Chapter 64: Man In Video
Two days after I unwittingly became involved in Kotos situation and ended up fighting a biker gang, a new Monday dawned as usual.
I woke up at 4 a.m. for my regular jog, packed my lunch, and took the subway to school, where the entire student body greeted me with piercing stares.
?
I was accustomed to receiving attention when I passed by, but never to this extent.
I wanted to inquire about what was happening, but everyone avoided my gaze and subtly moved away, leaving me with no one to ask.
Welcome, Kim Yu-seong.
Ah, good morning, Teacher.
The one person who remained unchanged was Mr. Matsuda, my homeroom teacher.
Mr. Matsuda habitually reminded me to fasten the buttons of my gakuran, but I replied that it was beyond my control.
Actually, they wouldnt even fasten.
Tch, go in.
Just like the usual, I bowed quickly to the teacher, who gave up just as swiftly, and walked across the schoolyard into the building.
Even as I took out my indoor shoes, passing students in the corridor stared at me, but their reasons eluded me.
Until the previous Friday, I was merely regarded as a well-known figure at the school.
With these unanswered questions, I entered class 2-B, where the bald trio, who normally didnt talk much to me, waited in front of my desk with excited expressions.
Kim! Are you the person in this video?!
This physique! This strength! It must be you, Kim!
Whats your relationship with the biker gang in the video?!
Huh?
Their words left me so baffled that I failed to grasp what they were talking about.
What video are you referring to?
This! This is what were talking about!
Then, the bald guy with glasses from the trio thrust his smartphone toward me with an animated expression.
In the low-quality video that strained the eyes, a group of high school students on illegally modified bikes were engaged in a brawl.
And at the heart of it, a notably large man in a khaki hooded jumper fought fiercely, and unmistakably, it was me from Saturday.
.
Cold sweat ran down my spine.
I hadnt expected someone to film amidst that chaos.
Fortunately, the video, likely shot with a dashboard camera or a phones night mode, wasnt clear.
This isnt me.
So, I decided to firmly deny it.
See! I told you its not him!
Ah, what? It really looks like you.
Kim is busy studying and exercising all day. Why would he be in such a brawl?
Sorry for taking your time.
This fool kept insisting it was you.
Hearing my response, the other two bald guys scolded the one with glasses and returned to their seats.
And as if my answer became official, the other classmates who were listening to our conversation started busily typing on their smartphones.
That was a close call.
Luckily, my usual act as a model student helped refurbish my image.
Lunchtime.
Today, as the girls had their own conversations and left, Satoru and I ate together when the topic of the video came up again.
Yu-seong, have you seen this? Its the video that became a hot topic over the weekend about a biker gang fight.
Saying this, Satoru showed me his smartphone.
I shook my head after seeing the same video that the bald trio had shown me in the morning.
The person in there is not me.
Really? I wont tell anyone; just tell me.
I dont know when this was filmed, but I dont own such clothes.
Pointing at the khaki-colored hooded jumper in the video, I made my case, causing Satoru to click his tongue.
I guess its really not you. Okay.
Satoru wasnt the type to give up easily, but it seemed he backed off for now due to the lack of evidence.
It seemed Id have to keep that outfit sealed away for a while.
After the hoodie I wore in Akihabara was ruined, I bought a new one at a department store, and now it seemed I would have to spend more.
While we were chatting and eating the lunch I had brought from home, the cafeteria suddenly became noisy.
Curious, I turned to see a pretty girl with light brown, wavy hair walking toward us with a confident stride.
For some reason, the large sunglasses she wore stood out.
Satoru also noticed the girl and dropped his chopsticks on the table with a start.
Its its its Naodang!
Ah, the celebrity you mentioned?
Yeah, right. I heard she was starting school this week, but I didnt expect to see her so soon!
Frantically searching his uniform pockets and finding nothing, Satoru lamented.
Argh! Why didnt I bring paper and a pen? This is the perfect opportunity to get Naodangs autograph!
Contrary to his usual intelligent demeanor, Satorus idol-otaku side provided a different perspective from a friends point of view.
Was she such a famous celebrity?
As I pondered this while eating my Jajangmyeon, Satorus pupils dilated before me.
Uh, uh, Yu-seong. Is Naodang coming this way?
Shes probably just looking for a seat in the cafeteria to eat.
No, I mean, shes really heading toward our table.
Youre being paranoid, man. Stop jumping to conclusions and eat your
Hello, Senior.
Huh?
Surprised by the soft voice behind me, I turned around.
There stood the pretty girl I had just noticed, her arms crossed.
She removed her large sunglasses and said,
Would it be all right if I joined your table?
With chopsticks still in my mouth, I stared at her in astonishment and managed to ask,
Uh, are you sure? Its all guys here.
Thats fine. Im often in similar situations on drama or movie sets.
It seemed she had some business to attend to.
With Satoru completely frozen and her presence at our table continuing to draw attention, I sighed softly and nodded.
Go ahead and sit down, although Im not sure what you need.
Thank you. Youre very kind~
Minato Naoya said this with a smile, pulled out the chair next to me, and sat down.
What on earth was going on this Monday morning?
Meanwhile, on the school rooftop.
Rika, Karen, and Sasha, who had decided to eat without Kim Yu-seong for the day, sat in a circle eating their lunches.
As they chatted about various things in a friendly atmosphere, Rika, sipping her juice from a carton, dropped a bombshell.
I like Ryu-chan.
Pffft!
At that moment, Karen spat out the water she was drinking.
Fortunately, Sasha, sitting in front of her, dodged quickly and wasnt hit by the spray of water, but responded with a slightly annoyed expression.
Whats this all of a sudden, Redhead?
Cough, cough.
Still coughing, Karen asked Rika, who was sitting next to her.
What do you mean all of a sudden, Rika?
I said it because it seems like all three of us here, including me, like Yu-seong.
Hearing this, Karens face turned as red as a tomato.
Me? Like Kim Yu-seong?!
Seeing her reaction, Sasha crossed her arms and spoke as if incredulous.
Did you think you were hiding it well, Redhead? The fact that you like Kim Yu-seong is written all over your face.
Ugh
Stung by the truth, Karen clamped her mouth shut, having nothing to say.
Seeing this, Rika spoke with an awkward smile.
Dont dislike each other so much. After all, we are rivals in love, arent we?
At this, Sasha, apparently liking Rikas words, nodded her head and murmured.
Rivals in lovethats a good phrase. My mother used to say, Sometimes love won through struggle is more valuable than easily gained.
Really? Hehehe
Embarrassed by Sashas compliment, Rika scratched the back of her neck, then shook her head and spoke with a determined expression.
Anyway, what I want to say is this. Since it seems like all three of us like Yu-seong, instead of hindering each other, why dont we support each others love?
Oho Does that mean forming an alliance?
As Sasha murmured with interest, Rika nodded and replied,
In my view, the number of girls around Yu-seong will gradually increase. And as that happens, our chances of becoming his lover will decrease. So, how about we make an agreement not to fight amongst ourselves before that happens?
Caught between the two, Karen, who had been silently observing, cautiously spoke up.
If its an agreement, what exactly does it entail?
If a new girl appears, we keep an eye on her, and we dont interfere with each others advances. If one of us starts dating Ryu-chan, the others will gracefully step back.
Thats a fairly rational proposal.
Right? So, Sasha-chan, too
But its not a method I particularly like.
Sasha stood up, cutting off Rikas words firmly.
A Russian woman seizes her love for herself. Thats our principle. My mother did it, and so did my grandmothers generation.
She said this, looking down at Rika.
I wont criticize it as the wrong method, but I will act separately. Thats alright, isnt it?
In response to Sashas confident question, Rika hesitated slightly, unlike her usual lively and confident demeanor.
But, perhaps knowing there was no other option, she soon nodded.
Alright.
Ill be going now. Enjoy your lunch.
After Sasha left the rooftop with those words, Rika, with a sad expression, turned to Karen, sitting next to her, and asked,
Karen-chan? Did I do something wrong? I just wanted us to get along as we are now.
Your approach wasnt wrong, Rika. Its just that Sasha is particularly stubborn.
Thanks to your kindness, I feel good now.
Karen thought to herself and gently patted the small back of Rika, who was on the verge of tears.
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