Chapter 15: What happened in his first year? (2)

However, Hyunwoo could not immediately duel Yu-shin.

Of course, Hyunwoo thought he would win if they properly fought.

But unlike Yu-shin, who had nothing to lose, he had too much to lose.

Hyunwoo was currently in a state where he had done all sorts of groundwork to get promoted to Class S.

But what if he lost?
If that happened, his promotion to Class S would be off the table.

‘Class S must not have any disqualifying factors, at least when it comes to strength.’

Hyunwoo wasn’t foolish enough to collapse the tower he had painstakingly built until now, just for a single moment of emotion.

However, he couldn’t just stand by and watch either.

How could he get rid of that bstard?
Wouldn’t there be a good way?

No, even if he couldn’t get rid of him immediately.

At the very least, he had to get Yu Ha-young back.

Because he needed Ha-young to steal the protagonist’s position.

Hyunwoo had already taken almost all of Baek Yu-shin’s fortuitous encounters and relationships in his first year.

But he still hadn’t managed to steal Baek Yu-shin’s protagonist position.

At least, if he could just capture Baek Yu-ri, he would be able to steal the protagonist’s position.

He couldn’t suddenly spoil the nearly finished meal here.

Was there a good way?
A way to deal with it without getting his hands dirty.

As he was pondering in the resting area next to the cafeteria, someone spoke to him.

“Hyunwoo, do you have a moment?”

“Ah, Minyoung.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

She had dyed her hair a cheap gold color, and her face was heavily made up.

Whether it was her skirt or her white shirt.
Everything was shortened, looking exactly like a delinquent.

Her name was Lee Minyoung, and honestly, she wasn’t an impression Hyunwoo particularly liked.

But she was a useful talent for monitoring Yu-shin.
So he was still maintaining their relationship.

“I’m so annoyed.
That Baek Yu-shin guy has been acting up too much recently.”

“Yeah, I hear a lot of talk about him.”

“Could you perhaps say something to him?”

‘Is this bstard asking me to clean up his sht?’

It was naturally Lee Minyoung asking Hyunwoo to do something about Yu-shin.

Thanks to that, Hyunwoo felt a surge of irritation for a moment, but he soon slowly regained his composure.

He couldn’t cut her off yet.
He could still somehow use them.

“But what about Kang Jik-han and Lee Han-soo?”

“They’re both training.
They said they’re determined to defeat Baek Yu-shin this time?”

‘A Class C punk thinks he can defeat that guy.’

He didn’t know how he had gotten stronger, but the current Baek Yu-shin was very different.

He was strong enough to defeat Selena, a true talent in Class A with no pretense.

Thanks to that, Hyunwoo couldn’t directly intervene and was suffering inwardly.

‘I can’t think of a way to deal with that guy right now.
But if I use this well…?’

Hyunwoo already knew the situation of Class C through Minyoung.

He heard that all students except Baek Yu-shin and Ha-young had formed an alliance.

If he used this, he might be able to win back Ha-young’s heart.

It was easy to save a heroine in a difficult situation and win her heart.

Of course, Ha-young might struggle for a very short while, but she could endure that much.

Moreover, she also needed to be punished for betraying him and siding with another man.

“I have a good idea.”

“…Huh.”

Hyunwoo’s eyes began to glow red.

“…?”

Something that flew from behind roughly brushed Ha-young’s brown hair.

It didn’t hurt, but it was quite an unpleasant prank.

Naturally, Ha-young turned her gaze towards the direction the crumpled paper had come from.

Minyoung, the girl with cheap blonde hair, smiled and waved her hand.

“Hey, look.”

“It’s a joke~ Just kidding.”

“…”

A joke?
Ha-young hid her unease and turned her eyes forward again.

But, without fail, another crumpled paper flew.
Ha-young immediately realized.

This was not a joke, but bullying.
But why was it suddenly happening?

However, Ha-young soon realized the reason.
It was because she was hanging out with Yu-shin.

[Bully Yu Ha-young, but don’t let Baek Yu-shin find out.]

Minyoung strictly complied with the suggestion placed on her.
This was Hyunwoo’s scheme.

In Hyunwoo’s eyes, the current Yu-shin wasn’t the type to particularly take care of others.

And, at least Yu Ha-young hadn’t been able to fit into Yu-shin’s circle yet.

In other words, before Yu Ha-young entered Yu-shin’s circle.

It was an extreme prescription of bullying, to make it impossible for her to get along with Yu-shin.

If Ha-young were to fall away from Yu-shin like that.

Only then would he intervene, stop the bullying, and save Yu Ha-young.

That was Hyunwoo’s plan, and the beginning didn’t seem so bad.

Ha-young, who had been traumatized by bullying, began to tremble.

‘Why is this bullying happening….’

[Stop!
That’s not right!]

[You fcker, so what are you going to do about it?
Try to stop it by force?]

[Why do you keep acting up when you’re so f*cking weak?]

‘…!!!’

However, there was a variable that Hyunwoo hadn’t thought of.

Ironically, because of the bullying.
The memory Ha-young wanted to forget surfaced.

Ha-young bit her lip.
Because she felt so pathetic.

To have done such things, and now to want to be friends with Yu-shin again.

She was so embarrassed she wanted to jump right away.
And at the same time, she realized.

‘…How much suffering must Yu-shin have gone through.’

Compared to what Yu-shin experienced in his first year, this was really nothing.

Therefore, Ha-young silently endured the bullying, thinking that it was a punishment for herself.

But ironically, what saved Ha-young was Yu-shin, whom she had ignored.

Thump.

“…?”

To be more precise, it was just a coincidence.
His aim was off, and he missed.

And happened to hit Yu-shin on the back of the head, who was right next to her.
Yu-shin turned his head.

The girl who made eye contact with Yu-shin was startled, but then she smiled and said to Yu-shin.

“Oh, I’m sorry.
It’s a joke~ Just kidding.”

“A joke?”

“Friends can do that.”

“Yu-shin…”

Ha-young grabbed Yu-shin, because she thought Yu-shin was stepping forward for her.

She couldn’t help but misunderstand, because the timing was precisely perfect.

However, Ha-young had tried to stop Yu-shin, saying that she was fine.

Conversely, Yu-shin, who mistook it as an attempt to stop him, replied firmly.

“No, it’s not okay.”

“…!!”

“W-what?
Suddenly?”

Yu-shin immediately stood up.
And approached Minyoung, who threw the paper.

When Yu-shin suddenly approached her, Minyoung was inwardly very flustered.

But she didn’t lose her composure until the end.
No matter how much of a psychopath he was.

‘Surely he wouldn’t hit a girl over a piece of paper?’
Such a thought was at the back of her mind.

“Hey.”

“W-what?”

“Aren’t you going to apologize?”

“I already did earlier!
I said I was sorry!”

“This fcking btch, is she crazy?”

Still, at first he spoke nicely.
She was still a kid, so anyone could make mistakes.

But he had even given her one chance.
And yet she was pushing back like this?

At this point, Yu-shin judged that he had tolerated enough.
So he immediately swore at her.

No, in the first place.
Was just saying “sorry” lightly like a joke a real apology?

“Who apologizes like that?”

“B-but it was just a joke!”

“Do you play pranks on people you’re not even close to?
Do you really want to die?”

The act itself was nothing.
No, well.
He might throw some paper as a joke.

The problem was her cheeky attitude.
Someone who plays pranks on people they’re not even close to.

And doesn’t even apologize properly?
And even at the very end, she keeps spouting excuses?

Minyoung’s cheeky attitude deliberately provoked Yu-shin.

When Yu-shin clenched his fist, only then did Minyoung realize the seriousness of it.

‘He’s really going to hit me.’

Since she was a girl who already knew Yu-shin’s strength.
Minyoung trembled and immediately shouted.

“I’m sorry!
I truly did something wrong!!!”

Her pride was deeply hurt, but to escape the current situation, she had no choice.

However, even with her sincere apology.
Yu-shin’s crumpled expression still hadn’t softened.

“Hey.”

His words are curt?

“S-sorry!!”

Minyoung, suppressed by his ferocious aura, even the hint Hyunwoo had placed on her was lifted.

In the end, thanks to Yu-shin stepping forward directly.
Ha-young was immediately freed from the bullying.

Of course, Yu-shin had acted because he was directly affected.

But to others, it only looked like he had stepped forward because someone was bullying his seatmate, Ha-young.

And that was the same for Ha-young herself.
Ha-young spoke to Yu-shin with a trembling voice.

“Why would you go so far…!”

Ha-young’s question was natural.
When the situation was completely opposite, what had she done?

She hadn’t stepped forward because she lacked strength, but merely hid behind others.

Despite that, she hadn’t properly listened to Yu-shin’s story.
That was Ha-young.

However, Yu-shin had stepped forward to save Ha-young before the bullying escalated further.

“Because I just want to.”

Yu-shin replied casually.
However, at his words, said as if they were nothing.

The tears Ha-young had been holding back until now flowed out.
The guilt filling her heart.

And the regret and sadness, all mixed with tears.
Continued to pour down endlessly.

‘What?
Why is she like this?’

Yu-shin, himself, had no idea why Ha-young was crying.