Chapter 105

<Episode 107> I’ll Never Lose to You!

“How’s it look? Does it suit me?”

Rime spun around once in the new outfit she’d just bought.

Her golden hair and skirt swayed together.

Since this wasn’t her first time shopping, she seemed much more natural picking out items compared to last time.

“Yeah, it suits you well.”

“Hmm, you only give compliments, so I can’t tell if I really look good or not.”

Rime glanced at herself in the mirror while lightly tugging at her skirt hem.

It felt less like checking her outfit and more like inspecting her appearance.

Well, with Rime’s doll-like looks and beautiful blonde hair, it’d be harder to find something that *didn’t* suit her.

“Anyway, as long as I look pretty in my eyes, isn’t that all that matters?”

When Yu-jin said this, Rime looked at him surprisingly.

She crossed her arms with a mischievous grin.

“What’s gotten into you, suddenly saying things like that?”

“I’m an awkward loner who knows how to grow.”

“Feels like you’re only growing in the ‘how to flirt’ department…”

<Tch...>

Is there a more unfair thing in this world?

Sure, most of his friends at the Academy happen to be beautiful girls…

But that’s absolutely not by Yu-jin’s design!

If anything, he wanted more male friends.

“Do you want to check out anything else?”

“Mmm~ No, this is plenty.”

Even though she had enough money to buy whatever she wanted, and Yu-jin being filthy rich meant they could afford even buying the whole department store…

Rime shook her head anyway.

“If I buy too much at once, I’ll lose future fun moments.”

“Huh?”

“Once, I saw the stars in the night sky.”

Why was she suddenly talking about stars?

While wondering that, Yu-jin listened quietly.

“One day I really wanted to see those stars again, so I looked up at night. But here, I couldn’t see any stars at all, right?”

“It’s a city after all.”

In the city, it’s hard to see stars unless conditions are perfect.

The air quality isn’t great, and above all, it’s too bright from all the lights.

Starlight gets swallowed instantly by human-made lighting.

“So now, I make it a rule to save the best pleasures for later. Otherwise, I’d always end up going downhill.”

Like deliberately saving delicious food to eat later, maybe?

Could be the wisdom of a slime that’s lived a long time.

Anyway, the two headed to their next destination – the movie theater.

The same place where Yu-jin went on his first date with Young-hee, and also where he first met Rime.

Rime looked around wistfully, reminiscing.

“At that time, I never imagined the successor of Hwagcheon would be such a dense idiot.”

“I never imagined I’d meet a slime at the movie theater either.”

Indeed, who could have imagined such a scenario?

The successor of Hwagcheon meeting a slime at the movie theater,

and that slime becoming a girl who ends up dating him…

But now, Yu-jin can’t imagine life without Rime.

“By the way, why did you specifically ambush me at the movie theater?”

“No special reason. Just that it was dark and spacious, so there were lots of places to hide. Plus, it’s one of those places where people let their guard down the most.”

Rime pointed upwards with her finger.

“There’s a vent up there. I climbed through there and snuck in secretly.”

“And that’s how you ended up ambushing Young-hee?”

“Mmm, thinking back, that was pretty dumb. Though Young-hee wasn’t bad, I probably would’ve had better success chances with someone who had bigger… assets.”

“You’ve been fixated on that since the start, huh?”

Yu-jin’s gaze dropped lower.

There were Rime’s slightly rounded chest area.

While her proportions weren’t bad at all,

if we’re nitpicking size…

“Aang? Is there something you want to say about my figure?”

Rime grinned sharply, showing her teeth.

Yu-jin quickly turned his head away.

“Oh, look! That movie looks interesting!”

“Hmm, I don’t like how you’re trying to change the subject so obviously.”

Still, Rime followed along willingly.

There seemed to be something about the place where she first met her beloved that made even the merciless slime feel sentimental.

“The Multiverse Catastrophe?”

“Hey, it’s got a magic-loving red witch and a one-eyed alien! Sounds fun, doesn’t it?”

“Mmm, sounds like a movie some socially awkward loner would desperately want to see but doesn’t have time for…”

“Let’s not talk about other people’s chests, okay?”

Anyway, the two entered the movie theater side by side.

Yu-jin experienced “couple discount” for the first time in his life, looking somewhat moved.

Aside from Rime cheering for the octopus alien mid-movie, they had quite an enjoyable time.

Afterwards, they decided to spend some time at a nearby cafe.

Not quite dark yet, but too early for anything major…

According to Rime, cafes were the best option for times like this.

“Hmm~ Human-made desserts sure are sweet, aren’t they?”

Rime swung her legs childishly as she took a soft spoonful of chocolate ice cream.

Yu-jin watched her fondly, finding it adorable.

Though he didn’t realize it yet, Rime had adjusted her tastes to match his.

This dense, awkward loner wouldn’t notice for a long time.

“Anything else you want?”

“Wow, you’re being unusually considerate today… First sending Biseo Park away…”

“Well, it’s just that…”

Yu-jin tried to explain that he wanted to enjoy the time alone together,

which was partly true.

Seeing this, Rime smirked.

“Is the class president’s competition stressing you out?”

The question hit home unexpectedly.

Flustered, Yu-jin started coughing and blushing.

“Hmph! Hmph! It’s not because of that… I sent Biseo Park away because you deserve rest after working hard, and things won’t be the same moving forward…”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Rime took another spoonful of ice cream.

“Probably around 20-30 episodes worth? Though they’ve been calling you the main lead, if the author has any decency, they’ll have you show up occasionally between now and then.”

“Haha, I don’t know what you mean…”

Yu-jin laughed awkwardly and took a sip of his chocolate latte.

Ah, sweet and delicious.

“Anyway, you want the class president to win, right?”

“Yeah.”

“In that case, stop worrying about it. Your simple brain can’t handle thinking about two things at once.”

What a strange feeling.

Feels like she’s caring about him while simultaneously insulting him.

“By the way, if you lose, you’re dead meat, got it?”

“…Thanks.”

If he were in Rime’s position, could he stay this composed?

Honestly, it must have been tough.

That made Rime even more precious to him.

“Anyway, should we get going?”

“Already?”

“Yeah, I’ve got something I want to do.”

Saying this, Yu-jin grabbed Rime’s hand and pulled her along.

Though surprised, Rime followed silently with a curious expression.

The city night was deepening gradually.

****

“Hmph! Hmph! What’s up with the class president lately?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

The class president tilted her head, confused.

They were standing behind the Academy.

Used to be more casual conversations before…

Now there’s this strange sense of déjà vu.

Young-hee sighed after pondering how to bring up the topic.

“It’s just… she seems obsessed with something lately.”

“I feel inadequate. This isn’t good enough. I need to get stronger. I have to earn recognition no matter what.”

The class president’s eyes glinted coldly.

They held both happiness and an unsettling obsession.

A fierce fixation on something.

Something that brought her happiness and satisfaction.

As if nothing else mattered.

Unconsciously, Young-hee gulped.

Something was definitely off about the current class president.

No, it went beyond weird – it felt dangerous.

“Trying hard is good, but… shouldn’t you pace yourself? Pushing too hard isn’t good…”

“…You don’t understand because you got strong easily.”

“What? Easily?”

Suddenly, Young-hee’s eyes widened.

How could she say that when she knew what Young-hee had gone through?

“Did you just say ‘easily’?!”

“…”

“Is that what you think? That I chose to go through everything I’ve been through?”

“Still, you ended up stronger, didn’t you? Always getting taken care of by Yu-jin – what’s there to complain about?”

Why does Yu-jin’s name keep coming up?

Young-hee stared at the class president, exasperated.

“My fault Chul-soo got hurt – almost died! Do you really think I wanted that to happen?”

“Okay, maybe you didn’t wish for it! But fact is, you ended up stronger like a damsel in distress saved by two guys! Isn’t that everyone’s dream situation?”

“You… YOU…”

“Besides, aren’t you doing the same by clinging to one guy? Pretty embarrassing, having a boyfriend who already belongs to someone else…”

“You… YOU…”

“The second time around, there’s no way I’m letting you take it! This joy is mine alone! I’m not losing to you, no matter what!”

With that, tears mixed in her voice,

the shattered pride and confidence of a girl who’d bet everything,

only managed to deny like a child.

“I put everything on the line! Everything, just to hear one word from Yu-jin! From the start, I’ve given up everything I had! Someone who’s had it all from the beginning like you could never understand my feelings!”

“Ba… Class President?”

“Second place? NEVER! This happiness, I WON’T GIVE IT TO ANYONE! LEAST OF ALL YOU!”

Leaving those words behind, the class president ran off.

Young-hee stood there momentarily stunned,

then snapped out of it.

“What the heck? Why am I being accused of stealing her boyfriend?”

Realizing this later, Young-hee stomped her foot in frustration.

---