Chapter 15 - Why are you suddenly acting like this towards me, seriously? (4)
The rooftop of Raon High School, following the tradition of youth romantic comedy school dramas, was always open.
Honestly, any rom-com that locks the rooftop should face a criminal trial. So many events happen on the rooftop—how could anyone dare seal it off?
Creating relationships on the rooftop: the lonely heroine eating alone, overseeing the school festival from above to create a romantic atmosphere, saving the heroine who lacks common sense from falling off the rooftop, and even the traditional saliva exchange scene (or something like that).
Indeed, in youth romantic comedies, the rooftop serves a purpose beyond being just a rooftop. It’s practically a sacred place. So why am I stuck dealing with something so grim instead of romantic events?
“Well, you see…”
“Starting with excuses? Sure, go ahead. I’m listening.”
Cigarette-shaped chocolates? Pranks? Holograms? Augmented reality? The more I think about it, the more I realize my brain is failing to process these words.
Honestly, the answer was already decided. In my heart, I was seriously contemplating whether to kneel or to slam my head against the cement floor of the rooftop.
Why am I so worked up over a mere smoking violation? Of course, getting expelled or sent to a juvenile detention center for this would be absurd.
But anyway, isn’t Lee Ji-woon's fate already predetermined? Perhaps my actions are accelerating that fate. For now, whether I like it or not, it seems I should step back.
“…Could you please overlook it this once, senior?”
“Smoking violations at Raon High School lead to disciplinary action. Depending on the severity, it could even result in expulsion or juvenile detention.”
The moment I heard “juvenile detention,” my instinctive reaction clenched my sphincter. Alongside that, countless black silhouettes—the Avengers who even brought Lee Ji-woon to his knees—flashed through my mind.
Even the mighty Lee Ji-woon had been humbled by the Avengers of that world. The moment I entered their ranks, could I even give birth as a man?
Why the sudden increase in black brothers at Korean juvenile detention centers? The important thing now was that Hong Seol held the key to my destiny.
Now, there’s only one way to handle this. Without hesitation, I leaped up, splitting the sky with a resounding “thud,” and slammed my forehead onto the rooftop tiles.
This act, known as the 'Sergeant Dogeza,' was considered the highest-level mythical ritual skill, surpassing even the category of “Please overlook it just this once!” throughout history.
“I made a mistake! Please overlook it this once!”
“Wait…! Are you okay?!”
“I promise not to smoke on campus again, Senior Hong Seol! Can’t you pretend you didn’t see it just this once!?”
“No! Lift your head! Wait, wait! You’re bleeding…!?”
As I lifted my head at Hong Seol’s request, her cold expression began to bewilder me. I couldn’t see my own face, but I could feel a warm trickle running down my skin, suggesting something had definitely burst.
However, is such a trivial thing really important right now? If I don’t handle this moment properly, the next explosion won’t be on my forehead but on my precious buttocks. As much as the ‘Ah, my glasses!’ double peace sign, this is absolutely unacceptable! It’s a matter of a man’s dignity, just like the fall of a female.
“What do I do with this…? Why, why did you do that all of a sudden!!”
“Please forgive me, Senior Hong Seol!!”
“Forgiveness or whatever, we need to go to the nurse’s office first! I’ll support you, so…”
“I will not move a single step from here until you forgive me! Please forgive me!!!”
“Ah…! I can’t deal with this, really! Fine! I won’t tell anyone for now, so let’s hurry to the nurse’s office!!!”
Haha. I’ve won, you cunning thing. I’ve managed to thwart Hong Seol’s malicious trick to send me to juvenile detention with just one ‘Sergeant Dogeza’. This was as successful as blocking an ultimate move with a basic skill.
After such a one-sided exchange, I stood up, and Hong Seol’s expression became even more distorted.
Her face, half panic and half fear, reflected her emotions, but separately, the kindness she showed by covering my forehead with a handkerchief proved she was indeed the heroine of the story.
But the problem is, I can’t see in front of me because of that. Even so, I had to continue walking towards the nurse’s office, so I moved forward with the mindset of Lee Sin. (T/N :- Lee Sin is a character known for his blindness in the game League of Legends, which is likely referenced here to humorously express the difficulty of moving forward without clear vision.)
Another problem was that I don’t have any sense of direction, so I could only mindlessly follow Hong Seol’s movements.
Isn’t this situation more dangerous than the ‘Sergeant Dogeza’? Considering we’re on the rooftop, the stairs must be right ahead.
“Senior? Maybe it’s better if I go by myself?”
“Stay still! When you’re bleeding, you need to apply pressure while moving, it’s clearly stated in the textbooks…”
No, you fool. If everything went according to textbooks, why would society and the economy be like this? People need to be flexible. Aren’t you too immersed in your character concept?
Still, when we encountered the stairs, she carefully stepped down one by one, mindful of my movements. She seemed in a hurry, but still, it was quite mature of her to take care of someone injured.
“…Ah?”
But the problem was, in taking care of me, she failed to take care of herself. Hong Seol, who had been fixated on me, miscalculated her next step and began to fall down the stairs.
Through the fluttering handkerchief, I caught a glimpse of Hongseol’s frozen face. Tears welling up in an instant. Her hand instinctively reaching out to me. All of it was etched into my mind as if time had stopped.
Squeeze!
I instinctively reached out and wrapped my arms around where her waist would be, quickly pulling her towards me. I decided it was safer to grab her body and pull her towards me rather than just her hand.
“Kyaa…!?”
Hong Seol came into my arms. For an action taken without much thought, the result was good. It was a fine collaboration between Lee Ji-woon's excellent athletic abilities and my rational judgment.
Good. With this, Hong Seol’s internal evaluation of Lee Ji-woon must have skyrocketed, so it’s fair to say that what was a disadvantage has turned into an advantage.
Could it be that I have a talent for possession…?
“Tha… that… ugh…”
“Hong Seol Senior. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Ugh… that… I mean… first, your hand…!”
“Hand? What are you talking about… Oh.”
My right hand did feel unusually distinct. Only after checking what was in my right hand did I have to let go of Hong Seol, feeling my heart sink.
“I’m screwed.”
Just when I thought my luck was good. Another charge was added to Lee Ji-woon ’s list of offenses, aside from smoking.
***
“Ahem…”
Anyway, I safely arrived at the infirmary and, after receiving treatment from the health teacher who was as flustered as Hong Seol, I am now lying down.
Fortunately, it wasn’t a wound that needed stitching, and thanks to the blood flowing well(?), it was actually a better situation. If the blood had burst inside, it could have festered or rotted, which would have been a problem.
So, for now, things have calmed down. The health teacher has left due to other duties, and I, with a clear mind, had to face Hong Seol’s glaring eyes as she stared at me while I lay on the bed.
“Hong Seol Senior?”
“…Yeah.”
“I’m… sorry.”
There might have been a part of me that felt unjustly treated. It could have been a serious accident if it weren’t for me, and yet, as a man, I had to apologize first just because I touched her chest a bit.
But when I thoroughly considered the cause and effect, I was indeed in a situation where I should apologize. If I hadn’t smoked in the first place? If I hadn’t banged my head? If I hadn’t made Hong Seol take care of me? Even if I had ten mouths, I wouldn’t have been able to say anything.
Why did the ‘lucky pervert’ phenomenon happen at that time (if you’re unfamiliar with the term, consider looking it up online)? Usually, this kind of thing happens to the protagonist, right? Especially a villain like Lee Ji-woon wouldn’t have had such an incident happen to him; he would have forced it if anything.
However, nothing changes. The deed has been done, and I’ve become a reckless ruffian, wildly brandishing the twin swords of smoking and sexual harassment.
Look at those eyes of Hong Seol filled with contempt. I’m done for. At this rate, the train to juvenile detention will be swiftly laid, and it will surely establish a new route in my behind…
“…It’s okay.”
“What?”
“I mean, it’s okay. It wasn’t on purpose… and it was partly my fault for being careless.”
…It was supposed to be that way, but thanks to Hong Seol’s tremendous kindness, I was able to prolong my life for another day. Indeed, there are no bad people with big hearts. If I were a psychology major, I would have certainly published a paper on this topic and swept all the awards at the conference.
“So… does this mean you’ll let everything that happened today slide…?”
“Oh, that’s a different story.”
Hong Seol regained her composure in an instant. I take back what I just said. Apparently, having a big heart doesn’t necessarily mean having a kind soul.
I sighed roughly, feeling that it was just as I thought. Hong Seol is the head of the student guidance committee, and she has a sense of responsibility befitting her position. It’s not wrong for someone to separate public and private matters, so I didn’t feel like complaining.
It’s just that… I was just… despairingly thinking about the opening of the new route.
“Of course, if you listen to me, that’s a different story.”
“I would listen to you a hundred, a thousand times, sister. No, Senior.”
It was Hong Seol who threw me a lifeline over the abyss of despair. Was it the perfect push-and-pull that seemed characteristic of an older character?
I wasn’t entirely free of anxiety, but I had no other solution. Whether it was sturdy or rotten, I had to seize the opportunity that came my way.
So, without much thought, I immediately gave an answer, but seeing Hong Seol’s lips curiously rise, I felt a bit uneasy again. Well, what’s the big deal about asking Lee Ji-woon for a favor. Come on. Come on, you rascal!!
“You, you’re going to have to spend some time with me.”
No, don’t come!! Don’t come…!!!
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