Chapter 25: Mirror Games and Shuttle Wars

Enjoying a rare moment of calm, I soon faced a major ordeal.

“Alright, everyone, change into your gym clothes and head to the auditorium~”

“Yes, ma’am.”

P.E. class, a rare weekly event.

The first session was just explanations, so we wore uniforms, but today was different.

I wasn’t rebellious, and in my past life, I knew gym clothes existed.

So why was this a problem?

“What’re you doing staying behind? Let’s go, Haru~”

“…Sure.”

Choi Sua peeked through the back door, clearly planning to go with me, the only one left.

“Ugh, I hate P.E. I’m so bad at sports,” she said.

“…”

“Think the gym clothes will fit okay?”

She chattered on, unfazed by my silence, probably chalking it up to my personality.

Despite only hanging out once after I won her that plushie, she seemed much closer to me now.

Are girls always like this?

‘Whatever. That’s not the issue…’

Soon, the boys and girls split off to different changing rooms.

Naturally, I headed to the girls’ side.

Entering, the girls began undressing in sync, as if on cue.

I couldn’t help but gasp.

‘Gulp.’

The rustle of fabric and the flood of bare skin overwhelmed me.

I didn’t know where to look.

‘Calm down. They’re minors.’

No, that’s exactly why it’s a problem.

Trying to avoid their gazes, Hwaseo blinked at me.

“What’s wrong? Something up?”

She was mid-way through taking off her shirt.

“…No, nothing.”

“Then hurry and change. We’re short on time.”

As class rep, she was right.

But the problem wasn’t just what I saw—it was that I had to change too.

As eyes turned to me, I grew more flustered.

“Haru, are you… shy?” Sua teased with a grin.

“Thought you were all cool, but you’ve got a cute side.”

“So that’s it! Unexpected~”

“…”

Being teased by girls felt mortifying.

At my age?

They’d all changed, so there were plenty of places to look.

This was a hurdle I’d face again, so stalling was pointless.

Undoing my buttons—

“…”

“…Wow.”

Gasps mixed with awe.

Their stunned stares fixed on me.

‘What? Why?’

Too busy changing, I couldn’t guess why.

“Starting today, we’ll learn badminton for a while. It’s simple and fun. You’ll practice, compete, and it’ll count toward your grade, so give it your all,” said the young male P.E. teacher.

Han Siha, with his handsome looks and knack for teen culture, instantly won the girls over.

“He’s so hot~”

“Seems nice too, right?”

‘Is this what an insider is?’

Could someone gain favor so fast?

Jealousy, that evil spirit, coiled in me.

“Haru, isn’t the P.E. teacher cool?” Sua asked.

“Meh.”

“…Really? High standards, huh…”

Sua’s odd comment aside, Hwaseo was as unimpressed as me.

And one other.

Among the crowd but slightly apart, as if avoided—or feared—was Lee Gahee.

The so-called “delinquent girl.”

They steered clear to avoid her wrath.

With dyed blonde hair, ear piercings, and a noticeably short skirt, she stood out.

How she wore that in this weather was a mystery.

‘Common in my past life, though.’

Plenty of girls like her back then.

Paradise High, being elite, had fewer.

“He’s kinda manly, I guess,” a boy said.

“Not that handsome.”

“Bet he’s worse at soccer than me.”

Backing the boys’ valid critiques in my head, Siha finished explaining and brought a tin of paper slips.

“Today, pair up for practice. Same numbers match.”

“Lottery!”

Students drew numbers, cheering or sulking.

Friends paired up were already betting on wins.

‘Friends… why’s Dodam the only one I think of?’

We often worked out together, so he was the most comfortable.

Honestly, being alone with a girl still felt awkward.

Hoping for him, I drew—

7

Lucky number.

‘Did I get him?!’

But maybe my ghostly superstition backfired.

An unthinkable partner appeared.

“Oh.”

A voice nearby made me turn.

Lee Gahee stood there, holding a white slip, staring at me.

“Oh.”

Her slip had the same number.

With limited nets, not everyone could practice at once.

Silence hung between us as we waited.

‘So awkward.’

Girls were already tough, but a delinquent girl? Too high a hurdle.

Even in my past life, I was hopeless with her type.

Gahee, unfazed, just looked in her mirror.

Unlike gentle Hwaseo, her bold, fierce vibe was striking, but undeniably pretty.

Staring, she spoke without glancing over.

“What’re you looking at?”

“…?!”

“No mirror? Want mine?”

She turned, waving it.

I tried to smile and decline, but as Seol Haru, my face stayed stiff.

What if she calls out my blank expression?

Instead, she offered the mirror with a bored look.

“Here.”

“…No, I’m good.”

“Why? Gotta fix your makeup. Yours is so light, barely noticeable.”

As if I’d know how to do makeup.

She leaned in, scanning my face, then sat back.

Applying something, she tilted her head and asked, “Hey, can I ask something?”

“What?”

“Foundation. Stick or liquid? Liquid’s hydrating but lacks coverage. Stick’s solid, trickier to apply, and can look thick if you mess up.”

“…”

“Well? What’s better?”

She was speaking alien.

Calculus or functions would’ve been easier.

‘What’s foundation?’

Why ask me? Her expectant stare screamed I’d be in trouble if I got it wrong.

Only one option.

“Stick with what you’ve got.”

Maintain status quo.

“Huh? Really?”

Just a random answer, but she looked intrigued.

As expected of a delinquent, Gahee’s athleticism was top-notch.

I adjusted my skill to match.

‘Other girls could barely rally.’

The shuttlecock hadn’t touched the ground for dozens of exchanges.

Was I too strong? She returned shots unpredictably.

Tap—tack!

Matching her extreme angles, she started panting, her movements faltering.

She stumbled, missing a shot.

“In.”

Han Siha, appearing out of nowhere, clapped. “This team’s on another level. Especially you, Haru. Played badminton before?”

“No.”

Why’s this guy calling me by name like we’re buddies?

He praised Gahee too before leaving, and the match resumed.

Tap!

After a few rallies, I flinched at Gahee’s smile.

‘Enjoying the competition?’

I could dominate, but that’d be childish.

Keeping it close, I ended in a tie.

“You’re good,” Gahee said, sweaty, smiling.

“You too,” I returned, smiling back.

Her skill was unmatched among the girls.

Then, a sharp gaze.

“…?”

Meeting Siha’s eyes, he turned away, as if mistaken.

He’d been watching.

“You a pro or what, Lu-chan? Not even sweating,” Gahee said.

Humans can’t control sweat, but I could.

I’d disabled it and forgot in the heat of the game.

Gotta be careful.

‘Lu-chan?’

Realizing she’d nicknamed me, I thought, Is this her delinquent vibe?

“Let’s hit the canteen later. If I lost, I’d treat you, but since it’s a tie, we split.”

Her casual tone assumed I’d agree.

Do insiders bond this fast?

After the bell, back in the changing room, most girls were sweaty.

“So hot~”

“Badminton’s harder than I thought.”

Too tired to stare like before, they struggled to change.

Unlike them, I swapped clothes easily.

Then, an unwelcome noise.

“Eek!”

Hwaseo’s scream.

Following her gaze, my face twisted.

Pop—

A chubby boy’s head protruded from the wall, defying physics.

Acne-ridden, red glasses, his smirk twisted vilely.