Chapter 42

“Did you really talk back to the transfer student?”

“What’s it to you? And why do you care?”

“I’m just saying this for your own good so please don’t speak carelessly…!”

“It seems like you think you’re something just because your grades are higher than mine right now. But I’ll definitely catch up to you in second year, so mind your own business.”

Thinking of Seoyuna, who left without looking back, Si Hoo smiled bitterly.

When he thought about Seoyuna at the beginning of the semester, her transformation was astonishing.

The naive appearance of the country girl who had just come to the city was nowhere to be found, and only her sharpened personality, like a well-honed blade, represented her identity.

Si Hoo had already given her several warnings about her behavior in the past.

[Try to be more considerate of your friends.]

[Why should I consider others?]

[If you keep living like that, you won’t have anyone left around you.]

[I can manage on my own.]

But even as she gradually isolated herself from her classmates, her rank in the school soared rapidly.

Starting from the somewhat ambiguous position of 30th place in the school, she achieved 2nd place in the second semester’s final exam.

Although no one defended the process, no one could deny Seoyuna’s effort, that’s for sure.

At the academy, relationships were as important as grades, but Yuna had long declared her abandonment of this.

As a result, her classmates tried not to create unnecessary conflicts with her, and Yuna didn’t care much either.

So, Si Hoo decided not to pay attention to her.

But this time was different.

The transfer student, who may have had bad intentions, had specifically caught Yuna’s radar.

So it was obvious who would be targeted first.

No matter how much Seoyuna was unpleasant to him, Si Hoo couldn’t bring himself to wish for her to end up in a bad situation.

He had to somehow prevent a clash between Seoyuna and the unspecified.

That was the conclusion that Yoon Si Hoo had reached after a day of agonizing thought.

The morning commute at Seviron Academy was quite chaotic.

It was the day when the results of the aptitude tests for grades 2 to 6 were announced.

Most students were tearing their hair out as they approached the main gate, denying the future that awaited them.

‘If only Yuna could get first place in this exam…’

Si Hoo shook his head.

If Yuna came in first, she wouldn’t pay attention to her friends anymore, but that didn’t justify him willingly relinquishing the top spot.

Yoon Si Hoo was determined to secure first place in the second year as well.

Crossing the suspension bridge, the northeastern building’s corridor, where the second-year classrooms were located, was already bustling with more than 50 kids.

Their gazes were all focused on one notice.

A list of ranks from the aptitude evaluation, where diligent students received rewards, while those who were lazy faced consequences.

With a pounding heart, Si Hoo joined the line of spectators.

‘Is it first place? There’s no way Seoyuna could have solved everything; she must have run out of time. It can’t be Han Gyeol Kim or Iharu, right?’

Si Hoo could confidently say that this exam was the hardest he had ever taken in his life.

“Oh, Si Hoo, hi.”

“Hey, Kyungwon. Did you do well on the exam?”

“It was just like the last final. But you… did you see the results?”

“Why?”

Si Hoo, without a moment’s hesitation, began reading the list from the top.

However, upon seeing the very first name, surprise was evident on Si Hoo’s face.

[1. No Name (100)]

“First place… that’s not possible?”

Moreover, the score was a perfect 100 out of 100.

He swallowed hard.

‘Is this even possible?’

[2. Yoon Si Hoo (84.4)]

[3. Seo Yuna (82.6)]

The names of Yoon Si Hoo, who had always claimed overwhelming first place, and Seo Yuna, who trailed closely behind him, felt painfully inadequate.

[4. Iharu (79.1)]

[5. Go Kyungwon (78)]

[6. Han Gyeol Kim (76.5)]

[7. Han Seori (73.3)]

…

[Average: 48.3 / Standard Deviation: 22.4]

“Are you kidding me? The transfer student clearly finished everything in just 15 minutes!”

“Don’t lie. The teachers made the questions to be just barely solvable; how could they finish it all?”

“I’m serious! Everyone in our class saw when they submitted early saying they had to go to the bathroom.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen Yoon Si Hoo look like a human.”

Students chimed in with their own thoughts.

But Si Hoo was too stunned to participate in the conversation.

And it was the same for another girl who arrived late.

“What’s that…?”

It was Seo Yuna.

She threw down her bag and pushed through the crowd to stand in front of the notice board.

Unable to accept the outcome, she kept rubbing her eyes.

“Why… why…”

She trembled all over as she punched the notice board.

“Hey, let’s go back to class. Who knows what might happen if you stay next to that jerk.”

“Ugh, what am I going to tell my mom later?”

It was something she could not comprehend.

Yesterday, Yuna had laughed mockingly when No Name gave up early during the exam.

Moreover, this exam came after finishing sixth-grade level pre-study during the break.

In first grade, she had a rough time starting from a disadvantageous position, but now she felt that she was finally close to Yoon Si Hoo’s level as she took the test.

It was certainly a challenging exam, but she felt she did better than usual.

But Yoon Si Hoo was still going strong, and an additional mountain was added that she could not compare to.

“How am I supposed to… win against this?”

She couldn’t leave. Her feet wouldn’t move.

Yuna stood silently in front of the notice board.

Then, she walked quietly to a corner of the empty hallway and quietly wiped away her tears.

***

Ah, a perfect score.

Naturally, it didn’t evoke much excitement.

It was embarrassing for a grown adult to assert dominance among children.

It was just a little uncomfortable that the atmosphere in class had been disrupted because of me.

“Everyone, we need to do group activities, so please push your desks together in groups of four.”

Si Hoo and I turned our desks 90 degrees and greeted the kids behind us.

One was a diligent boy named Bae Yohan, and the other… was Seo Yuna, who was glaring at me fiercely.

Is this a Korean class or a staring contest?

“In this way, we can have different thoughts even when reading the same poem. Some friends felt that the part where it says ‘Spring rain falls and sits’ sounds like a person, while others said it feels like the spring rain is falling little by little.”

“Now, can we share among our groups experiences where our opinions about something differed from those around us?”

Utilizing the interlude of class for group activities.

Unlike the other groups, whose students spoke freely, our group was in a rather gloomy mood.

By chance, the top three students in the whole school ended up in the same group.

“If everyone has nothing to say… should I go first…?”

Yohan shyly looked for cues.

It would likely be hard for young kids to remember experiences where their opinions diverged.

At best, it would be something like how some like rain while others don’t.

“I really like snowy days, but my brother complains every time it snows, saying the sky is dropping trash.”

As expected, it didn’t stray far from predictions.

Indeed, as the textbook states, life is full of conflicts and confrontations.

Due to different backgrounds, values, and goals, we are inevitably placed in an environment where we have to contend with many others in life.

If only adults had the ability to listen and understand other people’s values, even half as much as an elementary school student, I believe many problems could be solved.

The purpose of educational institutions is to cultivate such abilities from an early age.

“I like playing guitar in my free time, but my father thinks musical instruments are useless, so I felt a lot of pressure.”

Si Hoo reluctantly spoke up for the group activity.

That’s quite a nice hobby.

However, Yuna suddenly crossed her arms and frowned.

“I’ve been working my ass off every day, yet some people are more concerned about what they’re going to do and play at home and then tell me what to do; that’s just so messed up!”

“Hey, Seo Yuna, cut it out. You’ve crossed the line.”

“It’s frustrating that you guys are debating whether or not to buy new phones this month when you can’t even decide what to eat for lunch… And especially you, transfer student, it’s the worst that you act like it doesn’t bother you when you know you’re above everyone else.”

“Seo Yuna!”

Unable to bear it, Si Hoo shouted.

However, propelled by her emotions, Yuna continued speaking in a tearful voice.

“You have no idea how hard it is to wake up early every day to come to school…”

Her eyes filled with determination.

Eventually, Yuna slammed her chair and stormed out of the classroom.

“What’s going on?”

Teacher Jackie, who was organizing materials for the next class, was surprised and approached our group.

“She must be stressed out from the exam. I’ll go check on her.”

“No!”

Si Hoo suddenly grabbed my wrist to stop me.

Why does she look so pale?

“She probably went to the girls’ bathroom, are you going in there?”