Chocolate Flavor, and We Attended the Same High School
Chocolate flavor, and we ended up going to the same high school.
—Which high school are you going to?
—OO High School? You sure?
—Yeah. Got it. Don't go changing it behind my back, okay?
The call came the day before we had to declare our high school aspirations. I told her I was going to a local general high school with a decent academic level near home. Sera asked me several times if I was sure, if I wasn't planning to change my mind. I was actually more surprised by how hard she pressed for confirmation.
'Why not go to a hunter prep high school?'
Unlike general high schools, those were established specifically for students aiming to become hunters. Like the ones from my past life, they had steep tuition and intense academics, but they were the best path for anyone serious about becoming a hunter. Especially if Sera was targeting the National Hunter Academy—going there would give her a huge edge. With her Gift, the Golden Ratio, they'd probably offer her a full scholarship to lure her in anyway.
In any case, Sera ended up attending general high school with me. Truth be told, when a student with hunter talent goes to a general school, it often leads to all sorts of incidents. They might accidentally cause a mana disturbance, or get arrogant about their abilities and look down on others. Plus, their grades are usually so superior by general high school standards that they end up resented.
But I wasn't worried about Sera at all.
'For Lee Sera, it'll just make her more appealing.'
Sera never flaunted her power. The fact that she made it through middle school graduation without a single incident, even with her Gift, was proof of how mature and kind she was.
Yeah. So I figured even after becoming high schoolers, she'd get along fine with the other kids, no problems.
And that was mostly true.
Except for one thing.
Anything involving me.
**
It was around summer of our first year in high school.
"Ahh—when are we going to Jeju? I wish it'd be soon."
"Hope it doesn't rain when we get there."
"Hey, did you hear? Dark Hunters infiltrated Jeju. Think the school trip's getting canceled...?"
Final exams for the first semester had just wrapped up, leaving a loose stretch of time before the school trip. The whole class was killing time half-heartedly. I was just quietly scrolling my phone.
'No need to study even on a day like this.'
I had no intention of slacking off completely, but I wasn't about to go all out either. Just the right amount—do what I could. That was my approach to high school studies.
Normally, if students acted like this, the homeroom teacher would give them a talking-to. It's the classic pattern: a brief moment of focus, then slacking off again.
"This won't do. Kids, anyone wanna run to the store for ice cream?"
Or not. The homeroom teacher was the one itching for fun. After playing some AV materials and fanning himself nonstop, he apparently couldn't take the heat anymore and made the sudden suggestion.
The class's eyes went wide, but no one raised their hand right away. Who'd want to leave the air-conditioned classroom for the sweltering trek to the canteen on a day like this? Everyone was eyeing each other, hoping someone else would volunteer.
"Hmm..."
The teacher couldn't just single someone out, so things stalled for a moment.
"Teacher—I'll go!"
Once again, Lee Sera raised her hand. Her bright smile as she volunteered lit up the teacher's face. The class nodded along, murmuring things like 'As expected of Sera.'
"Good girl. Well done, Sera."
"Hehe."
"You sure it's okay? You're a girl—going alone might not be great."
"Hmm—maybe?"
The teacher scanned the other kids—especially the boys—looking for a volunteer to go with her.
"—."
The boys exchanged quick glances. A silent battle of wits. Stay in the cool room and enjoy free ice cream the easy way? Or run the errand alone with the class's—no, the school's—top beauty, Lee Sera?
"......"
But oddly, they all glanced at me first. Hey, what? Why look at me? I kept my expression neutral, signaling 'I don't care.' Just as one of the boys started to raise his hand—
"Teacher, can I go with Sihoo then?"
Sera suddenly pointed me out.
'Huh?'
No, why drag me into this? Sera? What'd I ever do to you?
"Yeah, that's perfect. Sihoo's reliable."
But the teacher approved her suggestion like it was ideal. And so, I got roped into braving the stifling heat for the errand.
"Hey, you jerk."
"Hehe. Sorry. Bear with it a bit. We're friends, right?"
I shot her a look laced with mild resentment, and she deflected with a mischievous grin.
Hard to argue after that.
'Sigh.'
Yeah, my fault for being friends with the popular girl. If we were both outcasts, this wouldn't happen.
Sera and I headed to the front of the class. Then she asked the kids loudly,
"We'll get the same flavor for everyone—say what you want, one by one!"
Coming back loaded with ice cream would just lead to chaos over this one's mine, no that's mine. Unifying flavors was a smart move. As expected of Lee Sera.
And the choices split into two right away.
"Chocolate for me."
"Me too."
All the boys picked chocolate.
"Strawberry if they have it—definitely strawberry!"
"Me too—"
All the girls went strawberry.
Our class had 24 students, 12 boys and 12 girls. 11 chocolates, 11 strawberries. Just us two left.
Sera turned to me.
"Chocolate for me. You, Sihoo?"
Huh? Lee Sera picking chocolate?
I blinked at her.
'Didn't see that coming.'
Even if Sera had a tomboyish side, she was still inherently cute. If she weren't, she wouldn't be so popular despite acting like one of the guys. I'd assumed strawberry for sure—
Chocolate, huh.
'Interesting.'
I answered without much thought.
"Strawberry for me."
"......Huh?"
Sera's face froze solid. A mix of betrayal, shock, and annoyance in her eyes as she stared at me.
Now I was the confused one.
'What? Why?'
Why the wide eyes?
A brief silence between us, then—
"Whoa—Sihoo said strawberry—"
The girls burst into giggles.
"So cute."
"Strawberry suits Sihoo."
"Yeah, it does."
I didn't pay much mind to what the girls said. I was past the phase of overreacting to every little thing.
But Sera's expression soured more and more—dropping like her happiness meter was hitting rock bottom every time they called me cute.
"......Yeah. Fine."
Scraaaape!
Sera yanked the door open and stormed out.
'What the.'
Why'd she get upset again, Sera?
"Wait up."
I hurried after her.
The hallway was quiet. Her footsteps echoed so sharply, I worried they'd disturb the other classes. If anything, it made her mood crystal clear.
'She's pissed.'
That strut screamed 'I'm mad!'
I had no idea why, though.
"Sera, what's up?"
I asked as we descended the stairs. She whipped her head back, looking up at me as I looked down.
Her lips moved.
"......Why strawberry?"
"Huh?"
"Why'd you pick strawberry?"
Is there poison in the strawberry ones or something? I answered earnestly to cheer her up.
"Easier to even it out, right? 12 chocolate, 12 strawberry. Good plan?"
"......So you picked strawberry because I went chocolate?"
"Yeah."
"......"
Her expression was indescribably weird—like she was staring at the world's biggest idiot, frustrated she couldn't say it outright.
"Haa—"
She let out a massive sigh.
"Forget it. Whatever. You're so infuriating, Cha Sihoo."
Then she kept going down.
Strange. I answered honestly—why wasn't she over it? I caught up to her side and asked,
"Why'd you pick chocolate?"
She shot me a glare.
"'Cause I figured you'd pick it. Why?"
"Ah."
She wanted to match with her friend. Something like that. I chalked it up to that—better not delude myself into thinking it was romantic interest.
As I nodded in understanding, she pouted and grumbled,
"Hmph. Unbelievable. I even said I wanted to go with you. Skipped the other guys on purpose."
"What? Wasn't it just 'cause I'm convenient?"
"Are you doing this on purpose?"
No, really. We were almost at the first floor.
"......And the other girls are calling you cute."
She muttered as we walked to the canteen. This time, less sulky—more like anxious slip-of-the-tongue.
"So?"
"You pretending not to know? Girls calling a guy cute means they like him. They wouldn't say it if they didn't."
"Hmm—"
I went quiet for a sec.
This wasn't the first time Sera acted like this.
'She's been doing this a lot lately.'
One change since high school: her subtle rejection of other girls around me. Specifically when it seemed like they might get close. She was friendly with everyone otherwise, but she'd naturally block them from approaching me.
'Probably some possessiveness.'
I figured it stemmed from me saving Kkami—deep gratitude manifesting that way.
Anyway, time to clear up one misunderstanding.
"But Sera, girls calling a guy cute isn't a compliment."
"What?"
"It is, but not like they like you as a guy.'"
No clue why I was explaining this to my girl friend, but whatever. She didn't get it yet, so I'd spell it out: girls saying 'cute' to guys isn't real praise.
"They're saying it 'cause they don't see you as dating material. To them, I'm just an easy, comfy guy friend. Nothing more, nothing less."
"......"
Sera mulled it over.
Silence for a few seconds, then—
"......Yeah, probably."
She nodded readily.
'As expected of Lee Sera.'
Quick on the uptake, like a true social butterfly. She got it right away.
But she snorted anyway.
"Still not forgiving you."
"Why?"
"Don't like the other girls treating you so casually."
"You want me to be a total outcast?"
"Hehe. Think what you want."
Her smile said she was over it.
'Phew.'
Relief washed over me. No idea what set her off, but glad she was cheered up.
Creeeak—
We entered the canteen and beelined for the freezer, grabbing ice creams quick before they melted in the heat.
11 chocolates, 11 strawberries piled into the basket fast.
Just ours left.
As Sera reached for a chocolate and strawberry—
I grabbed her sleeve.
"Hold on."
"Why?"
"Let's get this instead."
I pulled out one of Korea's most famous ice creams from the freezer: chocolate bar with two sticks. The kind friends often share.
"......That one?"
"Yeah. We'll split it. Both chocolate then."
'Could just buy two chocolates, but...'
I'd racked my brain for a way to cheer her up. Curious if it'd work, I watched her.
"......"
She stood speechless, lips twitching. A faint blush spread across her pale cheeks.
Then—
"......Hmph, hehe."
A classic tsundere squeak.
"No helping it. If you insist on matching me... Fine, I'll allow it."
"Thanks."
Score. It worked.
'That should settle it.'
Honestly, suggesting to share ice cream with a girl friend was embarrassing as hell. Better eat it before the class noticed.
"Ah, don't open it now. We'll share back in class."
"Huh? Not on the way?"
"Nah. Gotta show the girls loud and clear we're sharing. Got it?"
"......"
......Looks like Sera does want me as an outcast.