Chapter 35: I am succeeding the main admin

It’s a good day again.

I sat by the window, sipping the hot chocolate Jihyun gave me.

“Is it really that good?”

“Mmm…”

“You’re not a child, you know.”

Wh-what?

Are you insulting hot chocolate lovers worldwide right now?

Take that back!

“Take it back.”

“…What are you two doing?”

“I don’t know.”

Looking to the side, Yejin was looking at us with an incredulous expression.

Now that we’re close, we can even joke around like this.

I turned my head.

Jihyun was shaking her head, as if saying she wasn’t involved.

We were having fun just a moment ago…

Suddenly betrayed, I stared blankly at Jihyun.

“Before we became close, Jia felt like a small animal, but now she’s so playful.”

“Like a Maltese.”

“Whoa, that’s a perfect analogy.”

Jihyun ignored my shining eyes and continued talking with Yejin.

They seem to have become completely close now.

I didn’t mind.

It was much better than when I was constantly mediating their fights.

Just thinking about that time made my head spin.

Of course, becoming close doesn’t mean they never fight.

“What is it?”

“Move. I’m sitting next to Jia.”

“No way. I got here first.”

“Again with the cursing. That’s why you can’t get a girlfriend.”

“Screw you.”

I looked at the two of them, fighting again as if they’d never been friends.

Now they just suddenly explode.

Seeing them do this every time they come to school, it seems like they never get tired.

Only I, stuck between them, feel exhausted.

But, it wasn’t entirely without fun.

I chuckled, “Hehe.”

?

Like a malfunctioning machine, I was dumbfounded as they both stopped abruptly.

What? Why did the mood suddenly turn cold?

I looked at them both in confusion.

And then my cheeks were grabbed.

“Hey, I told you not to laugh like that.”

“I agree this time, Jia. It’s fine between us since we’re close, but you shouldn’t laugh like that to other people, right?”

“Mmph… mmmph…”

H-help me.

Ignoring my pleas for help, they roughly pulled my cheeks.

My cheeks are stretching!

“Don’t show that unrestrained laughter to others. Got it?”

What did I even do?

I glared at them both in protest, feeling resentful.

And our eyes met.

Wait, their eyes are scary.

Their gazes were completely dead.

In the end, I had to promise not to laugh recklessly before they let me go.

Why do they only work so well together like this…?

“Why.”

I blinked.

Why is Jihyun here?

No, why am I even here?

I looked around at the excessively bustling cafeteria, given it was lunchtime.

Yejin went to lunch with her friends today, and I thought Jihyun did too.

And I should be resting my overworked body after acting as the gatekeeper of the late-night gallery.

Why am I in the cafeteria alone with Jihyun?

And last time, there was a reason that all my friends were absent, but today I was simply dragged here.

I blinked blankly.

Jihyun skillfully led me to a secluded spot.

“Get the food first.”

“Uh… okay.”

I nodded blankly.

Today’s menu seemed to be Western-themed; greasy foods like pasta and pizza were lined up.

After selecting some food, I checked the dessert corner.

Wow, white chocolate!

Wow, waffles!

I added a little more dessert with selfish intentions.

“You’re really consistent.”

“Hehe…”

“That’s not a compliment.”

Jihyun, who immediately denied it, got up to get food.

Should I eat first?

Seeing Jihyun’s back, I picked up my chopsticks and paused.

It might be a little weird if I eat first, since we’re eating together…?

Come to think of it, she came here to eat with me, and if she finds me already eating, I would also feel awkward.

Besides, Jihyun waited for me to get food.

I should just eat together when Jihyun comes back.

After concluding this, I gently put down my chopsticks.

And then I saw them.

A group that looked like delinquents.

“…!”

I immediately bowed my head.

In case any trouble came my way. There’s nothing to gain from prolonged eye contact.

My evasion skills from my time as a man were activated.

God, please let everything pass without incident.

I closed my eyes tightly and prayed silently.

However, as if to crush my plea, the voices approaching me grew louder.

“Isn’t that the kid who hangs around with Jihyun? What’s she doing here?”

“Oh.”

That voice came from above my head.

God is dead.

Otherwise, there’s no reason to cruelly crush the desperate prayers of this poor lamb.

Come to think of it, I think Jihyun’s name was mentioned. Are these Jihyun’s friends?

Mustering my courage, I carefully raised my head.

A girl with a hime cut and heavy makeup was looking at me.

Her appearance… was enough to trigger PTSD.

“Ah, uh…”

“What? Is she broken? People might think we’re going to eat her.”

“But honestly, I want to…”

The group surrounded me and talked, but my mind was hazy, and I couldn’t hear them clearly.

I take back what I said earlier about having a good day. It seems like it’ll be quite difficult.

Someone other than God, please help me.

“Hey, what are you doing there?”

“Oh, Jihyun!”

At that moment, I heard a very familiar voice.

I looked up. Jihyun stood at an angle, looking at us.

The group surrounding me rushed towards Jihyun.

They were indeed Jihyun’s friends.

It felt like our relationship had taken a step back.

“

What were you

doing?”

“What do you mean!”

The girl with the hime cut spoke to Jihyun in a cheerful voice.

She didn’t tell me why she came to lunch with me, so I thought she fought with her friend.

Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

After exchanging words, the group, led by the girl with the hime cut, left the cafeteria.

Jihyun approached me with a stoic expression.

“

Why aren’t you eating yet?”

“Ah… that.”

“Yes.”

“Jihyun, I was going to eat together when you arrived…”

I carefully looked up. The corners of Jihyun’s lips were slightly raised.

“You’re kind.”

“”

“Uh… yes?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s eat quickly.”

Saying that, Jihyun sat opposite me.

I looked at Jihyun.

Even though we’ve become close, Jihyun’s stoic expression and gaze, which had always seemed scary, now looked somewhat cool.

“Aren’t you eating?”

“Ah, I should. Hehe…”

I hurriedly picked up a slice of pizza.

Arrhythmia?

My heart was beating strangely.

During lunch, I was so conscious of Jihyun that I didn’t know if the food was going into my mouth or my nose.

It’s a good thing it got better after we finished eating and went back to class, otherwise I would’ve seriously worried about having heart disease.

Naturally, I slept through the afternoon classes.

This shouldn’t become normal. My attitude is getting bad.

After the last class ended, I approached Jihyun as she was packing her things and waved first.

Jihyun looked stunned, as if she hadn’t expected it.

Honestly, it was an impulsive act, and I don’t know why I did it.

I just… suddenly wanted to.

I ran towards Yejin, almost escaping. Conveniently, today was a day we were going home together.

Since we went home together last time, we started having days where we go home together, like today.

I was happy.

Yejin felt like she radiated bright energy just by being next to her.

The discomfort I felt before, worried about being a burden, completely disappeared after that day.

Thanks to this, I felt at ease until we parted ways.

I waved goodbye to Yejin, as our paths diverged.

Yejin happily waved back, her arms swinging.

I watched Yejin run off, and I thought,

A complete golden retriever.

After watching Yejin for a long time, I looked away when she was out of sight.

It’s time to return to reality.

I took out my phone.

I handle almost all of the Yuri Gallery management.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that I handle everything.

From the fact that Unni Juyeon, the main moderator, has completely given up on managing the gallery, it speaks volumes.

She only made a fuss whenever I spoke in the group chat.

The other two moderators were in no better shape.

Thanks to this, I ended up doing all the work,

I scrolled through the Yuri Gallery with dead eyes.

Fortunately, it was relatively calm today. Thanks to my hard work over the past few days.

It seemed like it would stay quiet for a few hours even without my supervision.

I breathed a sigh of relief and was about to put away my phone.

Ding-

Who is it?

I turned on my phone and checked the sender.

Jia, what are you doing?

As the saying goes, even a tiger comes when its name is called. It was Unni Juyeon.

It seems like it’s been a while since I’ve had a private chat with her.

Thinking that, I sent a reply saying I was on my way home.

Then…

If it’s okay, would you like to come to my house tonight?

…?