My Childhood Friend’s Stock Will Never Fail Chapter 40

Come to think of it, the White Day candy’s incredible effect had already been proven once.

 

Hadn’t a group of followers who had been hostile toward Yoohee become her absolute allies after eating the candy?

 

‘Who would’ve thought? This candy is actually terrifying…’

 

Just then, Seo Hyunho continued in a serious voice.

 

“You said you’d stay by my side, right?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Yoohee was dumbfounded by Seo Hyunho’s sudden question.

 

She had said she would stay by his side, but somehow, the nuance seemed different from what Yoohee had intended.

 

“I-I mean, yes.”

 

“Promise you won’t leave.”

 

There was a desperate look in Seo Hyunho’s eyes.

 

Perhaps because he had already experienced Gayeong leaving him once, he looked almost like a puppy that had lost its owner.

 

“I-I’m not going anywhere.”

 

At that, Seo Hyunho let out a refreshing laugh.

 

It was such a handsome smile that Yoohee couldn’t help staring blankly.

 

“It’s cold. You really managed to find your way all the way here.”

 

Seo Hyunho took off the school uniform jacket he was wearing and draped it over Yoohee.

 

The oversized jacket enveloped Yoohee’s body, and the warmth it had retained seeped into her, wrapping her in comforting heat.

 

“Let’s go back.”

 

Then he took Yoohee’s hand and created a warp on Mapo Bridge.

 

Having already experienced it once before, Yoohee hesitated.

 

Seo Hyunho gently tightened his hold on her hand.

 

“It’s okay.”

 

Holding Seo Hyunho’s hand, Yoohee stepped into the warp.

 

“…Ugh.”

 

As expected, the exact same motion sickness hit her.

 

When Seo Hyunho patted her back, Yoohee thought she was genuinely going to throw up.

 

She repeatedly waved away his hand and grabbed onto the tree beside her instead.

 

But…

 

Was this tree moving?

 

“…Yoohee?”

 

It could talk, too?

 

Yoohee raised her head and found Joohoon staring intently at her.

 

Wait, why was Joohoon here?

 

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

 

When Joohoon tried to pat her back just like Seo Hyunho had, Yoohee recoiled in horror and waved her hands.

 

“Ah, ugh…”

 

[Most of the Constellations turn down the volume and close their eyes.]

 

[The Constellation, ‘Mother of Failure,’ looks at you with great pity.]

 

Wasn’t there some kind of medicine that could stop motion sickness instantly?

 

After spending quite some time hunched over and dry-heaving, Yoohee slowly raised her head.

 

And there she saw Seo Hyunho and Joohoon looking at her with expressions no less concerned than the Mother of Failure’s.

 

Even though the sun was already beginning to set, the handsome faces of the two men still seemed to illuminate the academy.

 

Only then did embarrassment wash over Yoohee.

 

“Ahem, sorry. I just… wasn’t feeling well for a moment.”

 

When Yoohee awkwardly cleared her throat, Seo Hyunho took a step closer.

 

“Teleportation clearly doesn’t suit you. Is it because your body is weak? You should exercise more.”

 

I raised my Strength all the way to seven!

 

Was that still not enough?

 

Seo Hyunho continued in a slightly gentler tone.

 

“I’ll take you back to the dormitory. Let’s go.”

 

At Seo Hyunho’s suggestion, Yoohee instinctively turned toward Joohoon.

 

Sure enough, Joohoon was looking at Seo Hyunho with an uncomfortable expression.

 

“I’ll take her.”

 

As Joohoon countered, Seo Hyunho grabbed Yoohee by the wrist.

 

“What are you to her?”

 

Seo Hyunho, why did you suddenly sound so hostile?

 

But Joohoon didn’t even blink.

 

“I’m Yoohee’s childhood friend. We’ve known each other for ten years, so I don’t think there’s anyone closer to her than me.”

 

“She was with me. So I’m taking her home. Got a problem with that?”

 

Seo Hyunho replied as though ten years of friendship was nothing particularly impressive.

 

The conversation was somewhat childish, but Joohoon was the first to take the hit.

 

Joohoon turned toward Yoohee with a troubled expression.

 

“The reason you were in such a hurry to leave… was because of this senior?”

 

“Ah, well…”

 

Even if she had ten mouths, she wouldn’t have known what to say.

 

She had promised Joohoon she would come back and explain, but how could she possibly tell him that she had been terrified of dying if Seo Hyunho’s affinity dropped even by a single point?

 

“Forget it. You don’t have to answer everything.”

 

Seo Hyunho tugged Yoohee by the wrist.

 

Then he looked down at her.

 

“What you said to me today… you didn’t say it casually, did you?”

 

There was a razor-sharp edge beneath his gentle tone.

 

He was clearly wary of Joohoon.

 

The fear that one wrong move might cause all the affinity she had worked so hard to raise to come crashing down suddenly overwhelmed her.

 

“I’m sorry, Joohoon. See you tomorrow.”

 

So Yoohee had no choice but to give Joohoon an awkward smile.

 

She would see him in class tomorrow, after all.

 

Although he might be a little upset right now, she thought she could make it up to him soon.

 

“…Yoohee.”

 

Joohoon’s complexion turned so pale as he was left alone that it was painful to look at.

 

Seeing him, the Constellations supporting Joohoon also erupted into an uproar.

 

[Some of the Constellations dislike your choice.]

 

[The Constellation, ‘Cider Addict,’ throws eggs.]

 

Yoohee had thought the reaction about throwing eggs was merely text.

 

But suddenly, two or three eggs came flying through the air at tremendous speed.

 

Those were real eggs?

 

Yoohee instinctively ducked, but Seo Hyunho and Joohoon moved even faster.

 

Smack!

 

Before the eggs could even touch Yoohee, they shattered in midair.

 

Beside the powdered remains of the eggs, yellow electricity and white steam fluttered through the air.

 

“Which crazy bastard…”

 

At Seo Hyunho’s voice, spoken through gritted teeth, Yoohee’s eyes went wide as she nervously watched him.

 

Even if it was a Constellation, she had a feeling this was enough to make anyone’s knees knock.

 

“I-I’m sure it was an accident. Um, Joohoon, I’ll be going first.”

 

Yoohee hurriedly tried to smooth things over before Seo Hyunho could notice the existence of the strange Constellation.

 

Fortunately, Seo Hyunho quickly cooled his temper and began walking.

 

What Yoohee didn’t realize was that Joohoon remained standing there alone for a long time.

 

***

 

The next day.

 

From the first period onward, Joohoon was unusually quiet.

 

‘Is he sulking because of what happened yesterday?’

 

Ever since childhood, Joohoon had never been particularly sociable. Instead, once he opened his heart to someone, he tended to become rather attached to them.

 

Back when they were in middle school, he had once skipped an academy class because he followed Doyoung oppa around.

 

He had sulked about it for an entire month.

 

For the record, Doyoung oppa was someone from their neighborhood who loved slacking off.

 

“Um… Joohoon, do you have a pen? I left my pencil case behind.”

 

“Here.”

 

Yoohee tried to start a conversation by speaking to Joohoon.

 

But all he did was hand her a pen from his desk with a dry expression.

 

‘…Right. It’s only the first period.’

 

The atmosphere was colder than she had expected, but it was still only the first period.

 

Maybe things would get better as the day went on.

 

“This udon is good. The academy food is all pretty good, right?”

 

“…Yeah.”

 

“When should we go look for the divine beast? Should we just catch a blue one instead of a black one?”

 

“…Whatever works for you.”

 

Joohoon gave half-hearted replies throughout the rest of the classes.

 

He hadn’t even been this cold when they were in middle school.

 

Ding-dong-dang-dong—

 

Eventually, the bell signaling the end of the final class rang.

 

Yoohee turned to Joohoon, who was packing his bag.

 

“Joohoon, are you mad?”

 

“No.”

 

“You’re lying. You won’t even look me in the eye.”

 

Joohoon seemed startled for a moment, but soon answered in a dry voice.

 

“I’ve always been bad at making eye contact.”

 

He tried to put the last book on his desk into his bag.

 

Feeling frustrated, Yoohee placed her hand over the hand Joohoon had resting on the book.

 

“You never avoided me like this before. Is this because of what happened yesterday?”

 

This time, he didn’t deny it.

 

Joohoon remained still for a moment before lifting his head and looking at Yoohee.

 

“I just need some time to think by myself.”

 

“Think about what?”

 

“…I can’t tell you yet.”

 

Joohoon lowered his gaze, and Yoohee tilted her head.

 

“Just leave me alone for a little while. Please.”

 

Joohoon slowly pulled his hand away.

 

His actions made it clear that he wanted some distance, and Yoohee couldn’t bring herself to grab his hand again.

 

“Let’s go catch a divine beast tomorrow. A blue one is fine, too.”

 

With those final words, Joohoon stood up first.

 

***

 

“It’s strange…”

 

“What is?”

 

That evening, in the dormitory.

 

Yoohee sat on her bed in comfortable clothes, muttering with a serious expression.

 

Jinhee, who had just returned from the convenience store, looked at her with bright, curious eyes.

 

Yoohee stroked Ppyakki’s feathers as the little chick perched on her bed and answered seriously.

 

“I think my childhood friend is seriously sulking.”

 

“Joohoon?”

 

Jinhee put the ice cream in the freezer before scampering over to Yoohee’s bed.

 

“Hey, hey! You’re shaking the bed!”

 

Peep!

 

A sensitive little Ppyakki scolded her, but to Jinhee, it sounded like nothing more than a simple peep.

 

“So what happened?”

 

“Well… I know I was technically in the wrong. But it was one of those situations where I didn’t really have a choice.”

 

After Yoohee gave her a rough explanation of what had happened, Jinhee rested her chin on her hand and hummed thoughtfully.

 

Then her eyes lit up.

 

“Ah! I have a great idea.”

 

“Hm?”

 

“The festival is coming up soon, right? Why don’t you win him over at the festival?”