Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Guys Who Like Anime Characters Are Generally Outsiders
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The delinquent girl with light brown dyed hair got caught by me while drawing an anime character for her art performance evaluation.
...
The delinquent girl Yoo So-mi, who had been swiftly wielding her brush to finish her painting up until moments ago, flinched at my single remark and froze solid.
She didn't even turn her head toward me standing behind her.
Didn't utter a word.
Damn it. I had only guessed the subject of her painting correctly. I definitely hadn't said anything like "Time Stop!!"
To check on her condition, I circled around to her front and saw her pupils trembling violently.
If I left her like this, she'd probably start frothing at the mouth and pass out any second now.
Getting busted for drawing an anime picture must have shocked her to her core.
No, if it was such a big deal, then why bother drawing an anime picture in the first place...
Judging that this would screw up Yoo So-mi's performance evaluation submission as-is, I decided to calm her down first.
'Calm down and look here. I won't tell a soul what I saw, so finish the painting before class ends!'
Talking out loud might draw unwanted attention and backfire, so it was a body language signal I sent to Yoo So-mi. I even smiled to reassure her.
Seeing my signal, she slowly nodded, then frantically moved her still-trembling hands to complete her submission painting.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ *** Yoo So-mi's Perspective
I've loved drawing since I was little, so I attended an art middle school.
Most of the students there were girls, and I'd often chat with my friends about the "cuteness of female characters from Japanese anime."
But when I came to, I was an outcast.
Why? You girls were totally into girly anime just last year? What I'm talking about is just an extension of that...
I struggled belatedly to escape the ostracism.
But in the end, my middle school life ended with me coming home after school to draw pictures and watch anime before bed.
Since most art middle school kids go on to art high schools, I fled to a liberal arts high school instead.
No one here brought up Japanese anime either.
The boys who occasionally talked comics were only into boring ones swarming with dark-skinned macho dudes.
What about the girls? The girls who talked comics were only into boring ones swarming with dark-skinned macho dudes.
No matter how I thought about it, aren't female characters cuter, with so many outfit options to try?
In the end, with the sole goal of "at least avoiding being an outcast," I decided to befriend some slightly scary girls.
I begged my mom to teach me makeup, dyed my hair, tried manicure... and acted vaguely annoyed. Befriending them wasn't that hard.
...
It wasn't some deliberate scheme. Drawing my favorite anime as the subject in art class.
Honestly, you guys have zero interest in Japanese anime, not even a speck.
They probably won't recognize something like this, right?
But I got caught.
If that guy spreads around that my drawing is from an anime right now, I'll definitely become an outcast! Just like in middle school!
Did he notice I was scared? He smirked vilely and signaled me.
'You. Look me straight in the eye. Want me to keep my mouth shut? Follow me after school. Don't even think about fixing the painting now.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ On the way from school to the sandwich shop for my shift.
A girl is trailing right behind me.
The delinquent girl with light brown dyed hair, Yoo So-mi.
What the? Why is she following me?
These days, my routine after school is heading straight to the sandwich shop, and I've never seen a girl whose route and timing overlapped like this before.
Hard to call it a coincidence.
But asking "Are you following me right now by any chance?" feels like too high a psychological barrier.
If it really was a coincidence, I'd get labeled a total psycho. If rumors like that spread at school, I'd drop out without hesitation.
And so, this unexpected companionship continued all the way until I arrived at the sandwich shop.
As I opened the door and went in, Yoo So-mi, who had followed me inside, spoke up.
"Um... sorry, but can I ask why you're here?"
For a delinquent girl, her attitude seemed oddly meek. More importantly, I couldn't figure out why she'd followed me just to ask that. No clue. Kinda scary.
So, I just answered honestly for now.
"Well... because I have to work here."
"Uh... Do I have to work here too?"
"...?????"
Even though we were speaking Korean, the conversation made no sense, leaving me dumbfounded. That's when the door marked "Staff Only" burst open and the Sandwich Shop Owner came rushing out.
"Yi-an!! One of our peak-hour kitchen part-timers bailed!!! Quick, call your friends and get anyone to fill in!!! Oh, uh? Student, are you Yi-an's friend? Could you possibly help out just for today?"
"Uh, uh? Yes. I'll work hard..."
"Great, put on our uniform first then. Have you ever done counter work, student? Yi-an's experienced, so he can handle kitchen temporarily. Counter's no different from anywhere else; you'll pick it up quick."
"Yes, I've done it before. Does the shop have any specific lines we have to say..."
What the. Something... something's happening...
But I don't actually have any friends, so calling for a fill-in is impossible anyway.
No idea why, but if Yoo So-mi fills in here, at least the shop's staffing issue gets solved...
Well, no reason to turn down someone offering to work. I can hear her out during the shift...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Only after Yoo So-mi finished learning counter duties from the owner could I finally hear the full story behind this mess.
"So that's a relief... I was super scared you might be up to something bad, but filling in for a shift is no big deal."
"No no no no, I wasn't trying to blackmail you! No other plans or appointments today? It's fine to stay here, right? If not, just go home!! This isn't my shop, it's the owner's, so it has nothing to do with me!!!"
"But you clearly said to follow you after school if I didn't want you blabbing..."
"I meant finish and submit your assignment on time so I wouldn't blab..."
"... Aha!"
"... So, what do you wanna do? Wanna head back now? I'll explain it to the owner."
"Huh? Nah, I wasn't going to academy anyway. Told my mom I'm hanging with friends. Might as well earn some pocket money while I'm here."
"No... If you're being blackmailed, you should talk to a teacher or your parents first... Why hide it..."
Before peak hours, the sandwich shop was quiet, leaving plenty of time to chat.
"Whoa... Yi-an, you have good taste too? Got that seasoned vibe, all cheeky and sly, but when you need help, you blush and act all tsun... ahem! girly-like. No matter what other heroines pop up in the story, none can compete, right? Totally different league from other works... My personal gripe is the medieval setting means the main heroine always wears similar outfits. If they could ditch historical accuracy, I'd love to see her in dresses, uniforms, swimsuits, oh! And maid outfits too!"
"I agree, but wasn't the blonde-haired sub-heroine pretty good too? Her backstory's pitiful, but she's kind and innocent..."
"Hmm... You think? I wasn't into heroines reeking of otaku bait... A true heroine needs a powerful trump card, be it skills or personality!"
Otaku trait: Once the topic's something they know, they won't shut up.
Yoo So-mi had some pent-up feelings about anime talk, apparently. The subject wouldn't end.
She chattered so much the owner came out and asked us to keep it down a bit.
But even the owner couldn't complain much. He'd roped in an impromptu fill-in for a no-show, so in their current deal, Yoo So-mi held all the power, not him. And with a vibrant, dyed-hair girl manning the counter instead of the usual plain Outsider guy, it was noticeably boosting male customer visits even off-peak.
If the owner wanted to make money, he'd probably cut her some slack and try locking her in as a peak-hour regular.
...
Wait, am I forgetting something right now?
Something's slipped my mind, but I can't recall what. That's exactly the feeling.
As I prepped sandwich ingredients in the kitchen for peak time, Yoo So-mi's voice came from outside.
"Hello, customer! How can I help with your order~ Oh! Aren't you Han Si-a from Class 1? It is you! Hey! I'm Yoo So-mi from Class 5! You go to academy here too?"
Ah.