My Childhood Friend’s Stock Will Never Fail Chapter 24

Yoohee let out an awkward laugh, hoping to ease the tension.

 

Joohoon nodded, looking noticeably more at ease.

 

“Okay. I’ll be waiting.”

 

“Don’t get sick, okay? Take care of yourself.”

 

“Of course.”

 

With a gentle smile, Joohoon quietly waited for Yoohee to leave.

 

Seeing him like that—like a well-behaved puppy patiently waiting for its owner—it was hard for her to stand up and go.

 

She had finally, finally been able to see him again after so long.

 

“Joohoon. Give me your hand.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Yoo-hoon placed her hand against the opening beneath the transparent partition first.

 

Joohoon hesitated for a moment.

 

He probably thinks the Guiding won’t work.

 

He doesn’t want me to be disappointed.

 

“Not for Guiding this time.”

 

“I just want to hold your hand.”

 

At those words, Joohoon slowly extended his hand, looking a little bewildered.

 

His hand, weighed down by heavy handcuffs, cautiously reached toward hers.

 

Yoo-hoon wrapped both hands around his cold one.

 

“Think about me.”

 

Ever since they were children, Joohoon had always followed Yoo-hoon around.

 

Although they were the same age, he’d treated her almost like an older sister, always wanting her praise, always wanting to stay by her side.

 

Like soothing a younger brother…

 

As though they had returned to those childhood days…

 

She held his hand tightly.

 

“Okay?”

 

“Mm… Yoohee…”

 

Joohoon bit his lip and turned his head away.

 

As he lowered his face, even the tips of his ears turned bright red.

 

“I’ll come back again soon.”

 

Until the Guiding succeeded, Yoo-hoon couldn’t stop worrying.

 

She was afraid that if she looked away for even a moment, Joohoon might disappear from her life.

 

Perhaps her sincerity reached him.

 

Joohoon looked back at her, his eyes trembling.

 

“…Okay.”

 

“I’ll endure it… while thinking about you.”

 

Though sadness lingered in both their eyes, they smiled anyway.

 

***

 

“What kept you so long?”

 

Joo-young asked casually.

 

His injuries had somehow multiplied again.

 

There were now fresh bandages stuck to his left cheek and the corner of his mouth.

 

You’re one to talk.

 

What on earth did you do to get even more injured?

 

Still short of breath, Yoo-hoon swallowed the question and barely managed to answer.

 

“I just… pant… had to run back to the dormitory.”

 

“I see. Oh, did you hear?”

 

Yoo-hoon looked at him questioningly.

 

Joo-young blinked a little slowly before continuing.

 

“We’re having a test next period.”

 

“Why are you only telling me now?!”

 

Instantly jolted awake, Yoo-hoon snapped at him.

 

Joo-young, however, continued speaking at the same leisurely pace.

 

“Oh… I thought you already knew.”

 

Wait.

 

What day is it today?

 

Mid-April.

 

Right.

 

It was unmistakably midterm exam season.

 

I’ve been so worried about Joohoon that I completely forgot about the exams…!

 

The Academy’s regular exams were extremely important.

 

After graduation, students were assigned to Centers based on their Academy grades.

 

Although Korea was one of the world’s strongest Awakened nations, there were still enormous differences between cities.

 

If things went badly, someone could end up assigned to a regional Center with hardly any people—and nothing but Creatures.

 

If Joohoon were here, I wouldn’t have to worry about the practical exam…

 

But now…

 

It was obvious she’d be paired with Joo-young instead.

 

Of all the trials to throw at me…

 

“Let’s both do our best on this exam.”

 

Joo-young smiled brightly.

 

Unable to help herself, Yoo-hoon forced a smile in return.

 

Though the bandages dangling from the corner of his mouth kept drawing her attention.

 

Right then, another unavoidable scenario appeared.

 

[At the request of a gentlemanly Constellation, the Fourth Side Scenario has been opened!]

 

—Fourth Side Scenario: ~The Virtue of a Model Student~

 

Difficulty: C

 

Objective: Complete the exam, “Hell Race.”

 

Time Limit: Until the end of midterm exams.

 

Success Reward: +3 to a stat of your choice.

 

Failure Penalty: ???

 

Hosted by: Constellation, “Hopeless Romance Fantasy Fanatic,” who oversees both the reward and the penalty.

 

A familiar Constellation had opened the side scenario.

 

The reward for success wasn’t bad either.

 

If she completed this scenario, she’d finally reach her target stat.

 

But at least give me a scenario that’s actually possible…

 

[The Constellation, “Hopeless Romance Fantasy Fanatic,” winks at you.]

 

Should I just… leave that one alone?

 

***

 

Of course, she had no choice but to.

 

Constellations weren’t beings you could actually see.

 

Every now and then, all she could perceive were their voices and reactions echoing beside her ears.

 

They were probably watching her the entire time.

 

The thought suddenly struck her as deeply unfair.

 

Complete the Hell Race, huh…

 

The Academy’s examinations were divided into two major parts: the written exam and the practical exam.

 

The written test wasn’t much of a concern.

 

The real problem was practical.

 

To determine whether students could properly carry out missions inside a Gate alongside an Esper, they were placed in a simulated Gate environment.

 

Among all the practical exams, the most infamous was “Hell Race.”

 

It was the very same test that, in the original story, even Seo Hyunho and Ga-young had barely managed to finish.

 

Most students either dropped out midway or failed to meet the completion requirements.

 

Can I… really do it?

 

There was no way Yoohee could complete Hell Race relying solely on Joo-young, her longtime partner and a C-Rank Esper.

 

Then… I guess there’s only one option.

 

To recreate the conditions students would face after graduation as accurately as possible, each Hell Race team consisted of six members, with students from different year levels mixed together.

 

In other words…

 

What she needed now was S-Rank Esper Seo Hyunho.

 

***

 

“Sorry. The exam’s important to me too.”

 

In front of the second-year Jaguar Class.

 

Running a hand through his messy black hair, Seo Hyun-ho looked down at Yoohee with sleepy eyes.

 

The person she’d placed all her hopes in…

 

Had just turned her down.

 

“Why… Senior, I’m actually pretty capable. I may only be a C-Rank Guide, but I can definitely pull my own weight. You’ve seen me studying in the library every day after classes, haven’t you?”

 

Looking uncomfortable, Seo Hyunho scratched the back of his neck before replying.

 

“Sorry. I already signed up for the race with some first-years.”

 

Yoohee, who had been passionately gesturing with both hands while making her case, froze on the spot.

 

He already signed up?

 

“Already?”

 

“What do you mean, ‘already’? It starts next week.”

 

Right…

 

I’ve completely lost track of time.

 

“Wh-Who are you doing it with?”

 

She felt a little clingy asking, but she couldn’t help being curious.

 

Seo Hyunho stared off into the distance and mumbled awkwardly.

 

“…Hoon… …hee.”

 

“Huh? What was that?”

 

“…Kang Il-hoon. Hyun Jae-hee.”

 

The moment she heard those names, Yoohee couldn’t argue anymore.

 

They were the top freshmen who always ranked first in quizzes and practical lessons.

 

“I see… You’re teaming up with the real prodigies.”

 

“Someone at your level could probably clear it with freshmen like them for the sake of balancing the teams.”

 

“Yeah… You should’ve asked me a little sooner.”

 

Seo Hyunho looked at her with genuine regret.

 

There was nothing to be done.

 

Just as Yoohee was about to walk away dejectedly, a familiar voice called out.

 

“Junior!”

 

Turning around, she saw Choi Aram—and two others—peeking their heads out from the Jaguar classroom door in a neat row, clearly spying on them.

 

Were they secretly watching us?

 

Come to think of it, all of her so-called followers were in the same class as Seo Hyunho.

 

“Well, I’m heading in.”

 

As Seo Hyunho returned to the classroom, the three followers hurried outside and surrounded Yoohee.

 

“Junior, have you been doing well? Your cheeks look so much thinner than before.”

 

Ah… maybe Chirpy’s been working me too hard.

 

As Yoohee touched her noticeably slimmer cheek, Kim Na-yoon spoke sympathetically.

 

“Were you hoping to do Hell Race with Hyun-ho? That’s too bad. If only you’d come a little earlier.”

 

“Haha… yeah.”

 

“If you couldn’t find an upperclassman to go with, how about joining us?”

 

Choi Aram asked as she brushed her shining blonde hair over one shoulder.

 

Come to think of it…

 

She’s the legendary S-Rank Guide.

 

“…Really? Just so you know, I’m only a C-Rank Guide. And my partner’s C-Rank too.”

 

Yoohee asked skeptically.

 

Choi Aram answered as though none of that mattered.

 

“It’s fine.”

 

“You’ve got me.”

 

“Senior…?”

 

The word slipped out before Yoohee even realized it.

 

They say that when someone is cool enough, they become ‘Senior.’

 

For the first time, she genuinely wanted to admire her little follower group.

 

“Shall we sign up right now?”

 

Sweeping her long blonde hair behind her shoulder, Choi Aram flashed a confident grin.

 

Mesmerized, Yoohee could only nod.

 

“Yes, Senior.”

 

Time flew by.

 

Before she knew it, there was only one day left until the exam known as Hell Race.

 

Current Guiding Ability: 17

 

Invincible Affinity Skill Level: 1

 

Over the past four days, she’d diligently continued studying Guiding in the library.

 

However, now that her Guiding Ability stat was much higher, it no longer increased as quickly as before.

 

As expected…

 

The fastest way to grow stronger now was to clear Hell Race and claim the stat reward.