My Childhood Friend’s Stock Will Never Fail Chapter 15

“Oh, right.”

 

Thinking he wanted his hoodie back, Yoohee started to take it off, but Seo Hyunho stopped her.

 

“No, keep it on. The nights are still chilly.”

 

“Ah… th-thank you. Then what did you…?”

 

“Give me your phone.”

 

Her phone?

 

Thinking he simply wanted to borrow it for a moment, Yoohee pulled it out of her pocket and handed it over.

 

Seo Hyunho quickly tapped in a number before returning the phone to her.

 

“If you ever need anything again, let me know.”

 

Displayed on the screen was an eleven-digit phone number.

 

“For you… I’ll make an exception.”

 

What is this supposed to mean…?

 

Even the next day, Yoohee’s thoughts remained a complete mess.

Why did Seo Hyunho suddenly become a male lead candidate?

 

[The Constellation, “Obsessive Romance Fantasy Reader,” carefully studies the list of male lead candidates.]

 

[The Constellation, “Spicy Churu,” says a reverse harem wouldn’t be bad either.]

 

You people are seriously no help.

 

Ignoring the useless Constellations, Yoohee buried her face in her hands.

 

‘Seo Hyunho… a male lead candidate…’

 

It was a situation she’d never once imagined.

 

She had always assumed Seo Hyunho would end up with Gayoung, the original heroine.

 

But if the original story’s main plot had changed…

 

‘Does that mean Gayoung will end up with Seokhoon?’

 

Kang Seokhoon—the tragic second male lead who had secretly loved Gayoung.

 

Back when she’d read the novel, Yoohee had actually hoped Gayoung would choose Seokhoon.

 

Yet now that it seemed like it might really happen…

…it felt strangely unsettling.

 

‘Then what about Seo Hyunho?’

 

Seo Hyunho, whose relationship with Gayoung had always been one of love and hatred…

 

What would become of him?

 

‘Will he forgive her… and let her go?’

 

An ending where he sincerely wished for Gayoung’s happiness before quietly stepping aside.

 

But even if Seo Hyunho had changed, Yoohee couldn’t imagine that happening.

 

If anything, the odds of him being consumed by rage seemed far higher.

 

‘Ugh… my head.’

 

Just thinking about leaving things as they were gave her a headache.

 

It felt like Seo Hyunho was destined to fall into darkness.

 

Tame Seo Hyunho?

 

That had never even been one of her options.

 

‘…There’s no way I could end up with him.’

 

To be honest, if she stayed beside Seo Hyunho—the man destined to become one of South Korea’s strongest Espers—she’d at least never have to worry about dying inside a Gate.

 

On top of that, she knew the original story.

 

If she continued handling him as carefully as she had so far, reaching the ending might even become relatively easy.

 

But…

 

‘I already have Juhun.’

 

From the very beginning, Yoohee had intended to reach the ending with Juhun.

 

No matter what happened, she would save him and see the story through by his side.

 

That resolve had never changed.

 

The only problem was…

 

She absolutely had to prevent Seo Hyunho from falling into darkness.

 

If he ever lost control, she couldn’t even begin to imagine what would happen to South Korea.

 

‘Maybe… half the Korean Peninsula would get wiped off the map.’

 

Even a low-ranked Esper going berserk possessed enough power to erase an entire city.

 

Someone like Seo Hyunho…

 

…would be incomparably more terrifying.

 

‘Isn’t there some way to save Juhun… without letting Seo Hyunho fall into darkness…?’

 

Yoohee sat there frowning deeply, lost in thought.

 

Then, someone suddenly tugged on her arm.

 

“What are you thinking about so hard? Class is over. Let’s go change.”

 

“Hm? Oh… right. Practical training’s next.”

 

Only then did she realize class had already ended.

 

Since the next period was practical training, only a handful of students remained in the classroom.

 

She must have been so absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn’t even noticed Jinhee from the neighboring class walking in.

 

“Sorry. Did I keep you waiting?”

 

“It’s okay. I only just finished too.”

 

Practical sessions were usually held jointly with the neighboring Kestrel Class.

 

Since Jinhee belonged to Kestrel Class, the two of them often changed together before heading to training.

 

As Yoohee hurriedly gathered the belongings scattered across her desk, Jinhee suddenly spoke as if something had just occurred to her.

 

“Oh, right, Yoohee. There was an egg sitting on top of your drawer.”

 

“Ah, that.”

 

The random Pet Egg she’d received as yesterday’s scenario reward.

 

She hadn’t had anywhere else to put it, so she’d left it on top of the drawer.

 

“Is it one of those baked eggs? Can I eat it?”

 

Jinhee’s question made Yoohee freeze in the middle of putting her pencil case into her bag.

 

“No. Consumption strictly prohibited.”

 

“Huh? Why?”

 

“I’m going to hatch it.”

 

“Oh… hatch it… Wait, what did you just say?”

 

Having finished packing, Yoohee looked up.

 

Pets are allowed in the dorms… right?

 

“Jinhee, you like animals too, don’t you?”

 

“Uh… I like chicks.”

 

“How about raising one?”

 

“…Seriously?”

 

Jinhee stared at Yoohee with a bewildered expression.

 

“But… can it really hatch?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Hatching: D-6.

 

Though whether a chick would actually come out…

 

…that was another matter.

 

 ***

 

The academy’s athletic field basked beneath the warm spring sunshine.

 

Students from Black Panther Class and Kestrel Class, both scheduled for Beginner Combat Training, stood under the bright midday sun.

 

At the front of the identically dressed students stood two teachers with commanding presences.

 

On the left was Ms. Youngju, homeroom teacher of Kestrel Class and instructor for Beginner Combat Practicum. Her fiery red hair billowed dramatically in the breeze as she called out to the students.

 

“All right, everyone! Take your positions!”

 

At her command, Yoohee headed toward the opposite side of the field from Jinhee.

 

A line divided the field neatly into two sections.

 

Judging by how perfectly straight it was, meticulous Ms. Nayeon had probably drawn it herself.

 

“Remember, Espers must protect their Guides at all costs! Fight with everything you’ve got to survive!”

 

It sounded like they were about to charge into a life-or-death battle.

 

In reality…

 

Today’s lesson was simply dodgeball, with Espers paired together with Guides.

 

The academy even allowed this sort of game-based class for first-year students.

 

“You’ll pair with me, right?”

 

A boy standing in the same area as Yoohee called out to her.

 

He was Kim Jooyoung from her class—a boy of average height, with sleepy-looking eyes and unusually pale skin.

 

“Yeah. Let’s do our best.”

“Same here.”

 

Being around Jooyoung had always felt effortlessly comfortable, as though they’d naturally fallen into step with one another.

 

Since they were both C-rank, they almost automatically became partners whenever classes required Esper-Guide pairs.

 

Sometimes it felt as though the original story itself had decided they belonged together.

 

“I’ll try harder this time.”

 

Jooyoung stepped protectively in front of Yoohee.

 

Watching his slender back, she found herself thinking,

 

‘If the original story had stayed the same… I probably would’ve ended up paired with Jooyoung.’

 

A C-rank Esper.

 

A C-rank Guide.

 

A perfectly ordinary extra pair.

 

“…Just don’t overdo it.”

 

Maybe they wouldn’t have been lovers willing to die for each other.

But they could’ve become dependable partners, bound together by trust and loyalty.

 

If that had happened…

 

Piiiiiit!

 

The whistle signaling the start of the match echoed across the field.

 

After deciding with rock-paper-scissors, Kestrel Class earned the first throw.

 

One muscular Esper boy strode confidently toward the Guide line before slowly sweeping his gaze across the students of Black Panther Class.

 

Searching for the easiest target.

 

It didn’t take him long to find one.

 

His eyes gleamed.

 

Without hesitation, he hurled the dodgeball with enough force to make a national champion jealous.

 

Straight toward Yoohee and Jooyoung.

 

“Y-Yoohee! Dodge!”

 

It was paired dodgeball.

 

Espers were allowed to be hit.

 

Guides, however, were eliminated the instant a ball struck them.

 

Which meant…

 

The entire point of the game was for the Esper to protect the Guide.

 

So why are you the one dodging?!

 

‘Damn it… I knew this would happen!’

 

The ball barely missed brushing Yoohee’s shoulder.

 

Watching from the sidelines, Ms. Youngju immediately raised the green flag.

 

“Safe!”

 

Fsssshh…

 

The ball embedded itself in a nearby tree, instantly deflating.

 

If a Guide took a direct hit from a ball thrown with an Esper’s strength…

 

They’d probably end up just like that tree—on the verge of splintering apart.

 

C-rank Esper Kim Jooyoung.

 

If Yoohee kept partnering with him…

 

She probably wouldn’t live very long.

 

“Why did you dodge?!”

 

“S-Sorry…! I panicked…!”

 

“I was the one who almost died!”

 

Just then, Ms. Youngju tossed a fresh ball back into Kestrel Class’s side.

 

At this point…

 

Every person for themselves.

 

She couldn’t rely on Jooyoung.

 

“Hyaaaah!”

 

Apparently the musclehead Esper had decided Yoohee was his designated target.

 

Once again, he launched the ball toward Yoohee and Jooyoung.

 

“N-No! Jooyoung! Just dodge!”

 

I’m standing behind you!

 

She hadn’t even had time to disappear into the crowd of other students before the ball came flying.

 

“I-I’ll catch it!”

 

Forced into a corner, Jooyoung planted himself in front of Yoohee.

 

He reached out with both hands, trying desperately to catch the incoming throw.

 

Thud!

 

With a heavy smack, the ball slammed into Jooyoung before bouncing away.

 

It rolled across the ground, crossing the Guide line into Kestrel Class’s side.

 

One of their students casually picked it up…

 

…and lightly tossed it against Yoohee’s shoulder.

 

“Black Panther Class, out!”

 

Ms. Youngju raised the red flag.