Chapter 1: I’m a high school student? A third year at that?

It might be hard to believe, but just a week ago, I found myself inside a web novel I used to enjoy. And now, having completed my military service, I was, again, on the cusp of starting my third year of high school. This has become my reality.

“This is driving me insane...”

Right now, I was in Bucheon City, South Korea. Although the web novel never mentioned a specific city, it was Bucheon – which was just next door to where I used to live. But it wasn’t all roses.

“Lee Han-gyeol! ‘Mom’ told you to get up, right?! Are you planning on being late on the very first day of your third year? Hurry up!”

I had to endure nagging from a woman I had known for just a week, addressing her as my mother. Yet, having lost my biological mother at a young age and not receiving much love, this experience was oddly comforting.

“I better get up if I don’t want to get slapped on the back.”

After leaving my bed, I headed straight to the bathroom. My reflection in the mirror still felt unfamiliar. My face was fairly average, but I noticed I was 2 cm shorter. I might not be 180cm tall, but at around 176cm, I probably won’t be called short anywhere.

After coming out of the bathroom, I put on the unfamiliar school uniform.

“And here I am, wearing a school uniform at the age of twenty-seven...”

It was the exact uniform depicted in the novel’s illustrations. Considering Shin Eun-ha and this body were of the same age, I secretly hoped we’d share the same class.

“Lee Han-gyeol! Are you even up?”

“I am!”

If I delayed any longer, I might really get slapped on the back. Hastily, I changed into the school uniform and made my way to the kitchen.

“Why are you coming out so late?”

“Mother, it’s said that the more you sleep, the better it is. Once you start working, you suffer so much that you can’t even sleep properly—ow ow ow!”

“Why did you suddenly start calling me ‘mother’ since a week ago? Quit the nonsense and just eat your meal.”

“Yes... but, mother? There’s no food on the table. Wasn’t breakfast ready?”

“Just sit down. Can’t you drop the honorific word?”

“Get used to it, Mother. Isn’t it refreshing?”

“Enough, really...”

Was this how all moms were? Even so, it felt heartwarming to have someone prepare breakfast for me after such a long time. After eating, I headed to school.

“Ugh, it’s cold.”

The month of March still had a lingering chill in the air. I never imagined that walking to school would feel so unfamiliar. Still, having become a high school student once again, I hoped to relish in the joys of youth.

Upon entering the classroom, I immediately checked the attendance list placed on the teacher’s desk.

Let’s see... my number is 18. That sounds a bit unlucky, doesn’t it?

“Huh?”

For a moment, the name written above mine caught my attention.

Number 17: Shin Eun-ha.

Looking again, the student sitting next to me was number 17,  and the person occupying that seat was named Shin Eun-ha.

Shin Eun-ha? Could it be the same Shin Eun-ha I know?

“It can’t be that Shin Eun-ha, can it?”

Just as I was murmuring to myself, the front door slid open. A female student in a neatly worn uniform, with her skirt at its original length, walked in. The moment I saw the girl who cautiously entered the class, my breath caught in my throat.

On her face, delicately and precisely placed features were prominent.

And the girl with eyes like a deer stepped into the classroom.

Without realizing it, my heart began to race.

I rubbed my eyes and looked again, and it was undoubtedly Shin Eun-ha.

The girl I had admired for 2 years was now right before me, alive and moving.

“Uh… Hello?”

“Wow- Shin Eun-ha.”

“Uh… Huh? Do you know me?”

Of course.

But I couldn’t just say that.

“Yeah, I have seen you a few times while passing by in the corridor.”

“Oh, so that was it. I was worried I might’ve forgotten you or something, haha..”

“Not at all. We never really interacted. Anyway, please take care of me this year. You’re my seatmate.”

“Oh..? Ahh... so that’s why you were saying my name?”

“You heard that?”

To be frank, I’m twenty-seven years old. Isn’t that a bit risky?

Actually, no. Since I’m now nineteen, it probably doesn’t matter.

“It’s okay. I almost got the wrong idea, but your explanation just now cleared it.”

She’s truly kind-hearted.

No doubt, she was the main heroine of this web novel.

However, she seemed a little sad.

Only about two months must have passed since she went through that ordeal.

“You were in class 1 during the second year, right?”

“Yes, I was. How did you know?”

“I think I saw you when I went to class 1 to visit a friend.”

“Oh... Which class were you in? Oh, wait, what’s your name?”

“Me? I’m Lee Han-gyeol. I was in class 5 during the second year.”

“Nice to meet you, Han-gyeol”

Every time her voice reached my ears, I found myself smiling.

Having a proper conversation with my favorite heroine...

Could there be a greater happiness than this?

Yet, I still yearned for more.

“Want some candy?”

“Candy? What flavor?”

“Probably the one you like the most?”

“Hmm…  Do you know what my favorite flavor is?”

“Not at all. Just a wild guess.”

That was a lie.

I knew very well that Shin Eun-ha liked orange-flavored candy.

After buying the web novel’s setting book, I had practically memorized every detail about her.

Back in my original world, I always carried orange-flavored candies in my pocket to quit smoking.

However, even after quitting smoking, I couldn’t break my habit of carrying orange-flavored candy, so I continued it here.

“Hmm… Wouldn’t it be difficult to guess?”

“If I guess it right, grant me one request.”

“Oh? Should I? But I could lie, you know?”

“Hahaha- I can clearly see you’re not that type of person.”

There was no way Shin Eun-ha would lie.

It was rather cheap of me to leverage her inability to refuse, but in order to become closer to her in a short time, I shouldn’t hold back.

“Okay. Let’s see if you can guess.”

“Is it this?”

I cautiously took out the orange-flavored candy from the pocket of my school uniform.

“Wow..! How did you know? I don’t eat any other flavor except for orange.”

“I’m a bit of a psychic.”

“It’s amazing that you guessed it in one go…!”

“So, you’ll grant my request?”

“Yeah, sure. What is it?”

“Let’s have lunch together.”

****

When lunchtime arrived, Eun-ha and I headed to the cafeteria together. Our casual chats during the breaks had created a hint of familiarity between us. I approached Eun-ha cautiously, ensuring it wasn’t too overwhelming.

“Do you know what’s on the menu for lunch today?”

“Tteokbokki, gimbap rolls, and odeng soup.”

“That’s such a typical high school meal.”

“Well, Han-gyeol, you’re a high school student, aren’t you?”

Ah, right.

I am a high school student now.

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“Hehe. Why do you look flustered?”

“I-I’m not flustered.”

“Really? I’ll take your word for it.”

We joined the long queue for food at the cafeteria entrance. While I was pondering what topic to discuss next, Eun-ha initiated the conversation.

“Han-gyeol, you’re quite sociable, aren’t you?”

“Me? I’m not the type to be particularly interested in others.”

“Really? That’s surprising. I was worried about this new semester since I got separated from my friends, But meeting you has been a relief.”

I knew the friends she was referring to were Kang Seo-ha and Dolphin. For her, they were pretty much the only friends she had. Throughout the first and second years, the three of them had been inseparable. However, Kang Seo-ha and Dolphin became a couple.

This inevitably meant Eun-ha had to distance herself from them. It was difficult to join another group when there was already an established group. But considering Eun-ha’s personality and beauty, she could easily blend in anywhere in the class. However, I managed to approach her first.

“Really? To be honest, I don’t have any close friends. If I had to name one, you’d be the first.”

In the memories of this ‘Lee Han-gyeol’, there wasn’t a single person he could call a friend. I remembered him always minding his business, working in silence. Hearing my story, this unfortunate heroine gave me a smile.

“Hehe - Really? Thanks for saying something so nice.”

“It’s n-nothing...! Haha..!”

Her laughter was fatally beautiful.

“Enjoy your meal.”

“You too, Eun-ha.”

After getting our meals, Eun-ha and I sat across from each other at the same table.

When I eat, I really just focus on the food. Yet, I found myself stealing glances at Eun-ha as she ate.

The way she scooped food into her small mouth was both adorable and endearing. It oddly reminded me of watching a young niece eat, which made the feeling somewhat unsettling... Nevertheless, I tried to synchronize my eating pace with hers.

“I’ve finished eating. Han-gyeol, did I...uh, eat too slowly?”

“Not at all? I just finished too. Let’s get up and...!”

Just as I was about to pick up my tray and stand, I saw Kang Seo-ha and Dolphin approaching from the opposite side.

Damn it.

The atmosphere was so pleasant, I didn’t want anything to spoil Eun-ha’s mood.

“Look! There’s candy falling outside!”

“Huh? Candy?”

I hurriedly diverted Eunha’s gaze elsewhere. But there was no chance of candy falling outside, so her gaze quickly returned. She looked at me with a puzzled expression, so I chuckled awkwardly.

“Haha... I, I was just kidding!”

“Oh, really? Haha... Shall we get up?”

Embarrassed, I quickly picked up my tray and headed for the exit. As I left the cafeteria, Eun-ha followed me out.

“What do you usually do during lunchtime, Han-gyeol?”

“Huh? Lunchtime? Not much really. I read or study. Sometimes I play basketball.”

“Oh, really? Do you like reading?”

Eun-ha was a member of the library club and loved reading. But the reason she grew fond of reading was somewhat sad. As a child, with her busy parents, her only friend had been books.

“Yes. I like both fiction and non-fiction.”

“Non-fiction? Do you mean like philosophy books?”

“Mhm. I don’t really discriminate when reading. Want to go to the library together?”

Eun-ha seemed genuinely pleased to find someone who shared her passion for books. For the first time, she gave me a radiant smile.

“Yes. Let’s go.”

Please, don’t smile like that.

It felt like my heart might stop.

--- End OF The Chapter ---

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