Someone's Trivial Story
It took quite a while for Ye-lim noona's intense reaction to subside. Once she finally calmed down, she told me not to mention anything about Kang Hyuk to other people. She said he was already retired and fairly well-known, so it could easily get twisted into something negative. It didn't sound wrong, so I quietly decided to follow her advice.
Meanwhile, about ten minutes after arriving at the infirmary, I found myself replaying the final moments of that fight from earlier. When I first cracked Jung Ayeon's skull, those red numbers went up. I figured the reason she had smiled was because she'd won in some future before the regression. That must have been why she saw an entirely different future and those red numbers appeared. But when Jung Ayeon exploded, not a single number had gone up. Either she couldn't regress, or she'd acted on pure impulse. Or maybe both.
Kang Hyuk had mentioned a maximum regression of thirty minutes with a one-hour cooldown. Based on that, I assumed the farther into the future you experienced, the harder it became to use it multiple times. Jung Ayeon can probably regress from a much farther future than Hye-ji, but she can't use it nearly as often.
If I hadn't been a variable, the future Jung Ayeon experienced would probably have come true. Still, I'd won regardless of the outcome, so I just let it slide.
On the other hand, as I watched Hye-ji sleeping soundly, I suddenly felt a surge of resentment. Here I was suffering, and this girl was just sleeping? She was practically begging for some graffiti. Would she try to kill me if I used a marker? At least she'd only half-kill me out of conscience, right? I was debating between a magic marker and a ballpoint pen when the infirmary door suddenly opened. Jung Ayeon stepped in, her green eyes darting around.
Fucking bitch, she's still alive. Even though I'd turned her into a half-vegetable in self-defense, I'd hit her pretty hard. Seeing her looking far more intact than expected was genuinely disappointing.
"I've come to receive some medicine."
"Oh my. You're the student who was sparring with Shinwoo earlier, right? Park Ah-young, was it?"
"This lady's name is Jung Ayeon. Please refrain from changing it to such a vulgar one."
"......Does the name 'Viagra' make sense then?"
"......"
Hit right in the sore spot, Jung Ayeon fell silent in an instant.
"So what medicine do you need? You don't look particularly injured."
"....My internal injuries are severe."
Jung Ayeon hesitated but began giving a long-winded explanation as she tried to get her medicine. Then she spotted me behind Ye-lim noona.
"Why are you here, you bastard!!!"
"Some crazy bitch wrecked our legitimate supporter even after the spar was over, so here I am."
"T-that's because you didn't face me from the front and instead cowardly attacked from behind..."
"The idiot who had her eyes closed and got backstabbed sure has a lot to say. You martial arts fanatic."
With a loud grinding sound, Jung Ayeon clenched her teeth.
Ignoring her, I decided to get straight to the point now that I'd seen her.
"You remember what I said, right? If you lose, you do whatever I tell you."
"What kind of shameless thing are you planning?! Are you going to violate this body?!"
"I haven't even said anything yet."
"Hmph!!! Just kill me instead!!"
"I really want to kill you, you fucking dog."
You damn bitch. This isn't some NTR novel. Whether she knew how I felt or not, Jung Ayeon had already slipped into her own little world.
"I-I'm angry, but it seems I have no choice."
"Can you stop with the bullshit?"
"However, even if you subjugate this lady, I will never give you my heart."
"Should I just kill her? Can I kill her? Please let me kill her, you crazy bitch!"
Jung Ayeon's pointless rambling was slowly killing Ye-lim noona's expression. Especially when she kept glancing at me and covering her skirt with her outer garment, my irritation doubled.
"Just give me your contact info. I'll make sure you suffer all day Sunday, so prepare yourself."
"H-hmph. So that's your preference? As I said, this lady will never submit."
"Just take your medicine and get the hell out!!!!!"
Even in the midst of the chaos, Ye-lim noona's professional instincts remained sharp. She quickly gathered and organized the medicine for her. Jung Ayeon snatched it and bolted out of the infirmary like she was fleeing for her life.
After a brief silence, Ye-lim noona's gaze turned toward me, but her eyes kept trembling.
"Um... Shinwoo, by any chance."
"Yes, go ahead."
"...Does Kang Hyuk have the same tastes as you?"
".....Please stop asking. I'm getting dizzy."
"It could be that you're influenced by the people around you."
Because she kept pressing, I eventually told her that Kang Hyuk's preference wasn't for humiliation but for big-breasted femdoms. Since I wasn't the one who'd have to deal with it, I also advised her to prepare a penis ring for training. Ye-lim noona seriously jotted down my advice-that-wasn't-really-advice with a grave expression, then prepared to leave.
"Well then, Shinwoo. I'm going to get dinner."
"When you come back, can you bring me some food?"
"You want more than just infirmary snacks? Isn't that a bit shameless?"
"That's a different novel. Go to the upstairs neighbor. Anyway, you earned a lot of money today."
But Ye-lim noona glared at me with axe-like eyes and shot back.
"This is my money, so why are you talking like it's yours!"
"...Didn't I basically make that money for you?"
"I originally only bet on underdogs. Today you just got lucky."
"There's a crazy underdog addict right here."
Then Ye-lim noona spoke as if she were doing me a huge favor.
"If you get another underdog win, I'll do a naked dogeza for Kang Hyuk."
"What exactly do I gain from that?"
"......Honestly, I just really wanted to do it."
Right before leaving, Ye-lim noona grabbed the doorknob and declared to me.
"Sleeping with someone without consent is a crime, you know?"
"Fuck, seriously."
As soon as Ye-lim noona left, I sent Kang Hyuk a message saying 'You should thank me.' A hook punch emoji flew back immediately, but I quietly ignored it. Thank me. You're about to lose both your virginity and your pure maidenhood together.
In the end, only Hye-ji and I remained in the infirmary. While she was still asleep, I sat in the chair beside the bed and tried to read a novel on my phone.
Yep. The server crashed again. Fuck.
Just as the urge to throw my phone hit me, Hye-ji let out a groan and slowly opened her eyes.
"Ugh... my money."
"Yeah, Hye-ji. You awake?"
"Huh? Shinwoo? Where's my money?"
"...Can you at least say hello when you see my face?"
"Yeah, nice to see you. So where's my money, you Lebowski?"
I pulled Hye-ji's phone from my pocket, turned on the screen, and handed it to her.
"Check it yourself. Your phone didn't even have a password."
"People who put passwords on their phones are the ones with something to hide."
"Does that include your search history too?"
Hye-ji's movements froze. Her pupils vibrated wildly as she slowly turned to look at me.
"...........Did you see?"
"Your tastes are pretty hardcore."
"......Fuck."
The atmosphere had grown awkward. Afraid that saying anything more might make Hye-ji want to kill herself, I quickly changed the subject.
"So, how does it feel after checking the money?"
"Shinwoo, I'm so happy right now. I'm only betting on underdogs from now on."
"You crazy bitch, get a grip."
"All that money from just one fight? And this is the only form of gambling the Academy allows?"
Gambling? We couldn't let this turn into Season 2 of Sea Story.
"Ahem. It's sports."
"Ah, right. Legitimate sports indeed."
As expected of a true supporter, Hye-ji played along perfectly. I quietly spoke to her while she was still mesmerized by the money.
"Since we earned money, just overlook the fact that I wrote your name in the supporter section of the application."
".......Do you have no conscience, human? It feels like I did most of the work?"
"If you don't catch them, you don't get assists either."
"Ha... yeah. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have touched this much money."
Then Hye-ji's expression suddenly turned gloomy.
"I'm so pissed I couldn't even hit that fucking bitch once earlier."
"I have a present prepared just for you."
"What is it?"
I gave her a sinister smile.
"Remember when I told her that if I won, she'd have to do whatever I said?"
"......Is it rape?"
"Fuck, why does everyone go straight to that when they look at me?"
"Anyway, so what?"
I began explaining my plan to Hye-ji. By the time I finished, her previously dark face had transformed into one just as sinister as mine.
"Sir Shinwoo. Please let me join this plan too."
"Of course. You're my legitimate supporter who has crossed life and death with me."
For the Sunday summons of Jung Ayeon, Hye-ji and I discussed a few more details. Then I sent Jung Ayeon a one-sided message through the app. I also added a bonus message: 'If you don't obediently follow, I'll tell your sister what I mentioned before.' When she called back in a panic, I gently switched my phone to silent mode.
With business taken care of, I spoke to Hye-ji as I prepared to leave the infirmary.
"You worked hard today. Are you going to sleep here?"
"My legs keep losing strength for some reason. I think I'll just sleep here."
"Alright. Then I'll turn off the lights and go?"
".......Shinwoo?"
"What?"
Hye-ji spoke slowly, her face slightly fearful.
"......Can you... not turn off the light?"
"Hm? Sure."
"And."
Suddenly, a number went up above Hye-ji's head. Then she smiled and said,
"Never mind. It's late, so you should head back quickly. I'll fall asleep soon."
What future did she just experience to regress? Why is she suddenly smiling so awkwardly? Is it because I was about to leave? How petty.
"It's fine. I'll stay until you fall asleep."
"Huh?... Why?"
"Why? You fought hard today. The least I can do is this much."
"Huh? Really?"
At that moment, another red number went up above Hye-ji's head. So I really would have been the asshole who left a sick person alone. I truly was a piece of trash.
"Are you really okay with it?"
"What are you worried about? I'm more worried that the light will keep you from sleeping."
"You'll really stay until I fall asleep?"
"Absolutely."
The tension in Hye-ji's expression finally eased. She hesitated, then quietly said to me.
"....Then... since you're staying... you can turn off the light."
"Alright."
I turned off the lights, pulled the chair closer to her bed, and sat down. I'd briefly considered turning off the lights and leaving just to tease her, but after seeing her face, I couldn't bring myself to do it.
As soon as the lights went out, Hye-ji seemed anxious and confirmed I was still there.
"Shinwoo. You're still here, right?"
"Yeah, I'm right here."
"......Thank you."
Worried she might not be able to sleep, I didn't even look at my smartphone. I just sat there quietly with my eyes closed. After some time had passed and my eyes had adjusted to the darkness enough to make out her face, Hye-ji suddenly spoke with her eyes still closed.
"Shinwoo. You haven't left yet, right?"
"Yeah. I'm right beside you."
Hye-ji hesitated even more than before, her voice barely a whisper.
"......Could you... maybe... hold my hand?"
".....Why your hand??"
"Ah, never mind! I was just saying it. Ignore me."
I saw all those numbers going up above her head. Without hesitation, I grabbed Hye-ji's left hand. Another red number increased above her head.
"Like this?"
"Uh?.. Uh? Uh?"
"Hey, get a grip. Get a grip. Get a grip."
"Huh? No? Why? How? Why?"
Hye-ji had completely short-circuited from the unexpected situation.
"Why are you breaking already? You asked me to hold it."
"Ah? Ah... that's right."
"Yeah. Feeling a bit better now?"
".....Th-thank you."
After a long silence, Hye-ji spoke again.
"Shinwoo."
"What."
"...Don't I seem weird? Suddenly asking you to turn off the lights and then hold my hand?"
It's not weird. But if other people saw this, they'd probably put me in handcuffs.
"What's there not to hold? Hey, but just so you know, I didn't force this, okay?"
"I won't report you, so stop making such a fuss."
"That's a relief. But is it really okay for me to hold your hand like this?"
"No, no. It's fine. You're a bit weird, but... it's okay."
"....Did the middle part really need to be there?"
Lying down, Hye-ji squeezed my left hand a little tighter. Another number just went up above her head. Could she really regress this frequently? Why can't I do that?
"......Actually, I..."
"If you don't want to say it, you don't have to."
"......"
"Holding hands isn't that hard. Just rest."
Hye-ji didn't respond to my words. Instead, her small hand gripped mine even harder.
"......"
"Then there's no problem."
"Thank you. I'm fine. So I want to tell you."
"No, if it's hard, you really don't have to."
By now another red number had appeared above Hye-ji's head. She turned her head to look at me.
"That's not it."
"....Huh?"
"I just... I want to say it."
"Alright, go ahead."
Hye-ji turned her head back the other way and stayed silent. How much time passed like that? Suddenly, fragmented words began spilling randomly from her lips. I listened quietly.
"After Mom disappeared, I cried every night. Before that, I used to sneak out with her every night to play. After that, I could only sleep with the lights on, and even then I couldn't sleep properly. I tossed and turned constantly. I even stayed up all night a lot. Pathetic, right? Mom was so pretty and strong. Especially when she held a sword, she was more beautiful than anyone."
That was someone's memory.
"Mom said my hair color was the prettiest. That's why she always used red decorations for everything. After Mom disappeared, Dad became quieter too. He used to smile a lot before. He always said it was training and made it painful and difficult. But he never actually beat me. That doesn't mean I hate Dad. ...It's just uncomfortable to talk about, so I still can't say it properly."
Longing for a family that had been separated forever. And awkward feelings toward the family that remained. It was a trivial story from a small girl where all those things were mixed together.
I forced my rarely-used brain to work and organized the content. After a certain day, Hye-ji's mother had disappeared, leaving her with some trauma. Her unfortunate lack of development seemed to stem from psychological factors preventing her from getting proper sleep. ...Let's not mention the last part. The only family left were her father and herself. And after her mother disappeared, her father had raised her strictly, which seemed to have strained their relationship.
Hye-ji spoke to me in a slightly self-mocking tone.
"Shinwoo. Am I weird?"
"......"
"....Hey....Shinwoo. Am I not weird?"
"......"
When I kept not answering, Hye-ji's tone suddenly turned aggressive.
"...You fucking bastard.....are you sleeping?"
"...Huh?"
"I'm trying to have a somewhat serious conversation here and you're sleeping? Are you sleeping?"
"I'm not sleeping, Hye-ji."
Hye-ji bolted upright and began glaring at me fiercely.
"No, your eyes were closed and your head was down, so what do you mean you're not sleeping!!"
"Don't misunderstand. I was meditating with my eyes closed."
Before Hye-ji could snap at me more, I spoke first.
"You have trouble sleeping at night because of trauma, right? And it's hard to improve your relationship with your dad?"
"...You really weren't sleeping?"
When Hye-ji realized I truly hadn't been sleeping, she looked somewhat dejected. This felt a bit unfair.
"I heard everything."
"Yeah. Well, it's mostly what you said."
"So holding hands like this makes it a bit better?"
"...Yes. Mom used to hold my hand like this before."
Hye-ji squeezed my hand so hard it felt like it might break. Hey. That hurts.
"Call me whenever you need. There are too many eyes around, so it's a bit awkward for me to go to the girls' dormitory."
"Then should I come to your room?"
I thought about it. Hye-ji coming to my room late at night.
"......The situation wouldn't improve at all? No, it would get even worse."
"......Ah... right. Sorry."
The suddenly awkward atmosphere left both me and Hye-ji in silence. To quickly change the mood, I brought up another topic.
"You don't hate your father, do you?"
"I don't hate him... but how should I put it."
Hye-ji thought for a moment before speaking again.
"It's a bit uncomfortable. I don't know what to say."
"Just say anything."
"For no reason? Just like that?"
"Conversations between parents and children don't need a reason, do they?"
What's family for? It's just talking about whatever comes to mind, laughing over trivial things, fighting over small stuff, making up. Of course, I wish my own parents would read the room a bit. No, when their son comes home, why does the sound of making another sibling get louder?
Hye-ji's complexion seemed much better than before. I kept holding her hand as I asked,
"Feeling a bit better now?"
"Yeah, thank you. It's much better thanks to you."
"That's good. Lie down. I'll hold your hand until you fall asleep."
Hye-ji paused for a moment, then smiled at me as she answered.
"...Thank you. I'll sleep first."
"Yeah. Good night."
Just thirty seconds later, Hye-ji had fallen asleep. Meanwhile, because I'd been sitting with my eyes closed earlier pretending to meditate, I started feeling a bit sleepy too. But Hye-ji's grip was stronger than mine, with no sign of loosening. I thought I'd let go in a little while, but my thoughts suddenly cut off.
And so the two of us quietly fell asleep. The faint smile that lingered on someone's lips was her own little secret.
Fuck.
That was the thought of the woman in the disheveled office outfit as she supported Ye-lim on her way to the infirmary. She was practically dragging the completely drunk and passed-out Ye-lim there.
You fucking bastards, as if I'd believe you.
The disaster had started when she'd simply suggested they grab a casual meal together as women. The moment she realized they were all single and didn't immediately run away, this catastrophic future had been inevitable. And now she was the one paying the full price.
Once alcohol enters the picture, these idiots become even dumber than my house's Boppy.
At that moment, Ye-lim's body twitched. Then, with the unfiltered speech typical of drunk people, random words poured out.
"Our Ye and! Baby preparation complete? I'm ready too!!!!"
"Please shut up."
It would have been less unfair if she'd drunk too. Then she could have passed out the same way and had someone else support her. But while she, who was off duty, hadn't touched a drop, this crazy on-duty Ye-lim had dived headfirst into the liquor barrel. Naturally, the emotion she felt now was pure resentment.
Fuck, I should have just drunk too.
Suddenly the weight on her shoulder disappeared. Ye-lim had collapsed on the spot. Once down, she began slowly rubbing her lower belly and groin.
"Ehehehehe! All the babies are dead~~."
"You crazy bitch! Please stop!!!!!"
She covered the mouth of the already insane Ye-lim with her hand and forcibly dragged her the rest of the way to the infirmary. Even while being dragged, Ye-lim kept muttering things like 'Uterus! Fully prepared!'
This is why single women are scary, fuck.
Was it a mistake to come to the Academy just because the pay was good? She was enduring this situation by thinking about buying snacks for her daily comfort, Boppy.
The moment she opened the infirmary door, what she saw was two students lying on the bed holding hands. The male student looked extremely precarious, as if he might fall off his chair at any moment. The female student was neatly lying on the bed, and for some reason she seemed to be smiling faintly.
Of course, that impression didn't last long. Because the crazy Ye-lim was about to go on a rampage.
"Huh? Huh? These kids are already holding hands?"
"You know them?"
"I! Haven't even held hands yet!! Why are you first! You traitor!"
"No, the kids are sleeping, so please don't wake them!!!!"
Ye-lim twisted her body, trying to hit the sleeping students. But she was already completely drunk. Instead of approaching them, she flailed in place before collapsing forward, slamming her stomach hard into a desk.
Fucking hell. Nice one, nice.
It seemed that a high blood alcohol concentration made you forget not only judgment but pain as well. The proof was that the Ye-lim before her stood up again as if nothing had happened and began screaming at the top of her lungs.
"Even if you look good, you're uglier than our Ye!!!!"
"I get it, so please be quiet already."
"I too shall now......"
"Huh?...."
A chill ran down her spine. Her instincts screamed. We're fucked. We're really fucked.
Ah. Fuck. Mom. Seriously.
Slamming into the desk earlier had created a butterfly effect. Just before the storm hit, she urgently grabbed Ye-lim by the hair and started running. The destination was the bathroom.
"Don'tthrowupherethisbathroomhurry."
"Ugh....."
"Pleasepleasepleaseplease"
Thanks to running desperately, they barely made it to the bathroom. Well, they made it at least.
"Uweeeehhhhhhhk."
Half a step. If she'd taken just half a step more, it would have been the toilet bowl. That half step was what was missing.
"Fucking bitches."
Drunk people often grab or lean on something when vomiting. The targets vary. Telephone poles. Walls. Dog houses. And juniors. Ye-lim grabbed her junior and began vomiting all over her clothes. The sour smell stung her nose, and her clothes gradually became sticky with the paste from a human stomach. At the same time, tears slowly began to form in her junior's eyes.
The only blessings for her junior were that this was a bathroom so water was close by, and that even hellish times eventually come to an end.
Boppy. Mommy's having such a hard time.
That day, someone became a little more adult. It was a trivial story.