# Chapter 106
The preparation of the penalty drink was simple because there was some vinegar left over from what they had made in the club before. It wasn’t difficult at all—I just needed to make it sour.
Unlike others who frowned as soon as they took a sip, the kids stared at me blankly, seemingly at a loss for words as they saw me drinking it well.
“It does make my tongue numb, but strangely, I keep wanting to drink more.”
“Amazing, amazing.”
“Ugh. It keeps making me salivate.”
Lee Jinyoung, who had just returned from checking on the other group members, patted Kim Yuna’s shoulder and joined in as she was smacking her lips with a frown.
“So we’re done then? Just tell me if you’re going to submit it as is.”
“Yes. But we’re a bit short on vinegar. Will the amount be enough?”
“It’ll be fine since we’ll make it on the day. I’ll prepare the ingredients separately. We need to get ready before the relay race, and I can’t do it alone, so I need each group member to spare some time. Does anyone have time to help?”
Oh Seulbi and Kim Yuna responded with troubled expressions to Lee Jinyoung, who was looking around at us as she asked.
“I’m participating in the relay, so I don’t think I can help.”
“Me too. I’m running first.”
I showed a surprised expression at the two saying they were participating in the relay, then my eyes met with Kim Junwoo. He slightly raised one eyebrow for a moment, then let out a small breath and raised his hand.
“I’ll do it.”
Everyone showed puzzled expressions when I volunteered, even though it was obvious from his face that he was reluctant.
“Oh? Really? …Then you’ll need to come at least during the middle of the second-year soccer match, is that okay?”
“Yes.”
Lee Jinyoung gently raised the corner of her mouth at my easy response. For some reason, she had an expression that seemed to find me admirable, which made Kim Junwoo turn his head sharply with a stiff face. Despite Kim Junwoo showing embarrassment, I couldn’t help but laugh, which made him frown slightly.
Soon, Lee Jinyoung scribbled something in her notebook, then went forward to report to Teacher Jaewon. The teacher, who had been showing a serious expression as if something was wrong, briefly left his seat and returned with a bright face. Fortunately, it seemed the problem had been resolved.
Lee Jinyoung’s notebook must have contained records of what each group member had made, as the teacher glanced through it and smiled with satisfaction. Then, as if to calm the slightly noisy atmosphere, he tapped on the table to draw attention.
“Everyone seems to be finished. Let’s get ready to clean up.”
As I was putting on my backpack to go home after finishing the clean-up, Kim Junwoo, who was leaving the club room first, bumped into some Middle Class guys at the doorway.
“……”
“Haa… now he’s completely on their side.”
“They suit each other well.”
One of the Middle Class guys who had been hostile to me before looked in my direction and muttered in a sneering tone. The other guys joined in, as if in agreement, and low laughter could be heard. They pushed past Kim Junwoo and left the room, their laughter fading away.
“Acting all high and mighty.”
I muttered quietly as I passed by Kim Junwoo, who was standing still like he was nailed to the spot. I deliberately said it loud enough for him to hear, but it was also a sincere comment since the behavior of those Middle Class guys just now was definitely an eyesore.
Kim Junwoo made a strange expression after hearing my words, then chuckled.
Following me out of the club room, he approached my side, maintaining a slight distance.
“Hey. Has anyone else bothered you recently?”
“…Who? Senior Yoo Wono?”
When I pinpointed the exact person from his vague question, Kim Junwoo flinched. Then, with a grimace as if something was bothering him, he waved his hand dismissively.
“No… well, that person is a problem too, but I meant other people. I heard a third-year senior openly picked a fight with you.”
I was so surprised that my steps halted abruptly, as if someone had grabbed me from behind. Looking to the side, I saw Kim Junwoo scanning me with a rather confused expression.
“What? Did something else happen besides that time?”
“I was just surprised. …How did you hear about that?”
“Pretty much every second-year knows. People who saw it were whispering about it since the morning commotion.”
“I see.”
I pressed my lips together in embarrassment, and Kim Junwoo shrugged his shoulders before making a fuss as if that wasn’t the important point.
“More importantly, I heard that senior almost hit Moon Seoheon too. Is that why…? I heard Byeon Seungha went to warn him.”
I nodded lightly at the news he already seemed to know about. Since Byeon Seungha himself had said he’d given a light warning, it wasn’t particularly surprising. It just left an unpleasant aftertaste that made me feel stifled inside.
My once light footsteps became heavy, and even my energy for going home disappeared. As I let out a low sigh, Kim Junwoo, who had been quiet for a moment, continued.
“As soon as the student council president openly rebuked him, the High Class students who used to hang out with him dropped him… Not that I feel sorry for him, it’s his own doing, but…”
Kim Junwoo, who was rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, mumbled the last words and couldn’t properly finish his sentence. Still, I could roughly guess what he wanted to say. He felt a sense of kinship with that senior who had gone through a similar situation, but he didn’t complain about it.
Under my steady gaze, Kim Junwoo quickened his pace. I briefly considered whether to stop him as he walked ahead.
While it was pleasing to see Kim Junwoo showing a better attitude than before, that was the extent of what I felt.
What bothered me was the mention that the student council president had rebuked that third-year student. With a throbbing headache, I pressed firmly on my temples.
I could guess why Lee Seongcheol, who had been beaten up somewhere, had followed our class, and why the face I saw yesterday had become even more of a mess.
If Byeon Seungha had shown hostility toward Lee Seongcheol, others would take notice. No matter how much of a senior Lee Seongcheol was, anyone could see that Byeon Seungha had the upper hand at this school.
And if Kwak Junhee stepped in as well, even the once-defiant Lee Seongcheol would inevitably be subdued.
As Kim Junwoo said, Lee Seongcheol’s situation might be self-inflicted, but should I accept a situation where even uninvolved people are driven away over one person? It seemed like a form of violence in itself. Then I shook my head, telling myself it was an unnecessary thought.
“Sympathy for the perpetrator is a luxury.”
I readjusted my backpack that had slipped down my shoulder and went outside the building. The soccer match held before the finals must have already ended, as the field was completely empty.
I absently scratched my cheek as I recalled Moon Seoheon’s words asking me to cheer for him today too. He had been sulky when I said I couldn’t go because of the club activities. He even went as far as suggesting I ask the teacher in charge to let me off, which left me speechless.
I wondered what made him think it would be so easy to ask to be excused. Maybe for a social club where they did nothing but hang out, but it was absurd to casually suggest skipping properly scheduled educational time. The memory made me smile slightly.
“Anyway, let’s just go home.”
I’ll hear the results of the match tomorrow.
* * *
After slurping through a straw in his fruit juice box for a while, Moon Seoheon finally spoke. The sound of him swallowing was distinctly audible.
“We won.”
Moon Seoheon spoke plainly with an expressionless face. Unlike him, I frowned and let out a sigh. It was because the drink in my hand tasted bad. None of the fruit flavor depicted on the box could be tasted; it was just sweet and bland like sugar water.
“Congratulations.”
The unpleasant drink made my nose wrinkle, causing my congratulatory words to come across ambiguously. Moon Seoheon, who glanced at my frowning expression, narrowed his eyes as if displeased.
“Are you really congratulating me?”
“Yeah. That’s why I bought you juice too.”
As I spoke, I crumpled the empty juice box roughly. Moon Seoheon nodded slightly with a meaningless smile. His playful tone matched his light gesture, which is why my response also came out mixed with jest.
The front of the main building we arrived at was bustling with students coming to school. Before pushing through the crowd to enter, I turned my body toward a corner. Yellow rape flowers were in full bloom along the edge of the flower bed, with a large trash can placed between them.
Standing at a slight distance from the trash can, I casually tossed the crumpled empty box and scored. Moon Seoheon must have finished his drink too, as he approached from behind me to throw away his trash, but suddenly a shadow was cast over my head.
When I instinctively stood still, an arm that protruded over my right shoulder stretched toward the trash can. Unlike me, who had crumpled the fruit juice box beyond recognition, Moon Seoheon’s was neatly flattened.
I watched as the white fingers released the box, letting it fall into the trash can, then slightly turned my head. Looking up into Moon Seoheon’s eyes that immediately met mine, I could see his hair fluttering in the breeze.
“You… seem to have grown taller?”
“Really?”
Moon Seoheon’s eyes widened as if slightly surprised, then he tilted his head. When he spread his arms as if examining his own body, he felt as enormous as the shadow that had covered me.
I cleared my throat and slipped to the side, and Moon Seoheon stared at me for a moment. After a brief pause, he soon opened his mouth with a smile.
“You haven’t forgotten what I said, right? It’s tomorrow.”
“…Yeah.”
The word I awkwardly uttered to hide the involuntary click of my tongue sounded strange. Even so, Moon Seoheon withdrew without saying anything more.
The thought of what I had been trying to ignore—the sports festival happening tomorrow—made my throat feel rough like I had swallowed sand. A stifling feeling came over me, so intense that I wanted to drink that tasteless juice again.
But I couldn’t show it, so I pretended to be composed as I headed toward the building entrance. Moon Seoheon stopped walking. Before I could ask why he wasn’t coming, the sound of someone running got closer, so I went back in.
Moon Seoheon muttered something like a sigh and turned around. Curious, I peeked out and saw Yoo Wono running excitedly from a distance.
