Chapter 427

Name: Seoyuna. Height: 138 cm. 3rd Grade A Class. Special note: Likes compliments about her red hair.

[NaMe, are you not coming back after going to America? Are we not going to see each other anymore? I can’t be without you… Please come back again, okay? We promised to play air games together in class!]

Name: Shin Si Hoo. Height: 136 cm. 4th Grade A Class. Special note: Gets defensive like a man when teased for being a mama’s boy.

[My mom says you’ll be happier living in America than in Korea. Is that true? Is living in America really better than attending Seviron Academy? No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t seem like it to me…]

It’s nice to hear the voices of cute friends after a long time.

It’s 10 PM here, but the academy is right in the middle of lunchtime.

I listened to Yuna whining for about 10 minutes and then switched the call back to Si Hoo, enduring his fussing for another 10 minutes.

But this is so uncomfortable.

“Hey guys, can’t you just meet up and call as one? Why do we have to do this three-way call?”

Since they weren’t in the same space, there were many instances of overlapping audio.

It was annoying to have to manage who should speak first every single time.

But I didn’t get a response from either of them.

Instead, I received simultaneous messages on KakaoTalk.

[Seoyuna: I broke up with Shin Si Hoo! o(｀ᾥ´)o]

[Shin Si Hoo: We broke up yesterday.]

Hearing that, I couldn’t hide my smile.

I tried to cover my mouth with my hand, but my giggles slipped through my fingers.

How could they bring me this amazing gossip!

The official couple of Seviron Academy had split up.

And it was fresh news from just yesterday!

Within 24 hours, their warmth would still be lingering in their palms.

I immediately transformed into a detective and began my investigation.

[NoNaMe: Who messed up and caused the breakup?]

As expected, the suspects did not disappoint.

[Seoyuna: Obviously, it’s Shin Si Hoo.]

[Shin Si Hoo: Why are you asking that? Obviously, it’s Seoyuna.]

Long-term couples are usually not that interesting.

From the side, there’s no palpable feeling when looking at them; it’s like a stagnant current in a river.

Yeah. The most entertaining times are when couples first start dating and right after they break up.

Let me have a little more fun.

Adjusting to the American time difference can be dealt with gradually.

I stayed awake, relaying their situations to each other through messages until the boys and girls finished their school day.

* * *

To get straight to the point, it didn’t feel great to realize that their breakup was somewhat my fault.

“How could Shin Si Hoo easily discard a friend like that? Right, NaMe? I mean, I suggested that we all film a video message for you to come back, but Si Hoo kept saying not to. He said that would be a nuisance to you.”

“Yeah, so you fought.”

“Yeah! So now he doesn’t want to talk to me. He’ll avoid me in the cafeteria!”

“Have you thought about why Si Hoo said that?”

“I really tried to understand, but… NaMe, just be honest. Are we really that much of a bother?”

“No, not at all. That can’t be!”

“Right? You’re dead when you meet Si Hoo tomorrow.”

“But you guys aren’t meeting.”

“Oh, right.”

That was basically the situation.

The news that I had dropped out of the academy spread quickly, and the kids who firmly believed I would come back were in chaos.

Moreover, since I suddenly flew to America yesterday, Yuna seemed especially sad.

She gathered my friends and insisted on sending a video message, but during that process, Shin Si Hoo voiced his objections.

I decided to hear the opinion of the person who brought it up.

“NoNaMe, do you want to come back to the academy?”

“No. I don’t have any thoughts of that right now.”

“You must have thought about it for a long time before deciding to drop out, right?”

“Yeah. I thought a lot about it.”

“But now that we’re asking you to come back, I get the feeling you’d just do it for us, and I think that’s a bit off…”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You’re still an amazing person now. We don’t measure up to you at all. I know you’re always going to the library because you’re not learning anything in class, right? Even if you’re not at the academy, we can still keep in touch anytime.”

Si Hoo definitely had a bit more depth in his thinking.

But still, he was just a kid.

“To be honest, even though I never intended to return right away after sending a video message, I think I would have felt happy receiving one. I’m really grateful that Si Hoo considered my perspective.”

So now, how do I mend this strained relationship?

“Just apologize, Shin Si Hoo. In these situations, the one who apologizes first usually wins.”

“…”

He didn’t look too thrilled.

I suddenly became curious and asked.

“How did you two break up? Do you just say ‘I don’t like you anymore, so let’s break up’?”

“Yeah.”

“Really? That’s it?”

“What else is needed?”

These elementary kids are pretty cool these days.

“Actually, when I saw earlier, it seemed like Yuna still has feelings left.”

“Really?”

Si Hoo asked back with interest.

This guy still hasn’t gotten over her.

This is why watching other people’s romances is so fun.

As I kept pressing Si Hoo, he begrudgingly sent a message to Yuna.

He read it, but there was no reply.

Soon after, Yuna contacted me.

[Seoyuna: NaMe, Si Hoo sent me a message saying he’s sorry. What should I say back?]

[NoNaMe: Just respond casually.]

[Seoyuna: I can’t do itㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[NoNaMe: It’s not that hard.]

[Seoyuna: What if Si Hoo ends up hating me? Could you send the message for me? Pleaseㅠㅠㅠ]

Getting involved deeply in someone else’s love life doesn’t yield any benefits.

“Well, I have no choice, just this once.”

I took over Seoyuna’s account.

Within a pink-themed screen, Si Hoo sent his message of apology.

[Shin Si Hoo: I’m sorry. After thinking about it again, I feel like you were right, Yuna.]

What’s so difficult about this?

What’s important is not superficial words but honestly expressing each other’s true feelings.

That’s how relationships grow closer, in my personal opinion.

I moved my fingers.

[Seoyuna: What are you sorry for?]

There must be plenty to apologize for, so it’s actually a very easy question.

If Shin Si Hoo says anything vague, I planned to channel Yuna and honestly express how she would have felt at that moment.

It was a perfect plan.

Until Si Hoo sent me another message.

[Shin Si Hoo: (screenshot)]

[Shin Si Hoo: What should I reply here?]

[Shin Si Hoo: Hey NoNaMe, can you do it for me?]

He wants me to do it instead?

“Uh, okay…”

I ended up in an unprecedented situation where I was dating myself.

* * *

[Shin Si Hoo: I’m sorry for not considering your position well. You must have wanted to film a video message for NaMe, but I refused, fearing it might burden her. But after thinking about it again, I believe NaMe would be really happy to receive a video message.]

“NaMe, save me!”

[Seoyuna: Actually, I was worried about what you said yesterday, so I asked NaMe too. And NaMe told me not to worry about her and do what we want. You’re okay with filming the video, right?]

“Isn’t Yuna subtly dropping hints for me right now? Just help me a little bit more…!”

[Shin Si Hoo: Of course. I should have filmed it earlier, but I took too much time. Let’s meet tomorrow and film it happily. NaMe will feel like she really wants to see us!]

“Ahhh! Si Hoo wants to meet me tomorrow! NaMe, aren’t you a genius?”

[Seoyuna: Yeah. Hey Si Hoo, should we reconcile now?]

“That’s impossible… Yuna is the one asking to reconcile first! NoNaMe, you’re truly a god! This is my first time in this kind of situation, so I’ll ask one last time for a favor.”

At this point, I felt an indescribable sense of moral failing, and I hesitated to send any more messages.

While I was playing both roles, Si Hoo and Yuna seemed to be enjoying themselves, laughing together.

The real Si Hoo and Seoyuna were emotionally investing in the imaginary versions I created.

I found myself wondering how this was any different from a dating reality program from a philosophical perspective.

“How did you even start dating? Ah, yeah… What do you call Yuna when you’re alone? Don’t you have any nicknames?”

“Well… it feels a bit embarrassing to say.”

“Really? Then I can just scroll back through your messages.”

“No way!”

Si Hoo’s account was in my hands.

I scrolled up to examine their correspondence in detail.

“Heeek. Wow, princess, prince… honey? Swaaaang? At this rate, will they get married and go on their honeymoon?”

“Stop! Let me do it now! NoNaMe, hurry and give me back the account!”

“Wait, I have just one last thing to check.”

“Stop it!”

[Shin Si Hoo: Honey, let’s date again.]

I crossed a line.

What kind of reaction would Seoyuna have now?

[Seoyuna: (Typing…)]

[Seoyuna: I love you, honey!!! (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و ♡]

There’s a saying that if you stare long enough into the abyss, the abyss will also stare back at you.

Nietzsche’s meaning of the abyss referred to absolute values like religion or morality, but what else could we call this?

I handed back the account to the pale Shin Si Hoo.

Although he was 10,900 km away, my heart was still giving him a pat on the back.

Before long, a message came from Yuna too.

[Seoyuna: Thank you for helping me! I’m going to try to be good with Si Hoo again!]

In the end, is it enough that the outcome is good?

Honestly, I don’t know.

The feeling of love was too difficult for me.

* * *

“Haha, did something like that happen with your older sister’s friends? It sounds so interesting, kihi!”

When I told Saetbyeol about what happened yesterday, she burst out laughing, holding her stomach.

Saetbyeol had to wake up at 5 AM due to the time difference to do a virtual broadcaster stream.

Surprisingly, this seemed to be a healthier lifestyle.

“But when a girl says, ‘What are you sorry for?’ it’s not good, noona. It’s fortunate if things go well, but if not, it could easily escalate into a fight over feelings.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Maybe the point where both feel sorry is different. Ugh, just hearing about it makes me feel suffocated. Anyway, that’s how I see it! But I could be wrong.”

Saetbyeol is also probably a beginner at this, yet here I am, receiving advice from such a young kid.

But her words were valid.

Love and dating are interactions between people.

Thus, there are aspects that cannot be resolved merely through thought experiments like in science or philosophy.

Normally, I would have posted on an online community…

But then I’d unnecessarily raise people’s expectations about my return to being a streamer.

‘An Instagram story should be fine.’

I heard that it seemed acceptable to write random stuff on Instagram Stories, and people would let it slide.

I sent out a survey on a black background with white text.

[NoNaMe_11]

[Is someone who asks “What are you sorry for?” not so good?]

That day, my DMs exploded.