Chapter 10 : Deadly guy

The air in the art room was filled with the distinct smell of paint.

On the long table, various art supplies and magical materials were scattered in a disorderly manner, and the students were creating their works in their own ways.

As always, I instinctively sat in the corner by the window.

It was a spot where I could observe everything without drawing attention to myself.

If I just stayed quiet and focused on what I needed to do, that was enough. There was no need to interact with others.

Not that it was something I could do even if I wanted to in the first place.

However, this time, I heard familiar footsteps following me from behind.

Shuffle, shuffle.

I deliberately slowed my steps.

Then, I heard the sound of someone stopping behind me.

When I started walking again, the sound followed once more.

“What the?

Why are you following me?”

As expected, it was Lee Jian.

“I’m sitting with you, obviously.

Friends sit together, you know.”

Naturally, my gaze dropped to her hands.

As expected, she had no supplies with her.

“Where are your materials?”

“Uh…

My brushes decided they wanted to see more of the world and left.”

“Your brushes?

Left?

On their own?

With legs?”

Seeing her avoid my gaze, I let out a sigh.

“So, you want to borrow some?”

“Why is it always me?

There are plenty of other people.”

“Well, you always carry extra supplies.”

I couldn’t argue with that.

It was just easier to carry extra than to waste energy and emotions trying to borrow from others.

“Here.”

I pulled out a brush and handed it to her.

“Hehe, thanks!

Knew I could count on you.”

Pat, pat.

The familiar sensation of her hand tapping my shoulder.

In the end, I ended up sitting at the same table as her.

Not long after, Yoon Jihoo casually joined us.

“Mind if I sit here too?”

“Why are you even asking?

Just sit down.”

Lee Jian answered for me.

“It just felt like I’d be interrupting something.”

“What are you even saying?”

“Exactly.”

As we tilt our heads in confusion, Yoon Jihoo burst out laughing.

“What’s with him?”

“He’s always been a little weird.”

And so, the three of us sat together.

As the class went on, Lee Jian and Yoon Jihoo started chatting naturally.

“Ugh, color combinations are so hard.

What should I do?”

“Just go with your gut.”

“That makes it even harder!”

Listening to their conversation, I quietly set my brush down.

Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, I got up from my seat.

At that moment, a hand grabbed my wrist.

“Where are you going?”

It was Lee Jian.

I thought she was busy talking to Yoon Jihoo.

How did she even notice?

It was strange.

Being next to Lee Jian made me feel like just a normal person.

Like I wasn’t some faint, ghostly presence.

Like I didn’t have to just stand on the sidelines, watching.

Like I wasn’t an outsider, but someone who belonged here.

“…Just going to grab some more materials.”

“Then why are you taking your drawing with you?”

“…Mistake.”

“Tsk tsk, get your head together.”

“Coming from someone who forgot her own supplies, I don’t want to hear it.”

“What was that?”

In the end, I left my drawing behind and went to get the materials.

By now, she should have picked up on it.

That I was trying to give her and Yoon Jihoo a moment alone together.

But Lee Jian seemed completely unaware of my intentions.

After hastily gathering what I needed, I returned to my seat.

There they were, laughing and chatting with each other.

They looked good together.

Their atmosphere made it hard to butt in.

“Are they actually dating?”

“They do look good together.”

Hearing those murmurs around me, I found myself nodding along without realizing it.

‘What did he mean it’s hard to interrupt?’

Yoon Jihoo’s words suddenly felt like a lie.

I stood there for a moment, just watching the two of them.

It wasn’t like time had frozen or that a system message had appeared.

But I couldn’t move.

It felt like a small fragment of my heart was about to crumble.

I just stood there, watching them.

I stood for so long that no one even noticed me.

People passed by, the classroom buzzed with chatter—

Yet I felt like an isolated island, all alone.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

A light push against my forehead snapped me back to reality.

“Huh?

Oh?!”

“Did you doze off?

I’ve never seen someone sleep standing up before.”

Lee Jian looked at me with curiosity.

Resting her chin on her hand, she leaned back slightly, watching me as if she were observing something.

Her eyes, a mysterious blend of pink and purple, captured me within them.

They were the first eyes I had ever truly looked into.

I had never stared at someone’s eyes this closely for this long before.

And within those shimmering, shifting eyes—there I was, reflected.

Unsteady, like rippling water, yet somehow clear.

“Snap out of it.

I’m going to grab some night-light pastels~.

Once I use them, I’ll be done.”

She giggled as she spoke.

“You’ve still got a long way to go, right?

Good luck.”

Tap, tap.

A light pat on my shoulder before she turned to leave.

The spot she touched sent ripples through me—like paint seeping into paper, slowly spreading its color.

A single drop of some unknown emotion fell into my heart.

I quietly returned to my seat.

“You really didn’t tell anyone, right?”

Yoon Jihoo, who had been focused on his painting, lowered his voice and asked me.

“Have some faith.

The only people I talk to are you and Lee Jian anyway.”

“That’s exactly why I’m worried.

She’d tease me like crazy.”

‘That’s not the real problem, though.’

How could he not notice his childhood friend’s feelings after all this time?

“I won’t say anything.

Even if you beg me to, I’d rather die than say it.”

I wasn’t sure I could handle seeing Lee Jian’s face when that topic was brought up.

And I wasn’t sure if the system would even allow that level of interference.

“Oh?

Well… alright.

You don’t have to go that far, though…”

I quietly turned my head.

At the end of my gaze, I saw Lee Jian.

She was standing at the supply table, talking to someone.

“Oh?

You were going to use this too?”

“Nah, I can use something else.”

“Really?

Thanks!”

Just like that, the material left her hands.

She picked something else and returned to her seat.

“I thought you were getting night-light pastels?

That looks like stardust.”

“It’s fine. This works too.

A true artist doesn’t blame their tools.”

Sitting back down, she continued painting as if nothing had happened.

When the class ended, the art teacher began walking around, evaluating the students’ work.

“Jian, your color choices are great, but the finishing touches feel a bit lacking.”

“I thought so too,” she said, as if she had already known.

“This part here—if you had used something to add more depth, it would’ve been even better.

Something like night-light pastels, for example.”

The exact material she had given away.

I turned to look at her.

She smiled like it didn’t bother her at all.

But I knew better.

She was upset.

She always did this.

Not because she wanted to give things up, but because it was just natural for her.

It has become a habit.

I didn’t say anything.

But… it lingered in my mind.

Just… a little.

The cafeteria was as packed as always.

I picked up my tray, casually scanning the room for a seat.

And as always, the three of us sat together—without a word, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

When did it start being like this?

I tried to remember, but nothing specific came to mind.

It just… happened.

“I’m starving!”

Lee Jian was the first to pick up her spoon.

Yoon Jihoo started eating without much comment.

I quietly picked up my utensils and glanced at my side dishes.

One of today’s side dishes—steamed eggs.

I remembered—Lee Jian loved steamed eggs.

Without thinking, I scooped some onto her tray.

“Huh?”

She looked at me, surprised.

“What the?

Why’d you give me this?”

“I don’t like eggs.”

“Picky eater?

Wow, still a baby, huh?”

She grinned mischievously, like she had found something new to tease me about.

“Aw, poor thing.”

She made a weird cooing noise and reached out to ruffle my hair.

“For the record, I didn’t even touch it.

I used a clean spoon.”

Without even listening, she popped the steamed egg into her mouth.

“Oh, yeah?”

Like it didn’t matter to her at all.

Yoon Jihoo chuckled as he watched.

“You two sure are close.

When did you get so friendly?”

“Mmpf, nmmph.”

Lee Jian tried to talk with a mouth full of rice, only to choke.

She pounded her chest with her fist.

“Chew first, then talk.”

I grabbed her chin and forced her mouth shut.

“There.

Chew properly.”

Gulp.

After swallowing, she glared at me.

“Close?

Look at him!

All he ever does is think about ways to mess with me!”

Even as she complained, she absentmindedly took another bite.

“You look pretty close to me.”

“I’m leaving first.”

“Already?”

“I’m done eating.”

As I stood up, Lee Jian put her spoon down and looked up at me.

“Wait, let’s go together.”

“Too much effort.”

“Hey!”

She tried to protest, but I just waved my hand dismissively and walked away.

I caught a glimpse of her rushing to finish her food—only to choke again.

She pounded her chest once more.

“Hey, slow down!”

“I don’t wanna lose!”

“What are you, a grade-schooler?

Who competes over eating?”

I heard their voices as I walked out of the cafeteria.

On my way out, I stopped by the vending machine.

I pulled out some coins and dropped them in.

Click.

A drink fell to the bottom.

I picked it up and, as I passed by their table again, casually placed it next to Lee Jian’s tray, near her spoon.

“What’s this?”

“Buy one, get one free.”

That same barley drink from before.

Yoon Jihoo glanced at my hand.

“What about yours?”

“I told you.

It was buy one, get one free.”

“…From a vending machine?”

“…Yeah.”

He gave me an exasperated look.

“You’re such a cheap bastard.”

And just like that, I quietly left, giving the two of them some time alone.

Cheap?

Who was really being cheap here?

I could think of someone much worse.