〈 Episode 176 〉 April Fool’s Special.
*
Something feels off.
There’s something different existing here right now.
I can’t be sure, but what I sense is a slight discomfort.
However, I force myself to ignore that feeling and go ahead with today’s schedule.
Today’s agenda is a picnic.
Me, Hyeji, Elcia, and Caressy all came out to the academy’s back mountain for a little outing.
Just to take a small break after the intense academy classes.
In the meantime, a handsome man who looked to be in his 30s came up to us and spoke.
“Students! Don’t play around too much! Except for today!”
“Yes, Chief, thank you.”
It was the academy chief.
An excellent educator, but strict with himself more than anyone else.
Proving that, he was a chief who engaged in thorough self-management.
Maybe because of his good relationship with his wife, he often boasted about her to the students whenever he got the chance, showcasing the model husband.
Just as we were parting after a cheerful conversation with the chief—
Thump!
I felt a slight prick in my head.
It seemed like someone was shouting.
No, that can’t be. Such a thing shouldn’t happen.
Maybe my expression didn’t look good; someone was worryingly speaking to me.
“Are you okay?”
“Ah, I’m fine. Thanks for worrying, Elcia.”
It was Elcia.
True to her elf nature, she was beautiful, but perhaps embarrassed by her looks, she hid it behind thick glasses.
As Elcia looked worryingly at me, she suddenly grabbed her mobile phone and started focusing on the screen.
It seemed like she received some important message.
Not long after, Elcia smiled brightly and said.
“I’ve been stacking up my savings, and it seems the duration has ended.”
“Congratulations! So, what are you going to do with that money?”
“First, I’m thinking of starting another savings account.”
“Good idea. You’re always so diligent.”
“But before that, there’s something I need to do.”
Suddenly, she turned her gaze towards Caressy.
Caressy was startled by Elcia’s sudden shift in attention.
However, Elcia grinned slyly and continued to speak to Caressy.
“Saintess, could you let me know your account number?”
“W-Why would you want that!”
“You went hungry last time because you didn’t have money, right? Just think of it as a small gesture.”
“I don’t need it, but… since you’re offering, I’ll accept.”
“Hehe. Not very honest, are we?”
Though reluctant, Caressy didn’t refuse.
In fact, after taking the money neatly from Elcia, she expressed her thanks in a whispery voice.
It definitely looked like Caressy was living in poverty.
The threads at the end of her worn-out nun outfit were slightly frayed, and she had patched the torn areas with another piece of cloth.
In fact, aside from that outfit, I had never seen her in any other clothes yet.
At that moment, a gurgle sounded from Caressy’s stomach.
Feeling sympathetic toward Caressy, I pulled out a hamburger from the picnic bag.
“Here, have one.”
“Is it really okay?”
“I’ll deduct it from my share, so don’t feel burdened and eat it.”
“…Thank you.”
Caressy lowered her head shyly and took the hamburger gently.
Just as I smiled at the heartwarming sight.
“Huh?”
Once again, an intense feeling of discomfort hit me.
It felt like something was seriously, and firmly, wrong.
Especially the two scenes that brought about this discomfort.
Elcia’s joyful expression about finishing her savings.
Caressy’s pitiful look due to her lack of money.
It should be a perfectly normal sight, yet the growing discomfort felt bizarre.
My head started to throb.
‘Why is this happening?’
Normally, I wouldn’t even curse.
Not once have I spoken words to hurt others.
I’m someone who keeps away from alcohol and lives diligently exercising.
Yet here I am, feeling suddenly ill.
I couldn’t comprehend the reason.
At that moment, someone suddenly smacked my head hard.
Bam!
“Ouch! That hurts!”
“Stop playing around, you brat!!!”
It was Jeong Ahyeon.
Jeong Ahyeon glared at me, grabbing my collar.
“Are you faking it again?”
“I’m not! It really hurts my head!”
“If you keep faking it, I’ll really make it hurt!”
“I’m not faking!”
In that moment, Jeong Ahyeon suddenly let go of my collar and her angry expression melted away.
Her next expression was filled with anxiety and unease.
Jeong Ahyeon’s hands started to tremble.
Then, she quickly shoved her hand into the pocket of her leather jacket and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it.
“Ahhh… I can live now.”
“Hey! You can’t smoke here!”
“Shut up, you piece of shit.”
Jeong Ahyeon, bleary-eyed from nicotine withdrawal, was clearly struggling with cravings.
Wearing a leather jacket adorned with spikes and tight leather pants, she openly displayed her delinquent student persona.
When the cigarette burnt down to its end, Jeong Ahyeon finally began to calm down.
Then, someone approached her, trembling.
“Ahyeon, could you not smoke here next time?”
It was Hyeji.
Looking like a small animal, Hyeji was tearfully talking to Jeong Ahyeon.
However, due to her trembling body, Hyeji’s ample chest was shaking, which was quite an eye-catching sight.
‘…What the hell?’
Overwhelmed by discomfort, I couldn’t help but curse inwardly.
And soon began to be astonished.
I’m a diligent student who wouldn’t curse like that.
I’m friendly, polite, and get along with everyone.
But here I am, swearing.
I really must be experiencing something seriously wrong.
Even though the discomfort I felt was stronger than before, that didn’t mean I would start cussing like some troublemaker.
Meanwhile, having seen Hyeji, Jeong Ahyeon said nothing and just stared at her.
Then, she clicked her tongue and scratched her head awkwardly.
“…Sorry. I won’t smoke here again.”
“Yay! That’s a relief! You really are sweet, Ahyeon!”
Hyeji clenched her little fists and bounced with delight.
As a result, her chest moved prominently.
Seeing that, Jeong Ahyeon spoke with a slightly horrified expression to Hyeji.
“What the hell do you eat to have such a big chest?”
“I just sleep well and eat balanced meals!”
“Ugh! You have it lucky, don’t you?”
Jeong Ahyeon must have thought of food she didn’t want to eat as she stuck out her tongue in disgust.
Hyeji, with a determined look in her eyes and hands on her hips, opened her mouth to Jeong Ahyeon.
“Ahyeon, you should also eat well and not be picky!”
“…I’ll try to do that.”
“Yay! Yay!”
Unlike how she treated me, Jeong Ahyeon was being quite careful with Hyeji.
With a satisfied expression, Hyeji turned around and was about to leave when—
Eek!
Hyeji suddenly let out a shrill scream.
Wondering what was happening, we hurried to Hyeji.
Then Hyeji, clutching her chest, stammered.
“What should I do? I feel like my chest has grown again.”
Thankfully, it wasn’t a big deal.
We all let out sighs of relief and started sharing our opinions.
“Is it growing again? Seriously, you’re amazing.”
“I don’t envy such a chest!”
“I envy it. I wish my chest grew like Hyeji’s.”
Jeong Ahyeon, Caressy, and Elcia all lamented briefly while looking at their own chests.
As the only male here, it felt a bit embarrassing to witness.
Hyeji, looking down at her chest with a gloomy expression, muttered.
“It hasn’t been long since I got my bra fitted; it’s so upsetting.”
As soon as Hyeji finished speaking, my head pounded painfully.
The discomfort had now turned into a piercing pain stabbing me.
Maybe that’s why.
Without realizing it, a question slipped from my lips.
“Weren’t Hyeji’s breasts always that big?”
I was surprised even after I said it.
Why am I mentioning something so obvious?
Soon after, the others looked at me with very puzzled expressions.
Followed by their remarks.
“Are you really sick? What’s wrong? Hyeji’s breasts have always been big.”
“Hyeji’s breasts have always been full! Are you perhaps reading some strange novel?”
“Hyeji’s breasts are enormous! That’s common knowledge!”
Hyeji’s face flushed bright red, and she trembled slightly.
Then, looking at me, she pitifully asked.
“Shinwoo, do you not like girls with big breasts?”
I couldn’t find words to respond.
In a brief moment, I finally realized something.
Yes.
The unchanging truth that exists in this world.
No longer did I feel discomfort.
Because I knew the truth.
“Fuck!!! Stop spouting such bullshit!!!”
With that exclamation, the world before my eyes suddenly halted.
And suddenly, a crack appeared.
That crack spread throughout the world, causing it to shatter.
The fragmented world soon crumbled completely, and what came was darkness where not even an inch ahead could be seen.
Simultaneously, my consciousness began to awaken again.
“Fuck you all!!! There’s no way that can happen!!!”
Shouting, I quickly got up.
Then I looked around.
I was back in the hotel where I had just been kidnapped and imprisoned.
It was a dream.
A nightmarish, impossible dream.
*
