Chapter 222: Anonymous 7
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 222: Anonymous 7
“Are you really just going to leave it like that?”
Yoo Ah-rin let out a deep sigh and asked again.
I took a sip of the chocolate milk I’d just bought from the convenience store and answered without much thought.
“I mean, what am I supposed to do? They’re the ones saying they want to fight.”
“Haa... fighting like that when you’re in college is just wrong.”
“...Are you really the one saying that?”
As far as I knew, Yoo Ah-rin was the one who used to hit me non-stop just because she’d learned Taekwondo.
“That was just us messing around. No, I mean, if a real fight breaks out, won't it be bad for the Bamboo Forest too?”
“Slurp. Why would it be bad? It’s just them duking it out. Honestly, I kind of want to see what Number 407 looks like.”
I took another sip of chocolate milk and clicked my tongue.
Ah-rin was quite worried, but honestly, I was very skeptical about the whole 'IRL fight' thing.
“Do you really think they’ll fight? Anonymous 7 is still just asking for an apology. They haven't said anything about what they’ll do when they actually meet.”
“Well... that’s true.”
Surprisingly, even in this situation, Anonymous 7 maintained the same stance regardless of what others on the boards were saying.
An apology.
If they apologized, they’d let it go.
If an apology could only be given in person, they’d meet in person to receive it.
“They seem really triggered. It’s probably because of the parental insults, right?”
I agreed with Ah-rin. Anonymous 7 wasn't a frequent poster, but things escalated because Anonymous 407 brought their parents into it.
“Ugh, seriously, why bring someone’s parents into it?”
There are lines you just don't cross. Once you’re twenty, you’re a bit too old to be blaming your upbringing for that kind of behavior.
“Haa, I’m just worried they’ll actually end up fighting.”
“You’re surprisingly worried. I thought you’d just tell them to go ahead and fight. Or are you actually planning to wear that round girl outfit?”
“Are you crazy? I’m just saying it won't look good for the Bamboo Forest if it escalates into a physical brawl.”
Moderator No. 1 is a hard worker. I should probably hire Unit 2 soon, but I wonder where I can find someone.
Actually, the best thing would be to unblock Choi I-seo’s Anonymous 287 account and ask her.
But I-seo is a busy person, so it would be hard for her to handle manager duties.
‘Seo Ye-rin... probably not.’
The moment I gave Anonymous 69 the Moderator No. 2 position, the Bamboo Forest would probably be turned upside down.
People would complain, asking why I hired a 'Sex Parrot' who does nothing but spam the boards.
“Haa, I don't know. Let’s just let them fight if they want to. They won't reveal their names on the Bamboo Forest, so they’ll probably ask you for help.”
As the administrator, they’d likely go through me to request each other’s personal information or coordinate a meeting place.
That is, if they actually meet.
“I bet they won't meet.”
“I hope so.”
At my words, Yoo Ah-rin pouted and stuck a straw into the Choco-mong she was holding.
* * *
Evening.
Since it was a weekday, I was at my part-time job, scrolling through my phone to kill the boredom.
The Bamboo Forest was still seeing a high rate of post regens; apparently, there were a lot of college students with nothing to do.
I even saw some early birds already preparing for final exams.
In fact, neither of the two anonymous users in question was posting anything.
Well, it’s not like they can stay glued to the Bamboo Forest forever.
Unless they really did run away, I figured it was about time for Anonymous 407 to step up.
Anonymous 7 had been consistent, after all.
It seemed like they wouldn't back down even if a face-to-face meeting was called.
The door opened, letting in a gust of cold air.
“Welcome.”
I greeted the customer with a smile, but the customer only responded with an awkward smile and a slight wave of the hand.
“O-oh, hey.”
“...Senior Ju-hee?”
We’d come together earlier because she said she was working at the cafe today, but what was she doing here now?
It should have been past her clock-out time.
Senior Ju-hee glanced around tentatively before approaching the counter and whispering softly.
“Um, could you... recommend one?”
“You could probably just pick anything... I’m not exactly an expert.”
When I answered while scratching the back of my head, Senior Ju-hee clenched her fists and continued in a rapid-fire tone.
“I heard you give the other kids a lot of dating advice. So I thought you’d be a connoisseur of this kind of stuff. It’s not for any other weird reason—.”
“I know. I get it. And you don't need to feel awkward. We’re all adults; this kind of thing is natural.”
I told her with a laugh that lately, the guys in the male dormitory had been bringing me reviews of the onaholes they used, as if they were giving me a report.
“It’s not just them; girls come by often too. One girl even asked me if I knew the size of the guy she liked who lives in the dorms.”
“...Why would she ask that?”
“So she could buy something that fits, I guess.”
But how would I know that?
Naturally, I’d told her I didn't know.
“Right, I see.”
“It’s normal. Totally normal. It’s only natural for humans to have sexual desire.”
Seeming more at ease now, Senior Ju-hee took a deep breath and nodded. I recommended something that girls often bought and processed the payment with a smile.
I thought she’d leave right away, but Senior Ju-hee hesitated before asking tentatively.
“By the way, when do you get off work? There’s... something I’d like to talk to you about.”
“...”
I realized this had been her main point from the beginning. I knew I should keep my distance from Senior Ju-hee, but...
“I’ll be done soon. Will it take long?”
Senior Ju-hee didn't ask for my help very often.
If it was going to take a long time, I was thinking of calling someone else to join us.
It wouldn't be good for the two of us to be alone for too long.
“No, it’ll be quick. We can talk while we walk.”
“Then please wait just a moment. It’s almost time for me to head out.”
A few minutes later.
The owner arrived, and we left after being seen off.
The Senior, who had been waiting outside, handed me a warm bottle of soy milk.
“Here. I thought coffee might not be great since it’s night.”
“Thank you.”
Soy milk was a bit of an unexpected choice, but it felt strangely fitting for Senior Ju-hee.
“Did you not bring your bicycle today?”
“Ah, there isn't a good place to lock it up here. Last time, someone stole it, and I barely managed to find it.”
“I see... Hmm?”
Senior Ju-hee tilted her head.
Just as she looked like she was about to remember something, I spoke up.
“So, what did you want to talk about?”
I’d thought about it briefly while she was waiting, and I figured it might be something related to dating.
The number had decreased lately, but for a while, many students had been coming to me for dating advice.
However, the Senior started with something completely unexpected.
“Both of my parents are gone.”
“Oh...”
That came out of nowhere; I almost choked on my breath.
When I looked embarrassed, Senior Ju-hee gave a calm reaction, as if it were no big deal.
“I have twin siblings. One boy, one girl. They’re preparing to enter university too. Not Gahyeon University, though.”
“I see.”
I tried to act as natural as possible.
Personally, I didn't like pitying or comforting others recklessly after hearing about their family history.
Perhaps that was the right reaction, as Senior Ju-hee continued more easily.
“My mother was never around, but my father passed away while I was working at a factory after graduating high school.”
“Mm.”
I felt like I finally understood why Senior Ju-hee worked so hard for scholarships.
I’d figured there was a story behind it.
“I have my father’s insurance money and the money I saved while working, so I’m attending university because the opportunity arose, but...”
I thought it would be a dating story, but the topic was much heavier.
I felt a bit deceived by Senior Ju-hee saying it would be quick, but the main point came out surprisingly fast.
“Recently, someone posted something insulting my parents.”
Insulting her parents?
At the story so similar to the one I’d just been thinking about, my body flinched involuntarily.
“Personally, I really want to get an apology from that person. But I don't know how to go about it.”
“A-ah. I see. Um, do you happen to know where that post was uploaded?”
“That... I don't think I can tell you.”
I see.
I could feel sweat forming on my palms.
Isn't this situation incredibly similar to someone I know?
‘Come to think of it, I think Anonymous 7 posted something about imagination fapping and stuff.’
I could understand why Senior Ju-hee was too embarrassed to talk about it because of those posts.
‘Ah, I’m screwed.’
If this goes wrong, there might be a corpse. And there was a very, very high probability that it would be Anonymous 407.
“Well, if a post was uploaded, it must be some kind of community, right? Like our school’s Bamboo Forest?”
“T-that’s right.”
Do I have to play along?
If she’s going to make it this obvious, what am I supposed to do?
“Of course! I don't really use the Bamboo Forest, so I wouldn't know! There were so many posts sniping me in the past.”
When I gave an awkward supplementary explanation with a laugh, relief finally appeared on Senior Ju-hee’s face.
“I only started using it recently too. There was something I wanted to ask without others knowing.”
I remembered Anonymous 7 asking things quite diligently. Even if I hadn't memorized all the content.
“Anyway. If it’s a community like that, there must be someone managing it. Wouldn't something come up if you asked that person?”
“Ah, I see! I just have to ask the administrator!”
The Senior really hadn't used communities before.
The Bamboo Forest must have been a rather harsh place for someone so innocent to survive.
“Yes, give it a try. The administrator will probably explain it kindly.”
At those words, the Senior said she would inquire with the administrator right away.
Looking at her, a faint smile formed on my face.
Thank you for using the Bamboo Forest today as well, Senior.
* * *
There was good news and bad news.
The good news was that I found out who Anonymous 7 was.
I never imagined it would be Senior Ju-hee, but anyway, after receiving the inquiry from her, I contacted Anonymous 407 through a 1:1 inquiry.
The bad news was that the moment Senior Ju-hee went on a rampage, I would never be able to stop her.
The moment Anonymous 407 said they didn't want to apologize, their death would be confirmed.
‘Honestly, the most likely scenario is that they won't respond.’
Even though the Bamboo Forest had been buzzing for days with the IRL fight between Anonymous 7 and 407.
Anonymous 407 hadn't posted a single thing.
The general consensus was that they’d chickened out and run away, and people were declaring Anonymous 7 the winner.
But that’s not what Senior Ju-hee wants.
She’ll definitely get that apology one way or another.
Because that’s the kind of person she is.
“Phew, just reply already.”
While waiting in the classroom for my next lecture, I was looking at the 1:1 inquiry chat room with Anonymous 407.
I’d laid it out with my own version of polite expressions.
‘I’m trying to save your life, so just reply.’
“Woo-jin-ah, do you not have much armpit hair?”
Seo Ye-rin, leaning against me, asked something completely out of the blue.
When I stared at her, wondering why she was asking that, Seo Ye-rin just grinned back.
“Come to think of it... I don't think I’ve seen it either?”
Choi I-seo, who was sitting on the other side with her legs over my lap, chimed in.
I didn't think she usually joined in on these kinds of conversations; had she had a change of heart since last time?
“Why do I have to explain that?”
“I heard that if you don't have armpit hair, you don't smell as much.”
“...I don't smell, okay?”
I almost checked for myself without thinking.
“You know, there’s that thing. An armpit fetish. I wanted to see if I had one.”
I didn't ask Seo Ye-rin, who spoke so confidently, why she was checking my armpit hair.
“Ugh, Kim Woo-jin.”
Choi I-seo grumbled, slapping her forehead.
As if remembering how I’d licked her armpit during foreplay last night, she kicked my thigh as if she had the chills.
“I thought you liked it.”
“It just tickled, okay?”
Is that so?
I don't think so.
Let’s try it again later.
Just then, Yoo Ah-rin entered the classroom, carrying a bunch of coffees.
“Agh, it’s summer now, summer. It’s so damn hot.”
I pointed at Yoo Ah-rin, who had gone to the cafe after losing at rock-paper-scissors.
“She feels it through her armpits. I saw it.”
“How can you say something that makes me want to pour coffee on your face the moment I walk in?”
With that, she handed me a ginseng latte.
“...Do you want to die?”
I spoke seriously, but Yoo Ah-rin just responded indifferently while handing out coffee to the others.
“You told me to buy whatever.”
“I didn't think 'whatever' would be this.”
“Just drink it! It’s good for you!”
I took a sip, and it was truly disgusting. I wondered why on earth they sold this kind of thing at a cafe inside a university.
Vibrate!
My phone buzzed.
“Oh?”
A reply had appeared in the 1:1 inquiry chat with Anonymous 407.
This guy is interesting.
Look at him being so polite to me after picking fights on the Bamboo Forest.
I knew it.
These types always hide once they’re offline.
“Huh?”
What does that mean?
After that, I couldn't help but widen my eyes at the meeting place Anonymous 407 suggested.