Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Shouldn’t We Help Them?

After the somewhat intense cleaning duty ended.

“See you tomorrow, Eun Bi.”

“Take care.”

Eun Bi waved goodbye to Chae Ah as she left the classroom.

“So, what’s up?”

Jin Hyuk was already ready to leave, his bag slung over his shoulder.

‘This guy never waits for me to start talking…!’

Fearing he would leave without a word, I began speaking—but hesitated.

“W-well, there’s Hyun Woo and Chae Ah, you know…”

The words wouldn’t come out easily.

I wasn’t even sure if it was right to bring this up, especially with Jin Hyuk.

“If you don’t have anything to say, I’ll go ahead.”

Of course, Jin Hyuk didn’t have the time to wait around for Eun Bi’s deliberations.

“Hey, do you have somewhere urgent to be?”

“An event is starting soon.”

“What kind of event… ah.”

Eun Bi instinctively asked but quickly stopped herself.

“You’re not talking about a game event, are you? Please say no.”

“Yes, I am.”

“…”

“If we leave now, it’ll be close. I really need to go.”

“No, wait!”

Eun Bi grabbed onto Jin Hyuk’s school uniform, clinging tightly—but—

Pull… pull…

“You’re way too strong…!”

Jin Hyuk paid no heed and tried to walk out of the classroom.

Just as he crossed the threshold—

“We should do something about those two who are being so frustrating!”

In a fit of exasperation, Eun Bi shouted. Jin Hyuk froze in his tracks and turned to face her directly.

“Why should I?”

“Huh?”

“Why should we help them?”

“Well, uh… because it’s frustrating to watch from the sidelines…?”

Eun Bi stammered under Jin Hyuk’s counter-question.

“Do you not feel the same? Watching Hyun Woo act like an idiot—isn’t that annoying?”

“I might feel annoyed, but I also get frequent urges to drink bleach… Regardless, it’s none of our business, isn’t it?”

Jin Hyuk tilted his head and crossed his arms.

“Seems like Chae Ah’s still unstable, so Hyun Woo’s tolerating it. Do we really need to force ourselves into helping?”

“…Hyun Woo?”

Eun Bi didn’t know.

How much patience Hyun Woo had shown in maintaining their relationship despite the distance between them.

Hyun Woo was Jin Hyuk’s friend after all.

Eun Bi wasn’t close enough to understand Hyun Woo’s inner thoughts.

“Even if we want to help, waiting until memories return might be better.”

“…But what if connecting them helps retrieve those lost memories?”

In contrast, Eun Bi was Chae Ah’s friend.

Just as Hyun Woo shared things only with Jin Hyuk,

Chae Ah confided in Eun Bi alone.

-Ah, what should I do?

-Why are you always so worried? Just let things happen naturally.

-But what if Hyun Woo thinks I’m a pervert?

-You’ve known each other for years, right? There’s no way someone like him wouldn’t like your figure. He probably fantasized about you multiple times already…

-Ugh, stop defaming Hyun Woo!

Chae Ah constantly spilled her concerns to Eun Bi.

Recently, Hyun Woo has been avoiding me.

He doesn’t do the things he used to anymore.

What should I do if he finds another girl?

‘Hyun Woo is just cautious with her.’

Despite trying to get along well with everyone, Chae Ah struggled to openly express her true feelings.

She grumbled but ultimately failed to convey her emotions due to her nature.

‘But they’re doing fine now, aren’t they?’

Chae Ah laughed more often than before the accident.

She became bolder in approaching Hyun Woo.

Her emotional expressions grew more honest.

“Listen, Jin Hyuk. Chae Ah clearly said she lost her memory before and after the accident.”

When Chae Ah finally resolved to take action, fate intervened with the accident, erasing her memories.

“That’s why she keeps fixating on childhood friends. The feelings remain, but the memories are gone.”

“Is that your professional opinion?”

“Not exactly, but isn’t it a reasonable assumption?”

“Hmm…”

Jin Hyuk placed his hand on his chin, deep in thought.

Should he abandon the event and listen further to Eun Bi?

Sensing something odd in Jin Hyuk’s expression, Eun Bi exclaimed:

“Wait! Whatever you’re thinking, hear me out first.”

“Go ahead.”

“Anyway, in my opinion, reuniting them will bring back the final piece of her memory.”

As Jin Hyuk remained silent, Eun Bi continued:

“Didn’t you hear what they said earlier? Repeating past actions can trigger memories. So, how about guiding them to confess?”

“Are you saying all her accident-related memories will return then?”

“Exactly!”

Eun Bi nodded vigorously, agreeing wholeheartedly.

“What do you think? Then they won’t keep acting so awkwardly, right? Doesn’t it sound logical? Don’t you feel compelled to join in?”

Forget the disdain she felt earlier; Eun Bi nudged Jin Hyuk’s side while smiling.

Jin Hyuk dodged her touch but tilted his head curiously.

“But why me?”

“What?”

“Can’t you handle this alone?”

From what was said, it didn’t seem like Jin Hyuk’s help was absolutely necessary. Moreover, Eun Bi clearly didn’t like him much either.

“That’s not the point. You’re Hyun Woo’s friend, aren’t you?”

“Does Hyun Woo think I’m the only one who can help?”

“Among the people I know, and considering ease of contact, you’re the best option.”

‘And you’re actually pretty useful.’

Muttering under her breath, Eun Bi held out her phone.

“Give me your number.”

“Are we exchanging numbers now?”

“Are you serious? What did you just hear? If we’re going to collaborate, we need each other’s contact info, don’t we?”

Eun Bi scowled, balling her fists.

Though it wouldn’t hurt much if she swung at him…

“But I haven’t agreed yet.”

Jin Hyuk pushed her phone away slightly.

Eun Bi stood there dumbfounded, not expecting such a rejection.

“…Why? Aren’t you happy to see your friend succeed?”

“It’s not that, but I have too many worlds to protect.”

“Your reluctance is killing me.”

Eun Bi shuddered and shot him a disdainful glare.

Right now, Jin Hyuk was rejecting participation in this plan to focus on his mobile gacha game.

“Honestly, what benefit would helping them bring me?”

“Help a friend, will you? You’re heartless.”

“Hyun Woo never asked me for help.”

This was where their perspectives diverged.

Before the accident:

Chae Ah always sought romantic advice from Eun Bi,

-Uh… yesterday, Chae Ah found out I play dating games. Should I just die?

While Hyun Woo limited his discussions with Jin Hyuk to things he couldn’t share with others, never seeking romantic advice.

“Oh…”

Eun Bi realized the difference and paused to think.

She wanted to coolly tell Jin Hyuk, ‘Fine, don’t bother,’ and send him off.

However, connecting the two through only Chae Ah seemed difficult…

After some contemplation, Eun Bi blurted out:

“Would you help if it benefits you?”

“Hmm?”

“If it doesn’t harm your otaku activities, you’d consider joining the operation, right?”

Jin Hyuk nodded.

Eun Bi’s argument made some sense, and it was indeed frustrating to watch from afar.

After racking her brain repeatedly:

“Aren’t you in the art class?”

Eun Bi recalled Jin Hyuk’s information.

“How did you know? Are you interested in me?”

BAM!

Eun Bi responded to his teasing with a slap on the back and continued:

“Don’t you usually draw the girls in the games you play?”

“Correct. Eventually, I plan to enter the game industry on the art side. By the way, I’m drawing―”

“I’m not interested in that.”

Eun Bi sharply cut him off.

While continuously questioning herself if this was right,

she reminded herself it was for Chae Ah and pointed at herself.

“Me… I’ll let you use me as a model.”

“?”

“Why are you looking at me like that? Surely, you don’t draw only by looking at 2D references, right?”

“True.”

“So, this is my bargaining chip.”

Eun Bi brushed her hair back.

Having already spoken, there was no turning back now.

-Eun Bi, right? Why are you here alone?

-…Because I like being alone?

-Oh. That must be uncomfortable. I’ll go then.

-No, I didn’t mean that…

-Then, shall we greet each other? I’m Chae Ah, Yu Chae Ah.

When she couldn’t blend in with anyone else,

her first friend approached her.

For the sake of helping that friend:

“Isn’t this good enough?”

Crossing her arms, Eun Bi stood confidently in front of Jin Hyuk.

Her face was flushed red, though.

Staring intently at her determined eyes, Jin Hyuk nodded seriously:

“You’re right.”

“What?”

“You’re pretty enough to serve as a model.”

“…”

Though she suggested it herself,

Eun Bi couldn’t bear the embarrassment and turned her head away.

“Although you’re not quite at Misaki’s level, you’re definitely usable…”

“Shut up, shut up!”

Eun Bi pounded on Jin Hyuk’s back for a while,

then, exhausted, extended her phone again.

“Anyway, you’re helping, right?”

“I’ll try my best, though I’m not sure how yet.”

Tap tap tap.

Calling the number Jin Hyuk provided,

a cheerful vocaloid song played.

Eun Bi debated canceling the plan and handling everything herself,

but the effort she just put in made her hesitate.

“…Let’s work together well from now on.”

Clutching Jin Hyuk’s hand firmly,

the alliance formed to reconnect Chae Ah and Hyun Woo,

and ultimately recover her lost memories.

* * *

The next day.

Hyun Woo arrived at school rather late.

“Yu Chae Ah. I warned you that if I catch you oversleeping one more time, I’ll send you home.”

“Sorry, Hyun Woo. Just once more, okay?”

Just as picking England in historical questions mostly leads to correct answers,

Hyun Woo rushing into the classroom was mostly due to Chae Ah oversleeping.

“Starting next time, I really won’t―”

Schmack.

The lingering moisture on his cheek startled Hyun Woo into stiffening.

“…What was that just now?”

“It was an apology. I solemnly promise to wake up super early from now on.”

“No, this has nothing to do with apologies.”

“If it feels insufficient, let me do it again…”

Schmack.

This time, her soft lips grazed the other cheek before retreating.

Already inside the classroom,

they caught the eye of a boy sitting at the front row.

“…I saw nothing.”

The boy awkwardly turned his head away.

Hyun Woo silently thanked him and hurried to his seat.

“Are you still upset? Then…”

“I’m not. Not anymore. Let’s stop this for today.”

“Today?”

“…My words came out wrong. Let’s not do this outside the house.”

“Is it okay at home?”

“No, sigh…”

Hyun Woo reached his desk, dazed from the two consecutive morning kisses.

“Cosplay? Is this otaku guy crazy or what?!”

“Didn’t I offer to model for you?”

“There’s no way what I meant was THIS!”

Up front, Eun Bi and Jin Hyuk were whisper-arguing.

“What’s going on?”

“EEK!”

Curious about their morning antics, Hyun Woo simply asked—but Eun Bi jumped so violently that he became flustered instead.

“Nothing. When did you get here?”

“Just now.”

Eun Bi looked suspicious to anyone watching.

Turning to Jin Hyuk sitting expressionlessly beside her:

“We were debating the appropriate size for a heroine’s chest.”

“…Is that so?”

His confident lie killed any curiosity instantly.

“Doesn’t that make me weird?”

“Were you not praising my quick wit?”

“Quick wit? What quick wit?!”

Eun Bi smacked Jin Hyuk’s back repeatedly.

Observing this, Hyun Woo thought their relationship seemed closer than before.

“Hyun Woo, Hyun Woo.”

Chae Ah poked him and leaned close to his ear.

“I think I’m right.”

“About what?”

“Eun Bi seems interested in Jin Hyuk, don’t you think?”

Since yesterday’s cleaning duty,

she kept making this claim.

Seeing their quarrel now seemed to confirm her suspicion.

“Shouldn’t we help them?”

“N-no, it’s fine.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“Never mind. Don’t worry about it.”

Hyun Woo sighed deeply and shook his head.

‘Won’t you worry about your own love life first?’

The thought that popped into his mind would likely remain unspoken forever.