Interlude - The Ghost Story Club (1)

“Don't do it.”

A battered boy with a sporty haircut looked at me desperately and pleaded.

“Please♦·····” I glanced around.

The city lay in ruins. Crumbled buildings and chunks of asphalt littered the ground everywhere, and the sky was dyed a ominous red. Amidst that wrecked forest of skyscrapers stood something enormous, motionless. I squinted to get a better look, but text floating in the air blocked my view.

I looked at the boy with the sporty haircut. A bead of cold sweat trickled down beside his cheek. The man shook his head desperately at me.

“Don't do it, please.”

“Sorry. Guess this is just who I am.”

I raised my hand and clicked.

“Nooooooo!”

Flash—

I opened my eyes to the familiar sight of my ceiling. My bedroom. As I sat up in bed in a daze, I heard my mom preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

Clatter— Clatter—

What the hell was that dream?

It felt different from my usual chaotic nightmares. I tried to recall the details, but like all dreams, they scattered the moment sleep faded.

Sigh.

I gave up, shook my head, and muttered to myself.

Got a lot to do today.

Today was the day the Ghost Story Club application results came out. If approved, the Club Management ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠menu on the main screen would unlock, giving me more homework to figure out.

And the Ghost Story Points.

Last time I hit 100 points, I unlocked an ability and got the Goddess of Luck passive skill.

Status Window.

Flash—

Goddess of Luck. What was this ability again… Click.

Flash—

Hmm.

I racked my brain, but I couldn't recall any massive stroke of luck so far. Since it's consumable but still shows in my status window, it means it hasn't activated yet. Sure, I had good timing exorcising Mom's ghost or some lucky breaks, but no activation message popped up.

What kind of 'enormous luck' doesn't trigger even in life-or-death situations? Fuck.

At this point, with my only ability still a mystery, spending 100 points on another one would be reckless. Once Club Management unlocks, more options might appear. I can decide then.

I closed the status window, deciding to save the 100 points, and got out of bed.

When I arrived at the classroom and sat down, Seon-ah strolled in leisurely.

“Hey, Seon-ah.”

“Yeah, hey……”

“What's up today? Coming in on time for once.”

Instead of answering, Seon-ah let out a soft pfft of laughter.

She looks happy for some reason.

Seon-ah smiled with her eyes as she passed me and sat at her desk. Normally, with nothing after school, she'd sleep from early evening, messing up her cycle and always late. The reason she made it on time today was probably because she had fun hanging out with me yesterday afternoon.

It made me proud, but also a bit responsible.

Can't play with her every afternoon, though.

If we keep getting close like this, will she start relying on me too much someday? What happens to our relationship then? Too far ahead. Worry about it later.

At Seon-ah's desk next to her, her pale-skinned desk mate Ha-yoon was still reading a book.

She's probably applying to the literature club.

Slide—

“Good morning~”

The homeroom teacher entered with his signature cheerful “Hohot hohot hohot” laugh and started morning homeroom.

Students missing textbooks, speak up by today. Some already shortening uniforms—fix by next week, etc.

“And everyone submitted club applications yesterday. Those who got calls from seniors, join quick. Undecided students, first club activities tomorrow, so decide by today. That's it~”

As he left, he said to me,

“Joon, come with me a sec~”

“Yes.”

“Yeah. Sit here.”

In the staff room, the teacher rummaged through papers and pulled one out.

“Hmm... Ghost Story Club.”

Figured it was this. Time for the results.

“Hmmm, hmmm……” The teacher dragged it out unnecessarily.

“Huuuum—”

I couldn't take it. “Uh, did it get approved?”

“Did you think a weird club like this would actually get approved, Joon?”

Shit. So it was a no-go after all.

“If you did, you're right.”

The teacher was still staring at the paper. If thinking it'd pass was right, then it passed.

“So it passed?”

“Yes, it did.”

Fuck, you bastard of a homeroom teacher! Why drag it out!

“But one member short, so rejected again. Sorry.”

Fuck, as expected. Clubs need at least four members. I put down me, Seon-ah, Gyeong-won, but couldn't find a fourth. Thought it'd work out, submitted anyway...

“Too bad. How do you feel?”

“How do I feel... like 'fuck this,' I guess.”

“Don't you feel wronged? Pissed?”

“Not really.”

I said curtly.

“What do you mean not really? It's all over your tone.”

He laughed “Hohot hohot hohot.”

Fuck, it showed.

“Wanted to start high school fresh with like-minded friends in a club, but it flops from the get-go. Must suck, right~? Ohohot!”

“Got another club in mind?”

“Dunno.” I spat out.

“Why not? Why no backup plan~? No way any student wants a freak club like that~!”

The pot-bellied middle-aged teacher started chuckling slowly, then shook with unrestrained laughter.

“No way, no way~! You were 100% sure it'd pass, didn't even consider others? Ghost Story Club 100% approved! Are you sane~!”

He toppled backward, cackling “Uhya, uhya! Uhyahyahyahya hot!”

…Fuck.

This guy—same during the bathroom ghost story—lives for teasing people, huh.

“Uhya ha, uhya, uhya, oo.” The teacher stroked his belly contentedly.

“Ah, haven't laughed like that in ages.”

“Can I go?”

I asked with a shit-eating face; he stared warmly.

“What if you list one short, Joon? Then I have to sneak in some kid from class who didn't apply anywhere.”

“Asked that Jin-hee girl who didn't apply—said no need, so I snuck her into Ghost Story Club already.”

The balding, pot-bellied middle-aged homeroom teacher nodded with a kind smile.

“Just kidding. Ghost Story Club is already approved.”

“...For real?”

“Of course it's bullshit. Why would I bother with that hassle? Done, back to class.”

Fuck.

Annoyed, I shot up—teacher burst again.

“The reaction! Uhya hot, stop making me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠laugh! Euhyahyahya!”

He flailed the paper, clutching his belly. At the top: “Club Application Approval Form.”

Bullshit on bullshit.

“Euk! Euk! I'm dying! Too funny! Euk, keuk, stop! Please stop! Keuuk!”

Choking on laughter, he clutched his chest and fell back again.

“Fuck, stop laughing! If it's approved, just say so—why tease!”

The fallen teacher grinned. “This is my joy.”

Crazy bastard.

“Uhya, uhyaha. Thanks, Joon! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Feels like I laughed a lifetime's worth! Here, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠approval. No joke this time~”

He handed me the paper amid laughs. Official school document recognizing Ghost Story Club. President: my name. Members: Yoon Seon-ah, An Gyeong-won, Lee Jin-hee. Advisor: Jang Hwa-eun—a new name.

Then, 16-bit pixel fireworks exploded before my eyes with fanfare.

Flash—

Fanfare blared as messages flooded my view.

Finally! Finally!

I made the Ghost Story Club!

Then a long message appeared.

As I stared at the messages in awe, the teacher said warmly,

“And a special perk: the school decided to provide a club room for your brand-new club—way too generous.”

| 99 I knew from the system, but it syncs this fast? Curious about the interaction between system and reality, I asked,

“Club room? For us?”

“Yes, for you guys. A student cleaning early found an extra room on the 5th floor. Small, but perfect for a club room.”

The teacher suddenly sighed. “Honestly, I don't get it... Been here 10 years, never knew there was a room on the 5th floor. Feels like it appeared today……” He spoke in a baffled tone without his usual laugh—not joking.

Guess 'laughed a lifetime's worth' was sincere.

“Anyway, timed perfectly for a new club. Decided hastily in morning staff meeting—went to Ghost Story Club. Congrats.”

“Ah, thanks.”

“Teased 'cause newbies getting such perks made me jealous. Don't hold it against me~ Ohohut~!”

Yeah. His heavy joking aside, he snuck in the extra member and found an advisor, leading to this.

“It's fine. Haha. Good things are good, right? Laughter's healthy anyway.”

I replied casually; he nodded pleased. “Good kid. I like you. Hot, hot, hot.”

Finishing with homeroom teacher, walking the hall back to class, I spotted Seon-ah and Gyeong-won waiting ahead.

“Joon!”

“Joon-ah!”

They rushed up. “How'd it go?”

“Did it, get approved?”

Seon-ah and Gyeong-won stared at me like baby birds awaiting food.

...Fuck, homeroom teacher! This is how it felt!

Having good news others crave, all to myself. Too precious to spill right away. Teasing urge surged. Want to drag it out, twist it!

“Uh, Joon-ah?”

Seon-ah eyed my silent, gloomy stare worriedly.

Gyeong-won muttered stiffly. “...No way.”

I nodded solemnly, sadly. “That no way is right. Sorry... the club got approved……”

“Whew, figured. Tough for freshmen, but I hoped……” Gyeong-won sighed, hand to forehead.

Seon-ah bowed her head silently.

Silence fell among us.

Suddenly Gyeong-won frowned. “...What'd you say?”

“Sorry. Club approved. You're stuck with me for three years.” I grinned slyly.

“Even in our free 5th-floor club room from day one.”

“Joon-ah……!”

Their faces lit up. Gyeong-won adjusted glasses, shaking head.

“Fuck, you got me with your tone!”

His mouth corners rose anyway.

“Joon-ah! Real? We're together now……” Seon-ah paused, then burst. “We can be together for three years?”

“Yeah, of course! We'll be inseparable, chasing ghost stories for three years!”

“You bastard! President!” Gyeong-won smirked, pushing up glasses.

“Don't act cool with wrong words! It's 'inseparable souls'!”

“Kahaha, inseparable souls? Kahat! Kahahaha!”

“Puhahaha!!”

“Aha, ahahaha!”

Our Ghost Story Club members laughed like maniacs in the hall before first period. Except one.

The scary girl asleep at the back of class, unaware she's now in our club.

“Kahat!”

“Puhaha.”

“Ahaha.”

a W Ghost Story Club