#6
A moment of silence passed before the students began to whisper.
“Did he just speak informally? To Nam-hwi-nim, ‘The Sea’s Requiem’? This is the first time, I can’t believe it.”
They seem to have forgotten already, but I spoke informally last time too. Everyone seems to have forgotten because it went over so well then.
“Speaking like that to Nam. Hwi. Nim. of the Five Great Kings.”
Stop speaking with those pauses. It’s cringeworthy. I stared blankly at Cho-yeon and the Five Great Kings.
“What incredible audacity.”
Surprised, customer? Our protagonist probably decided not to catch the Five Great Kings’ attention. But just like in a novel’s plot, he immediately caught their eye… He should have clapped like I did. I praised myself while shedding tears over all my hard work pretending to be a fan.
“Kuk.”
Today was the first time I heard Han Yeo-wol’s voice. My previously calm eyes shook violently.
‘He really pronounced “kuk” so earnestly…’
I thought I’d adapted well over these two weeks, but my mental fortitude just took a major hit. Han Yeo-wol should definitely become an announcer. Cho-yeon slowly raised his head as the students stirred. His eyes had widened slightly, perhaps surprised at drawing attention from the first day.
I mentally opened a bag of popcorn and shouted in my mind:
‘See! This is what happens when you don’t clap!’
The twins made eye contact with Cho-yeon and gasped softly. Cho-yeon’s blue eyes were certainly as beautiful as the sky.
“Wowww. I’ve never seen such an indifferent reaction before! You’re really unique. Han-gyeol wants to be friends with Yeo-ni!”
“No, Yeo-ni is Ye.gyeol’s cutieeee!”
They seem to be calling him “Yeo-ni” because his name is Cho-yeon. I had a momentary illusion of a “>ㅁ<” emoticon passing beside the twins. A silent curse could be read in Cho-yeon’s eyes at the twins’ aegyo. I quietly expressed my sympathy. It was really hard for me to manage my expressions at first too…
“I’ve decided. From now on, he is the Noble Prince of the Full Moon!”
The fan club members gathered and whispered among themselves.
‘Are they calling him the Prince of the Full Moon because his hair is white and his head is round?’
What an inexplicable naming sense.
[Alias generated on the first day of enrollment! Title ‘Became the Protagonist’ acquired! You gain 30,000 experience points.]
I had a momentary hallucination of a game system window passing before my eyes. I turned away while silently mourning Cho-yeon’s quiet life. At that moment, the teacher entered with unfortunate timing, and the students gradually began to return to their seats.
“Come on, everyone, please be seated.”
The teacher entered and widened her eyes in surprise when she saw Cho-yeon.
“Cho-yeon couldn’t come for two weeks because he was sick, but he’s here today. Are you feeling better now?”
Cho-yeon nodded with a dazed expression. The teacher gave some brief information and took Cho-yeon to the faculty office. She must be going to provide him with separate guidance. The Five Great Kings watched Cho-yeon’s retreating figure with interested expressions.
Hee-ae pressed close to me and said:
“To remain so indifferent in front of the Five Great Kings. I thought everyone in this world was a fan of the Five Great Kings!”
Hee-ae marveled with pure admiration. Ah, Han Cho-yeon isn’t exactly from this world. I avoided his gaze, feeling oddly guilty, and agreed.
“He’s really… unique.”
“The twins said they want to be friends with him. Should we use honorifics with him now too?”
The students had already gathered to discuss this matter seriously. As expected of a class with fan club executives, their attitude was passionate.
“Of course.”
Hee-ae agreed, his eyes shining. I quietly rejoiced. Thanks for drawing their attention so strongly, Cho-yeon.
***
Cho-yeon continued to be swept along with the Five Great Kings group afterward. Although he initially showed signs of endurance, his complexion grew increasingly dark as if nauseated by the Five Great Kings’ unchanging cringeworthy behavior.
When the twins kept clinging to Cho-yeon, he slowly removed their hands and said:
“Back off. And I need to leave early after school. Don’t follow me.”
Ye-gyeol backed away with a hurt expression. Cho-yeon looked around at everyone once before quickly leaving the classroom.
Watching them, In-sae said:
“Han Cho-yeon-nim is really nonchalant.”
I let In-sae’s words drift past me.
In-sae is one of the fan club members. Originally, he gave me his contact information to send in fan club homework, but somehow we became friends.
“In-sae, don’t you think Cho-yeon-nim is amazing too?”
Hee-ae interjected. He was also quickly becoming friends with In-sae, who kindly explained fan club activities. I shouldered my bag and headed out of the classroom while listening to their conversation.
“Yu Shi-dan.”
I hurriedly stopped at the sound of In-sae calling me.
“Why are you so absentminded?”
In-sae said, waving my pencil case. I smiled awkwardly while following the pencil case with my eyes.
“You live near Inseong Intersection, right?”
In-sae said, pushing back a strand of hair that had fallen annoyingly over his forehead.
“I live right next door in Cho-young Apartments. Let’s go together.”
In-sae opened my bag’s zipper and tossed the pencil case in.
***
And then at 8 PM, I was kicked out.
“Go buy some tofu and a bundle of green onions.”
Father said while tying on an apron.
“But Dan-a is here too.”
Father gestured with his eyes toward Dan-a’s desk. Dan-a had been giggling until just a moment ago, but now she had her textbook open, pretending to study.
“She’s studying. Go on, quickly.”
I immediately protested, but in the end, I was kicked out with a little money. I stared at the closed door with empty eyes.
“Hey, catch that guy!”
Outside, gangs of high school students were shouting loudly, fighting over what they called establishing a hierarchy. I put my hands in my pockets and walked out the front gate.
And why are you delinquents playing tag here? As soon as I stepped out, a student with blue hair ran past at lightning speed.
Behind him chased two with red hair. A black-haired and a yellow-haired person walked leisurely behind. Hmm? Those colors seem familiar somehow. I froze in place, sticking to the gate as if we were one.
After the group passed, I headed toward the neighborhood mart with a hollow laugh. The area around the mart was bustling with people. Voices shouting about discounts came from everywhere. This is on sale today, that’s on sale too.
I paid for the tofu and a bundle of green onions and left the mart. My ears were buzzing from the noisy place. I lightly tapped my head with one hand to clear the buzzing sensation.
I quickly headed home. I almost got into trouble on the way, but they let me go when I looked at them pathetically. Usually when someone gets transported into a story, they get caught up in incidents, but I seem to be following the extra route too diligently.
“I’m back.”
Father quickly took the tofu and green onions I brought and said:
“You came back quickly?”
Ha! I’m not like some people who get into trouble passing by, coincidentally meet the Five Great Kings, become acquainted with them, and end up seeing them often from then on!
As night fell, I became anxious for no reason. Nights like this are when extras make their exit. I closed the slightly open curtains completely so that nothing could be seen from outside. My mother came into the open room and casually asked:
“Why did you close the curtains so stuffily?”
“The lights from outside hurt my eyes at night.”
I smiled awkwardly. Mother met my eyes and smiled like a mischievous child.
“How’s high school life these days?”
“Not bad. I adapted quickly.”
Mother gently stroked my back.
“Go to sleep early today. I know you’ve been staying up late recently.”
Since being transported into this world, I often stayed up until dawn trying to organize my situation and adapt. Well, I didn’t sleep well originally either. My parents must have seen me when I came out to drink water last time while they were sleeping. I nodded and told them I would go to bed early from now on.
“How will an already poor sleeper fare staying up late?”
Mother turned off the lights as she left. I set my alarm 5 minutes earlier than yesterday and pulled the blanket up to the top of my head.
***
“Nam Hee-ae, Yu Shi-dan. You don’t have to come to the meetings for two weeks before exams.”
In-sae said as he approached us. I nodded lightly and gathered my textbook and pencil case. The next class was in a different classroom.
“I’m going to lock the door. Come out quickly.”
A classmate shouted. Startled by the voice, I hurriedly grabbed Hee-ae’s textbook and pencil case too. He had gone to drink water and hadn’t returned yet.
A student rushed over to lock the door just as we were coming out. I waved the textbook at Hee-ae, who was approaching from a distance.
“I grabbed yours too.”
Hee-ae quickly ran over and took his textbook and pencil case.
“Thanks, Shi-dan.”
He smiled brightly and stuck close to me.
“Where are we going? Fourth floor?”
We climbed the stairs. Cheers could be heard from some distance ahead of us. As expected, it was the Five Great Kings with their fans following them. I adjusted my pace to avoid getting too close to them. I could see the back of Han Yeo-wol’s head, who was standing at the very back.
I secretly tried to gauge his height. It must be well over 180cm. I wish I could be that tall. In-sae said he was 181cm, which makes me envious. Today again, the praise began without fail.
“Nam-hwi-nim is just like the abyss! Looking at him reminds me of the deep sea and makes my heart swell. I feel like I’m at the beach.”
Hee-ae nodded with an expression of intense agreement.
“Shi-dan. Which of the Five Great Kings do you like best?”
Hee-ae suddenly asked me.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
