Misunderstanding, Regret, Despair: We've Been Awkward Lately... Wanna Meet Again?
Yujin stepped out of the shower, and there was Lime sitting on the bed, focused on something. As always, her legs were crossed in a half-lotus position, making her body's curves blatantly obvious. Couldn't she at least do something about those missing bottoms? He debated pointing it out... but shook his head in the end. No point—she wouldn't listen anyway.
"Whatcha doing?"
Instead, he asked with genuine curiosity. Lime turned her head. But instead of answering, she just stared at him. Her eyes gleamed like a cat eyeing its prey.
"What? Again?"
"Hmm, just... Seeing you all wet from the shower makes you look tasty."
"...You meant 'handsome,' right?"
"Who knows~?"
Lime turned away primly, pretending nothing was up.
......
.......
"Anyway, check this out."
She held out her hand, offering a glob of green liquid. Yujin blinked at it.
"You pop out a baby or something?"
"You brainless idiot!"
She kicked his shin with all her might. Tears welled up, but he let it slide—this one was on him.
"Kidding, kidding. So what's this?"
"You were bummed about not getting training from that class president chick, right?"
The sudden mention caught him off guard. Why bring up the class president now?
"I've been studying her training method on the sly. Turns out it's all about mixing her qi with yours to smooth out the flow."
"Hmm, like how a massage gets your blood circulating?"
"Lame analogy, but yeah, the principle's spot on. Annoying."
"So what does the class president have to do with this liquid?"
"Hehe!"
Lime puffed out her chest proudly. Not that it did much for her flat figure.
"This liquid's got my mana in it! Drink it, and your mana circulation improves—same effect as with that class president bitch!"
"Whoa, really? Toss food waste in the bag and throw it out proper."
"Hey! Drink it quick! Twice now!"
"You think I'd swallow some suspicious goo? Looks like algae bloom!"
From what she said, it was basically part of her body. He wasn't a perv. No thanks to sketchy plays like that.
"Dump it and it's war! I'll strip naked, crawl under the covers at night, and make sure you don't sleep a wink!"
What nonsense. Yujin resisted, but it was futile. Pushed by her absurd threats, he was force-fed the suspicious liquid.
"Hmm, not bad, actually."
"Hehe, told ya. Might take longer, but the effect's better than that class pres girl's, guaranteed."
She grinned smugly. Seeing that, Yujin couldn't help but chuckle.
"You made this for me?"
"......You didn't see that fox bitch's face when you saved her?"
"Class pres's face?"
"Bet you anything—she'll be glued to your side from now on."
Fox bitch...? Even if, that was too harsh for a friend who'd diligently helped with training.
'Still, maybe Lime's got a point.'
The class president did seem super grateful for the save. Plus guilt over not helping with training anymore. She might push herself to help him again. No need for that.
Honestly, Yujin had no reason to get as strong as Cheolsu. He didn't even want to fight if he could help it, and his strength was plenty as is. If she wanted to help Cheolsu, better for everyone.
'Anyway, this gives me an excuse to turn her down. No more guilt trips.'
With a solid reason to refuse, she wouldn't force it. Yujin grabbed a soda and rinsed his mouth. For Lime's pride, he kept quiet—but honestly, it didn't taste great.
…
The next day at the academy, the class president cautiously called out to Cheolsu.
"What's up, pres?"
She glanced at him sidelong. How to say this? Her head had been pounding all night over it. But she had to. Or... maybe she wanted to.
"I... agreed to help Kim Yujin with his training."
Cheolsu's expression shifted dramatically. Stunned for a moment, he finally spoke gravely.
"Did that Kim Yujin threaten you too?"
It was a natural suspicion for him. The class president bit her lip. No way she could say it. That while he was gone, she'd trained with his enemy Kim Yujin. That she'd fallen for him from the mana stimulation.
'How could I tell a friend that?'
She was a girl in the prime of youth. No way she'd spill something so embarrassing. Especially when the guy was Cheolsu's arch-nemesis. Just saying it would crush him.
But she couldn't hide these feelings either.
".......I got help from Kim Yujin."
"Help?"
"Yeah. No matter what kind of guy he is, a debt's a debt. I feel obligated to repay it. So in return, I'm gonna help him out."
That was the excuse she'd wrung out somehow. She knew it was a cowardly lie. Sure, he'd saved her—but there were plenty of ways to repay that. Truth was, she just wanted any excuse to be with Yujin.
'Can't help it...'
The recent incident had made her feelings crystal clear. No escaping them. He popped into her head during showers, lying in bed, idle moments. Seeing him at school made her heart race; missing him after made her ache. At first, she thought ignoring it would make it fade. Total delusion. The feelings didn't vanish—they swelled, overflowing her chest. Denying them felt like it'd drive her mad.
'Sorry to Cheolsu, but...'
This was her best for now. At least while at the academy, she wanted to be near him.
"What the hell did that guy even do to help?"
"Saved me from a villain's attack."
She swallowed her guilt and forced the words out. At least it was true.
"Without Yujin, I'd have been ravaged by that monster and wouldn't be here. I'm not heartless enough to just shut up and forget."
"Yujin...? Since when are you two so chummy?"
Her shoulders twitched at his words. Guilt stabbed her heart. Betraying a friend was lethal to the dutiful class president. Put another way, it meant she liked Yujin enough to surpass that pain.
"Anyway, it's true I got his help."
"That guy wouldn't help without strings! He's definitely plotting something shady!"
"Don't talk like you know everything!"
She snapped before she knew it. Cheolsu looked genuinely flustered—no anger, just worry, confusion, concern, sadness. He truly cared for his friend. That's why he was Cheolsu.
'Ugh, why am I yelling? What right do I have...'
From his side, it was baffling. She comes back after ages, says she's teaming with his enemy. If she wouldn't tell the truth, she at least had to understand his view.
"Sorry, wasn't trying to snap at you."
"Yeah, I know."
"I get you're upset, that it doesn't make sense. But this feels right for my heart right now. Can you wait till I sort it out?"
Cheolsu's mouth twitched. He wanted to say something bad. But he swallowed it all, sighing instead.
"Honestly, no clue why you'd hang with a creep like Kim Yujin."
"......."
"Got some circumstance? Blackmailed or something?"
"No. This is my choice."
"...So helping Kim Yujin with training is purely your decision?"
"......Yeah."
"Alright, then we're good."
"Huh?"
Cheolsu exhaled in relief—almost satisfaction.
"I thought maybe you got threatened like Younghee. That would've made me panic more. Glad it's not."
".......You're not mad at me?"
"Nah. Can't understand it, but you're smart—gotta have your reasons."
Her chest ached. Guilt nearly choked her. Cheolsu really was a 'good friend.' Might never meet another like him.
"But remember this: No matter what you think, I'm taking that guy down. I have to."
"Yeah, I know."
"Cool. Anyway, go hard on your path."
He said it cleanly and left. The class president stood dazed a moment, then covered her face with her hands.
'God, I'm trash.'
She liked Kim Yujin. Felt sorry for Cheolsu. Real feelings. But amid that, relief that he wasn't furious—selfish comfort. It disgusted her. Made her loathe herself.
'......Idiot, too late now. Already disappointed him. Quit playing victim.'
She forced herself up. She'd chosen Yujin. Time to give it her all. Resolved, she headed to the classroom.
'There he is.'
Black hair, towering height. Sharp, coldly intimidating features. The man who'd unwittingly stolen her heart.
"Yujin."
"Yeah?"
She took a deep breath before speaking. Like a girl confessing love. Steadying her trembling heart and lips, she opened her mouth.
"To repay last time's favor—and instead of Cheolsu—I'll train with you. After school today?"
"Nah, it's fine."
"Huh?"
Her body froze. Not just her body—her heart turned to stone. Something was wrong. Realization hit quick.
Her stomach dropped. Slowly, like plummeting into deep darkness. Unfamiliar despair crept up.
Ignoring it, Yujin said casually,
"Found a replacement. Just train with Cheolsu."
".......Huh?"
He walked off. She stared blankly at his back.
What? What did he just say?
This couldn't be. Why hurt Cheolsu then? Betray a friend for this...?
And a replacement? Who?
Unconsciously, she bit her nail. Jealousy and anxiety—feelings she'd never known—began to rear their heads in her heart.