Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Outsider Who Got a Perfect Score
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Time flew by, and the day finally arrived when Baekseung High School released the final exam answers.
I confirmed that I had scored perfectly on this exam.
And I can say with certainty that nothing like "I thought it was a perfect score, but it wasn't!" would happen.
After finishing all the problems, I had plenty of time left, so I double- and triple-checked my answer sheet to make sure I hadn't made any mistakes.
Of course, if Han Si-a had also gotten a perfect score, we'd have to find another way to decide the winner based on the contract.
But no way she got a perfect score too, right?
This exam's problems were on the quite difficult side, to the point where groans echoed from every classroom after each test ended.
Plus, there were several problems so tough that I wondered if they were really meant for first-year high school students.
No matter how prodigious Han Si-a was, she couldn't have aced an exam this hard.
Kuh... Did I, even at 35 years old, end up acting childish?
Even though it was just a bet over scores, I never imagined a regressor like me would have to go all out against an active high school student.
Han Si-a, I'll admit it.
You were strong for a high schooler!!!
It's just that your opponent happened to be a super-highly educated regressor with a PhD at 35.
Know that the problem isn't your study skills, but your arrogant personality that dared to challenge me without knowing your place.
Still, you show promise, so if you keep at it, you'll surely get good results.
Hahahahahahaha!!!
Anyway, since my victory in this bet is already confirmed...
I need to think about how to use the penalty.
The contract states that the loser must obey the winner until the next midterm—a bit dubious for a high school bet,
but with restrictions ensuring no harm to studies, health, or finances, there aren't actually that many options.
I'd love to order her to buy me a meal to save some money, but that would cause financial harm, so no.
Hm... If she can't buy food, maybe make her cook it herself?
But logically, a 35-year-old regressor like me would probably cook better than a sheltered young lady raised studying in a wealthy home.
Can't take money.
Having her do work is ambiguous too.
So in the end, aren't meaningless commands to torment the loser the only option?
But the problem is, I don't really want to be harsh to Han Si-a.
Ha... Honestly, I don't like bullying people much~
But the world of competition is ruthless, isn't it? Maybe getting a harsh lesson once would help her in life going forward?
I really don't want to do this~
But she came up with this penalty herself? Considering how she strutted around after beating me by just one question on the midterm...
This much should be fine, right? Yeah?
Then, unavoidably,
during vacation, whenever she eats at the sandwich shop, she must visit during peak hours and share a table with others.
Of course, with the condition that on academy days, she has to eat there without fail.
And every time Han Si-a comes to the sandwich shop,
I'll say, "Ah! Customer! Here alone again??? How about the chicken breast sandwich instead of the basic one today???" to make her uncomfortable,
and yell, "Hey, this ✩solo✩ customer has no seat—any cool folks willing to share~!!" to draw everyone's eyes to her.
That way, no financial or physical harm, and no impact on studies—fits the conditions perfectly, right?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Han Si-a's Perspective
This is a perfect score.
There were a few unexpectedly difficult problems that flustered me a bit, but I handled them calmly.
Jeong Yi-an surely messed up somewhere weird again, so it looks like I'll win this score bet with room to spare.
Now, what I need to do is figure out how to use my rights as the winner.
But...
"Si-a, why are you smiling like that? Something good happen?"
"Si-a's just happy the exams are over! Wanna celebrate by hanging out?"
"Me too! Me too! Let's hit karaoke!"
The bugs started buzzing around right after exams ended, making it hard to focus on important things.
Judging by the boys' stares, if I went to karaoke, some might get bold and confess.
The exam was definitely tough, so instead of checking scores and playing, shouldn't they be studying now to make up for it?
So I spoke to the class as politely as possible.
"Sorry, I'm busy right now—could you not talk to me?"
"..."
"Ah, Si-a's busy, huh. Should we go without her?"
"Huh? Nah. Without Si-a, I'm not really..."
I meant to say it softly, but I got more annoyed than expected and ended up sounding stern.
Still, the bugs picked up on the vibe, so it worked out better.
I urgently need to ponder how to exercise my winner's privileges.
.
.
.
Lately, I've been a bit curt with Jeong Yi-an, but I don't dislike him or anything.
It's just... At school, these useless bugs keep confessing to me, but when I approach Jeong Yi-an directly, he pushes me away, which hurt a little.
But that makes sense—during vacation, I go to academy or follow my parents' schedules to various events, so matching up with friends is tough.
No school plus no vacation meetups naturally means fewer chances to see each other, and inevitably growing distant from friends I've worked to make.
At least So-mi is fine; we still have that promise for a meal over the doujin event, and contacting her isn't burdensome.
But with Jeong Yi-an, there was zero excuse to meet—that was the problem.
Honestly, after the cotton candy incident at the festival last time, I've been seeing him pretty positively...
So even if I had to initiate, I suggested going to a movie before summer break to create a connection.
But Jeong Yi-an didn't appreciate my effort and straight-up rejected me.
So, making good use of the winner's rights from this bet is extremely important.
The core of this contract—despite the restrictions—is that the loser must obey the winner.
In other words, from now on, I can summon Jeong Yi-an whenever I want, and he can't refuse unless there's a serious reason.
And that means,
I can go to the movies with Jeong Yi-an even during vacation!!!
...
What is this? When I drafted the contract, it felt like I could do something huge.
But after thinking about what to do with winner's rights, it boils down to just "go to a movie with Jeong Yi-an"—feels kinda off.
It seems like I'd be shortchanging myself if I stop there, so I need to add more.
First, regular contact even without special reasons,
and if there's any worthwhile place—even not movies—we go together,
and if schedules align, meeting up with So-mi as a trio sounds good too.
Hm... And...
Jeong Yi-an rejecting my movie invite irks me, so some light punishment is in order.
What would be good...
...
Suddenly, a somewhat pervy scene from my recent dreams flashed through my mind.
Jeong Yi-an tied up in my bedroom, and me wielding a whip for some reason...
"No, no no no, not that!!!"
I blurted it out loud in panic.
The noise drew stares from classmates.
"Si-a, you okay? Your face is kinda red—are you sick?"
Even other students noticed I looked off, and a girl from class worried about me.
But it's unnecessary meddling.
So I pretended to be as calm as possible, smiled kindly, and asked her,
"I'm really really sorry, but I'm super busy and need to concentrate—could you not talk to me?"
"Uh? Yeah... Si-a must be really busy."
...
Come to think of it, after the midterm bet, when Jeong Yi-an was doing Bread Shuttle duty, he called me "Boss" or "Master" sometimes.
Of course it was a joke, but I remember it feeling oddly good.
So maybe as a penalty, I could dictate how he addresses me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After school on the day the scores were released.
We gathered again in an empty classroom, both smiling.
I looked at the smiling Han Si-a and thought,
"Smiling all clueless about her future. It'll be fun to see that face crumple when she learns I got perfect."
And Han Si-a probably thought the same about me; she looked even happier than usual.
Her hand was already gripping her bag, itching to pull out her test paper right away.
Watching us, Yoo So-mi, acting as mediator for this score bet, declared energetically.
"Alright then~ Time to reveal the results of the 2011 first-semester final exam bet!!! Clap clap clap!!!"
"The two parties to this contract, please prepare your own score sheets, and reveal them simultaneously on the mediator's signal!"
"Three! Two! One! Reveal!!"
...
And the revealed result: perfect scores for both me and Han Si-a.
It was the moment when our individually dreamed-up happy plans began to crumble.
Han Si-a's smiling face froze solid.
I was probably making a similar face...
"Wow... Si-a and Yi-an are both so good at studying... Our class had some kids crying—this exam was brutal."
"Anyway... what were we gonna do if it was a complete tie like this?"