LIGHTNOVELSTORY C4
Chapter 4
Self-governing activities allow students to participate in class management, helping them recognize their role as members of the class and cultivate a sense of responsibility.
Until last year, I was in charge of the Environment Beautification Department, but now, along with Yeon Ha-neul, I’ve joined the Library Management Department.
The Library Management Department managed the books that students donated to the class.
“Everyone brought books from home, right? Leave the books with Ha-neul and Gyeon-woo, and you two should create a list.”
“Okay.”
During homeroom, the homeroom teacher seemed intent on entrusting the work to Yeon Ha-neul and me, who had voluntarily joined the library team.
I didn’t mind.
It was an opportunity to get closer to Yeon Ha-neul.
“But how do we make the list?”
“The teacher has a form. I’ll go get it later.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
According to Yeon Ha-neul, she had some experience since she had been on the library team last year.
Thanks to that, I just needed to follow her instructions.
“Do we just hand over the books to you?”
“Here it is. Check it under my name. My name is Popular Nam—last name In, first name Gi-nam.”
“Popular Nam…you’re number 28, right? Got it, confirmed.”
When Yeon Ha-neul recorded the books that the students submitted, I attached identification number stickers to them and shelved them.
I also organized the books in the classroom during spare moments.
“When you picked your seat, you were number one, right? So your name is Popular Nam…but now it’s clear you’re Unpopular Popular Nam.”
“Ugh…”
Except for bathroom breaks, I stayed in my seat even during recess.
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
That gave me plenty of chances to talk to Yeon Ha-neul.
Perhaps she had let her guard down a bit, as she sometimes initiated conversations.
“Why did you join the library team?”
“To get closer to you.”
“There you go again, just saying things…do you like teasing me?”
“Yup!”
“You’re really…!”
Yeon Ha-neul pouted and glared at me.
I was a bit unfairly accused, given that I was being honest.
Nevertheless.
She spoke again.
“Do you like reading too?”
“I’m not really into books. I prefer web novels.”
“Oh…I thought you liked books too…”
Her expression drooped like rabbit ears.
She seemed disappointed that I wasn’t a fellow book lover.
‘Maybe I should have said I liked books.’
Seeing her reaction, I briefly considered changing my response.
But she quickly recovered and muttered softly.
“…I read web novels too.”
“Really? What do you read?”
“Just…romance fantasy stuff. But I don’t read often, only with the free wait-for-updates.”
“So you don’t buy the full versions?”
“I don’t have much allowance…”
Even though each chapter costs only 100 won, I guess it’s still a lot for her.
Considering her situation, I decided to drop the topic.
Instead, I changed the subject.
“I heard you like watching dramas too?”
“Huh? How do you know?”
“You mentioned it during your introduction.”
“Oh…you remembered. Yeah, I watch them with the director and other teachers.”
“What are you watching?”
“Hmm…today it’s Luxury House.”
“My mom and sister are really into that one too.”
“Oh, really? It’s super popular. But you have a sister?”
“She’s seven this year.”
“A seven-year-old watches that drama? It’s rated 19+…”
“Then how do you watch it?”
“Oh, right.”
Her emotions were written all over her face.
I noticed that Yeon Ha-neul’s eyes sparkled and her rabbit-like ears perked up as the conversation shifted to dramas.
‘I want to touch them.’
Would they feel softer than fluffy bunny ears?
Rabbit ears are sensitive, and even Mongshil didn’t like having them touched.
Yeon Ha-neul was probably the same.
Even if we became friends, I’d never be able to touch her ears.
I felt a twinge of regret, but I continued the conversation.
“Don’t you watch it too?”
“I catch bits of it now and then, and yeah, it’s fun.”
“Right? The teachers say the same thing, wondering how something can be so entertaining.”
“What I think when I watch it…”
“Yeah?”
“Even if someone who was dead comes back to life, as long as it’s fun, no one cares. Plot consistency…I guess because it’s a soap opera?”
“That’s the charm of soap operas. They don’t care about plot logic.”
“Still, they should maintain some level of coherence. Stories like that, I wouldn’t ev—”
“Oh, please. Do you think it’s easy to write soap operas? It takes a lot of calculation.”
“Is that so?”
“Totally. And you know…”
Yeon Ha-neul passionately explained the intricacies of soap operas.
I listened quietly, finding her arguments oddly persuasive.
‘I guess I’m not in a position to criticize convoluted plots anymore, considering I’ve been reincarnated into a game world.’
“Then let’s go.”
“W-wait…!”
“Huh? Why?”
Yeon Ha-neul composed herself, resisting the pull of the situation. She grabbed my sleeve just as I was standing up, causing me to look puzzled.
Mustered courage, she said, “I-if we go now, there will be too many people, and we’ll have to wait in line for a long time. So, so… let’s wait a little longer.”
“…Really?”
This idiot, fool, dumb bunny.
She couldn’t bring herself to coldly reject my kindness. Instead, she sat me down and buried her flushed face.
Then, during the anticipated lunch break:
“Wow, it’s delicious.”
“…Yeah.”
Yeon Ha-neul ate lunch with Do Gyeon-woo, feeling the stares of everyone in the room acutely. He must have felt them too, yet he calmly savored his meal.
Meanwhile, she couldn’t tell if her food was going through her nose or mouth. Only after adjusting to the attention could she begin to enjoy her meal.
‘…It’s good.’
Was it always this tasty? Or was it because she hadn’t eaten a school lunch in a while? She didn’t know.
All she knew was that she cleared her tray that day.
The weather was nice, so they even took a walk.
Only then did the realization hit her.
“Oh no, I shouldn’t be doing this….”
“What?”
“…Nothing.”
She had unknowingly started enjoying herself.
Yeon Ha-neul averted her gaze quickly.
A month has passed since I recalled my memories of my past life. Time flowed smoothly, and so did my school life. I became somewhat close to Yeon Ha-neul.
“I read that book you lent me. It was surprisingly good.”
“Really? Right? It’s fun, isn’t it? How about trying this one next?”
“What’s it about?”
“Well, it’s about….”
During break, Yeon Ha-neul pretended to read a book while frequently sneaking glances at me. I had a good idea of why by now.
She wanted me to talk to her.
Sure enough, as soon as I spoke, she put the book down and responded eagerly.
“Do you want to see a video I took of Mongshil yesterday? It’s a binky video.”
“Binky? What’s that?”
“When rabbits are happy, they hop around excitedly. It’s fascinating and cute.”
“Hmm…sure, show me.”
I played the video on my phone. Yeon Ha-neul leaned in, watching Mongshil jump and shake his head mid-air.
“Wow…he jumps really high.”
“Mongshil’s quite something, isn’t he?”
“By the way, you always talk about Mongshil. Hearing you say it all the time makes me want to see him too.”
“Then do you want to come over?”
“…Huh?”
Her bunny ears perked up.
With a slightly surprised face, she met my gaze as I offered casually, “Do you have plans after school?”
“…No, nothing.”
“Then how about coming to see him today?”
“….”
By now, we were close enough to eat lunch together, so inviting her home didn’t seem too forward. I waited expectantly for her answer, hopeful.
After a moment of hesitating reactions, she softly muttered while twiddling her fingers,
“Hey…um.”
“Yeah?”
“If you hang out with me, you’ll get ostracized too. So…”
“I’m already being bullied, though.”
That was a lie. I wasn’t being bullied anymore.
Nowadays, the trio who once tormented me fled at the sight of me.
― “D-Do Gyeon-woo’s here! Run away!”
― “If you make eye contact, you’ll die!”
― “Don’t leave me behind! Stay with me!”
At the fencing hall, defeating sparring partners was my routine.
“Even if you and I are ostracized, wouldn’t that mean we aren’t really ostracized?”
“….”
Yeon Ha-neul seemed momentarily lost for words. Her expression twitched as if she might cry but then broke into a smile like nothing had happened.
“You’re really strange.”
“Me? How?”
“Just…everything.”
She chuckled, trying to stifle her laughter behind her hand. It was the first time I’d seen her laugh like that, and it was such a lovely sight that it lingered in my mind.
“Okay, fine. I want to see him too.”
That’s how we became friends.