Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Yoon Jia
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I pulled out my phone and opened the calendar app.
In truth, I had plenty of empty slots. If I just crammed my work into other days, I could make time anytime.
But my mind strongly rebelled against going out more than twice a week.
Ah. Of course, that excluded school.
Anyway, that's why I hadn't texted anyone this week.
I'd been putting off the girls who nagged me every day with excuses about being busy for the time being.
Let me rest at home for a bit, you guys.
And starting next week, I'd use the midterm exams as an excuse to slack off some more.
It felt like my outside activities had spiked since starting high school.
I used to think going out once a month was a lot for me.
The kids getting more active after becoming high schoolers must be the original story's influence... No, I'd decided to stop thinking about the original plot.
Either way, the point is this week passed peacefully.
Though I was a bit tired from bunching up work at night to prepare for the future.
And... today was the second outing I'd allowed myself this week.
"Is Jia already there waiting?"
Lee Sea's question was answered by Yoon Jiu.
"Yeah. Says she's at the cafe here."
We were all walking home from school together.
To help Yoon Jia, who didn't know Seong Yurin and Hong Yeonseo, get acquainted and friendly, we'd set this up.
If we were going to keep hanging out closely in the future, we'd definitely run into each other often. Better to exchange names ahead of time. Plus, Lee Soyun's birthday was coming up soon.
Today, too, we headed downtown amid stares from various people.
A cafe in the heart of downtown. It was the one we'd stopped by after an escape room before. Among nearby cafes, it was on the larger side.
As we entered the cafe, a girl who spotted us waved vigorously.
A girl with a mischievous face. Yoon Jiu's little sister, Yoon Jia.
With her long straight hair, she was the classic cat-like beauty—a girl like a winning lottery ticket with a bright future guaranteed.
Being the protagonist Yoon Jiu's sister and all. Genes don't lie.
"Oppa, over here~"
I approached as Yoon Jia called out to me.
Oppa? For Yoon Jiu?
Yoon Jia only called Yoon Jiu "oppa" back in elementary school. Once she got a bit older, she switched to "hey" or just "Yoon Jiu."
"Wait long?"
"Hehe. Just got here."
After greeting Yoon Jia, I turned to introduce Seong Yurin and Hong Yeonseo.
But including those two, Lee Sea and Lee Soyun—all four were huddled together whispering about something.
"What're you guys doing?"
At my call, they straightened up like nothing was happening.
"Let's grab drinks first and chat."
We agreed with Yoon Jiu and each picked something to drink. For the record, Lee Sea paid with the group account debit card.
Yeah, that group account we'd talked about at the study session—she'd actually set it up.
She gave each of us our own cards too, but she handles these things so meticulously. Reliable as ever.
Come to think of it, Seong Yurin had once—whether by mistake or on purpose—deposited a huge sum into the account, like adding a bunch of zeros.
She claimed she knew what she was doing, but we turned it down saying we were fine.
Because of that, we'd had to console a dejected Seong Yurin, who felt like she'd messed up again.
Before the drinks arrived, we moved to a spacious spot inside the cafe.
Once everyone settled, Yoon Jia's eyes sparkled as she looked at Seong Yurin and Hong Yeonseo.
After a moment, she bowed her head in greeting.
"Hello, unnies. I'm Yoon Jia, Yoon Jiu's little sister."
Yoon Jiu, listening from the side, lightly bonked her on the head.
"At least call me oppa out in public."
"Hmph. Whatever."
Hong Yeonseo giggled at the siblings' bickering, which seemed affectionate yet prickly.
"Oh. Yoon Jiu, your sister's a cutie. Hi, Jia~ I'm Hong Yeonseo. Ijin's bestie here~"
Why's she suddenly latching onto me like that?
For a split second, I imagined sharp glares from the others. But the vibe vanished quickly.
Reading the room after Hong Yeonseo's greeting, Seong Yurin gave a fairly polite one to the younger girl.
"Hi. I'm Seong Yurin. Looking forward to hanging out."
Yoon Jia bowed back in response.
"So, how'd you all get close with these two unnies?"
Yoon Jia turned to me with her question.
"Uh... we just chatted by chance on entrance ceremony day?"
Thinking back, both Seong Yurin and Hong Yeonseo had approached us from day one to get friendly.
"By chance... Hmm."
Mid-greetings, the buzzer rang, and Lee Sea and Lee Soyun, seated nearer the counter, fetched the drinks.
After that, we spent time chatting idly.
Yoon Jia was aiming for Dawn High too, so we swapped stories about that.
Sensing quite some time had passed, I brought up wrapping up.
"Anyway, hope you all get along well—Jia, you guys too. We'll see each other plenty."
"...Jia?"
Seong Yurin's mutter echoed in the silence.
As everyone looked her way, she hung her head.
"Ah, no. It's just... Ijin doesn't call me or us that casually..."
Oh. She was paying attention to that?
The other girls nodded at Seong Yurin's words, chiming in.
"Yeah. Back in the day, you'd just use our names so friendly."
"Now you add the family name..."
"Huh? Really? I thought you'd always called us that way."
I got why Lee Sea and Lee Soyun said that. I'd done it on purpose to keep some distance.
We'd been casual as kids, but around high school entrance, I'd started using full names deliberately. Because of the original story.
Plus, acting too buddy-buddy with you all might draw the rest of the class clinging on—for intros or whatever reasons.
Still, if they'd noticed and minded, maybe it was time to go back to normal.
"Just felt like changing things up after starting high school. No big reason, so don't overthink it."
I mumbled an excuse and stood.
"Alright, let's grab dinner. You three protagonists pick what."
The girls shot me annoyed looks for the abrupt topic shift, sighed deeply, then discussed among themselves.
Don't sigh so much, you'll jinx yourselves.
Off from the five girls' dinner debate, I spotted Yoon Jiu sucking on his drink alone.
He'd usually wedge himself in there, so sitting apart was odd. I called out.
"Hey. Yoon Jiu."
"What."
"No preference on food? What's up with you."
He glanced at the girls, twitched his brow, then looked away.
"Uh... anything's fine for me."
Lately, this guy had these moments where his energy dipped. Weirdly.
Soon after, the girls wrapped up, turning back to us.
"Braised chicken!"
"...Braised chicken?"
I asked with puzzled curiosity, and Lee Soyun replied.
"Yeah. The black one!"
"Ah, the sweet soy sauce kind."
For a second, I'd pictured spicy red braised chicken and wondered at the unexpected pick.
Guess the girls wanted the sweet black version.
I prefer the red one.
...I swallowed that mood-killing thought. Even an asocial guy like me has that much sense.
"Okay. Let's go!"
We followed the excited Hong Yeonseo to the new spot.
Later, Yoon Jia gawked at Hong Yeonseo's massive appetite—a minor episode—but the meetup ended successfully, everyone parting with smiles.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, a girls' talk the boys were oblivious to.
The four girls, forming a temporary alliance, gathered to chat.
Hong Yeonseo, looking serious, eyed Lee Sea and spoke.
"Sea, Jia... it's what I think, right?"
"...Yeah. Probably, Jia likes Ijin too."
"Haa. Seo Ijin, you sinful guy. Daring to flirt with me, Lady Hong Yeonseo, and having this many other girls."
Lee Soyun, listening quietly, murmured.
"Doesn't seem like Ijin ever really flirted with you though..."
"Hey! Foul player Lee Soyun. The sinner stays silent~"
"Eek..."
"S-Soyun's just anxious, that's all."
Lee Sea asked Seong Yurin, who was defending her.
"What about you, Yurin?"
"I-I'm not... like that..."
Seong Yurin tried hiding her feelings in her reply. Hong Yeonseo scolded her.
"Yurin, no take-backs later, okay?"
"A-Ah..."
"Yeonseo, ease up."
"Hey, Lee Sea. Aren't you mad? I'm not the one who should be saying this—you are."
Thanks to Seong Yurin's confession, Hong Yeonseo and Lee Soyun had learned the full story of her fight with Lee Sea.
Afterward, especially Hong Yeonseo had been furious at Seong Yurin. To her, it was utterly incomprehensible behavior.
Lee Soyun had scolded her too, but Hong Yeonseo's anger was fiercer, so she'd ended up defending Seong Yurin.
If Lee Sea and Lee Soyun hadn't mediated so hard, and if Seong Yurin hadn't sincerely repented...
They might not be as close as they were now. A bit of lingering resentment remained.
"I was mad... but it's better now."
"Ugh. Seriously. Too nice for your own good. It's a disease. A disease."
"Ahaha... Still, thanks to Yurin, I resolved to express my feelings clearly too. Hate you but grateful."
"Y-Yeah. Yeonseo, don't be too harsh on Yurin... she's that sorry."
As Lee Sea and Lee Soyun comforted Seong Yurin, Hong Yeonseo crossed her arms and looked away.
"Hmph. You guys are too soft. I'll forgive Ijin if he knows everything and forgives me. Whatever."
"...Right. I'll tell Ijin and Jiu soon. Latest by end of first semester."
The three fell silent at Lee Sea's words.
Then, they all swallowed hard.
They knew.
With Lee Sea's actions, big changes loomed for their relationships with Seo Ijin and Yoon Jiu.
They prayed those changes would be positive.
That Seo Ijin would notice their feelings.
And that Yoon Jiu wouldn't be too hurt by Lee Sea's words. Hopefully his feelings for her were light ones.
The four girls shared that wish.
To them, Seo Ijin seemed to want to keep his close bond with Yoon Jiu.
After a pause, Hong Yeonseo broke the silence with a mutter.
"Yoon Jiu's kinda pitiful too... Or not? He texts that celeb from the club a lot, so he's fine probably."
The other three quietly watched her, then nodded faintly and sighed.