The Second Study Session (1)
After the school trip ended, what awaited the students now that their playtime was over was finals. So the four friends from Pulkkot High School here had formed a study group. With one middle schooler tagging along, that is.
"Please take care of me."
"Yeah, if there's anything you don't know, ask your big sisters. That guy's not gonna be much help."
"Hey, Seong Juyeon!"
"Or should I take charge of tutoring Taeyang myself?"
"It's fine, Gahee sis."
This study session was shaping up to be pretty rowdy.
"But Taeyang, I heard Hayan couldn't make it. How'd you end up coming?"
To Seonwoo's question, I waved it off like it was no big deal.
"I didn't go. I was supposed to go watch a soccer match with the guys, but it fell through last minute."
That's right. Hayan sis wasn't here right now. She'd gone to our aunt's place as planned, and I'd begged and pleaded to go watch that important soccer game with my friends instead. Of course, once the family got to auntie's, I immediately let them know the plans had canceled. That's how I bought myself some time, and purely by coincidence—really by coincidence—when Gahee sis suggested studying together, I ended up here at this study group. Totally a coincidence.
I exchanged a quick glance with Seong Juyeon. A smirk slipped out as I watched her nod subtly where no one else could see. Don't worry. I already knew exactly how this study session would play out. Plus, with Hayan sis absent, that was one less person to watch out for. Made things easier.
"Got it. Then let's all study hard."
Seonwoo hyung grinned awkwardly and opened his book.
The current study members were Seonwoo, Juyeon, Gahee sis, me, and...
"......"
Cho Yuli, who'd been dead silent since we started.
I'd wondered if she wouldn't show up since Hayan sis wasn't coming, but then it hit me—she had no reason to join a study group I wasn't even part of. Anyone would think Yuli sis had a crush on me or something. Well, she did like me. Just not romantically—more like a close little brother.
Anyway, fewer members were better than more, so let's focus on the first flag that'd pop up here.
The first flag kicked off when Seong Juyeon brought out snacks and dragged Seonwoo along. Nothing for me to do there. But while they were getting the snacks, they'd stumble on a mug that stirred up childhood memories, get lost reminiscing about the old days. The mood would heat up nicely, and then—oops—a slip-up drops the mug. They grab for it together, end up tumbling down with faces inches apart... The steamy atmosphere pulls them in instinctively, lips drawing closer, until Yuli suddenly shows up and they spring apart in a panic.
That event alone boosts favorability without any choices, straight to a good ending. But I'm gonna push it further. What if Yuli hadn't shown up then? What if no one interrupted? That's what I'm aiming for—keep Yuli from going there. For the record, she ends up in the kitchen because she mistakes it for the bathroom. If I just show her the right way to the bathroom, no interruption.
While studying, I glanced around and said,
"Ah~ I'm thirsty."
No one here I needed to tiptoe around anyway. As I spoke, I shot Gahee sis a subtle signal with my eyes.
"Taeyang, have some barley tea here."
"Huh?... Oh, thanks."
Something unexpected happened. Gahee sis pulled a massive tumbler from her bag—one big enough for everyone to share. She'd carried that in her eco-bag?
"No cups for others."
"We have paper cups."
"We should save the environment!"
Seong Juyeon stepped in and stopped Gahee sis from pulling out the paper cups.
"Might as well bring out snacks too. Seonwoo, let's go."
"Me too?"
"You want me to carry it all alone?"
In the end, Seonwoo got shoved along by Juyeon and stood up.
"Juyeon, want me to help?"
"Um... me too..."
"Nah, you're guests. Stay seated."
"Am I not a guest?"
I grumbled, but the childhood friends—who got along great despite the bickering—headed to the kitchen. That left just three of us here.
Now, when Yuli goes to the bathroom later, I just point her the right way. I'd already scouted the paths while heading there myself earlier.
"Taeyang, if there's a problem you don't get, I can teach you."
"Hmm... not yet."
"Really? Our Taeyang's so smart."
Gahee sis reached to pat my head but froze midway. I flinched too. She wasn't even raising her hand to hit me, but chills ran down my spine anyway. Guess that time left a trauma.
—Huh? She's rejecting me? Uuuu... Even now, I can't forget that creepy moment.
And I wasn't the only one trembling in fear. Funny thing—we three were all frozen for our own reasons. I turned to Yuli, who was shivering because of me, eyeing me warily before dropping her gaze.
"Or maybe teach Yuli sis instead."
"Pardon?"
Not about raising Yuli's favorability. Just diverting Gahee sis's attention. No way Yuli's favor would go up much at this point anyway.
"I-I'm fine..."
"But Yuli sis, you've been staring at the same page for hours. Stuck on a problem?"
"Really? Let me see."
Thankfully, Gahee sis moved to Yuli's side.
"Ah, this one's easy once you get the formula."
She kindly tutored Yuli, taking her eyes off me for a bit. Good thing Gahee sis was normal today. Her clear blue eyes sparkled vividly. Lately, she'd been getting excited around me a lot, but originally, she was so composed and kind—someone I could really rely on.
If only she weren't 'yandere'... Bitter thought. I'd have to deal with this sis somehow soon. I resolved myself and tried refocusing on studying when my phone buzzed.
"Ah, sorry. Forgot to set it to vibrate."
"It's okay."
Gahee sis brushed it off kindly, and Yuli was too scared to say anything. Still feeling bad, I apologized again and stepped out.
Okay, out now... but should I answer? The ringing screen showed a name that made me hesitate a bit. But ignoring it'd just make her sulk later, so I took a deep breath and picked up.
"Hell—"
"Oppa!!!"
"Ugh..."
So loud I yanked the phone from my ear. Not even on speaker, but her voice carried anyway.
"Why aren't you here!!?"
A girl's voice that rang out like she'd been born yelling. My cousin, about two years younger than me.
"Ah, well, oppa had plans."
"I'm bored! Plans more important than me?"
Was your boredom that big a deal?
"D-don't be like that, Ah-yoon."
A faint voice made me press the phone closer. A slightly scared tone—from Ah-yoon's twin, my other cousin.
"...Are you mad?"
"Oppa's not mad."
"I was waiting for just oppa~!!"
Loud again, so I pulled back a bit.
"Bored! Bored! So bored~!!"
"Calm down a sec!"
"Ah-yoon, what if you make oppa mad..."
A whimper came from the side. One yelling her head off, the other on the verge of tears over nothing I'd done. I sighed, then spotted Yuli sis coming out of the room. Oh right, bathroom directions.
"Yuli sis, everything okay?"
"Huh? Ah... um... bathroom..."
"Turn right down the hall, it's there."
"Okay."
"Huh? Who's that? Whooo~?"
"Doesn't matter."
"Gasp!! Oppa, did you get a girlfriend!!?"
"No."
Her voice was so loud, Yuli heard it. She glanced over, flustered. I glared like what are you looking at, go already.
"Ah-yoon... if you keep it up, oppa might really get mad..."
"Ah, oppa's not mad. Not mad, Ah-jeong."
"Eek!!"
I guess my voice came out unintentionally sharp, scaring her too. Ah-jeong startled, so I hurriedly soothed her that I wasn't mad. Yuli fled in terror down the hall I'd pointed out.
First operation: success.
"Ah-yoon, don't do that—play with unnie instead~"
Thankfully, Hayan sis stepped in to handle things here.
"No!! Get oppa!!"
"Waaah~!! Oppa's mad!!"
Haa~ Good call skipping auntie's. Sorry, auntie, but could I skip till they're grown?
Hayan sis was consoling the screamer and the crier on both sides.
"Then sis, handle the kids well."
"Taeyang? We'll talk when you get home."
Hayan sis rarely sounded so full of resentment and annoyance. Not my fault... but yeah, not hers either. She was stuck handling the hassle 'cause I bailed, so I'd make it up with sweets later.
I hung up with a deep sigh. Whew~ Time to head back... Wait, doesn't that leave just me and Gahee sis in the room? Going in now'd make it just us two. Plus, Yuli might wander into the kitchen by mistake on her way back from the bathroom.
Hmm... Guess I'll hit the bathroom too. I casually turned toward it.
Bzzz!
"What, again?"
Ah-yoon texting already? Or Hayan sis griping via message after calming them? Nope, checking the phone—neither.
GlassMental up to something again? Did I scare her earlier? But I hadn't yelled or picked a fight—just gave a scary look once. Or some other worry? I replied right away.
During the school trip, our SNS private anon chat cut off midway, so she'd messaged from her computer. Ended up chatting a while about getting a new phone.
Just checking in? Why this timing? Maybe with Seonwoo gone, the others felt awkward, so reaching out to a familiar face. That thought lasted a second before GlassMental got to the point.
Yuli suddenly wanted out.