Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Daily Life
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Eventually, the offline meetup participation went according to the Club President's wishes.
While I did agree that gaining experience cosplaying in front of strangers was necessary, now that it was right in front of me, a fuzzy regret bubbled up inside for even agreeing to it in the first place.
Still, I couldn't go back on my word now that I'd given it.
And so, our Subculture Club's weekend gathering was set.
I'd thought at first it would just be me and the Club President, but since we had to transport the costumes anyway, she suggested we all go together, and full participation was decided.
After the meeting wrapped up, Yuseol and I got started on the illustrations needed for the merch production.
"Senior, our art styles are pretty similar, huh?"
"W-Well... I've been studying illustration using your drawings..."
"...Ah."
By the way, I learned that if Yuseol put her mind to it, she could stand in for me with how similar her style was to mine.
It felt strangely bittersweet... Was I supposed to be happy about that, or embarrassed?
I probably couldn't ask her for help when I got busy, huh?
"For now, just practice drawing by hand. We can do the real work on the computer later. Or sketch the basics on paper, scan it, and finish digitally... Oh, do you have a tablet at home?"
"Yeah, of course!"
Thank goodness Yuseol had a tablet.
These kinds of projects were just more convenient with computer graphics all around.
Anyway, circling back to the art style thing.
Thanks to Yuseol's similar style, I could give her the kind of advice she was hoping for.
Not that it was much more than chit-chat, since her skills were surprisingly advanced.
She didn't have much experience with illustrations specifically, but she'd been immersed in art longer than I had, so I actually learned a lot from her too.
Up until now, I'd been drawing through sheer trial and error, filling in composition and anatomy gaps with experience and references.
So her formal art theory explanations were a huge help.
If I had to say what I could teach her, it was maybe just that my drawing speed was way faster.
If Yuseol was the type to meticulously level the ground, lay rebar, and build a solid structure for her drawings...
I was more like the guy hauling in a prefab building and slapping it together.
She said she could never keep up with my method and gave up trying.
Conversely, her approach was tough for me too.
Every artist has their own style, right?
Before I knew it, it was time to head home.
Yuseol stared at me in dismay after I'd churned out four rough illustration drafts in just over two hours.
"There's no way I could ever do that..."
"Haha..."
I let out an awkward laugh.
Whatever I said would probably just sound like empty reassurance to her.
"Great job, Seol, Junior."
The Club President approached us. She'd been quietly surfing the net on her laptop while we worked.
Yuseol and I nodded back in greeting, but the Club President hesitated, glancing at me.
"Junior, I've been thinking..."
"Yeah?"
I wondered what had her fumbling for words like that.
She quickly cleared it up.
"You don't usually wear makeup, right?"
"...Yeah, pretty much? Just lotion and cream."
A wave of unease washed over me.
This feeling reminded me of back when the Club President threw her tantrum insisting I cosplay.
"Well, for this cosplay, how about trying a bit of makeup...?"
"No."
"Eek."
Her face went blank at my firm refusal.
What was this about makeup...?
In two lifetimes, over forty years of living, I'd never once put anything on my face.
"But these days, even guys wear makeup a lot, and since you'll be in front of people..."
"Don't wanna."
"Argh."
Yuseol giggled at our not-quite-argument.
"Don't hate it that much. It's not like we're slathering it on thick to look weird. Just basic stuff."
"...Even that's too stuffy for me."
"Ughhh, Juniioor!"
Oh.
Here we go again...
"Waaah~ Just once. Just on the day of the event~"
Sure enough, the Club President switched into toddler mode and started whining.
I clutched my aching head.
...Someone save me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day.
We were sitting around during lunch as usual, chatting idly while eating.
Well, actually, there was one difference from normal.
Maybe because the distance between Yoon Jiu, Lee Sea, and Hong Yeonseo had grown, Yoon Jiu spent less time hanging out with us.
As a result, he started eating lunch with other kids during this time.
Lee Soyun and Seong Yurin acted like they'd seen it coming.
I felt a little bitter about it too.
On top of that, the friends he was eating with were the ones from class with a slightly delinquent vibe, which made me even more uneasy.
You know, the guys I'd mentioned once or twice before.
I hoped Yoon Jiu wouldn't get into any big trouble.
I hoped he'd get over the heartbreak as best he could.
I didn't say anything since it felt awkward coming from me.
Even if only I knew, from a certain angle, it was like I'd stolen his love interest.
Of course, in this world, my presence had prevented the relationship from even starting, but that's how my heart felt.
The other girls had never liked Yoon Jiu, but from his perspective, it must feel like the girl he liked was snatched away.
That's just how one-sided crushes work.
And if the person who stole that crush tried lecturing him, even I'd want to punch them.
"So, Ijin, you not doing any individual events?"
Lee Sea's question snapped me out of my thoughts midway through the meal.
As I'd mentioned before, with the sports day coming up, each class was collecting sign-ups for individual events.
Dawn High was a huge school, so the sports day spanned two days with a ton of events.
"Not really thinking about anything besides the group ones..."
"Aw, what a waste of your athletic talent."
Hong Yeonseo teased playfully.
Such half-hearted prodding wouldn't work on me.
"There are over five group events already. Can't handle more."
Plus, even if I entered an individual event, I couldn't beat the monsters specialized in it.
Dawn High's sports teams weren't pushovers.
Sure, outliers like Hong Yeonseo were rare, but the overall level was high.
It's not for nothing that Dawn High always ranked top in nationals.
All the country's talents flocked here.
"What about you? You're the one with real athletic skills."
"Hmm~ Wanna do table tennis doubles with me?"
"Pass."
Table tennis at sports day? They really had everything.
Lee Sea and Lee Soyun watched our exchange with envy.
The two of them weren't great at sports, so even group event practices were wearing them out.
Lee Sea, Lee Soyun, Hong Yeonseo...
Come to think of it, Seong Yurin was pretty flexible and had good stamina too.
"What about you?"
"...I need more time for studying, so not really interested."
Of course.
PE was just a means to stay healthy for her.
"Lame."
Hong Yeonseo puffed her cheeks like she was sulking.
Couldn't be helped. Aside from her, the other four of us preferred indoor activities.
If Yoon Jiu were here, maybe, but ever since things got awkward between those two, that combo was off the table.
The sports day talk wrapped up like that, we finished eating, and headed back to class.
I brushed my teeth and was half-lying at my desk, killing time during lunch break.
"Oh yeah, Seo Ijin! Remember that promise from before?"
Hong Yeonseo came over from her seat.
"...Promise?"
I racked my brain after her reminder, but nothing came up.
...Didn't we wrap up the outing promise last Saturday?
"Ugh. You went home too early on Saturday, so we said we'd hang out again later."
"Oh, right."
Now that she mentioned it, yeah.
It had been a bit embarrassing back then... Even thinking about it now made my face heat up a little.
We hadn't talked much the past few days, but I figured I should sort out my relationships with the girls soon.
Dragging it out like this just made me look like a guy playing the field, even if I wasn't.
Even if this world allowed polygamy.
"Um, this weekend's kinda busy for me."
Still, I couldn't keep her promise right now.
The club had prior plans this weekend.
...Not that I was thrilled about them.
"Hmph. You're always home."
"...Usually, yeah, but this weekend I really do have plans."
Once I said that much, Hong Yeonseo realized I was telling the truth and dropped the pout.
Then she looked curious.
"What is it? Other girls?"
She glanced at the empty seats of the others, who were off at the canteen.
"Nah. Club stuff."
"Club? You mean... the Subculture Club?"
She tilted her head.
What's a subculture club even?
It wasn't like I was ashamed...
...But explaining it myself felt kinda weird.
Did that make it shameful?