Chapter 9: Sweet Potatoes for Cider

“…She probably just helped him as the class president because he was new today.”

I cut him off immediately to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. It’s necessary for me and for Kim Noeul.

He blinked his eyes as if he didn’t expect my firm attitude.

“Really? We all thought you guys looked good together.”

“But I don’t think Noeul is interested in dating. She’s turned down so many confessions.”

The male student next to him chimed in. I also agree with that opinion.

In fact, Kim Noeul in the webtoon had no love line. There were many women who were attracted to him in the original, but they were frustrated by Kim Noeul’s attitude of drawing a line.

‘She didn’t seem to have any interest in me today either.’

I was surprised by Kim Noeul’s appearance at the first meeting, but Kim Noeul didn’t seem to get that impression from me.

She just responded with kindness that kept the line like she treated other kids.

Perhaps he liked that I drew the line clearly, the male student suddenly changed the topic to Kim Noeul on the way to the playground.

She’s too kind, she’s so exemplary that she’s cute, it’s lucky to receive a school introduction from Kim Noeul….

‘He must like Kim Noeul.’

Perhaps my thoughts were evident on my face, the male student next to me chuckled.

“It’s an open secret that Yoonsoo likes Kim Noeul.”

“What are you talking about. I’m just praising her because she’s a nice person.”

“Sure.”

The name of the man who first spoke to me must be Yoonsoo. I thought I should respond appropriately, so I gave a good answer.

“Yeah, I hope it works out.”

“I told you it’s not like that!”

After arriving at the playground, they changed the subject to the drama they watched yesterday. Since it was out of my interest, I quietly slipped out alone.

‘Ugh, I’m not used to it.’

The men in this world were somewhat ambiguous. They felt like a moderate mix of men and women of my previous life, so I feel a little strange when I’m with them.

‘I’ve seen men talk about dramas occasionally in my previous life, but they didn’t look in the hand mirror so openly.’

Even after coming out to the playground, most of the male students were looking in the mirror to arrange their hair fluttering in the wind.

If I were a PE teacher, it was a scene I could only deplore. The only ones who don’t look in the mirror are a few men and women, including me.

“Guys! We’re going to have a dodgeball game and then free time!”

A girl who went to prepare for the PE class and Kim Noeul shouted as they dragged the net.

Both men and women cheered. Seeing the boys smiling at the dodgeball, it didn’t seem like they hated exercise.

A few female students helped Kim Noeul finish setting up the dodgeball game and decided to divide the teams.

“Let’s decide on two captains first.”

“I’ll do it.”

Ahn Hyojin, who had cursed in the classroom earlier, came forward. I didn’t see her during speech and composition class, but she came out like a ghost during PE class.

“Then the other one…”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Kim Noeul. Kim Noeul scratched her cheek and came forward.

Ahn Hyojin and Kim Noeul played rock-paper-scissors, and the winner was the first to choose a team member.

‘Just finish quickly. So I can investigate Hakdo during free time.’

First, the girls were mainly selected, and then the boys began to be selected.

As a transfer student, I had no connections and no revealed skills, so I was left until the end. The male student who remained with me was Yoonsoo.

“Rock-paper-scissors.”

Kim Noeul won with scissors. Kim Noeul’s gaze turned to the two of us. Then it soon fixes on me.

‘Uh, wait.’

Something felt ominous, and just as I was about to open my mouth, Kim Noeul smiled and pointed at me with her finger.

“Then I’ll take Maru.”

“Okay, then let’s start right away!”

Ahn Hyojin blew the whistle hanging around her neck and entered the dodgeball court line. I followed Kim Noeul, but I felt unnecessarily self-conscious.

I glanced at Yoonsoo, and as expected, he was glaring at us with a dissatisfied look.

‘Ah, this is a build-up.’

A frustrating build-up process for a refreshing development. I can roughly picture it. Because the webtoon Hakdoyeon usually flowed like that.

I stared blankly at the back of Kim Noeul, her long straight hair fluttering in the wind, entering the dodgeball line.

Thanks to that, my situation became difficult. There’s no way Yoonsoo will take out his anger on Kim Noeul, so that anger will naturally turn to me.

Dodgeball was generally played with girls passing the ball to each other. The boys were often dodging or hiding.

One by one, people were eliminated, and before I knew it, only me, Kim Noeul, and a girl whose name I didn’t know remained on our team.

That girl accidentally dropped the ball and was out. At the same time, an outed opposing team girl threw the ball at me.

By the time I realized it, the ball had already filled my vision.

‘I can’t avoid this…!’

At that moment when I twisted my body as much as possible to minimize the impact, Kim Noeul’s hand intervened between me and the ball.

Bang!

A cheerful hitting sound was heard, and the ball that hit Kim Noeul’s hand soared into the sky. Kim Noeul hit it upwards.

And she calmly ran to the position where the ball would fall and caught the ball again.

“Kim Noeul! Super save!”

“Awesome!”

I was stunned by Kim Noeul’s brilliant play. I knew she was athletic, but I was surprised to witness it with my own two eyes.

‘Well, her potential is on par with that Alice.’

“Are you okay?”

Kim Noeul asked, looking closely at my face.

“Yeah, thank you.”

I felt somewhat burdened and took a step back. People around me were already making a fuss, saying to stop flirting.

And as that atmosphere intensified, Yoonsoo’s expression gradually hardened.

After the PE class, Kim Noeul and a female student started cleaning up. I looked at the two of them and went to help.

‘Still, she saved me from being hit by the ball, so I should help.’

When I lifted the machine that draws the line, the female student was embarrassed and stopped me.

“Ah, no, we’ll do it.”

“It’ll be faster if the three of us do it.”

“It’s our job anyway. And I feel bad making you carry heavy things.”

She refused so much that I felt more embarrassed. In the end, I put the machine down again.

“…You’re surprisingly strong.”

“What?”

When I reacted to the female student’s murmuring, she was startled and blushed.

“Sorry! Is that a bit strange…?”

The female student quickly moved the machine to the warehouse where Kim Noeul was. Kim Noeul was curious when the female student came in with a red face.

“What, why are you blushing?”

“Wouldn’t you be embarrassed if Kim Maru tried to help you?”

The female student had a happy expression as if she was replaying the previous situation in her head. Kim Noeul sighed with a cold expression.

“Kim Noeul, you lucky b*tch… You already have a different vibe with the transfer student.”

“What are you talking about. I’m just helping him.”

“Are you really not interested? Seriously? Don’t you have a womb?”

“……”

Kim Noeul finished cleaning up and dusted off her hands. She recalled Kim Maru during the dodgeball game.

‘He really looks like him.’

At that time when I looked closely at his face to see if he was hurt. While doing so, she murmurs.

“…He’s handsome.”

“Right? You’re greedy too, right?”

“Enough, it’s cold, so let’s go in quickly. It’s also a bit awkward to talk about this when the person isn’t here.”

“I’m going to buy hot chocolate and go up.”

“Mine too.”

When Kim Noeul and the female student left the PE warehouse, two men and women entered the empty PE warehouse after a while.

It was Ahn Hyojin and Heo Yoonsoo.

“Wh, why did you call me?”

Ahn Hyojin’s heart pounded at Heo Yoonsoo’s sudden call. As a high school girl in her prime, she couldn’t help but feel lust when a handsome man like Heo Yoonsoo called her to the PE warehouse.

However, Heo Yoonsoo was just tapping his phone with a dry expression. Only after a long silence did Heo Yoonsoo open his mouth.

“That Kim Maru guy, he seemed a bit strange from the first day.”

“What? Who’s Kim Maru?”

“…The kid who transferred today.”

“Ah, that handsome…”

When Heo Yoonsoo’s expression became grim, Ahn Hyojin shut her mouth.

“I’m going to teach him a lesson so he can adjust to the class.”

“Wow, men’s power struggles are scary.”

“I’m asking you to watch my back. You’re contacting Je Galyeonhwa soon, right?”

Ahn Hyojin scratched her head when she heard Je Galyeonhwa’s name.

Ahn Hyojin herself thought she was pretty good, but she couldn’t help but be a fox in front of a tiger in front of Je Galyeonhwa.

One of the five schools that boast a strong force among the high schools of Hakdo, Hankook High School.

She is the student council president of Hankook High School and is also popular as a school uniform model, so she is a so-called popular girl.

‘That’s why she caught the eye of Shinseong High School’s president. What was her name, Alice?’

“If the girls try to interfere when the boys are playing, I’m asking you to stop the girls.”

In short, Heo Yoonsoo will lead the boys to pressure Kim Maru, so he is asking her to take care of the ‘violent friction’ that occurs in the process.

“Hmm…”

When Ahn Hyojin hesitated, Heo Yoonsoo narrowed his eyes.

“Why, do you need money?”

“No, not money…”

After hesitating for a moment, she carefully opened her mouth.

“Are you free this weekend?”

“…Do as you please. Anyway, women.”

Heo Yoonsoo grumbled and left the PE warehouse.