After returning home, the first thing I thought about was how to become stronger.
I realized that in order to have the minimum level of safety in this damned world, I needed to be physically strong.
Exercise, martial arts, self-defense equipment.
There are many ways, but the one I focused on was exercise.
If I just build up my physique to the point where I wouldn’t even think about attacking someone, right?
I also have a good role model.
The woman I met at the convenience store last time looked strong.
I wish I could build up my body to that level.
She looked so strong and cool at first glance…
Okay.
Decided! I’ll definitely ask her when I see her again.
If you happen to do any kind of exercise.
It wouldn’t be rude to ask politely, right?
Hehe.
Now that I’m done worrying, I should take a bath and go to sleep.
I’m looking forward to my convenience store job tomorrow.
Swish, swish-
Thud-…
Just before I took off my clothes and went into the bathroom, I noticed the amulet hanging around my neck.
It wasn’t particularly uncomfortable, and Seoyoon said that the material was okay even if it got wet, but wouldn’t it be better to take it off?
Ugh, no.
Since it was a gift from Seoyoon, I should wear it for a while.
Who knows, it might actually work.
‘…It’s really waterproof.’
In fact, the amulet showed amazing waterproof performance, repelling water.
When I touched it, it felt like ordinary cloth, but what kind of material was it?
Well, whatever.
“Seoyoon, didn’t you sleep…?”
“Ugh…? Yeah… I’m sleepy…”
The next day.
When I met Seoyoon on the way to school, her dark circles had gotten worse.
She was fine until yesterday, but how could she become like this in just one day?
“Are you okay…? Are you sick?”
“Shhh!”
The moment I put my palm on her forehead to check if she had a fever, Seoyoon shivered and quickly stepped back.
I was surprised by the quick movements I had never seen before, but I froze in place at the strange moan I heard.
“Ah… Mi, I’m sorry… Are you surprised? I have a slight fever today… Please don’t touch me.”
Fever…
Certainly, judging by your red face and heavy breathing, you seem to have a fever.
I hope you don’t get sick too much…
“Yeah. If you do, let me know. I’ll take you to the infirmary.”
“Hehe… Thanks, Miro.”
It was quite awkward to walk to school with Seoyoon slightly at a distance.
Maybe it was because Seoyoon usually clings to me and I repeatedly tell her to get away.
…Slightly, something.
It feels empty.
“Seoyoon, let’s buy some cold medicine and fever reducer on the way.”
“Huh!? I’m fine…”
“I’m not fine. Okay, come this way.”
“Hah, I’m going to be late for school… I think it’ll settle down soon. Okay? It’s okay…”
“Hurry up.”
“It’s really okay…”
I forcibly took Seo-yoon, who was flustered, to the pharmacy and bought various medicines.
Antipyretics, cold medicine, cold medicine to drink, and even sweet honey tea.
If I feed her all of these, her cold will get better soon, right?
Even if it doesn’t, I can feed her every day until she gets better.
“…I’ll eat well.”
“Yeah. Ah! I’ll take a picture of myself eating when I get home and send it to you. Okay?”
“Yeah… Hehe.”
I’ll be late for school, but… it won’t matter.
Our homeroom teacher is always late because she’s always joking around with the gym teacher.
I thought she didn’t get caught, but she always leaves a kiss mark on my neck.
Knock knock knock.
As expected, the teacher wasn’t in the classroom.
I wondered if this was okay, but I’m an idiot in this world for caring, so I’ll have to put up with it.
“Kids~ The teacher’s a little late, right? Now it’s textbook pizza!”
About 10 minutes after entering the classroom, the teacher with a clear kiss mark on her neck hurried into the classroom.
Judging from the fact that she just said she was late and continued teaching naturally, she was an amazing person in many ways.
1st period, 2nd period, 3rd period, 4th period.
Quite a bit of time had passed, but today, the only person who cared about me was Seo-yoon.
The other students would just avoid me or look away when I approached them.
… Am I actually being bullied?
Last time I checked, there were bullies and bullies.
When I didn’t know, I didn’t care at all, but now that I know, I feel like I care for nothing.
I decided to stay out of the way, but I wanted to be excluded from the list of potential lovers, not bullied…
Well, I still have Seo-yoon.
They say quantity over quality, right?
Since one Seo-yoon is more than 100 people, it doesn’t matter.
Yeah.
“Miroya~ What are you going to do for dinner today?”
Look.
Seo-yoon cares about me.
Hehe.
“Grandma packed me a lunch box, so I’m going to eat it in the classroom.”
“Really…? I’m going to eat at the cafeteria. Ugh, should I just buy some bread and eat with you?”
“No. You have a cold, right? You need to eat nutritious food to get better quickly. Eat at the cafeteria and come back.”
“Not a cold… Oh, Miro is right! I’ll eat soon and come back, so just wait a little bit!”
Seoyoon ran out of the classroom without any time to stop her.
Judging from the sound of her voice from far away, she must be still running.
Was she that hungry…?
I should’ve told her.
She should’ve at least shared her lunch box.
Click.
Is today’s lunch box concept vegetables?
There’s a lot of grass.
I should eat quickly and wait for Seoyoon.
First, the bean sprouts…
“…You.”
“Wh, what… Gulp, gulp…”
The moment I picked up the bean sprouts and put them in my mouth, I made eye contact with the person who was hiding under the desk and watching me.
I couldn’t even imagine it, so I spit out the bean sprouts and coughed several times.
My throat, my throat hurt…
“Are you okay now…?”
The woman hiding under my desk was trying to calm me down, patting my knees diligently.
It’s strange because she’s the culprit…
She’s not giving me any medicine.
“It’s okay, but… Why are you hiding in a place like that…?”
“I… am destined to live in the dark.”
…Now that I look at this girl, isn’t she the dog that was bullied in the bathroom last time?
The way she speaks is a bit strange, isn’t she?
“What… is there something you want me to do?”
“Yeah…”
The girl nodded slightly and came out from under the desk and came to me.
I’d only seen her sitting down, but when she stood up, she was quite tall and had a ferocious physique, unlike her atmosphere.
In many ways.
Her chest… seems to be the biggest I’ve ever seen.
“Why did you help me…?”
“Huh?”
“In the bathroom… you know…”
“Just, with good intentions?”
“With good intentions…?”
“Yeah. I figured it out, but I can’t just ignore it and go.’
“Everyone was busy pretending not to see me and passing by. You were the only one who was different…”
“I guess the others didn’t have good intentions. I’m starting to get hungry, so can I have some food…? It’ll be burdensome if I keep looking at you.”
“…Okay.”
The girl nodded and slowly went under my desk again.
You said you understood, but it’s still burdensome if you stay there…
How did you squeeze your big body in in the first place?
…Since I’m hungry, let’s at least eat.
If you don’t pay attention, it’ll go away on its own.
Again, bean sprouts first.
“…You.”
“I’m so surprised, can you stop talking to me from down there…? It’s scary.”
“Call my name… Then, I’ll go.”
“Name?”
“Ha-eun…”
“That’s a pretty name. Ha-eun, it doesn’t matter after you eat, so go now.”
“Kuk.. kuk kuk… Thank you. Miro…”
The woman who had been smiling gently, Ha-eun, quietly slipped out of her desk and left the classroom.
She blankly stared at her back and ate again, but after a while, she realized several things and got goosebumps all over her body.
… If you think about it carefully, isn’t she a scary kid in many ways?
Even if I knew her name and half of it because I overheard their conversation, when did she come under me?
I really didn’t know at all.
It wasn’t a ghost… or something?
I was getting beaten up by the bullies at that time.
… Let’s eat.
I feel uneasy for no reason.
“Miro~! I’m back… Is everything okay!?”
The moment she was about to take another spoonful of rice, this time Seo-yoon came and interrupted her.
Why are there so many people coming to lunch today?
“Nothing happened. Did Seo-yoon finish eating already?”
“Yeah yeah! I came quickly to see Miro~! Hehe.”
“It’s good that you came early, but I haven’t finished eating yet, so can you wait a little?”
“It’s okay to eat slowly. I’ll just watch you eat the Miro leisurely.”
“…It’s burdensome.”
Seo-yoon smiled brightly and sat down next to me, resting her chin on her hand and looking at me.
It was the same with Ha-eun earlier, and Seo-yoon too.
What’s so fun about eating other people’s food…
I’ll have to pay you back in kind later.
Yum.
It’s just vegetables, but it’s delicious because grandma made it.
“Hehe, Miro likes vegetables.”
“It’s not that I like it, but grandma packed it for me.”
“Really? Then do you have a favorite side dish?”
“Ugh… Meat? Ham? Bacon?”
“You like meat more than I expected… Got it.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t worry about it and eat quickly, Miro.”
“….”
In the end, Seoyoon didn’t stop staring at me until I finished all my food.
Next time, I’ll pack a lunch and eat it with you at the cafeteria.
It feels like the other kids are staring at me for no reason…
It’s burdensome.
“Miro~! If anything happens, you have to text me. Got it?”
“Yeah. I’ll contact you tomorrow. Since it’s the weekend, let’s hang out together.”
“Yeah! Definitely! It doesn’t matter when!”
After the boring school, I parted ways with Seoyoon and headed straight to the convenience store.
Originally, I would have been reluctant to go because of the pervert couple incident last time, but now there was someone I wanted to meet.
“Miro, you’re here~. Is it okay if I go alone today?”
“Yeah. It’s okay.”
“You’re trustworthy~. But still, if anything happens, just contact me right away. Understood?”
“Thank you, store manager.”
After finishing my shift with the store manager, I changed into my uniform and stood at the counter.
Please, let’s just have regular customers come today…
And, that person come…
It’s not something I’m hoping for too much.
Tingling-.
“Welcome, this is Lily25.”
Who will be today’s first customer?
Last time, it was a customer who came to buy ConD from the beginning.
“Huh? Are you working today?”
“The customer…”
I wonder if the heavens answered my prayer.
Today’s first customer is the one I’ve been waiting for so long.
It was the one who had said that.
“I thought you only do it once a week. Can you give me one Mild Eight?”
“Customer! Could you tell me what kind of exercise you do!?”
“Huh…?”
“Ah…”
I guess I thought this might be my only chance. In my over-excitement, I blurted the question out to her.
…Originally, I planned to have a conversation on various topics and ask at the end, but I ended up ruining the whole process.
“I’m sorry… for asking such a sudden question… Please forget about it. It’s 4500 won…”
“Are you interested in sports?”
“Yes?”
It seems like heaven hasn’t given up on me just yet.