Chapter 129: Would You Like to Go on a Date with Me?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 129: Would You Like to Go on a Date with Me?
Lunchtime.
Instead of heading to the cafeteria, I went straight to the research lab where Ryu Hye-mi was.
‘Ryu Hye-mi is almost completely won over.’
Now, if I could just get her outside the academy, she would have no choice but to fall for me entirely.
When the setting changes, feelings for another person naturally take on a different, more special hue. That was why if I met Hye-mi outside and went on an intimate date, it was as good as a done deal.
‘Besides, we have to eat together anyway.’
Normally, I should have brought up spending lunchtime together while doing the examination, but teasing Min-su had been so much fun that I’d completely forgotten.
‘If I go toward the cafeteria, there’s a high chance Yu-min and Su-jin will be there to interfere... I should just order in.’
Victory Academy provided top-tier services, to the point where one might wonder, “They even do this?”
One of the things that surprised me most was the delivery system. If someone missed a meal due to training or didn't even have time to go eat during a busy workday, they could simply open the Victory Cafeteria app, select a menu, and place an order to have food delivered.
In other words, I could eat leisurely with Ryu Hye-mi, just the two of us, in the research lab.
‘Hm?’
As I walked toward the lab, plotting a plan that would make Kim Min-su wail in despair, I saw him walking from the opposite direction.
Since the lab was located midway between Kim Min-su and me, his goal was obvious. Had his "NTR instincts" kicked in, making him realize that Ryu Hye-mi wasn't the same as before? He had a look of grim determination in his eyes.
The distance between us was closing, but he didn't even notice me. He kept his head down, muttering something under his breath.
I strained my ears to hear what he was saying.
"I’m definitely going to confess... that I like her... Baek Tae-yang only told me, but I’ll be bold and tell Instructor Ryu Hye-mi... no, Hye-mi Nuna directly to show I’m better... and, uh, whatever... I’ll set up a date... and confess my true feelings to do this and that... I can do it... there’s no need to be shy. I’m Kim Min-su, the rank 2 freshman at Victory Academy, so I’m more than qualified... I like her... and I know Nuna likes me too..."
This was truly disgusting.
I thought I’d become immune to most things after seeing so many sides of Min-su, but this was crossing the line by a long shot.
It would be one thing if Min-su were handsome, but with looks that barely scraped past average and that pathetic attitude... Was it because he occupied that "unexplainably popular with girls" position despite having a mop-top and no sense of style? I couldn't understand where he got the confidence to spout such nonsense.
‘You’re not even popular anymore.’
The reason the heroines cut ties with Min-su so decisively once I woke them up to reality? Because that was the natural order of things. Kim Min-su was the type who didn't even put effort into his appearance, yet was popular and couldn't even express his emotions properly. Logically, a guy who shouldn't be popular had only made it this far by piggybacking off Chubby Ahn.
"Hey, Kim Min-su. What are you doing?"
Knowing he’d only leave Hye-mi with bad memories if he kept going like that, I stopped him. Kim Min-su, who truly hadn't realized I was there, looked utterly shocked the moment he saw my face.
"Huh...? Oh, what... Baek Tae-yang... Why are you here?"
Why else? To save Ryu Hye-mi.
"That precision exam from before isn't finished yet. Instructor Ryu Hye-mi asked to see me separately."
"What...? Uh... no, I mean... it's lunchtime, what kind of exam is that? You should eat."
"What can I do? She called for me."
I didn't bother asking why he was there. If Kim Min-su opened his mouth, he’d just go on a long-winded rant I didn't want to hear. Min-su looked incredibly flustered that an obstacle had appeared before he could even put his plan into action.
"Uh... no, well... I have business with Instructor Ryu Hye-mi too... so I think I should probably go in with you..."
"Really? I was told I’d be examined alone... What about you?"
"That... that! It's for revenge for that time!!!"
As usual, Min-su attempted a sudden outburst. A protagonist shouting at the top of his lungs in the hallway, spitting everywhere.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
It was obvious that laughing here would ruin the atmosphere. I absolutely shouldn't laugh.
"Pfft..."
A leak of air escaped through my twitching lips.
"I... I can eat fish now too! I can debone them for her! Just like you did back then! I won't let anything be taken from me anymore!"
Every word out of Min-su’s mouth tickled my ribs. It felt like someone was gently scratching the soles of my feet with a feather. The only saving grace was that the hallway was empty because it was lunchtime.
"Don't laugh! How long do you think you can keep laughing like that? Do you think you're something special? Do you?!"
Inferiority and jealousy. Having opened his mouth, he seemed determined to vomit out everything on his mind as he continued his tirade. I couldn't even offer a response.
‘Think sad thoughts. Sad thoughts. Sad thoughts.’
How embarrassed would Min-su be if I burst out laughing right here? In situations like this, the one staying quiet always looks like the sane one. Besides, this was the perfect scene to orchestrate a very important moment.
‘Tears of the Antarctic documentary... sad movies... novels...’
While I spent a good while chewing on heartbreaking memories to endure Min-su’s nonsense...
Slide.
"Cadet Kim Min-su?"
The lab door opened, and Ryu Hye-mi stepped out. With all that noise outside, it was only natural she’d come out. This was exactly what I was aiming for.
"Oh, ah... Instructor Ryu Hye-mi. I, uh...!"
"I came out because it was so noisy. What on earth is going on that you're shouting like that?"
Ryu Hye-mi had her hair tied back in a ponytail, likely because she was in the middle of work. Furthermore, the glimpse of her armpits through her white lab coat was powerful enough to create a fetish where none existed.
"No, I just...!"
I didn't need Kim Min-su anymore. Honestly, it would have been quite a stretch to just barge in and ask an instructor to lunch while she was working. But because Min-su had lost his cool and drawn her out, a natural opening to speak had been created.
"Hello, Instructor Ryu Hye-mi."
"Oh, Cadet Baek Tae-yang was here too? What's the matter?"
"I felt like the precision exam we did earlier was a bit lacking."
And it’s also lunchtime.
I said that while subtly glancing toward Min-su. Being quick-witted, she nodded, walked over to me, and gently linked her arm with mine.
"Then I suppose we have no choice but to finish the exam... But Cadet Kim Min-su, did you have other business?"
"Ah, I...! Con... con...!"
"I'm sorry, I'm busy right now... Could you come back after lunch? I'll listen then. See you later."
Min-su couldn't say a word, only stammering as he watched us disappear into the lab. In fact, if he had seriously confessed right then, the situation might have changed.
‘Affection isn't something that's easily given up.’
Especially if it was childhood friend Pure Love, giving up would be even harder. How could loving one person for years be easy? A heart that has been steadfastly guarded doesn't just change because someone cooler suddenly appears.
‘But I made Kim Min-su give up.’
Ironically, that was why such affection was destined to be destroyed by the person themselves. Kim Min-su was the epitome of pathetic, unable to put his feelings into words. For a guy who had missed his chance not once, but twice, there would be no more spring days.
Slide, click.
As the door slowly closed, I saw Kim Min-su’s face filled with despair. It was the face of someone who had finally realized he’d only caused a nuisance without managing to say a word of the confession he’d intended.
I gave him a deep, mocking smirk and waved my hand.
‘Goodbye.’
I felt like I could give him another "good experience" very soon.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Inside the research lab.
Ryu Hye-mi and I sat facing each other across a desk. For the meal, we naturally decided on simple sandwiches that wouldn't leave a mess. Since we were ordering in, it was a menu that Min-su—who was babbling about grilled fish—could never have imagined.
‘He’s the type who’d eat kimchi stew on a first date.’
Seeing his obsession with deboning fish, he must have watched some weird dating video. No matter how impressive my deboning had been, who chooses a menu with a heroine based on something like that?
"So... what's the real reason you came?"
"I haven't received a proper answer to my confession yet."
"Ah... that's..."
Ryu Hye-mi had always shown a very weak side when faced with sincere emotions. Even now, the way she hesitated the moment the word "confession" came out showed exactly where we stood. However, at the same time, pushing too hard might make her feel burdened, so I needed to pace myself properly.
‘Still, it’s a success for now.’
It wasn't a flat rejection, nor did she draw a line with lines like "cadet and instructor." If her answer was a hesitant struggle to find the right words, I was already halfway there.
"I know... it must be sudden... and I feel like I haven't been able to show you who I really am yet. So, how about a date this Sunday?"
"A... a date...?! With me... and Cadet Baek Tae-yang?"
"Yes. If you don't want to... you're free to refuse."
I had to put on a slightly pitiful face here. I lowered my head and looked up at her, putting on an expression intended to trigger her sympathy. Ryu Hye-mi would never be able to refuse a date proposal. Partly because of my sorrowful expression, but the biggest reason was that Ryu Hye-mi was a woman who had dreamed of this situation more than anyone.
Exchanging feelings and going on a date with someone her heart connected with. This was surely the scenario she had always dreamed of.
"...I... I don't dislike it... I'd like to... Let's do it... the date."
Hye-mi nodded and buried her face in her hands. It was the start of a fresh Pure Love.
‘Ah... come to think of it, I have a date with Su-jin on Saturday.’
It was the start of a fresh Harem Pure Love.