Chapter 5: Shadows of Trauma and Unexpected Allies

As we wandered the Academy grounds.
A forgotten nightmare from my past crept up, squeezing my heart.

In my previous life’s school days.
A delinquent girl dragged me to the gym storage and beat me for an hour.

That trauma flared up now.

Because of Seo Ieung walking beside me.
Because I was alone with her.

‘This is why I didn’t want to be alone with a pretty delinquent…’

Still, I could bear it.
I didn’t have a breakdown or seizure like in my old life.

Maybe time really is medicine.
Or perhaps the Transcendent gave me not just a strong body but a tougher mind too.

‘But… why did she beat me back then?’

Even on other days, I could’ve guessed.
But that day, I hadn’t done anything wrong.
I hadn’t even provoked her.

Even now, I don’t know why.
Why that delinquent tormented me.

‘…Forget it. What’s the point of knowing now?’

I let the thought go.
There probably wasn’t a real reason anyway.
She was the type to pick on me whenever she felt like it, making up excuses.

‘And I should stop projecting those old delinquents onto Seo Ieung. She may look scary, but she’s a different person.’

Her appearance screams delinquent.
Her behavior feels thuggish.
But her inner self might be different.

I stole a quick glance at her.
She was chewing gum with a bored expression, staring straight ahead.

‘…Yeah, doesn’t seem like her inner self is any different. Better not get my hopes up.’

I looked away.
Staring too long could be dangerous.

We followed the map the professor gave us, keeping our distance, not exchanging a single word as we toured the Academy.

The Academy was bigger than I’d imagined.

Gymnasium.
Fitness center.
Swimming pool.
Various amenities.

For a full two hours.
We moved nonstop, visiting different facilities.

When the map wasn’t enough to navigate.
Guides stationed around helped us.
The Academy was surprisingly well-organized.

“…”
“…”

The silence lingered.
The awkwardness was killing me.

But it wasn’t bad.
Awkward was better than talking.
I was even getting used to being around Seo Ieung.

“Hey.”

She suddenly spoke.
The first time since leaving the classroom.

“Let’s take a break and grab some food before heading to the training facilities. It’s almost lunchtime.”

She pointed at a park with her finger.
I nodded.
I was hungry anyway.

For the record, the Academy doesn’t provide dining hall food.
Instead, it’s packed with various restaurants.
You can find one everywhere you go.
There were plenty near here too.

“What do you want to eat? I’ll grab it.”

Seo Ieung pulled out her wallet as she asked.
That gesture almost triggered my trauma again.

I hate letting a girl buy me food.
Because of my trauma, of course.
A delinquent once forced me to eat her food, then beat me for “owing” her.

But.

“Anything.”

I didn’t say I’d pay.
That could lead to a back-and-forth about who’s paying.
I’d rather avoid arguing with a girl.

“Anything? No picky eating?”
“Nope.”

“Even pineapple pizza?”
“No.”

I answered instantly, startled.
She was about to buy trash, not food.
As expected, she’s trouble.

“You said anything.”
“…Anything but pineapple pizza.”

Seo Ieung narrowed her eyes, glaring at me.
Terrifying.
I looked away, pretending not to be fazed.

“No picky eating, my ass… Fine, I’ll get bentos.”
“Okay.”

Thankfully, no weird menu this time.

“I’ll be quick. Wait on that park bench.”

Hands in her pockets, Seo Ieung swaggered to a nearby bento shop.
Even her walk screamed delinquent.

In a quiet park.
I sat on a bench, waiting for Seo Ieung.

“Hi!”
“What’re you doing here alone?”

Two girls approached me.
They’d been sneaking glances at me earlier.
I had a bad feeling, and it was never wrong.

“You’re a freshman, right?”
“Where’s your partner? Did you fight?”

They casually sat on either side of me.
As expected, both were beautiful.

“Your name’s… Oh, Kang Hawi. Cool name.”

One girl read my name tag and kept talking smoothly.

“Which class are you in, Hawi?”
“…Class 3.”

I forced out an answer.
Ignoring them wasn’t an option.

“Really? We’re in Class 5, so close!”
“Wow, his voice is nice too.”

They giggled among themselves.
Their laughter was cute.

The girls closed the distance.
My heart pounded so hard I thought I’d lose it.

‘I’m gonna lose my mind. Where’s Seo Ieung…’

Earlier, this didn’t happen.
Plenty of girls stared, but none dared approach.

Thinking back.
It was probably because of Seo Ieung.
She’d unintentionally been my shield.

I hadn’t realized how much she’d helped by being there.

As I appreciated Seo Ieung’s presence.

“Hey, if it’s okay, could we get your number—”
“What’re you two doing?”

A voice of salvation.
Seo Ieung returned with the bentos.

“Kang Hawi, you know these girls?”

She jerked her chin at them.
I shook my head.

“If you don’t know them, this is a pickup attempt.”

Seo Ieung glanced between the two girls.
Her eyes as fierce as ever.

“What, you think this is a hookup bar? Get lost before I mess you up, you desperate b*tches.”

“What? Why’s this crazy b*tch cursing—”
“Hey, stop!”

One girl stood, furious.
The other quickly held her back.

“Let’s go… Didn’t you see her name tag? That’s Seo Ieung…”
“…Seo Ieung? The mob boss’s daughter?”

I thought I misheard.
Mob boss’s daughter?

“Uh, sorry… We just saw him alone and wanted to cheer him up…”

The angry girl switched to a conciliatory tone.

“Really sorry…”
“Let’s go, quick…”

Clearly scared, they could barely speak.

Apologizing repeatedly, they fled.

Seo Ieung.
Subduing people with just her name.
She was scarier than I thought.

She gave the girls a disdainful look.
Then turned to me.

“Hey.”
“Yeah?”

I accidentally used polite speech.
Pure survival instinct.

“Why the formal talk all of a sudden?”
“Oh, my bad…”

“Weird guy. Anyway, I didn’t mess up just now, did I?”
“Mess up?”

“Like, if you were enjoying that, I might’ve ruined your moment.”
“…You didn’t. Thanks.”

I gave a longer reply.
Couldn’t half-ass a thank you.

Surprisingly, she cared about small details like that.
I thought she wouldn’t.

Maybe she’s more considerate than she seems.

“Good, then. As expected, you’re not into girls…”

Seo Ieung trailed off.
When I glanced at her curiously, she scratched her head and thrust a bento at me.

“Whatever, let’s eat.”
“Okay.”

She sat beside me.
We started eating in silence.

The menu was a standard bulgogi bento.

After eating.
Seo Ieung stepped away to use the restroom.

Left alone, I strolled through the park.
Then I spotted a small, adorable kitten.

“Meow.”

Its body quivered, tail standing straight up.

Insanely cute.
I froze, my eyes locked on it.

“Mew?”

The kitten noticed me.
It strutted over confidently.

And then.

“Meow!”

It started rubbing its face on my leg.
A total lap cat.

I was happy.
My heart felt healed.
The tension I’d carried since arriving at the Academy melted away, my stiff face relaxing.

“Meow! Mew-mew!”

The kitten’s deadly charm.

I wanted to pet it so bad.
A chance to touch a stray cat doesn’t come often.

‘Is anyone watching?’

I checked my surroundings.
No one was around.

After confirming, I crouched down.
And petted the kitten’s back to my heart’s content.

“Hehehe.”

Lost in time.
Giggling like an idiot while petting the kitten.

Suddenly.

A shadow fell over the ground.

Startled, I stopped.
With a hardened expression, I slowly looked up.

“…”

Seo Ieung was staring down at me, her face shocked.