Chapter 171: Mafia
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 171: Mafia
Mid-March.
It was a bit earlier than other universities, but it was the perfect time—the students who were going to be close had already bonded, and it was the period where people still put in the effort to get to know those they weren't close with yet.
Even though it was just a two-day, one-night trip, I found it hard to get my feet moving.
"I feel a bit more uneasy than I expected."
Going out to have fun wasn't a bad thing.
However, it felt strangely uncomfortable, like I was intruding on the freshmen's territory.
Maybe it felt that way because the reasons you see online for why sophomores join the MT are usually pretty blatant.
"What are you doing?"
Seo Ye-rin, standing beside me, tilted her head as if my hesitation was strange.
"Why are you just standing there?"
She urged me to hurry up and get on the bus.
I wondered if she realized that every single one of her small actions caused the eyes around us to fluctuate.
There were many people saying that Seo Ye-rin and I were dating, and I saw a few guys looking devastated, as if they had been aiming for her.
On the girls' side, there was a strong sense of "Why him?"
They looked as if they were questioning why someone like Seo Ye-rin was hanging around with me.
"Is it really right for us to join in where the freshmen are playing?"
Because Seo Ye-rin had joined, a significant number of sophomores ended up attending as well.
The freshmen were flustered, while the professors apparently loved it.
I couldn't help but feel like we were hijacking an event that was supposed to be for the first-years.
"What does that matter? Is there a law saying only freshmen can go to MT?"
"No, that's not it."
"Right? And we're going to hang out among ourselves anyway, so there's no need to care about what others think."
"..."
"What?"
"Nothing. It’s just a bit humiliating to be convinced by you."
"What's that supposed to mean!"
She pinched my side and dragged me toward the bus with a bright smile.
In front of the bus, I locked eyes with Choi I-seo, who was checking the headcount. She glanced at us and let out a sigh.
"Unlink your arms before you get on."
"Whyyy?"
Seo Ye-rin teased.
'More than I thought.'
Since we hadn't all met up recently, I had given up on thinking about it.
But even with the two of them together like this, the atmosphere wasn't particularly hostile.
I had secretly worried that a catfight like something out of a soap opera might break out, but the fact that they were close friends played a part in keeping things civil.
Pinch.
Since talking to Seo Ye-rin wouldn't work, Choi I-seo pinched my cheek, signaling me to untie ourselves quickly.
Not wanting to cause unnecessary trouble, I pulled away from Seo Ye-rin. One side wore a comfortable smile, while the other pouted in dissatisfaction.
"Sit right behind the front seat. That spot next to it is mine."
Choi I-seo whispered secretly.
The variable, however, was Seo Ye-rin, who was listening intently beside us.
"I don't wanna!"
She jumped in immediately and stuck her tongue out.
I thought she was just being difficult, but it seemed she had her own reasons.
"I don't want to see Woo-jin acting all smug because he's sitting with I-seo with a girl on both sides."
"...Agreed."
Choi I-seo gestured for me to get in quickly, saying she couldn't bear to see such a sight either.
I felt like I had just been insulted, but I boarded the bus anyway.
In the end, we decided to take seats toward the back.
"Do you want to sit by the window?"
I asked because people usually prefer the window seat, but Seo Ye-rin shook her head.
"No, you go inside. That way you can't talk to other kids and only talk to me."
"What's your concept today?"
"The obsessive girl?"
Pushed by her, I ended up sitting by the window.
"Don't worry, I'm only going to play with you too."
She pulled out her phone with a beaming smile.
"Let's play a game! Did you pull for this banner?"
"The one with the scar on their face? No, I didn't specifically pull for them."
"I purposely didn't pull because I wanted to do it with you! Let's pull together."
The conversation naturally flowed into games.
"Alright, alright, alright. Here we gooo."
Leaning against my shoulder, Seo Ye-rin pressed the summon button with the phone held between us.
In the past, she would have spoken softly or avoided leaning on my shoulder like this out of concern for others' eyes.
A smile formed on my face as I realized how much she had truly changed in many ways.
"Is this even a game?!"
"..."
"500,000 won vanished in two minutes! Ugh! My money!"
Seeing her money evaporate as she failed her pulls in the blink of an eye made my smile grow even wider.
"M-More! Just a bit more!"
Before I knew it, Seo Ye-rin, who had blown everything, tried to top up her account in a panic, so I grabbed her wrist.
"Hey, hey. You don't even have a part-time job, how can you spend money like this?"
"I'm going to ask my mom for the New Year's money I saved up!"
That money is probably long gone.
As I was stopping Seo Ye-rin, who was shaking off my hand to spend more, Yoo Ah-rin passed by.
"Tsk."
She clicked her tongue and started to sit across from us before standing back up.
"No, if I'm where you can see me, you'll probably act smug."
"Do you guys have a script?"
How could she say the exact same thing Choi I-seo and Seo Ye-rin said earlier?
Ultimately, Yoo Ah-rin sat in the seat behind me.
She claimed she would use her geographical advantage to beat me up the moment I tried anything funny with Seo Ye-rin.
Senior Ju-hee also passed by at one point, and I reflexively avoided her gaze.
I didn't want to show her that I was acting like this with Seo Ye-rin, so I even let go of Ye-rin's hand.
The senior didn't seem to pay much attention to this side and acted as she usually did.
Hands shoved deep into the pockets of her Dragon Padded Jacket, carrying the scent of deodorant that masked the smell of cigarette smoke.
At first, I was worried when she said she was coming to the MT, but seeing her like this, there didn't seem to be any major issues.
"Alright, we're heading out, so everyone please fasten your seatbelts."
Following Choi I-seo's guidance, we buckled up, and the bus soon departed.
But it was only for a moment; everyone soon unbuckled and started chatting and playing among themselves.
Seo Ye-rin and I also played mobile games together and made small talk.
We were stuck together so closely it was almost like leaning, but since we were on a bus, there wasn't really anyone else to watch us.
"Ye-rin, we're going to play a game, want to join?"
The Department Senior, Ahn Hyun-ho, came over and asked.
"What game?"
Even with Ahn Hyun-ho watching, Seo Ye-rin didn't think to move away as she asked back.
Ahn Hyun-ho also replied with a smile, showing no significant change in expression despite seeing us.
"Mafia game. We're going to use an app on our phones and play while we go."
"Oh, that sounds fun! Woo-jin, let's do it."
"Yeah, Woo-jin. You join too."
Following Seo Ye-rin's lead, the offer was extended to me as well.
"...Who are you?"
There was no way that jerk would welcome me like that.
Regardless, I ended up joining the Mafia game. Looking at it, quite a few people were participating, and all the familiar names were there.
"If I get Mafia, I'm killing Kim Woo-jin first."
The game began with Yoo Ah-rin's murder threat from behind.
— You are a Citizen! -
'Yeah, Citizen is the safest.'
I didn't particularly want to draw attention in a game like this.
I'm usually the quiet type, so wouldn't it be embarrassing to get loud just because we're on a trip?
"Woo-jin, what are you?"
"Aren't I not supposed to tell you?"
Seo Ye-rin was pestering me from the side.
Whether she did or not, the discussion was already in full swing on the screen.
'So this is why this bastard wanted to play.'
I could already see Ahn Hyun-ho smirking slyly.
He wanted to play the Mafia game just to screw with me somehow.
"Dumbass."
"Ah, I didn't know."
When I threw a mocking comment at Yoo Ah-rin behind me, she kicked my chair and grumbled.
In an instant, the votes piled up on me, and I died.
Naturally, I was a Citizen.
For the record, the Mafia were Ahn Hyun-ho and Yoo Ah-rin.
"What the hell is this?"
If you're going to be like this, just ostracize me.
I grumbled, but the next game proceeded anyway.
— You have died! -
And I was killed by the Mafia on the very first night.
The Mafia were Shin Ho-chang and Senior Min Ju-hee.
'Senior Ju-hee...?'
I felt a slight chill, but we moved on to the next game regardless.
"I can't even make it past the second day? Is the game always like this?"
"Try to be a bit better, Woo-jin."
"You're just bad at it."
The two people on either side of me each threw a comment, and I just wanted to hit them.
Am I really losing this because I'm bad at the game?
We played a few more rounds after that.
When I got the Cop role, the Mafia next to me, Seo Ye-rin, would peek at my screen and kill me.
Or I'd die because of Ahn Hyun-ho's instigation.
In any case, my in-game self never saw the sun rise twice.
'This sucks.'
— You are the Mafia! -
This time, I looked at my phone with the mindset of actually trying.
My fellow Mafia member was Senior Ju-hee.
When I asked cautiously in the chat, the senior replied calmly.
"Oof, my stomach hurts."
My stomach felt bloated; I wondered when we'd reach the rest stop.
There was no more chatting after that.
Seeing as the night was dragging on, it seemed the Cop and Doctor were deliberating.
Senior Ju-hee spoke to me again.
What was she talking about all of a sudden?
We seemed to be talking comfortably, but it didn't feel as informal as before.
It felt like we were talking while being slightly cautious of each other, like a game of tug-of-war.
It was strangely awkward.
It seemed I wasn't the only one who felt that way.
A good younger brother.
A wave of emotion washed over me.
Just then.
The night ended.
"..."
My fingers holding the phone froze.
"Huh?"
"S-Senior Ju-hee?"
Along with the exclamations heard from all over the bus.
A string of question marks went up.
Cold sweat began to pour down.
I was curious about what kind of expression Senior Ju-hee had right now.
But the 3rd-year rep tactlessly pointed out one more thing.
The fact that she was chatting busily during the night meant she was the Mafia.
Which meant, naturally.
It became a known fact that she had been chatting with her fellow Mafia partner.
'Shit, what do I do?'
Even if I win, it'll eventually be revealed that I'm the Mafia.
As I racked my brain for a way to just ruin this game.
Choi I-seo's report, filled with rage, was posted.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Yoo Ah-rin started kicking my chair from behind.
"...Woo-jin?"
And Seo Ye-rin called my name with a chilling voice.