Chapter 35: Duality (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 35: Duality (3)
*
A short while ago.
I headed to the school snack shop with Lee Sol and Ji Nuri.
The 'counseling snacks' we kept in the office had completely run out, so we needed to restock. It wasn't even like we’d had that many people come in for sessions, yet the stash had vanished in the blink of an eye.
I stepped into the shop with a spring in my step.
"Is there anything you guys want?"
I flashed a white card. It was a small bit of power the Club President had granted me, telling me to buy whatever we needed.
"…I’m fine. I’m on a diet."
Lee Sol ran her fingers through her bright, ash-gray hair.
"Even if I’m not active right now, I can’t afford to let myself go."
She crossed her arms, her gaze haughty and professional.
"…Really?"
I was surprised by this side of her. Normally, Lee Sol’s Mini-Me would have already been rattling off a grocery list of everything she wanted to eat.
— “…Endure. I have to endure. I’ve been eating way too many snacks lately.”
Even as she stood in the snack shop, she maintained a blunt, disinterested expression. She was putting her willpower to the ultimate test.
She might be a rookie, but I guess a model is still a model. I’d assumed she wouldn't care about her weight at all, but right now, she was showing her professional side.
— “…I really crave jelly, though…”
…Or at least, she was trying to.
— “No, hold it in.”
Telling herself she had to resist, she pressed her small lips firmly together. She was barely holding on, her patience stretched to the breaking point. Every time Lee Sol took a step further into the shop, her Mini-Me’s eyes darted around frantically.
— “Sigh… orange juice sounds so good too…!”
The Mini-Me shook its head violently, fighting the temptation. She looked exhausted just standing there.
I suppressed a dry laugh at the sight and watched her quietly. I wondered if she had actually gained any weight at all. To be honest, she looked the same as always to me—small and delicate, with a slender frame that stood out even from a distance.
If she said she was dieting, then that was that, but it didn't look like she needed to force herself.
"I guess this much is fine…"
I picked up some jelly and orange juice. A few treats wouldn't hurt. Even if she didn't eat them now, she’d probably cave and want them later.
"Let's see…"
I looked down at the memo the Club President had given me. There were a few other things I needed to buy. Since I was here on an errand anyway, I might as well get what I wanted. I also picked out a few snacks to keep on hand for future counseling sessions.
"What about you, Ji Nuri?"
"I just need this and these two."
Ji Nuri picked up a bag of potato chips and a carton of apple juice. It was a modest selection.
"Are you sure you don't want anything else? It’s not my money, so you can pick something more expensive."
I had already grabbed a bag of frozen dumplings. They were among the pricier items in the shop. There was no reason to hesitate; when an opportunity like this comes along, you take it.
"This is enough for me."
Ji Nuri waved the food in his hand lightly, signaling he was satisfied.
— “Hmm… nothing is really jumping out at me.”
Ji Nuri’s Mini-Me stroked its chin. Its reaction suggested that snack shop food wasn't enough to pique its interest.
Fine then. If there really wasn't anything he wanted, there was no need to push.
"Nothing else? I'm checking out, then."
The two nodded, and I handed the card to the shop owner.
*
We headed straight back to the club room. There was no reason to linger, and the ice cream we’d bought was liable to melt.
Slide—
As I opened the door to the counseling office...
"Oh, what the—"
Shin A-young was standing right there.
"When did you get here?"
There was no answer. I felt a bit puzzled by her silence but stepped to the side. Just as I was about to walk past her—
— “— — — — —”
Before I could take a single step, a harsh noise erupted from her Mini-Me. It was a thumping, pounding static, far more intense than the usual kind.
I was inwardly startled. I stiffened and turned my head to look back at Shin A-young.
“…”
Her expression was the same as always. Her lips were curved in a clear, gentle arc, and her large eyes held a sense of harmlessness, as if she didn't have a care in the world. On the outside, she looked so perfectly fine that...
"…Are you okay?"
...It actually made me worried.
“…”
Shin A-young still said nothing. She simply raised a hand and toyed with her lips.
— “— — — — —”
The situation didn't change. Shin A-young’s expression was bright, but the Mini-Me remained the same—standing there blankly, emitting nothing but noise. I had no idea what she was thinking. The static continued to hammer against my eardrums.
I racked my brain, wondering what I should do or where I should even start.
“…”
The answer that came to me was simple. In a moment like this, there was only one thing I could really do. It wasn't like I was a real counselor. What could I possibly say?
Crinkle—
I rummaged through the plastic bag. It was filled with all sorts of food. What should I give her?
After a brief moment of deliberation, I narrowed it down to sweet ice cream or a warm can of coffee. I pulled out the coffee can, which still held its heat.
"Here, have this."
I spoke in the most nonchalant voice possible, so she wouldn't mistake the gesture for pity.
“…”
After a moment's hesitation, she reached out with a cautious movement and took it. She pressed the warm can against her forehead.
Was that all it took?
Bzzzt… crackle…
The Mini-Me’s noise gradually subsided.
— “…It’s warm.”
A small smile played on its lips.
"…Are you alright?" I asked, testing the waters.
"I'm fine. My stomach just felt a bit upset."
At Shin A-young’s words, I opened the bag again. I hadn't thought of that.
"Then, do you want something else?"
If her stomach was upset, I had some soft bread. As I reached in to swap the snack—
Swish—
Shin A-young pulled the hand holding the can behind her back. My eyes widened in surprise. She seemed startled by her own reaction too, her pupils dilating slightly.
"…No, it’s okay."
— “I like the warmth better right now.”
The Mini-Me crouched down, holding the canned coffee with a soft smile.
"Is that so?"
If she said so, then fine. I put the bread back. I guess the coffee was more to her liking.
*
Shin A-young stepped back into the counseling room. It felt like the reason she was about to leave had vanished.
"Are you okay? Wasn't it urgent?"
Park Min-ji raised an eyebrow, her expression laced with concern. I could sense a subtle consideration in the way she didn't explicitly mention the word 'bathroom.'
Shin A-young shook her head gently, telling her not to worry.
"I'm fine now. I suddenly feel better."
"…Really?"
The doubt didn't entirely vanish from Min-ji's face, but she seemed willing to let it go.
“…”
How should I put it? I felt okay now. My heart had settled down a bit.
"By the way, what were you going to say earlier?" Shin A-young asked.
She wanted to hear what Park Min-ji had to say and then give her a proper refusal. She felt like she could handle it now.
"Ah, that…?"
Park Min-ji slowly parted her lips.
“…”
…Ah.
Shin A-young exhaled slowly. She could see Lee Seung-ho’s reflection in the mirror on the wall, secretly making an 'X' sign with his fingers.
"…Hmm."
Seeing that, Shin A-young’s lips twitched. They kept trying to curl upward.
‘He doesn't really need to do that.’
Even as she thought that, she didn't feel bad. It had been a while since she’d been reminded of what it felt like to be looked after.
"…Uh… I forgot what it was."
Seeing the signal, Park Min-ji awkwardly changed the subject, swallowing the words she was about to say.
"Ah… is that so?"
Shin A-young sat down on the sofa. If that was the case, then whatever. There was no need to push the conversation further. She turned her back while still seated, her interest already jumping elsewhere.
"What did you buy at the snack shop?"
Shin A-young poked her head forward to peek inside the bag. I held the bag open wide to show her the contents.
"Alphabet chocolates for counseling, chocolate pies… and some other stuff."
Shin A-young let out a hollow laugh. It looked like there was more 'other stuff' than things actually bought for counseling.
"It’s mostly sweet things, huh?"
"They're easy to hand out one by one. Good for relieving the stress of people who come for counseling."
"I guess so…"
Shin A-young nodded in understanding. That made sense. Most people who visited the counseling club would be that type. Who would come here because something good happened?
“…”
Well. Except for me.
As that thought crossed her mind, Shin A-young remembered why she had come to the counseling club in the first place.
"Lee Seung-ho."
Shin A-young called his name, her voice rising slightly in pitch.
"? Yeah?"
"Let's go to the PC Café after we're done."
Feeling a bit excited, Shin A-young let the words fly.
"I'm going to hard carry today. I researched a new meta on NewTube, and there's no way we can lose. Seriously. Seung-ho, you go Jungle, and I'll go Mid. Sol said she was a Yuumi one-trick, so we can just send her to the bottom lane. Will Nuri play too…? Then he can duo with Sol."
Anyway. Today was for gaming!
As she stood there, unable to hide her excitement—
"I don't think I can today. I have plans."
That was the answer she got from Lee Seung-ho.
"Eh…?"
Shin A-young blinked blankly.
"…What plans?"
When she asked, Lee Seung-ho pointed behind him with his thumb.
“…”
Shin A-young’s gaze followed his gesture. At the end of it stood Lee Sol.
"I promised to help her study one-on-one today. Finals are coming up soon."
At those words... Shin A-young’s lips quivered.
"…But they're still a month and a half away…?" she muttered in a tiny, barely audible voice.