[Na Yuna: Where is everyone?]
[Me: On my way]
[Han Doa: Need to deliver printouts, so it’ll take a while]
I looked at the student council group chat and sank into thought.
‘She ended up receiving the MVP award.’
Haneul High won the basketball game, and Kim Noeul received the MVP award for this year’s sports festival.
Since it’s an award given to the individual who scored the most points, its honor was greater than any other award.
Considering that students from Ojakgyo received it the year before last and last year, it was encouraging.
‘The number of schools contacting Haneul High has also increased.’
Now, Ojakgyo no longer holds the same prestige as before.
That trend intensified starting with the sports festival.
So, we decided to have a dinner gathering to commemorate this sports festival.
The dinner location was a familiar restaurant.
‘That meat restaurant where I met Je Galyeonhwa and CEO Lim Juhee at the beginning of the semester…’
Back then, I wasn’t sure if we could grow this far, so it feels nostalgic.
Arriving in front of the meat restaurant, Na Yuna, who had arrived first, waved her hand.
She wore a beige cardigan and jeans.
“You came early!”
“My classes ended early.”
“Really?”
“Didn’t you come with Noeul?”
“She’s the president, so she gets called here and there.”
“She said she’ll come right after finishing work.”
The two of us entered the restaurant first to grab seats.
Sitting at a four-person table, we ordered four servings of meat and waited for the other two women.
“…Seo Yoon probably got the MVP.”
Until the basketball game, Kim Noeul’s and Seo Yoon’s individual scores were neck and neck.
The reason Kim Noeul could become this year’s MVP could arguably be attributed to the buzzer-beater she attempted right before the game ended.
‘Is this called a golden beater?’
That 3-point shot also led the Blue Team to victory.
“I thought I was watching a sports anime.”
“Thinking that goal decided the MVP gave me goosebumps.”
In many ways, Kim Noeul was good at creating dramatic situations.
Because she shows actions worthy of being praised as the protagonist of this world by those around her.
“Four servings are here~.”
The server placed the plate of meat on the table.
Confirming the chat that the other two women would arrive soon, I started grilling the meat.
Hearing the sound of meat grilling, Na Yuna stared intently at the meat.
“Haven’t you eaten meat lately?”
“Ah, I’ve had a lot of photoshoots lately.”
“So I can’t eat as I please.”
Na Yuna’s throat bobbed up and down.
“Eat the cooked ones first, and if it’s not enough, let’s order more later.”
“Anyway, thanks to the MVP prize money, we don’t have to worry about money.”
“Wow, look at the oil dripping.”
As I moved the cooked meat towards Na Yuna’s side, she popped the meat into her mouth one after another like a baby bird receiving food.
Na Yuna, puffing her cheeks while chewing, smiled.
“After today, I won’t be able to eat for a while, so I have to eat hard…”
While Na Yuna was inhaling her food like a storm, Kim Noeul and Han Doa also appeared.
It seemed they met on the way.
“Perfect timing.”
“We can eat right away.”
Kim Noeul sat down and immediately picked up her chopsticks.
Han Doa also sat opposite her and pushed her long hair back.
“Alright, I’m treating today, so order lots of expensive stuff~.”
“Order beef too~.”
Kim Noeul said, stuffing a lettuce wrap into her mouth.
“Then I won’t refuse.”
Hearing Kim Noeul’s words, Han Doa pressed the bell and ordered an additional two servings of beef from the server.
We focused on grilling and eating the meat, so we didn’t exchange much conversation.
In fact, we had become so close that even this silence didn’t feel awkward.
Only when I finished grilling all the meat and started eating in earnest did the conversation become lively.
“Come to think of it, the earrings in this SC magazine…”
“…So he asked her out.”
“The first years these days have no manners.”
The three women, perhaps mostly full, stopped using their chopsticks and started chatting away.
Even though it was trivial talk, I found myself listening intently.
All I had to do was open my ears and eat meat.
Han Doa glanced at quiet me and said a word.
“Is the portion not enough?”
“If you order more, I’ll grill it.”
“It’s okay.”
“This is enough right now.”
Having picked at some pieces while grilling, I wasn’t completely empty.
Kim Noeul placed a piece of meat on my rice bowl with her tongs.
“You need to eat a lot now.”
“It’s an important time soon.”
“Huh?”
“Important time?”
Na Yuna questioned Kim Noeul’s words.
Kim Noeul looked at Na Yuna and continued speaking.
“The exams are coming up soon.”
“You need to eat well to study.”
At the mention of exams, Na Yuna’s and Han Doa’s complexions darkened.
But the two weren’t making those faces because of their own grades.
“…They’ll probably hold the mock exam at TT Academy this time too, right?”
Na Yuna’s mutter lingered in the air.
No one rashly opened their mouths.
Taking the mock exam at TT Academy meant the time for me to play an active role was approaching.
“Eun Yuri will participate too.”
“To regain the vested interests in the academy district.”
Han Doa said so and gazed at me eating meat.
The gazes of the other two women also landed on me.
Being stared at while eating felt burdensome.
“Could you stop staring?”
“I feel like I’m going to get indigestion.”
“He looks fine himself, so don’t pressure him.”
Kim Noeul looked at my face and concluded so.
“Unexpected.”
“I thought junior Noeul would worry the most.”
Kim Noeul rested her chin on her hand at Han Doa’s words.
“Worrying won’t change anything.”
“We just have to believe.”
“Just like Maru believed in me.”
I stared intently at Kim Noeul.
She didn’t meet my gaze and just poked at the meat pieces with her chopsticks.
A faint smile hung on her face.
“It wasn’t my intention to pressure you.”
“Just trying to grasp Maru’s mood…”
Han Doa trailed off.
“I won’t look anymore!”
“Eat a lot!”
Na Yuna also averted her gaze from me.
With this, all three women deliberately pretended to do other things and didn’t look at me.
‘This is actually more burdensome.’
Ignoring them as much as possible, I finished the meal.
Kim Noeul handed her card to the seniors.
Meaning, pay with her prize money.
While the seniors were paying, Kim Noeul and I left the restaurant.
Perhaps because summer was passing, the sun set early.
Kim Noeul looked up at the sky and opened her mouth.
“Are you confident?”
“Confident about what.”
“The exam.”
I didn’t answer Kim Noeul’s words immediately.
‘Confidence…’
Honestly speaking, I’m not certain.
Last time, I lost because the standard score was lower.
There’s no guarantee it won’t happen this time.
The winner between me and Eun Yuri isn’t decided by the raw score.
The moment even one question is wrong, defeat is a foregone conclusion, so a perfect score is the default baseline.
Then what remains are the percentile and standard score, and these factors depend on the heavens.
But I can’t get downcast for that reason either.
Whatever happens, we now need to surpass Ojakgyo.
“I have to win.”
Calm words slipped out of my mouth.
It was a voice so composed it surprised even me.
Kim Noeul also widened her eyes hearing my calm voice.
“You really seem unfazed.”
“Have you reached a state of enlightenment?”
“You’ll become like this too if you solve problems diligently.”
“…Show off.”
As Kim Noeul crossed her arms and turned her head, Na Yuna and Han Doa approached us.
“Then should we have a study meeting from now on?”
“Since we need to focus on the exam.”
Na Yuna, perhaps having overheard some of our conversation, suggested first.
Kim Noeul and Han Doa gestured with their eyes to gauge my opinion.
I shook my head towards them.
“No, I want to concentrate alone.”
I had already surpassed the level of studying with someone else.
From now on, I needed time to struggle one-on-one with high-difficulty problems.
“We should pray Eun Yuri makes a mistake on one question.”
Na Yuna clasped her hands together and closed her eyes.
Han Doa, watching beside her, stealthily followed suit.
Eun Yuri had just been summoned to Shinsung High’s student council room.
In front, Alice sat quietly in a chair.
White skin, sparkling blonde hair, cool blue eyes.
The doll-like female student was intently reading documents placed on the desk.
Her appearance was unreal whenever seen.
But today, that unreal appearance had faded.
Because the dark circles under Alice’s eyes were deep, and the surface of her lips was rough.
‘She’s not the woman to neglect self-care.’
Thinking so, Eun Yuri looked out the window.
The sun was already beginning to set.
“Strange.”
“Staying at school until this hour and calling me.”
Alice slightly lifted her head and gazed at Eun Yuri.
“The exam period is coming soon.”
Hearing Alice’s words, Eun Yuri nodded her head.
Alice continued speaking without even looking at Eun Yuri’s nod.
“This mock exam, don’t hold back on means and methods.”
“What?”
Eun Yuri’s fine brow furrowed.
She glared as if hoping Alice would add an explanation, but Alice remained silent.
“It’s not any other executive, but ordering me regarding academic matters is a first?”
“Because there was no need until now.”
At Alice’s meaningful words, Eun Yuri racked her brain.
After a moment, she reached her own conclusion.
‘She really changed starting from the end of the first semester.’
Having identified the cause, Eun Yuri opened her mouth.
“I tried to let it pass without asking if possible, but I can’t anymore.”
“You ordered an investigation on Maru starting from the first semester, didn’t pay attention to Ojakgyo during the break….”
“What’s your relationship with Maru?”
“Add the surname.”
“…What did you say?”
Eun Yuri asked again as an unexpected answer popped out from Alice.
Alice rolled her blue eyes and glared at Eun Yuri.
“Add, the surname.”
“…”
Eun Yuri looked down at Alice.
Alice looked up at Eun Yuri.
The gazes of the two women lingered in the air for a while.
Only after a long silence did Eun Yuri raise the white flag first.
“Haa, okay.”
“What happened with that kid named Kim Maru for you to act like that?”
“I’m curious when you started having curiosity about my past.”
That was a warning.
Alice was implicitly telling her not to ask unnecessary questions.
But even this was enough information for Eun Yuri.
Seeing Alice, who was always blunt in front of her, reveal emotion, she could indirectly tell how she thought of Kim Maru.
“I’ll handle the academy side.”
“Even if you didn’t say so, I plan to win.”
“Let me say it again, don’t hold back on means and methods.”
“Did you understand my meaning?”
Alice saw right through Eun Yuri’s personality.
Regarding academics, Eun Yuri has no intention of committing fraud.
Because she believed in her own skills, and victory obtained through fraud couldn’t satisfy her desires.
Eun Yuri also knew what intention Alice had when giving her such instructions.
It probably meant to employ even unfair methods.
“…If you couldn’t trust my skills, you shouldn’t have given me the executive position either.”
The words Eun Yuri brought up received no response.
Because Alice simply lowered her gaze back to the documents, as if not accepting any counterarguments.
Eun Yuri ultimately left the room without giving Alice a definite answer.
Alice frowned, her eyebrows twitching, and called someone.
Eventually, a voice came from beyond the receiver.
[– Why.]
“The mistakes you made in the academy district, you must have restored most of them.”
[– …]
“The method doesn’t matter, move with the goal of Eun Yuri’s victory.”
[– Got it.]
The other party, answering bluntly, hung up first.
Alice put down the phone and let out a sigh.
And she swept her bangs up with one hand.
Alice’s sticky eyes, filled with possessive desire, glistened.
‘Maru, if you absolutely refuse to be with me…’
She would destroy the very foundation upon which he could resist.
Suppress him so he can’t use his hands or feet, and reclaim him.
If there had been no one beside him, she wouldn’t have used such drastic measures.
But someone was already beside him.
The spot beside him that she desired so much was already occupied by another woman.
As long as that woman is beside Kim Maru, even if Alice persuades him gently, he won’t listen.
In that case, that woman must be removed too.
Therefore, she has no choice but to crush Haneul High itself.
Justice will prevail.
His and her relationship will return to how it was before.
At least, Alice believed so.
‘Truthfully, I don’t want to cause you pain.’
Biting her lip, Alice banished that thought to the depths of her heart.
‘This is an inevitable conflict for our future.’