The Rich Girl (1)
Hayan noona ended up getting friendly with Choi Seonwoo. Of course, since I'd thrown a wrench into his first flag, things were unfolding differently from the game.
I was thrown off by the news that they'd gotten close, but after mulling it over, it didn't seem like a bad situation at all. The key part of noona's first flag was whether he'd choose to find her hairpin for her. And since she'd never even lost a hairpin, that choice didn't exist in the first place.
I hadn't expected Seonwoo to pull something like this, but at least I'd blocked any affection from building up... Now it was time to decide on the next step.
To keep noona from turning yandere, I had two things to do. First, stop her from building any affection with Seonwoo. Second, guide him toward another heroine's route.
Sorry to the other heroines who'd end up yandere instead, but my family and my safety came first. I couldn't argue if anyone called me selfish for it.
I dreamed of a world where no one in reality turned yandere, but I couldn't stop them all on my own—it was just too much.
I had a notebook where I'd jotted down everything I could remember about the game right away. The very first line listed each character's first flag. It was basically just the point where the initial choice popped up in the game.
For Hayan noona, it was finding her hairpin. I skimmed over the other heroines.
"Whatcha looking at?"
I hurriedly slammed the notebook shut and looked away.
"What's with hiding it so fast?"
"It's nothing."
Lee Yuyeong grinned brightly and sauntered over. Luckily, she hadn't spotted the contents.
"Huh? What's the big secret?"
She craned her neck, peeking toward the notebook I'd hidden.
"I said it's nothing."
"Oh yeah? Hehe."
With Hayan noona nowhere in sight, this was the perfect time to sort through info and thoughts in my notebook at school. No point risking getting caught and complicating things.
None of the other classmates paid much mind to me scribbling alone at my desk anyway. If eyes were an issue, I could always do it during class.
The one annoying thing was how Lee Yuyeong kept hovering over whatever I was doing, showing way too much interest. And why had she been grinning like an idiot since earlier?
"So, why?"
"Why what? Can't I come over if I'm bored?"
"That's not it, but..."
"Oh, right—did you check out the one I recommended?"
"Yeah. It was pretty fun."
As payback for lying to her that I was a total anime noob, I'd ended up chatting anime with Lee Yuyeong. It was too late to say, 'I don't really know anime; I was just messing around.'
Plus, I'd accidentally learned her secret, and seeing her so bubbly and excited made any confession like that stick in my throat.
Figuring I'd humor her a bit, I'd made a point to watch the anime she'd recommended.
"Especially in episode 6, when Ayano's voice actress..."
This total otaku lit up brightest whenever anime came up. How much had she been holding back? She was chattering nonstop, eyes sparkling like crazy.
In the game, the only time Lee Yuyeong showed this side was when the soccer team she managed made it to nationals. Anyone would've thought they'd at least reached the round of 16.
Yuyeong, I get you're excited, but there's something you haven't noticed.
I subtly glanced around. A few classmates were peeking our way.
A girl as cheerful and outgoing as her, with a cute look and enough interest in sports to manage the soccer team, was super popular. So when someone like that started gushing to a guy who'd just transferred in—with a thrilled face no one had ever seen—it was bound to draw eyes.
Naturally, people got curious about what we were talking about.
"You two look like you're having fun. What's the topic?"
Two girls approached, and Lee Yuyeong flinched, freezing up. Probably worried her anime talk had leaked.
"Just soccer stuff. She was saying the mascot character's cute."
"Oh, yeah? Makes sense—you always have it on your phone case charm."
"Yuyeong's always going on about soccer."
I covered smoothly, and the girls bought it, shifting to chat with her about other things. Time to shelve the otaku talk and leave Yuyeong with them.
I slipped away, back to my desk, and flipped open the notebook.
Right, where was I? Anyway, I needed to help Seonwoo hit another heroine's route. Same deal with this first flag.
I had to check if he was following the story properly or making weird choices. No real doubt there, but one problem: what made it hard to interfere between Hayan noona and Seonwoo was that the Love Chain leads and I went to different schools.
Best I could do was tag along and meddle in off-campus events. School events were off-limits for now.
Two heroine flags—childhood friend and menhera girl—happened at school. That left just one I could check: the rich girl, Choi Gahee.
Date: this Saturday. Seonwoo goes for a walk Saturday afternoon and spots a large dog with just a leash handle attached, no owner. The dog takes a shine to him and follows along lazily, leading to a choice: find the owner or not.
If he finds the owner, Choi Gahee invites him home out of gratitude, boosting affection. If not, he just plays with the dog.
Gahee finds it later while searching, spots them in the park late, and Seonwoo—having plans after—greets her and parts ways.
My plan was simple: if Seonwoo chooses to play instead of finding the owner, I'd casually tip off Gahee that the dog was in the park.
If she found Seonwoo and the dog quick, he'd probably have time to accept her invite. Perfect.
"Hey..."
"Yeah?"
I slammed the notebook shut again. Lee Yuyeong had snuck up beside me.
"You've been acting all suspicious since earlier. What is it?"
"It's like a diary. Can't show anyone."
"Oh? Not writing a love letter, I hope?"
She grinned, teasing.
"No way I'd do that with you and everyone else around."
"Ahaha, true. Not with me next to you, anyway."
She nodded. The girls from earlier had gone back to their seats. Bell was about to ring soon.
"Hey, thanks. You covered for me."
"No problem."
"Heehee!"
Her cute laugh almost made me zone out for a sec, but I shook it off and played it cool. That smile was dangerously charming. No wonder game Taeyang had a crush on her.
"Taeyang. You free Saturday?"
"Nah, got plans."
"Oh? With a girl?"
Why ask that? Not like she had a crush or anything... Well, it was both guys and girls in a way, but none of her business either way.
"Something like that."
I didn't elaborate.
"Ahaha, guess can't be helped then."
She gave a wry smile but didn't pry, heading back to her seat.
"Huh, that's weird?" came a mutter from the guy next to her, but the teacher walked in and drowned it out.
Saturday noon. Hayan noona wanted to hit the city to celebrate the move, but I turned her down. Felt bad, but I brushed it off with some excuse about prior plans and headed out.
"Lemme see... around here."
I pulled up the map on my phone, comparing alleys to game backgrounds. Seonwoo's house here, park where he meets the dog there...
"Whoa... never seen a mansion like this."
I gawked at the Western-style estate with its garden, then marked Gahee's house on the map last. Now I'd scouted the route before Seonwoo or Gahee even stepped out.
Pocketed the phone and took another look at the mansion. Stunning place—rare sight. Pristine white bricks, deep red roof, huge windows everywhere in full Western grandeur.
Modest garden out front with various trees, visible through gaps in the wrought-iron gate and walls. Wonder what living there felt like? Kinda wanted to check it out once.
Of course, getting tangled with Gahee might spawn weird variables, so better pass.
"Woof!"
As I admired, a bark echoed from the gate.
"Ah, you must be Willy."
"Hah! Hah! Woof!"
A golden retriever had appeared at the gate, looking up at me with tongue lolling in welcome.
"Alright, you gotta do good work today, yeah?"
"Woof!"
Aww, barking all trustworthy like, don't worry about me. Goldens are mellow, but pups can get hyper enough to overwhelm their owners.
Today, Gahee's out walking him, Willy bolts with crazy strength, she drops the handle.
"Woof!"
"What's up, Willy? Who's out there?"
Door opened like the owner was coming, so I bolted.
"Why's the baby so excited again? Hang on, sis'll walk you soon."
"Woof! Hah hah woof! Woof!"
I trusted him to nail it. I looped the neighborhood a bit more, timing it to reach Seonwoo's house.
Killed some time, and finally, the moment arrived. Seonwoo stepped out.
"Gonna take a quick walk."
"Okay, oppa! Get ice cream on the way back!"
Black-haired protagonist in tracksuit heads out. Jerk—harem protag looking all handsome.
I followed naturally after he started walking. Trailing like a stalker would've been weirder. He didn't even know my face anyway.
Kept the map open while tailing, eyeing the spot he'd meet the dog. Park coming up.
The golden would burst out here, spot Seonwoo, wag and charge. He'd freak at first, then pet it once he saw it liked him.
But if it spotted me first and ran the wrong way, trouble—so I hung back farther, ducking into an alley for a view of the approaching park.
Any second now...
"Hehe, so fluffy."
"Woof! Hah hah!"
"So cute~"
"........."
For some reason, no golden charged out. Wait—it was already there. With a familiar girl.
Shoulder-length black bob, big eyes, cute face—stroking Willy.
"So where'd you come from?"
"Woof!"
My heart dropped. I froze in shock, but Seonwoo just breezed past like, oh, dog and owner, whatever.
No! No! No! You can't just walk by!!!
Panicking, desperate to stop him somehow, I stared at Seonwoo passing—forgot to even breathe.
"Hah hah! ... Woof! Woof!"
In that split second, the golden paused, turned my way. Eye contact.
Oh god, please. God—no, Willy, please please please PLEASE!!!!!
Was my desperate prayer just a cosmic joke? Ignoring me, the golden dashed to its familiar guest from earlier.
"Woof! Hah hah woof woof!"
I told you to do good. The girl who'd been petting Willy spotted me too, grinned wide, and approached.
Lee Yuyeong, why the hell are you here?
"Found you~"
With her innocent cheer, Choi Gahee's first flag shattered to pieces.