My Childhood Friend’s Stock Will Never Fail – Chapter 23

Author: Asternkm

Why is it talking down to me when it was literally just born?

Yoohee shot it an annoyed look, but the chick merely held its head high with unshakable pride.

“Otherwise, I’ll tear your limbs apart, grind your bones into dust, and even curse what’s left of your soul in the name of the Chick God.”

Its tiny, squeaky voice took some of the sting out of the threat.

But the words themselves were absolutely horrifying.

…Why is this chick such a little gangster?

“…Jin-hee. Did you hear that just now?”

“Hear what?”

“It literally just threatened me.”

“…Should we go to the hospital tomorrow?”

Jin-hee looked at Yoohee with genuine concern.

Apparently, all she’d heard was a series of ordinary cheep cheep noises.

“No, I’m fine. Let’s feed the chick first.”

“But… what do baby chicks even eat? Millet or something?”

“Hmm.”

This wasn’t an ordinary chick.

It was a pet sponsored by a Constellation, after all. Yoohee worried it might require some special kind of food.

As if on cue, a status window appeared before her.

This one, however, was noticeably more extravagant than usual.

[Congratulations! Twenty-Ninth Possessor, your Random Pet Egg (C–SSS Rank) has hatched into “Pink Chirpy” (S Rank)!]

A bold notification appeared alongside a flashing red megaphone icon, like an announcement in a video game.

Wait… don’t tell me it’s broadcasting this across every channel too?

Still, the important part was that this Pink Chirpy was S Rank.

Well, well…

Yoohee looked down at the chick with newfound appreciation.

The status window, now back to normal, continued excitedly.

[Oh… but you’ve hatched it six whole days ahead of schedule!]

That was true.

[Your pet is currently in an extremely sensitive state due to its early hatching. Please care for it with the utmost devotion for the next six days. Failure to do so will result in the Curse of the Chick God!]

The Chick God… actually exists?

Still bewildered, Yoohee stared at the status window before quietly getting up and walking toward the kitchen.

If she openly asked the status window any more questions, Jin-hee might genuinely drag her to the hospital tomorrow.

In a low voice, she asked,

“What does a pet eat?”

The status window answered immediately.

[Yes, Twenty-Ninth Possessor. “Pink Chirpy” belongs to the avian family. Therefore, it can consume any standard bird feed. Please note that we do not sell any special pet food.]

Oh.

So it really does eat millet and things like that.

There was probably feed made specifically for chicks, but for now she’d simply soak some millet in water as a temporary solution.

While rummaging through the kitchen for millet, an ominous little voice drifted from behind her.

“Human. Do you take my words for a joke?”

I’m getting your food ready right now!

Forcing a smile, Yoohee turned around.

“Jin-hee, could you dry the chick off for a bit? I’ll soak the millet.”

“Ah, okay.”

She deliberately spoke loud enough for Chirpy to hear before quickly preparing its meal.

“How troubling… How utterly troubling. How did I end up serving such a pitiful creature?”

Chirpy’s constant world-weary sighs made cold sweat trickle down Yoohee’s back.

Fortunately, once she finally presented the food, it stopped complaining and obediently pecked away with its tiny yellow beak.

“It eats so well. That’s amazing.”

Watching the feed disappear in no time, Jin-hee couldn’t help but marvel.

Having narrowly escaped the Curse of the Chick God, Yoohee finally let out a sigh of relief.

Ding!

Her phone chimed.

“Ah… where did I put my phone?”

Getting to her feet, Yoohee picked it up.

031-7×9-xxxx.

A familiar area code.

It was an Academy number.

—This is a notice from Building F. Regarding the review you requested…

Just reading the preview made her breath catch.

Joohoon’s review results were finally in.

Clutching her phone tightly, Yoohee carefully opened the message.

Her eyes, which had been barely open, instantly widened.

—We are pleased to inform you that following Kim Joohoon’s reevaluation, his status has been adjusted from “Danger” to “Warning.” Visitation is now permitted.

***

The following morning.

In front of Building F.

I can’t believe the day would actually come when I’d be allowed back in here.

[The Constellation, “Mother of Failure,” smiles, saying you won’t have to sneak in anymore.]

[The Constellation, “Hopeless Romance Fantasy Fanatic,” tells you to hold your head high.]

[The Constellation, “SSS-Rank Free-to-Play Veteran,” remarks that things turned out all right, more or less.]

Even the Constellations who had been with the channel since the beginning seemed touched by the moment, each offering Yoohee their own understated words of encouragement.

It was true that Joohoon had shown signs of going berserk—severe enough to justify a Danger rating.

However, after taking into account his subsequent calm behavior and various other factors, the Academy ultimately concluded that it had been only a temporary episode.

In an exceptionally rare decision, they downgraded Joohoon’s classification.

Phew…

Taking the Constellations’ advice to heart, Yoohee straightened her shoulders and headed into Building F, where the air carried a distinct chill.

“I’m here to visit Kim Joohoon from the Black Panther Class.”

By now, even speaking to the prison guards felt almost routine.

She naturally made her way to the visitation room and took a seat in front of the transparent partition.

I’m really almost there now.

Thanks to the White Day Burning Event, her Guiding Ability had increased significantly.

She was now only three points away from the target she’d been aiming for.

With Joohoon’s danger rating lowered as well, she might be able to save him within ten days—perhaps even sooner.

Gulp.

Just as Yoohee swallowed, equal parts nervous and hopeful, the visitation room door opened and Joohoon walked inside.

“Your visitation time is ten minutes.”

The guard who had escorted him in announced the usual time limit before leaving.

Once the two of them were alone, Joohoon, still wearing handcuffs, slowly lifted his head to look at Yoohee.

His cheeks seemed a little more hollow than before, but his eyes were no longer as haggard as they had been on the top floor.

“Joohoon, how are you feeling? Are you okay?”

Joohoon silently looked at her before giving a small nod.

“I’m sorry. I made you worry because of me.”

“As long as you’re okay, nothing else matters.”

At Yoohee’s answer, Joohoon looked away, visibly flustered.

The ear adorned with its black piercing gradually turned bright red.

Then, shyly—

“…Thank you.”

Watching him, Yoohee quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness.

Joohoon’s still himself.

She didn’t know what had happened, but whatever had caused those signs of losing control that day seemed to have been some temporary physical reaction.

Still… what really happened that day?

“By the way…”

Joohoon spoke cautiously.

“That roommate of yours… I think you said they had plans with someone they didn’t want to get involved with?”

He had been thinking about it too.

But why was he so curious about that?

She had clearly said it was her roommate’s story, not hers.

“Hmm… you’re really curious?”

Honestly, there was nothing good that would come from telling him the truth, so Yoohee deliberately tried to steer the conversation elsewhere.

But Joohoon’s reply came without hesitation.

“Yeah.”

“Very.”

He looked straight into Yoohee’s eyes.

Normally, he’d get too embarrassed to maintain eye contact for more than three seconds.

Now, however, he’d been staring at her for well over five.

Something feels… off.

Just as unease began creeping over Yoohee—

Beep, beep, beep!

An alarm suddenly rang through the visitation room.

It was coming from the phone in Yoohee’s pocket.

“Ah, sorry. Just a second.”

She hurriedly pulled out her phone and silenced the alarm.

Darn it… it’s already time.

“What was the alarm for?”

“Well…”

Yoohee moistened her dry lips.

「Listen well, human. Feed me every four hours. The food must be at the proper temperature, of the proper flavor, and in the proper amount. Don’t forget to keep my water fresh at all times. Otherwise, the Chick God’s—」

That blasted Chick God’s curse.

That tiny little chick had the foulest mouth imaginable.

If Yoohee wanted to live out her natural lifespan, she had no choice but to feed Chirpy on time.

She had to sprint all the way back to the dormitory—a full ten minutes away—during every break.

And for the record…

A round trip took twenty minutes.

“Um… I’m sorry, Joohoon. I think I have to leave early today.”

“Why? Did something happen?”

Yoohee paused, wondering how best to explain it.

It wasn’t exactly something she needed to hide.

Well…

Aside from the part where the chick constantly threatened her life.