Music Is My Life and the Chopstick Showdown
Status: Music is my life. This is no exaggeration.
Thud thud!!Crunch crunch!!
It's hopeless. No conversation possible.
After the ridiculous shock and horror at preschool, I threw myself into books and music. Having enjoyed literature and music in my previous life too, this time wasn't boring at all.
Step up in this beach like~.
"...Yujin, honey, I didn't just hear that wrong, did I?"
No matter how I listen, it doesn't sound like "beach." Ah, I shouldn't have blasted Kanye so openly at five. After that, I developed the habit of silently listening to profanity-laced tracks with eyes closed.
Anyway.
"Ah, no...!!"
"Yes."
Mom immediately yanked the speakers out of my room. Dad sided with her too, not listening to a word I said. This is so unfair. I only won at rock-paper-scissors.
"You have to come holding hands when you get back?"
I added that throwaway line, and now it's an extra mission. Damn it. Shouldn't have made excuses.
Elementary school kids' overreactions surpass any adult's imagination. And the reactions between boys and girls are surprisingly different.
"The boy who made Yujin cry!!"
"Yujin only lost to another Yujin!!"
The little boys looked at me with eyes full of awe for some reason.
"How could you make Yujin cry...!"
"Mom said handsome kids earn their keep with their faces...!!"
The little girls stared at me openly disappointed.
And—
"...Hey."
"Hmph!"
Hmm. She's seriously pissed. She whipped her head away the moment I spoke.
"Ugh...!!"
Then she glared at me sharply with annoyed eyes.
Screeech. By the end, she pulled off the ultimate elementary school protest: desk separation.
Damn. Saying it out loud would just make her madder, so I held back.
"Sorry."
I apologized while sliding her desk back. Luckily, Yujin didn't pull the childish desk trick again—but—
Scribble scribble, toss!
A pretty memo paper handed over with a pouty face. It had that big, childish elementary school handwriting.
[I'm not talking to you!]
"Pfft."
"You laughing?"
"...Hup."
I switched to deep breaths a beat late. I ducked my head under her piercing glare.
After a timed glance, she was arms crossed, head turned to the window. No choice—I had to communicate in writing too.
[You won with a lie, so it's invalid.]
I carefully passed the memo over the desk, flipping it to spark curiosity...
She glanced. Looks like it worked. Yujin alternated looks between me and the memo, fingers twitching.
"Hmph...!"
She finally picked it up. Even mad, curiosity wins.
Rustle.
"...Wow, your handwriting is so pretty."
Yujin's eyes sparkled at the memo. I'd spent plenty of time perfecting it in my past life, so adults often complimented it.
"Haah...?!"
She stared holes into it, then made a weird noise. Then she stared holes into my face...
"H-It's not pretty at all...!"
How badly does she not want to admit it?
"You said this lady never lies, right?"
"...Haah?!"
The words were already out, but she covered her mouth with both hands. Her already big eyes went even rounder, shocked at her own lie.
It was so cute I propped my chin and stared without thinking.
"...Ugh!"
Our eyes met, and her head whipped away. I could tease more, but that'd backfire. Today, I need to make up with this princess and invite her home.
[Wanna introduce me to the school?]
My favorite notepad. I tore off a long strip of Oxford legal pad and passed it over.
Yujin glanced, then reluctantly picked up her pen.
[You're left-handed?]
Hmm, wasn't expecting the convo to continue.
[Yeah. Left-handed.]
[Ooh...! Cool!]
[But I eat with my right hand.]
[Huh? You can really do that?!]
[I can do it left-handed too. Wanna see two-handed chopsticks later?]
"Yes! Show me!!"
Yujin leaned right into my space to answer. Her eyes sparkled so much, you'd forget she was mad—
"Haah...?!"
[Sh-Show me...!]
Hmm, she hasn't forgotten yet.
[I'll show you at lunch. But then you introduce the school?]
Still need to play the mood, so I propped my chin and wrote more. Yujin stared at my face, then pulled the notepad fully to her side.
[Chopstick showdown with me!]
I always think this, but elementary school conversations are impossible to predict.
Long story short, that's how it went. She wants to beat me, but no confidence in rematch rock-paper-scissors. While pondering what to win at, chopsticks popped into her head.
"Never dropped a single bean?"
"Hehe. Sounds like a lie, but it's true!"
And our princess shows insane confidence again.
"On good days, I even pick up the shells?!"
"That sounds like a total lie—"
"J-Just a little exaggeration!"
"A little?"
"A l-little bit more than a little..."
"......"
Yujin fidgeted, head slightly turned. Asking more might make her cry, so I nodded.
"...So that's why you brought so much bean dish?"
I pointed at her tray. Packed with kid-friendly foods. The beans were the only iffy part...
"Yeah! For the showdown!"
Even so, stacking it like a tower is overkill.
"You can eat all this?"
"No!"
"...?"
"But you can!"
"Teacher! Yujin's messing with food again—mmph!!"
The moment I raised my hand to avoid food torture accusations, Yujin yanked me close. My mouth was sealed, hand dragged under the desk.
"Y-You didn't bring any...! We can share...!!"
Even her soft tone dripped urgency. She griped at my meat-heavy, zero-bean tray... but what does this kid know?
"I'm from Hawaii. Love Western food."
"Bulgogi's Korean food?!"
"Korean food's world-class."
"Then bean dish is Western too?!"
Damn. More logical than expected.
"...So. You introduce the school if I win?"
Who can break this kid's stubbornness? I lightly tapped her hand to signal release.
She finally let go and nodded.
"Right. And if this lady wins, you eat all the beans!"
"Weren't we sharing earlier?"
"No incentive for me then!"
"...Then if I win, how do we settle this?"
"We share!"
"......"
"You said sorry."
This is ridiculous. I gave her pitying eyes, but the cheeky kid was right. Time to score points with Yujin.
"Whoever moves it all first. See that clock?"
"I see it, but isn't the pile too huge?"
Mountain-like isn't exaggeration. This'll take minutes...
It stings. Those stares sting.
Teacher's noticed us glued together instead of eating.
...Why's she looking at me like a person of interest?
"How about we don't do that—let's do this instead?"
"Huh?"
Food play report to parents incoming. I hurried with new rules.
"Who moves more in 10 seconds."
"Just 10 seconds?"
Yujin tilted her head. I pressed on.
"Listen. Chopsticks are about speed and precision."
"...Precision I get, but why speed?"
"So you get one more tasty bite when sharing."
"Aha."
She gets my half-doubt while saying it. Good. Our princess really is a eating champ. Knew it from yesterday's lunch portions.
"And most importantly."
"Most?"
"The thrill of it ending in 10 seconds."
I turned fully, eyes locking. I'd only side-glanced before, missing half her face—
She grinned.
"Hehe. I'll go first!"
Tension maxed. Fearless, determined face as she grabbed chopsticks.
"Start!"
Second hand hit 12, her hand flew. Deserved that shell brag—nearly two beans per second.
Damn.
"Aaah!"
Cute scream, 10 seconds up. Empty spot: 19 beans.
"Hehe... Can you beat it?"
Like a boxer post-round. She handed her chopsticks with cocky confidence.
Should lose to cheer her up. One bean short for perfection.
But—
"Start!!"
Flash flash flash!!
"Wha?!"
Our cocky princess jumped in shock. That's how.
Third-raters fumble and drop. Second-raters secure each one. Our princess is first-rate. Speed and precision, right?
But, sadly.
"I hate beans...!"
Beyond heaven. Superhumans exist. That's me.
"Aaah!"
"Aaah?!?!?!"
10 seconds ended in dual screams. Mine from hand cramps.
"No way...?!"
Total: twenty. Yujin screamed at losing again.
"This lady's nineteen... surpassed?!"
"Heh."
"...This lady?"
What more to say? Just smile.
"Lost twice in a row...?"
Dazed during her prime, she muttered low. Set chopsticks down, grabbed spoon aggressively.
Gulp gulp.
Half the bean tower gone in seconds.
"Lost... twice...?"
Expressionless. "...What? Why?"
"No way."
Gulp gulp.
Our share-the-beans deal? Two spoonfuls gone. Rest vanished like combat rations—no chopsticks, pure efficiency.
...Not using them 'cause she lost?
I'm unqualified for chopsticks? Something like that?
...No, that's not it.
Plan was win, then share beans happily. Meat-heavy tray for same reason. Bond over food, show I'm not bad...
"...Tch!!"
Teary eyes again. Big mistake on my part.
"N-Next time, I'll definitely win...!!"
"A-Alright...?"
"I said I'll wiiin!!!"
Tear-mixed vow more desperate. She whisper-yelled to stay low-key, but.
"Teacher!! Yujin made Yujin cry again!!"
Elementary kids love meddling. And if you're gonna look, look right.
"Nooo!! I didn't make her cry!!"
"I-I'm not crying...?!"
"Then why the tears?"
"Th-This is...! Waaahhh!!!"
"Hey, you?!?"
How could an elementary kid not cry after this? Mom, I'm really wronged. Minho egged it on, not me.
"...Yujin? Can you explain to teacher what happened?"
Teacher arrived fast. Day two of transfer, but her eyes screamed you again?
"Status window."
I desperately called out in frustration. Sadly, my power's past life only.
"You messing with teacher right now?"
"...Sorry."
Damn it.