Chapter 4

Hayoon quickly entered the young girls’ war gallery.

Whether in the past, present, or upcoming future, the landscape of the subculture game gallery is pretty predictable.

[Ah f**k, the leg hair on that cosplay post below sucks.]

[If a ginger is going to crossdress in cosplay, they should at least shave. Those wumpus are disgusting.]

[Does a vegan getting a hickey break their diet? Human flesh is still meat after all.]

[I’m planning to cosplay at 11th Super Peace Festival.]

[What the hell is this meme?]

[Drank coffee and can’t sleep. Bored?]

Most of the subculture game galleries repeat a form of collective monologue unless there’s a major content update.

Occasionally, when offensive content is posted, it can spark hours of discussion. This time, a friend bold enough to try crossdressing cosplay ended up being the fuel for the fire.

Though, it wasn’t really an issue Hayoon particularly cared about…

“Let me check…”

Hayoon entered the concept post tab and looked for posts related to the Super Peace Festival booths.

Though the December event was still far off, the 11th Super Peace Festival was just around the corner.

Hayoon intended to get a rough sense of the market trend, but…

“About right?”

As Hayoon expected, the prices of goods at the Super Peace Festival booths were mostly set between 10,000 and 30,000 won.

Considering this, Hayoon had reasonably priced her goods – 15,000 won for acrylic stands and 30,000 won for illustration pads.

Then, what should she do next?

She already had a fixed nickname. Should she immediately post promotional posts for the December Super Peace Festival to show potential customers her planned goods, encourage pre-orders, and secure production costs?

No, that’s amateurish.

The pre-order system, also known as ‘Pre-Pay Info’ in the doujin circle, works best when there’s mutual trust between the buyer and seller.

Since there are occasionally people who make a quick buck and run, booths of complete newcomers tend to face reluctance for pre-orders.

Even without financial issues, the goods of veteran doujin artists generally have guaranteed quality.

Established artists’ booths tend to accept pre-orders while newer artists prefer on-site purchases.

“I’m a newcomer, after all.”

In a few years, Hayoon’s status in the industry would be significant. But in 2019’s doujin world, Hayoon was just starting out.

Once some goods are produced, there will be promotional booth posts in the young girls’ war gallery.

“Got to prepare properly.”

Building trust with young girls’ war users through completed artwork matching professional artists, clever compositions, and subtle hints that some goods are already made.

Hayoon was confident that when all these conditions were met, the amount of her booth pre-orders would match that of established artists.

“Let me check, card transactions…”

After recon on the young girls’ war gallery, Hayoon opened the homepage of the acrylic stand and illustration pad production company, slowly filled out the delivery and payment information, and prepared to order goods.

The rest was a matter of time.

#

A few days passed after ordering the goods.

As the season approached winter, it was now mid to late November.

“Why the heck am I still going to a middle school?”

Lost in thought, Hayoon gazed out the window, contemplating philosophical topics.

“Our school policy doesn’t have a separate expulsion review for truancy, and the guideline from the Education Office suggests holding back a grade if you miss more than 30% of total class days.”

It was mid-late November now.

Frankly speaking, even if I skip school until graduation, unless something unusual happens, there’s no reason to hold me back a grade.

Of course, my parents will be notified…

“Kids who look like they’ll grow up hairy probably don’t need to waste time attending middle school…”

It seemed plausible to think this way for a moment, then Hayoon shook her head.

The reason was simple.

“There’s no way to explain…”

There wasn’t a clear way to explain the existence of the status window and the situation where Hayoon was being blackmailed by it.

Hayoon’s parents generally followed her wishes, but that was always when Hayoon had successfully “persuaded” them.

Given the inexplicable situation with the status window, it seemed unlikely they would approve her not attending school until graduation.

“In that case, the truancy plan doesn’t work…”

Thinking about how to use her time more efficiently, suddenly…

“Good work everyone, I’m leaving first.”

“Seeing you leave early again, your schedule must be all messed up today…”

“You’re so sharp, as usual.”

“Eh, whatever. If you hate class, you can leave too.”

Just before the third period started, in the classroom where students were preparing for class, a girl who clearly looked tired and had pretty makeup on, gathered her bag and left.

The girls who seemed to be in her group sent her off with familiar yet slightly envious expressions.

“Why is she allowed to leave early?”

At the middle school Hayoon attended, although there was no formal expulsion review for excessive truancy since it’s compulsory education…

Early departures and sick leave were managed rather strictly compared to other middle schools.

I remember fighting with the homeroom teacher who refused to let me leave early when I caught a cold from sleeping with the window open one winter, and eventually just giving up and sleeping at my desk.

As a result, I remember being scolded by every teacher entering the classroom.

“Really, how did she do it?”

By now, Hayoon was genuinely curious.

Having almost never left early or taken sick leave during six years of middle and high school, it was surprising to see someone with a perfectly fine appearance leaving early.

Cautiously standing up and tiptoeing out, Hayoon followed the girl who had just left.

“Where are you going?”

“Huh?”

The girl clearly didn’t expect Hayoon to approach her, and looked visibly startled.

“Where are you heading?”

“Eh…”

Though they were in the same class, Hayoon had always been the typical loner going around alone.

It was unexpected to be asked about her destination so casually, but…

“It’s not like telling you will cause any problems.”

Beautiful women are liked by other women too. With a casual smile as if to erase her previous surprise, the girl explained her situation.

“Going home?”

“Why? Are you sick?”

“No, I’m not sick.”

“Then how did you get permission to leave early? The homeroom teacher usually doesn’t allow that, right?”

“Menstrual leave.”

“Menstrual leave…? Is that even a thing?”

“On the contrary, I want to ask you… You can use it up to three times a month, and I’ve never used it even once?”

Huh…

I really didn’t know.

There was such a thing?

So, the frequent early departures by female students were because they could use this “free pass” up to three times a month?

“So, is that all you wanted to ask? I thought something was up when you approached me.”

“Ah, just that you didn’t look sick, I was curious why you were leaving early. Just asking out of curiosity. Ahaha…”

“Well, might as well pretend to be sick and use it.”

“Huh?”

“I’m expecting my period this weekend, but if I don’t use the leave and then get my period over the weekend when I can’t use it, wouldn’t that be a waste? So I’m just taking the day off using PMS as an excuse. Today’s Wednesday. If I leave early Wednesday through Friday and then take the weekend off, it’s perfect.”

“E…?”

What is that…?

Is that really a “free pass” for early leave?

Hayoon recalled the bitter day while heading to the teachers’ office with indignation after becoming a girl a month ago.

Even though she hadn’t had her period yet, anyway, menstrual leave was like a right given to all female students.

That… right.

She would use it proudly.

#

It was Friday.

“This is leaving early after the first period…? This, the sense of refreshment…”

Though a bit hesitant when she first entered the teachers’ office on the first day, by the third day, Hayoon boldly announced that she was leaving after the first period was over.

Naturally so.

Menstrual leave had been something Hayoon didn’t even know about, something she thought was reserved for when female students were really sick, but…

Thanks to the girl she met on Wednesday who shattered her minimal sense of integrity, and having graduated middle school once already, it didn’t take long for Hayoon to normalize this act of rebellion.

“Ah, you’re here?”

When Hayoon returned home, she found two large cardboard boxes waiting at the entrance.

Sure enough, they contained 50 acrylic stands and 50 illustration pads.

That night, a lengthy post appeared in the young girls’ war gallery.

And this post would become the catalyst to heat up not only the young girls’ war gallery but also other communities discussing the game.

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