow..."
Watching her leave dejectedly after saying goodbye, Han U-sol felt a ticklish sensation in his chest for the first time in his life.
"...Sorry. I was planning to eat alone..."
Seeing Anis standing behind Yoon Na-rin made something tickle in his chest. Eating like this would probably give him indigestion, so he refused.
You idiot. Why refuse? Eating alone, Han U-sol scolded himself.
Han U-sol was confused. What was so hard about eating together? Normally, he'd accept without issue.
Moreover, regretting it now after refusing made him pathetic. What was wrong with him?
"...How long have you been here, and you're already spacing out in class?"
"...Sorry."
The girl was getting scolded by the teacher. Looked like she'd been caught daydreaming.
'...Cute.'
Looking scolded and downcast, she resembled a puppy reproved by its owner.
Anis Harper. His classmate who'd been on his mind lately.
Was he possessed or something? Her face was as pretty as her name. Anis Harper.
[Anis Harper]
Repeating it in his head, he wrote her name in the corner of his note-taking notebook.
"Um... can I see your notes from class just now?"
After class, Anis approached asking to see his notes.
"Oh, sure, here..."
His expression stiffened unconsciously, tone curt. Not what he'd intended.
He could act naturally with others, but not with this girl.
"Thanks."
She thanked him simply after taking the notebook. Just that made his heart race.
'Oh no!'
As she opened it, Han U-sol remembered her name scribbled in the corner.
Panicking, he snatched it back, and she looked at him in confusion.
"Ah, uh... sorry. Borrow from someone else?"
"...Okay."
She said that and left the classroom. She must be mad. Even he thought it was rude. She might hate him now.
"Haaa..."
Han U-sol laid his hands on the desk and sighed deeply. Imagining her hating him made his chest feel heavy like a stone.
"Damn... I need to apologize quick..."
He'd apologize as soon as Anis returned. Steeling himself, he noticed the notebook was gone from his hands.
"Puh, hehehe..."
Hearing laughter, he looked aside to see Yoon Na-rin grinning at him with his notebook open.
"W-Wait!!"
"Ahahaha!!"
Han U-sol's wail and Yoon Na-rin's laughter filled the classroom.