After the campfire.
Except for the Class Zero seniors, the class president and vice president of each class gathered to check the schedule for tomorrow.
It was difficult to call and make the Class Zero seniors participate since they were not in the right mental state after what happened with Im Yeonhwa at the campfire.
Right when we were about to return to our respective classes, Moon Saeron made a suggestion.
“Guys, how about we go take a walk before going back in? The weather is nice today, so I think we’ll get to see the stars on the cliffside!”
Is she talking about the cliff with the rocking bridge?
Of course, I’ll agree to my playable character’s suggestion, but Moon Saeron didn’t seem to have suggested it just for the sake of having a stroll with everyone.
Moon Saeron winked at everyone except for Joo Soohyuk and Ahn Dain.
‘Wow, my playable character is very considerate!’
Moon Saeron must’ve wanted to give time to the representative unrequited love couple of Eungwang High who haven’t made any progress even though we’ve come to a beautiful travel destination.
Our class president Kim Yuri immediately understood Moon Saeron’s intention and responded to her.
“That’s right! There’s going to be a festival in the second semester, so I bet it’ll be good for us class representatives to build a good relationship with each other. Dain, you’re going with us, right?”
Yoo Sanghoon had a sour face but he tagged along with no complaints.
The place that Moon Saeron guided us to was a famous romantic spot on Joo-Oh Island.
I could see the moon and the stars above the rocking bridge, and the sound of grass bugs and the sea breeze were refreshing.
“The atmosphere’s much different at night.”
Even Joo Soohyuk, who often comes to Joo-Oh Island, was impressed.
On the rocking bridge, we maintained a steady conversation and a friendly atmosphere.
The most impressive programs and facilities in Joo-Oh Island, plans for the rest of the summer vacation, and electives for the second semester were some of the things we talked about.
At some point, when the atmosphere turned ripe, everyone found the perfect timing and excuse, leaving Joo Soohyuk and Ahn Dain with each other.
“Hahaha! It feels nice to lay a flower path for two of Eungwang High’s pride. Thanks for your cooperation guys!”
Moon Saeron looked proud of her work.
I felt proud of it too.
Kim Yuri, who was the last one to leave, said something
“…I think both Dain and Soohyuk like books a lot.”
I guess the two are talking about their favorite books now.
‘It’s completely different from the game.’
In the game, the summer vacation time was the worst.
The youth retreat incident, which happened at the beginning of the summer vacation, devastated the minds of teachers and students.
The summer vacation became dedicated to funerals to honor the dead students, teachers, and civilians.
On top of that, there were students who survived but couldn’t be discharged from the hospital due to the slow regeneration procedure and elimination of energy poison in their bodies.
I never thought that the kids and the teachers would be able to gather and play together like this.
‘I think it rained all the time during the summer vacation in the game too.’
The atmosphere was always gloomy because the clouds didn’t clear even in cheoso, and everyone was always concerned because of the nonstop rain.
Is this simply a difference in weather conditions from the game, or are there superior beings involved?
Throughout our stay in Joo-Oh Island, the sky was all clear, and it’s expected to be that way tomorrow too.
“Oh, Euishin and Yuri are back!”
“It’s a bit late. You guys worked hard.”
Kim Yuri and I returned to the floor where the other Class Zero kids were staying.
There’s still no trace of Yong Jegun, but Ham Geunhyung had already returned.
“I’m back! What were you kids up to?”
“Oh, we were talking about the Yaja Time that Woo Kihwan sunbaenim suggested today. Since Professor Ham Geunhyung is here, we’d like to know what older people think about being talked to in informal speech.”
Well, technically, they’re already doing it.
Not to Ham Geunhyung, but to Hwang Jiho who’s 5,000 years older than everyone.
That damned old man was just listening to everyone with no shame.
“It doesn’t really matter. I had Yaja Time with Class Zero students before.”
“Wow, with Ham Geunhyung sunbaenim and the Class Zero sunbaenims?”
“Yep. I was a little shaken when I first became a teacher, but I’m used to it now. I’ll cut you some slack if you guys do that sometimes.”
It’s been 15 years since Ham Geunhyung started working for Eungwang High.
And Professor Ham Geunhyung was once in charge of the Third Year Class Zero led by class president Sung Gukeon.
‘…They did yaja time back then?’
To think that the Class Zero sunbaes that he did Yaja Time with are now members of the National Assembly…
As expected, my playable character has some strong guts.
“Never mind the yaja time, there are two kids in our class who only speaks formally.”
Maeng Hyodon made a very good point.
Right when he said the word “formally,” his gaze went to Saeum of April and Mok Wooram.
‘Considering the events in the game now should be the time when Saeum starts to drop the honorifics and speak informally.’
By the time Saeum of April joined when Joo Soohyuk was in third grade, he only used formal speech.
Since Saeum of April grew up around adults, and experienced being a slave for two years, he wasn’t used to speaking informally.
Still, it took him about half a year to get used to informal speech since his encounter in the Butterfly’s garden.
‘Shouldn’t Saeum be talking casually now?’
It’s already August but he’s showing no sign of wanting to drop the formal speech.
“Can’t I just continue using formal speech? It’s more comfortable, and I… Well… There are people in our class that I deeply respect…”
Saeum shot me a look.
Don’t tell me he’s about to say ‘that word’.
Before he could mistakenly spit out ‘that word’, I interjected.
“Do what’s most comfortable for you.”
“Alright! Thank you! I… Just as Eushin said, I’ll go with what’s most comfortable for me!”
Looks like Saeum wants to keep using formal speech.
This time, the attention switched to Mok Wooram.
“You lived abroad, right Wooram? Is it because you’re not very familiar with Korean so you’re using formal speech?”
“…Isn’t Korean formal speech more difficult?”
When Kwon Lena and Hani asked some questions, Mok Wooram, who was sitting far away, answered sincerely.
“Even if I’m used to speaking Korean, I will continue to use honorifics. I can’t speak informally to my source of inspiration and to her friends.”
“I don’t think the formal speech part is the problem with this guy.”
“Yes, the problem is me.”
Song Daesok gave a dejected comment, but Mok Wooram didn’t care at all.
When it was almost midnight, Professor Ham Geunhyung urged us to go to sleep since we have plans set for tomorrow.
The kids were a bit disappointed, but when he said that we could all stay up all night tomorrow, everyone willingly went to bed.
Perhaps because of all the playing, everyone seem to have immediately fallen asleep as soon as they arrived in their respective rooms.
* * *
At 2 A.M.
Kwon Lena was tossing and turning in her bed.
‘Will I be able to do well tomorrow…?’
Kwon Lena received some suggestions from a special guest who will visit Joo-Oh Island tomorrow, and she happily complied.
She felt happy when she heard the suggestion, but her heart is full of worry now that the event is just around the corner.
‘The facilities in Joo-Oh Island are open 24 hours right?’
Kwon Lena got out of bed and walked toward the DIY souvenir workshop.
She couldn’t sleep at all and her mind was filled with thoughts.
‘I wanted to make a violin shape… but it was too difficult to get the details right so I just made some musical notes instead.’
The ornament that she made in the shape of an eighth note was cute, but she really wanted to make the violin shape.
‘If I can make a pretty one in the shape of a violin, I can give it as a gift to Kwon Jein sunbaenim!”
Little did Lena know that even if the ore that she’d made wasn’t pretty, Kwon Jein would still happily accept it.
The enthusiastic Lena carved the ore, but it wasn’t easy after all.
When she failed about twice…
Crash!
The door of the workshop opened violently and someone appeared.
It was Mok Wooram.
Mok Wooram was sweating and breathing hard.
He must’ve run all the way to the workshop.
“Wooram?”
“…I sensed that you left, but you didn’t come back after an hour so…”
Mok Wooram was out of breath.
‘I guess Wooram couldn’t sleep either. Or could he be a light sleeper?’
Kwon Lena looked sorry.
She thought that if someone else in the class left and didn’t return after more than an hour, she would be worried too.
“Did you look for me because you were worried? Thanks.”
“It’s nothing. I apologize for not knocking first.
“No, it’s okay. This is a public space after all.”
Mok Wooram kept his distance from Kwon Lena.
He asked her something.
“What are you making?”
“I’m making one in the shape of a violin. …Though it’s not really going well.”
Kwon Lena lifted the otherworld ore for Mok Wooram to see.
“Do you mind if I help you?”
Mok Wooram’s suggestion reminded Kwon Lena of what happened in the workshop today.
Mok Wooram said, “I can’t express my inspiration with this ore!”
After making such a remark, in the end, he created a musical note just like what Kwon Lena did.
Unable to refuse to be cooperative with his new-found classmates, Mok Wooram started carving the ore.
Now, Kwon Lena was watching Mok Wooram’s elaborate hand movements which made her eyes widen in surprise.
‘I think he’s doing better than Geurin and Jiho…!’
Seeing the violin miniature completed in an instant, Kwon Lena spoke in a bright voice.
“Hey! I think I might break it because I’m not that good at controlling my energy wave… Can I ask you another favor? In return, I’ll make something for you later!”
Kwon Lena’s words made Mok Wooram’s mouth drop open.
Hearing Kwon Lena say that she might make a mistake, Mok Wooram spoke in an emotional voice.
“There’s no need to return the favor. I’ll make as many as you’d like.”
* * *
The next day, we spent time at the game center.
From rhythm games that tally points with whole-body sensors to simply stuff toy claw machines, the kids played every game to their liking.
The most popular one among the kids though was the air hockey game.
The kids who possess player-level strength and energy wave moved their bodies excitedly in the huge game arena.
I was able to play the air hockey tag match, and I somehow ended up in the same team as Hwang Jiho.
This immature old man didn’t go easy on the kids at all.
“Hahaha! That was fun! Good job everyone.”
“The heck is wrong with that guy.”
Yoo Sanghoon, who played against us in the final round and lost, grumbled.
Although Sanghoon is good at games, it’s impossible to win against this crazy old man who used his skills even in the air hockey match.
After playing around, we had lunch and took a stroll around the island with my classmates.
As we walked around, we saw some facilities that weren’t in operation and some that seem to only be open during winter.
After dinner, everyone, including the Third Year Class Zero students, gathered.
“You said there’s a special performance tonight, right?”
“Those kinds of things are usually done during or before a campfire though.”
“Ah, our spot is over there. Wow, our seats are as good as the teachers’!”
The special guest made a request to reserve the best seats for our class.
Thanks to the small number of people in our class, we were able to sit in the best spot.
“…I don’t see Lena-nim.”
Meanwhile, Mok Wooram hesitated to sit as he mumbled with an uneasy face.
I know exactly where Kwon Lena was at the moment.
“Sit down. She’ll come soon.”
Perhaps because Wooram and I met first in China, Wooram hesitated for a while but ended up sitting beside me.
Piii–!
When everyone was seated, the blue velvet curtain covering the stage went up to the sky at the same time as the opening call.
Behind the curtains was the Blue Violinist, Kwon Jein.
And it wasn’t just Kwon Jein who stood on the stage.
Across Kwon Jein was a woman wearing a platinum dress and holding a violin.
It was Kwon Lena.
