After resting for a bit, the recreation activities were right around the corner. After everyone had finished dinner, the teacher gathered the class students.
“The recreation activities will start soon. Those who need to prepare, go to Teacher Park Gi-woo over there.”
“Wow.”
“Amazing!”
Our homeroom teacher led us to the auditorium we’d seen earlier. The kids, who were masters at reacting, looked around and cheered.
I’d heard something about the Five Great Kings’ parents supporting this, and the auditorium was really spacious and splendid. I’d seen it earlier when they were decorating, but with the lights on, the changed atmosphere was quite impressive. It seemed like a waste to use a place like this for a high school recreation event.
Slowly, students from other classes also entered, and the empty chairs were filled with people, and the empty air was filled with the excited chatter of the kids. That series of events progressed quickly.
The recreation activities I knew were the kind where an assistant teacher would come out and say, ‘Depending on your behavior, I can become either an angel or a devil.’ The current warm atmosphere wasn’t bad in that regard. Still, I was on guard in case someone came out wearing a red cap.
Fortunately, instead of an assistant teacher, a particularly outgoing-looking kid, who seemed to be the MC, came out onto the stage dressed in a suit. Where did they even get that suit from?
“Everyone, please pay attention.”
The well-behaved kids immediately shut their mouths tight and focused their gazes on the MC. Seemingly pleased by such attention, the MC smiled as if painted on and proceeded. The sound of teachers whispering proudly could be heard.
“After all, raising the mood at the start is the best, right? So I’ve prepared this.”
He sounded like a con artist selling medicine. As the MC extended one arm, lights poured down and a broadcasting club member came carrying five large boxes.
“We’ll draw attendance numbers by lottery, and the students with the corresponding numbers will come up!”
I looked at the Five Great Kings and Cho-yeon, who had gone with the teacher earlier but were now sitting back in their seats. I didn’t understand why they had moved separately if this was going to happen. Even if it was a lottery, obviously either Cho-yeon or one of the Five Great Kings would be called.
“We’ll start with Class 1. First is!”
Who was that broadcasting club member playing such suspenseful music? I was impressed by the music selection.
“15.”
Lee Ye-gyeol. I knew it would be like this.
“5. And last is number 3.”
After Nam-hwi was called, In-sae was suddenly called. Well, since it wouldn’t do to have only the Five Great Kings coming out in droves, they must have thrown in one extra.
“We’ll also draw from Class 2.”
The MC continued drawing numbers. The kids with the called numbers went up to the stage one by one. Among the kids who were shy and couldn’t even look ahead properly, Lee Ye-gyeol and Nam-hwi, who stood calmly, stood out. But In-sae also stood out since he was so nonchalant.
“Please introduce yourself.”
The MC, with eyes full of admiration, held out the microphone. Nam-hwi brought his mouth to the microphone with a kind smile and said,
“Hello. My name is Nam-hwi.”
“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!!”
As always today, crows appeared. At this point, it’s kind of endearing. I think I’d feel a bit disappointed if they didn’t appear.
“Yes, yes.”
Sure enough, the MC, who seemed to be a Five Great Kings fan, stuttered as they spoke. Unluckily being in Class 1, the introductions of the kids who were overwhelmed by the Five Great Kings’ self-introductions grew smaller and smaller. The last kid from Class 5 hung their head low as if embarrassed.
“After all, isn’t that the charm of introductions?”
What is?
“Please say the name of someone you like and the reason!”
Obviously they’re going to call Cho-yeon. I’d wondered why they went somewhere separately only to sit back down perfectly fine. Was it to do this kind of event?
“Yegyeori… Yeo-ni!”
It really doesn’t deviate from expectations at all. Cho-yeon stood up with a truly annoyed face and stood next to Ye-gyeol. Ye-gyeol said with a beaming smile,
“I like Yeo-ni because he’s unique!”
Nam-hwi continued speaking with a smile still plastered on his face.
“Then I should call Yeo-wol.”
“The person you like is Yeo-wol-nim….”
“I don’t have anyone I like yet. Yeo-wol is my closest friend.”
Nam-hwi continued speaking with a somewhat chilly face. Next was In-sae’s turn. In-sae picked up the microphone, pondered, then said,
“Shi-dan.”
“The reason?”
“Because he gives me a lot of apple candies.”
Hey, you really.
With equally shocked faces, both the MC and I stared at In-sae.
“Hee-ae was surprised too.”
I said as I stood next to In-sae. I still remember the momentary silence that occurred because of In-sae’s statement just now. It’s a bad example of the ‘if you don’t have anyone to call, at least make up a decent excuse’ approach. Someone seriously asked me if the two of us were in that kind of relationship.
“There’s someone who seduced someone with just candy?”
A playful shout came from among the crowd. It sounded exactly like Lee Seung, I could tell just from the voice. I made a deliberately stern face in the direction where Lee Seung probably was, but I couldn’t spot Lee Seung in the end.
Hee-ae looked at me with a complicated expression, and Cho-yeon, who was called earlier, was next to me. Since it had been a while since Cho-yeon was close by, I felt glad anew. I lightly tapped In-sae and said,
“Do you think there’s anyone here who actually calls someone they really like?”
“There is.”
In-sae gestured with his eyes. At the end of his gaze, a kid from either Class 3 or 4 was calling out a name with a trembling voice. That kid covered their reddened face and avoided the MC’s question.
The kid whose name was called also came up carefully while blushing. I ended up directly witnessing the birth of a couple. Watching the kids’ cheers follow, I let out a hollow laugh.
Meanwhile, the smooth progression flowed and turned toward another development. The MC solemnly adjusted their suit’s bow tie and said,
“After all, what should you do with someone you like?”
But we’re not. There are a lot of kids here who called friends. Nam-hwi next to me is also becoming expressionless now. The MC said while winking,
“Piggyback ride endurance for 1 minute begins!”
“You carry me.”
“You’re taller than me. Remember?”
As soon as the words ended, In-sae’s suggestion came. I immediately shot it down and reminded In-sae of his own height. In-sae needs to take some time to recognize his own height. In-sae showed signs of just now realizing it.
“Starting. 3, 2.”
The progression was fast too. I was startled and backed up behind In-sae. In-sae also bent his waist a little as if half-giving up.
“1.”
“Don’t drop me if I’m heavy.”
I said as I got on In-sae’s back. Somehow feeling uneasy, I wondered if we could even last 30 seconds, let alone 1 minute. I closed my eyes tight for a moment then opened them. Surprisingly, In-sae held on well so I could relax and let go of the tension. In-sae’s ears are red. Is it hot?
As expected, praises for the Five Great Kings burst out here and there.
“Give up.”
“I’m fine though.”
“No, you’re struggling.”
I released my arms and came down around 28 seconds. In-sae said he was fine, but he must have struggled because I was heavy. I folded my arms with a light heart and observed the other kids.
“Yu Shi-dan!”
I stopped spacing out for a moment and looked at our class kids.
“I’ll carry you too!”
“Who was that just now.”
I laughed absurdly and covered my mouth with my hand. Then I raised my head that I’d lowered while laughing and flipped my hair once for no reason. The stage lights are quite stinging and hot. When my eyes met Hee-ae’s, I smiled and waved.
In the end, by the time the time had passed, only the Five Great Kings and Cho-yeon, and one group each from Classes 5 and 4 remained. The MC spread both arms with obviously exaggerated surprise.
“Is this the power of love?”
It wasn’t though. I had made eye contact with Cho-yeon, who was staggering down from Lee Ye-gyeol’s back. Cho-yeon’s expression was at the level where they’d be better off grinding love or whatever into fine powder. At the strangely resentful gazes of the kids, the MC flinched.
“It looks like many couples will be born this time~.”
Today, that MC is scheduled to die at the hands of Nam-hwi and Han Yeo-wol. Their expressions were already hardening to an irreparable degree. That kid shouldn’t go to alleys or school corners for the time being.
“Everyone worked hard. Since you’re already out here, do at least one talent show before you go.”
The MC is also scheduled to die by me today. I glared at him resentfully. If you’re going to let us go, just let us go—I don’t understand the mentality of making us do a talent show on top of it and thoroughly squeezing us dry.
“You can see my talent show on the stage that will follow soon.”
Meanwhile, Nam-hwi had snatched the microphone from the MC and was speaking with his usual gentleness restored. The MC opened his mouth as if wanting to urge more, but after making eye contact with Nam-hwi, immediately changed the subject. For reference, Han Yeo-wol had already gone down.
“Then this person as well.”
“Yegyeori and Yeo-ni also have a stage later!”
Lee Ye-gyeol jumped off the stage while smiling innocently. Cho-yeon, suddenly left alone, went down the stairs by himself. The MC couldn’t stop Cho-yeon and turned his head to me.
“Then now it’s this person’s turn.”
I deliberately avoided the eyes of the MC who had approached right up to my nose.
Is there a feature to space out as I wish? It’s inside a novel, so I don’t know what they were doing not including at least one ability like that. I deliberately turned my head and lowered my eyes awkwardly.
“Is there no mercy here?”
“…If it’s too difficult, you can just say a few words of reflection and leave.”
In the end, the MC gave up first.
“Ah, I had so much fun.”
I beamed with gratitude for the MC’s ocean-like generosity. Having quickly stated my reflection, I immediately came down from the stage. The other kids also had somewhat awkward expressions at the mention of talent shows, so it seems they also had nothing to do like me.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
Yu shi-dan…. Idt In-sae said it as a joke completely lmao