Chapter 1
chapter 1
The Secret of the Popular Kid in the New Semester (1)
This happened quite a long time ago.
…No, since it was when I was in my second year of middle school, maybe it’s not that long ago.
“Did you say you’re seeing something strange?”
The doctor in a white coat asked me while neatly tapping on the keyboard.
“…Yes.”
“Hmm… exactly what kind of thing are you seeing?”
“Well…”
“It’s okay, so please speak comfortably.”
What I was struggling with was how to explain this.
After a short moment of thought, I organized my mind and carefully opened my mouth.
“It’s like… a doll that resembles the other person? Something like a miniature character.”
“Hmm… I see…”
The doctor’s reaction was indifferent. Like a professional, he didn’t show his emotions outwardly.
“Do you perhaps see something like that on me right now?”
I looked around the doctor.
They were always near the main body.
— “This is quite a peculiar symptom…”
I found it right away.
On top of the desk, there was an SD character that looked exactly like him, as if it had jumped out of an animation.
The little guy was muttering to himself while looking at a chart.
“Yes, I see it.”
“Hmm…”
“……”
I silently and calmly waited for the doctor’s judgment.
To be honest, I wasn’t really curious whether I was sick. I was convinced this wasn’t an illness.
Coming to the hospital was just for a final confirmation.
“Other than that, are there any unusual symptoms?”
“They talk.”
“They talk? Do they converse with you?”
“No, they just mutter to themselves.”
Just like earlier, and even now.
— “It doesn’t seem like a brain issue… it’s most likely stress-related.”
The mini doctor was muttering while holding a small chart.
Right after those words ended.
“Hmm… based on the test results, there doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with your brain.”
The doctor in front of me said the exact same thing at the same time.
My suspicion was gradually turning into certainty.
“It’s likely a temporary issue, so let’s observe it a bit longer.”
“…Yes, understood.”
The consultation ended.
I stood up from my seat.
Let me confirm it one last time.
Whether what I’m thinking is correct.
“Doctor.”
He quickly turned his gaze toward me at my voice while tapping the keyboard.
“Ah, yes. Do you have another question?”
“No, it’s just… I was wondering if you’ve eaten today.”
“Eaten?”
His expression filled with confusion and puzzlement.
The mini doctor sitting on the desk was the same.
The mini doctor fiddled with his glasses and spoke.
— “Hmm? Why would he ask that? I just had cup ramen.”
“I did eat cup ramen… does it smell or something?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
I gave a small bow and stepped out of the consultation room.
“Nurse Kim, could you call the next patient?”
— “Ah~ I want to go home already~”
Now it was certain.
Listening to the voice leaking out beyond the door, I fully realized my situation once again.
This wasn’t a dream or a mental illness.
“……”
The summer of my second year of middle school.
It seemed I had gained the ability to read other people’s thoughts.
---
Now I’m in my second year of high school.
I haven’t lived that long, but if there’s one thing I’ve realized, it’s that being able to read people’s minds doesn’t dramatically change your life.
Even more so if you keep that fact a secret.
“What’s the point of having something like this~ I still have to go to school~”
As long as I live as a student in Korea, skipping school isn’t really an option either.
“Sigh.”
I let out a sigh but still diligently packed my school bag.
It’s not like I can skip school right from the start of a new semester.
“I’m off.”
“Okay, have a good day, son~”
Mom said that while busily getting ready for work.
— “It’s already so hectic this morning. If I leave now, will the traffic be okay?”
Mom’s ‘mini-me’—the ones that speak her true thoughts, a name I came up with—was also bustling around.
I didn’t interfere any further and quickly stepped out the front door.
School wasn’t far.
About a 15-minute walk?
Maybe because it was the first day of the new semester, there weren’t any teachers standing at the front gate.
— Which class did you get?
— I got class 3.
When I arrived at the shoe lockers on the first floor, I saw a group of students gathered by the window.
Not just a few—dozens of them were crowded together, looking at something.
“Oh, right.”
As I looked over to see what was going on, I remembered that the class assignments were being posted today.
“Let’s see…”
I pushed my way through the crowd and stuck my head in.
Among the posted lists, I searched for my name.
Lee Seungho… Lee Seungho… Lee Seungho…
“Found it.”
Class 2-1. I’m in class 1 this year.
“What about the others…”
I didn’t stop there and moved my eyes around.
To see if there was anyone I knew.
As I went through the names one by one, my expression slowly stiffened.
“…No way, is this for real.”
There isn’t a single close friend in my class.
“Oh, Seungho, you’re here?”
At that moment, I saw two familiar faces walking toward me from behind.
They were classmates from last year.
There was a hint of amusement on their faces.
“Seungho, what class did you get? It’s not class 1, right?”
“……”
…These guys are asking even though they already know.
“…What about you guys.”
I barely maintained a smile as I asked.
“We’re…”
“Class 4~”
They started teasing me with all their might, putting their whole bodies into it. They’re oddly in sync at times like this.
Their mini-me’s were also rolling on the ground laughing.
— “Jackpot~”
— “Lee Seungho’s expression is priceless lol”
“……”
Watching that just makes me twice as annoyed.
“…I’m going in first.”
“Hey, are you sulking?”
“I need to make friends other than you guys.”
I can’t spend my second year without any friends.
I quickly headed to my classroom.
After wandering around the second floor for a bit, I found my class at the end of the hallway.
“…Phew.”
I stood in front of the back door and took a short breath.
It’s true that I’m a bit nervous since it’s a new semester.
“……”
I steeled myself and carefully opened the back door.
Quietly enough not to draw attention.
“Kyaa—!”
“?!”
As soon as I opened the door, a loud cheer rang out. A typical high-pitched cheer from female students.
“Ayoung—!”
“Oh! Ayoung is in our class too?”
When I turned around, a female student was entering the classroom right behind me.
“…That startled me.”
I thought they were cheering for me.
Even though that makes no sense, I was momentarily fooled.
I sat down in a suitable empty seat. The back row was already crowded, but fortunately I could at least sit by the window.
“…She’s in our class too.”
Shin Ayoung. She’s quite famous. The daughter of the well-known actor Shin Jinseop.
As expected, she inherited those genes—her appearance rivaled that of a celebrity.
Facial features that naturally draw attention at a glance.
Flowing hair and long eyelashes.
The kind of face that clearly looks popular.
“Ayoung, you’re in our class too? That’s great~!”
“I was worried I wouldn’t know anyone, what a relief~”
She was already mingling with others.
Groups of three or four had quickly formed, chatting away. An insider group had formed in an instant.
“…Hmm.”
I looked around.
I searched for someone I could talk to.
— “Is this my lucky year? I ended up in the same class as Ayoung again.”
Someone’s mini-me had climbed onto my desk and was loitering around.
“……”
…Who is this guy now.
Looking around, I realized it was a male student hovering near Shin Ayoung.
His name tag read Park Jinsu.
He soon approached the group Ayoung was in.
“Ayoung, hi.”
“Oh, Jinsu. We’re in the same class again this year?”
“Ahem, yeah.”
The two naturally started talking.
— “Maybe this is my only chance? Since it’s the start of the semester…”
His mini-me muttered that.
Is this…
That thing?
“Ayoung, do you have a moment later?”
“Hm?”
“It’ll only take a second.”
Oh…
I covered my mouth with my hand.
I ended up witnessing something interesting on the very first day of the semester.
— “Damn it.”
At the same time, a familiar-looking mini-me suddenly cursed.
— “No way… this totally looks like he’s about to confess… did I smile too much?”
“……?”
No matter how I look at it, that’s Shin Ayoung’s mini-me.
The crude language was completely different from her image, making me wonder if I misheard.
— “Ha… I messed up… no, why is this guy bothering me from the very first day of the semester?”
Unlike her inner thoughts, the real her wore a gentle smile.
With a slightly troubled tone, she spoke softly.
“Hmm… not right now. Can we talk during lunch?”
“Oh, uh… yeah, sure. See you then.”
Park Jinsu nodded awkwardly and left.
He probably thinks it was a successful invitation…
But on the desk, Shin Ayoung’s mini-me frowned deeply.
— “Ha… seriously, if it weren’t for my dad, I’d just…”
It was obvious her mood was completely ruined.
Is she holding back her temper because she doesn’t want to damage her famous actor father’s reputation?
Unaware of that, the surrounding students started making a fuss.
“Oooh~ Shin Ayoung~”
“This is totally that, right?”
Shin Ayoung gave an awkward smile.
“Ahaha. No way~”
— “I know, you idiots.”
…She’s intense.
— “Seriously, whether it’s this guy or that guy… ha~ this is so damn annoying. I just want to go home already~!”
Another stream of blunt curses followed.
“……”
The first day of the new semester.
Without intending to, I ended up learning the secret of the most popular kid in our class.