Party member recruitment completed.

by Muse · 2026-10-04

As time goes by, I am unintentionally becoming the [center of the class].

From being a sickly outcast, Baek Seol-ah is clearly becoming an [insider].

I swear I have never tried to become an insider.

Rather, I intended to quietly graduate and go to college (Department of Physics).

Whenever break time comes, my seat, the last row by the window, has become a sort of 'gathering place'.

"Seol-ah, I fought with my boyfriend yesterday, listen to this."

"Hey, isn't this math homework too much?"

"What's the school lunch menu today?"

Starting with relationship advice, moving on to meaningless chatter, and even gossiping about teachers.

All the conversations of the girls in the class begin and end at my seat.

But does that mean I am a chatterbox? Not at all.

Of course, I don't push away the kids who come.

How could I refuse these cute ones?

I just sit with my chin resting on my hand, quietly listening to the children's stories.

Sometimes I just throw in a comment or two?

Seol-ah: ...I told you to break up.

Seol-ah: ...You have to endure that.

Seol-ah: ...What a trashy person.

The amazing thing is that the kids receive tremendous comfort from my short and concise (though my voice is like a jade bead) words.

"Wow... as expected, Seol-ah. That's the answer."

"I feel so relieved."

It seems to be due to the experience of the 36-year-old man inside me.

Is the time I spent listening to the complaints of gym members in my past life being utilized here?

Those guys relied on me not as a friend, but strangely as a 'reliable big brother.'

Among them, there were fixed members (party members) who would stamp their attendance at my seat every break.

Let me introduce our party members.

First. [Advisor] Lee Min-ji. A model student with glasses. My note-taking shuttle and 'Seol-ah worshiper.'

Second. [Tank] Choi Han-na. The judo club captain, twice my size. A loyal friend who enjoys food battles with me.

Third. [Information Broker] Kim Se-rin. A sly-looking girl. The school informant and fashion critic.

Fourth. [Waterer] Baek Yu-ri. My tsundere little sister.

Han-na asks while munching on a sausage.

Choi Han-na: Seol-ah, you brought a cake in your bag, right? I saw it.

Sharp girl. I asked Seo-jin unni to pack one because I thought you might get hungry during break.

Seol-ah: Oh. Do you want to eat it?

Choi Han-na: Wow, I love you! Seriously, you're the best!

Han-na tried to hug me tightly. It's heavy.

Se-rin clicked her tongue while looking in the mirror next to us.

Kim Se-rin: Hey, Choi Han-na. Back off a bit. Seol-ah will get squished. And Seol-ah, I told you to take off your glasses, right? Throw away those thick frames and wear contacts. I'll pick them out for you.

Seol-ah: It's annoying. This is comfortable.

As I answered while yawning, Se-rin hit her chest and said, "Ah, what a waste of that face!"

Se-rin always brings gossip that I don't know where she heard it from.

"Hey, hey, big news. The gym teacher and the music teacher from the next class are having a thing." or,

"I think Jin-ho really likes Yuna no matter how much he thinks about it."

These guys, at first, couldn't approach me because they were scared, but after I helped carry Han-na's heavy load (with one hand) and found Se-rin's lost earring (with my keen eyesight), they stuck to me like gum.

At that moment, the front door opened and Baek Yu-ri came in. She was holding a bag of snacks from the school store.

Thud. Yu-ri dropped the bread on my desk as if throwing it.

Yu-ri: Hey. Eat.

If we were typical sisters, I would have said, "Eat, unnie," but we are not.

Legally, I'm the older sister—I'm born in June, and Yu-ri is born in October—but at school, it doesn't matter.

Seol-ah: Oh, thank you. Baek Yu-ri.

Yu-ri: Hmph. I'm giving it to you because I was going to eat it but I'm full. I can't just throw it away.

That's a lie.

This is my favorite chocolate cream bread.

It's the first thing to sell out at the store, and you went through the trouble of lining up to buy it.

Se-rin squinted her eyes and asked.

Kim Se-rin: Hey, Yu-ri. Why do you talk to your sister like that? So rude.

Yu-ri: Don't mind it. We're like this originally. Right?

Yu-ri glared at me. I chuckled as I opened the bread bag.

Seol-ah: Yeah. We're thorough 'business sisters.'

Yuri plopped down onto the empty chair next to me.

And, as if it were natural, she reached for Hanna's snack bag.

In the past, she couldn't even come over to our side because she was wary of Park Hye-jin, but now it feels like her own home.

The habit of biting her nails has also disappeared.

Her cheeks have become quite plump. That girl looks like she's finally doing well.

After school. I led these members out through the school gate.

In front of the school gate, a black sedan was waiting. Manager Choi got out of the driver's seat and opened the door.

Manager Choi: Is everyone out?

Originally, Manager Choi was my father's bodyguard, but these days he solely takes care of Yuri and me on our way to and from school.

In the past, he was there for surveillance because I never knew when I might collapse, but now he just plays the role of 'driver.'

My aunt at home is the same.

She used to be like my dedicated nurse, but now she's just our aunt who oversees household chores and nags us all.

Seol-ah: Manager, I'm going to eat tteokbokki with those friends today and come back. You can go ahead.

Manager Choi: Huh? The chairman...?

Seol-ah: Yuri is going too. Hey, let's go!

I pushed Yuri and the others along.

Yuri said, "Ah, tteokbokki is high in calories..." but her lips were curling up.

Manager Choi sighed, rolled down the window, and said one thing.

Manager Choi: If you don't come back by 6, I'll come to get you.

Seol-ah: Yes.

Min-ji, Hanna, and Serin joined us. A perfect [Tteokbokki Expedition Team] was formed.

We headed towards the vending machine near the snack shop in front of the school.

Drinks are essential before eating something spicy.

However, a huge back was blocking the way in front of the vending machine.

About 185 cm tall?

With a short sports haircut. A male student with two buttons of his school uniform shirt undone and tanned skin.

He was wrestling with the vending machine.

Gang Tae-yang: Ah… why isn’t it coming out… my 500 won… I need to buy food…….

A guy with a big build is sulking because the vending machine ate his coin.

He’s banging on the machine with his fist, just using strength without any technique.

The machine is going to break, dude.

Seol-ah: Step aside.

When I spoke to him from behind, he jumped in surprise and turned around.

Looking at his name tag, it says 'Gang Tae-yang'. He lives up to his name.

His face is so bright it’s almost glowing.

He’s wearing a basketball team uniform. So he’s on the basketball team.

Gang Tae-yang: Huh? You, you are… Baek Seol-ah?

Seol-ah: You know me?

Gang Tae-yang: I do! The sleeping genius from Class 3, Year 2!

That nickname still follows you around, huh?

I sighed and walked over to the vending machine.

Seol-ah: Did it eat your coin?

Gang Tae-yang: Uh… it’s all my savings… I’m hungry…….

I glanced at the bottom of the vending machine.

In my past life, the gym vending machine often did this too.

It’s not about hitting it hard; the impact point is important.

I rolled up my uniform sleeves.

Then, I precisely struck the internal spring point connected to the coin slot at the bottom right of the vending machine with my palm.

I applied the palm strike technique from martial arts. It’s not anything grand, just a palm slap.

Thud! Clunk.

Like a miracle, a 500 won coin rolled out into the return slot.

Gang Tae-yang: Oooooooh!!

Gang Tae-yang's eyes sparkled like a cartoon character.

Gang Tae-yang: Wow! What was that? What did you just do? Is that some kind of qi technique?

Seol-ah: It’s a technique, you idiot.

I picked up my drink and turned around coolly.

Hanna exclaimed from behind, "Wow, Seol-ah's aura is something!" and Serin whispered, "Hey, isn't that Kang Tae-yang? The starting player of the basketball team. He looks cool, but he's famous for being a bit dumb."

Hanna said, "Still, he has quite a bit of popularity with the girls. Well, I'm not interested."

I thought it was over.

But he came running up and blocked my way.

Kang Tae-yang: Hey! Wait a minute!

Seol-ah: What.

Kang Tae-yang: Let's be friends!

...What are you talking about, you crazy kid.

I'm a 36-year-old man. I don't have time to be friends with a little brat like you.

Seol-ah: No.

Kang Tae-yang: Why?! I'm strong! I can carry your bag! I'll help you with lunch duty!

Seol-ah: I absolutely hate dumb guys.

Normally, this would hurt my feelings and I'd walk away.

But this guy...

Kang Tae-yang: Wow! How did you know I was dumb? As expected… geniuses are different!

He looks touched.

Wow, he's really hopelessly cheerful. He's like a retriever.

Yuri burst out laughing next to me.

Yuri: Hey, Baek Seol-ah. He's perfect for you! Raise a servant.

Kang Tae-yang snatched the bag (which contained heavy workbooks) from my hand.

Kang Tae-yang: I will carry it! Sister! No, Master!

Seol-ah: ...Sister?

Kang Tae-yang: That hand skill a moment ago was no joke. Teach me too! I want to use it when playing basketball!

No, why would you use how to hit a vending machine in basketball? Is there a chance of getting a foul?

But he was already holding my bag tightly, his eyes shining like a large dog wagging its tail.

Hanna and Serin giggled.

Kim Serin: Adding a warrior to Seol-ah's party.

Choi Hanna: He's definitely good for bodyguarding.

I washed my face with cold water.

Leader (me): 36-year-old uncle, the all-rounder of the soul.

Advisor (Min-ji): The brain.

Dealer (Se-rin): The mouth dealer (talking skills).

Tank (Han-na): The loyal shield.

Water supplier (Yu-ri): Funding and tsukkomi担当.

Porter (Kang Tae-yang): The foolish large dog (New!)

Seol-ah: ……Hah.

Yeah. Well, it's not bad.

To have a school life, you need at least one reliable servant.

Seol-ah: Hey, Kang Tae-yang.

Kang Tae-yang: Yes! Master!

Seol-ah: Is your bag heavy?

Kang Tae-yang: It feels like feathers!

Seol-ah: Okay. Then run to the tteokbokki place. If you come late, there won't even be soup.

Kang Tae-yang: Yes!!!

Kang Tae-yang answered loudly and ran ahead.

In front of the snack shop.

Yu-ri's steps suddenly stopped at the door.

Seol-ah: Why.

Yu-ri: ……No.

The guy alternated his gaze between the foggy glass door, the orange plastic tables inside, and the menu board pasted on the wall.

It was the gaze of a tourist who had just arrived in a foreign country.

No way.

Seol-ah: You... it's your first time at a snack shop.

Yu-ri: Wh-what do you mean first time! I've... seen places like this... a lot on TV?

On TV.

Well, during school, it's sedans, after school it's private tutoring, and snacks are homemade desserts from the kitchen lady. There wouldn't be a reason to come to a snack shop in front of the school.

But then Yu-ri narrowed her eyes and countered.

Yu-ri: What about you? Have you been here?

Flinched.

That's a sharp counter.

Thinking about it, Baek Seol-ah is even worse. She couldn't even attend school properly, so what about a snack shop in front of the school.

Seol-ah: Me, well... there was a similar place in front of the hospital...

Yu-ri: Where is there a snack shop in front of the hospital?

Seol-ah: ……There was a convenience store.

Yu-ri: Is that the same?!

It's awkward. It's awkward, Kim Cheol-soo.

Fortunately, Se-rin covered her mouth and interrupted.

Kim Se-rin: Awesome. The Baek sisters' food stall debut. Hey, we have to take a picture of this.

Seol-ah: Shut up! Just try taking a picture!

The two voices perfectly overlapped.

Yuri walked in with a bright red face and froze again in front of the menu.

Yuri: ...Is there no rose tteokbokki?

Seol-ah: They don't have that here.

Tae-yang, who had arrived first and claimed the corner table, raised his hand high.

Gang Tae-yang: Master! There's a seat here!

I placed the order as usual.

Seol-ah: Auntie, three servings of tteokbokki, assorted fried food, and one sundae, please. The fish cake soup is just served, right?

"Oh my, the student knows well~"

Yuri's eyes widened.

Yuri: How do you know about this?

Seol-ah: ...YouTube.

Yuri: Another YouTube?!

A moment later, Yuri carefully pierced a piece of tteok with her fork and took a cautious bite.

Then she stopped.

I know that expression. I saw it during Christmas ramen.

Yuri: ...It's delicious.

Seol-ah: You dip the fried food in the soup.

Kim Se-rin: Yuri, the fish cake soup is free for refills!

Hanna handed over a paper cup, and Min-ji laid down a napkin.

Yuri finished two servings of tteokbokki by herself that day.

I don't know where the kid who was worried about calories in the car went.

Yuri paid the bill. As she handed over her card, she muttered very quietly.

Yuri: ...Next time, I'll be the one to suggest going first.

Watching her back, I chuckled.

It was quite lively and quite reassuring.

My second year of high school was coming together like that.

Little did I know that this peace would spectacularly shatter during a gym class in May.