Chapter 11: Yōkan

 

Yesterday was truly the happiest Sunday of my entire life.

 

Eun-ha and I watched a movie, played video games, and even took a stab at the claw machine.

 

I wish every week could be like this from now on.

 

“Today, we will have class president elections during Ethics class, so anyone who wants to run for class president should be prepared. That’s all.”

 

As soon as the homeroom teacher finished the announcements and left, I slumped down onto my desk.

 

Ah, this is so relaxing. To be able to lie down like this.

 

If this was a corporate setting, I would be bombarded with disapproving glances for this kind of posture.

 

Eun-ha, sitting beside me, asked as she stared at my slumped figure.

 

“Aren’t you interested in running for class president, Han-gyeol?”

 

“Nah. I have a principle of never taking roles like class president, group leader, or team leader wherever I go.”

 

“Why? It’d look good on your school record, wouldn’t it?”

 

“Mm— Not really? I’m planning on applying for university through regular admissions anyway.”

 

“Ah, I see. Somehow, you seem like you’d make a good class president, though.”

 

“I’d do it if I have to, but I don’t particularly want to. Haha.”

 

Taking on any form of leadership was a hassle in itself.

 

I already have enough things to worry about; I don’t need another added responsibility.

 

Willpower is a limited resource; one has to use it efficiently and wisely.

 

For instance, most of my willpower these days was directed towards Eun-ha.

 

I was also focused on studying, so I didn’t want to divert my willpower elsewhere.

 

“How about you, Eun-ha? Are you interested in running for class president?”

 

“Not really, I have no particular interest. I also don’t plan to enter university through special admissions based on school activities or anything like that.”

 

“Are you aiming for regular admissions too?”

 

“Hmm? I’m preparing, but I think I might go with an essay-based or subject-specific admissions. I’m studying for regular admissions just to meet the minimum grade requirements.”

 

“You seem to have everything planned out.”

 

“Eh, I wouldn’t say that. By the way, Han-gyeol, have you decided on what major you want?”

 

At Eun-ha’s question, I hesitated for a moment.

 

In the first place, I thought that living a normal life would be good, so there was no such thing as a dream.

 

To me, living a normal life meant having my own house, my own car, and secure retirement.

 

But achieving that ‘normal life’ turned out to be harder than I had thought.

 

No matter how hard I tried, my dreams only seemed to drift further away as I lived.

 

Will this life be any different?

 

“I’m thinking... maybe Business Administration, Accounting, or perhaps Real Estate Studies?”

 

“Any particular reason?”

 

“Not really? But I think those fields suit me, and I’ve always wanted to go into a major related to finance. How about you, Eun-ha?”

 

I already knew Eun-ha’s dream.

 

Unlike me, she had a dream that shone brightly.

 

Eun-ha seemed a bit shy as she said I should guess what it was.

 

“Do your mind-reading, Han-gyeol. Guess it?”

 

I had been guessing wrong a lot lately, so I thought to answer this one right today.

 

“Hmm, Fashion and Clothing? It seems like a good fit for you, Eun-ha.”

 

“Haha, wrong. But thanks for the flattering guess.”

 

“Then how about Marketing? Advertising? You’d excel in those.”

 

“Nope! But it’s a bit similar, though..”

 

Eun-ha’s dream was to create ‘beautiful videos.’

 

The format doesn’t matter. Just videos that someone, somewhere, would find beautiful.

 

That was Eun-ha’s dream.

 

“I’m not sure. Can you give me a hint?”

 

“Um- Should I just tell you?”

 

“Yeah, tell me. I’m really curious.”

 

“I want to make beautiful videos.”

 

“Beautiful videos? What does that mean?”

 

“Videos that are so captivating they make people stop in their tracks.”

 

Like me, her dream wasn’t tied to a specific profession. It was about doing something she loved.

 

Eun-ha’s face lit up as she spoke passionately about her dream.

 

Seeing her like that, I couldn’t help but smile.

 

“That’s awesome. If anyone can do it, you can.”

 

“Uh..?”

 

Maybe it was the slightly embarrassing sincerity of my words, but Eun-ha hesitated for a moment before letting out a shy laugh.

 

I didn’t have much more to say, given my lack of knowledge, but I was truly rooting for her.

 

“Hehe, thanks.”

 

Seeing Eun-ha smile made my heart flutter all over again.

 

As our brief conversation ended, the bell rang, signaling the start of the next class.

 

Now that I had some information about university admissions, I was able to concentrate better during the lessons.

 

The more the class progressed, the more forgotten knowledge resurfaced in my mind.

 

For some reason, it wasn’t as draining as I had expected, maybe because I found joy in each piece of knowledge coming back to me.

 

It seemed like tasks weren’t as tough when you find them necessary. I sure didn’t feel this way during my actual high school years.

 

After the first, second, third, and fourth periods were over, lunchtime finally arrived.

 

By now, it had become natural for Eun-ha and me to walk to the cafeteria together.

 

We stood side by side in line, waited our turn, grabbed our trays, and took our seats facing each other.

 

As I watched Eun-ha take small bites of her food, a smile spread across my face while I ate my own meal.

 

“Eun-ha, here.”

 

As soon as we left the cafeteria, I pulled an orange-flavored candy from my pocket and handed it to her.

 

“Ah, thanks. Do you always have candy in your pocket, Han-gyeol?”

 

“Of course. They’re the never-drying orange-flavored candies, after all.”

 

“Haha! What even is that? So, what kind of snacks do you like, Han-gyeol?”

 

“Hmm? Orange-flavored candies.”

 

“Anything else?”

 

“Uh...Yōkan?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Truth be told, I used to eat Yōkan every day.

 

Not in this life as Lee Han-gyeol, but in my original one, my go-to snacks were Yōkan and orange-flavored candies.

 

When I was a child, my grandmother raised me, and Yōkan was the only snack she would allow me to have.

 

“Wow...You’re the first person I’ve met who likes Yōkan.”

 

“Hahaha! Yeah, it’s not common. Even in middle school, some kids teased me, saying it was strange.’”

 

“Really? That must’ve been tough.”

 

“Not at all. The kids I used to play with in elementary school vouched for me, saying I had been like this since the first grade.”

 

Ah, I got carried away.

 

In the life of Lee Han-gyeol, Yōkan seemed to be something he had never even glanced at.

 

“Do you want to skip the classroom and go eat Yōkan at the canteen?”

 

“Uh? I left my wallet in my bag.”

 

“I’ll buy it for you! Let’s head to the canteen.”

 

“I’ll happily accept your offer.”

 

“Great!”

 

We didn’t return to the classroom but headed straight for the canteen.

 

However, there was one thing I overlooked.

 

The canteen was incredibly crowded during lunchtime.

 

Navigating through the chaotic canteen seemed like a questionable endeavor.

 

“Eun-ha, it’s too crowded. Maybe next time— Huh?”

 

Just as I was about to suggest we leave, Eun-ha rolled up her sleeves. She looked up at me with a determined expression and said.

 

“Han-gyeol, I’ll be right back!”

 

“What?”

 

“Wait here!”

 

Eun-ha gripped two thousand-won bills in her hand and plunged into the crowd.

 

“Uh, isn’t that...kind of dangerous?”

 

Eun-ha was pushed back and forth and pushed out of the crowd several times.

 

Once, twice... Each time she emerged, her hair became increasingly disheveled.

 

Eventually, she stood before me, her hair a tangled mess, proudly holding a piece of Yōkan.

 

“Here! It’s Yōkan, Han-gyeol.”

 

Eun-ha handed me the Yōkan without bothering to fix her hair. I burst into uncontrollable laughter.

 

“Pfft— Hahahaha! Look at your hair, Eun-ha. It’s a total mess!”

 

“Don’t laugh! This is the price you pay to go to the canteen during lunch.”

 

“Hahahaha! Now I can’t just eat this, I’m too grateful!”

 

“What?! No, you have to. Otherwise, there’s no point. Eat it right now.”

 

“Hahaha! I’m sorry, it’s just too funny.”

 

“Stop laughing already!”

 

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. You’re just too cute, Eun-ha. Oh, my stomach!”

 

Watching me, Eun-ha also cracked a small smile.

 

“Seriously, stop laughing!”

 

“I’ll enjoy it, Eun-ha. Should I savor it?”

 

“I’ll buy you another one next time, so just eat it.”

 

“Okay. Buy me another one next time.”

 

“Sure, I will.”

 

I carefully unwrapped the gold foil from the Yōkan inside its box.

 

Before taking a big bite, I offered some to Eun-ha.

 

“Do you want to try some?”

 

“Is that okay? I’ve never had it before.”

 

“You should try it now.”

 

“Alright, just give me a little piece.”

 

I cut a slice from the Yōkan on the foil and handed it to Eun-ha.

 

With a serious expression, Eun-ha examined the Yōkan before popping it into her mouth.

 

I was curious about what she would say as she chewed.

 

“Hmm...”

 

“How is it?”

 

“Hmmm...”

 

“Don’t like it?”

 

“Ummm...”

 

Eun-ha’s head tilted in contemplation.

 

And then, gulp—she swallowed the Yōkan.

 

“It’s not really to my taste.”

 

“Haha! That’s fair.”

 

“But it wasn’t bad.”

 

“Want some more?”

 

“No, no! You eat it!”

 

“Hehe, I will.”

 

I took a big bite of the Yōkan Eun-ha had bought.

 

It tasted even better because it had been a while since I had it last.

 

Eun-ha looked up at me, so I asked.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Nothing. You’re just really enjoying it.”

 

“Haha! What do you mean? Did you think I was pretending to like it?”

 

“No, I was just surprised. Let’s head back to the classroom.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Upon arriving at the classroom, Eun-ha immediately pulled out a toothbrush and toothpaste from her locker.

 

“Han-gyeol, aren’t you going to brush your teeth?”

 

“Huh? I’ve got some Yōkan left. I was planning to finish it and then brush.”

 

“Alright. But lunchtime is almost over, so don’t take too long.”

 

“Got it.”

 

After Eun-ha left the classroom, I nibbled on the remaining Yōkan.

 

“It’s extra sweet today. I’m gonna rot my teeth.”

 

--- End OF The Chapter ---

 

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