Flounder Frenzy and Carrot Calamity
Lunchtime hit right after fourth period math wrapped up.
"Ah, maybe I should just drop out."
Kim Hyun-jik muttered under his breath as we headed to the cafeteria together.
"What?! Flounder curry?! Flounder miso soup?! Flounder doesn't go with those dishes! Are they insane?!"
"It's tasty, though."
"Argh, seriously! Even mild-mannered me is pissed. It was like this back in third year middle school too, and now high school? Are the nation's nutritionists protesting with flounder or what!? Every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday—flounder shows up like clockwork. I can't tell if they want us to live or die."
"You're whining like a baby over food... Just don't eat it then. I'm going ahead."
Maybe it's my fault.
Ever since I checked 'very positive' for 'flounder' on last year's cafeteria survey. It's been on the menu without fail every week...
I didn't tell Hyun-jik, who's only half on the flounder fan team. Sorry. Next survey, I'll mark 'very positive' for your favorite fried chicken too.
A long line snaked in front of the cafeteria window.
Kids who weren't super close yet chatted in their groups, inching forward bit by bit.
"Argh! You expect me to wait in this line just to choke down flounder curry?!"
"That's why I'm saying, if you hate it, don't eat it. Who's holding a knife to your throat?"
Hyun-jik grumbled but stood in line ahead of me anyway—stomach must've been growling.
The crowd was massive; soon, students eager for flounder curry lined up behind us too.
Flounder never fails. Proof positive: all these people queuing in one direction.
But where there are rule-followers, heretics are bound to appear.
"Hey."
Two guys trying to ignore the line and cut straight in turned at Hyun-jik's call.
One had a sporty buzzcut, tall and hefty. His uniform shirt hung open, buttons undone.
The other had dark skin and wore uniform pants.
"You talking to us?"
"Yeah. No line for you guys?"
"……"
They scowled at Hyun-jik.
"…" "…"
They ignored him and tried to push ahead again.
"Get in line."
Hyun-jik's voice lost its playfulness. They glanced back; he held their gaze steady.
"…Hah, whatever."
They grumbled and shuffled to the back.
"……Hyun-jik. Let's keep it low-key in high school, okay?"
"What? You hate guys like that too, right?"
...I do. But hating them aside, eating lunch even a bit later doesn't feel like a huge loss compared to dealing with cutters.
Well... Kim Hyun-jik's always been like this. People hang with their own kind, so maybe this body's original owner was too before I transmigrated.
And another line-cutter appeared. This one behind me.
"Well done. Kim Hyun-jik. Bad habits start with once, then twice. Hard to believe those immature brats are high schoolers..."
Seo Seon-ha popped up out of nowhere.
"…S-Seon-ha. Sorry, but... you just cut in front of the kids behind you."
"Cut in? I paid proper compensation."
I glanced back.
The kids behind Seon-ha each clutched a 50,000-won bill.
You're the boss.
*
The lunch lady, masked up and scooping flounder onto trays, spotted my nameplate and her face changed.
"…You're here."
"Pardon?"
She ducked inside and carefully brought out a fancy plate covered with a cloche.
...Lifting the lid revealed a golden flounder that screamed premium at first glance. Crispy golden-brown skin—chopsticks would burst with juices any second.
"Oh my, Yeon-woo. Lucky you drew a wild-caught line flounder. Thrilled, right?"
"This is... flounder?"
"Yes. Short season, variable sizes—top-grade stuff that costs a pretty penny. Perfectly grilled."
Seon-ha... don't shove something this elite into my curry rice...
"Yeon-woo. You like yogurt, right?"
"Not really."
"Auntie, 50 yogurts for him."
"Stop."
"Don't worry. It's good for your health."
"That's not the issue. Stop."
Dessert was ice cream. Ssangssang Bada popsicles. But then—
-Thud
The lady placed a Ssangssang Bada on my tray, checked my nameplate, and...
"Aigoo~ Would you look at that. Ran out right here~"
She hastily hid the remaining popsicles.
"Huh? No, what ran out? You just stashed the ice box behind you..."
"Gone. All gone."
Back at our seats, Seon-ha sulked over missing her Ssangssang Bada. Or pretended to.
"How does it run out right in front of me? Boo hoo."
"……Yeah, wild."
"Such cruel fate. God picks on one person sometimes."
"Who knew. The Ssangssang Bada lady's God."
"Ahh, I'd be so unhappy without one."
Her fake-crying eyes locked dead on my popsicle. Hand over half, now. This Ssangssang Bada hustler.
She wouldn't quit till I triggered the 'share popsicle favorability event.' I nearly broke off half to fake-drop it in soup and escape—
"Huh, Seon-ha likes Ssangssang Bada?"
Hyun-jik asked.
"……Pardon?"
"I don't eat 'em. Here, yours."
Hyun-jik plopped his Ssangssang Bada on Seon-ha's tray with a thunk!
…
This clueless bastard...
Good job.
"……Yes, thanks. Kim Hyun-jik."
I caught a glimpse of Seon-ha's profile—the look she gets when she truly hates someone...
*
Our reunion was a disaster.
"Ugh, I hate flounder... left it all... Ahh!? You?!"
Damn. On the way out after a full belly from the cafeteria, I ran into Ban Gyu-ri. Her brown eyes blazed with vengeance, the forehead bump wrapped in what looked like a bandage or plaster.
"Get over here. You. Now."
"Hear me out. I didn't hit you, okay? If I did, I'd own up."
"Then who did?"
"Believe me and you'll forgive?"
"If it makes sense."
Conveniently, no Seon-ha around. I logically, objectively explained the full violence saga.
"So, your friend—who doesn't want us getting close—tricked us into a hitting game, waited for you to hit me, then sniped my head with a slingshot from the third floor?"
"Pretty much spot on."
"You fucking messing with me? Do I look that stupid?"
Her mouth was foul. The straight truth alibi only hyped her up more.
"C'mere. I'll hit you once and we're done."
Ban Gyu-ri waggled her flipped index finger.
"Fine. Hit me... hit me..."
Main heroine or not, I couldn't stay eternal enemies. Time to placate her a bit.
I tilted my forehead for her revenge show—
But she pulled a mallet from her pocket?!
"? Sir?"
"Why back up? C'mere. Just once."
Wait, 'just once' meant no need for a second?!
I bolted.
-Wha, that!? Running again?! Get back here! You're dead if I catch you!!
A girl with flapping brown twin tails chasing me with a hammer? Terrifying.
*
A tiny revenge sparked against Seo Seon-ha for wrecking my Ban Gyu-ri relations.
And I couldn't just take beatings forever.
Even with our power gap—like moon bear vs. meerkat—I had to throw a jab now and then. Make that moon bear reflect in the shower: Am I going too far lately?
The carrot candies on the canteen shelf inspired a wild plan.
'Carrot...'
Back in days... Item Seo Seon-ha loathed.
-How can you give someone carrot juice!? Aaah... I feel insulted! I wanna block my nose and mouth! Vanish from my life forever! I can't even look at it!
Still weird thinking about it. She used to like carrots... Why the sudden hate? No way she hired a hypnotist for mind alteration.
Anyway... I ambushed under the first-floor canteen window to stuff this carrot candy in her mouth.
Inside, Seon-ha sipped coffee lazily, scribbling something. -Scribble
I loaded the carrot candy into my slingshot pouch.
'...Kinda nervous.'
Cat-on-bell tension. Pulled the band taut. Snap.
…
Of course.
Her favorability—titanium-hard—never had a scratch.
'...But what if that hated carrot hits her mouth...?'
This might land. She could snap, yell 'Which bastard?!' Even a smidge of dislike from her = grand slam for me.
C'mon, open wide.
"Mmgh...!"
She stretched, arms high.
"Yaaawn..."
Now. Released the taut band.
Fire.
—Pew!
Seon-ha's soft eyes sharpened instantly.
Impossible speed—she leaned back, dodging upper body.
-Tang!
Instead of Seon-ha.
Ban Gyu-ri—ramen-munching behind her—took it. Forehead. Same spot as before.
"…" "…"
Shit.
Stunned by the unforeseen, I hid too slow post-shot.
Our eyes met. She spotted the dangling slingshot in my hand.
"...Hiii... Sob...! Hiiiik...!!"
-Sniffle
Tears welled in her brown eyes.
Ban Gyu-ri yanked another mallet from her pocket and charged out the canteen door.
…
Time to run again.
Her rage grew daily, ballooning like her fury...