Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Outsider Who Became a Bread Shuttle
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Early May. From two weeks before the midterms kicked off until today, when the answer keys were finally released. I hadn't slacked off on studying for a single day.
Today, right before the official midterm scores get tallied up.
The howl of the wind and the eerie patter of rain lash against the classroom windows.
The calm before the storm.
Whether Han Si-a's the lame one or I am, the test results will decide.
...
"No way. As a solution to generational conflict, the correct answer is 'respecting the elderly'? I can't accept that!!! Teacher, shouldn't the solution to generational conflict involve picking something more concrete? Like reforming the pension system or..."
I got one wrong on the social studies exam.
I argued for multiple correct answers, but this was 2011 Korea.
The concept of generational conflict was still limited to adults griping that "kids these days don't try hard enough" or new brides whining about "how tough married life is."
In other words, the true face of generational conflict hadn't fully emerged yet.
This was the curse of knowledge I couldn't escape as a regressor.
...
But it's fine. Getting just one wrong across all midterm subjects is still a solid performance.
Han Si-a might've messed up two.
...
After grading was done, Han Si-a, Yoo So-mi, and I met up after school to reveal our scores at the same time.
And I lost by a margin of one problem.
Han Si-a had gotten perfect scores in every subject.
Incredible. I'm a 35-year-old guy with future knowledge as a regressor, a college and grad school grad to boot.
And I lost to this lucky middle-schooler-turned-high-schooler just a few months ago...?
My vision went dark. My head spun, and I could barely stand.
Han Si-a checked the bet's outcome, then looked down at me slumped on the floor behind her.
Her cheeks faintly flushed, she spoke with an excited expression.
"Yep. I win the bet. But this whole thing started because I wanted to apologize to you in the first place. If I'd understood and respected you more from the beginning, we wouldn't have ended up in this score showdown, making you so anxious. I... I know it's late to say this now, but I never meant to torment you."
What? An angel? I'd been fantasizing about how to mess with her if I won.
I wondered if maybe she'd let me off without any penalty and asked hopefully.
"Uh... so, does that mean you're skipping the bread shuttle thing? Thank you so much!!"
Han Si-a's lips curved upward at my words.
Her smile wasn't benevolent... it was more like a kid eagerly unwrapping birthday presents, anticipating what was to come.
Her cheeks red, breathing a bit ragged, she said,
"If I'd known you'd go all out and still screw up something as 'easy' as that, I wouldn't have apologized in the first place. If I'd realized you were dumb enough to miss an 'easy' problem like that... so clueless and brutish... then none of this would've happened. Sorry for not realizing how stupid you are~♪ But that's that, and a bet's a bet, right?"
...That fucking bitch...
I scowled at Han Si-a's mockery.
But seeing my grimace only delighted her more.
Han Si-a offered Yoo So-mi, watching from the side, a chance to throw in her own jab, but Yoo So-mi replied,
"Nah... I'm not really into that kind of thing..."
In the end, I headed out to buy bread as Han Si-a ordered.
Even after school, a bread shuttle's a bread shuttle, whether at school or not.
I bought three, including one for Yoo So-mi, and luckily, she gave me exact change.
...
Am I seriously a 35-year-old doing bread shuttle duty for a high school girl because I lost a score bet...?
But how the hell do you beat perfect scores across the board? Studying is such bullshit.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Han Si-a and Yoo So-mi are happily munching on the bread I bought from the convenience store.
Especially Han Si-a—her eyes crinkled in that mocking way even as she ate, which pissed me off.
For the record, I'm not eating any.
That's 1 BTC per piece.
Come to think of it, our midterm score bet still has one more penalty left.
Since we're all here, I figured I'd hear what these "simple favors" entail.
"I want revenge on my stepmom. Looks can be deceiving—I'm actually pretty petty deep down."
Si-a, what are you talking about...? Anyone can see you're petty.
I already knew from the park incident last time that Han Si-a and her stepmom had a terrible relationship.
Honestly, I'm the type who thinks it's best not to meddle in family drama... but I lost the bet, so I should at least hear her out.
"How? Even if she's the stepmom, her authority at home isn't the same as a birth mom's, right? You stir things up needlessly, and it might backfire with real blood."
Frankly, revenge on a stepmom? The kind of ideas a high schooler might come up with are whining about side dishes, going on a hunger strike, or slacking on studies on purpose. Of course, none of that would faze the stepmom—it'd just hurt Han Si-a herself.
But the one who answered my question was Yoo So-mi, the plan's mastermind.
"Si-a's going to act like a girl in love."
"...How does pretending to be in love help get revenge on her stepmom?"
"Parents with daughters usually oppose their kids dating in high school."
Hmm... Yeah, from a parent's view, hearing their daughter say she's dating at school would make them worry she'll fall for some bad guy.
But that doesn't really count as revenge, does it?
As I looked puzzled at Yoo So-mi, Han Si-a jumped in to elaborate.
"It's not about pretending to date someone openly or bringing a guy home or anything like that. Just act like I'm preoccupied with romance. Make plans to meet 'someone' on days off, come home a bit late after academy saying I have other stuff to do... buy a bunch of clothes, splurge at the salon, that sort of thing."
"...From your parents' perspective, yeah, it'd look like you're smitten."
"Exactly. But I'm not actually dating anyone. I'll keep it that way. Then neither Dad nor Stepmom can say a word. I'm still acing my studies, and it's not outright dating—what could they complain about?"
Han Si-a paused for a beat, then stated clearly,
"But it'll be enough for Dad to chew out Stepmom."
"Why?"
"Stepmom's kinda young, and she loves flashy outfits. Dad's always disliked that about her. If I say to him, 'Do guys like it when women dress flashy like Stepmom? I wanna dress up a bit in casual clothes too—what do you think?'... she might even get banned from her favorite style."
So her dad would get justification to scold the stepmom about her wardrobe.
It felt roundabout, but the plan made sense.
Still, calling it "revenge" seemed small-scale, which surprised me.
"Okay, I get the picture. But where do I fit in? Sounds like you're just acting the lovesick girl solo."
"Once Stepmom gets an earful from Dad about clothes, she'll definitely come to school to investigate. Knowing her, she'll think, 'That Han Si-a bitch is acting lovey-dovey just to screw me over!'"
"Aha... so we need believable evidence at minimum?"
Looking at it again, what a messed-up family.
Stepmom slaps the daughter, daughter drags Dad in for revenge...
Yeah, my family's 365 days of quiet gloom suits me fine. I'll just make money with Bitcoin~
As I thought that, Han Si-a said,
"There are a few reasons it has to be you, not someone else. You already know my family situation, so no need to explain. You lost the bet, so I can use you for free. And... honestly, I'm not sure other guys my age could pull it off properly."
I asked why not other boys, and Han Si-a shuddered, as if imagining something unpleasant, hugging her shoulders.
"They'd definitely get the wrong idea and confess to me."
"...Yeah. I doubt I'd ever confess to you, misconception or not. Doesn't that make me uniquely irreplaceable labor? Feels a bit conscienceless to work me for free."
As I protested the unpaid labor, she neatly ignored me and continued.
"Well, even I think the plan loops around a bit. But all I have to do is act lovesick, and in the end, Stepmom gets scolded by Dad, wastes time investigating at school, and might even lose her flashy wardrobe privileges. Investment-to-return ratio seems solid—what do you think?"
"Hmm. Can't deny the cost-effectiveness. But hold on—what exactly do I have to do? You said 'simple favors,' so if it's too tough, I can pass, right?"
"Hang out together during breaks like now, eat lunch together... or bump into each other briefly on days off?"
"Not much different from now. Cool."
At that point, I figured I wouldn't have much to do.
Han Si-a's lovesick act would play out over weeks at least, and it wasn't guaranteed her stepmom would even show up at school.
But it was the very next day.
That Han Si-a's stepmom came looking for me at school.