# Chapter 34
Since we’d decided on the gymnasium storage room, what I needed to do was gather up all my things. Even though it was April, the gym storage room was somewhat chilly.
So I picked up a blanket, a small cushion, my phone, and earphones. I could feel the class president looking at me with bewildered eyes.
“Why are you bringing a blanket?”
“I tend to get cold easily, so I’ll wrap myself in the blanket.”
As if I get cold easily. I’m just trying to sleep comfortably, that’s all.
I gathered up an armful of belongings, ignoring whether the other person showed signs of disbelief or not. Before I stepped away, I gave a small wave to the class president who had delivered the message, and he waved back reflexively. That sight was somehow funny, so I let out a small laugh as I left the classroom.
‘I wonder if I’ll actually be able to sleep well?’
Lying down to sleep is much more comfortable than sprawling over a desk. With the expectation of relieving fatigue, I let out a small yawn as I walked with lightened steps.
I’d had a brief confrontation with the class president, but I wasn’t fully awake. Thanks to that, I felt like I could fall into a deep sleep once I arrived.
By the way, it was rather clumsy of him not to stop me from bringing my phone. Or did he think nothing would change even if I brought my phone? Maybe he hadn’t considered that I might have exchanged phone numbers with Kwon Dojin and Baek Han.
Thinking about various things, I diligently walked to the gymnasium, where I found it completely silent. Perhaps the gym was empty because they were having class outside on the field due to the nice weather.
I wondered if the door would be open in this case, but this was an Inso world, so it would probably be open.
I climbed the stairs and carefully pulled on the gymnasium door, which opened smoothly as expected. Since it was my first time being in an empty gymnasium, I stood near the door for a while, looking inside.
It felt unfamiliar and strange, as if I had rented the whole place. I was standing still, blinking, when I raised my head at the sound of the class bell.
When I’m alone, I can hear the school bell too. When we had class in the gymnasium, the bell didn’t ring, so the teacher would let us know when class was over. Even this felt different.
Anyway, I couldn’t stand there indefinitely, so I moved toward the storage room. I thought about just sleeping in the gym, but I couldn’t give up the soft mats. There would be dust, but I could wash my uniform and bathe afterward.
The storage room door, which would normally be closed, also opened smoothly. I marveled at how this too was so Inso-like, then went inside to look around. I checked thoroughly to see if anyone else was there, but not even an ant was in sight.
The storage wasn’t that big, so after quickly examining everything, I was standing quietly in the middle when I heard footsteps from somewhere. Although they seemed to be trying to be quiet, the sound echoed in the gymnasium, and I could hear them if I concentrated a little. Soon after, I heard whispering voices in front of the storage room door.
“Are you sure it’s okay to block the door? If we get caught later—”
“Are you kidding? If we stop now, we’re neither here nor there!”
Is it okay for me to hear you saying that?
I had no particular intention of going out, so I remained still without moving. Even if they blocked the door with something, I could just take a nap first and then contact Kwon Dojin or Baek Han.
“Anyway, block it quickly before he comes out.”
Don’t worry, I have no intention of going out before I sleep and wake up.
“There’s no gym class in the auditorium today, right?”
I’m surprised they thought that far ahead. I thought in an Inso world, things would just go with the flow, but I guess not.
“I told you there isn’t. Did you bring the mop?”
I thought they would block it with something like a chair, but they’re using a mop. Well, the handle is perfect for barricading a door.
“Yeah, I brought it.”
“Then let’s block it and go. The class bell has already rung.”
“Damn, why did Lee Habin arrive at the gym so late and cause all this trouble?”
Are only your classes important? My classes are important too, you fools.
“Are the kids still fighting? What if Dojin-nim has already intervened? Plus, Baek Han-nim would’ve gone too….”
“That’s why I said let’s block it and go quickly!”
So the fight among the second-years was staged too? Come to think of it, it did seem a bit strange that a fight broke out now, when there hadn’t been a single fight in March with freshly enrolled first-years and excited second and third-years starting a new semester.
It could be that they started fighting after adjusting to school, but usually the subtle hierarchy among students is established in March. So it’s unlikely for a big fight that would require Kwon Dojin’s intervention to occur.
If it was a staged act, I could understand, so I nodded and started to feel like sitting down. I sat with my knees up on the mat. Just as I hugged my legs and rested my cheek on my knee, I heard a clunking sound.
It seemed they were now blocking the door, so I gently closed my eyes. Naptime was approaching.
“Are we really doing the right thing?”
When I heard a voice hesitating until the very end, even I was dumbfounded. If you’re that scared, you shouldn’t have participated from the beginning.
“What’s wrong with you? You’re the one who came up with this plan. Besides, if someone like Lee Habin keeps sticking close to Dojin-nim, Ji Haecheon-nim will be worried too! We’re just relieving him of that worry!”
The other person seemed just as frustrated, forgetting to whisper and shouting instead. Thanks to that, I clearly heard Ji Haecheon’s name and tilted my head.
Kwon Dojin and Ji Haecheon don’t get along well, so do they not know that? Since they don’t get along, there’s no reason for Ji Haecheon to worry about me being with Kwon Dojin.
“Gasp, hey. You need to be quiet—!”
You’ve been noisy since you started talking, so what difference does being quiet now make?
“Anyway, we’ve blocked it, so let’s go quickly. It’s already been 5 minutes since class started.”
Along with the urging words, I heard the sound of footsteps hurriedly leaving the auditorium. After their presence completely disappeared, I put down the phone I was holding and lay back.
They clearly said there were no classes in the gym today, so there was no need for earphones. I took out the blanket and pillow, tidied up my spot, and closed my eyes.
The soft touch of the blanket wrapping around my body and the pillow supporting my head provided comfort that made it hard to believe I was in a gymnasium storage room. It was much more pleasant than I’d thought, making me smile with satisfaction.
I felt like I could have a deep sleep.
* * *
Kwon Dojin touched his forehead as he watched the students who didn’t stop fighting despite his arrival. He couldn’t understand why such an incident had to happen today, especially since there hadn’t been any major fights at this academic high school compared to other schools.
Moreover, usually when he or Baek Han showed up, people would read the room and stop fighting on their own, but today they seemed to fight even more roughly, as if they had been waiting for this moment.
“Wow, this situation is intense.”
Baek Han, who whistled as if he were a mere spectator, leaned against the window. Despite his light tone, his sharper-than-usual eyes showed that his patience had reached its limit.
“How are you going to break it up?”
“If they don’t listen when we tell them, we’ll have to intervene.”
“They haven’t been listening for about 5 minutes already. I’d like to end this quickly and go back.”
“I know…”
Kwon Dojin muttered quietly and swept his hair back. In reality, he couldn’t shake the thought that watching Habin sleep would be more productive than wasting time on this useless situation.
Baek Han, who was observing Kwon Dojin, clicked his tongue and shook his head. It was disgustingly repulsive how quickly he dropped his act when Lee Habin wasn’t around.
“We both want to end this quickly, so why don’t we just jump in?”
Intervening in the fight and subduing them was indeed the quickest way, as Baek Han suggested. Dojin knew this too, but there was one thing bothering him.
“Kwon Dojin, aren’t you going to decide soon?”
“You’re right that jumping in would be best—”
Baek Han, who couldn’t take the lead if Kwon Dojin didn’t make a decision, irritably ran his fingers through his hair. If he had known he was such a procrastinating type, he would have beaten Kwon Dojin in the last hierarchy determination no matter what.
“What’s the problem?”
“Habin would worry.”
Baek Han, who was expecting a serious problem, momentarily wondered if he’d misheard and cleaned his ear with his pinky finger. Dojin, who was watching the students screaming and fighting rather than looking at Baek Han, didn’t notice.
“What did you say?”
“If I get hurt, Habin will worry. Getting worried over isn’t bad, but I don’t want to create situations that would make him worry.”
“For such a trivial reason—”
He was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t even get angry. Baek Han was beating his chest in frustration when he happened to see Kwon Dojin’s eyes and gasped.
“Are you serious?”
“I don’t have any reason to lie, do I?”
“…I must be crazy to have waited this long.”
Feeling that reason wasn’t getting through, Baek Han decided not to wait for Kwon Dojin’s instructions any longer. He got up from the window he was leaning against, instantly jumped into the fight, blocked a punch aimed at his face, and immediately counterattacked.
Staring blankly at Baek Han who was acting recklessly on his own, Dojin sighed and repeatedly clenched and unclenched his gloved hand. He wasn’t happy about being forced to step in because of Baek Han’s actions, but concluding the situation was the priority.
“We’re just mediating. Don’t inflict serious injuries.”
Dojin lightly rolled his foot and jumped into the fight. As if they had been waiting, he dodged an arm that came close to his face by twisting his body, then grabbed the forearm and kicked the opponent’s shin hard.
“Ugh—!”
“I’m better than you who would slam them onto the cement floor.”
Ignoring Baek Han’s words completely, Dojin couldn’t hide his lament as he saw another person charging at him. He reluctantly punched the opponent in the solar plexus, then noticed Baek Han fighting precariously and frowned.
“Don’t get hurt either. It irritates me to see Habin worrying about you.”
At Kwon Dojin’s words, Baek Han turned around to see him with a fresh smile on his face, stepping on the back of an opponent who was writhing in pain, and grimaced in disgust.
“Lee Habin should have seen you right now.”
“Well, Habin is kind.”
He probably wouldn’t say much even if he saw this. Thinking that, Dojin lightly kicked away someone trying to ambush him from behind.
Watching Kwon Dojin, Baek Han clicked his tongue again. He really didn’t want to get tangled up with that guy if he could help it.
