Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The Outsider Dragged to a Secluded Spot by an Insider
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Looking at stories from next door, some protagonists wake up in the morning stretching refreshingly as if they're in a great mood, kicking off the day with energy.
They greet their family with smiling faces every morning,
gather together for a fun breakfast,
take care of their clumsy little sibling, or head out to meet friends on the way to school.
But human wake-up biology is such that mornings are when stress hormones peak.
So mornings are inherently a time when you're impatient, sensitive, and quick to get irritated no matter what you do.
Yet if someone's smiling calmly from the morning, it's definitely fake.
Even a 35-year-old guy regressing into a high schooler still hates getting up in the morning just the same.
If our house had one of those perky, high-energy little sisters from stories who brings vitality to the day with her fresh smile,
or a reliable big sister with a chill vibe that puts you at ease,
things might've been a bit better.
Instead, we've got a mom who's cranky for no reason from the morning, and a dad prepping for work with a face like he's headed to the slaughterhouse.
Before regressing, I hated how gloomy our mornings always were, and now... well, I still hate it, but at least I can understand my parents now.
I get that women get irritable for no reason regardless of age, and I know what it feels like to gear up for work.
Just hang in there a few more years. I'll hit it big with Bitcoin and take care of you all.
Dad has to leave early for work. And Mom prepping breakfast twice is inefficient.
So it's an unwritten rule in our house that I get up earlier than school time to eat breakfast.
As a result, after I finish eating and help clear the table, I've got about 30 minutes left before heading out... and I use that time for some simple strength training.
This routine started when I regressed in the winter of my third year of middle school, part of my efforts to become an Insider in high school... which failed, of course.
The reason I still do it now is because I've become a total loner in class, exposed to bullying threats at any moment, so I need to be able to protect myself if it comes down to it.
Besides, smartphone performance and wireless internet speeds are trash at this point anyway, so there's nothing else to do in that spare time. This works fine.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ It's been a month since high school started, and classes are running on normal tracks.
Homework's coming in for each subject, and teachers seem to be gearing up for performance assessments that factor into grades.
The class vibe has settled too—no more awkward distance from freshman orientation. Everyone's found their place.
Stories from next door say classes form caste systems like hierarchies.
Top tier: athletic fighter guys + handsome guys + pretty girls.
Next: delinquents guys + delinquent girls.
Middle: average students who study moderately.
Below: otaku groups.
Bottom: bullying sandbags.
It's wild how they depict youth school stories so blatantly over there.
But applying that to Korea... it's a bit different, I think.
Take my class, for example.
The guys split into those who like sports and those who don't.
Actual delinquents hang with similar types scattered across classes, so they're not super visible here.
Still, sports guys and delinquents seem to have some camaraderie.
Girls divide into makeup crew and natural crew. They probably have subgroups too, but I don't know the details, so whatever.
Makeup girls aren't necessarily prettier. They just share hobbies or interests and stick together.
Same reason natural girls aren't ugly. But the no-makeup ones do participate more in class.
Maybe it's differing views on the "no makeup" school rule that splits the factions?
There are K-pop stan girls, but no otakus.
Otakus get shunned due to heavy Japanese vibes clashing with Korea's anti-Japan sentiment from history.
The biggest difference from stories next door? No visible bullying victims.
...Just one loner—no, Outsider—that no one talks to during breaks.
During breaks between classes, I was lost in self-objective reflection on my pathetic state.
But then, light footsteps I'd heard from afar stopped right in front of me.
"Hey? First time talking, right? Got a sec?"
No way. A girl talked to me.
Haven't chatted with classmates since that "Jeong Yi-an's a psycho" incident recently.
For a second, I tensed up—maybe transparent man treatment escalating to full bullying? But no hostility in her voice.
Relaxing, I turned to see the owner: Han Si-a from the class next door, flashing a dazzling business smile.
...Wait, isn't this our first talk? Doesn't the sandwich shop chat count?
I hesitated, and she spoke again.
"It's our 'first' meeting since the awards ceremony, yeah?"
Ah, that meaning?
She's gagging me in case I blurt out the sandwich shop thing. Lots of eyes here.
Glancing around, yeah, drawing tons of attention. Not just stares—the whole class is gawking. Horror movie vibes.
Next-door celeb invading class such hot gossip?
"Oh, yeah. Nice to meet you. First time since the ceremony. You might not remember, but I'm Jeong Yi-an. Wanna step out and talk?"
I played along with her phrasing.
Satisfied, she nodded and headed to the hall. I followed, leaving the class.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Following Han Si-a down the hall, every girl we pass greets or chats her up.
She smiles back at each one.
Stop even briefly, and we'd be swarmed.
Guys pretending nonchalance but tailing us scattered awkwardly when we climbed stairs to the next floor.
Up top, second-year seniors stared... We escaped eyes only after entering the shared music room and shutting the door.
...
Sudden silence hit.
Feeling awkward, I spoke first.
"Never realized just walking draws this much attention. When I'm alone..."
"Stop. I get you're awkward from the sudden summon, but don't waste time on chit-chat. I've already taken enough of yours, so let's keep it quick before class."
Oof. Cut off.
But cool. I prefer straight to business too.
She'd worn the business smile in public, but now her face is blank.
Since I know she solo-dines at the sandwich shop, maybe dropped the act.
Spotted it during her shift, but this next-door Insider isn't that sociable, actually.
"I know you got perfect on the High School Entrance Exam. Any academy or tutoring you go to? Mind sharing?"
"Scores are confidential, no?"
"You really gotta ask if I'm curious?"
"..."
Her blank face and steady gaze bore into me.
Like a silent plea.
You know exactly what I mean. Do I have to spell it out?
Yeah. Not really curious. In Korea, personal info's practically public,
and with cash, even SAT leaks circulate. Exam scores? Easy to dig up.
Asking my academy/tutoring means intel-gathering on a rival for class grades.
Her teacher or parents probably said, "Heard there's a perfect scorer at your school. Go ask what academy or tutor."
They'll sell her intel for useful swaps to boost her scores.
But I hesitate to answer because follow-ups get heavy.
You aren't ready for the truth yet.
Your studying means nothing against Bitcoin's rise!!! The brutal reality!!!
Still, maybe this smart kid...?
Lying to someone I'll see often feels off, so let's drop truth bomb.
"No academy. No tutoring."
"Rare self-studier, huh? What about private study guides or exam answer key communities?"
"Nah, I don't study. I get what you're after, but honestly, nothing to tell."
"..."
Her face twitched a bit.
"So you're giving up on maintaining grades? I figured you'd get the edge from a top uni's name value."
"Well... acing the entrance exam doesn't mean I'm great at studying, right? Got my own future plans. College prestige won't matter soon—I'm gonna get filthy rich...."
She looked deflated already, like she foresaw lame excuse.
Probably guessing "inheritance."
"Ever heard of blockchain tech?"
"...?"
To her puzzled frown at the unfamiliar term, I explained my "Bitcoin Lightning Rich Plan" simply. Skipping the regressor bit, of course.
And her reaction? Total shock, as expected.
"...You expect me to believe that? Even your sandwich shop gig's for buying Bitcoin?"
...More like, "Didn't see this nonsense coming."
Yeah, figured you'd react like that...
"I know they call you 'psycho' from next door. No need to play crazy in front of me too."
Tch. Told the truth and still...
Like confessing to a girl and getting shot down? I was serious.
In five years, she'll suffer "knowledge curse."
Not the type to buy Bitcoin hype, so every news mention will make her regret this day.
Should've studied it when he mentioned!
Break bell rang soon after.
"No need to be so guarded... If you want compensation for info, talk to my dad. See you at dinner."
She gave a slightly hurt look, then left the music room. We returned to classes wordlessly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ That night, I searched last winter's High School Entrance Exam.
Thought the problems were easy. Diligent class-followers could handle them fine.
Pre-regression, I skipped academy second semester of third year since no grade impact... figured some were tough then.
But nope.
Exams are designed discriminatory for talent balance across schools; perfect scores rare locally.
Score distributions match SATs, minus bottom tier.
Good entrance = usually good SAT.
"Ah, shit. Should've tanked a few on purpose. Now I look like the sneaky bastard pretending not to study upfront but grinding behind!"