Sweet Excuses and an Unexpected Escort
It was an unreasonably early hour. I pushed open the convenience store door and stepped inside. Hmm... The reason I was here at this time was simple. Sera had asked me to pick up some chocolate for her.
I stood in front of the shelf stacked with chocolates, pondering for a moment. But... what should I get? Something too sweet might be too heavy for the morning, and anything too bitter she'd probably hate. There were just so many kinds... If I dragged this out any longer, I'd be late, so I grabbed a standard bar you could break off pieces from.
Beep.
"It's a 1+1 deal—want to grab one more?"
Huh? Was it? I'd been so focused on choosing that I missed it. I quickly grabbed another one and checked out. Then I stuffed the chocolates into my bag and headed to school.
After arriving, I went through my routine. A nearly hour-long run, followed by a shower. When I opened the classroom door, Sera was already pulling out her violin, getting ready to play.
"Morning." I greeted her as I approached, pulling a chocolate from my pocket to show her at the same time.
Sera glanced at it and smiled lightly.
"You actually bought it?"
"You think I'd bring fake ones?"
I handed it over as I spoke, and she took it, unwrapping the packaging and carefully breaking off a corner piece before popping it into her mouth. Crunch.
"Mmm. Good."
Her lips curved up slightly, her eyes brightening in an instant. That expression looked so purely happy that my heart skipped a big beat. Ahem... A look like that was a little dangerous.
"Ah~ So tasty. You made my mood way better. Thanks for getting it."
With that, Sera picked up her violin and started playing. As the music filled the classroom, the atmosphere shifted. I'd been listening for a while when I suddenly noticed her gaze wasn't fixed on her usual spot.
Huh? She doesn't usually stare at one place like that while playing... Looking closer, I caught her eyes flicking toward the chocolate.
Ah... She wants more chocolate but can't play and eat at the same time? Violin takes both hands.
I quietly made my way to Sera's desk.
"Huh?"
She looked a bit surprised as I approached. I silently broke off a piece of chocolate. Then, right in front of her, I whispered very softly,
"Ah~."
Sera's face went blank for a second, like she didn't get it, but when she realized I was going to feed her, she flushed a little. Her eyes wavered once, but she obediently opened her mouth. It was an embarrassed expression, but as the chocolate slid in, it melted back into that happy gaze from before.
Sera resumed playing with an utterly blissful look. The remaining melody flowed even more gently.
When she finished and lowered her violin, she asked,
"But how'd you know I wanted chocolate in the middle of playing?"
I shrugged.
"Your eyes kept drifting there. Doesn't that mean you wanted some?"
"Did they? Kinda embarrassing."
Sera said that, then suddenly grinned mischievously.
"Oh! Wait, I've been the only one eating this whole time."
She broke off a piece and held it out to me.
"Here, I gotta return the favor."
I held out my hand, but she tilted her head and said,
"No, ah~."
Eh? She meant for me to open my mouth, just like I'd done. As her hand came closer, my heart suddenly raced. I took the chocolate from her straight into my mouth. For a split second, I felt her finger brush my lips.
"Now we're even?"
As she said it and turned away, Sera paused.
"Wait."
Then she cupped my face with her hand and gently wiped the corner of my mouth with her index finger.
"You had some on you."
That short phrase and the touch of her fingertip blanked my mind. My heart pounded like it would burst, my legs went weak. I slumped over my desk.
"Huh? What's wrong? You okay?"
Sera's voice came from close by.
"I... just super tired. Was fighting off sleep..."
I blurted out an excuse and barely managed to hide my flushed face.
Afternoon practice time rolled around. We all formed a circle for stretching, and once our bodies were warmed up, we scattered to our positions. I was throwing into the net as usual when I sensed someone approaching from behind.
I turned to see the captain and third-year ace, Lee Seok-hyeon, coming over. He stood beside me, watching me throw in silence for a bit before speaking.
"Jeong-ui, I heard everything. Good call."
Heard everything... and good call? What was he talking about? I froze for a second. Nothing came to mind right away.
"Huh? What about?"
I asked, and he chuckled shortly, shaking his head.
"Don't play dumb. A leader's position is about leading, but also empathizing. You gotta look around, y'know? Don't just crack the whip—dangle some carrots too. Yesterday, you only whipped."
Eh...? Wait... Was this about me chewing out the freshmen? Or...
Then he got to the point.
"And you changed your pitching pattern to handle more innings with fewer pitches, right? Smart move. The Cheongryonggi draw looks favorable—we could go pretty far—but I've been worried about the lack of good pitchers."
"Lack of good pitchers? Isn't it enough with you and the other third-years?"
The captain glanced at the sky for a moment, then explained calmly.
"Weekend league is once a week, but tournaments like Cheongryonggi mean two games a week. With pitch limits, I can really only pitch once. Even throwing 105 pitches, I can't always finish a game alone. If luck's bad, Hyeon-jin has to pitch that day too. Then the next one's on second-year Ha-neul. And... well, that's usually where it ends."
Hearing that, calculations spun in my head. Ah... So that's how it shakes out... Hyeon-jin and Ha-neul must be the other third- and second-year pitchers...
"So when you said you'd take another starting spot, I was all for it. Hyeon-jin might be a bit bruised ego-wise, but if winning's the goal, he'll suck it up. Him shifting to bullpen? I like it."
I threw one more pitch into the net, caught my breath, and said,
"Starting might be a stretch... But I'll handle the back end solid. This year's on the third-years to shine. Honestly, my stamina can't hack long starts right now. You two give it everything."
The captain nodded.
"Too bad. Alright, got it."
He patted my shoulder lightly.
"Just make sure you back us up strong in the tournament."
A few days later, weekend league returned. No afternoon practice the day before Friday's game, so I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed home. Days like this naturally brought Sera to mind. Because she usually walked home with Lee Seung-min.
Of course, they weren't dating anymore, and yeah, they walked together—but it was just because they went to the same elementary and middle schools, so their houses were in the same direction. And... honestly, they'd known each other way longer than I had, so of course they'd be close. It was natural. Getting upset over something like that would be stupid.
So I figured, if possible, just don't look and keep walking.
But as soon as I stepped out, there they were on the way home. Damn it. I shouldn't have seen this... I averted my eyes, planning to hustle past to my place.
Then an unexpected voice rang out.
"Ah! Seung-min, gotta head straight to the practice room for contest prep today."
"Huh?"
"So go on alone. Got it?"
Passing by, I inwardly cheered. I fought back a grin. And I caught Seung-min's face souring hard. Sucker, I thought, striding toward home.
Heh heh heh. Felt like I could tap-dance all the way.
A few steps later, someone nudged me. What? I turned, and it was Sera.
"What's got you so happy?"
"Huh? What?"
I stammered in surprise, and she smirked.
"You were dying of jealousy? Can't have you dying."
I stood there like an idiot, going, "Uh..."
Sera tilted her head.
"What's with that reaction? Guess I'll head home then—with Seung-min?"
"No no!"
I blurted. "You startled me, so... uh..."
"You're a total idiot right now. C'mon."
Sera started walking again, and I fell in step beside her.
"Where to?"
"Just a little walk."
...Suddenly walking alone together like this... It felt like strolling on clouds. As we walked in silence, Sera murmured,
"But you were that jealous of this?"
I hesitated at the question. Didn't want to be too honest, but no lies either.
"...Yeah."
"Over something this small..."
Did Sera not get it? Or was she playing dumb? Seung-min had looked like his world ended when she ditched him, and here I was next to her, so thrilled I barely knew how to walk.
"Jeong-ui, which way's your house?"
"Me? This way."
"Ah, mine's that way. Practice room's over there. See ya."
Sera waved lightly and headed off in the direction she'd pointed. Already? I didn't want to part. I followed and stood beside her again.
"Huh?"
"...I'll escort you."
"Eh? No need."
Hmm... What excuse would work? I racked my brain. A kinda embarrassing one popped up.
"At least for a month..."
"A month?"
"The screw-up Jeong-ui should stick around as punishment."
"Pfft."
Sera burst out laughing.
"What's that?~ So you'll do it forever now?"
"...As long as you want."