Chapter 11: A Shared Secret
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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“Whoa, whoa! Where did you get this? Did you buy it with Talents? Can I get one too?”
Wiggle, wiggle. If I had a tail, it would be spinning like a helicopter. I’m a little embarrassed, but I haven’t seen a game in 48 hours! How can I resist?
“W-Wait… Yujin, calm down…”
“Hee, it’s even the gold version of Friemon? Choi Seoa, you… you know a thing or two, huh?”
I managed to hold onto a shred of sanity, so I didn’t snatch the game console. But I was already clinging to Seoa, staring intently at the screen.
Let’s see, the third gym leader? Heh heh… Stuck at the newbies’ wailing wall, I see.
“Yujin, I have a lot to say… Could you please back off for a second?”
“Ah.”
My frenzy only ended when an exasperated Seoa held the game console above her head. Hmm, I think I might have made a fool of myself.
“…Will you sit next to me?”
“Ah, yes…”
Glance.
I snuck a peek at Seoa. Unlike my excitement, she had a very gloomy and sad expression.
I-I suddenly feel bad…
I felt guilty for digging into Seoa’s secret, merely to satisfy my own curiosity. And Seoa felt down because her hidden secret had been revealed.
We were sitting right next to each other, but at this moment, the distance between us felt infinitely far.
I thought it was a light secret, like sneaking snacks. But thinking about it, secretly playing games in this school is a huge offense. I think I understand Seoa’s reaction now…
…From now on, I shouldn’t bother others just to satisfy my curiosity.
“Yujin, you despise me too, don’t you…?”
“…Me?”
“It hasn’t been long since you came to this school, but you must have felt it to some extent. The position of Stella’s apex in this school.”
Stella’s apex… It hasn’t been long since I became a Stella, but I understand the responsibility and pressure that comes with it.
Everywhere I go in this school, people look at the Stellas with envy—even a shorty like me! I can’t imagine how much worse it is at the very top.
“…Moreover, I’m the chairman’s daughter and successor. I’m not in a position to act freely, yet I used that position to deceive and manipulate others.”
Ah, so she was able to bring the game because she’s the chairman’s daughter. Then I’ll have to give up… Tsk.
“Well, technically, that’s true, but…”
“…Yujin, you know it too, don’t you? The pressure children of geniuses face.”
Thump.
“…You know too?”
What? I thought only Catherine knew. Did she tell you because you two are friends? I don’t think Catherine would do that.
“It’s information I gathered on my own. Even though Catherine recommended you, I had to see if you were fit for Stella…”
Ah, so that’s what it was.
No wonder the teachers, whom I haven’t even met, and Seoa, the student council president, didn’t say anything even after I joined Stella.
“A child of a genius… It’s certainly burdensome. There are the eyes of others to consider…”
In a way, although it’s slightly different, that’s the reason I shut myself up at home.
“That’s why I need a place to breathe, a hobby. And for you, Seoa, that was gaming, wasn’t it?”
I realized it now. Seoa… you’re quite similar to me, aren’t you?
“…Right. It was the only thing I could comfortably do, as someone who always had to be ahead of others and couldn’t fall behind. But still, I had to hold back.”
“No, well… Can’t you at least play games?”
“…What?”
“It’s what I said. Gaming isn’t a bad hobby, and the rules here are too strict!”
It’s a bit awkward to complain about the strict rules in front of the chairman’s daughter.
It’s absolutely, absolutely not because my phone was confiscated, but it’s weird to forbid even games in this day and age! They should loosen up a bit so the kids can breathe!
“Even if you say so, it’s a tradition passed down through generations at the academy, and I…”
“I think sophisticated hobbies like flower arranging, tea ceremony, and golf are great, but if you enjoy them wholeheartedly, popular hobbies like games and manga are also good.”
I had been looking straight ahead, feeling sorry for Seoa, but I turned and looked directly at her.
Her large, sparkling eyes always held the world with a cold gaze, but at this moment, they were looking straight at me.
“I saw the Kendo Club and Ballroom Dance Club members earlier. They looked more radiant and joyful than anyone else when they were practicing. That’s why I didn’t cut their budget and spent more than an hour with the Ballroom Dance Club, even though I didn’t have to.”
“Yujin…”
“A while ago, when you were eating chips and playing games, you looked more radiant and joyful than anyone else in my eyes. You looked like the human Choi Seoa, not the one who acts like she’s seen it all.”
Squeeze.
Warm.
“So, it’s okay to do it freely. If you’re still worried, I’ll become the First Star and change the rules for you. Then it’ll be fine, right?”
“Yujin becoming the First Star…”
“I’m an outsider, so I can make such radical suggestions. You just have to collect those Talents or whatever, right?”
Grin.
“Aha… Ahahaha…”
What? Why are you suddenly laughing? Wasn’t this supposed to be a touching scene?
“Yujin, I’ll trust you and wait.”
“Huh?”
Clink.
After laughing for a while, Seoa took off the silver rosary swaying from her chest and placed it around my neck.
“I’ll lend you this rosary until then. As a token of trust.”
“Well, it’s fine, but…”
I feel like I’ve received something very precious and symbolic, but I can’t refuse in this atmosphere. My neck feels psychologically heavy…
“Ha, I feel much better. I was prepared for it to be discovered someday, but I’m glad it was you, Yujin…”
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Well, it’s good that Seoa feels better.
“…We still have some time before we have to go back to the dormitory. Want to play games together? Only if you like games, Yujin…”
“Of course!”
Seoa, retrieving the game console she had set aside, wore a bright smile. If the kids at the academy who are scared of her saw this smile, I wonder if they’d change their minds.
“Actually, I’m good at studying, but not so good at games… That’s why I’m stuck here.”
“Let me see, hehe. You’re stuck on Jasmine, aren’t you?”
“Yes… Do you know this game well, Yujin?”
The screen Seoa showed me displayed her party wiped out by Jasmine’s Steelix, returned to the Pokémon Center.
“Expert level! I beat it as soon as it came out, and I’ve probably cleared it over ten times since then. Where did you get this masterpiece?… I can tell you everything!”
“…This game is over 20 years old. You beat it right after it came out?”
Ah.
“Ah, uh… I… I must have confused it with another series. They keep releasing new ones, so…”
“Really…? Actually, I don’t know much about it. My grandmother secretly gave it to me…”
Phew, I managed to cover it up.
By the way, grandmother? If it’s Seoa’s grandmother, wouldn’t that be the former chairman? She surprisingly allowed her to play games… Ugh, the rules should have been changed back then.
“Anyway! This gym leader, Jasmine, her Steelix is extremely strong! If you don’t know the strategy, especially if you bring Cyndaquil, it’s even harder.”
“…I think Cyndaquil is cute.”
Ah, I also thought Cyndaquil was cute when I first played the game… until I saw the leaked internal information from some hacker.
There’s no need to tell Seoa about this and shatter her illusions, right?
“This gym is tough, but Cyndaquil thrives later on, so it’s okay. Plus, there’s an easy strategy here!”
I manipulated the directional buttons on Seoa’s game console and entered the grass outside the city.
A moment later, a perverted-looking Pokémon appeared.
It’s a Pokémon I normally wouldn’t even glance at, but it’s useful here.
“Go! Poké Ball!”
Click—Click—Click.
As expected, it’s easy to catch.
“W-Why are we catching this Pokémon? I don’t like how it looks…”
“Just wait. There’s a hidden Pokémon in Goldenrod City that you won’t know about unless you talk to everyone meticulously.”
“…Really?”
After that, we traded the Hypno in Goldenrod City for a Machop, leveled up the Machop… After a series of processes, Seoa and I were standing before Jasmine once again.
We defeated her lead Pokémon, Pidgey, with Cyndaquil, and immediately switched to Machop.
A critical hit with Low Kick—one-shot!
“Amazing…”
“Hehe.”
“I challenged this gym leader over ten times and lost every time.”
“…You went in without leveling up?”
“Yes… I thought I could beat her at my current level, but I thought it was my lack of skill that was holding me back.”
Wow, she’s not good at games, but she has the spirit of a gamer.
…I really think I can become good friends with Seoa.
“Hey, Seoa.”
“Yes.”
“Will… will you be my friend?”
We played games together and I even received a rosary, but I haven’t heard a definite answer about being friends yet.
If we become friends, she’ll be friend number two after Airi… I didn’t get a definite answer from Airi either. Ugh, I’ll have to ask her today.
There’s nothing worse than thinking I’m friends with someone, only to realize they don’t feel the same way…
“We’re not friends.”
“…Not friends?”
See, just like now.
My chest stings.
“Yujin, you received the rosary, right? Then you’re my precious little sister.”
“Little sister… like the dorm little sister? Airi said I’m her little sister too.”
“Not a simple relationship like a dorm sister, but a precious existence in St. Theresa Academy that only one person can hold. As your older sister, I must guide and protect you.”
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
That sounds like a very heavy relationship! I just wanted to be friends and play games together…
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“Um, Seoa… I refuse…”
“You already accepted.”
“No, I didn’t know about the rosary and…”
“You already accepted it, and you’re wearing it around your neck, aren’t you?”
Squeeze.
Seoa hugged me tightly around the waist, immobilizing me.
Did she think I was going to run away? She’s smart.
“Or… do you dislike me?”
Looking up, I saw Seoa’s eyes were slightly watery.
Where did the charismatic empress I saw this morning go, leaving behind this cute crybaby?
“Well, it’s okay, I guess.”
What does it matter if we’re friends or sisters? As long as we can play games together, it’s all good.
“I look forward to getting to know you, Seoa.”
“Unni.”
“…Unni.”
Squeeze, squueeze.
“Ouch! Ouch! It hurts! It hurts, you know!”
Everyone in this school needs to have their grip strength tested.
My waist is going to break… Ugh.
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