Chapter 2: Am I a Punk Delinquent?

I read a fair amount of web novels.

I’ve probably gone through around 50,000 stories?

I particularly enjoy baseball-themed ones, but I don’t limit myself to specific genres, so I’m familiar with most genre clichés.

From what I can gather, it seems I’ve been transported into a web novel world.

My last memory before this event fits the classic “transported to another world” cliché.

In that memory, a reader sends a long message to an author expressing dissatisfaction with a story’s ending.

The author provocatively challenges the reader, who accepts, and then, suddenly, I wake up in a different world.

It’s a pretty clear case of cliché.

• “So, would you like to try writing something, dear reader?”

A fleeting thought of the author’s reply crosses my mind.

I remember saying yes, partly out of annoyance.

But I never intended to end up in this world.

“Well, at least my legs are fine…”

I can certainly stand on both legs without any discomfort.

It feels incredible after so long.

I take a few steps without any pain; it’s hard to describe how long it’s been since I’ve felt this way.

After taking a moment to look around, I walk to a mirror.

“Wait… is this…?”

It’s me?

Of course, it’s expected that I’d see myself in the mirror, but it’s surprising considering I thought I’d become one of the characters in this world.

“Is this… high school?”

The reflection looks exactly like I did during my high school years.

For a moment, I wonder if I’ve traveled back in time instead of being transported to a new world, but I quickly dismiss that thought.

I don’t recall living in a house like this.

As I continue to explore the room, I find a student ID on the desk.

[Cha Tae-hyun.]

Interestingly, it has the same name as mine.

Just as I’m about to flip it over, a sudden dizziness washes over me.

“Ugh!”

A stabbing sensation fills my head, and someone else’s memories start flooding in.

This is…

The memories of “Cha Tae-hyun” from the web novel.

Once the dizziness subsides, I begin to fully understand my situation.

Exiting the room, I head to the dining table where breakfast has been set up.

Two fried eggs, Vienna sausages, and seasoned seaweed—an odd mix that feels nostalgic.

Next to the food, there’s a small note.

[Oppa, I’ll leave first. Make sure to eat breakfast.]

Unlike the orphaned Cha Tae-hyun from the story, this version has a younger sister.

However, just like the original, he doesn’t have parents.

“It’s delicious.”

As I take a spoonful of rice, I reflect on my thoughts again.

My theory about being transported to the web novel world seems almost correct.

I figured that out when Cha Tae-hyun’s memories started flooding in.

However, I don’t have all of Cha Tae-hyun’s memories.

Just fragmented bits: he has a younger sister named Cha Ji-hyun and attends Hyuksan High School, the setting for the early parts of the story.

It’s as if I’ve only been given the basic knowledge needed to live as Cha Tae-hyun.

No memories of family matters or past experiences come to mind.

“Not even an extra…”

Cha Tae-hyun is a character that has never appeared even once in the story.

There’s not even a mention of him.

I might have forgotten the details of the story, but I’m certain that’s not the case.

If a character with my name appeared in a favorite story of mine, I wouldn’t forget it.

Perhaps… I guess the author hastily created this character when they threw me into this world.

Given that he has no parents and looks exactly like I did in high school.

-Ding!

Suddenly, my phone on the dining table vibrates.

It seems the alarm I forgot to turn off is ringing again.

[School start time.]

This alarm had gone off exactly an hour earlier.

“I guess I should go…”

At this age, the idea of going to school feels strange, but it’s probably for the best.

This terrible situation could mean I might never return and will have to live in this world indefinitely.

But what will happen if I just stay here moping around?

I’d end up jobless.

I once fought hard against that life, even as an orphan, and managed to succeed as a baseball player.

This path is one I’ve walked before.

So, if I have to walk it again, what’s there to be afraid of?

I’m actually looking forward to it.

Though my body has reverted to youth, all the baseball knowledge, experience, and instincts I’ve built up remain intact.

If I start playing baseball again from high school, how far can I go?

Sure. Let’s consider this life a second chance.

I put on my school uniform, grab my bag, and leave the house.

As the bell rings to signal the end of class and the start of recess, the friends sitting in front of Shin Ha-yoon quickly turn around.

Shin Ha-yoon is staring at something intently.

What could be so captivating that she’s unable to look away?

Her friends follow her gaze and soon burst into laughter.

“Looks like someone’s smitten, Ha-yoon.”

“Are you happy, Ha-yoon? Huh? Because you’re in the same class as your boyfriend?”

At that moment, Shin Ha-yoon whips her head around and raises her voice.

“What the…! I don’t have a boyfriend!”

“Everyone knows except you,” her friend teases.

“…What?”

“Your boyfriend is Lee Ji-ho.”

“No, it’s not!”

“Sure, sure~. You’ve been attached at the hip since elementary school, but he’s just a friend, right~?”

Just as Shin Ha-yoon’s face begins to turn as red as a ripe tomato…

“Hey. Did you see the class assignment list?”

Another friend of Shin Ha-yoon approached her, looking quite serious.

“Uh… I saw it, but why?”

“Ha-yoon… You’re sitting next to Cha Tae-hyun…”

Shin Ha-yoon’s face instantly stiffened.

“…Really?”

“….”

The friends looked at Shin Ha-yoon with worried eyes and sighed.

“Ah… Why does it have to be our class?”

“Exactly… Can’t they just expel him from school? Why let such a punk continue attending?”

“Right… I don’t get it. I heard he beats people up whenever he gets the chance.”

“Does he only beat people? I heard he goes to bars during study time and hangs out with girls.”

At that moment, Shin Ha-yoon grimaced.

“I’ve never heard of him going to bars. Is it really that bad…?”

“Not just bad; it’s probably worse. I heard he’s from a rich family, so he goes to bars and throws money around, and they can’t expel him from school.”

“Wow… That’s really absurd, huh? I’ve heard he’s a punk, but he’s not just a punk.”

The friends sighed again.

“…I heard he looks really intimidating. Ugh! Why does it have to be our class!”

“Is that the problem? Ha-yoon is sitting right next to him. What should we do?”

“It’s okay. I mean… It’s not like he’d do anything inside the school, right?”

“That’s true, but Cha Tae-hyun isn’t just a crazy guy.”

‘If he’s not just a crazy guy, then what…’

After all, he’s just someone living within the boundaries of this society.

Shin Ha-yoon said quietly, “If he does something crazy, I can report it. What’s there to be afraid of in this day and age? I guess I’ve just been lucky in who I’ve had to deal with until now… I’m not someone who will just take it lying down.”

-Click.

Just then, the back door of the classroom opened.

Everyone’s attention immediately turned to the door.

As a man appeared, everyone seemed to turn away, almost scared.

However, only Shin Ha-yoon glared at the man with her mouth tightly shut.

Right now, I’m standing at the back door of the classroom.

Anyone who saw me would think I’m being punished, but that’s not the case.

I was listening because I heard them talking about Cha Tae-hyun just as I was about to open the door.

By the way…

What kind of life has this guy Cha Tae-hyun led for his image to be like this?

I mean, I could somewhat accept the rumor that he beats people whenever he gets the chance, if I really had to.

I heard plenty of stories about how intimidating his face was during high school…

But…

The idea that he changes girlfriends every week and goes to bars during study time…

The fact that he’s a rich kid relying on his parents’ connections to act like a delinquent…

That’s just absurd.

At this point, I have no memories of Cha Tae-hyun’s past, so it’s not impossible that those rumors are true.

But still, I can’t believe it.

First of all, Cha Tae-hyun is nowhere near being a rich kid.

What connections are you talking about…

I’m already grieving over being an orphan here…

Anyway, if I keep listening, I’m going to get more and more annoyed.

After all, I’m Cha Tae-hyun now.

They’re treating me like a criminal, and I can’t feel good about that.

I slowly opened the door.

And right in front of me was a group of girls.

They’re probably the ones badmouthing me.

I looked at one of them.

Her eyes darted around.

Did she hear…? The expression on her face says she did, and yes, she did.

I could hear them loud and clear.

From now on, be careful when talking behind someone’s back.

At that moment, I felt a sharp gaze and turned my head to meet the eyes of someone staring at me fiercely.

I found myself staring back into those eyes…

For quite a while.

It’s kind of ridiculous, even to me…

I was just genuinely captivated because she was so beautiful.

With neatly arranged black hair, a small face, and features that looked like they were carved from stone.

Is this what it feels like to see a celebrity in real life?

Anyway… her looks were that unreal.

Because of that, even though we hadn’t even introduced ourselves yet, I could tell who she was.

She was undoubtedly Shin Ha-yoon, one of the heroines in NeMas, who ultimately ended up with the main character.

She looked just like the illustration.

“Intimidating, huh? I don’t know if you’re trying to assert your dominance with that stare, but I’m not going to be scared like the others, okay? If you mess around, I’ll report you right away.”

For a moment, my brain stopped, wondering what kind of nonsense that was.

Did she really think I was trying to assert dominance just because I stared at her for a moment…?

It was so absurd that a chuckle escaped me.

At that, Shin Ha-yoon flinched.

No way…

That’s not what I meant.

Once the frame is wrongly set, there’s no fixing it…

I sighed and pulled out the chair next to Shin Ha-yoon.

“Is it okay if I sit here?”

Shin Ha-yoon’s expression twisted in frustration.

I don’t want to sit next to you either.

But what else could I do since there’s no other seat…?

In the end, I didn’t get a response and just sat down.

This is strange; my image is that of a delinquent, yet I’m being treated like an outcast.

“I’ll tell you in advance… I really dislike people like you, okay? Just don’t pay any attention to me from now on.”

Just then, Shin Ha-yoon spoke.

I tried to ignore her, but maybe I had already started to blend in with Cha Tae-hyun’s persona.

A bit… annoying?

“Don’t worry about it. I also don’t want to get involved with someone like you who jumps from team to team without any roots.”

“W-What?!”

In an instant, Shin Ha-yoon raised her voice and scowled.

That hit a nerve.

There was no way I could avoid that.

Shin Ha-yoon is said to be a die-hard fan of the Busan Phoenix since birth, so…

By denying the fan sentiment she has built up throughout her life, it’s impossible for her not to be hurt.

“Who do you think you are to call me a bandwagon fan?”

Yeah, you are a bandwagon fan.

You ditched the Phoenix as soon as your boyfriend was drafted by the Dinos.

Well… I know it’s mentioned that you can’t let go of the Phoenix until the end of NeMas, but…

In the end, a bandwagon fan is just a bandwagon fan.

Anyway… I think that’s enough teasing for now.

Seeing Shin Ha-yoon’s frustrated face has already made my irritation fade away.

“Your face looks like a bandwagon fan, so… whatever.”

“What… what did you just say!!”

Shin Ha-yoon’s raised voice pierced my ears.

I chuckled and laid my head down on the desk.

Judging someone by their looks is bad, but…

Shin Ha-yoon treated me like trash based on my looks first, right?

So it’s fair game.

By the way,

Ugh, what did Cha Tae-hyun do at night that he’s so tired?

Honestly, if it weren’t for the friction with Shin Ha-yoon, I would have just laid down and gone to sleep right away.

I’m seriously exhausted.

Just when I was about to accept the overwhelming fatigue…

“Ms. Mi-yeon!”

Someone’s shout snapped me back to reality.