Chapter 122. Blossoming (4)
After parting ways with Eunbi, I scanned my surroundings cautiously and headed to the first-floor boys' changing room at Pullyip Middle School.
Fortunately, it was empty. Everyone was busy changing and getting to their posts by now.
I'd stashed my clothes in a secluded corner beforehand.
"So busy, so busy."
I fired off a quick chat to GlassMental while hurriedly getting dressed. I didn't forget to check the voice modulator either.
"Ah— Ah— Mm…"
It was working fine. I nodded after confirming the childish girl's voice.
Better get out quick before someone walked in and got the wrong idea.
I stuffed the school uniform back in the locker and stepped out.
"Ugh~ Having to climb to the fourth floor in this getup."
I grumbled, but there was no helping it. I'd agreed it was fine when Yuli suggested meeting at the front gate.
Someone just visiting the school for the festival popping up inside would look suspicious.
So I'd told her I'd come to her instead. She was staying put in one spot anyway.
"Ah, here you are! FridayAngel!"
As I reached the fourth floor, Yuli spotted me first.
"Hi!"
"Y-Yes! H-Hi! Haha."
I raised my hand in greeting, and she beamed back, going for a high-five.
"Was the climb too tough? I could've just gone to the front gate."
"You said crowded places are hard to navigate alone, right?"
"FridayAngel…"
She looked touched, like she thought it was all for her sake. Staring too openly might make her uncomfortable, though.
And after just a few hours apart, her eyes were misty.
"Ahem… Waited long?"
"No, it's fine. I always kill time here during festivals anyway."
"Here?"
I pretended to look around. Naturally, there was nothing—just the firmly locked rooftop door… and a mat spread out in front of it.
A lunchbox container and a stack of books sat on the mat.
"Picnicking up here?"
"Ahaha, yeah… It's kinda embarrassing now that you're seeing it."
Was she seriously doing this every school festival? The game only showed her wandering up here on impulse after splitting from Seonwoo.
I hadn't realized she'd come prepared like this. I couldn't help gazing at her with pity.
Good thing the teddy bear costume hid it—she didn't notice.
"It's surprisingly comfy here. No one's around… Ah, except FridayAngel now. Hehe."
Was she forcing nonchalance? Or was she just that thrilled to see me, forgetting her situation? Yuli seemed brighter than usual.
If she went to school with this kind of energy, her loner days might end.
"Still scared of crowds, GlassMental?"
"Yeah. But with FridayAngel, it's okay. I can even walk around."
A bit burdensome? She was treating me like medicine.
"There's so many places I wanna go with FridayAngel!"
"I've gotta head out in an hour and a half."
"Right… Gotta trim the list then."
Yuli pulled a map from her pocket and unfolded it, burying her face in it intently.
Grrrrr~
Ah, my stomach growled. Even after festival snacks earlier.
Makes sense—I'd scarfed breakfast and been running around all day.
"Oh, hungry? Want me to grab something?"
"Nah. Can't eat like this."
"Hm… What about my lunchbox?"
"No…"
I'd told her the teddy bear costume made it impossible, but she headed for the mat anyway, unwilling to give up.
"No one sees, right?"
"Huh?"
"It's… because of my social anxiety."
She beckoned me to the mat.
"I'll just face this way."
She turned her back fully, sitting down.
"This work? I absolutely won't turn around!"
"Well…"
"Don't worry. No one comes here."
She said it cheerfully.
"Not once in the past four years."
"……"
What was with that sadly accumulated knowledge?
"Let's just chat while you eat. That's fun enough."
She seemed extra excited today. Probably her first festival with someone.
Fine, I'd trust her four years of experience this once.
"Got it. But this lunchbox—wasn't it for you, GlassMental?"
"I don't have much appetite. Always bring one and end up tossing the leftovers."
"Hm…"
I opened the lid. Inside, meatball dumplings and rolled eggs were neatly arranged.
But the utensils… There, a pack of disposable wooden chopsticks dangled from the side.
"If you're still hungry later, we can grab something together. I'm looking forward to festival food too!"
"Here."
"Huh?"
"Let's share."
I scooped out a portion onto the lid and held the container out to her.
"Feels weird eating alone."
"Ah. Okay. Th-Then let's eat together!"
"One more time: don't turn around till I say."
"Yes!! I'll be the gentlemanly hero who faces away while the heroine changes!"
What weird nonsense… Anyway, her resolve checked out, so I slowly removed the teddy bear head.
"Dig in!"
"Thanks, I will."
We started eating without seeing each other.
I'd braced for starvation, but this consideration was nice.
I popped a meatball dumpling first.
"Huh? This is good."
"Really?"
(Voice modulator still on, for reference.)
"Yeah, you make it yourself?"
"No, frozen… But next time, I'll make it fresh!"
"Big corp brand taste is plenty."
Noobs trying to cook often botch it. And no point practicing for a one-off shared lunch.
"I'll send the brand pic later."
"Okay."
Sister could put this on the table. Hunger made it taste even better.
As I ate, Yuli changed the subject.
"Been a while since you visited school, right?"
"Ah, yeah. Long time."
"S-So… how's it?"
"Hm… Doesn't feel real yet."
"Really?"
"Yeah, barely saw any students on the way up."
"Maybe you're over it?"
She said hopefully, like she'd conquered it.
"Hm… Need to check more."
Claiming it was fine outright would kill our excuse to hang out.
I bullshitted vaguely.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, but… trauma's not hitting as hard as I thought."
"Hope FridayAngel can come to school soon too."
Mid-sentence, something occurred to her.
"Oh, right—what school do you go to, FridayAngel?"
"Elmae High School."
I gave the throwaway backstory I'd prepped. No way she'd track it down.
"Oh? That's a ways off. Your house too…?"
"Kinda."
"Ugh… Sorry. Made you come far."
"What? I offered."
"Still…"
Why the sudden wilt?
"Thought maybe here'd be okay since it's not my school. Less trauma?"
"Wanna transfer to Pulkkot High then?"
Why the instant cheer-up?
She looked hopeful. Hope we'd attend the same school.
"Not that simple. I'd have transferred if it fixed things."
"Ah… Yeah… Tough, huh?"
Instant crash again. Festival vibes had her emotions on a rollercoaster today.
Probably venting pent-up loneliness now that she had a friend. Seonwoo gone, must hurt.
Juyeon, Gahee, and Hayan unnie were around to look after her, though.
"School life's rough, GlassMental?"
"Better since I made a friend…"
"But?"
"Hm… No one as comfy as FridayAngel."
"Aw~ C'mon."
I just wanted to stay her kind internet pal.
But my importance was skyrocketing somehow. Time to nudge her toward others.
Meant to dial back her fixation, not amp it up.
"Get close to other friends, and it'll be… no, better than with me."
"Hm… Hard to get as close as with FridayAngel?"
"Took guts for me to message you first too."
"…The first time?"
"Yeah. But look—we're close enough I'm visiting your school, even if I can't show my face."
She stifled a giggle. Old memories, probably.
"True. Your comment startled me. Never dreamed we'd end up like this."
I hadn't either, back when I launched The World Is Still Warm op on her.
Sharing lunch at my school? Fate's weird.
Then Yuli set down the lunchbox.
"I haven't finished! Don't turn!"
"Hahaha, relax. Just checking the map."
Whew~ Nearly gave me a heart attack. Gotta eat faster.
Yuli, map-gazing till now, spoke up.
"Since FridayAngel mentioned it, shall we brave meeting a friend? …Hayan's class is doing a maid café…"
"Guh—Mm!! Mmph!!"
"Huh? Water, quick."
"Mmmph!!!"
"Ah, got it—won't turn!"
She passed water without looking. I chugged it and sighed.
"Haa…"
"Take it slow."
"Y-Yeah…"
Unnie's name out of nowhere startled me.
"Gonna… meet your friend?"
"Huh? Don't wanna?"
"Forgot I have social anxiety?"
"Doesn't the teddy bear fix that?"
Ah, right—that was the vibe.
Makes sense; first meet, I waved at the kid in this, chatted fine with Seonwoo.
"No, I mean… Meeting's okay. But what if she says stuff like that boy last time…"
"It's fine! They don't know FridayAngel. Just say childhood friend!"
"Hm…"
"Really hate it?"
…Not staying long, and post-Seonwoo, observing how Yuli and the girls got along wasn't bad.
I was confident I wouldn't get caught. Seonwoo spotted me due to suspicious context.
Hayan unnie didn't know about Yuli's SNS friend.
Backup: sweat smell masked with cologne. Voice different, height match unlikely to trigger instant doubt.
Childhood girl friend intro? She'd buy it.
Honestly, curious how unnie ran the maid café. Missed staff shift, too shy to barge in on break.
Perfect chance to check if she was faring well.
"But if she keeps talking to me, I'm in trouble."
"Got it. Talk only to me."
Yuli nodded. Post-meal, I tweaked the modulator, confirmed the proper girl voice.
Donned the teddy bear head, tapped her shoulder.
"Shall we?"
"Yeah."
Click— Click—
Somewhere, a camera shutter sounded on the pair.
"Finally moving."
Why was Oppa hiding his identity to meet that girl?
"Gotta grill him on this too. Daring to eye another bitch while dating me?"
Taeyang had hacked her phone, peeking at their SNS chats.
From the history, this wasn't their first or second meet.
And Oppa was lying in them.
Well, pre-Eunbi stuff, so fine.
Plus, that girl kept showering him with tribute.
A kind Oppa might pity-meet her specially.
But dating me and going this far? Unforgivable.
No, Oppa's not bad—must be circumstances. Plenty of time later to ask slowly.
Eunbi tailed them, very discreetly.