chapter 3
chapter 3
Translated by POWERPUFF
Transfer Student
If you slightly turn your head to the side at the sound of a pencil scratching, you can see Han Seunggi, a man writing very seriously.
Even now, about a month after the start of the semester, there is barely anything that could be called notes in my textbook.
It’s not that I like to slack off, nor that I don’t listen to class at all, but I’m also not someone who diligently takes notes.
Still, it works out well.
Sharing a textbook doesn’t mean I can’t follow the class, and if he’s taking notes that diligently, it ultimately benefits me.
Besides, people who are good at studying are different—his handwriting is extremely neat, to the point where it almost feels like I’m freeloading.
……Of course, I don’t know if that’ll make me study harder, though.
Anyway, since the textbook is placed between our desks, our shoulders occasionally brush against each other, but it doesn’t feel particularly uncomfortable.
It’s strange to be bothered by something like that, and it’s not like I’m shoulder-to-shoulder with a woman.
……. I’m starting to sound like a pervert for overthinking something like bumping shoulders with a man.
Still, it’s not like I have any romantic interest.
Anyway. When I first saw my new seatmate, Han Seunggi, I didn’t feel any special interest.
That doesn’t mean I’m particularly paying close attention to him now either, but what I want to say is this.
This friend, whom I thought was just an ordinary model student, seems to have something unusual about him.
His face still looks endlessly kind, and he’s clearly concentrating on studying.
But the way his mouth moves suggests he’s muttering something, and he occasionally lets out sighs.
……
Well, whatever. It’s probably better to just take a nap.
I don’t even know what I’m doing, staring at a man I have no interest in and analyzing him like this.
I curled my left hand into a fist and rested my chin on it.
Closing my eyes and lowering my head completes a pose that looks like I’m deep in thought.
Besides, my seat is at the very back of the classroom.
From the teacher’s desk, it would be hard to tell whether my eyes are open or closed.
In fact, it’s a perfect pose that has never once gotten me caught by a teacher.
It does feel a bit questionable to leave note-taking to a seatmate I just met today…
Still. I did provide the textbook, so he’ll understand, right?
They say physiognomy is a science. Whether clothing should be included in physiognomy is another matter, though.
The everyday hanbok, almost a symbol of a strict teacher’s image, continued to shine today.
This teacher is extremely strict with lessons.
Even though I had studied harder than anyone else before my regression, keeping up wasn’t difficult, but honestly, my hand was starting to feel a bit sore…
I’ll have to copy all the notes I’m taking now into my own textbook later, and that’s going to be quite a tedious task.
Still, one relief is that the latter half of the class was less demanding.
That’s because my seatmate, Min Arin, started dozing off midway through class and eventually got caught.
I saw her trying to adopt a posture to avoid being noticed while dozing, but I don’t know why she thought that wouldn’t get her caught.
It was very obvious.
Anyway, after asking her to show me her notes the next day, I returned her textbook.
I could have taken photos with my phone and copied the notes at home, but my phone’s camera…
……
I’m not sure how to put it nicely. It’s just… pathetic.
I’ve been using it for quite a long time, even before my parents divorced.
Before my regression, I had saved up enough money to buy a decent phone, so ending up like this again is quite frustrating.
Anyway, if I glance around, I can feel some gazes on me.
The most noticeable are from a group of males who look like they’re very serious about studying.
I look away from them as they send me those intense, almost eager gazes that seem like they want to get close.
My discomfort with men in this gender-reversed world is something I can tolerate by now, but I’ve never been someone who actively makes friends.
I lacked both the ability and the interest to make many friends.
As I turned away from those somewhat burdensome gazes, a sigh came from beside me.
"What was that about…"
A woman muttering those words quietly, looking troubled.
With an expression that seemed to say she couldn’t accept what just happened, she apparently believed her attempt was perfect.
"It was really obvious."
"Ah, uh, yeah?"
"Anyone could tell you were asleep."
Earlier I was talking about physiognomy and all that, but of course that was just something I said casually.
You could tell just by looking at Min Arin.
I haven’t met that many people in my life, but among those I have met, she ranks among the most beautiful.
At the same time, her rather fierce features and her dyed blonde hair are enough to give anyone a preconceived impression. Of course, I’m not someone who cares much about that.
But based on what she says, she doesn’t seem to have a bad personality.
No. It would be more accurate to say she actually has a good personality.
She looks at me with widened eyes.
I figured she was just surprised because I suddenly spoke to her.
Even I had spoken without thinking.
"Ah, no way."
But from the way she talks, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
"You might not know since you’ve never slept in class, but this was really perfect. I’ve never been caught before."
"Maybe the teachers were just pretending not to notice?"
"You saw what Hiryun did earlier. That’s definitely not it."
"Who’s Hiryun?"
"Science."
What kind of nickname is that with no basis?
Anyway, like this, since we’re sharing a textbook, we ended up conversing quite comfortably for people who just met today, when suddenly a shadow fell over us.
Turning to the side—
…Ah.
A talent who should be training at Taereung National Training Center is looking down at me.
No, whether an athlete or not, the kind of physique that looks like it would excel in any strength-based profession.
I don’t have the hobby of closely observing men, but even across both my previous and current life, he’s at a level I’ve never seen before.
"What’s this, Cheon Sejun."
"Ah… you’re the transfer student?"
"Ah, he’s the one who transferred in earlier…"
"Nice to meet you. I’m Cheon Sejun."
"Ah… yeah, I’m Han Seunggi."
When I get flustered, my words come out all jumbled.
The most “manly” man I’ve seen in this gender-reversed world laughed softly and greeted me, completely ignoring Min Arin as he sat down.
Conveniently, his seat is right in front of mine.
Perhaps because his presence isn’t intimidating, we naturally started conversing.
Topics like why he came late to school, where he lives, and things like that.
I had originally been talking with Min Arin, but since we didn’t have much more to say, this actually worked out well.
She also seemed to have no intention of continuing the conversation, already looking at her phone, which made it even more convenient.
But looking at the seating arrangement…
The reason Min Arin could sleep without getting caught was probably because of this friend sitting in front of me with a relaxed smile.
He’s easily over 190 cm, and even seems well-built width-wise as well.
……
Min Arin seems to have a rather unusual personality.
Quite unusual.
"Fuu…"
Mm… the texture of the gym clothes, the air, and the appropriately warm sunlight—everything is perfect.
This is practically the ideal condition to enjoy fourth-period physical education and then head straight to lunch.
As the student body president of sorts in charge of PE, I came out to the field early and kept taking deep breaths while moving equipment from the storage shed.
The fresh air after suffering through three boring periods was just… how should I put it.
Anyway, it feels good.
Even these heavy items looked enjoyable to me.
Baseball gloves and bats. It’s a bit of a shame that we use soft balls for safety, but this is PE, and this is life.
During class, we mostly just play catch with friends or swing bats freely without any structured activity.
After a suitable amount of time passes, free time is granted.
This is happiness.
While I was grinning to myself at the thought, I heard a voice.
"Why are you smiling so creepily?"
"Whoa."
Startled, I turned to see a man in loose gym clothes with an endlessly gentle face. Glasses. A model student. Han Seunggi.
"PE is my only joy. It’s seriously fun."
"Weren’t science classes fun?"
"That question is a waste of energy."
He doesn’t seem to find me difficult to approach either, so I’m just treating him casually.
From talking to him, the impression I get is that his tone doesn’t quite match his face?
He looks like he’d only speak in polite and refined language, but he doesn’t actually give off a rigid vibe.
This guy is kind of unusual in his own way.
"Why did you come out so early?"
"Just because. You were out early too moving equipment."
"That’s because I’m the PE president."
There were conditions like getting something extra written on my student record if I took the position, but for me, it was simply something I thought would be fun.
I didn’t have any complaints about coming out early and moving equipment like this.
That aside, most students are probably still lazily changing into their gym clothes at this time.
Since he just transferred today, maybe he came out early because everything still feels unfamiliar?
Mm…
"Did you come out early because you don’t have friends… ah."
Ah.
No.
That’s not what I meant.
Uh.
"Friends? Sejun introduced me to a few people."
"Ah…"
Saying that with that innocent face and calm expression makes me feel even more guilty.
That wasn’t what I meant at all. This is unfair!
"No, I mean, I wasn’t trying to say that. It’s just… you know what I mean by friends…?!"
"Pfft…"
As I tried to quickly recover from the disaster by rambling, I heard a laugh.
Strangely, hearing that laugh gave me a peculiar feeling. I couldn’t quite tell what it was.
"Hold that side. I’ll help you carry it."
"Huh? Ah, I can carry it myself."
"Save your strength and use it during class."
"Uh…"
In any case, my unproductive thoughts about that strange feeling were quickly pushed to the back of my mind.
He suddenly grabbed one of the handles of the basket I was holding.
It happened so suddenly that I couldn’t refuse his kindness, so I grabbed the other handle, and I could clearly feel the weight becoming lighter.
It felt a bit awkward since I had always done this alone until now… but well.
Since it reduced the strain, it’s not bad.
I still don’t fully understand the feeling I got from that laugh earlier.
Even though today is the first time I’ve met him, it’s not the first time I’ve seen Han Seunggi smile.
I’ve seen him talk to others while maintaining a certain level of smile.
Hmm… maybe it felt different because he laughed because of me?
No. I’m not the kind of person who feels strange emotions toward someone I just met on the first day.
It must just be that it was the first time I saw him laugh like that, so it felt novel.
Anyway, that’s not important anymore.
What’s important now is not that.
So… what matters right now is—
"The transfer student should get some help from the PE president. Do some catch practice together and batting practice as well."
That my plan to play catch with a hard baseball using balls stored in the equipment shed has been ruined.
Not only that, but I’m now stuck doing a weak catch practice with a model student who doesn’t seem remotely suited for sports.
I’m grateful for his help, and I’m someone who doesn’t forget such kindness… but that’s a separate matter.
……
Today somehow feels like it’s turning into a rather unpleasant day.
I picked up the soft green ball and a pair of gloves and walked toward Han Seunggi.
Still, he hasn’t done anything wrong.
I should manage my expression properly so he doesn’t feel pressured.