Cinderella Syndrome
As I was nearly finishing my coffee, which filled the teacup to the brim, several male students from second and third years entered the clubroom. There were more members than I'd expected, which surprised me a bit.
"What? New recruits?"
"They're both first-years, right?"
"Nice to meet you."
The atmosphere was welcoming, but the boys' gazes were blatantly fixed on Yuri. I, sitting right next to her, was completely ignored.
...Ugh, this is why guys are the way they are.
While I was annoyed by their attitudes, glancing at Yuri's face sitting right beside me made it somewhat understandable. Her clear eyes, sharp features, fair skin, and neat bob haircut exuded an elegant aura even when she was just sitting there quietly. Among all those aspiring actors who boasted about their looks, Yuri stood out exceptionally.
In comparison, I was in my utterly gloomy glasses-girl mode. Sitting side by side like this, how stark the contrast must be.
"So, are you applying to join?"
The third-year senior, Jin Do-yoon, pulled out membership applications from a drawer and handed them to us.
I carefully handed the application back to him.
"I'm already in the dance club, so I just came to observe today."
"Oh? Got it. What about you?"
Yuri fiddled with the application in her hands, her face scrunching up in hesitation. Probably because all the members were guys.
"...I'll just observe today too."
"Aw, really? It'd be fun to do club activities together... Think it over."
The third-year senior looked genuinely disappointed. But when I said I was just observing, he hadn't batted an eye.
...Talk about looks-based discrimination.
I cleared my throat awkwardly and tried to insert myself into their conversation.
"Ahem! So, what kind of activities do you do here?"
I glanced around the clubroom. The boys were each at their desks, searching online media on their laptops. Some articles even featured my face.
"Heh."
The third-year senior adjusted his glasses with a strange smile. What grand revelation are you about to drop?
"Our Celebrity Research Club lives up to its name—we research and discuss celebrities. Think of it as a kind of fan club activity."
"...W-what celebrities do you mainly research?"
Research my foot—it's just stan culture.
The third-year senior picked up a book from the desk and showed it to us. It was a magazine cover with my face plastered large across it.
"The celebrity we're interested in is none other than Ruti."
"Mind if I ask why?"
The third-year senior, Jin Do-yoon, answered without a hint of hesitation.
"Because she's pre-tty."
Then he stared intently at the magazine cover with my face. Goosebumps prickled across my skin.
"Ruti came to our school herself for that movie shoot last time, right? I bumped into her once, and whoa... her real-life visuals were insane."
He started showering her with praise right in front of the person herself. I felt awkwardly embarrassed, not knowing how to respond. Meanwhile, Yuri next to me was nodding along, fully agreeing with the senior.
"Of course, it's not just because she's pretty that we like Ruti."
"There's more?"
"Ruti's mysterious in a lot of ways. It piques your curiosity, you know?"
...Mysterious?
I tilted my head at the cryptic words. The third-year senior flashed that odd smile again.
"Have you girls heard of the Ruti Cinderella Theory?"
The more you dig into Ruti, the more enigmatic she becomes.
For famous celebrities, exposing their private lives is an unavoidable fate. But Ruti shattered that unwritten rule, thoroughly hiding her true identity from the public. Her real name, background, past activities—all shrouded in mystery. She's never once revealed a private side to the masses.
"She must've gone this way!"
Countless paparazzi chased her relentlessly, only to come up empty every time. No one has ever succeeded in uncovering Ruti's private life. It was nothing short of magic.
Who are paparazzi? Vicious hounds who'd gladly chase leads into hell for a scoop. Camping out overnight in front of celebrities' homes is child's play; they even approach staff or family to dig for dirt. Privacy invasion? Over-the-line reporting? None of that matters. All they care about is snapping that sellable shot.
Even those paparazzi were powerless against Ruti. Once her stage ended, she'd vanish like magic, as if she ceased to exist off-stage, never showing a trace anywhere.
This sparked urban-legend-like rumors online recently: the Ruti Cinderella Theory. Just like Cinderella, doesn't Ruti transform into someone else after a certain time? Most fans dismissed it as a joke, but some took the rumor seriously.
Jin Do-yoon of the Celebrity Research Club was one of them. Captivated by Ruti since her debut, he sensed something off about her appearances. Maybe the rumor isn't just nonsense. Her movements were truly magical.
No way.
The more he observed, the more intriguing and alluring her secrets became. Like some occult entity lurking in the cracks of reality.
One day, Jin Do-yoon cautiously shared his thoughts with classmates he usually studied with.
"Have you heard of the Ruti Cinderella Theory?"
He laid out the tidbits he'd gathered. What started as banter turned serious, until one friend said,
"This is actually fun. Why don't we compile these stories into a school article?"
That's how the Celebrity Research Club was born. Ostensibly for analyzing and debating the entertainment industry, but for Jin Do-yoon, it was a space to broaden his worldview and explore the multifaceted nature of people.
"That's our Celebrity Research Club!"
Jin Do-yoon grandly explained the club's purpose to the girls who'd visited the clubroom. The two showed different reactions.
"What an intriguing rumor. It's kinda like a fairy tale—fun!"
The girl pretty enough to rival celebrities sparkled with interest. Meanwhile, the glasses-wearing plain girl—
"Th-that sounds way too far-fetched, doesn't it? A rumor's just a rumor..."
She desperately denied Jin Do-yoon's hypothesis, looking unusually anxious.
"Why are you sweating like that? You okay?"
"Just a bit hot..."
She mumbled an excuse and gulped down the steaming coffee from her cup.
"Ow!"
The startled glasses girl hurriedly set down her teacup and fanned her mouth frantically. Her reddened tongue was visible even from afar.
"Hmph."
Jin Do-yoon eyed her with displeasure. She'd been like that during morning commute too—everything she did rubbed him the wrong way. He had no desire to accept her as a member.
On the other hand, the girl next to her, Ha Yu-ri, was someone he personally liked a lot.
You can tell she likes Ruti just from her expression.
Best of all was her outstanding looks. Her pure yet refined beauty outshone most celebrities without exaggeration.
If someone like her joins, it'll boost male applicants big time. Might even shake off the 'otaku club' stigma.
He really wanted to pull her in somehow. Gauging her reaction, Jin Do-yoon broached carefully.
"So, what do you think? Wanna join our club?"
She pondered for a moment. Jin Do-yoon swallowed hard, waiting. The other members eavesdropping secretly felt the same, desperately hoping for a "yes."
Please be our token girl...
Finally, she smiled brightly.
"I'll have to pass on joining."
Hearing that felt like the world crumbling. He never dreamed she'd refuse so easily.
"Wait, why? Didn't you like Ruti too?"
"I thought this was just a normal fan club. But from what you're saying..."
She plunged a dagger into Jin Do-yoon's heart with a calm face.
"That's the kind of stuff paparazzi do. I don't want Ruti hating me for it. So, I'll politely decline."
Her tone was so firm he couldn't even attempt persuasion. Jin Do-yoon hung his head in dismay.
Then he turned to the glasses girl beside her.
Maybe she'll change her mind if her friend joins...
With that thought, he tried recruiting her too.
"What about you? Wanna join?"
The glasses girl flinched and shot up from her seat before even answering.
"L-like I said, I'm already in the dance club. Sorry, but I can't join here. Thanks for the tea."
She hastily gathered her things and fled the clubroom like a rabbit escaping a tiger's den.
Jin Do-yoon watched her go in stunned silence, his face a mix of disbelief.
Who said you could leave?
Glasses girl—Kim Siyeon, was it? She was an odd one in every way.