I Think The Genre Has Changed - Chapter 121: School Begins

No matter how much I think about it, there was no solution to this school.

Sihyun, who had been sighing while staring at the text messages all night, muttered to himself. In his mind, the phrase “Why did you do that, Principal?” had already come up for the sixth time and was sinking. Changing partners every semester. It was an exhausting and pointless system.

As he rubbed his tired eyes, he heard the chirping of birds outside the window. The dry eyes, strained from staying up all night, stung as he blinked.

His gaze descended to the phone screen. He had checked the message Yoo Seowoo sent two mornings ago, but today, the message thread looked empty as he hadn’t replied yet. Sihyun awkwardly rechecked the message Seowoo sent.

Life is first come, first served, so without a doubt, Seowoo was the first. However, considering who needed the partner position more urgently, it was Hamin. Sihyun wished he didn’t know Hamin’s circumstances.

His feelings were complicated. Turning off the loudly crying morning alarm, Sihyun headed to the bathroom. He wondered if an accident would happen faster if cold water touched his head, but it was a futile hope.

“Why can’t the two of them just do it?”

After washing up and drying his hair, Sihyun, who gave up on the unresolved dilemma, muttered as he picked up his carrier. It would be a disgusting story if Seowoo and Hamin heard it.

How did things end up like this?

In the past, it would have been annoying and troublesome, but now it was awkward. The positions of the two people who had requested him as a partner had changed to people he knew.

Tap-tap, he picked up his carrier and headed towards the door, only to find his parents standing quietly in his room, seeing off their son starting a new semester. Even though it was awkward, Sihyun, who wasn’t as awkward as last time, nodded his head and slowly left the house that he wouldn’t be able to return to for a while.

“I’ll be back!”

“Do you have your underwear? Did you pack your underwear?”

“Yeah, I did!”

“You didn’t forget anything, right?”

“I didn’t! Stop it and go inside! Am I three years old?”

A noisy conversation from the next room could be heard since morning. Down, who had pushed a middle-aged woman into the room to ask questions and tease, closed the door while looking spirited. When he felt someone’s presence, he turned his head. Before he could avoid it, their eyes met.

“…Hello.”

Since their eyes met, it was hopeless to pretend not to know each other. Down, who walked with his carrier, came towards Sihyun for the first time since the incident with Fantasia. The conversation they were about to have would be uncomfortable if Seowoo was around.

But why did things turn out like this?

Even if it was Down, it was something he avoided doing together. However, Down, who was usually the same, was strangely different this time. Sihyun muttered to himself as he gave up on the unresolved dilemma.

Down asked, “Aren’t you going?”

“Huh?”

“We’re going to school. Let’s go together.”

“…Uh, okay.”

Uh, okay. Sihyun, who answered like a fool to Down’s unexpected proposal, picked up his carrier that was left behind. Throughout the walk to school, the blue gaze lingered on the girl. When he saw her face, a conversation from a few days ago came to mind.

It would be awkward.

Even if I were Down, going to school with me would be something to avoid. But even though Down was acting the same as usual, Sihyun, who thought about it, suddenly sighed, and the girl stopped in her tracks.

“Yoo Sihyun.”

“…….”

Suddenly being called by his real name felt unfamiliar. Sihyun’s hand hesitated on the handle of his carrier.

“Why.”

“I don’t want to awkwardly pass by you.”

“…….”

“Since we’re in the same class and our houses are next to each other, we can’t live ignoring each other forever. I don’t have any intention of blaming you for being the victim. I can’t even be in that position.”

“…….”

So what? Sihyun asked with his eyes, holding back words that might lead to cursing. Down, who seemed frustrated and somewhat awkward, looked uncomfortable and blurry. When Sihyun thought about what he was trying to say, Down spoke slowly.

“So… I don’t mind being friends with you, even if you’re not Yoo Sihyun.”

“…….”

“If you don’t like it, just say it.”

Looking straight at each syllable, Down stared at Sihyun. Feeling the discomfort deep within, Sihyun picked up the carrier he had let go of again and moved his dry lips.

“…Thank you.”

“For what.”

“For considering me.”

“…….”

“But… don’t just call out my name randomly. It’s nice, but after hearing it too much, it gets a bit… you know.”

Missed it.

With this quietly added remark, Down made a puzzled expression. Sihyun pushed aside numerous memories that came to mind at the mention of the name Yoo Sihyun and shifted his steps. The sound of footsteps did not follow. His gaze slowly turned towards Down.

“Aren’t you coming?”

“…Ah.”

The girl, who seemed lost in thought, belatedly regained her composure and moved her body. The roles seemed to have reversed a bit from earlier. A long breath escaped between her lips. Whether it was because the matter with Down had been settled or not, the inhaled breath felt clean. Down, who had been observing Sihyun’s face, suddenly wore an expression of surprise.

“You seemed a bit more… before….”

“What?”

“…It’s nothing.”

When asked about the mumbled words, Down, as if it was nothing important, lowered his head and continued.

“Just, you seem more comfortable, so it annoys me.”

“What?”

The sudden accusation was straightforward. The tone was so indifferent that it was hard to tell it was an accusation.

“Why are you suddenly accusing me?”

“I just expressed my observation.”

“Usually, people call that an accusation.”

“…It’s really different.”

“…Calling that an observation is different.”

Silenced by Down’s unexpected statement, Sihyun spoke. It was unclear whom Down was comparing himself to and saying was different. As Sihyun refrained from speaking, an awkward silence hung in the air. The silence was broken when Sihyun, who had been walking quietly, entered a strange alley for the sixth time.

“Ah, wait!”

Down, who had been repeatedly pulling Sihyun back from wandering off, couldn’t stand it any longer and burst out. Being dragged by him with his clothes in hand, Sihyun blinked his eyes. In front of him was an angry Down.

“Why do you keep going elsewhere?”

“…Because it seems right over there.”

As far as his memory served, going to the left alley was correct. When he tried to convey that fact, Down looked at him, as if proving a point, and tightened his grip on Sihyun’s clothes.

“It’s right? Have you been going to a different school than me?”

“No.”

“If you act like a lost child, it might be cute, but don’t rush ahead of me. Do you think going to a different alley would be faster? Wake up and quietly follow me. Stick close behind me. Got it?”

“…Uh.”

Seemingly having accumulated a lot of anger, Down spoke quickly without pausing to breathe. Sihyun nodded his head in agreement. Down, who seemed more at ease than before, made Sihyun cancel the thought that he had become more comfortable. The sharp glare and the grip on the back of Sihyun’s neck, still as fierce as the first day of school, remained.

As they arrived at school with Down grabbing Sihyun’s wrist, the bustling crowd at the school gate came into view. Among them, Titan and Haru were seen. It had become a familiar sight now.

“I expected it, but they’re here again today.”

“It’s annoying when they gather. It’s not like they’re blocking the way. What are they even doing?”

Perhaps the only person in this school who disliked the Four Heavenly Kings was Down. Observing the scene at the school gate, he grumbled. Sihyun, who agreed that it was noisy when they gathered, watched Down as he boldly dashed towards them. Then, he carefully lifted his foot to step back. The moment he realized he wanted to pretend not to notice the group in front of him to avoid walking to school surrounded by people, something unexpected happened.

“Hey, Sihyun!”

Amidst the commotion, his name was heard. When he turned his head, Haeun was waving both hands with a bright expression. The joyful atmosphere, as if she was about to give a kiss, was enough to block Sihyun’s ears with her wings. Amidst the crowd, whispers like ‘Sihyun?’, ‘Sihyun is here?’ reached him.

“Kyaah, Sihyun!”

The scream was so loud that it felt sharp. Even Pia, perched on his shoulder, used her wings to cover his ears. The size of the screams that erupted when Geonu approached and spoke to him was something he hadn’t anticipated at all.