Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Sports Festival #1
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"What an incredibly busy day."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
I was walking through downtown alone with the Club President right now.
After grabbing a quick dinner at a restaurant near the station and seeing off Yu Seol—who lives in the dorms—the Vice President, and the Treasurer.
In the President's case, she lives in an apartment in the new town.
I'd heard it was a really expensive place...
No wonder the subtle air of refinement emanating from her wasn't just for show.
Everything in the world has a reason.
"Junior. Thanks for going along with my selfish whims today."
"No big deal. It was fun for me too—a totally new experience."
"I'm really glad to hear you say that."
I always got thrown off by the President's boldness, but overall, I figured club activities were turning out pretty fun.
Drawing was something I did every day anyway, and if all we did was read comics in the clubroom, it might've gotten boring.
That was pretty much what I'd expected when I first joined the Subculture Club.
Still, cosplay—an experience I hadn't tried even in two lifetimes—was a hassle, sure, but fun too.
Unexpected perks from club activities weren't a bad thing at all.
Plus, I'd made some new connections.
I casually brushed my hand over the phone in my pocket.
It held Ms. Jena's number saved inside.
No telling when we'd cross paths again...
Actually, thinking about it, we'd probably meet once more before the cosplay contest.
Anyway, the point was, I'd met some great people.
"Last year, not a single new member joined the club, so you have no idea how thrilled I was when you signed up this year."
True enough.
The President, Vice President, and Treasurer were all third-years. Without me, the Subculture Club might've shut down next year.
Yu Seol had switched clubs because of me too, she'd said.
"Lucky break. I think I made a good choice joining too."
"Hehe. That's my junior."
The President gave me a soft smile of gratitude.
Then she looked away, clasped her hands behind her back, and continued.
"...Honestly, that might be why I was a bit harsh with you at first. We'd waited a whole year for a new member."
"You did have that side to you."
"Ugh... S-Sorry."
"Kidding. It was fine."
I let out a chuckle, and she sighed in relief.
"Even after we graduate, I hope we stay close."
"Of course."
...She was a valued client, after all.
We didn't see each other much outside club stuff anymore, but she'd been a huge help in keeping my art going.
Now it went beyond that—I knew she was just a good person, plain and simple.
The same went for the other members: the Vice President, Treasurer, and my senior Yu Seol.
I thought I'd matched her pace pretty slowly, but chatting as we walked, we arrived at our destination in no time.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ At the apartment complex entrance, I said goodbye to the President.
"See you Monday, Junior! Get home safe!"
"You too, President."
She waved energetically until I was out of sight.
After seeing her off, I headed home with her send-off still fresh.
The evening glow was fading beyond the horizon between sky and earth.
The days were getting longer as sunset crept later. Proof that summer was approaching.
Still, thanks to it, I didn't have to walk dark streets, which was nice.
The weekend had been pretty packed and tiring, but my steps felt light on the way home.
Here I was, living like a total social butterfly in high school...
Keep this up, and my MBTI might flip from I to E.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Sunday, I holed up at home reclaiming my true self.
E? Nah, I'm solidly I.
After spending every day out for the past couple weeks, lounging at home all day felt like bliss.
I really belong under the covers.
Not that I was totally slacking.
I had some backlog to clear—not urgent, but there—and sketches for festival merch to draw.
Still, the energy difference between home work and outside activities was night and day.
Monday morning, after a day like that, my skin was glowing and I was brimming with energy.
"...Hey, haven't you been smiling non-stop today?"
"Huh?"
"L-Look at this! Did you eat something weird?"
Hmm. Hong Yeonseo seemed extra dramatic today.
I felt the same as always, though.
"...N-No, nothing. Never mind."
Seong Yurin clenched and unclenched her fist in the air, like she wanted to say something but stopped.
"What? Why stop mid-sentence? Hehehe."
"Ugh... Uh, let's run."
Right, time to run.
I finished warming up quick and started stepping in place to loosen up.
Once my body felt good, I kicked off into a jog—and it felt like I was flying.
Condition was peak today.
"Ugh, whatever. She'll be fine at school..."
"Mm..."
I heard some grumbling from behind, but that wasn't important now.
I pumped my legs harder to pick up speed.
"H-Hey! Wait up!"
...In the end, I went full sprint and got scolded by Hong Yeonseo.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Morning~ Did you all have a good weekend? You know Thursday and Friday this week are the sports festival, right? From today, afternoon classes will be for team event practice."
Homeroom time.
Teacher Jeong Chaeyeon announced details for the midweek sports festival.
Until last week, we'd borrowed PE time for team practices, but with only days left, they were clearing whole afternoons now.
"Oh! And no one's signed up yet for the three-person four-legged relay? Anyone want to? We need at least one team."
The class just murmured without committing—no teams locked in.
"I'd like volunteers by lunch. Talk it over with friends and decide. If no one steps up today, I might have to pick randomly. Class President, let me know if anyone signs up."
"Yes, ma'am."
Homeroom wrapped up with her well-wishes for diligent studies.
As soon as the teacher left, Hong Yeonseo bolted from her seat to mine.
"Ijin! Let's do the three-person four-legged relay!"
"...Huh?"
I deflated for a sec, not matching her energy.
Hong Yeonseo kept going, eyes on me.
"It's not that tough, right? We're all athletic, run together every morning so our rhythm syncs perfectly. We could win for sure."
"Even if we win our leg, it's a relay—doesn't guarantee overall victory."
I'd heard teams from different classes link up for the relay.
"Still! Boosts our odds, doesn't it?"
"Fair point."
Hmm... three-person four-legged...
I hadn't wanted any individual events, but I'd felt a bit bad about not contributing to the class.
A run might be okay.
"If we do it, who's the third?"
Their eyes snapped to me the second I finished.
Lee Sea, Lee Soyun, and Seong Yurin glanced at me, then each other, silently negotiating with darting looks.
"...Hold up. Soyun, you're kinda...
"W-What!? Why?!"
I cut through the girls' staring contest, and Lee Soyun lunged, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me.
"Your stride doesn't match..."
"Ugh."
She froze at my words.
Physical limits, y'know...
Tiny Lee Soyun naturally had short legs too.
No matter how hard she stretched, she couldn't keep up with me and Hong Yeonseo's strides.
"Ugh. Can't be helped..."
She conceded and bowed out, leaving Lee Sea and Seong Yurin.
Hmm... Logically, Seong Yurin made sense.
She ran with me and Hong Yeonseo mornings, better reflexes than Lee Sea too.
Lee Sea eyed us warily but puffed her cheeks, knowing it—she dropped out.
"Yes! So it's us three in the race?"
With deliberations over, Hong Yeonseo beamed.
She loved any sport, so just competing made her happy.
"No mixed-gender rules?"
"Nope. I saw the event guide—mixed teams are fine."
Lee Sea answered my question.
I nodded and asked her a favor.
"Cool. Tell the teacher it's us three."
"...Tch. Fine."
Lee Sea still seemed a tad reluctant but headed out.
Plenty of time before first period, so off to the teacher now.
"By the way, didn't you say no sports festival 'cause of studying?"
"...Huh?"
Seong Yurin blanked, caught off guard.
She shook it off, waving her head and mumbling excuses.
"R-Running's fine. I do it mornings anyway."
Ah, gotcha.
I grinned, and she groaned heading back to her seat.
Teasing her never gets old.
Everyone settled in, and Lee Soyun plopped beside me, voice pouty.
"I wanted to do it too."
"Sorry. No helping it."
"Hmph. I know."
She knew it was impossible, which made her madder.
Gotta buy her something from the vending machine later to cheer her up.