Yeoncheong followed club president Seoyun to change clothes. Seeing Yeoncheong struggling, Seoyun broke the ice on her behalf.
"Must be tough? Having those two end up in the same class."
"No. It's better than being completely ignored."
"I'm glad you think that way."
Once the conversation started, Yeoncheong asked what she was curious about.
"Why are you going this far for me?"
"Just because. I was curious about the transfer student too."
"Because transfer students are rare?"
As if to say there was no need for words, Seoyun shrugged.
"I've heard many want to come, but even my senior's senior has never seen one. There probably hasn't been a single one in about seven or eight years."
It wasn't wrong to say that Chairwoman Yurim had pulled strings. Yeoncheong thought she should thank her again sometime.
The small, unidentified building attached beside the warehouse belonged to the tennis club. Seoyun took out spare clothes and handed them to Yeoncheong. Yeoncheong, taking the clothes, tilted her head.
"These aren't gym clothes."
"Huh? Who in the world carries spare gym clothes around?"
Now that she thought about it, Seoyun had never said they were gym clothes. Yeoncheong had simply assumed so on her own.
"I'll have a racket ready, so come out after you change."
Leaving only those words behind, Seoyun went out first. Yeoncheong's belatedly outstretched hand hovered in the air.
*This is different from what I expected.*
A form-fitting sleeveless top and a tennis skirt. After a brief moment of hesitation, Yeoncheong quickly changed. It was better than her friends or Seoyun walking in while she was needlessly dawdling.
***
"The size seems to fit."
Seoyun tidied up Yeoncheong's appearance after she came out having changed.
Hasol and Suyeon approached the slightly embarrassed Yeoncheong. The two of them were enjoying themselves more than Yeoncheong, who was there to experience the club.
"It suits you well."
"Let's take a picture to commemorate it."
Yeoncheong, checking the smartphone camera, jumped in surprise and waved her hands. Though disappointed by the strong refusal, Hasol put her smartphone away.
Club president Seoyun noticed the growing awkwardness and intervened.
"Now, now. You came to experience the club, right? Take this."
Yeoncheong took the spare racket that had been prepared and joined the first-years.
"Oh."
The tennis club experience led by PE teacher Hayeong was a stage for redeeming her honor.
Several factors worked together here.
Though it fell short of when she'd been a boy, Yeoncheong's athletic ability was definitely above average. And she ran desperately to make up for the shame she had shown during futsal.
Added to that were the compliments from the teacher and Seoyun, and vitality filled Yeoncheong's excited movements.
In the end, Yeoncheong was more or less held back by her own volition until the club time ended. Seoyun approached Yeoncheong, who was panting from proper exercise after a long time.
"Good work. You were pretty good for a first-timer?"
"Thank you."
Yeoncheong slightly bowed her head. The borrowed tennis outfit was soaked with sweat.
"I'll wash the clothes before returning them."
"You don't have to... but I'd appreciate it if you did."
Club president Seoyun smiled brightly and stared intently into Yeoncheong's blue eyes.
"Why... are you looking at me like that?"
"How about it. Want to join the tennis club?"
At the straightforward recruitment pitch, Yeoncheong thought seriously about it. It had been somewhat fun, and the atmosphere wasn't bad. However, Yeoncheong wasn't alone right now.
"No!"
Hasol appeared from behind and pulled Yeoncheong to her side, next to Suyeon.
"There are still so many clubs you haven't seen yet."
Yeoncheong's eyes went wide at words she'd never heard before. Seoyun scratched her cheek and asked.
"Hasol, I'm just asking to be sure. Are you going to... look around all of them?"
"Of cou-rse, *gasp*."
Suyeon quickly covered Hasol's mouth and cut the conversation short.
"How could you say that!"
But those two words that had already slipped out were enough. Yeoncheong intuitively sensed the path of hardship unfolding before her.
Those two were the type to follow through if they said they would. Yeoncheong's judgment was quick and accurate.
Shaking off Hasol and Suyeon, Yeoncheong grabbed her bag that had been set down nearby and ran away. Her exhausted body recognized the crisis and surpassed its limits.
Hasol chased after her in a hurry, while Suyeon and Seoyun watched Yeoncheong's rapidly receding figure.
"You didn't tell Yeoncheong, did you."
"Of course not. I thought she'd hate it."
"Then couldn't you just not do it?"
Suyeon shook her head, saying that wasn't an option.
"Homeroom teacher asked us to look after her. So she wouldn't feel too left out."
"Really?"
"She didn't tell us the reason, but said she'd have a hard time adjusting."
"She seems fine for someone like that..."
"No. Yeoncheong, that kid. She doesn't know a single classmate's contact number yet."
Seoyun asked if it was really true, and Suyeon nodded, saying she was sure. It was information she had already confirmed by quietly asking their friends.
"She seems to think she's fine... but there's a subtle sense of distance."
"So that's why you and Hasol cling to her like that. I can understand to some extent."
Seoyun more or less understood the situation. Just then, Hasol returned alone, having apparently lost Yeoncheong. At Seoyun's exclamation, Suyeon turned her head.
"Your school uniform should still be in the club room."
"Give it to me. I'll pass it on."
Seoyun smiled as if a good idea had come to mind.
"Never mind. Tell her to come get it later. Unlike gym clothes, she should have a spare uniform."
***
Only after returning home did Yeoncheong realize she had left her school uniform behind. She debated whether to go back, but soon shook her head. Fatigue washed over her from the intense exercise after so long, and with her tension released.
*I can just get it back at school tomorrow.*
Yeoncheong threw the tennis outfit she had worn into the washing machine and ended her day.
***
Arriving at school just in time as usual, Yeoncheong focused on avoiding Hasol and Suyeon. Knowing that if caught, the same thing as yesterday would happen, it was only natural behavior.
Yeoncheong bolted out of the classroom as soon as homeroom ended. Hasol and Suyeon immediately rushed to chase after her. Teacher Jisu, witnessing the chase, began to worry that she might have made an unnecessary request.
A blue head peeked out from the hallway of the rear building where the third-year classrooms were located. It was Yeoncheong, who had come to get her uniform from Seoyun.
*They're not here, right?*
After confirming Hasol and Suyeon weren't there, Yeoncheong looked for Seoyun. When she asked where to find the club president, the third-year seniors kindly told her the classroom.
"Senior Seoyun...?"
Once again peeking her head in to check inside, Yeoncheong spotted the president. Seoyun turned her head at the voice calling her and welcomed her pleasantly.
"You came. Your uniform is here."
Seoyun held up a shopping bag. The moment Yeoncheong stepped into the classroom, the door closed. Hasol and Suyeon, who had been hiding behind the door, revealed themselves.
They shared the common knowledge that she had to go get her uniform. Hasol and Suyeon, knowing a shorter route, had been lying in ambush.
Various emotions such as confusion and surprise flashed through Yeoncheong. Feeling slightly guilty at the sight, Seoyun laughed awkwardly.
"Sorry, but they mean well. Please understand."
With both arms captured, Yeoncheong was dragged away by Hasol and Suyeon.
***
Following the two who had already made plans without the person in question, Yeoncheong resumed visiting various clubs. Realizing she couldn't escape, Yeoncheong was in a state of semi-resignation.
Basketball and volleyball clubs that used the gymnasium. Academic clubs like math and science clubs, to ordinary clubs found in any school like the broadcasting club or library committee.
Yeoncheong met classmates from the same class and checked off clubs to visit one by one.
Before she knew it, only Suyeon was by Yeoncheong's side. Hasol had introduced her own cooking club and been caught by the club seniors.
"I didn't know Hasol was in the cooking club."
"It's a bit surprising, right? She doesn't have that kind of image."
As time spent together grows longer, relationships naturally become more comfortable. That could be felt in Yeoncheong's voice.
"I'm also surprised you're in that kind of club."
Before long, the after-school club visits that had continued every day reached their end.
Free Exploration Club.
No matter how much the school encouraged club activities, there was a limit to operating every club. That's why the Free Exploration Club had been created.
This club existed one per grade, encouraging students' individual free activities.
"It's not just a place to fool around though. You have to consistently submit activity reports."
Suyeon added after briefly introducing the club.
"It's not my place to say, but there are few people, so you could say it's pretty nice."
Greater freedom to move about than other clubs. That was also the reason Teacher Jisu, the homeroom teacher, had tasked Suyeon with introducing the club.
***
Though the building containing the third-year classrooms and self-study rooms was commonly called the rear building for convenience, there was one more building about two stories tall behind it. A former annex building, it had been renovated and was currently being used as a club building.
"Suyeon. This isn't just low on people?"
Yeoncheong demanded an explanation upon arriving at the classroom used by the Free Exploration Club.
One person. There was only one person in the spacious classroom. Even that one person was Seoha from the same class.
"Actually... this place has the most people in first year. Most find what they want to do and switch clubs."
Thinking about it, it was only natural. Not knowing what they want to do in first year, they join the Free Exploration Club for the time being. Afterward, they find what they want to do and switch clubs one by one. By the time they become second-years, hardly any students remain.
In a way, the Free Exploration Club was close to a temporary shelter for students. Yeoncheong's expression stiffened upon realizing the truth.
"Then, I'll be going."
Suyeon, who had been fidgeting with her index finger, grabbed Yeoncheong as she tried to leave.
"Yeoncheong, I'm so bored alone. Join the club with me."
Suyeon grabbed the hem of Yeoncheong's skirt, clinging to her and revealing her true colors.
Only then did Yeoncheong recall how Suyeon had quickly pulled her out whenever she thought a club was decent. Suyeon hadn't simply gone along with Teacher Jisu's request either. She had her own plan.
"If you're bored, go to another club!"
"I can't do what I want to do there."
The flustered Yeoncheong tried to pull Suyeon off by grabbing her skirt.
"You just have to do what I planned. We do volunteer work and various things, so you won't be bored!"
Yeoncheong pointed at Seoha, who had taken her eyes off her book to watch the two with interest.
"What do you mean alone! Seoha's here too."
"Seoha is in the student council. She even said she's running for student council president this year. She's only here now because I asked her to. It's no different from me being alone!"
A battle between a spear trying to pierce through and a shield trying to block.
Behind the heavy shield, Yeoncheong eventually raised the white flag. She had helped out after school for several days anyway, and she thought she could think about it a bit more and decide properly in the second semester.
"It's not anything weird, right?"
"Of course! Obviously!"
Suyeon nodded broadly, beaming.