Someone Like You Doesn't Belong in <em>Half Half Island</em> (3)
Just 10 years ago, some survey claimed autumn was Koreans' favorite season. But if they ran it again today, the top spot has shifted to spring. It's not like autumn did anything wrong to lose its popularity. No doubt it's because the oblivious jerk ahead won't pick up on the timing and step aside, leaving autumn with fewer chances to shine. Autumn's steadily losing its place, while spring at least holds its ground firm.
And spring has these invincible flowers on its side.
"Whoa, the cherry blossoms are blooming insanely pretty."
"Yeah… cherry blossoms at night are gorgeous too."
"Do Ha-min, check this out—cherry blossom petals falling like a virgin right over your head!"
"D-don't say it so loud…!"
Do Ha-min and I step out for a quick mood-boosting stroll along the light trail out back. It's already past midnight, but the streetlights lining the path—and the glow from the nightlife crowds enjoying the weekend—keep it from feeling too dark.
"Still, is it cool to be wandering around this late without telling Master?"
"What choice do I have? Waking someone dead asleep just pisses them off."
"So you don't wake people who are truly out cold…"
Of course, sneaking out at this hour is top secret from Dad. When I headed downstairs to the living room, there he was—passed out on the sofa mid-TV binge. No way could I wake him up to say my daughter was holed up in her room studying late into the night with some dark-skinned guy her age. Yet he's snoozing away so peacefully. Is this lax virgin-guarding attitude born from trust in me? Or in Do Ha-min? Kinda miffed, I was tempted to sock him in the balls with Magical Girl Marina★Harina's signature Pure Fire Punch and prevent a late-blooming fourth sibling. But it's Mom's private property—can't just trash it. So I settled for tucking a blanket over him to ward off any colds, snapped a quick crime-scene photo, and slipped out.
"Even if Dad catches us, no biggie. I'll just threaten to send Mom that pic of him passed out with the TV blaring and a beer in hand. He'll cave."
"Ah… yeah, that'd be bad if Auntie saw."
"Try it on your folks sometime. Surprisingly good for patching up parent-kid vibes? Oh, and mom-dad relations too?"
"Haha… i-if I get the chance."
Do Ha-min nods with this weird expression, like he gets it. I'm just messing around, though—no real expectations. With a straight-laced guy like him, who can't even land a proper kiss when the heroine's serving up her lips on a platter, the five bonds and three virtues are one hell of a wall.
"Anyway, we're just out for some air. Not like we're up to no good."
"From Master's angle, how could he not worry? A kid wandering at this hour?"
"Then you keep a close eye on me. Make sure no shady creeps come sniffing around."
"Uh…?"
A question mark pops over Do Ha-min's head. Heroine's asking for protection, and the protagonist pulls a what? What? This guy's hopeless.
"Just grab a fallen branch and kendo-slash 'em away. You did learn it for a reason."
"P-preventing stuff like that from happening in the first place seems more important, right?"
"Pfft, even now you're talking like a total nerd. Gotta say 'Just trust me' and put her at ease."
"S-sorry…"
Even with kendo building up his stamina, he can't shake that signature nerd aura. Can't help but sigh. Would be nice to see some visible growth already. Nerd picks up martial arts, gets strong, and dishes out beatdowns to delinquents—it's the most crowd-pleasing cliché in Korean webtoons. Hop on any site, click a thumbnail of a scrawny glasses-wearing uniform nerd glaring with bulging eyes on a red background, and boom, there it is.
So when do I get to see our Do Ha-min pull that off?
"Sigh… nah. You wouldn't strut around waving a stick just 'cause you learned kendo. You're not the type to swing at people recklessly. Right, Do Ha-min?"
"O-of course…! I've never hit anyone like that. N-never will!"
"Heh. Figured. Come to think of it, 'Just trust me' does sound kinda nerdy too."
Do Ha-min's learning kendo purely to build stamina for studying. Not for revenge on bully packs or to stop some big-chested childhood-friend heroine from getting NTR'd by delinquents—it's just a side activity for self-improvement. No way a guy like that starts throwing punches after a bit of exercise and training. He's a nerd, sure, but the protagonist of this world. I dig that about him.
Oh, and one more reason: so I don't tease him for being a weakling.
…Wait a sec.
Doesn't that make me the delinquent he's gunning for revenge on? What'd I even do? Make him buy Zero Lime Cola from the canteen, drag him to a blood donation for movie tickets, send fake texts to his mom so he couldn't go home. That's all fair game to boss around, right? We're future virgin-trading partners, after all.
Ah, though if possible, I'd prefer not to still be stuck in this body by then.
"Still, thanks to you, I discovered how stunning cherry blossoms are at night. Some things you only learn by stepping outside."
"Right? Night's even prettier here than daytime. It's a pretty famous cherry blossom path, so it'd be swarming with people during the day—right now's the perfect time to soak it in."
I like cherry blossoms. Who wouldn't? Oh, and mugunghwa too. Mugunghwa samcheonri hwaryeogangsan urinara manse. As the lead heroine in a Korean webtoon, it sucks not getting more chances to see them compared to cherry blossoms.
Cherry blossoms leave this flashy yet wistful pink trace on the fresh green-and-brown earth, decorating just a fleeting dozen days or so in spring before vanishing. Insanely pretty, stealing everyone's gaze in a burst of gorgeous fullness—then poof, gone in a flash. Beauty and rarity rolled into one irresistible package.
No wonder musicians sprout like weeds for seasonal gigs and endless royalties. At this point, it's not cherry blossoms blooming in spring—it's spring parasiting off cherry blossoms. People don't love spring the season; they love it 'cause it's the only time cherry blossoms show up.
And right now, under this canopy of full-bloom night cherry blossoms, the two people who match them best in this whole world are strolling along. Ban Do-young, the realm's top beauty guarding the cherry blossom's flower language of "virgin," with her own beauty and rarity to match. And cherry boy Do Ha-min, guarding its "lad."
"So pretty… thinking they'll all be gone by midterms makes it kinda sad."
"Yeah… seriously gorgeous. Mom wanted to come together, and now I feel bad she's missing this… Ah, is this what you meant by 'mumigi'?"
"Oh, finally keeping up with my rhythm?"
Do Ha-min and I plop down on a bench along the path and zone out watching the petals drift down. Just moments ago, he had this slightly pouty look, but gazing at the pink glow under the streetlights, his cheeks naturally flush cherry-blossom soft.
"Whaddya think? Like it?"
"Yeah… so pretty, I could stare forever."
"Prettier than me?"
"No, not that… Huh? What was that?"
My casual toss-out catches him off-guard, and his honest heart leaps right out.
"Kekeke…"
"Damn… haa."
He realizes he's fallen for it again, dropping his head in embarrassment—but this time, no yelling. Just quietly tucks his flushed face between his legs. Shame hits harder than anger, looks like.
"That earlier one… even if it was an April Fool's lie, you won't take it back, huh?"
"Hmm… so you're saying your real words just now meant Ban Do-young's less pretty than cherry blossoms?"
He's asking if we can brush it off as an April Fool's gag. Maybe he knows he can't win against me, so he's relaxing a bit—his vibe feels just a tad more chill than before.
"…Fine, yeah. I'll accept that one as the lie."
"For real…?"
"You pulled an April Fool's on me, so now it's revenge prank time."
I scoot my butt closer, narrowing the gap.
"Everything from here on is a joke. All lies."
"W-what're you planning to—"
Smooch. I lean in and softly block Do Ha-min's mouth mid-sentence. One second of breaths mingling. That's my absolute limit right now.
"W-what… what the hell was that…?"
"…April Fool's."
Yeah, everything I'm doing is a lie. All a joke.
"If you don't wanna see it that way, call it payback for helping with studying."
Think whatever—I'm writing it off as April Fool's. Heroine act for returning to my world. Gotta pass it as a prank you can only pull today, a lie only today allows. Otherwise… it'd get dangerous.
My hands, always ice-cold except during kendo, are slick with sweat right now. My face—forehead included—burns like fire. Yeah, probably the cleansing wipes. Rub too hard on the foundation, and it heats up.
"Virgin Ban Do-young! Under this cherry tree, time to drop an April Fool's lie on lad Do Ha-min!"
"S-sudden much…?"
I bolt up from the bench and lean against the path railing. Gotta cool my face and body on something cold to hold my expression together.
"Phew…"
"Y-you okay?"
"Y'know, me too…"
I flash my usual grin, lips still carrying the faint egg-roll scent from what he ate, and beam it right at him.
"Someone like you doesn't belong in Half Half Island."