I Don't Like Guys Like You in <em>Half Half Island</em> (4)
“B-Ban, just now… where does the April Fool's lie start and end?”
“Hmm, who knows. Think about it real hard with that model student brain of yours. Where's the lie?”
“….”
“Oh, right, you're not a model student anymore. Skipping self-study on a late night like this, wandering the streets with a classmate, doing lewd stuff—can't call a guy like that a model student, huh?”
I cooled my heated body against the cold railing, then plopped my butt back down next to Do Ha-min on the bench.
“Think hard, you study-hard thug?”
“Hey, thug….”
“Who knows, maybe I'll do something even worse than a thug. In a place like this, at a time when no one's around.”
“….”
Do Ha-min didn't answer, just raised his right hand to cover the side of his beet-red face. His hand was surprisingly large for his build, so when he spread it wide, it hid more than half his face.
Of course, I knew Do Ha-min wouldn't pull anything weird on me here. Hell, I even thought that was why he'd become this world's protagonist.
It was a deliberate provocation, knowing he wouldn't do anything rough to me. Even if it was just an empty April Fool's prank—a lie and a joke with no substance—the fact remained that Ban Do-young's and Do Ha-min's lips had briefly touched.
Even without any real meaning behind it, there was a clear action, a clear sensation and memory left from that contact. Now I wanted to see what Do Ha-min would do next.
“Hey… can I ask one thing?”
Do Ha-min asked, still covering his face.
“Ooh, finally curious about Ms. Ban Do-young's cup size? Or what bra I wear…?”
“Please… even if you say it was all a lie, can you just hear me out right now?”
His voice came muffled through the covered mouth—trembling with fear, yet sinking heavily with a desire for a serious answer.
“…Why are you being so nice to me?”
I couldn't see his expression with half his face hidden, but the voice slipping through his fingers was shaking badly. It was clear a mix of emotions had gone into mustering those words.
“I could understand everything up until now… Like the class president said, even if not exactly a 'toy,' if it was in the realm of 'friends,' I could accept what we've done so far, even if it was a bit bold.”
“….”
“But… what you just did… even friends can't do that casually. I-I've seen same-sex friends joke around like that, but…”
“Where'd you see that? Magical Girl Marina★Harina volume 9 episode?”
“Y-Yeah, it happens there too… but that's not the point right now! Listen properly!”
Maybe he'd gotten fed up with his own frustration. Do Ha-min dropped his hand and yelled at me, facing me directly.
His face, peeking through the gaps before, was bloodshot around the eyes despite the once-in-a-lifetime treat. His fingers that had covered them were dotted with what might've been sweat or tears.
“Call it an April Fool's prank or a lie if you want… but please, just tell me now. Why are you doing all this for me… If you don't see me as a friend, and it's really like the class president said—a toy you're playing with for fun… even if it's the latter, I don't care… no, deep down, I'd prefer the latter. Then I could give up cleanly….”
Even as a toy, a plaything, it was fine, he said. Do Ha-min forced a smile at me through reddened eyes.
“It's okay if I'm a toy. Toy or not, the help you've given me is all real… My gratitude to the dojo master and your mom won't disappear… I just want to know. Why you're going this far for me….”
“Do Ha-min….”
“Sorry… I know I shouldn't ask something this heavy on April Fool's… or maybe it's only heavy for me… B-But I feel like I have to hear it straight from you like this… Otherwise, no matter how much I try to hold back and face the reality that you and I are different… I keep getting other ideas… I have to keep telling myself I don't like Half Half Island types like you… or else I start thinking maybe there's a chance for me….”
Do Ha-min hurriedly bowed his head to hide the tears welling up, then lifted it again, compelled to face me and speak. He tried wiping his eyes with his T-shirt hem to pretend he wasn't crying, but realizing it was Ban Do-young's gym clothes, he frantically rubbed at the tear-soaked fabric with his hands. I caught the whole clumsy scene.
“Pfft.”
I couldn't help but burst out laughing at his awkwardness.
“Man, you total nerd… You're crying because you're that curious?”
“I-I'm not crying… It's just some flower petals stuck to my eyes…”
Fact: That was another April Fool's fib. Why not go full cliché and call it 'sweat from my heart'?
“A-Anyway, that's not the point…! What I want to know is—”
“You're right.”
“…Huh? Wh-What about?”
“Yeah, I do think of you as a toy.”
His pupils shrank at my blunt admission. He'd said he'd prefer it that way, but deep down, he'd hoped for something else.
But it was true—I did see him as a toy. No denying that.
“Once in the morning on the way to school, once during kendo class—at least twice a day, I gotta tease you, or my day doesn't feel fulfilling. Like a fun daily quest. The most rewarding part of my day.”
“R-Really. I figured, but yeah…”
“Duh, being with you pumps out the most dopamine of my day. If I can, like today, I'd squeeze in weekend quotas too. Shame you live so far from our house.”
“Hehe… y-yeah. Right, that's it.”
Do Ha-min's face looked relieved at getting the answer he wanted, but also hollow, like something was draining away.
“What's with that face? Did you think we could actually be lovers? When did you ever properly confess? You always say you don't like Half Half Island types like me. Tell me, why should I like you?”
“….”
“Nothing, right? You can't even say it yourself, but expected some smooth answer from me?”
“Yeah… you're right. Thanks for telling me the truth, even now.”
I figured he'd expect this answer. He probably knew it all along.
Those feelings leaked out in his expression. He knew, but people cling to that one-in-ten-thousand hope.
“So make it quick. Give me a reason to like you.”
“…O-Okay?”
Do Ha-min hesitated, then looked up at me.
“Y-You don't mind…?”
“Me thinking of you as a toy, but you thinking you like me?”
“Why not?”
“…Huh?”
“Our Ms. Ban Do-young is a way more rotten natural-born thug virgin than you think. Even if the guy confessing was an ugly, short, shut-in nerd magical girl otaku in the past, if I find a reason to like him now, I'd forget all about treating him like a toy and hand over my virginity, no problem.”
“V-Virginity… don't say that so casually!”
“Why are you stricter about my virginity than I am? It's still mine, right?”
Yeah, 'cause I won't be around by then anyway.
“So if you hate being treated like a toy, hurry up and get on my level, Mr. Do Ha-min?”
“I-Is that… okay? Don't people usually resent it if someone they saw as a toy climbs up to equals…?”
“Why? If you get cool, that's good for me, no?”
His reactions to teasing are getting blander than before—kinda disappointing. But it'll be fine. Him becoming more protagonist-like is good for Ban Do-young in the end.
“Me seeing you as a toy now doesn't mean you can't like me, right?”
“….”
“Ow, cold. Let's head back.”
The spring breeze was turning chilly as dawn approached. If we didn't go soon, Dad might wake up and notice we were gone, so I stood from the bench to head home.
“W-Wait a sec…!”
Then, amid the icy spring wind, a warm, fuzzy grip wrapped around my wrist.
Do Ha-min's hand was holding my wrist.
“Haa… haa… I just have to get on your level. You and me….”
“Uh, uh-huh…”
“Like I said earlier, I'm done staying at n:0, always taking it. From now on, I'll pay back everything you did to me today—and more. That's how I'll get on your level.”
“Uh, b-but do you need to hold my hand for that…?”
“Haa… yeah. 'Cause you took points from me again just now…”
Do Ha-min's hands released mine and slipped toward my waist.
“…This is my April Fool's prank too, 'Ban Do-young'—just like you.”
“Ah… you just said my name—”
-Tok
The moment I first heard Ban Do-young's name properly from Do Ha-min's lips, his shadow overlapped mine this time. Along with the familiar scent of rolled omelet.