Chapter 43: Let’s hold hands and be friendly instead of fighting.

It was a simple whim at first.

“Driver, please stop a little away from the front gate today. I want to walk a little.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The cool breeze coming in through the slightly open window.

In contrast, the warm sunlight.

My heart was drawn to the clear sky that was not obscured by suntan, so I stopped the car farther away from the front gate where I usually got off.

“…Sigh.”

Through the exhaled breath, I could smell the fresh scent of the trees planted on the roadside.

Between spring and summer.

There was a midpoint in the season that was difficult to express in words.

‘Next time, a nearby arboretum would be nice….’

…No, Hoobae-nim probably doesn’t like arboretums, so should I stop?

‘Anyway, there aren’t many places as well-made as the garden in the school.’

The garden of Aria Academy, which is said to be dyed white with lilies in the summer, is also known as the ‘Lily Garden’, and is so well-maintained that it is talked about outside.

It is also used as a meeting place for various students to gather and chat during lunch time, so the agenda regarding the garden often comes up at student council meetings.

‘There’s no need to waste precious after-school time to go to something that can be enjoyed within the school.’

Originally, even after school on Mondays, there were many things to do as a princess, not to mention going out.

However, the reason why I took the time to go out after school was because it was the only time I could release the stress that had accumulated without being able to express it in my position as a princess and Student Council President.

The inside of the palace was…not a very pleasant place.

‘…I never thought I would share such a time with someone else.’

The memory of playing with Hoobae at the playground yesterday evening was still vividly replayed in my mind.

I had been educated since I was a child in the position of a princess, so I had playmates, but I had never played with such a clear face.

I always put restrictions on every single action and word, and I wore a thick mask myself.

While savoring the color of the emotions felt by the other person and changing the prepared masks one by one, I thought that she might be the first person I looked at without wearing a mask for the first time.

‘…I wonder if I’ll have time next Monday.’

It would be good to ask naturally during lunch time.

Since we’re in different grades and classes, it would be natural to call her out for a tea time….

It was when I was walking on the sidewalk, imagining the two of us strolling through the garden.

Screech-.

‘…?’

A bus stopped at the bus stop in front.

That was just one of the usual scenes of the city, which had no reason to be mentioned.

However, the person who got off that bus added color to the grayish scene.

Kim Hayeon.

My Hoobae-nim.

A person who doesn’t show any color, but has color only within me.

Is this some kind of fateful encounter?

As soon as I saw her getting off the bus, I was going to call her immediately with an excited heart, forgetting my dignity as a princess.

However, I had to close my mouth when I saw the people getting off next.

Yoon Sejeong, a transfer student who always hangs out with Hoobae-nim, and Baek Ahra, the Disciplinary Committee President.

For some reason, those two I saw last time were getting off the same bus as Hoobae-nim.

‘…Surely, those two are using the same room in the school dormitory.’

I remember the kids around me were excited about the story that ‘the transfer student and the Disciplinary Committee President are using the same room!’.

Since they don’t commute from outside, there was no reason for them to get off a bus that mainly runs on the outskirts at this time.

And, of all things, getting off the same bus as Kim Hayeon?

All sorts of thoughts flashed through my mind for a moment, but one thing seemed certain.

‘Did the two of them…go to Hoobae-nim’s house?’

I don’t know if they slept at Kim Hayeon’s house or not.

It would be confirmed if I asked the dorm supervisor…but that wasn’t the point.

No, of course, whether or not the two of them slept together at Hoobae-nim’s house is one of the important issues!

The problem is!

‘After dating me, she immediately went with her friends…!’

If I could see my current mood with my own eyes, it would probably be a subtle purple. It’s been a long time since I felt displeased.

‘…Should I have not let her go home?’

I had an excuse. Yesterday, Hoobae-nim didn’t look very well since the morning, and I didn’t think she would go to the hospital, so I could have stayed her overnight in the palace where I’m sleeping, under the pretext of giving her good medicine for her body.

And, after that…….

‘…What am I thinking! I was the one who forced her into the car even though it was an appointment to go home with her friends, so I’m not in a position to say anything about her playing with her friends afterwards….’

I try to hold onto reason. But, it wasn’t easy. Since the day she got me the doll last week, reason faded whenever I thought of her.

And, last night, it wasn’t just reason, I was rolling around for about an hour hugging that doll.

“Calm down, calm down….”

I said the word calm down quietly so that it wouldn’t be heard in front of me. Certainly, it was effective to hypnotize myself with words.

It’s done. And, all I had to do next was approach Hoobae’s side as if by chance. We already know each other. It was easy to join the conversation while commuting to school….

Thinking that, I looked ahead. It was a blunder.

‘Arm…in…arm…?’

My thoughts stopped.

Arm in arm. I’ve seen close students in the school holding hands and taking a walk. However, that was conveyed to the viewer as a light skinship to confirm intimacy.

However, the arm-in-arm in front of my eyes was not that.

The ‘deep arm-in-arm’ that I saw very occasionally, between lovers. It was that kind of arm-in-arm, where the distance was very close, and the bodies were almost in close contact, that was unfolding before my eyes.

With Hoobae in the middle, flowers on both sides.

The relationship between the three seemed very close, to the point where such words would be appropriate. Rather, it was beyond that, it was to the point where it would be understandable if they said they were dating.

‘…It’s not understandable!’

How dare you appear with two other girls with your arms linked the day after you date me…?

Anger I’ve never felt before.

Yeah, I was angry now.

“…Yes, that’s all. Sunbae.”

“Hmm….”

Why do I have to sweat profusely to explain what happened yesterday?

While feeling unreasonable, I faithfully explained what happened when Baek Ahra and Yoon Sejeong came to my house, following the signal of instinct that it would be dangerous if I didn’t.

“…That would have been fun too.”

Lee Seorin said to me with sparkling eyes. Phew. At least her momentum has subsided, so I can say that I succeeded in taking a breather.

“Please invite me to Hoobae-nim’s house later too. I’ll forgive you for cheating after dating me with that.”

“Yes?”

What on earth is she forgiving me for? No, more than that, cheating? Was I dating Lee Seorin?

There’s no way. And as for dating, all we did yesterday was share omurice, explore a convenience store together, and play together in the playground…?

‘What is it? Did I lose my memory, and my Casanova personality finished capturing Lee Seorin…?’

I don’t remember eating any fingers.

Besides, it took Yoon Sejeong almost six months in the original to capture Lee Seorin, but it’s only been about a week since I regained consciousness.

If I succeeded in capturing Lee Seorin within that time, wouldn’t I be a rare Casanova who makes Yoon Sejeong of the original look like a nobody….

‘Ah…A nobody who can’t even beat an extra even with the protagonist buff….’

The Yoon Sejeong, who had become a nobody, was still standing next to me, wary of the Student Council President.

It’s a bonus that my clothes are still being held. Honestly, I wish she would let go, but the timing wasn’t good, so I left it alone.

‘It’s hard to touch her after she took off her glasses….’

If Yoon Sejeong wearing glasses was a flower with dirt on it, the her who took off her glasses and put on makeup was a flower that had completely shaken off the dirt and bloomed, with a charm that no photographer could resist.

Perhaps because of that. The destructive impulse I felt when I first saw her became a little stronger. Still, it was suppressible.

It would be much easier to suppress if she didn’t keep coming closer like this….

‘Well, I can’t help that part.’

Until she becomes a princess, as a close friend.

After she becomes a princess, I will definitely shake her off and leave, it was perfect.

“…What dating. You took the kind Hayeon with you under the pretext that you needed help.”

‘Wait a minute.’

“Because I made an appointment. Unlike Sejeong Hoobae.”

‘Why is this happening again.’

“Then, now that the appointment is all kept, there will be no more taking Hayeon?”

“…Does Hayeon Hoobae-nim belong to Sejeong Hoobae?”

“She’s one of my closest friends, so I can intervene to this extent, right?”

Thud.

Static electricity sparked in the empty void.

The fight between the Second Princess and the Third Princess (to be). It’s really a grand fight….

“Um…still, let’s calm down and continue commuting to school….”

Around the time I was about to lose my mind, I heard a small voice from behind. It was Baek Ahra’s voice.

She was trying to somehow calm the two down and make it to school on time, but….

“”Just a moment.””

“…Yes.”

She was pushed back by the momentum of the two and became even more shrunken than before.

“…Hey, can’t you do something!”

Then, I passed the baton.

“The Disciplinary Committee President can’t even solve this, tsk tsk.”

The person who should lead the students is entrusting that role to a delinquent student.

“It’s because of you!”

Baek Ahra said that, and she curled up behind me like a small animal. She looked like a rabbit desperately hiding to survive among carnivores, which I found a little cute….

“…Ouch! Okay! I’ll stop them, so stop…!”

Cancel. The spicy touch of poking my side was Baek Ahra I knew.

“…Sigh.”

Clap!

When I clapped once, the two of them turned to me.

“Sunbae, Sejeong-ah. I understand both of you, but shouldn’t we prioritize going to school first? We’ll be late at this rate.”

Since there’s a senior, I’ll use honorifics for now.

“But….”

“Still….”

The two who hesitated even though I said it.

…In the end, is this the only way?

I can’t help it. I don’t care, but I couldn’t let the other three be late and write a letter of reflection.

Especially if the Student Council President is late and has to write a letter of reflection. How much of a topic of conversation would that be?

I didn’t want that.

“…Here. Hands.”

“”…?””

When I held out my two hands, the two tilted their heads with a puzzled expression, wondering what I was going to do.

However, that expression turns into surprise the moment I hold the hands of the two and clasp them together.

“Don’t let go. Okay?”

If the two of them won’t go, all I have to do is drag them. I didn’t care about talking.

‘It’s a bit coercive, but….’

“”…Okay.””

But contrary to such concerns, the two answered at the same time and were obediently dragged by my hand.

No, they even walked a little ahead of me. Shaking the clasped hands I put together.

‘I should have done this sooner.’

Relieved by the feud that ended much more easily than I thought, I enjoyed the peaceful air that had returned until I reached the school gate.