A Journey Home Filled with Laughter
Riha Side.
Aju is fundamentally a gentle soul. But she is by no means passive or weak. I know that better than anyone.
It would be impossible for me to see her as weak. Even after losing her parents at a young age, she kept smiling and moved forward while supporting each other with Daeho.
That same Aju.
“Why...”
Why was she making an expression like that?
I had been waiting for her at the school gate, just like yesterday. Unlike yesterday, I spotted her coming out of the school building right as the students were pouring out.
Suddenly her steps slowed. She hung her head, and her face grew terribly dark.
And I saw it clearly. The girls who kept sneaking glances at her and whispering among themselves.
Was it because of them? Was that why Aju looked like this...?
It might not be. There was a good chance I was overthinking it. But.
“Aju!”
Honestly, none of that mattered.
“Aju~~!”
I called her name and dashed across the gate onto school grounds. Every student’s eyes snapped toward me. The girls who had been giggling at Aju moments earlier now stared at me in shock.
“Riha oppa...”
Aju was looking at me with a surprised face too.
“What? Why do you look so shocked?”
“Ah, um, that’s...”
“Hahaha, forget it. Let’s head home. Ah, give me your bag.”
“Huh? Huh? Ah...”
She still hadn’t processed the situation. I took the bag from a bewildered Aju and finally looked at her as she lifted her head.
Both hands clasped in front of her chest, legs pressed together. Still so timid...
“...Hey, who’s that?”
“Her boyfriend... maybe?”
From where we stood, I could hear voices whispering—just loud enough to catch. Actually, they were practically saying it out loud.
I only turned my head toward the sound and fixed my gaze there.
“...”
Without a word, I simply glared at those girls. I wasn’t trying to threaten them. It was just... something I needed to remember.
I had to memorize the faces of the ones making Aju suffer.
“!” “!!”
Of course, contrary to my intention, the few girls whose eyes met mine froze, clutching each other in tension. After confirming that, I scanned the area with the same look in case there were more like them.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Those who met my eyes quickly turned away, pretending they knew nothing. Some of them probably really didn’t know anything.
However... at least the ones who turned their heads in fear the moment our eyes met were definitely not completely innocent.
“Tsk.”
Part of me wanted to raise hell right there, but... unfortunately, that could cause a serious problem. Actually, the problem itself wasn’t the issue.
The problem was it becoming ‘a completely meaningless problem.’
“Aju.”
“...Yes, Riha oppa.”
“Want me to carry you like old times?”
“Yes... Yes!?”
“Okay, you just said yes.”
“Ah, no. Riha oppa, that’s not what I—kyaa!”
I didn’t miss her answer and immediately acted. I slipped one arm under both her legs and broke her balance. A short scream escaped her, but my other arm caught her upper body, holding her securely against me. The scream quickly faded.
“Ah, so this is what holding Aju looks like?”
“Ah... um...”
In a situation where every student’s eyes were glued to us, Aju—suddenly held in my arms—had turned bright red and was stuttering. She couldn’t even properly register my heartfelt joke.
“Doing it like this... is ‘hugging Aju,’ right?”
“Huh? Ah, yes...”
“No, that’s not what I meant...”
“...Hm?”
She still didn’t get it.
Of course. A joke always dies the moment I have to explain it...
“This isn’t a piggyback ride... it’s ‘hugging Aju,’ isn’t it?”
“...Ah.”
Our dear Aju finally understood and let out a sound close to a gasp. After staying silent with a dazed face for a moment...
“Pfft... hehehe.”
“Ah, you’re laughing. Did my joke actually land?”
“Hehe, no~ It wasn’t funny at all.”
“Liar. You’re laughing right now.”
“Hehe, I guess I am.”
The Aju laughing in my arms no longer carried the timid aura from earlier. She had reclaimed her usual cute smile that brightened everything around her, and she began to lean into me in a way she hadn’t before.
“Riha oppa... Then, can I lean on you a little?”
“Not just a little—you can put all your weight on me... but it’s fine. I basically forced this on you anyway.”
“Hehe, that’s true.”
Both Aju and I knew it. Even now, every student’s gaze was fixed on us.
I had drawn every ounce of attention possible, so it was only natural.
“Then let’s go home.”
“Okay!”
Well, I didn’t care. Just like the indifference you all showed Aju, I’m indifferent to you too.
I’m not sensitive enough to care about the stares of people who wouldn’t bat an eye if someone dropped dead somewhere.
In other words, to me you’re all as good as nonexistent. So know your place... you things that don’t even exist...
“...Don’t make things hard for Aju.”
“Eek.” “Hic.”
They must have heard. I spoke at the same volume they had used so we could hear them.
Now then... let’s really head home.
Still carrying Aju, I walked through the gate and out of the school.
“Hehe, Aju. Heading home?”
The security guard naturally greeted her as we passed. He was a grandfather with an incredibly kind smile.
“Ah... yes.”
“You’re going home with a good expression today.”
“...Yes.”
“Have a safe trip.”
“Yes, goodbye.”
Being held by me made the posture a bit awkward, but Aju bowed her head as best she could. The guard waved in response.
I gave a slight nod too, and he returned the gesture.
“Are you two close?”
“Yes, we greet each other every time I come to school.”
“Hmm.”
Well, this was normal. Aju wasn’t the type of person others would hate. She had manners, consideration, kindness, and cuteness. Someone with all those qualities should naturally receive goodwill from most people.
Yet the atmosphere I saw at school earlier...
“You’ll tell me when we get home, right?”
“...Yes.”
“Good. Then we’d better hurry.”
“Huh? Hurry—wait? Whoa!?”
I started running before Aju could even fully process my words. She was startled by the sudden wind rushing past her, but...
“...Pfft, ahahaha.”
Soon, as if the situation itself was hilarious, she began laughing in my arms. The sight made me laugh too.
“Puhahaha!”
“Hehehe.”
The two of us crossed the road home laughing like idiots, feeling the refreshing breeze against us.
Daeho Side.
...In the end, it’s you again who makes Aju laugh.
Perched on a tree in this cat body I had grown used to, I watched Riha running while carrying Aju.
My tasks for today were to observe Aju’s surroundings for any suspicious people and to track down the male student who had confessed to her before.
But... seeing Aju isolated at school, receiving no one’s attention, I couldn’t bring myself to leave her side.
Part of me wanted to run straight to her.
Come to think of it, if I approached her as Hahu she probably would have been happy...
I recalled Aju’s expression when Riha held her moments ago. Embarrassed and flustered, yet her face showed incredible relief in his arms.
Yes, I probably couldn’t make her look that relieved.
You always do the things I can’t. Always.
I know it. No matter what, my oldest and closest friend—Lee Riha.
That guy... is incredible.
The courage to overcome fear and push forward, the drive to act honestly while ignoring everyone’s stares. And though he would deny it... the kindness to do anything for the people he cares about.
Those are things I don’t have, and most people don’t either.
Though I’d never say it to his face.
After muttering that, I naturally jumped down from the tree and started heading home just like the two of them.
That was when I heard it.
“...That person just now... could it be...”
A voice that stopped me in my tracks.
...No way.
I was a cat right now, so there was no need to hide. I naturally fell into a cat-like posture and looked toward the owner of the voice.
“He was still hanging around Aju?”
I didn’t know this guy’s name. What I did know was...
“Not knowing his place.”
That he had confessed to Aju before. And even after that, he kept bothering her until he heard Riha’s threat and finally backed off.
“Why would Aju be with someone like him...”
The guy who was currently the most suspicious stalker quietly watched the spot where Aju and Riha had been, then continued on his way.
...What should I do?
Part of me wanted to follow him. But maybe becoming a cat had sharpened my instincts. I had a feeling that tailing him now wouldn’t give me the answers I wanted.
Sigh, I’m getting hungry anyway. Let’s just head back.
In the end, I put it off for later and turned in the direction Aju and Riha had run.
And...
“Ha, this is ridiculous...”
“Don’t pay too much attention...”
I made sure to clearly remember the faces of the girls who had isolated Aju just moments ago and were now acting like total victims.
They would definitely come in handy soon.
Riha, if it were you... you definitely wouldn’t stay quiet in a situation like this, right?