You Wouldn't Like <em>Half Half Island</em> Anyway (7)
There were ointments and band-aids at home, too. A kendo dojo like ours, where people put their bodies through the wringer, always needed to stock first-aid supplies for any injuries that popped up. So, honestly, there was no need to swing by the convenience store for fresh ones, but there was one little problem.
Dad was extremely meticulous about running the dojo. The basement storage? Sure, it had a lock and stayed out of outsiders' hands, so skimping on upkeep there wasn't a big deal. But the supplies just sitting in the office? They passed through so many hands that they'd dwindle away unnoticed before you knew it.
And if we ran short right when we needed them? The blame fell squarely on the dojo—and its owner, my dad. Imagine getting a call like, "Our kid got a splinter in his finger at your place, it's bleeding, and you didn't do a thing? His dad's furious back there, hopping mad!" You couldn't just blame it on low stock.
So, our Ban Do-che checked the office first-aid inventory every few days—not daily, but regularly. Ointment squeezed from a tube? Hard to track exactly. But band-aids and patches? Countable items. If the numbers didn't match, it'd stick out like a sore thumb. And that would lead straight from "Who used the band-aids?" to "Who got hurt?"
Getting caught for dragging Do Ha-min out in the dead of night and getting him injured? It was only a matter of time.
"There, all done."
"Ah, thanks..."
"Heh, sniff this band-aid with its fresh citrus scent. What genius came up with that? Smells good enough to eat."
"Must be someone who loves lime as much as you do."
After getting home, Do Ha-min and I grabbed the first-aid kit from the dojo on the first floor and did a quick patch-up in my room. It wasn't a big wound to begin with—just disinfect, apply ointment, and top it off with that lime-scented band-aid from the convenience store.
"The cut on your forehead'll be hidden once you lower your bangs anyway. Lucky break—no way Dad finds out."
"E-even if he does, I'll... handle it somehow."
"Hm, if you say so."
I had no idea how far his crappy lying skills would get him with my dad, but I left that part to him for now. If we got busted, oh well. We'd settle it with a whack to the back of the head with a shinai.
"Ah, feels like I can put some weight on it now. I can walk on my own."
Do Ha-min, treatment done, gripped the bedpost and slowly stood. Good—he could manage solo now.
"Ooh, first-aid kit's the real MVP. Instant HP recovery?"
"No, it's thanks to you. 'Cause you nursed me, Ban Do-young... Thanks."
"Tch, save the thanks. Pay me back later."
"Yeah. I will."
"Alright, then I'll sneak this back to the dojo before Dad notices. You head to the next room and crash, Do Ha-min. Or should I princess-carry you, Your Highness?"
"...No thanks. I can walk now. I'll manage."
"Nyeeh nyeeh, as you wish, Princess Do Ha-min."
"Why am I the princess?!"
"Kekeke, nighty-night. If you dream of me, you might wet the bed, so heads-up."
"Cut it out!"
After watching him shuffle into my brother Ban Re-young's empty room, I grabbed the first-aid box and headed down to the dojo. Dad was still out cold—Friday classes must've worn him out.
"Perfect crime: complete."
I slipped the box back into its spot under the drawer in the dojo office.
"Haa..."
—Plop.
Alone in the dim office, I let out a deep sigh as I slumped into the dojo owner's wheeled chair. A tangled mess of emotions had bubbled up into that one breath.
"Shit, my legs feel like jelly too."
Even with Dad dead asleep, he could wake any second for water. I needed to hustle back to my room, but with the tension gone, my body wouldn't budge from the chair.
"Impressive, Ban Do-young. Going this far just to get back to the real world."
Leaning back, I pulled up my phone gallery to check the pic I'd snapped earlier. Damn, it came out perfect. Too clear—my own face was burning just looking at it.
"And calling him my boyfriend? Insane, insane."
When the part-timer asked who got hurt, it had slipped out unconsciously. I'd brushed off the annoying questions without much thought, eager to grab the band-aids and bolt.
But it wasn't a calculated line—it was pure instinct. That scared me more.
Calling Do Ha-min my boyfriend? The original heroine or even fake Ban Do-young could say that easy. I had to act the part to return to my world. Pure performance.
I was fully aware of that. But back then? No conscious "time to play the heroine" vibe. I only did it to tease him or act as the main girl.
"Come to think of it, I called that clerk at the glasses shop 'sis' without thinking."
When I didn't need to fake the heroine—or when emotions shook me enough to forget—I defaulted to guy mode in speech and actions. Like at the optician's.
It'd been that way just weeks ago. Barely a month in, and recruits haven't even finished basic yet.
I'll head out. You stay put—you're still pissed at roll call.
Was I unconsciously seeing myself as this world's main heroine now?
"...Haha."
No way. That was just an April Fool's fib to myself. My existence here was a lie anyway.
April Fool's hit, so my bluffing leveled up—lying to myself naturally now. Repeating it unconsciously until it felt true.
Yeah, all April Fool's fault. Once the day's over, April 1 ends, and it'll be fine.
The great Ban Do-young won't get tossed around by some girl's body. No sir.
"..."
Still, just in case—with this body, jerking off once a week max.
"...Twice is fine, right."
⋯
"This rolled egg is delicious."
"Right? Even I—the dojo master—just got to try it now. Do-young insisted on feeding Ha-min first, so I didn't get a bite yesterday."
"I-is that so... Sorry about that."
"That's why I made it this morning. No complaints now."
Saturday morning dawned. Do Ha-min was set to catch the train home before 11. Weekend breakfast duty was mine, so rolled eggs graced our table as usual.
"So good. Thought I'd be sick of it by now with daily eats, but it tastes just like your mom's. Doesn't get old. You two hogged this yummy stuff as a midnight snack without me?"
"S-sorry. I had no idea..."
"No, no. Not mad... How could I be? You helped Do-young study late. Sorry about last night—I crashed first... Dumping my daughter's studies on her friend and conking out."
Dad seemed clueless about yesterday, having dozed off early. Fine by me.
"So... everything okay last night?"
"Yeah, no issues... Slept great, thanks to you."
"But those dark circles say otherwise."
"Hic."
"You too, Do-young. You used to sleep like a log. Looking wiped today."
"..."
"Don't tell me... you studied through the night?"
"S-something like that."
"Kuh... Impressive. Makes me curious about Ha-min's study methods—got our girl this hooked. Maybe Dad should sit in sometime."
"Ahaha..."
No way I'd spill we were out past midnight, smooching under cherry blossoms. But we knocked out the quota, so study-wise, I was golden.
"Still, don't overdo it. Rest when sleepy—health first, always."
"O-of course. Got it."
"Hey, Do Ha-min. Grab your bag—train's almost here."
"Oh, yeah. Sorry, Master. I'll head out."
"Sure. Thanks for yesterday and today—looking forward to more. Take care, Ha-min."
"Yes! See you next week...!"
He changed back into his uniform, packed up, and left.
"Do-young, you walking him?"
"Yup, see him off and grab some Zero Lime on the way back."
"You already downed yesterday's?"
As the grateful student, I'd tag along to the station. Just in case his leg acted up again from last night.
⋯
"What a day. Still April Fool's."
"Yeah."
"How many minutes till the train?"
"Three... I think."
At the station, we parked on a bench by the digital board, chatting lightly while waiting.
"Sleep okay?"
"Honestly... no. Tossed and turned. Napped during the day, but last night kept replaying."
"Kekeke. Told you, virgins can't hack it. Losing sleep over a little kiss."
"B-Ban Do-young, you've got dark circles too."
"Can't help it. First time being a virgin girl."
"..."
"..."
But even casual chat stalled when memories of dawn hit—silence filled with station noise.
"Hey! Do-youngie!"
"Huh...?"
"Choi Sa-hyung... Yoo Hye-rang..."
"What's this? Do-youngie and Ha-minie, alone at the station?"
"Do Ha-min, why're you in uniform again? Didn't go home yesterday?"
"...Uh."
Why the hell are those two here?