Chapter 36: Library cliché

One of the most common rom-com clichés—trying to grab a book from a high shelf, only for the books to come tumbling down, and the protagonist heroically saving the heroine.

In a famous Japanese manga, a certain boy detective encounters incidents every time he takes a step.

People even joke that he’s actually the villain.

Romance comedy protagonists are no different.

If there’s a situation where a cliché could happen, it inevitably does.

“See?”

Just as expected.

The books, precariously stacked on the shelf, wobbled and were about to fall on Choi Dabin.

Since I had already foreseen this, I immediately got up from my seat.

Right before the books came crashing down, I grabbed her arm and pulled her down.

Rustle—

In an awkward position that looked almost like an embrace, I raised my arm to shield her from the falling books.

Dabin looked up at me, her expression startled.

“Are you okay?”

“Oh… yeah, I’m fine.”

Her gaze, filled with guilt, met mine.

Considering she had deliberately avoided me and acted cold ever since entering the library, it made sense that she felt bad now.

The floor was a mess, covered in fallen books.

“Let’s clean this up first.”

I picked up one of the scattered books and shoved it roughly back into the shelf.

“Okay…”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“Next time, just ask for help instead of trying to do it alone. No need to summon clichés.”

Dabin tilted her head, puzzled.

“Cliché?”

She let out a small laugh and sat down beside me to help organize the books.

“Thanks for helping me.”

“Yeah.”

After some effort, the library was finally back in order.

I returned to my seat and collapsed onto the chair.

Just as I was about to rest my arms on the desk and close my eyes, I felt someone watching me.

When I turned my head, I saw Seo Yuna standing near the door, looking at us with an unreadable expression.

The clock on the library wall signaled that club activities were ending soon.

Yuna walked over to Dabin, who was putting away the last remaining book.

“Did something happen?”

Dabin answered, “Oh… I just dropped some books, and Dohyun helped me.”

Yuna glanced between me and Dabin.

“I see.”

Her response was short, but something about her tone left an unsettling aftertaste.

A brief silence followed.

Dabin picked up her bag from the desk.

“Thanks again for helping. I’ll get going now.”

“Yeah, see you.”

As they stepped out, Yuna didn’t say a single word to me.

“She’s really mad.”

As soon as the classroom door closed behind them, Yuna pressed her lips together tightly.

***

“Dabin.”

“Hm?”

Dabin turned her head with a slightly awkward smile, but she could sense the tension in Yuna’s expression.

“Are library club activities fun?”

“It’s just… quiet. I mostly just read books.”

“And you’ve gotten close with Kim Dohyun?”

At that, Dabin waved her hands in protest, looking flustered.

“A little? I mean, we’re the only two members, so we ended up talking sometimes.”

Yuna nodded.

“Yeah, I guess that makes sense when there are only two of you.”

Wanting to change the subject, Dabin asked cautiously, “So, why did you come to the library today?”

Yuna replied shortly, “I was going to walk home with you.”

Dabin blinked in surprise.

“Oh? You should’ve just sent me a message.”

“I wanted to surprise you. But you don’t seem too excited.”

“What? No way, I’m really happy!”

Yuna’s voice dropped slightly.

“I should’ve joined the library club too. It would’ve been fun doing club activities together.”

She sounded like she was joking, but there was a hint of something sharp in her words.

Dabin let out an awkward laugh and nodded.

“Yeah… that would’ve been fun.”

Yuna, who had been walking ahead in the hallway, suddenly stopped and turned around.

“Dabin.”

“Yeah?”

“What do you think of Kim Dohyun?”

Dabin hesitated for a moment before answering.

“…Just a friend.”

Hearing her response, Yuna adjusted the strap of her bag and started walking again.

“Yeah, I guess that makes sense. You’re the type to get along with everyone.”

For some reason, Dabin felt a slight sting in her chest.

“We just talk occasionally. He’s not even the talkative type to begin with.”

Yuna didn’t reply and simply kept walking.

In the silence, the two of them stepped out of the academy.

When Dabin glanced up at the sky, she saw the long streaks of red sunset stretching over the school building.

Yuna turned her head slightly to look at Dabin.

“By the way.”

“Hm?”

“Next time, let me know if something happens. I wanted a waffle too…!”

With a playful expression, Yuna mimicked holding an invisible waffle and pretended to take a bite.

Dabin chuckled softly at the sight.

“Alright. You must’ve been really bored over the weekend, huh?”

“Yeah. A lot!”

Stretching her arms with a satisfied smile, Yuna let out a small yawn.

“Alright. Since class is over, how about we go to a karaoke room?”

“Sounds good!”

Their shadows stretched long along the path bathed in the golden glow of the sunset.

***

As soon as I opened the door to my house, a sweet aroma tickled my nose.

It was still a bit early to be preparing dinner.

Walking past the hallway into the kitchen, I saw Kim Harin wearing a pink apron with a rabbit design, busy preparing something.

“What are you doing?”

“Oh, you’re home, brother?”

She moved briskly in front of a large pot, organizing ingredients.

Carrots, chestnuts, radish, shiitake mushrooms.

And even glossy, well-marbled meat.

Stirring the pot with a ladle, Harin turned her head and grinned.

“I’m making a special dish today.”

“What kind of dish?”

“Braised short ribs!”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“Well… you got me that Mochikun plushie, so I wanted to repay you.”

So my effort wasn’t in vain after all.

The dinner menu had just been significantly upgraded.

I didn’t expect my gift to have such a powerful effect.

“Need any help?”

I asked, glancing around the kitchen while pretending to be concerned.

“Nope! I just need to put everything in the pot now.”

Of course.

At least pretending to help would make her feel better.

Harin added the prepared ingredients and meat into the boiling pot.

“Alright then, I’ll go rest.”

“Okay!”

I put down my bag and lay on my bed, lost in thought.

“Did I go too far with Yuna?”

She was definitely upset.

‘But isn’t it strange for her to interfere when we’re not even dating?’

‘Ugh, this is so complicated.’

‘As it is, Harin already bombards me with questions every time I go out, giving me a headache.’

‘If Yuna starts doing the same, I might actually go bald.’

Just as I was deep in contemplation, Harin’s voice called from outside my room.

“Brother, dinner’s ready!”

The sweet yet savory aroma of the dish wafted through the door, making my mouth water.

Drawn by the scent, I got up and headed to the kitchen.

“Wow…”

A large plate sat in the center of the dining table.

Braised short ribs, glistening with sauce.

Harin’s eyes sparkled as she looked at me expectantly, clearly waiting for my reaction.

She wanted a taste test, and she wanted it now.

Picking up my chopsticks, I placed a piece into my mouth.

“Mimi!”

The tenderness of the meat and the perfect balance of the sweet sauce swirled together in my mouth.

As expected of Kim Harin.

Her cooking skills were unmatched.

A perfect 10 out of 10.

“Delicious.”

Her eyes widened.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Phew… I’m so relieved.”

“Why?”

“I was worried it might not suit your taste.”

“It’s seriously good.”

Satisfied with my praise, she shrugged her shoulders proudly.

At times like this, she really did seem like an adorable little sister.

As we quietly continued eating, Harin suddenly asked, “How’s life at the academy?”

I paused, chopsticks in mid-air, and looked at her.

“It’s alright.”

Her face was filled with curiosity.

“Have you made a lot of friends?”

“More or less.”

Harin set down her spoon on the table.

“What about female friends?”

“Cough—”

I nearly choked on my food at the sudden question.

Yandere heroines are always devoted to the protagonist.

But the moment another woman enters the picture, they snap.

Which means… this question is extremely dangerous.

I needed to choose my words carefully.

A response that wouldn’t provoke her.

A delicate mix of truth and vagueness.

“Just a few classmates.”

“Hmm… I see. Well, social connections are important.”

Judging by her reaction, my answer wasn’t bad.

I let out a quiet sigh of relief.

But then, resting her chin on her hand, she stared straight at me and asked, “Is there someone you like? Someone pretty, or with a nice personality?”

Great. Now I was really losing my appetite.

This was a trap.

Even if there was someone, the answer was no.

And if there wasn’t, the answer was still no.

There was only one possible response.

“Nope.”

“Really?”

She gazed at me for a moment before smiling mysteriously.

“You’re not hiding anything, right? Maybe you’re embarrassed because it’s about romance?”

A chill ran down my spine.

I focused on my food, pretending not to notice her piercing stare.

“No. There’s nothing to hide.”

“I was just joking.”

The braised short ribs on the table looked delicious, but the deep knife cuts on the meat made my palms sweat.

“At this rate, I might actually lose my sanity.”