Chapter 33: Domestic Incest Gallery (4)

To explain how things got this way, we need to go back about an hour.

Five minutes before the start of the first class, I sat at my desk and looked around. I saw students of various types.

Students secretly using their phones, students lying down to sleep, and students preparing enthusiastically for class by opening their notebooks.

I saw a variety of appearances.

Of course, I was among the students preparing to sleep.

Why bother attending class?

I’m here to sleep.

The fact that gym class was an hour later was a bit concerning, but since it was an orientation today, I decided not to worry.

I shook off my worries and buried my face in the desk.

There will be nothing more than the explanation in class. That’s what orientations are like.

And that casual thought of mine was shattered exactly an hour later.

“Jia, you need to wake up.”

“Mmm… why…?”

“The teacher said to gather in the auditorium.”

When I opened my eyes, Yejin was waking me up.

It feels like she’s been waking me up every day lately. I wanted to express my gratitude.

Anyway, what’s with the sudden auditorium gathering?

Did the school catch on fire?

Can I look forward to going home early today?

With excited anticipation, I asked.

“Why are we suddenly called to the auditorium?”

“Because of the gym teacher.”

And then I despaired.

She said it was only an orientation today. She said we wouldn’t be doing any exercise!

I glared at Yejin, blaming her for spreading false information.

Yejin looked at me with an innocent expression.

I feel guilty for no reason. How can I resent her when she looks at me like that?

Come to think of it, it’s Yejin’s first gym class too. There was no way she knew what the lesson would be about.

The fact that Yejin mentioned orientation seemed like she gave the best possible answer she knew to my question.

Then I’m the bad guy. Or girl.

Realizing the truth, I opened my eyes gently.

Now that I knew it wasn’t Yejin’s fault, it was time to face reality.

Resigned, I let Yejin lead me to the auditorium.

The auditorium was already filled with students chatting amongst themselves.

There, I saw Jihyun leaning against the wall and using her phone.

What’s she doing?

When I looked toward Jihyun, she seemed to sense my gaze and looked up.

She then stared intensely at me. Her eyebrows were raised, so she seemed unhappy about something.

W-what. This is scary.

“Hey, she’s suddenly staring at you.”

Yejin, who was next to me, also seemed to feel the same and whispered to me.

I know, can’t you just leave me alone?

I don’t remember, but I guess I did something wrong.

I strongly wanted to ignore her, but I was afraid of the consequences.

I wanted to live as long as possible.

With tears in my eyes, I awkwardly waved to Jihyun.

Then Jihyun turned her head sharply.

“What’s wrong with her?”

I don’t know.

I guess I survived?

Just as I was secretly relieved, the gym teacher appeared from somewhere.

“Hello everyone.”

She was a beautiful woman with short, black bobbed hair.

She called us in a monotone voice, and her appearance and voice blended naturally.

And she was tall.

Even I, who’s at the average height for a woman, had to look up at her.

The teacher quickly gathered the scattered students.

Her swift command, maintaining a stoic expression, made her look like a seasoned veteran; it was cool.

After gathering the students, the teacher stood in front of us and looked at us.

“Today, we’ll have a brief explanation and some stretching.”

It was fortunate, considering the circumstances.

If she had made us do strenuous exercise from the first class, I would have collapsed, clutching the back of my neck.

The teacher had us all sit down. It seemed to be a consideration to allow us to comfortably listen to the explanation.

She then started with a self-introduction and an overview of the upcoming classes.

Her name is Hong Yujin. Her age is a secret.

That’s the information I could gather from her self-introduction.

I didn’t listen to the class schedule explanation. I wasn’t interested in exercise.

I fidgeted with my fingers.

I didn’t like exercise, but I liked the teacher.

“Alright everyone. Now we’ll do stretching in pairs, so find a partner.”

I didn’t know how much I’d dislike this.

Not only do I have to use my body, but we also have to work in pairs!

My high school trauma came flooding back.

But it’s fortunate that I have friends to do it with now. I thought this while looking at Yejin approaching me.

“Hey! You’re doing this with me, right?”

“Of course…”

I hesitated when I felt a touch on my shoulder while about to answer without hesitation.

When I turned around, it was Jihyun.

“Kim Jia.”

“Y-yes…? What…?”

“Let’s do stretching together.”

She approached silently and held my left shoulder tightly.

“Uh…?”

I broke down.

I’ve never experienced this before in my life. What do I do?

To make matters worse, Yejin rushed over and almost hung on my right shoulder.

“What are you talking about! Jia and I are doing it together!”

“That’s what you think. Could you move away?”

“Huh, you move away first!”

It was the beginning of World War I.

I was tired of listening to them fighting next to me.

I understand everything, but why are they fighting with me in the middle?

I was experiencing the proverb “when elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers” in real-time.

Jia is not an object. Please cherish her.

They bickered back and forth, and then, as if planned, they both looked at me at the same time.

Suddenly becoming the recipient of two pairs of eyes, I started sweating profusely.

Yejin and Jihyun spoke in turn.

“Humph. Anyway, Jia is the one who makes the choice, right?”

“That’s right, Kim Jia. You choose. Me or her.”

You want me to decide this?

They’re my friends. I don’t know how they feel, but they’re precious to me.

It was difficult to choose just one.

Especially in a situation like this.

I didn’t want to see the disappointed expression of the person who wasn’t chosen.

I discreetly glanced around.

More and more pairs were forming.

It was time for me to make a choice.

Then I remembered one of the fairest games in South Korea.

It’s a national game with simple rules, fairness, and a quick play style.

Rock-paper-scissors.

What the heck. I closed my eyes tightly and shouted.

“Let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors!”

“Rock-paper-scissors?”

“Oh, good!”

While Jihyun expressed doubt, Yejin cheerfully agreed.

“Since it’s purely based on luck, there’s no reason to be upset if you lose!”

“Huh, good. Don’t complain if you lose.”

The two who separated from me got ready.

“Jia, be the referee.”

“Uh… are you ready?”

“I’m ready.”

“Me too.”

Then, let’s begin.

Rock.

Paper.

Scissors!

“Ah.”

“Pfft! It’s a shame, but Jia will be with me?”

The results are mixed.

Jihyun’s sigh and Yejin’s laughter revealed the outcome of the game.

Yejin hugged me with a bright expression.

“Success in capturing our Jia!”

“Otōtōt…”

“Y-you… wait until later.”

“Ugh. What is that cheesy villain line? So old-fashioned.”

Jihyun, who had been staring at us with fiery eyes, accepted the result and went to find another partner.

“Wow. Even her exit looks villainous.”

“S-so, shall we go to the teacher?”

“Yeah!”

I held Yejin’s hand and started walking.

This is a happy ending, right…?

Good. Good.

And returning to the present, I’m currently having Yejin help me stretch while my legs are extended.

“Ugh… gently… please…”

Embarrassingly enough, despite my bravado before class, my flexibility was terrible.

I wanted to show off a cool performance, but I resented my body.

Was I this inflexible even when I was a man?

Since I started living alone, I haven’t exercised, so my memories are hazy.

“Ugh…”

When I groaned, I felt a silent gaze from Yejin behind me, who was pressing down on me.

“B-but it hurts too much…”

“No… I’m not trying to say anything.”

Then what’s with that stare!

I shouted, filled with resentment over the pain.

“Th-the sound…”

“Sound?”

“It’s nothing.”

What? Why did you stop talking?

The first way to annoy someone is to stop mid-sentence…

That’s the template.

I recalled a game director.

The God of Normalization. I worship you.

As I silently praised him, Yejin started pressing down on my back.

“Jia. No time to zone out.”

“Hyaak!? Y-yes, just… please don’t…”

“So, do something about that sound.”

And so, I suffered under Yejin’s ministrations for the rest of the class.

I tried to fight back, but Yejin was more flexible than me.

We’ll see…

I collapsed onto the desk, exhausted.

Using my body after so long was physically and mentally exhausting.

The kind and energetic Yejin seemed like a demon after gym class.

Of course, she returned to normal after class ended, but I wouldn’t easily forget this.

I sipped the hot chocolate Yejin gave me as an apology.

Come to think of it, what are the Baekbungis doing at this time?

Since they’re all unemployed, are they actively using the gallery?

I suddenly got curious.

I briefly checked on the teacher. She didn’t seem to be paying attention to the students, only looking at her materials.

…It should be okay if I just take a quick look, right?

I carefully took out my phone, which I had carefully kept in my desk drawer.