Borrowing Gym Clothes
Time flew by during PE class, and before I knew it, we were middle schoolers. It was the first time our classes had been split after entering middle school. We'd always been in the same class up until now.
"Yeah. It's a shame, but what can you do."
He glanced at the class assignments and shrugged it off just like that. Then he poked my chest with his finger and grinned.
"Hey, no acting like you don't know me just because we're in different classes, got it?"
"As if I'd do that."
"Ooh, good answer~"
Sera burst out laughing and headed straight to her own class. I watched her back for a moment before turning toward mine.
Come to think of it, Sera had been acting a bit off since that day—the elementary school shuttle run. She's been talking to me a lot more lately. Stuff like telling me to drink lots of milk to grow taller, or praising me with "Impressive" when she saw me not being picky with school lunch. Even when I was quietly studying, she'd poke me with her finger and say something cryptic like "Not bad~"
What the heck is she doing? On one hand, it was just silly everyday chit-chat. On the other, it carried this weird nuance. Nah, whatever. She's just a girl who barely started middle school—what does she even know? Better not overthink it. I could end up drinking kimchi soup and confessing, only to become drinking fodder for life.
Anyway, school life began with Sera and me in different classes for the first time.
Even if my mental age is more mature, my tendencies don't change. Even reborn as a student, the friends I hang with are all the same type—lazy with exercise, half-assing studies, obsessed with subculture. That's exactly the crew that gathered around me, chatting away.
"Hey, Sihoo. You see that yesterday?"
"What?"
"What do you mean, what! That thing. You know. Episode 19. Beyond the Original."
"Oh! That!"
The conversation topic lit a fire under my friends, who jumped in excitedly. They were hyped up, rambling about the anime they'd binged last night.
"It was insane. Legendary animation quality."
"The BGM was straight fire too, right? Gave me chills."
"Heard the original author bowed down to it?"
I smiled softly watching them. If I hadn't been reincarnated, would I have jumped in with the same passion? Seeing them purely enjoying anime and chatting with friends warmed my heart. Ah, I had days like this too. Back then it was games, and we'd argue about how gaming isn't play, but still.
But on the flip side—it was a little bittersweet.
Not matching mentally is pretty inconvenient. Sometimes I felt like a stranger adrift in this world. Couldn't be helped. This wasn't my world. As long as I remembered my past life, I'd probably never fully blend in as a native. Even now, laughing with these kids, I always felt one step removed.
I didn't dwell on it constantly and get depressed or anything. Just a touch of bitterness, that's all.
We were deep in conversation when—
Drag!
The door slid open suddenly. Not rough, but with a bold, confident vibe.
"?"
All eyes in the class turned that way. I glanced over lazily too.
"Hey! Cha Sihoo!"
A group of girls stood there, all dolled up, but one shone brighter than the rest. Fresh blonde hair, rose-red eyes. My childhood friend... Lee Sera.
Tap-tap.
Sera strode straight toward me. She wasn't intimidating, but our classmates parted for her automatically. What is it? Aura? Well, yeah. It wasn't just her class—Sera owned the entire freshman year.
She stopped right in front of me, looking down with a sly curl of her lips, like she was plotting mischief. What's she up to now?
"What?"
"No PE today, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then lend me your gym clothes."
"...?"
Huh? Gym clothes? I blinked for a second, then noticed what Sera was wearing. Her uniform. She always had gym clothes on whenever we crossed paths, so it clicked. Her gym clothes must be missing.
"No problem, but you okay with mine?"
"Huh? What's wrong with them?"
"Well, they're guy's gym clothes. Won't they be uncomfortable?"
"Pfft, I don't care about that. You always wash them right after PE anyway."
"True, but still."
"Then it's fine. Hurry up, I'm in a rush."
"Got it."
I nodded and rummaged through my locker. I'd kept them on hand just in case I forgot—didn't expect this use. As I pulled them out, a thought hit me.
Why me, specifically? Kinda curious. Eh, whatever. First things first—make sure they're clean. Don't want a smack upside the head for missing a stain.
While I was checking, a girl who looked like Sera's friend called from afar.
"Huh? Sera, didn't you say no to Minsu's guy's clothes earlier? And you weren't in a rush then..."
"Dahyun."
A sweet, smiling voice. I was focused on the locker, so I didn't see Sera's face. But the girl—Dahyun—swallowed hard, staring straight at her.
"...Play it smart?"
"Y-yeah."
What? Sera's kinda tough on her friends? I missed whatever she said while inspecting for spots. When I turned, she was beaming again.
"Here."
"Thanks! You saved me."
"Use 'em comfortably, but don't forget to return them."
"Duh! You still don't know me, Sihoo?"
Sera snatched the gym clothes and spun away with her friends. I watched them go, then headed back to my seat.
Whew. Hanging with her always drains my energy. Total mismatch for a plain, low-key guy like me.
I tried resuming the chat with my friends, but they were all staring wide-eyed.
"What? Why the faces?"
"N-no, it's just... Sihoo, you close with Lee Sera...?"
"Huh?"
"That convo. Looked super friendly."
"Y-yeah! How the hell are you buddies with Lee Sera?! Traitor!"
"Thought it was just us bros? Just us single?"
Why the overreaction? I tilted my head.
Am I close with Sera? Yeah, if you call it that. But that's not what they meant. Probably guy-girl close. The thought made me chuckle dryly.
As if. Me and Sera riding some tension? With a delinquent girl like her—no, she's sweet, but. Dating Lee Sera? Wishful thinking much.
In a hunter world, assignments were a bit more unique compared to my past life. Even if you couldn't wield mana, measuring its energy took brains. So creativity or intelligence tasks popped up often. Our school's latest: a Sudoku puzzle.
Scratch.
Back home, I spread the Sudoku on my desk. A 9x9 grid of squares. Homeroom teacher called it tough. Yeah, just looking made me sigh. The blanks were oppressive. Needed serious brainpower...
Actually, I had a way to skip all that hassle.
"..."
I raised my hand. Energy flickered from my palm.
This wasn't the mana most hunters used. No energy matched mine. Pure white energy rose from my hand. A power humanity had never observed.
I'd named it temporarily: Ether. The fifth element, nonexistent in this world.
That was my Gift—Ether.
One zap and it's solved. Unknown origins. No manual. I'd tested it sporadically; it seemed to have its own logic. One thing I knew: it responded somewhat to my will.
So if I poured intense will into "solve this" and burned Ether, the blanks filled. This tough puzzle? Easy. But...
"Nah, not wasting it here."
I dispersed the Ether and grabbed my mechanical pencil. Yeah. At my age, no shortcuts. Use tricks when desperate, but solve with my own smarts. Past life gave me willpower aplenty.
Right as I started—
Vrrr—vrrr—
My smartphone buzzed.
"What."
Who calls this early? Sender: familiar name. 'Lee Sera'.
Sera's nightly calls had been routine for a while. Since the shuttle run, maybe. Casual chats, usually later. Early evening like this? Rare.
"What's up?"
"Loud and clear."
I chuckled despite myself. What a sap. Thought it was urgent—turns out help call.
"Stuck on Sudoku?"
"Yeah, I get it. How do you want help?"
"Meet up? Cafe?"
...Then what? I stared at the ceiling, waiting.
Sera spoke like she was compromising.
"Huh? You sure?"
"Sure, why not."
"...What am I supposed to do with that info?"
"..."
That's why I don't get the wrong idea, Sera?
Beep-beep.
Call ended. Time to head out. Next door, so no big deal. But girl's house—gotta look presentable.
Ding-dong.
"Come in!"
Door opened instantly. Sera waited in comfy clothes. Oversized short-sleeve tee on her frame. Shorts not too short. Barefoot. Shoulder line dipped just so. Elbows peeking teasingly. Legs from knees down fully visible... Argh, enough. What am I thinking?
"Sihoo, you look kinda hot dressed up. Put in effort?"
"Don't tease. You're the one who seems conscious."
"Hmm. Sorry, this is my loungewear."
Sure it is. Sera led me to the living room, striding confidently despite bringing a boy home. Classic her.
Then she stopped. A dog nudged her foot.
Woof! Woof woof!
"Kkami! I told you to stay put."
She scooped up the pup anyway. Rubbing cheeks affectionately—adorable sight. Mid-cuddle, our eyes met.
"...Ah."
Blush crept up. Even confident Sera hadn't planned showing this vulnerable side to a boy. I kept my face neutral to play it cool.
"You two get along great."
"Y-yeah. Uh-huh."
Sera set Kkami down, then flashed her grin to regain composure.
"Cute, right? Been with me since I was a baby. So adorable. Runs to me the second I get home. I'd show you if I could. Got it?"
"Yeah. Sure."
Got it, so reel in that grin. Your embarrassment shows.
Woof! Woof!
Kkami headed to my feet now, circling excitedly.
"Whoa, Kkami likes you."
"Seems so. Lucky me."
"Old but still loves people."
"That old?"
"Yeah. Older than me, actually."
Made sense now. Classic senior dog moves. I nodded and shooed Kkami back gently.
"Must take a lot of care."
"Yeah, kinda. Ahem. Anyway, homework time! Wasted too much already."
Sera giggled to hide her fluster and pulled out the Sudoku. I sat across, pencil ready.
Just another day. Friends who don't cross lines. Sera nudged sometimes, but nothing aggressive. Plain childhood friend vibes. As long as I behaved, it'd stay smooth.
Until next year. Middle school second year. Right before Sera's dog crossed the rainbow bridge.