Extra's Survival Strategy
This world's genre is romantic comedy. All sorts of coincidences and events explode around the protagonist. The closer you get to that central axis, the more exhausting daily life becomes, and the extra's existence crumbles.
That was the absolute law of this world as I'd figured it out. In the most humiliating way possible.
The day after the entrance ceremony. I took a small breath as I pushed open the door to Class 1-2 at Seonghyeon High School.
"Hey, isn't that the guy from the end of the line yesterday?"
"Who? ...Oh, him? Wow, he's super tall up close."
"Right? His proportions are insane. If he just took off those glasses, it'd be a total vibe change?"
In that brief moment walking to my seat, I felt several glances from around the classroom. The sappy chats from last night's broadcast flashed through my mind.
'Yeah, I am kinda tall.'
I'd had to up my uniform size one more time around enrollment. Every time I looked in the mirror, I got the feeling I was a bit handsome, but not enough to step outside the extra category.
But even these looks were a danger signal to me. I couldn't stand out. To avoid the protagonists' radar, I had to be thoroughly ordinary.
I sprang into action right away. If I didn't draw attention, that was that. To hide as an extra, I needed to blend into a group of extras.
"Hey."
I casually greeted the guy next to my seat, a perfectly unremarkable bespectacled dude.
"Oh? Uh, hey."
"You see the Korean lit teacher this morning? Assignment's due today, right?"
"Probably? I haven't turned mine in yet either."
"Good. I thought I was the only one."
A light laugh and some easy chit-chat, and in under a minute, the topic shifted to games and cafeteria grub. A couple other guys nearby joined in—perfect.
Just like that, I'd melted into 'Class 1-2 Boys Group A' and secured my camouflage.
Then the front door opened, and the classroom atmosphere brightened instantly. It was the original story's male lead, Kang Min-woo.
Unlike yesterday when Yoon Seo-ah entered and it went dead quiet like someone dumped cold water, his arrival with that trademark friendly smile brought the energy right up.
Every step he took drew eyes from guys and girls alike. That insane affinity anyone would like him—that was the 'protagonist's privilege' this world granted him.
I sidelined a glance to check the situation and hunkered down in the group. He'd head to the popular kids' circle, far from us. Or so I thought.
"Hey? You guys talking about that game from yesterday?"
My prediction missed the mark. Kang Min-woo approached our group with his usual upbeat grin.
The bespectacled guy next to me and the other friends stiffened up. The classic extra reaction, overwhelmed by the protagonist's aura.
"I was playing it last night and dropped ranks. What's your tier?"
He slid right in without a hint of awkwardness, his gaze sweeping our group—then locking dead on me.
"Oh, hey! You were checking out the Broadcast Club recruitment poster yesterday, right? I'm interested too. Wanna join together—"
'...Yesterday's Broadcast Club poster?'
Me seeing that poster? It was just a one-second glance by pure chance passing the hallway bulletin board on my way home. In all that entrance-day chaos and crowds, he spotted me?
If I got tangled here, I'd land the exhausting supporting role of 'Protagonist's Close Friend A.'
Don't panic. Instead, I flashed a soft, natural smile.
"Ah, sorry."
My firm rejection cut Kang Min-woo off mid-sentence.
"I just saw it 'cause the design was weird. After-school academy takes all my time, so clubs are out."
A solid excuse. Drew the line without embarrassing him. But I couldn't stop there. Had to redirect the attention.
I nodded toward the front of the class and continued smoothly. "Oh, by the way. I think the class rep was looking for you earlier? Something about filling out a roster."
"...Huh?"
Kang Min-woo blinked a couple times. His easy smile froze. Like he'd never been rejected before in his life.
The male lead walks around with universal likeability as a passive skill. Extras slapping away his hand? That defies this world's natural order.
Silence fell. The bespectacled guy and other extras next to me read the room and just watched nervously.
"Ah, got it?"
Kang Min-woo chuckled again. But it felt different. Eyes like he'd spotted an intriguing toy.
"Too bad. We'll cross paths plenty even without a club."
He patted my shoulder lightly. "See you later. Definitely."
That 'definitely' carried some weird weight.
Only then did he turn away without lingering and head to the class rep.
"Whoa...."
The bespectacled guy next to me exhaled the breath he'd been holding and let out a quiet gasp.
"You don't get intimidated even by him? That aura was no joke."
"What aura?"
I shrugged it off like it was nothing. Hanging with that guy just brings exhaustion. All I'd done was protect my peaceful routine.
...That's what I wanted to believe.
But as I sat organizing my bag, I couldn't shake the unease. That last look from Kang Min-woo. It wasn't the gaze of someone who'd pegged me as 'Background Guy A.'
'No way.'
Did I think I was playing ordinary? Had my iron wall backfired, triggering that protagonist's interest in some twisted way?
All morning, I stayed on high alert. His social pull lived up to the hype. Between classes, he'd roam the room, drawing kids into his orbit like a whirlwind.
In that affinity storm, I kept my camouflage tight. Bantering lightly with the bespectacled extra crew. When his eyes flicked our way, I'd bury my head in my textbook or slip out to the bathroom.
Somehow, I made it to lunch. Scarfed down the cafeteria food, and with time left over, I headed somewhere quiet, away from prying eyes.
The Main Building Backyard, that secluded corner with the old bench. From my memory of the original story, it was a perfect blind spot—foot traffic sparse.
Ideal for an extra to kill time. I rounded the corner toward the bench.
"......"
And froze.
Someone was already there. Black hair fluttering lightly in the breeze. Sandwich untouched in her hand.
Yoon Seo-ah.
A scene from the original flashed in my brain. Lunchtime. Yoon Seo-ah skipping meals, sitting in the backyard. The male lead, Kang Min-woo, 'happening by' and approaching her.
'Ah.'
My mistake. This wasn't just a blind spot—it was a main event stage. Kang Min-woo could stroll in any second.
I turned to leave immediately.
Crunch.
Even being careful, I stepped on a dry leaf.
Yoon Seo-ah's head snapped toward me from the bench, our eyes meeting. Those middle-school eyes that used to pour contempt on me now widened in surprise. Caught off guard running into me here.
Not a guy she'd wanna see popping up. Understandable if she was pissed. But I wasn't letting "Don't get the wrong idea" slip out again.
Before she could speak, I beat her to it.
"Sorry to interrupt. Just passing through."
Dry, flat, emotionless. Her shoulders twitched at my words. She parted her lips like she wanted to say something, then spoke in a small, hesitant voice.
"Um, wait...."
I didn't listen. No reason to.
"I'll be gone quick. Don't mind me."
With that, I turned and bailed without looking back. Faster pace than usual to escape.
Heading down the hall to class, I clicked my tongue softly.
'Still reacting like that, huh.'
Freezing up whenever I got near. Clearly still hated me over middle school crap.
...Maybe that was for the best. Easier that way. At least Yoon Seo-ah was shoving me away hard.
If I could just dodge Kang Min-woo's curiosity, I'd be good.
Carrying that morning's fatigue, I headed home after school.
After school. Back home, showered, and slumped against the bed.
Normally I'd head to the park for guitar time, but today I was beat.
Kang Min-woo's curiosity. Yoon Seo-ah's frozen face in the backyard. A full day on edge had drained me dry.
I fired up my smartphone, mounted it on the rickety tripod. Skipped the guitar, just mic'd up, and hit [Go Live].
Camera showed only my masked face.
"Hey, streaming from my room today instead of busking."
A faceless radio show. Viewers hovering around 10 in this backwater stream. Still, a few loyal fans from yesterday's face-reveal hype trickled in with greetings.
The chat scrolled lightly, referencing yesterday's 'mask incident.' I laughed it off.
"No songs today. Just chit-chat. Yesterday was just 'cause it was hot."
I was bantering casually with viewers when a familiar nick popped up.
"Oh, hey. You dipped early yesterday, back today?"
I greeted her, and Snow_White typed back.
'Ah, perfect timing to step away.'
Explained why she was so quiet yesterday. Good for me, anyway. My face as internet fodder? Pass.
"Eh, nothing special. Filters did the work."
I brushed it off and queued up some chill indie recs in the background. Snow_White listened quietly for a bit, then cautiously dropped a long one.
Reading down the chat, my eyes narrowed unconsciously. Such a cliché story—felt too close to home.
Reading that, the backyard lunch scene overlapped perfectly. My obsessive wall-building, her freezing at the sight of me.
A twinge of sympathy mixed with eerie déjà vu. I sighed lightly and leaned into the mic.
"You wanna clear the misunderstanding?"
Time for tough love. For her sake—and to nail it down for myself.
"The bus has already left."
"The one who got hurt and walked away? They don't wanna reopen it."
I fiddled with an empty water bottle and drove it home. "So don't try some half-assed approach. Forcing it just tires everyone out."
Snow_White went silent. Even the lively chat hushed like they'd planned it.
Should've gotten the point after that harshness. I felt better without Yoon Seo-ah in sight, so same for her. Or close enough.
After a long quiet, Snow_White never replied.
"Eh, don't take it too hard. Relationships don't go your way, right?"
I tossed a light wrap-up, checked the time. Fatigue maxed out.
"That's it for today. Sleep well, everyone."
Quick goodbye, stream off. Confirmed the camera light died, then collapsed onto the bed.
A nagging grind, like mismatched gears. I shook my head to clear it.
...No reason to waver.