Chapter 7
Chapter 7
PC Bang
“So basically… you were trying out the club because of that situation?”
“Yeah.”
At Jinuri’s summary, Lee Sol nodded.
For me, though, this was a bit of a problem.
I was just about to seal the deal, but her sudden appearance almost ruined everything I’d worked for.
“So what do you want to do?”
“Hmm…”
Lee Sol thought for a moment.
“I’ll join this club.”
“Really?”
Honestly, that surprised me.
I didn’t expect her to decide so quickly.
“Yeah. Honestly, this place seems more comfortable than other clubs.”
That answer was very… Lee Sol-like.
“You okay with that? Weren’t you planning to do club activities with her?”
What surprised me more was Jinuri’s reaction—or lack of one.
“I don’t mind. She said she wants to join here.”
Jinuri shrugged.
“I was just worried she’d be a burden to others. But as you can see—”
I followed her gaze.
Lee Sol was chewing jelly while hugging an armful of snacks.
When did she even grab all that?
“Am I a memwer now? Then I can eat whatever I want, right?”
— “No need to ask. I’m a member now, so I can eat freely.”
She looked like a greedy hamster, cheeks stuffed full.
“……Yeah. That kind of person.”
Jinuri sighed deeply.
Her gaze felt more like an older sister than a friend.
“……Are you really okay with this?”
She wasn’t worried about Lee Sol.
She was worried about me.
But I didn’t have a choice.
If we didn’t take her in, the club would shut down immediately.
“It can’t be helped.”
And just like that, Lee Sol joined the counseling club.
March.
The beginning of spring.
New buds sprouted on trees, and warm breezes started to blow.
Perfect weather for going out.
So where do Korean boys go most often on a day like this?
A PC bang.
Same for me.
“Ugh… haaah~”
I stretched and loosened my stiff body.
‘Those idiots left early because of academy…’
I clicked my tongue, thinking about my friends who ditched me.
They were the ones who invited me, yet they left first.
So I ended up playing alone.
“It’s fun after a while, but…”
I was getting bored.
Games are always more fun with others.
Time to head home.
I shut down the computer and got up.
Then—
— “Why is this damn game always like this?! Ah, shi—!”
“……”
That very familiar style of swearing hit my ears.
I stopped and looked around.
Not far away, someone sat with a hoodie pulled over their head.
No matter how I looked at it…
“…Shin Ayoung?”
“Eek?!”
At the sound of her name, she jolted up.
“I-I think you’ve got the wrong person…”
She tightened the hoodie strings.
Her face disappeared completely.
“……What are you doing?”
I stared at her, dumbfounded.
— “Wait… that voice…”
She slowly turned her head.
Then peeked out from under the hood.
“…Oh. It’s you. You scared me for nothing.”
She pulled the hood off like nothing happened.
“……”
Ever since that incident, it felt like she treated me worse than before.
Maybe it’s just my imagination.
“Why are you here?”
“…What, I can’t play games?”
“No, I mean why here? Your house is pretty far from here.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“…How do you know where I live?”
“Well, you’re famous. You were even on a variety show once, right?”
I didn’t know the exact unit, but I knew the building.
It was a really expensive apartment.
I remembered thinking I wanted to live there someday.
“Oh.”
She looked away awkwardly.
Seems like she forgot that part.
“So you like games?”
“You could say that… but my parents don’t like me going to PC bangs.”
“Ah…”
That explained it.
If others found out, it might reach her parents.
“Being a celebrity’s daughter sounds exhausting.”
“….”
She didn’t reply.
But her expression softened slightly, like she agreed.
“……”
Then—
“…Whoa, what was that just now?”
The words slipped out of my mouth.
Not in a good way.
Her play was so absurd I couldn’t help it.
Dying after a wall play? Seriously?
“……”
Her eyebrow twitched.
Her lips were smiling, but her eyes weren’t.
“…So you’re better?”
“…I’m not bad.”
The game she was playing was RUL.
The most popular game in Korea.
I wasn’t amazing, but I wasn’t bad either.
Still… probably better than her.
“Then sit.”
She pointed sharply to the seat next to her.
“…I don’t have time left.”
“I’ll pay. Sit.”
I gave in and sat down.
If I ran now, she’d probably chase me tomorrow.
“What’s your nickname?”
“Jungler Who Doesn’t Gank.”
“Wow… that’s such a lazy name.”
“…You’re not one to talk.”
Her nickname: Myeonghwa High Double Axe.
Hard to imagine she came up with that.
…Or maybe she did on purpose.
“Let’s bet. Wins and kills?”
“No reason to refuse.”
“Loser buys ice cream.”
Works for me. No way I’d lose.
I was already looking forward to it.
“Get your wallet ready. I’m having Baskin Robbins.”
“I’m getting Häagen-Dazs.”
……
Third game.
One thing we overlooked—
“Wait… how does this even happen?”
You have to win for the bet to count.
I stared blankly at the defeat screen.
It wasn’t just me.
“Trash game… all about teammates…”
— “Trash game… all about teammates…”
For the first time, her inner thoughts matched her expression perfectly.
In that sense, games are amazing.
“…One more?”
I hesitated.
“…Why aren’t you queuing?”
She urged me.
Looks like she wouldn’t stop until we won.
“……”
I hovered over the start button.
Can we even win like this?
No.
We needed a change.
“Let’s switch positions. You can play ADC, right? I’ll support.”
“…I can, but can you support?”
“I’m not bad.”
Originally, I didn’t plan to go this far.
But we had to win.
Bottom lane depends heavily on teamwork.
And I had a big advantage.
“……”
Game start.
Click. Click-click.
She was completely focused.
— “Is this a play?”
I heard her thoughts.
Before she acted, I spoke first.
“Too risky. Pull back and call jungle.”
“Okay.”
Our coordination improved instantly.
The laning phase tilted heavily in our favor.
Of course it did.
We moved like one body.
To the enemy, we probably looked perfectly synced.
“…Let’s just win this one.”
Eventually, a standoff at Baron.
I spotted an opening—
Flash—!
My engage started the fight.
“I’m going for ADC! ADC!”
“Got them!”
She secured the kill.
After that, it was over.
The enemy collapsed.
Respawn timers filled their screens.
“Can we end?”
“Even if we can’t, go Nexus!”
She rushed forward excitedly.
I followed.
“Hit tower!”
“End! Nexus!”
BOOOOM—
[Victory!]
The screen filled with blue light.
We both jumped up.
“Carryyyy—!”
“Waaah!”
We high-fived.
Enjoying the victory—
Then suddenly—
We realized how close we were.
“……”
“…Ahem.”
She stepped back awkwardly.
I sat back down.
“Shall we go?”
We finally won.
No reason to stay.
“Yeah, let’s go.”
“To Baskin Robbins.”
“…?”
I looked at her.
She pointed at the KDA.
Her ADC: 10/1/3
My support: 2/0/18
“……”
This girl…
She really didn’t let that slide.