The Girls I Haven't Seen in a Long Time
As I stepped into the lecture hall, the students who had arrived early were already seated. The university handled the schedule, so all I had to do was follow it—no need to apply for classes myself, which was convenient.
Still not many people, as expected.
The major I was in at university was the sports massage department. Think of it as a department where you easily learn massage techniques. Graduates often got jobs with sports teams or opened their own massage parlors. Being a relatively new department, it wasn't well-known yet, so the number of students was pretty small.
Still, it's a major with high employability.
There weren't many massage majors around, and with growing interest in sports, demand for professionals who could manage athletes was high. That's why our department's employment rate was supposedly higher than most others.
Well... I didn't come here for a job, though...
The first time I thought about becoming a masseur was back in elementary school, when I gave my aunt a massage. I'd gotten homework to massage my parents at home, but I hemmed and hawed until she let me rub her back instead. Looking back now, I was so worried about hurting her that I barely touched her—it probably didn't feel refreshing at all.
"Thanks. That felt great."
Even so, she said that and smiled at me. That smile made me want to become a masseur.
Though now I prefer getting my head stepped on...
Anyway, that's why I decided on it, and I started studying seriously from middle school. It was a job that helped people, and even if I didn't become a pro, I figured I could still help my aunt.
"Taesu! You're early."
(Han Soyoung)
"Oh. Long time no see."
I'd just been reminiscing about why I wanted to be a masseur when someone approached with a grin. Long hair dyed red. My childhood friend and fellow major, Han Soyoung.
How many years has it been...?
Seeing Soyoung nearly pulled me back into memories, so I shook my head quickly.
If I keep this up, I'll be lost in nostalgia all day.
"What was that about suddenly?"
"Nothing. Anyway, how've you been?"
"Huh? We saw each other two weeks ago, and you're talking like it's been years."
"Oh... right. Slipped my mind."
"What? Is it because you got scared watching that movie at the theater?"
"...Who got scared...?"
Soyoung looked at me with a face full of mischief.
Come to think of it, that happened...
Last summer, she'd dragged me to a horror movie, claiming it was a must-see. She always half-forced me to go to movies anyway, so yeah, we'd met two weeks ago.
I completely forgot...
I never liked horror flicks anyway, so they faded fast from memory. Plus, after regressing, there were so many things I had to recall that not everything came back.
"Looks like this big sis needs to hold your hand reeeal tight, huh?"
She grabbed my hand with a teasing grin, knowing it'd embarrass me. But instead of pulling away blushing, I interlaced our fingers and squeezed tight.
"This is how you hold on reeeal tight."
"Y-Y-Ya...!"
Soyoung's face turned beet red instead, stammering and flustered.
"Ooh~ Getting hot already this early, seniors?"
"N-No, it's not!"
Soyoung jumped at the voice from the side, yanking her hand free and snapping at the junior watching us.
"W-Who said we're dating?!"
"Huh? I never said that..."
"Sh-Shut up, I'm going to the bathroom!"
"Such a shy senior imda~"
"...Don't tease her too much."
"Gotcha imda, Taesu senior!"
The girl calling us seniors was Na Boyeon, my underclassman by one year—a freshman.
"But Taesu senior... did something happen over break?"
"Huh? Not really..."
'Turned my aunt into a female pig mom and been fucking the TA.' Yeah, couldn't say that, so I just played it off as nothing. Same with Mom, and regression wasn't something I could share anyway. So I acted normal.
Though I could tell her later...
I hadn't decided yet, but Boyeon might be someone I could share part of my secret with.
"Hmmm... Got it imda. See you at the opening party tonight then!"
She eyed me suspiciously for a sec before heading back to her friends.
Can't change my personality completely, huh...
Compared to before regression, my personality was totally different now. Back then, I was hesitant, clumsy, and timid. Now I was calm and composed. No wonder she thought it was weird. Trying to mimic my old self with this new vibe was impossible, so I just let it be.
"Hello."
I exchanged greetings with incoming friends and seniors while waiting for class to start.
Starting to get why I regressed to this point...
Back when I was dying after getting hit by that car, the girl who spoke to me asked my wish. I said I wanted to go back—to a time with no regrets, my happiest days. Then the doubt hit: my biggest regret was when Aunt Jeong-ah left, so why not earlier? But I realized it soon enough.
My happiest time. I glanced around—students gathering, chatting in pairs. One thing was clear: almost everyone in this room was a girl.
The happiest time...
And this was the period when I'd gotten the most attention from women in my life—first and last time, really. Even I think that's a bit lame. No regrets, peak happiness coinciding with being surrounded by girls... It was true, but embarrassing to admit.
Still, gotta make the most of this second chance.
This era was full of women around me, but soon I'd fuck up like an idiot and rack up regrets. That's why this was my most regret-free, happiest time.
How did I fail to date even one back then...? Unreal.
Thinking about it, I'd acted like a total fool, blowing every chance.
As other thoughts swirled, two people entered: Soyoung, back from the bathroom, with a tall girl beside her.
"Senior~ You have to come to the opening party tonight."
"I'm not even in your department."
"Aww~ Swimming club makes us sister departments!"
Soyoung was earnestly persuading the girl, who looked unimpressed. Shorter than me but tall for a woman, tanned skin, short hair—Jeong Eunji senior, one year above us.
"Hello."
"Yeah."
She gave a curt reply to my greeting and headed to the back row. Watching her, I thought: That senior's gonna be the first woman I claim...
"Phew... Finally convinced her."
"She's coming?"
"Yeah, but only for the first round, so let everyone know."
"Why beg someone who doesn't wanna go?"
"Eunji senior draws a crowd."
Soyoung grumbled a bit. She was working hard to boost turnout for the party at the department president's request.
"Good job."
*Pat pat*
"Eek?! Did you eat something weird?"
"Nope."
I'd absentmindedly patted her head for being cute, and she blushed, startled again.
Come to think of it, I never initiated touch before regression.
Soyoung always teased me by getting close or grabbing my hand, knowing I was weak to girls. But when I approached first, she turned red.
"I'll stop if you don't like it."
"N-No, it's not that I hate it..."
"What?"
"Nothing!"
She mumbled something soft—I didn't catch it.
The professor arrived shortly after, starting class. First day, just an overview, so it wrapped quick. Plenty of time before the next one.
Ugh... gotta study for real...
I'd gotten expelled at the end with a 4.1 GPA, so I was proud of my grades. But hearing it again? Nothing stuck.
Feels like everything from lectures got wiped clean.
These were classes I'd taken once before, so I thought it'd come back. Nope. Worse than pre-regression, even. To keep my grades, serious studying was in order.
"Lecture break—let's grab food now."
"Sure."
Soyoung and I headed to the cafeteria. Not quite lunchtime yet, so it was empty-ish.
"Score! Jackpot."
I got simple bibimbap; she ordered pork cutlet. We sat.
"You know you have to come to the opening party tonight, right?"
"Can't I skip?"
"No. No veto for you."
Soyoung was firm.
A bit awkward...
Pre-regression memories: even at the party, guys including me were just three. The other thirty? All girls. I remembered blushing through their teasing, drinking.
I wouldn't be like that now, but a room full of women still felt daunting.
Not the time to make a move on Eunji senior anyway.
I planned to make her mine, but it was too soon—no real reason to go.
"Run and I'll hunt you down at home."
"......Fine, I'll go."
"That's my boy!"
Her coming home threat spooked me internally, but I was going for her anyway.
Her seeing Mom, though...
Such thoughts lingered as classes ended. Then, off to the bar for the opening party.