Start of Semester (2)
Start of Semester (2)
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"Heok... heok... I'm saved."
I let Hyun-woo down from my back and caught my ragged breath.
The place we had entered was a shabby tonkatsu restaurant located in an alleyway near the school's back gate. Even though it was lunchtime, there were no customers, so the inside of the restaurant was quiet. The only person there was an ahjussi in a corner seat reading a newspaper.
"Hey... you jerk... how could you sell me out just to get out of there..."
Hyun-woo's face was flushed red as he slammed his forehead against the table with a kung. Since he had dashed out of a major class on the very first day of admission, in front of all his peers, using the excuse of an 'emergency poop,' it was understandable that he felt humiliated.
But there was no other way.
"You survived, didn't you? Have a drink. Besides, if you had stayed there, your very soul would have been sucked dry."
I pulled out the water bottle, poured water into a cup, and replied.
To be honest, if I hadn't used him as an excuse, it was obvious we would have been caught and tormented right then and there.
Even the other female classmates had sensed the atmosphere and were starting to slink away.
"Let's eat something first. I can't even think because I'm so hungry."
I pushed the menu toward him.
"Eat whatever you want. You can even order something expensive."
Hyun-woo looked at the menu and slowly lifted his head.
"Oh, really? Can I order the cheese tonkatsu?"
"I don't care. If you can eat a lot, you can even order two."
"No, one is enough."
His mood seemed to brighten instantly. It's a relief he's so simple-minded.
"Sajang-nim, one King Tonkatsu and one cheese tonkatsu, please."
I called out the order loudly toward the kitchen. A grandmother sajang-nim with graying hair came out, set the water bottle down with a tak, and left. She glanced at us, but she didn't seem particularly interested.
I looked around the restaurant.
Faded wallpaper, the smell of oil, and the sound of a fan spinning indifferently.
Unlike other shops in this world, I felt at ease because there were no curious stares just because two men had walked in.
"How did you know about this place?"
"I just came wherever my feet led me."
"?"
Hyun-woo looked at me skeptically, but it was the truth. I really just came to a random place.
After finishing the order, there was nothing much to do. Habitually, I pulled my phone out of my pocket.
'Should I check the Bamboo Forest...'
I was worried that the commotion from earlier might have been posted on the bulletin board again.
No, but do these people know I look at the community, or do they not? Do they think men don't use communities? I don't know why they talk about me as if they're broadcasting in real-time.
Let's just not look. It'll only give me a headache.
Just as I was about to put my phone back, it vibrated.
Kkatok!
[ You have been invited by 'Class of '17 Jin Do-yoon (President)'. ]
[ Hoyeon University Male Student Association (102) ]
"......?"
What is this? The room name is the Male Student Association. The number of participants is 102.
'Is every man in this school gathered here?'
As soon as I entered, a notice popped up.
[ 📢 Welcome to the 24 male freshmen of the Class of '20! ]
I narrowed my eyes.
"Hey, Hyun-woo. Were you invited to a group chat too?"
Hyun-woo was also fiddling with his phone across from me.
"Group chat invitation? Wait... Oh? I got it."
His eyes went wide.
"What is this...?"
Our question was immediately resolved. It was because a new message was posted.
[Class of '17 Jin Do-yoon (President)]
: Hello. Freshmen of the Class of '20, it's nice to meet you.
: I am Jin Do-yoon, Class of '17, the President of the Hoyeon University Male Student Association.
: This group chat was created as a space to protect the rights of male students on campus, share information, and promote friendship.
: If you encounter any difficulties or have any concerns while living your school life, please feel free to speak up at any time. We will help you. Welcome. ^^
"Oh..."
So there was an organization like this in the school. Thinking about it, it's an organization that obviously should exist. Since men are an absolute minority in this school, it would be difficult if they didn't stick together.
However, the number was a bit strange.
'Why are there only 102 people...'
Even assuming graduates had left the room, did that mean the total number from freshmen to seniors was only 102? That's a number that wouldn't even fill the quota of a single college department.
'And why are there 24 freshmen?'
As far as I knew, there were 30 male students in our class year. It was definitely like that when I checked with the teaching assistant before. If so, where did the other 6 go?
Were they not invited to this room? Or did they drop out before even starting?
Just as my thoughts were about to lengthen, the chat notifications kept ringing.
Kkatok! Kkatok!
[Class of '17 Jin Do-yoon (President)]
: Sharing a few honey tips for school life for the freshmen.
A text file was uploaded along with a link. I reflexively opened the file.
[ School Life Guide ]
⦁ Location of male restrooms by building (marked with lounge-compatible spaces)
⦁ Places to rest during break times (corner of the 4th floor of the Central Library, basement of the Engineering Building, etc.)
⦁ List of restaurants where it's comfortable to eat alone
⦁ Collection of rejection lines for excessive drinking invitations
Scanning through the contents, it was quite practical. It wasn't just simple socializing; they were practical tips written based on the experiences the seniors had while attending the school.
In particular, I paused while scrolling down the [Restaurant List] section.
[ Back Gate Tonkatsu House: Comfortable because the sajang-nim is indifferent. Large portions. ]
"Oh..."
It was this very shop we were in right now. No wonder the atmosphere felt calm from the moment we entered. It was a place already verified by the seniors.
I held up my phone and showed it to Hyun-woo.
"Hyun-woo, did you see this?"
"Huh? Yeah, I'm looking at it."
Hyun-woo also nodded.
"This tonkatsu place is on the list too. We found the right place."
"I guess. Did we find it instinctively?"
Just then, the lady came out of the kitchen carrying a tray. A steaming King Tonkatsu and a cheese tonkatsu were placed on the table.
"Enjoy your meal."
A single word tossed out indifferently. That dryness was actually welcome. I picked up my fork and knife.
Seogeok, seogeok.
Every time the blade went in, a pleasant crunching sound echoed. Even though it was drenched in sauce, the breading wasn't soggy and felt alive. I cut a large piece and put it in my mouth.
'Oh.'
Basak. The moment I chewed, the savory taste of oil and the sweet sauce spread throughout my mouth. The texture of the moderately thick meat isn't bad either. My stomach, famished from the full-speed sprint earlier, let out a cheer.
Hyun-woo also sliced his cheese tonkatsu. Seeing the white cheese flow out like a waterfall between the cuts, the corners of his mouth hooked up to his ears.
We focused only on emptying our plates without a word. It wasn't because it was awkward, but because we were truly so hungry we didn't even have the energy to speak. Only the sound of silent forking filled the restaurant.
"It's good."
When I tossed out a casual remark, Hyun-woo nodded while his mouth was full, umu-mool.
"Yeah, this place is really decent. The portion is big too."
That was the end of the conversation. A meal between guys is originally like this. It's good, it's decent, I'm full. This much is enough communication.
I finished a plate of King Tonkatsu as if I were drinking it. When I cleared the plate and looked up, Hyun-woo had only barely eaten half. He was eating very preciously, rolling the cheese so it wouldn't harden.
Did I eat too fast, or is he just slow?
"Eat slowly. You'll get indigestion."
I poured a glass of water and leaned my body comfortably against the back of the chair. I decided to wait until he finished eating. Now that I was full, the world finally looked a bit peaceful.
"Hey. Want to go to a cafe after you're done?"
I threw it out there. Actually, today's classes are all over, and I've kept my promise to buy him food, so it wouldn't matter if we parted ways here. My honest feeling is that I want to go home and lie down.
However, it weighed on my mind that I had socially buried a perfectly fine guy earlier for my own safety. I thought I should at least buy a cup of coffee for the guy who was branded with the infamy of being the 'Emergency Poop Man,' as a form of mental care.
But his reaction was quite lukewarm.
"Ah... um..."
Hyun-woo stopped chewing the remaining tonkatsu and made a troubled expression.
"Why. Are you too full to eat?"
"It's not that... there are a lot of girls at cafes."
He lowered his voice and glanced around.
"They'll stare again... I don't think I can handle my soul being drained anymore. I just want to go home."
Ah. I forgot.
If it's a cafe in front of the school, it's obvious without even looking. It'll be packed with people, and the moment two men open the door and walk in, it's certain that all eyes will be on them.
Having to endure that burdensome attention we experienced in the classroom earlier, all while drinking coffee?
That's definitely a bit much. Just thinking about it makes me tired.
"Wait a minute."
I pulled my phone out of my pocket. We have the database left by our reliable seniors.
I reopened the text file I had downloaded earlier. I scrolled all the way down. Below the restaurant list, there was a cafe list.
[ (Cafe) 'Old Bean' on the 2nd floor of the alley next to the main gate ]
⦁ The sajang-nim plays classical music all day and only reads books.
⦁ The interior is old-fashioned, so there's no SNS vibe. Girls who come to take pictures don't come here.
⦁ The coffee tastes good, but it's quiet. Highly recommended.
"Oh."
The conditions are perfect. No SNS vibe means, in other words, it's a space where guys like us can breathe easy.
"Hey, this place looks good. Let's go here."
I showed the screen to him.
"It's a place verified by the seniors. They say girls don't come here."
Hyun-woo glanced at the screen, and only then did his expression brighten as if he were relieved.
"Where? ...Oh, the location is quite tucked away. Okay, let's go."
We gulped down the remaining water and stood up from our seats. Since post-meal coffee is the national rule. Of course, only in a place where eyes don't reach.
We left the shop and walked according to the map. It was a distance that took about 7 minutes. Since it was lunchtime, there were quite a few people on the campus streets, but we marched toward our destination while keeping our eyes down as much as possible.
To break the awkward silence while walking, I spoke first.
"But why did you come to Computer Science? Did you just apply for the Male Admission Track and come because your grades matched?"
"Ah... me?"
Hyun-woo pushed up his glasses and smiled shyly.
"It's true I used the Male Admission Track... but actually, I came because I want to be a game developer."
"Oh."
It was unexpected. I thought he was just a timid and fearful guy, but he had a clearer goal than I thought.
Honestly, I felt a bit of a prick of conscience. Because I didn't come here with any grand goal.
In my original world, I had submitted my application with the mindset of a gambler, thinking 'if it works, great; if not, whatever.'
I was planning to go to a regional national university without a word if I failed. But when I opened my eyes, it was this world, and when I checked, I had suddenly been accepted through the [Male Admission Track].
Literally, it's a case of entering without a fight, receiving the protection of luck and the world-view. But this guy came with a dream, so he's different from the root.
"You have a dream. That's cool. So what do you want to make? Something like Hias?"
"What's Hias?"
"......Something like Rel."
"Ah, AOS? No, I want to make a 3D FPS."
Hyun-woo's eyes sparkled like stars.
"I want to make something with an amazing sense of impact. Shooting guns, throwing grenades, buildings collapsing, and annihilating enemies by planning tactics. I like that kind of hardcore stuff."
"......"
I stared blankly at his face again.
Is this the same guy who was wailing "Save me, u-ang" behind my back while running away with the 'emergency poop' excuse just a moment ago? He likes shooting and blowing things up?
You really can't judge a person by their cover. Unexpectedly, this guy might have a suppressed destructive instinct latent within him.
'Still, it's a relief.'
I let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
Because he's a guy with a dream. If you have a dream, you won't easily give up no matter how hard or tiring it gets.
In other words, the probability of him dropping out midway because he can't endure this exhausting female-dominated engineering school life is low.
'Endure it, Hyun-woo.'
It's a bit of a trashy thought, but it can't be helped. You have to keep attending school so my aggro can be dispersed.
Please, be a reliable tanker by my side until graduation.