Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Let's Go on a Date!
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A day passed, and two more days went by.
I headed to the academy as usual, nothing out of the ordinary.
Squeeze.
Arm-in-arm with Cynthia.
"Hehe."
Grinning like an idiot, Cynthia rubbed her head against my arm early in the morning.
"What's up?"
"Nothing, I just like it."
"You're so bland."
It felt like we'd crossed some massive hurdle.
Both Cynthia and I.
With Choi Si-hyeok's matter finally settled, we entered the campus with far lighter hearts.
"Hey! Hey!"
Then, out of nowhere, an interruption came for the two of us.
"Get a little space!"
Yoo Harin, her blonde hair neatly tied up, approached while pointing out how we were drawing stares from everyone around.
"Why don't you join us too?"
I shrugged and waved my free hand.
"W-What?!"
"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?"
Cynthia was one thing.
But Yoo Harin, who actually couldn't beat me, hesitated before linking her arm with mine on the opposite side.
Flowers in both hands, literally.
"We must look totally insane."
Harin didn't mind the skinship with me but grumbled anyway.
"That thing from before, too. Being around you, Woo-chin, always messes with my head. Like my common sense gets rewritten or something?"
No app involved, but after her common sense had been altered through physical sex, Yoo Harin shook her head.
Step.
And so, the three of us crossed the campus, clinging tightly together.
Whispers.
Basking in the stares of the surrounding students.
"Fuck, I'm so jealous... "
"Isn't that illegal? Someone arrest him."
"Tempted to report it. Let's check the school rules on dating after class."
The envious, jealous glares from the guys were especially thrilling.
They had every reason to be jealous.
The girls hanging off my left and right were Cynthia and Yoo Harin, two of the academy's top beauties.
"Whoa, I never pegged Woojin for that bold."
"He's got some nerve."
The girls' reactions weren't much different.
"Aren't they a bit too close for friends? Do people even link arms like that anymore?"
Yoo Harin and Cynthia were popular with the girls too.
Once we got to class, they'd probably trash me openly for two-timing(?).
But I strutted into the main building, flaunting my relationships with them loud and clear.
Choi Si-hyeok used to represent Stella Academy.
With him gone, the academy's vibe was chaotic, like a jungle where various gangs and punks were running wild.
What was it?
A ragtag bunch without a leader? The era of warring factions in turbulent times?
Something like that.
But I had zero interest in the students' gang games or their petty social hierarchies.
All I cared about was protecting my daily life with my sex slaves—no, with Cynthia and Yoo Harin.
That was the point of the show.
If I, who had already crushed Choi Si-hyeok's gang once, showed off my close ties with them, no half-baked flies would buzz around.
"By the way, what happens to Choi Si-hyeok now?"
Suddenly, Yoo Harin asked as she changed her shoes at the main building entrance.
"He's probably getting along great with Chang-sik hyung?"
"What? Woo-chin, you're evil..."
"You hate it?"
"No, I love it."
Yoo Harin and I exchanged chuckles.
"He'll probably return to the academy soon enough."
Cynthia's eyes went wide at my follow-up.
"For real, Woojin-ah?"
As classmates, the thought of seeing his face again soured her mood, and she frowned.
"Yeah. The media buzz will die down soon, and he'll graduate normally. Chang-sik hyung's pulling strings. The bureau's investigation and punishment will stay mild."
Of course, at the cost of losing his precious manhood completely.
A win-win(?) deal for both sides, in a way.
'Get along with Chang-sik hyung, Si-hyeok-ah.'
I gazed out the window, silently wishing Choi Si-hyeok happiness.
Not changing his gender, but praying for his luck as he fell into depravity as a bitch.
"Don't worry, Sia. He won't lay a finger on either of you anymore. You saw Chang-sik hyung's temper, right? If Choi Si-hyeok even glances at a girl, Chang-sik hyung won't let it slide."
"Oh, right!"
With that, we wrapped up the Choi Si-hyeok talk and reached a fork in the hall.
"See you later, Sia. Harin-ah."
I waved lightly to the two heading to the Hunter class.
"Oh, right. Woojin-ah, what are you up to after school today?"
Cynthia suddenly stopped and turned back to ask.
"Me? Nothing besides my workout."
"Then let's go on a date!"
"A date?"
Her unexpected proposal made me blink.
"Yeah! It's a short day today! Let's hang out like old times!"
Sia explained with a bright smile.
"I promised to see So-yeon on Sunday! You said you work Saturdays, Woojin! So today!"
Couldn't argue with that.
Thinking about it, I'd hardly ever been on a proper date with Sia.
Home dates counted, sure.
But whenever we met, we were too busy fucking to do normal couple stuff.
"Sure, sounds good."
As I nodded, Yoo Harin next to Cynthia cut in.
"Sneaking off just the two of you? Forgot our alliance, Sia?"
Harin shot us glances with a smirk.
"Alliance? What's that?"
"Doesn't matter if you don't get it, Woo-chin. Girl talk."
"Yeah, Woojin doesn't need to know."
The two instantly shut me out and locked eyes like old rivals.
Whatever it was, they had some pact or rule between them.
'Now I'm curious.'
I'll make her spill it later while pounding her senseless.
"Anyway, just come along too, Harin-ah~."
Cynthia said with a smile.
"I'm coming, obviously, but it feels like side-character treatment. You really wanna go there with me, Sia?"
"That's not it. Aren't you being too sensitive, Harin-ah?"
"No way. I can see you playing the innocent fox. Fine, let's do this. I never back down from a fight I've started."
Yoo Harin smirked meaningfully at Cynthia.
"I don't love fighting, but don't regret it later, Harin-ah~?"
Cynthia fired back without backing down.
She'd never been one to fold easily, but now there was an extra dash of composure—proof she'd grown through the recent chaos.
Balance patch achieved?
"Fun. Our class otakus say childhood friends are the symbol of the losing heroine. Ever heard that, Sia?"
"Nope. And if we're going there, delinquent girls aren't treated great either. Symbol of the regretting heroine, from that game Woojin played before."
The two scratched at each other's nerves, landing solid hits.
No bloodbath, but I stepped in before these feisty girls went full DPS.
"Cut it out, both of you."
Honestly, not a bad feeling.
Being sandwiched between them.
No popular guy would hate that.
But pick the time and place, and keep it friendly rivalry—no hurting each other.
Sia and Harin were both precious to me, sex—no, friends after all.
"Save the competing for the bed."
My sincerity got through; the two fell silent, then spoke with flushed faces.
"Y-Yeah... that could be fun..."
"Mmm..."
Suddenly meek as lambs, Yoo Harin and Cynthia fidgeted and stared off into the distance.
Whatever they were imagining, it got me excited.
For the night ahead in this peaceful daily life.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After classes, I hurried home and got ready to head out.
How long had it been since a proper(?) outdoor date?
A milestone day, but I kept it casual: jeans and a shirt.
'Eh, good enough.'
Fashion's pinnacle is the face, and realism's too.
Even without narcissism, I looked damn handsome in the mirror.
'Handsome is best.'
Always a thrill, every glance.
No need to fuss for thirty minutes.
'Just in case.'
Instead of primping, I prepped elsewhere and slipped on the mana suppression artifact before leaving my room.
Right then.
"What, oppa? Where you going?"
Kang Eun-seol, crouched at the table mid-Yoplait, asked me.
"On a date."
"Huh?"
"Going on a date."
"R-Really?! You—no, oppa on a date? With who? Sia unnie?"
Despite all the drama lately, Eun-seol was still freeloading at our place like a total glutton, firing off questions.
"Why do you need to know? Respect privacy, right?"
"I didn't do anything! Just asking. So, who is it?"
"Sia."
"Oh. Figures. No way you'd know any other girls, oppa."
Her head-shaking drew a dry laugh from me.
Not as many as Choi Si-hyeok, but I knew a few.
Park Ah-young made three.
If Eun-seol knew the truth about the women around me—or our relationships—she'd freak.
"A date alone with Sia unnie..."
To her, I revealed a sliver of truth.
"Not just the two of us."
"Huh?"
"Not meeting Sia alone."
"W-What? Dates are supposed to be just two people, right? Oh, double date? You—no, oppa made a friend? Or Sia's friend?"
The idol trainee, holed up like a hikikomori lately, blurted nonstop.
She must be lonely.
Should get out more.
"More like hanging out than a date."
"Oh... okay?"
"Why? Wanna come, Eun-seol?"
"Me?"
"Don't want to?"
"No, I just... what if someone recognizes me outside."
"Come on, you're not that famous. Who's gonna spot a trainee who hasn't debuted?"
"Tch! They might! I debuted as a child actress before, even if not as an idol!"
Her bragging about age three cracked me up again.
"If you wanted to leverage that, you'd have stuck to acting, not idols. Anyway, coming or not?"
"...I'll come. Wait a sec, I'll get ready quick."
For once going out, Kang Eun-seol matched my daily look with a cotton bag and hat pulled low.
"Eun-seol, did you wash your hair?"
"This morning. That's why the hat."
"No one's gonna recognize you."
"Ugh! Quit nagging and lead the way! Hurry!"
And so we left the officetel.
"Now that I think, it's been ages since we went out together, huh?"
"Not ages—first time since my head got this big."
"Still looks small to me."
Bickering like normal siblings, we took the elevator down.
"I'm all grown up! Quit treating me like a kid!"
"Then move out. Stop leeching off your half-brother."
"Hey! Who's leeching?!"
Even as her company pushed contract termination.
Even as a total outcast, her pride held; Kang Eun-seol yelled.
"You talk so harsh—mean!"
"Joking. Families help and lean on each other sometimes."
I reminded her of her situation and strolled on shamelessly.
"Wait up, you dog of a brother!"
Just a year apart, more like friends than siblings, we headed to the meeting spot bickering as usual.
"Hey, ever thought about streaming?"
"Oh, that. Considered it, but gear's pricey..."
Tasting capitalism's bitterness lately, Kang Eun-seol trailed off bitterly.
"Want me to buy it?"
"You, oppa?"
"My idea, so yeah. Pay me back if you make it big."
"Really? You rich? Bought a car recently too, huh? That part-time gig pays well?"
"Decent pay, but it's a hobby."
"Can I do it? Weekends only, I could make time."
"Manual labor. No."
"Manual labor...?"
Eyes wide, Kang Eun-seol shook her head.
"If it's that tough, don't spend on me. I'd feel bad..."
"Told you, hobby. Don't sweat it. Stock market's been good lately."
"..."
"I'll get the gear. Try it light—no big loss if you sell used."
We were deep in planning her streaming future when...
Flutter.
A flyer dropped at my feet.
'Hm?'
Daewon Truth Church survey.
"Oppa, what's that?"
"This is..."
As I picked it up with a complicated look, a woman approached.
"Hello~?"
The early-20s woman, armed with the friendliest smile, was pretty.
Comparable to Eun-seol beside me.
"That's mine. Thanks for picking it up."
"Oh, sure. Here."
"You two a couple? Your energies harmonize so well. Mind if we chat a bit...?"
She was a classic cult girl.
And from the original story, the protagonist's middle school classmate.
"Hey! Where do you see a couple?!"
As Eun-seol snapped back, I clamped her mouth with my palm and pushed her behind me.
"Mmph?! Mmph?!"
Then, to the cult girl before me:
"Han Ye-eun? Right?"