Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Hong Yeonseo #1
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A Friday, one week before Lee Sea's birthday.
During lunchtime, we were all gathered together, eating as a group.
"You guys didn't forget about tomorrow, right?"
Hong Yeonseo, having polished off her lunch first as usual, spoke up.
"Of course not."
Everyone except me nodded in unison.
Hold on.
What the heck.
I nodded along, picking up on the cue, but maybe I was a bit slow because Hong Yeonseo turned to look at me.
"Seo Ijin!"
"Yeah, what's up."
My voice trembled as I instinctively sensed I'd been caught.
"What's tomorrow?"
"......"
I kept my head down and shoveled the rest of my pork stir-fry rice bowl into my mouth.
"Ugh... Tomorrow's my first preliminary match in the tournament. I told you to come cheer me on, you dummy!"
"Oh. Right."
Yeah, there was that.
"Show some interest in your friends."
"I put it on my calendar. I just forgot for a sec."
I pointed at my phone as I said it.
Lee Sea, who'd been watching us bicker, chimed in.
"To be fair, Jin's never completely forgotten something like this or failed to follow through."
Yoon Jiu added his two cents too.
"Yeah, that's true. He's always been lazy about everything since we were kids, but when it counts, he gets it done right."
Now I had two allies on my side. Heh heh.
Hong Yeonseo shot a cold glare at me as my shoulders lifted smugly.
"Even if I'd mentioned it while running around the neighborhood this morning, you probably would've played dumb."
"No way."
Come to think of it, she's coming out tomorrow too?
I figured she'd be too busy on match day to run.
As I voiced my question, Hong Yeonseo explained.
"We all prep by 9 anyway and head to school, then take the school bus together."
After saying that, she paused as if remembering something and spoke up again.
"How are you guys getting there? Subway?"
"Probably."
Yoon Jiu confirmed it casually.
"Subway..."
Suddenly, Seong Yurin, who'd been quietly eating, muttered under her breath.
Lee Soyun, sitting next to her, tilted her head with a question mark.
"Yurin? What's wrong?"
"Oh, no. It's nothing. Really."
Seong Yurin hesitated for a moment, her expression conflicted, then averted her gaze from the five pairs of eyes on her and continued softly.
"It's just... I've never ridden the subway before..."
"What?"
We all gasped in surprise.
What was that? Was she secretly some elite heiress or something?
That would explain her refined air.
Come to think of it, even her usual training clothes seemed like designer labels.
"For real? Never? What about buses?"
"Buses... well, VIP escort vehicles or something like that..."
Seong Yurin, her cool demeanor shattered, stuttered in full socially awkward mode.
We stared at her in shock, jaws dropped, and she hurriedly clarified.
"I-It's not like I was hiding it on purpose or trying to deceive you guys or feel superior or anything! I just worried that if you found out, you'd feel awkward around me and we'd drift apart... Ugh. I was planning to tell you soon anyway..."
"Calm down. We're just surprised, that's all."
I spoke calmly to soothe her spiraling panic.
"Makes sense. It's not something that'd come between us."
"Yeah! We want to stay close with you, Yurin."
Lee Sea backed me up.
Seong Yurin let out a relieved sigh, patting her chest.
"G-Good..."
"Whoa, Seong Yurin suddenly looks even cooler."
Hong Yeonseo—who I thought didn't get along with her—eyed her with sparkling admiration.
"Just treat me the same as always..."
"Sure thing. Got it, Lady Yurin~"
"S-Stop teasing me!"
Seong Yurin raised her voice unusually loud.
Hong Yeonseo's probably the best at drawing that kind of volume out of her.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next morning.
The sky looked ominous.
But it wasn't about to pour just yet.
I checked the group chat—both were coming—so I got ready and headed to our meeting spot.
After our run, while catching our breath, I looked up at the thickening air and darkening sky.
"Weather feels off."
"Yeah."
"I checked the forecast before heading out this morning. Rain starts in the afternoon."
Hong Yeonseo sighed deeply at Seong Yurin's words.
"It'll be raining by the time we head home. I hate rain."
Really? I kinda like it.
But only when I'm indoors, of course.
"Tch. I was gonna hang out with you guys after the match. Rain makes everything sticky."
"No afterparty or anything?"
"There is, but it's optional. And with you guys cheering me on, how could I just leave?"
Hmm. Yeah, that tracks.
That'd be rude otherwise.
We sat on a bench, the three of us.
Hong Yeonseo checked her watch and stood up.
"Gotta head out. Need to shower and prep quick."
We waved her off.
"Yeah. Be safe. See you at the venue."
"Later."
"Okay! Bye-bye~"
I turned from her retreating figure to face Seong Yurin.
"We should head back too."
"Yeah."
I stood, dusting off my butt.
...My gaze dropped instinctively, landing on Seong Yurin's rear for a split second.
Luckily, she didn't notice.
'What the hell's wrong with me.'
All the heroines are stunning, but...
I've gotten used to Lee Sea and Lee Soyun somewhat, and I don't interact much with Hong Yeonseo anyway.
But Seong Yurin's beauty? Still not immune.
Especially when it's just us two. Makes me hyper-aware.
"What's up? Not going?"
Damn. Guess I zoned out.
"Yeah, let's go."
I feigned nonchalance and started walking naturally.
For a total loner virgin like me, hanging with you girls is way too much...
We parted ways in front of my house.
I'd heard on day one that her place was a bit farther.
At first, I thought as a guy I should walk her home, but she refused so firmly that now I just accept it.
Oh right, next week we're doing Lee Sea's birthday party at Seong Yurin's house.
Seong Yurin's place, huh.
Fueled by her recent elite background reveal, my mind conjured up a massive mansion with sprawling gardens.
After indulging in that pointless fantasy for a bit, I snapped out of it and hurried to get ready.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I arrived at the subway station right on time, last as usual.
Everyone else was dressed up cute.
Even in the overcast daylight, they brightened up the dim world around them.
"Why do you guys always show up so early?"
Yoon Jiu teased me.
"You show up a bit before the agreed time."
Hey, I was early too.
"I got here 15 minutes ahead and you're all already waiting."
"Then leave 30 minutes early next time."
"Waste of time."
"Heh heh."
After some light banter, we headed to board the subway.
"Everyone bring umbrellas?"
Despite Seong Yurin's morning forecast alert in the chat, I only spotted Yoon Jiu's long umbrella.
"Yeah, we brought compact ones."
The girls had folding umbrellas tucked in their bags.
"Guess I'm the only one with a full-size."
"Those are a pain to carry around."
Yoon Jiu had his bag on.
Not wanting to lug mine, I slipped my compact umbrella into his bag.
"Nothing's a hassle for you, huh..."
Maybe not.
As I pondered Yoon Jiu's jab seriously, we reached the platform.
"Oh yeah, Seong Yurin. You don't have a transit card."
"Oh. Yeah... Was gonna get one now."
"Here, use this."
I pulled the rechargeable transit card I'd grabbed from home out of my wallet and handed it to her.
"Huh?"
"It was mine, but I switched to a new one and stopped using it. Here, it's got money on it."
"Th-Thank you."
She accepted it politely with both hands.
"Ooh, Seo Ijin. Did you bring it just for her?"
Lee Sea approached me with a playful tone and grin.
"Just had a spare."
"Acting all shy. You're so thoughtful sometimes."
Lee Sea smiled softly and took Seong Yurin's hand, guiding her.
"Okay! Just tap it here and go through."
"O-Oh."
Yoon Jiu and Lee Soyun chuckled at Seong Yurin's wide-eyed wonder over something so mundane.
"Ugh. D-Don't laugh."
"Pfft. Sorry, not mocking you. It's just cute."
"Totally. Heh heh."
Face flushed, Seong Yurin hurried inside and beckoned us impatiently.
We tapped our cards in a line and followed them.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Maybe because of the weather or the early hour,
the subway car was pretty empty despite it being the weekend.
Just two people at the opposite end from us,
so we sat comfortably and chatted idly.
"It's shaking!"
Lee Soyun soothed a startled Seong Yurin across from us.
I leaned against the corner seat, with Lee Sea and Yoon Jiu squeezed in beside me.
"How many stops?"
"Ten. Exit 4, then straight ahead to the center—gym's right there."
"Got it."
Lee Sea handles all the details like schedules, routes, and locations whenever we go out. Super convenient.
"Guess I'll scout some restaurants then."
Yoon Jiu, who'd been quiet, pulled out his phone.
"Oh, I found a few yesterday. Uploading to the chat now. Pick from these."
I peeked over her shoulder at the restaurant pics she was posting.
"That one. Western food look good?"
One photo jumped out at me amid the bunch.
"This place? Heh heh. I was thinking the same. Great minds, huh?"
She turned to me with a shy smile.
"Uh, yeah. Guess so."
Hard to meet her eyes like that.
This girl occasionally pierces my beauty immunity too.
"Lemme see. This one?"
Yoon Jiu pocketed his phone and leaned in to check hers.
"Yeah. Highest rating too."
"Looks solid."
The two across from us nodded right away when we asked.
"Sounds good to me."
"Yeah, me too."
"Then it's settled once Hong Yeonseo approves."
Lunch decided smoothly, we drew closer to our destination.