Episode 7. The Nape
Episode 7. The Nape
The bell for the 5th period rang, and I opened my locker to take out my gym clothes.
Unlike most schools where you buy them in advance, they were distributed during the morning assembly today.
From now until the 7th period, it's all practical training.
Which means I have to wear these clothes for about three hours straight.
Visually, they looked pretty decent. Though the design was monotonous with just a deep navy blue, this was actually better.
There are plenty of school gym uniforms that ended up looking weird because they tried too hard to be fancy.
The problem wasn't the design or anything like that—it was the size.
"Why did you get such a big one?"
"I don't know......"
Seyeon said as she zipped up her jacket with a drrrup sound.
It was exactly as Seyeon had said.
The size was excessively large, to the point where I could feel the emptiness through the sleeves.
When I stretched my arms out, my fingertips disappeared inside.
Also, the length was too long, causing the top and pants to wrinkle and crumple.
I looked like the Michelin mascot.
It wasn't even a size you could call overfit.
No, what kind of overfit are we talking about for gym clothes anyway?
'What kind of girl is Eun Yubin?'
Doesn't she even know her own clothing size?
Seyeon covered her mouth and laughed, as if she found my appearance amusing.
Unlike me, she was wearing a size that fit her perfectly, looking neat and tidy.
Plus, since Seyeon is incredibly pretty, the school gym uniform looked like some luxury brand training wear that costs millions of won per set.
They say clothes make the man, but is this the opposite case?
"What's wrong?"
"......Nothing."
With mixed feelings, I stared blankly at Seyeon before hurriedly looking away.
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The teacher in charge of practical training was a B-Class Hunter who became an instructor after working in Gates. I remembered the setting that retired Hunters often come to Hunter Academies, and it turned out to be true.
The first thing the teacher said after introducing themselves was that we would form parties in groups of four.
As long as Combat Class and Support Class were appropriately mixed, we were free to form groups as we liked.
You could roughly tell by the terminology, but Combat Class refers to those who fight on the front lines, while Support Class refers to those who support the party, like Healers or buffers.
But, wait.
What did they just say?
Freely? Form groups?
Seriously?
"Ah......"
Twist-
Bad memories suddenly flooded back, and I felt slightly dizzy.
Why on earth would they say something so cruel?
'Does that teacher not know what happens to loners like me in group projects?'
If I were to roughly simulate it in my head, it would go like this.
While the other kids talk and form groups, I'd be cautiously watching like I'm playing musical chairs, nervously rolling my eyes around, and finally, after steeling my resolve, I'd approach any group.
"Um, if you have room, could I join your group...?"
"Ah... we're full. Sorry."
But what I get back is a cold rejection.
With that, my earlier resolve shatters like a poorly opened Choco Pie, and I end up stuck in place.
"You don't have a group?"
"Yes......"
The teacher asks me loudly (loud enough for all the students to hear) as I'm left alone, and I bow my head and answer.
Then, usually, the teacher forcibly puts me into some group that's short on people.
"......"
I can kind of see this future—what should I do?
I can already see the other kids moving around, chatting cheerfully.
My vision goes dark as if I have low blood pressure.
If this continues, it'll be just like before...!
"Yubin-ah, what are you doing?"
As my wrist was grabbed, my vision cleared.
"Uh, huh...?"
"If you don't have a group to join, want to team up with me?"
There's only one person who would talk to me.
Seyeon.
Her tone sounded like 'You don't have a group anyway, right?' but is that the issue now?
She's offering to team up with me...!
"Yes! Of course. Please, let's do it, please......"
I nodded repeatedly at Seyeon as if begging.
"Ah, okay. Just calm down a bit."
Seyeon seemed slightly flustered and stammered her words.
A sigh of relief so deep it felt like the ground would collapse escaped me.
I'm so glad Seyeon is here.
Running into such a pretty and kind girl on the first day was almost a miracle.
"By the way... we need to find two more members. From the Combat Class."
"Combat Class?"
"Yeah. We're both Support, after all."
Huh?
"...Did I ever tell you I'm Support Class?"
I racked my brain.
'I don't think so...'
"Yeah. You told me when we first met. On the bench."
"Did I?"
"Yeah."
On the bench... was that when my memory was a bit fuzzy?
Since I even forgot about exchanging numbers back then, it makes sense that I'd forget this too.
'Seyeon answered really firmly too.'
Anyway, that means we need to find two more Combat Class members.
Who on earth would join us?
The moment I thought that, two people approached us.
It was a couple—a normally-looking boy and girl.
I blinked blankly as I looked at the two of them.
'They're, holding hands...?'
What's this.
Finally, the two reached us.
The girl spoke first.
"Are you guys Support Class?"
The girl was slightly petite with short hair. Her teeth, visible when she spoke, were neatly aligned. She seemed like the type who talks a lot. Unlike us.
"Yeah."
"Ah, really? We're both Combat Class. He uses a sword, and I use a bow. If it's okay, want to form a group together? You guys only have two too, right?"
Overwhelmed by the flood of words, Seyeon and I looked at each other, momentarily flustered.
"Uh, um......"
"Let's discuss it a bit and decide."
"...Okay."
Though her tone was a bit grating, I nodded.
"Isn't it okay?"
"Hmm......"
"We'd have to go out and find people ourselves if not them anyway."
We whispered in low voices.
At my words, Seyeon pondered deeply.
And finally made a decision.
"Let's do it. Well, I don't see anyone else we could team up with."
"Phew......"
Hearing that, the girl let out a sigh.
"I was worried you might say no, but glad it worked out. What are your names?"
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The result of our brief introductions was this.
The boy's name was Kang Hasung. He looked a bit timid, and he really was. The girl even introduced him on his behalf. It felt like he was being dragged around by her......
And the girl's name was Lee Eunbyeol. I had a feeling she would be leading most of our group's conversations.
There was also an astonishing fact.
"Actually, we're dating."
"......No way."
"It's true."
It came out of nowhere, but apparently, they're dating.
They said they've been a couple since first year of middle school without ever breaking up, so that's a pretty long relationship, right?
'That's impressive......'
"......"
But Seyeon suddenly went quiet upon hearing that.
She was staring intently at them with her eyes narrowed like crescent moons.
"...Seyeon-ah?"
"What."
"Nothing, I was just wondering why you're staring like that."
"Just because."
When I asked because it seemed a bit strange, Seyeon answered in a colder tone than usual.
'Are they rubbing her the wrong way?'
Why though.
Maybe because she's single and they're flaunting their relationship?
'That can't be it.'
Considering I've never had a girlfriend in my life and didn't really feel anything, that's probably not it.
'Hmm......'
Since pondering it longer wouldn't give me an answer, I just dropped it.
Anyway, I heard that since it's the first day, we're just forming groups and finishing early.
But starting tomorrow, they'll train us harshly.
'This is trouble.'
My stamina is so bad I get tired climbing five flights of stairs.
Can I really endure three periods of training?
I'll probably struggle to last even 10 minutes.
When I told the others, they all chuckled.
"Yubin-ah, is your stamina that bad?"
"If it's really too much, just pretend to faint. I'll sneak you away to the infirmary."
The two girls giggled as they said that.
The boy named Hasung was just sticking to his girlfriend without saying anything.