Chapter 18. Shouldn’t We Help Them?

After the somewhat tense cleaning session ended.

“See you tomorrow, Enubi.”

“Bye.”

Enubi waved to Chaea as she left the classroom.

“So, what’s the deal?”

Jinhyuk was already slinging his bag over his shoulder, ready to leave.

‘This guy is really about to take off…!’

Feeling like he would disappear if she didn’t speak up now, Enubi quickly opened her mouth.

“Well, you know, about Hyunwoo and Chaea….”

But the words wouldn’t come out easily.

Was it really okay to bring this up?

And of all people, was Jinhyuk the right person to tell?

“If you’ve got nothing to say, I’m leaving.”

Of course, Jinhyuk didn’t have the time—or patience—to wait for her to figure it out.

“Wait, do you have something urgent to do?”

“An event’s about to start.”

“What event… Oh.”

Enubi almost asked reflexively but quickly caught herself.

“You’re not talking about a game event, are you? Tell me you’re not.”

“I am.”

“…”

“If I leave now, I’ll barely make it. Seriously, I’m going.”

“Wait a minute!”

Enubi grabbed onto Jinhyuk’s uniform.

But he just kept dragging her along.

“Ugh, why are you so annoyingly strong…!”

He didn’t care and kept moving toward the door.

Just as he was about to cross the threshold—

“Can we do something about those frustrating idiots?!”

She blurted it out in a moment of desperation.

Jinhyuk froze.

He turned around slowly, meeting Enubi’s gaze directly.

“Why should I?”

“What?”

“Why should I help them?”

“Well… because watching them is frustrating…?”

Caught off guard by the question, Enubi stammered her response.

“Don’t you feel the same? Doesn’t it drive you crazy seeing Do hyunwoo act like an idiot?”

“I don’t know about frustration, but it does make me want to drink bleach sometimes. Still, isn’t it none of our business?”

Jinhyuk crossed his arms, tilting his head.

“Hyunwoo’s probably holding back because Chaea’s still unstable. Do we really need to interfere?”

“…Do hyunwoo is?”

Enubi didn’t know.

She had no idea how much Hyunwoo was enduring to maintain their relationship.

Given the distance between them, it wasn’t something she could easily grasp.

After all, Hyunwoo was Jinhyuk’s friend, not hers.

She wasn’t close enough to understand what he was truly feeling.

“Even if we help, wouldn’t it be better to wait until she regains her memory?”

“…What if helping them get together is the key to restoring her memory?”

If Hyunwoo confided only in Jinhyuk, Chaea confided only in Enubi.

—Ugh, what should I do?

—What do you mean, what should you do? Just pin him down, and he’ll fall for you.

—What if Hyunwoo thinks I’m a pervert?!

—You’ve known each other for years. Don’t you think he already likes your body? He’s probably fantasized about you a dozen times…

—Stop slandering Hyunwoo!

Chaea constantly unloaded her worries on Enubi.

Lately, she felt like Hyunwoo was avoiding her.

He wasn’t doing the little things he used to do.

And if he found someone else—what then?

‘She’s only shy around Hyunwoo.’

She tried to get along with everyone else with a carefree attitude.

Ironically, that made it even harder for her to express her real feelings.

That same personality kept her from confessing, despite all her agonizing.

‘But she’s doing fine now, isn’t she?’

Since losing her memory, Chaea laughed more freely.

She clung to Hyunwoo without hesitation.

She was much more honest about her feelings.

“Listen, Jinhyuk. Chaea said she lost her memories before and after the accident, right?”

Just when she had finally made up her mind—

The accident wiped everything away.

“That’s why she’s so obsessed with their childhood. The feelings are still there, but the memories are gone.”

“Are you a doctor or something?”

“I’m not, but isn’t it a reasonable guess?”

“Hmm….”

Jinhyuk rubbed his chin, considering her words seriously.

Was this worth skipping the event for?

Sensing his hesitation, Enubi quickly spoke up.

“Wait! Whatever you’re thinking, hear me out first.”

“Go on.”

“I really think if we help them get together, the last piece of her memory will come back.”

When Jinhyuk didn’t respond, Enubi pressed on.

“You heard them earlier, right? They said trying old routines helps her memory. So, if we recreate the confession, maybe—”

“Huh?”

“You know, maybe all her lost memories will come back!”

“Really?”

Enubi nodded vigorously.

“So? Wouldn’t that stop them from acting so annoyingly awkward? Don’t you want to help? Isn’t this exciting?”

Completely forgetting her earlier disdain, Enubi nudged Jinhyuk’s side, laughing.

Jinhyuk twisted his waist to avoid her jabs, tilting his head.

“But why me?”

“What?”

“Can’t you do it on your own?”

From the way she talked, it didn’t sound like she needed his help.

And it’s not like she particularly liked him either.

“That’s not the point. You’re Hyunwoo’s friend.”

“You think I’m his only friend or something?”

“Out of the people I know, you’re the easiest to contact.”

“Lucky me.”

Grumbling, Enubi thrust her phone toward him.

“Give me your number.”

“Are you hitting on me?”

“Do you want to die? We need to exchange numbers if we’re working together!”

Frowning, she raised her fist.

Not that it looked particularly threatening.

“By the way, I never said I’d help.”

Jinhyuk pushed her phone away.

Enubi stared at him, mouth agape.

“…Why? Don’t you want to see your friend happy?”

“It’s not that. I’m just… busy saving too many worlds.”

“I hate that I understood that immediately.”

Enubi shuddered in disgust.

He was basically saying his mobile gacha game was more important.

“Honestly, what do I get out of helping them?”

“You could just be a decent friend, you heartless jerk.”

“Hyunwoo never asked for my help.”

And that was the real difference between them.

Before the accident—

Chaea always came to Enubi for relationship advice.

—Ugh, Chaea caught me playing an adult game yesterday. Should I just die?

Meanwhile, Hyunwoo only shared silly anecdotes with Jinhyuk—never serious concerns.

“Uh….”

Realizing the gap, Enubi hesitated.

Part of her wanted to say, ‘Fine, forget it,’ and let him leave.

But could she really pull this off by herself?

Still deep in thought, she casually asked:

“So, if there’s something good for you, you’ll help, right?”

“Huh?”

“You mean, as long as it doesn’t hurt your ‘weeb’ activities, you’re willing to join the plan.”

Jinhyuk nodded.

Enubi’s words weren’t entirely wrong.

And from her perspective, it was frustrating to just watch.

After racking her brain one more time until it felt like it might cramp, Enubi finally recalled something.

“You’re in the art club, right?”

“How’d you know? You interested in me?”

Whack!

Enubi responded to his nonsense by smacking his back before continuing.

“You probably draw those girls from your games, huh?”

“Yeah. I’m planning to work in the art department of a game company later. By the way, I’m drawing something right—”

“Not interested.”

Enubi cut Jinhyuk off without hesitation.

Even as she constantly questioned if this was the right move, she reminded herself it was for Chaea.

Pointing a finger at herself, she said firmly, “I’ll… be your model.”

“??”

“Why are you looking at me like that? You don’t just stare at 2D images when you draw, do you?”

“Well, no.”

“That’s the deal.”

Enubi swept her hair back.

She had already said it—there was no turning back now.

– Enubi Jung, right? Why are you here alone?

…Because it’s comfortable?

– Oh, then I must be making you uncomfortable. I’ll leave.

– No, I didn’t mean that…

– Then, should we at least say hi? I’m Chaea. Yoo Chaea.

When no one else would talk to her, Chaea was the first to approach.

For that friend, Enubi was willing to do this much.

“I’m pretty decent, right?”

She stood confidently in front of Jinhyuk, arms crossed.

Of course, her face was flushed red.

Jinhyuk, watching her struggle not to avoid his gaze, nodded seriously.

“Well, yeah.”

“What?”

“You’re pretty enough to be a model.”

“…!”

Even though she was the one who made the offer, Enubi couldn’t handle the embarrassment and quickly turned her head away.

“Maybe not as much as Misaki, but still useful—”

“Shut up! Shut up!”

Enubi pounded on Jinhyuk’s back until she was out of breath.

Then, panting, she held out her phone again.

“Anyway, you’re helping now, right?”

“I’m not sure how, but I’ll do my best.”

Tap, tap, tap.

As she dialed the number Jinhyuk pointed to, a cheerful Vocaloid song played.

Enubi briefly considered blocking the number and handling the plan on her own.

But it felt like a waste after all she had done.

“…Nice to be working with you. From now on.”

Gritting her teeth, she shook hands with Jinhyuk.

And so, the alliance to bring Chaea and Hyunwoo together—and eventually restore his memories—was formed.

The next day, Hyunwoo arrived at school quite late.

“I told you—if you’re late one more time, I’m sending you back home.”

Yoo Chaea.

“Sorry, Hyunwoo. Just this once, okay?”

Like how guessing “England” in history questions often works, Hyunwoo’s frantic dashes to the classroom usually meant Chaea had overslept.

“I promise I won’t do it again.”

“I’ve heard that line so many times, even before your accident—”

Smooch.

A soft sensation lingered on his cheek before he could react.

“…What was that?”

“It was… an apology. I really, really promise I’ll wake up on time.”

“That’s got nothing to do with apologizing!”

“If that wasn’t enough… how about one more?”

Smooch.

This time, her soft lips brushed his other cheek.

Since they had already entered the classroom, Hyunwoo’s gaze unintentionally locked with that of a boy sitting in the front row.

“…I didn’t see anything.”

The boy awkwardly turned his head, his acting unconvincing.

Hyunwoo silently thanked him and hurried to his seat.

“…Are you still mad? If you are—”

“I’m not. I’m not mad. Just… don’t do it here.”

“So… at home?”

“Sigh… No.”

By the time Hyunwoo, still flustered from the double cheek kiss, reached his desk, the chaos continued.

“Cosplay? Are you out of your mind, you weeb?!”

“Didn’t you offer to be my model?”

“I didn’t mean this kind of model!”

In front of him, Enubi and Jinhyuk were bickering quietly.

“What are you two doing?”

“Eek!”

Hyunwoo had only asked out of curiosity, but Enubi flinched so hard that he was the one left bewildered.

“What’s going on?”

“N-Nothing. When did you get here?”

“Just now.”

Suspicious as ever, Enubi avoided eye contact.

When Hyunwoo turned to Jinhyuk, he responded without a hint of shame.

“We were debating the ideal bust size for a cute anime girl.”

“…Right.”

The sheer boldness of his nonsense made Hyunwoo lose any interest in asking further.

“Now you’re just making me look bad!”

“You’re not even going to praise my quick wit?”

“Wit, my ass—!”

Enubi smacked Jinhyuk’s back repeatedly, while Hyunwoo quietly observed their growing familiarity.

At that moment, Chaea leaned closer, poking his side.

“Hyunwoo, Hyunwoo.”

“What?”

“I think I’m right.”

“About what?”

“Enubi definitely likes Jinhyuk.”

Ever since their cleaning session yesterday, Chaea had been insisting on this theory.

Seeing the two bicker only seemed to confirm her suspicions.

“Should we help them?”

“…No.”

“Why not?”

“Never mind. Just drop it.”

Hyunwoo let out a deep sigh, shaking his head.

‘How about worrying about your own relationship first?’

He thought it but knew he’d never dare to say it aloud.