Chapter 46: Variables

“As expected, there was no way this would end easily.”

Kim Harin stayed locked in her room, showing no signs of coming out.

That, of course, meant no dinner either.

‘Of all things…’

Koreans are a people who live by the power of rice.

There was no way I could just starve to death like this.

***

Ding-dong—

Along with the sound of the doorbell, there was a knock at the front door.

‘They’re here.’

I got up from my bed and headed toward the entrance.

The delivery had arrived.

It had been a while since I’d ordered takeout.

I naturally opened the bag and carefully checked its contents.

‘As expected, chicken never betrays.’

Golden, glistening fried chicken.

The freshly fried chicken gave off a savory and salty aroma that tickled my nose.

Unconsciously, I swallowed my saliva.

For Koreans, chicken was—

It was faith.

It was a belief.

With practiced ease, I opened the paper box and picked up a piece.

Beneath the crispy batter, the juicy meat revealed itself.

I hesitated for a moment before taking a bite.

‘Mm, truly the divine chicken.’

Crispy and savory.

A deep, rich flavor spread in my mouth.

However—

There was just one problem.

‘…I think I might get indigestion.’

***

Without Kim Harin sitting at the table, chatting away with her usual “Oppa~,” the air felt too quiet.

I sighed as I swallowed the chicken, then carefully knocked on Harin’s door.

Knock, knock.

“Harin, I ordered chicken. Do you want some?”

Chicken—

The ultimate food, loved by all, regardless of age or gender.

Surely, even Harin couldn’t resist…

“I don’t want any.”

…Hmm.

That was a clear sign she was seriously upset.

I took another bite of chicken as I sorted through the situation.

I had no idea how to handle a sulking girl.

In my past life, all I did was train and exercise.

‘Still, I can’t just leave things like this.’

Quietly, I took a piece of chicken, carefully removed the bones, and knocked on her door again.

Knock, knock.

“Harin.”

“Open the door.”

“I don’t want to.”

Firm.

I tapped my chin with my finger, lost in thought.

I needed a strategy.

Honestly, I hadn’t even done anything wrong.

All I did was walk to school with a girl from class.

‘So why did I feel like I was the guilty one?’

‘If chicken alone could solve this, it would’ve worked already.’

I placed a few pieces of chicken on a plate and set it in front of Harin’s door.

Then, I spoke softly.

“I left some chicken here. If you get hungry, eat it.”

“……”

No response.

I tried again, this time with a gentler tone.

“Harin. Eating alone feels too lonely.”

“……”

Silence again.

Then—

A faint rustling sound.

Click.

The doorknob moved ever so slightly.

It was working.

Suppressing a smirk, I delivered the final blow.

“Oh, and it’s not just chicken…”

I deliberately paused for effect.

“I also ordered cheese balls.”

“……”

Clatter—

The door cracked open, just a little.

I cheered internally.

‘Of course, no one can resist cheese balls.’

Through the small gap, I could see Harin’s face.

She looked completely sulky, but her eyes were definitely focused on the cheese balls.

Pretending not to notice, I spoke casually.

“Come out and eat if you’re hungry.”

“…Okay.”

“Wait, are there really cheese balls?”

“If you’re lying, you’re dead.”

“Yeah. They’re real.”

I shook the delivery bag in my hand.

Inside, the cheese balls gleamed under the light.

‘Hook, line, and sinker.’

Harin glared at me for a moment before slowly opening the door.

And then—

“Then… just one bite.”

She naturally sat beside me and picked up a cheese ball.

As she ate, her mood seemed to lighten a little.

However—

I had a feeling the crisis wasn’t over yet.

Even as she ate, Harin kept glaring at me.

‘Yeah, this isn’t enough.’

Yanderes experience jealousy on an entirely different level.

This wasn’t just a case of being upset.

Her head was probably spinning with all sorts of wild thoughts.

‘If this went wrong… I could end up with a “chop-chop” ending.’

So, there was only one solution—

I had to ease her heart while also dispelling her worries.

‘How should I do that?’

As I pondered, I observed Harin’s expression.

She took a bite of the cheese ball, her cheeks puffing out adorably.

But her eyes remained cold.

A warning sign.

At times like this…

‘I have to take the initiative.’

Casually, I spoke up.

“Is it good?”

Harin didn’t respond.

She simply chewed her cheese ball while staring at me.

Then, after swallowing, she finally spoke.

“It’s good.”

Ah.

That meant she was pretending to have calmed down.

She wasn’t actually over it.

I let out a small sigh and decided to be direct.

“Should we just go to school together from now on?”

At that, Harin flinched.

Her gaze lowered, and she mumbled softly.

“If that’s what you want, Oppa.”

“No, I mean, since we live nearby anyway.”

I replied immediately.

“If you want, we can go together.”

“If you don’t, that’s fine too.”

Harin bit her lip slightly.

Then, in a small voice, she said, “……Let’s go together from now on.”

“Huh?”

“I want to go with you.”

“Alright.”

I nodded as if it were no big deal and casually picked up another piece of chicken.

Now, she was truly over it.

I cheered inwardly.

‘Mission accomplished: reconciliation successful.’

At that moment—

Kim Harin muttered softly.

“But still.”

I looked up.

“Hm?”

“Don’t get too close to your female friends. You should only date after graduation.”

As she said that, she slid her hand over mine and gripped it tightly.

A strange feeling crept over me.

0174…

For a split second, a chill ran down my spine.

But I ignored it, forcing a smile as I took another bite of chicken.

Harin tightened her grip.

She held onto my hand as if she would never let go.

I tried to stay calm and took another bite of chicken, but honestly, my mouth was feeling dry.

***

“Harin?”

I looked at her with the most natural smile I could manage.

But she still didn’t let go.

And then…

“Oppa.”

A bright, innocent smile.

But in her eyes—there was something dangerous lurking.

‘…Wasn’t she over it?’

And then—

Squeeze.

Her grip tightened.

A strength that didn’t match her small frame.

It felt like my hand was being wrung out like a wet towel.

“…Harin, my hand kinda hurts?”

I tried to keep my tone light and playful.

But Harin only tilted her head slightly and smiled.

“Oppa.”

She said my name again, but this time, her voice was deeper, lazier.

Internally, I went on full alert.

I knew all too well—when a yandere looks happy, that’s when they’re the most dangerous.

She murmured softly.

“That means from now on, we’ll go to school together every day, right?”

‘Shit, every day is overkill.’

I was planning to walk with her for a week and then naturally go back to walking alone.

But now—

The choice was being forced upon me.

And there was only one acceptable answer.

“O-of course.”

The pressure on my wrist finally eased.

Harin slowly let go of my hand.

‘Phew…’

Crisis averted.

I took another bite of chicken, acting as nonchalant as possible.

“Let’s go together starting tomorrow.”

Harin looked up at me and suddenly smiled.

“Hehe.”

A small giggle.

Her smile was as cute and sweet as always—

But for some reason, a chill ran down my spine.

This…

This wasn’t just a simple reconciliation.

There was something in Harin’s eyes. A glimmer of anticipation.

For some reason, I felt really uneasy.

***

‘It’ll be fine… right?’

“Haa…”

I sighed as I stared down at my phone screen.

[Kim Dohyun: Sorry, I won’t be able to walk with you anymore.]

A message I had sent to Seo Yuna last night.

The problem was—

She was standing right there at the end of the alley.

“Ah, shit.”

I shut my eyes and swallowed a curse.

Beside me, Kim Harin was clinging to my arm, grinning.

This was bad.

Yandere vs Gyaru.

A new era of conflict was about to unfold.

‘Well… at least Harin seems calmer than I expected?’

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye.

She was walking beside me, holding onto my arm, lightly leaning against me.

Normally, in a situation like this, her eyes would darken, her anger gauge would rise, or her breathing would get sharp and heavy.

But Harin was just smiling quietly.

In fact… she almost looked happy.

‘…What the hell?’

I kept my guard up as I approached Seo Yuna.

She was still standing in the middle of the alley, fidgeting with her phone.

Light brown hair, nearly blonde.

Her uniform was slightly altered in her usual style, with bold accessories adding flair.

Looking a bit bored, she glanced down at her phone—

And then she saw me.

“Dohyun!”

She beamed—

And then spotted Harin.

“…Huh?”

Yuna halted mid-step, blinking.

Her gaze flickered down to Harin, who was clinging to my arm.

A tense silence settled.

I quickly opened my mouth to explain.

“Ah, this is—”

But before I could say anything—

“Hello, Yuna unnie. I’m Dohyun oppa’s little sister.”

…?

Before I could react, Harin very naturally inserted herself into the conversation, introducing herself first.

And then—

She strode straight up to Seo Yuna.

My heart nearly dropped into my stomach.

But unexpectedly—

“Holy crap! Dohyun, your little sister is so cute!”

…What?

The moment Yuna saw Harin up close, her eyes sparkled in admiration.

“She’s so pretty! Her skin is flawless! And those huge eyes!”

‘…Wait.’

‘Why was this turning into girl talk all of a sudden?’

This was not the scenario I expected.

I was bracing for hostility from Harin, but…

“Oh my.”

Harin tilted her head slightly, looking up at Yuna.

“…Thank you for the compliment.”

And then—

She smiled.

‘…What the hell?’

‘Why did this interaction feel so natural?’

Seo Yuna, riding the momentum, immediately grabbed Harin’s hands and shook them.

“Wow, seriously! You’re so polite, unlike a certain someone I know!”

I swallowed a sigh and decided to just go along with it.

At least—for now—I wasn’t on a direct path to death.