Childhood Friend's Lunch with Another Guy
'Did this girl really owe me money?'
That was the only thought running through Yujin's head.
Her counterpart was a girl so stunningly beautiful she drew involuntary gasps of admiration. What other reason could she have for groveling like this?
'How much debt could she possibly have racked up?'
As far as Yujin knew, her family was loaded—not just comfortably wealthy, but suspiciously, overflowing with cash. Lending her money wouldn't be strange at all.
'Sigh, this is why you don't mess with loan sharks.'
Yujin nodded to himself, having jumped to his own conclusions. Either way, he had no intention of leaving a classmate in this state.
'Look, no one's staring at us weirdly...?'
Far from it—the place was dead silent, like a morgue. No, there weren't even people around. Was this massive hospital completely empty of patients? Hmm, other worlds are full of mysteries, indeed.
"Get up for now."
"Quickly."
At Yujin's words, the girl hesitantly rose, eyes downcast, stealing furtive glances around. Even that looked pretty, making him tense up without realizing it.
"You know what you did was a mistake, right?"
She flinched, clenching her fists tight. Yujin startled for a second. She wasn't about to hit him just for a little scolding, was she?
"Uh... uh..."
Contrary to his fears, she meekly nodded. But her eyes brimmed with tears, ready to spill at any moment.
'Tch, my resolve is crumbling.'
He'd meant to give her a proper talking-to as the elder here, but how could he now? She seemed genuinely remorseful.
"Don't cry. Consider the debt paid in full."
The girl looked up in shock. No wonder—she'd just been completely forgiven, no matter the amount. Only a lunatic would do something like that.
But Yujin had another goal.
"In exchange, how about being friends with me at school?"
"Friends...?"
Her eyes went wide, as if she couldn't quite grasp it.
"Nothing big. Just hang out with me—eat lunch together during break, chat, walk home after school, that sort of thing?"
The toughest part of being a total outcast was lunchtime, hands down. Eating alone was more humiliating than you'd think. But with a friend? Problem solved! And with a girl this pretty? He'd basically be an insider.
'Feels a bit like exploiting her debt, but it'll be good for her too.'
The money lender probably wasn't him personally—it was family cash, even if she called him "young master." Forgiving it outright would stir trouble. But if she was his friend? No parent would coldly turn away their son's buddy.
'Kuh, saving her from debt and gaining a friend. Was I Zhuge Liang in a past life or something?'
As Yujin silently praised his own cunning, the girl asked in a trembling voice,
"Then what about Cheolsu...?"
Why bring up Cheolsu here? Oh, right—maybe she usually ate with him.
'Hmm, she's completely on my bad side now, but she's slow on the uptake.'
Who'd want to eat with the guy who broke their arm? Plus, Cheolsu still hated him. Maybe later, but right now? He'd get rejected flat-out.
"Cheolsu would be tough."
Her shoulders trembled faintly, her eyes sinking into distant despair.
How much time passed like that? Finally, she nodded with a resigned face.
"...Okay. I'll do it. So... please keep your promise."
"Don't worry. I never lie."
"Yeah... please... I beg you. I'll do it right..."
The light faded from her eyes. Tears finally plopped down.
Aigoo, how much stress must this kid have been under? Yujin reached out and gently patted her head.
"It's okay, it's okay. Everything will work out now."
Younghee silently accepted the touch, obediently looking up at him with tear-filled eyes.
Park Secretary watched the scene wordlessly, chills running down his spine.
'How ruthless can he be!'
Cheolsu was already crushed under money and power. If he saw his girl cozying up to the enemy like this? His mentality would shatter beyond repair.
And all of it—Yujin's meticulous scheme. Pretending to graciously "rescue" her afterward? Even from a subordinate's view, it was terrifying.
'I thought he'd changed a bit, but he's the only one fit to inherit our organization...'
Yujin was still young, yet this level of cruelty. What would he become once he fully stepped into this path? Park Secretary clenched his fist silently, envisioning the young mafia heir's future.
Your infamy rises!
The target thinks you suit a boss!
'Huh? What the fuck?!'
Yujin felt truly wronged.
****
Hero Academy had one unwritten rule: Don't mess with Heukcheon's heir, Kim Yujin.
Heukcheon's infamy went without saying. But its heir was no pushover either.
Defy him, and see what happens. The results were plain as day for the students.
"...Is it good?"
"...Yes."
"I said talk casually like friends."
"Uh, yeah."
The girl in front of Yujin was Lee Younghee. Her beauty was unrivaled even in the academy. A generous chest straining against her shirt, a slender waist, baby-soft pale skin, and large, ink-black eyes. She looked like a heroine straight out of a manga—unrealistically pretty.
With her genius childhood friend Cheolsu, she should've had a perfect, rosy school life.
'Aigoo, even Younghee fell in the end.'
'Can't be helped. He broke her boyfriend's arm.'
'Poor Younghee, what a tragedy.'
Everyone watched her with pitying eyes but didn't dare speak up. Yujin in front of her was too terrifying.
Meanwhile, Yujin shoveled away at the cafeteria food.
Whoa, this is insanely good.
To Yujin, academy meals were a revelation. Buffet-style, no less! And every dish was premium—not cheap junk, but hotel-level gourmet. Eat as many plates as you want, no questions asked. Even pricey sushi or exotic fruits were fair game.
'Thought other worlds wouldn't differ much, but this is on another level from reality.'
And with a pretty girl right there? Jackpot.
'Me, eating gourmet with a girl. Am I already an insider?'
This alone was luxury beyond his past life's dreams. Yujin savored his lunch contentedly.
Younghee, meanwhile, barely picked at her food. Her plate had less to begin with, and it hardly diminished.
"What's wrong? Doesn't suit your taste?"
"Huh? Oh, no. It's good."
She forced a smile. But Yujin didn't like it.
'Eating properly in your prime years is crucial!'
Balanced nutrition and exercise—that was the foundation of a healthy life. He got it, girls worried about their figures. But crash diets wrecked your body. Some meals were essential.
Yujin speared a cherry tomato and held it out.
"Here, at least eat this."
Younghee flinched. Her eyes shook anxiously, lips bitten in conflict.
Like a wife unable to refuse her husband's lecherous boss.
But the hesitation didn't last. She squeezed her eyes shut and opened her mouth.
"Ahh..."
Yujin was more shocked.
'Wait, I was just gonna hand it over.'
Even as friends, feeding her felt embarrassing. Like they were lovers.
'No way! Is feeding each other normal for insiders?'
To become one, you had to act like one. Time to step up!
Yujin carefully placed the tomato in her mouth. Her small lips enveloped it, tongue rolling as she chewed.
"Good?"
"Yeah, sweet."
Awkward question, but positive reply. Yujin sighed inwardly in relief.
'Phew, thought I'd killed the vibe.'
As he relaxed and reached for his food—
Thud!
Something slammed onto the table. A black box. The latch clicked open slightly, revealing stacks of cash inside.
"Cheolsu..."
Younghee murmured distantly. Looking up late, there stood Cheolsu, glaring daggers.
"I don't need this filthy money."
Money? Yujin recalled telling Park Secretary to cover the bill and tip generously.
'I meant pay the hospital and give a bit extra, not hand over cash. Still, better take it. Gips still on—probably not fully healed. Might burden him, but it'd ease my mind.'
"Why not just take it? Must be tough, right?"
Grind. Cheolsu gnashed his teeth. His gaze shifted to Younghee beside him. He closed his eyes briefly to swallow his rage, then opened them.
"I'll pay it back someday. Definitely."
Huh? Pay back later? Why bother when he could use it now?
"Wouldn't it be better to take it now then?"
Kim Cheolsu clenched his fist so hard his muscles twitched visibly.
'Aigoo, kid's really struggling. Aftereffects must be bad if his hand shakes like that.'
And refusing money on top? What a good soul. Breaking a friend's bone like that... guilt stabbed deep.
He stopped Cheolsu from leaving.
"Got a proposal."
"What?"
Yujin eyed the gips on Cheolsu's arm.
'Classes here involve fighting monsters. Straining that arm could keep it from healing right.'
His fault clear—he had to take responsibility.
"How about joining me for classes?"
Then I can help him out.
Cheolsu scowled without answering, displeased.
'Ah, right. Being alone with me while pissed would suck.'
Yujin quickly pointed at Younghee.
"Oh, and this girl too, of course."
Cheolsu chewed his lip. Clear provocation.
'Fucking bastard.'
He wasn't pathetic enough to back down.
"Fine. You're on."
Yujin nodded satisfied.
Let's be friends again, Cheolsu!