Cultural Festival (1)
After that, I think I just buried myself in studying nonstop. Midterms were right around the corner, and even though high school entrance exams aren't that tough, I still had to prepare for them. I'd have to go to college someday too. Above all, studying cleared my head. When stray thoughts pile up, it's better to focus on something. While I was grinding away at my books, I barely interacted with anyone except Hayan unnie. Choi Gahee hadn't reached out since I cut ties, and with Min Iri, I kept my distance whenever we crossed paths. She tried compromising by just lightly ruffling my hair, but even that felt awkward, so I refused—only for her to lock me in a headlock and not let go until I reluctantly gave in.
Back during the trip, she was the one avoiding me. Who knew our roles would flip like this in an instant... Who the hell am I supposed to trust now?
"Haa~ Well, once I get into high school, it'll all be over anyway."
If I went to a high school a bit farther away, I wouldn't even run into Min Iri. The more time we spent apart, the more her feelings would cool off, right? Oh, wait—it's not like I had zero contact. I was still chatting occasionally with Cho Yuli on SNS.
These days, I'd carved out study time by cutting back on chats like this. She kept sending gifts lately, which was getting awkward, but rejecting them left her so downcast that we agreed to just exchange light stuff. This level of contact should be fine, right? It wasn't like I was revealing my identity, and she'd assume FridayAngel was just another girl anyway.
Is it really fine, though...? Yeah, it is. With Seonwoo gone, Yuli needs at least one friend she can open up to. When he vanished out of nowhere and she heard the details from Seong Juyeon, Yuli got seriously depressed. I was even worried she'd spiral back to square one. If FridayAngel disappeared now, she might totally break. How long do I have to keep this up? I'll worry about it after she graduates high school. As long as she's still alive then, it'll be fine. By that point, she might even be better and able to live on her own.
Next up was Yuyeong... Since we'd be going to different schools anyway, I could slowly wrap things up before graduation. She didn't seem all that obsessed with me anymore. ...Or did she? I turned my head just a bit and locked eyes with Yuyeong, who was staring right at me.
"What?"
"Heehee."
"Got something you need?"
"This math problem's stumping me. Can you explain it?"
Yuyeong shoved a math worksheet my way.
"Hmm, you substitute x here and..."
"Ooh~ Tough one, and you solve it right away."
"I did this one before."
Gahee unnie had taught me. "........." I zoned out for a second, lost in thought. Why the hell do I get emotional over a stupid math problem like this? I shook my head.
"They say you're gonna take first in the whole school this time, Taeyang."
"Not even close."
"Really? You've been studying your ass off. Isn't it possible?"
There were tons of people studying harder than me, and besides, studying isn't something you master overnight. It's the consistent grinders who excel.
"You get all that?"
"Huh? Oh, so after substituting x, what next?"
"........."
"Hehe, sorry."
She hadn't been listening from the start. I explained it again, then got back to my own work. Time flew by, and before I knew it, midterms were breathing down my neck.
"Finally, school festival after midterms."
I was about to dive back into solo study mode when I overheard Yuyeong chattering. Glancing over, she was surrounded by girls, all buzzing about the cultural festival.
"You excited for this year's school fest too?"
"Yeah, last year's haunted house makeup was so realistic, I freaked."
"Wonder which golden hands will shine this time."
"I want takoyaki."
Typical stuff. School cultural festival... It didn't matter much to me anymore, but in the game, it was a big event. Pretty much the final stretch deciding the heroines' routes, I think? If Seonwoo were still around, he'd have crashed it and messed with them. As I mulled that over, a key realization hit me.
"This cultural fest is joint with Pulkkot High again, right?"
"They do it every year. Unless something comes up."
"Haa~ Wonder if the hot oppa crew will do the butler cafe again."
"You struck out trying to get their numbers last time."
"Why bring that up!!"
I brushed it off as irrelevant, but in the game, Kim Taeyang shows up a lot during the cultural fest events. Meaning, lots of run-ins with the heroines. And given the current situation, the odds were even higher. I needed to avoid them.
"Whoa, Taeyang, where you going?"
"Need some air."
"The pre-bell just rang?"
I tried slipping out to think, but a teacher nabbed me at the door and dragged me back. The class had a good laugh at my expense, but their giggles fell on deaf ears.
"Hmm..."
Midterms came and went without much fanfare, and right after the last exam, no one bolted home. They all stayed seated. It was class meeting time.
"Alright, everyone, listen up!"
The class rep stood at the podium, looking serious—but we all knew what was coming, so some faces lit up with excitement, others just wanted to GTFO.
"Guys, the moment has arrived where we unite as a class once more, after the sports festival! Our youth demands..."
"Rep, skip the speech. Can we just vote on what to do?"
One brave soul shut it down, sparing us the rep's pep talk. Ideas started flying.
"How about a safe tea house?"
"Eh? Won't it look lame next to the seniors'?"
"Yeah, they've got way more experience."
"Plus, no class from Pullyip Middle nailed tea house last time."
The rep summed up: "So, popular ones mean stiff competition and comparisons. Got it." He X'd out maid cafe, butler cafe, and dessert cafe on the board.
Next: "What about a haunted house?"
Someone pitched it eagerly—shot down instantly.
"You're just thinking of the seniors' from last year, right?"
"Yeah, but why not us?"
"We'd get shredded in comparison. The bar's sky-high."
"Half that class was aiming for beauty school or art majors anyway."
Ideas circled, got nixed, and things stalled.
"Hmm..."
"Ah!"
The rep suddenly exclaimed amid the pondering. Everyone turned, expecting gold.
"Student council messaged— they want the festival committee volunteer list ASAP."
Deflated sighs all around. Not what we hoped for.
"We can decide that later."
"Haha, yeah?"
Hands crept up with more ideas. I tuned out, thinking. Not about our class's booth—game plot meant it was set anyway. What caught me was the throwaway line no one cared about: festival committee. Tied to student council, it was grunt work running the fest stages—no fun, so unpopular. School dangled service hours, but middle schoolers heading to general high schools mostly skipped it. It often came down to rock-paper-scissors or ladders after endless delays.
Should I join the festival committee? Heroines never did in the game. Taeyang only met them if Hayan unnie dragged him along to hang out. Perfect dodge. If they wanted to meet, I could blame committee duties. No way I'd enjoy the fest dodging them anyway. Meeting ended scoreless; think overnight and report back.
"If you get a killer idea you wanna push hard, DM me right away."
With that, everyone packed up and filed out. Yuyeong gave a quick wave and dashed off with friends—something about celebrating post-exams. Perfect. No eyes on me. I hurried to the rep before anyone snagged the spot.
"Rep, about the festival..."
"Oh? Killer idea already?"
His face lit up. Not quite...
"Nah, uh... Any chance I could join the festival committee?"
Disappointment at first, then pure delight. "Of course! You'd be perfect—super reliable!"
"Thanks."
"Phew~ One down. Still need one more."
He thanked me profusely. I volunteered first... Yeah, forcing two into unwanted committee duty sucked. Last year, they dragged feet till student council hounded them.
"So, Taeyang for committee..." He double-checked, typing my name into the submission file, wary I'd bail.
"Now for the last one..."
He trailed off, staring somewhere. Bad vibes. I followed his gaze.
"Rep, mind if I ask why you're eyeing Yuyeong's desk?"
Trying to pawn it off on her, huh?
"Ah, haha, no! Just... you two are close, so it'd be fun together, right?"
"Hey, Rep. Don't tell Yuyeong."
I said it firm. Sure, if no one else stepped up, it'd come out in the end. But pre-warning vs. last-minute? Big diff. By then, she'd have plans with friends. No rash committee jumps. Plus, someone else might volunteer like me. But if she knew early? She might leap.
"Don't want her missing fest fun 'cause of me. Absolutely don't tell her."
"Got it. Sucks, but okay."
Whew, convinced. "You're surprisingly sweet to Yuyeong, Taeyang. Thought you were all prickly."
"What're you talking about?"