Chapter 61: Sports Day (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 61: Sports Day (4)
The day of the Sports Day finally arrived.
I was heading to the changing room alone to swap my gym clothes for our class T-shirt.
The weather is nice...
A cool breeze drifted in through the open windows. It was the perfect day for a school event.
“...?”
I stopped in my tracks when I spotted someone practically crawling down the hallway.
“Ugh...!”
It was a girl groaning as she dragged a massive box across the floor. With her round glasses and familiar face, I realized it was our Class President.
“Phew...”
She paused for a moment, letting out a sigh so deep it felt like the floor might give way beneath her.
— “This is so incredibly heavy...!”
Her Mini-me’s face was beet red, its expression a mix of fury and pure exhaustion.
The box she was dragging featured the logo of a famous beverage brand. There were three boxes in total, and they were clearly packed tight.
But...
Where’s the Vice President? Why is she doing this all by herself?
The question naturally popped into my head as I watched her struggle. I looked around to see if anyone else was nearby, but the hallway was empty. The Vice President was nowhere to be seen.
Sure enough, she was moving the entire load on her own.
— “I can’t believe I got caught by the teacher...!”
Her Mini-me was grumbling, but she looked determined to finish the job. It seemed she was the type who had to see a task through once it was assigned to her. I suppose that’s why she was the Class President.
I can’t just leave her like that.
It bothered me. She hadn't noticed me yet, but I couldn't just walk past.
“Class President.”
I called out to her as I walked over, picking up two of the three boxes she had been dragging. They were surprisingly heavy; I could see why she’d been forced to drag them. It was far too much for her to carry at once.
“Huh?”
Only then did she notice me. Her eyes went wide, clearly startled by the sudden intervention.
“Where do these need to go?”
“You’re... helping me?”
“Yeah.”
“...Then, just to the field, please.”
“Got it.”
When I nodded, she let out a hollow laugh of pure relief.
“Thank you. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Don’t mention it,” I replied casually.
It wasn't a big deal. Anyone who saw her struggling like that would have stepped in.
“By the way, are these for our class?” I asked, looking at the boxes with a hint of anticipation.
“Yeah, the teacher bought them for us. There’s a variety inside.”
Peeking through the gaps in the cardboard, I saw three types of drinks: Torey, Blue Ade, and Ppokkari.
“Since you helped, I’ll let you pick first,” she said, as if granting me a grand royal favor.
Was this a Class President’s special privilege?
“Oh.”
I hadn't intended for a reward, but it worked out well. Personally, I preferred Ppokkari. The others were fine, but that was always my go-to.
Crowd noise—
As we stepped out onto the field, the air was filled with the sound of students busily setting up. As we headed toward our class tent...
“...Hm?”
I spotted a familiar figure in the distance. It was Lee Sol. She had already changed into the class T-shirt.
...It’s definitely oversized.
Whether she had ordered a larger size on purpose or not, the hem reached down to her thighs, making her small frame stand out even more. Her hair was tied in low twintails that draped over her shoulders. From a distance, she really did look like a doll.
— “...I guess that’s why she’s a model.”
The Class President’s Mini-me muttered softly as it looked at her. It perfectly mirrored my own thoughts.
Sol was looking around as if searching for someone. Her head turned this way and that until her gaze finally landed on me. Her eyes curved into crescents, and she gave a small wave.
“Seung-ho—”
Sol started trotting toward me, but then... she awkwardly slowed down. Her eyes shifted slightly, scanning the area to my left. She was checking to see who was with me, and her gaze settled on the Class President following right behind.
— “...”
Sol’s Mini-me broke into a cold sweat.
— “...Seung-ho is too kind.”
It muttered with a complex, subtle expression.
— “...I can’t let this happen.”
Having reached that conclusion, Sol hurried over to stand in front of me.
“I’ll help too.”
Sol reached out to take one of the boxes I was carrying. I looked at her, worried.
“It’s going to be heavy.”
“It’s fine—”
As she took the weight, Sol’s waist suddenly buckled forward.
“...!”
She almost face-planted. Fortunately, she managed to catch her balance. She straightened up immediately, putting on a nonchalant face as if nothing had happened. However, her eyes were shaking, unable to hide her panic. They were even a bit watery, likely from the shock of the weight.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“...I-I can carry this much easily.”
Her face turned as red as a ripe persimmon. Because her skin was so pale, the blush was incredibly obvious.
“L-Let’s go, quickly.”
Wobble, wobble.
Sol tottered forward, her body swaying left and right under the load.
— “This is different from what I expected...”
The Class President’s Mini-me adjusted its glasses while watching Sol.
— “So that’s what Lee Sol is really like? I thought she was the lazy type...”
“...”
Sniff.
I let out a dry sniffle. Feeling a bit guilty for some reason, I followed after the struggling Sol.
*
“Hmm...”
Shin A-young checked her reflection in the mirror from several angles.
This should do...
Her makeup had turned out perfectly. She was satisfied. Since the teachers tended to be more lenient on event days, she had put in some extra effort. She hadn't overdone it, of course; she just went for a polished, "dressed up" look.
My hair looks good, too.
It was a different style than her usual. While she normally wore her hair long and straight, today she had tried a ponytail. She thought it looked best with a hairband.
“Done.”
A-young had spent quite a bit of time in the changing room. She had brushed things off during last year’s Sports Day, but this year, she had gone all out.
The reason was obvious...
It was to appeal to Lee Seung-ho. She wanted to look pretty for him. It was only natural—a basic human instinct to want a compliment from the boy you like.
A-young bit her lip softly. How would Seung-ho react?
Your makeup looks good?
It suits you?
Or maybe...
‘You’re pretty.’
Just imagining him saying those words made her ears burn. It was strangely embarrassing. Her face was a mess of nerves right now. Even thinking like this felt incredibly cringeworthy.
“Deep breath... Phew...”
Calm down. Just stay calm.
Like her usual acting, A-young feigned composure. Or at least, she tried to. She wasn't doing a very good job of it. The thought of Seung-ho seeing her with makeup—seeing a side of her that was different from the everyday—made her heart race.
Ah.
She finally understood why Lee Sol had avoided her gaze back then. She finally understood that reaction.
Anyway, it was time to go out. It was almost time for the assembly. As she walked down the hallway, the cool air gradually cooled her flushed cheeks.
“A-young.”
A voice stopped her. A slick, oily voice. She didn't even have to look back to know who it was. It was a senior from her club.
A-young’s expression instinctively soured. Realizing she shouldn't look like that, she forced the corners of her mouth up.
“Hello, Senior,” she said, turning around with a bright smile.
He wasn't alone. There was a girl she didn't recognize standing next to him. Looking at her name tag, she was a third-year.
“...The outfit looks good on you.”
His eyes swept up and down A-young’s body.
“Is a basketball uniform your class T-shirt?”
“Ah, yes.”
A-young gave a brief, polite reply. She was used to this kind of back-and-forth by now.
“Who is she?” the female senior asked, glancing at him.
“A junior from my club. You know, the one I told you about.”
“Oh, her?”
“And this is a friend from my class,” he said, introducing the girl to A-young.
“Hello.”
A-young gave a small bow.
“Oh, so you’re A-young? I’ve heard a lot about you. You’re even writing the script for the play?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“...That’s impressive.”
The senior smiled. It was a very manufactured, practiced smile.
...This is so obvious.
A-young thought to herself. The girl clearly had feelings for the senior; it was written all over her face. A-young had always been quick to pick up on things, but ever since she’d realized her own feelings, she was even more sensitive to them in others.
“Hey, let’s go. We’re going to be late.”
The girl tugged at the senior’s sleeve.
“Huh? Already?”
“What do you mean 'already'? It’s almost time to gather.”
“Ah, then just a second.”
He held out the drink he was carrying.
“Here.”
“Oh, no thank you. You don’t have to...!”
A-young waved her hands dismissively.
“Hey, it’s fine. I have plenty left over anyway.”
He practically forced it into her hand.
“Ah, yes... thank you.”
She had no choice but to take it.
“...Let’s go already.”
The tugging on his sleeve grew stronger.
“Alright, let’s go. See you later.”
He gave a small wave as he walked away. A-young let out a silent sigh as she watched them go.
He’s so burdensome...
She knew she had to say something eventually, but it wasn't easy. She looked down at the drink he had given her. Torey. It was a famous brand, but it wasn't a flavor she particularly liked. Actually, it probably wouldn't have mattered what he gave her; she wouldn't have liked it regardless.
A-young exited the building through the opposite hallway and headed toward the field.
“A-young!”
The Class President called out when she spotted her.
“I put the drinks down over there, so just grab one.”
“Thanks.”
A-young nodded and headed toward the boxes.
“Ah...”
A short sigh escaped her. Perhaps because she was late, the Blue Ade she wanted was gone. All that was left were Torey and Ppokkari.
Nothing she could do. She’d just have to take a Ppokkari...
“Shin A-young.”
Seung-ho called her name. He was holding a blue bottle in his hand, which he held out to her.
“Wh-what?”
“Don’t you like this? I figured they’d run out, so I grabbed one for you in advance.”
“Oh... y-yeah. I do.”
Her answer came out in a daze. A-young nodded slowly.
Seung-ho turned back, saying that was all he needed. He headed back into the building, likely because he hadn't changed into his class T-shirt yet.
A-young sat down. Holding the bottle he had given her, she tapped the plastic gently with her index finger.
The realization that he had actually paid attention to her preferences brought a silly, involuntary smile to her lips. A belated laugh escaped her. Just moments ago, she had been hoping he would notice her makeup. She had wanted a compliment on her appearance.
But for some reason, this single bottle of juice made her feel much happier.